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“What? You don’t like being called my girlfriend? You don’t want to be?” He said and I saw the flash of hurt in his eyes.
“No. I mean yes, but it just shocked me. I don’t think I thought about that part of this situation. It makes it feel more real to hear you say that.” I said and he leaned in, so slowly that I was breathless with anticipation by the time his mouth met mine.
“Because you are my girlfriend. I decided that the minute you arrived back at Hart Ranch. I just had to convince you to say yes.” His voice was dark and his eyes were hungry as he spoke.
“Very presumptuous of you,” I murmured as he brushed his lips against mine teasingly.
“Mmm. Well, it worked and now I intend to make sure the entire world knows you belong to me.” He said and my stomach flipped as the kid waiter arrived with our drinks.
“That is mygirlfriends,” William said as the kid grabbed the milkshake. He winked at me, his hand sliding beneath the table to rest on my thigh as I grabbed my milkshake.
This guy was too good to be true and now I could say he was mine.
The sun was low in the sky as we drove back to the ranch. When William didn’t take the turn-off that we needed I looked at him with interest.
“Did you forget the way home?” I asked and he grinned.
“Nope. I want to show you something.” He said cryptically as he turned down a dirt road that had a steep incline.
“Where are we going?” I asked and he shook his head. We continued the climb up the hill before the road opened to a dead end.
“Is this the part where you kill me?” I joked and he rolled his eyes as he turned off the car and got out. He grabbed something from the back seat before he came around to my door, offering me his hand.
“Close your eyes.” He said and I did as he said. I heard the door close before he took my hand, leading me forward.
“Don’t worry. I have you.” He said as I hesitated to take a step. Our feet crunched in the gravel before it shifted to what felt like grass beneath my feet, the hot sun had parched the stalks, and it made a snapping sound as we walked over it.
“Stop here. Don’t open your eyes yet.” He said and I heard him moving around. The dying sun was warm on my face and a soft breeze brought the scent of hay in the air and dry dust. William came up behind me, his hands on my arms to steady me.
“Okay. Open them,” he said softly. I gasped as I slowly opened my eyes, the sight before me taking my breath away.
The mountains sat in the distance, the sun beginning to set behind them. An old mine sat below us, the water a deep blue color.
He had put a blanket down on the ground, turning me in his arms.
“It’s beautiful. Do you take all your nondates here?” I said and he cupped my face, a serious look in his eyes that made this even more real.
“No. I have never had anyone else here. I come here when I need to clear my head sometimes. I wanted to share it with you.” He said and kissed the tip of my nose.
“Come on. The sun will be setting soon.” He took my hand and guided me to the blanket. He laid back, gesturing to the spot next to him.
I got comfortable, using his arm as my pillow as he shifted, his other arm behind his head.
We watched in silence, nothing but the sound of the breeze and the chirping of birds as the sun slowly set behind Devils Tooth Ridge.
When only the last rays of the sun could be seen, the sky was a mixture of reds, oranges, and pinks and I didn’t think I had seen a more beautiful sunset.
William rolled to his side, his arm still beneath me as he reached over to stroke my cheek.
“I’m sorry that you went through everything you did, Anya. I wish I could take the past from you, take the memories and the pain away. I wish I had known because I would have come looking for you. I never would have stopped. I thought you ran from us if I had known…” He swallowed, tears in his eyes as he looked into mine and I pressed my finger to his lips.
“Stop. None of it was your fault and it is in the past now. I can't change that, all I can do is keep moving forward and not let the demons haunt me.” I smiled as he ran his fingers over my brow.
“I promise you, I will chase them away every time they try to pull you under. I will remind you how much you are cherished and loved because I love you, Anya. I have for years and it broke my heart when you left but I always knew you would be back.” He said and I felt the tear slip from my eye, a tear he wiped away before he kissed me.
His kiss was tender, soft, and slow but it was me who wanted more. Out here, in the cool air with the last rays of sunlight in the sky, I felt alive. More alive than I had in a long time.
“I want you to fuck me, William Daley. I want to feel your love bring me back to life.” I whispered and he groaned softly before he shifted, moving down the blanket until he reached my hips.
