“Robert?” Presley whimpers out.
“Shhh—rest baby girl.” I kiss her forehead and close the door. “Mom, I’ll see you back at the house. Be easy with her, will you?”
“I’ll make sure she gets inside safe and sound. Be careful young man.”
“I will.”
Chapter Twelve
Gramps and I make our way slowly back to the ranch. The snow has tapered off, and we’re both exhausted.
“You love her, don’t you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Does she know?”
Shaking my head. “No, sir. I don’t think she does.”
“Then you better not waste any more time before you tell her.”
“Yes, sir.”
We ride in silence a little while longer, tension thick between us.
“Sir?”
“Boy?”
“When did you know you found the one? How old were you?”
“Is that what you think she is? The one?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Boy, age has nothing to do with it. I found Presley’s grandma when we were five years old. I had the flu, and she begged her momma to teach her how to make chicken noodle soup so she could bring me some. She’s been taking care of me ever since. Today you put her life before your own, boy. Not many men would do that at your age.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’re a damn fool, but a fool I would love to see my granddaughter marry one day. Sure, she’s stubborn, hardheaded, and has a temper hotter than chili pepper.” He chuckles a little, and I nod my head in agreement with his description of her.
“Are you trying to sell me on her?” I laugh.
His tone sounds serious again, “But that girl will give you more than you could ever dare to dream of.”
We finally break through the woods, and the house comes into view.
“Go on. She needs you right now, and I can tell you need her as much. I’ll put the horses away.”
I walk into the house, past both our mothers who give me knowing glances, and quietly open her bedroom door.
She’s been cleaned up and dressed. A gauze bandage covers her injury, and she’s resting under a multitude of blankets. I remove my wet clothes, and eased my way under the blankets, curling myself around her body as she curled into me. “I love you, Presley Elizabeth.”
“I love you too, Robert Lucas.”
Gently kissing her bandage, I breathe her in as I fall asleep to the murmur of her heartbeat.
*****
I awake and feel a set of strong arms holding me. It’s light outside, and I can vaguely make out the sun’s position through my closed blinds. I roll over, and my heart skips a beat as I stare at the overprotective man holding me as if his life depended on it. How did I get here? Why is he in my bed?
The last thing I remember was telling Robert I loved him and then running from my admission. It was snowing, and I couldn’t make out the trail in front of me. A tree branch caught me off guard and I fell off my horse. I touch my head where a dull pain lingers letting out a whispered curse. Robert begins to stir but doesn’t wake up. He only moves to pull me closer into him, draping a leg over mine.
My mother is going to kill me, and Gramps, oh Gramps is going to murder him for sneaking into my room. “Robert!” I whisper as I shake him. “Robert, you have to get up. My mother is going to kill me if she catches you in here, and you don’t even want to know what Gramps will do.” I push on him harder with more urgency. “Please, Robert.”
“It’s fine,” he mumbles, his voice cloaked in sleep.
“It is not fine. This is not okay.”
“Presley, I saved your life yesterday. The things I could get away with now—” He grins and rolls his body on top of mine, settling in between my legs; his erection presses hard against my thigh; my mind drifting to a place it’s never been before. He places open-mouth, sucking kisses against my jawline, working his way down my neck and across my collarbone. Goosebumps appear everywhere his lips touch and I giggle as his rough stubble tickles me. His weight against me feels incredible as his hand dips under my sleep shirt, slowly inching up my side, as his thumb rubs the underside of my breast, igniting a fire in my core as I spread my legs wider for him, allowing him to settle deeper against me.
“Presley, honey? Are you awake?” My mother knocks on the door and I push Robert off me and onto the floor.
“Hey!” he screeches as I hold a finger to my lips and wave at him to keep his voice low.
“Sorry,” I whisper back while trying to contain my giggles.
“Honey, is everything okay in there?”
“Yea, Mrs. D. We’re good. Be out in a couple of minutes.”
My eyes go wide as I shoot him a look of horror. “Are you seriously trying to get yourself killed right now? You made certain my mother knew you were in my bedroom.” I now realize he’s only in boxers as he’s standing next to my bed. His defined six-pack and muscular shoulders make it hard to pull my eyes away from him. I should be embarrassed while practically drooling over him, but I can't tear my eyes away.
He doesn’t stop to think about the repercussions of his actions, he climbs back in bed as if it were no big deal and sits next to me. “Relax Pres. She knew last night when I walked past both our mothers and came straight in here and closed the door. They kept quiet. They knew what we both needed, and honestly, they’re not as scary as you think.”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh—and I’ve seen you naked. Damn, I’m a lucky man.”
“You’ve what?” my voice is shrill and squeaky as I choke on a large breath of air. I cough.
“Relax. Nothing happened unless you want to call almost killing yourself, nothing.”
I stare at him, trying to recount the events from yesterday. His tone is casual as if he were talking about going to the grocery store or some other mundane activity.
“After you told me you loved me, thanks, by the way, you foolishly rode off in the snow, and judging by the gash on your head, you must have hit your head on something. Anyway, Gramps and I went out looking for you, and I found you lying in a stream, soaking wet. Luckily you were close to a cave Marcus and I used to play in, so I took you in there to get out of the snow and wind.”
I stare at him wholly dumbfounded and completely mortified as bits of my memory come back to me. I told him I loved him, and he just said thank you. Graduation cannot come fast enough so I can get out of this small town.
“I wish you would have let me go. I’m sorry I said that,” my voice cracks as I fight to hold back the tears, rolling away from him to hide my self-consciousness.
“Presley,” he pulls me back over to him, my back flat on the mattress before rolling himself on top me. Brushing away a few strands of hair from my face, his fingers wipe away the tears sliding down my cheeks. “Look at me, Presley.” His voice is tender and soft, and I am a willing victim to its hypnotic tenor. “Presley, what kind of man would I be if I let you die of hypothermia before I got a chance to tell you how much I love you too.” His eyes are steadfast, his smile is pure as my heart races with his.
“You do?”