Page 115 of Sunrise & Serenity

Ending the call, I twist, hooking my arm around Sage and drawing her warm body onto my lap.

Her drowsy eyes search my face. “Something wrong?”

“One of Chance’s mares is having trouble giving birth. He needs a hand. You stay here and go back to sleep. I’ll probably be gone for a few hours.”

She blinks, her eyes clearing. “Can I come?”

“It’s going to be cold and dirty,” I warn her.

As she slips off my lap, I curl my hands into fists so I don’t pull her back in.

“I’m getting used to the cold and the dirt.” She turns, surveying me, a line forming between her brows. “Unless you’d rather I didn’t come. Will I be in the way?”

I stand and draw her against me. “You won’t be in the way. If you want to come, I want you there.”

She smiles up at me, but I give her a gentle squeeze. “Just know that the two of us turning up together in the middle of the night might raise questions.”

I hate the way her face falls.

“I told you already, I’m okay with questions if you are,” I tell her. “And just because someone asks them, doesn’t mean we have to answer.”

Her teeth press into her bottom lip, and I rub soothing circles against her skin with my thumbs, even as I silently urge her to agree.

She inhales deeply, then nods. “Okay.”

Satisfaction courses through me in an unexpected wave, and I drop a kiss on her lips. Then I tap her perfect ass and step back. “Better get a move on, then.”

With a cute fake scowl in my direction, she rushes around the room, plucking clothes from the floor where we left them after I stripped her out of them, tossed her onto the bed, and ate her out until she screamed my name. My dick hardens at the memory, but considering we’ve got no time to spare, I force myself to focus on dressing too.

The barn will be cold at this hour, so I make sure to pull out layers. Before Sage finishes dressing, I corner her and drag one of my thermal shirts over her head. It hangs almost to her thighs, but it’ll keep her warm.

“Don’t want you catching a chill,” I murmur as I roll up one sleeve, freeing her hand.

The sight of her like this, in my shirt, all warm eyes and soft lips, sends a bolt of possessiveness through me. I brush my mouth over hers, then pull back quickly.

On our way to the door, she reaches for her camera bag on the table, then hesitates before leaving it behind as she follows me out.

My headlights cut through the darkness as we drive toward the ranch. Bypassing the house, we head directly for the foaling barn. Light streams through the partially open door, and as soon as we’re inside, Chance comes into view.

As we approach, he looks up from where he’s standing beside the mare in her stall. His gaze flicks from me to Sage, but apart from a twitch of his lips, he doesn’t react.

“Thanks for coming. There’s a thermos of coffee over there if you need it.”

I look at her, but she shakes her head. “We’re okay for now,” I tell him as I open the stall door and gesture for Sage to go in first.

She stands against the side wall, arms crossed, and I join Chance, taking in the mare’s condition.

Her head hangs low, and her flanks and swollen belly are flecked with sweat. She’s restless, her hooves shifting in the deep sawdust bedding, her tail swishing. “What’s happened so far?”

Brow furrowed, my brother rubs his hand down the mare’s neck. “No progress. I already called Doc and gave him a heads-up. But I’m hoping with your help, we can get her through it.”

She grunts, sidestepping restlessly, and I move closer, smoothing my hand over her shoulder. Her muscles quiver under my palm.

“Is she okay?” Sage asks quietly.

“She’s tired,” I tell her. “Might be just a big foal; worst-case scenario, it’s facing the wrong way.”

“We need to figure out why she’s not making progress,” Chance adds. “If I don’t like what I find, Doc’s coming out.”