“Bullshit,” I yell a little louder this time.
“Again.”
I stand, throwing my arms behind me and tip my head to the sky. “FUCKING BULLSHIT, YOU BITCH ASS FUCKING COURT SYSTEM WANNABES. EAT SHIT, MOTHERFUCKERS.”
Grayson pulls me back like I’m about to fight someone. “Woah, killer,” he chuckles, walking me back a step. “Didn’t know you had all that in ya.”
My back collides with his warm chest, and I freeze. God, he shouldn’t be holding me like this, but fuck, if it doesn’t feel good. More than good. It feelsrightnestled against him. We aren’t fully embracing, more just connected by a few points. It fades quickly when Grayson realizes the compromising position we are in and pulls away. I know we both are unavailable at the moment, but it still felt nice to pretend for just one blissful second.
I face him with a carefree smile. He, on the other hand, looks tense. One hug, and he looks like he’s seen a ghost. I poke myfinger into his chest. “Enough about me. What about you? What istheGrayson Miles’ story? No, wait, let me guess.”
I pretend to study him. Really, I’m just taking the opportunity to check him out. He’s shredded, like those country Pinterest men you see when you search the wordcowboy.His unruly brown curls peek out from the bottom of his cowboy hat, which he seems to always be wearing. That, or a backwards baseball hat. Don’t get me started on the tattoos peppering him. My wet dream. He’s hardworking, if his permanently stained and calloused hands are anything to go by. And, like me, he’s guarded. I just can’t figure out why.
“Alright, I’ll bite.Lay it on me, honey.”
I smirk, tapping my finger on my cheek. “Hmmm, where to start? You’re clearly a workaholic, though I'm sure the Foxes have no complaints there. I haven’t seen you with a woman—yet.”I pause, holding his eyes to check for a reaction. He gives nothing away. “I’m starting to wonder if you’re in a relationship with the ranch. The women in town probably don’t stand a chance. Either that, or you’re shit in bed.” I shrug before continuing. “You live on the ranch, and you seem to be close with the Foxes, since you’re invited to family dinners. I’ve yet to hear you talk about your own family, though, besides Laine and Nova, who I’ve learned firsthand youareclose with…so maybe I’m missing the mark there.” I pace in front of him, counting things off on my fingers.“Every time I see you, you’re dripping blood from at least one place. I’m not sure if you’re clumsy, or if you just like to pick fights.” He finally breaks, laughing under his breath.Interesting. “And to finish it off, you’re a tattoo-aholic. My guess is, you started getting them to rebel at first, and then they turned into a way of expression? That, or you have a pain kink. A rebellious but guarded lover who chooses to get lost in his work to tune out the noisy world, who also has a thing for pain and may or may not have a broken dick. Jury's still out on that.” I spin to his front, throwing my hands out wide. “Well, how did I do?”
He rolls his eyes, but there’s still a smirk on his face.Bingo. “Most of my tattoos have meanings, but you hit the nail on the head about them starting as a rebellion.”
Classic man response, choosing to only respond to the last thing said. “So I nailed you on the tattoos… What about the rest?”
Just give me one real thing, one thing to hold on to. I crave his trust. Maybe it stems from my abandonment issues and need for connection. Him opening up to me would mean I’m special in some way to him. Chalk it up to never having a stable thing to rely on in my life if you want, but I want—no, need—Grayson’s secrets.
“You may have nailed a couple other things,” he says dismissively.
“Wow, that bad in bed, huh?” I joke. If he doesn’t want to tell me his life story, I won’t push him on it, plain and simple. I’ve been there, I understand.
“Maisie.”
“What,” I taunt.
“I don’t need to sleep with every woman in this town to prove I’m a damn good lay.” He steps forward and tucks my hair behind my ear. He’s so close now, I can feel his breath fan against my ear. “Let’s just say I could have you learning new things your body could do if I ever got my hands on you.”
“Just friends,” I squeak, my chest heaving.
His breaths are erratic when he nudges my ear with his nose. “Mhm,just friends,” he rasps.
One more word out of this man, and I’m done for.Abort mission, Maisie.I take a hesitant step back, though I wish it was forward so I could soak up his warmth. “Soo,” I draw, “besides your rebellious tattoos, which one is your favorite?”
His face lights up, and he strips his flannel off in record time. It’s freezing out here, but he doesn’t seem to care. He points to his sculpted, veiny bicep, where a beautiful, dainty dove is perched on a branch, the rest of his tattoos warping around it.
“This was one of the first tattoos I got that had meaning,” he states proudly.
“A dove? It’s beautiful.” I inch closer to trace it with my fingertip. He trembles under my touch as I explore. There’s a smaller bird perched next to the dove, less aged.
“It’s a squab.” His eyes light up when he looks at it. “A baby dove. Doves mate for life. An unbreakable bond. I got the dove to represent Laine and our sibling bond. It was just the two of us until Nova came along. I got the squab when she was born. Our little unbreakable trio.”
Please don’t cry. Please don’t cry. Blame my damn period hormones, because I think I might be getting teary eyed over a man and his squab tattoo. Emotional intelligence and familiar devotion are quite literally the biggest turn on. One bird tattoo has my overactive uterus seeing wedding bells.
“That’s…well, fuck, that’s really sweet and now I feel like an asshole for implying you had a broken dick.” I turn away from him so he can’t see the waterworks on the horizon.
He blinks down at me. “Are you? Are you crying over my tattoo?”
“A freaking bug flew in my eye.”
His gruff chuckle claws down my insides. “Maisie, look at me.”
My stomach flips. Apparently, I like being told what to do now.Great! How many kinks can this man unlock in my short visit? I sniffle, playing it off like I have a cold. I think I’m totally selling it until I find him with his hand over his mouth to keep from busting out laughing at me.
