We’re about to step outside when I remember her feet. Her face is pinched with worry and disgust as she probably encourages herself to walk out in barefoot.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I stop her.

“Hey, on second thought maybe we should roam around in the morning. You’ve come a long way, you should get some rest,” I say, but the moment her body pressed against mine, I lose my train of thought again. “You should go to bed,” I add with a whisper.

“Okay,” she whispers back. Her body melts into mine, and I pull her tighter against me for a second before letting her go.

I clear my throat, as she hides behind her hair and we climb up the stairs in total silence.

“Where will you be staying?” she asks when we stop in front of my room which will be her room during her stay.

“In this room,” I point out the room meant to be hers.

She nods.

“The sheets were changed this morning,” I blurt out as we postpone going into the separate rooms.

“Okay. Thank you.”

Just before I enter my room, I look over my shoulder at her.

“Don’t forget to check under your bed for snakes,” I tease her and close the door.

I know I’m being a dick, but the horror on her face was too funny to ignore. And she doesn’t really think there’ll be snakes in the building, right? On the fucking third floor?

After I hear her door closed, I leave my room and head for the stables. My body feels like a ball of energy that I need to let out of my system.

I check the other horses. They’re sound asleep. After looking at Lily’s stall to see she's good, I walk toward Rage. Seeing him restless doesn't surprise me. He doesn't like sleep and can’t find peace before I let him run in the corral, under the stars.

I watch him run and let the steam out of his body as I sit on the fence. I’m as restless as he is, and I know what caused it, or rather who. Turning my head, I look at the main house. The light in her room is on. I wonder if I should at least tell her not to be afraid, instead of being a dick, after I’ve seen how scared she was over a moth.

I suddenly feel guilty and an urge to check in on her, but Rage comes where I am, and I get distracted by taking care of him. After brushing his coat and putting him back in his stall, I reload the hay waiting for each horse outside their stalls and head for the house.

I stop by the kitchen and grab a bottle of beer. I don’t know if I’m trying to forget her existence or just the fact she’ll be in my bed tonight, without me in it. I close my eyes, wondering if she sleeps naked. The beautiful curve of her ass is still vivid in my mind, and I didn’t forget how that same ass feels in my palm.

My dick twitches with the memory, and I groan. Gulping down the rest of the beer, I stand up and head for my room. As I pass Aubrey’s room, I see the light coming out from under the door. Even though I tell myself to keep walking, I can’t stop myself from knocking.

“Come in,” I hear her muffled voice.

When I open the door, I see she’s sitting on the bed with a fucking nightie, hugging one of the pillows to her chest. Her knees bent in front of her, and I can see the tension around her shoulders.

“Hey. I just wanted to check in on you. Do you need anything?”

Fuck, you sound like a pussy Rhett, I think to myself.

“There are 34 different species of snakes in Tennessee. And Google says there are 2 kinds of scorpions. Did you know that?” she says in a shaky voice.

I laugh. I know that’s a dick move, but God I can’t help it. I’ve never seen a woman who’s that scared to be on this ranch, but again, everyone I dated here was from here, not a fucking city.

“Aubrey, I grew up here and look, I’m still alive,” I say.

“So, you haven’t seen any snakes?” she asks in half hopeful half doubting voice.

Well… I have.

I sigh. “Would you feel,” I stop before continuing with what I have in mind. My brain and my body are at war. My mind says I shouldn’t say what I’m about to say, but my body is already thrumming with excitement.

“Would you feel safer if I stay in this room?”

There. I said it. The body has won.

Her eyes widen with my offer. A soft blush covers her cheeks slowly. I can see the fight in her. I hope her mind would win for my sanity. Sanity and the health of my balls, cause while she wears that fucking black nightie that shows more than it hides I’m sure I’ll have blue balls before dawn. Unless the night is pregnant with better things.

“Please,” she says in that breathy voice that seems like has the power to make me crazy.

Well, seems like her mind lost too.

With a sigh, I pull my t-shirt over my body.

“Make space for me,” I say.

“What?”

I frown. “Darling, if I’m stay here I’m not sleeping on the fucking floor. So, move over.”

She hesitates even though I catch the excitement under her hesitation.

“And you’d be safer in my arms anyway,” I add with a smirk.

Her gaze falls to my hands as I unbuckle my belt. Enjoying her eyes on me, I take my sweet time to unbutton my jeans. After taking off my jeans too, to her mortification, I should add, I challenge her. “Live a little, Princess.”

That sparks something in her eyes, and she moves to the other side of the bed. Chuckling, I get in under the covers.

As she turns her back to me, I chuckle at what she keeps repeating to herself.

“This is a bad idea.”