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As soon as Ragnor caught sight of me, he charged in our direction. The sound of blood rushing between my ears was eclipsed by the solid thuds of determined hoofs trying to reach me. The second I touched the fence, he nudged my face with far more gentleness than a wild beast like him should be capable of. How he knew I needed him in that moment was beyond me, but he simply understood.He came straight to me.
My movements were stilted as I stroked the side of his neck. He sized up Easton with cold eyes and made a noise of protest that covered my own when Easton placed a hand in the small of my back.
“So you’re the famous Ragnor,” he said, though I barely heard him. All I could focus on was Easton’s touch and the energy that raced through my body. “He’s impressive.”
Easton held out his hand, and I knocked it down. “He’s also unpredictable.”
“You worried he’ll hurt me?”
“I’m worried he’ll hurt himself,” I said, in a feeble attempt to mask my concern for Easton’s safety.
“I can handle him.”
Easton lifted his hand. Rage’s nose twitched as he sniffed. When Easton lowered his arm, my horse nudged him.
“You weren’t finished, huh?” Easton pressed his fingers into my back. “Looks like we’re not the only ones who like Dr Pepper Icees.”
I snorted and nearly choked when he licked Easton’s fingers. Then a warped jealousy took hold. Ragnor and I had connected from the start, but it had taken a long time to get where we were. It was rotten how much I liked that Rage only trusted me. Completely selfish. I wanted him to learn the right people weren’t so bad. But seeing how easily he yielded to Easton . . . a part of me was jealous.
“You want my horse too?” I spat, letting my envy show.
Easton cupped my cheek. Ragnor reared and squealed in protest. I couldn’t tell if he was upset because Easton had stopped touching him or because he was touching me. The metal gate clanged as Rage pushed at it, and Easton dropped his hand. Rage charged off, but he was back in a flash, stopping right in front of me.
“Hey. Easy there, handsome,” I soothed. “What’s the matter?”
He touched his nose to my cheek, his way of seeing if I was okay. I stroked behind his ears.
“I don’t want to leave you,” I confessed against his hair. “Please don’t hate me for it.” I was afraid I’d be gone for months at a time and Ragnor would never forgive me. He blew against my cheek. “I love you too, handsome.”
Easton gave us our moment, and I should have been embarrassed for letting my guard down in front of him, but I wasn’t. Ragnor turned his head and blew at Easton, his way of saying they were all good. One last nuzzle, and Rage trotted off, never one for much emotional stuff. Just another way we were so much alike.
“What happened with Leona isn’t your fault.”
I whipped around. “Oh no? Who the hell else’s is it?”
“Bryce Green and his son.”
I stepped into his space. “I put myself out there, and that numb-nuts hurt my feelings. There. I said it. He. Hurt. My. Feelings,” I punched out. “I couldn’t let it go. I had to show him he’d messed with the wrong person. And it was over nothing.”
My voice echoed in the night. Rage made a pass by us to check things out and trotted away.
“Doesn’t sound like it was nothing.” Easton’s calm only fueled my anger.
“I couldn’t grow a pair and just get over it.” I shoved at him because he was the closest thing. “You chastised Bryce for holding a grudge this long. I’m no better than he is. I let what happened shape my whole life.”
I clamped my mouth shut.Shit. I hadn’t meant to say that.
Easton covered my hands that were still planted on his chest. I didn’t want his tenderness. I needed his temper, disappointment, anything but what was in his eyes.
“That’s why you won’t—”
“It has nothing to do with it.” Whatever he was about to say was loaded, and I was in no state to hear it. I’d already admitted too much.
“You know something you taught me?” I shook my head. “That it’s okay to hurt. It strengthens us for the times when we need to be our toughest.”
“You’re wrong. When you let feelings get tangled up, things go south. We saw proof of that tonight.”
He tapped my heart. “You feel a lot more than you think you do.”
