“It’s been the same for me. Look, I know I’ve made a mess of things—” he held up his hand to stop her from interrupting him, “—you think you’ve messed up too, but whatever. Let’s start again. How long are you in town?”
“Eliza arranged for me to stay with Ginger for a couple of days.”
He stood from the chair. “Tex,” he called to the bartender, “I’m taking the rest of the day and maybe tomorrow off.”
Tex lifted an eyebrow. “Okay. Is she the auction winner?”
This time, Dominic didn’t mind the slight heat that washed over his cheeks. “Opal Ibarra, this is Tex, my bartender, and General Manager.”
“Hi.”
Dominic took her hands into his and helped her stand. “Are you up for a drive? I have a place I’d love to show you.”
“Sounds good. I believe you owe me a date.”
He enjoyed her company as they drove to the ranch. They talked about random stuff. It felt like they were avoiding the obvious. The night was not going to end without him making her his. His mate for the rest of their life. He knew the mechanics of it, but he still wondered if that is what she wanted. But if he felt it, she had too.
They turned off the highway and onto his road.
“This is your ranch?” she asked.
“It was one of the first big purchases I made. It started small, but as the farms and ranches around me became available, I bought them. I don’t get out here as much as I would like.”
“What do you do on this ranch?”
“We have a rehabilitation center for abused and neglected horses.”
She faced him with her mouth hanging slightly open.
“Does that surprise you?”
She blushed and averted her gaze. “Yeah, a little. I thought maybe you had racehorses or something like that.”
“We do. They’re all retired now. They spend their time running as free as possible. I make money off their sperm, though. There’s more money in that right now than racing horses.”
She giggled.
“What’s so funny?” He pulled next to the other trucks.
“You’re like a horse pimp.”
He laughed too. “Well, I never thought of it that way, but yeah.”
Two dogs jumped on Opie as she got out of the truck. She bent to pet them as they yipped in excitement and licked her face.
“Off. Nixon. Dixon. No jump,” Dominic corrected them.
“Oh, leave them alone. I don’t mind. They are adorable.”
A loud whistle called them to the house.
“Wasn’t expecting you today.” Jim opened the door and stood on the porch.
“Well, if you’d rather I not be here, I’ll take back the steaks I brought.” Dominic reached into the car and pulled out a cooler.
“Well, it is your place. You can come and go as you like. Buuutt, I only get steak when you come so you can come every day if you want.”
“Dolly doesn’t make steak?” Dominic reached out and took Opie’s hand.
“Nah, she makes all this healthy, green stuff. I hate the color green, and now I have to see it every night.”
Dominic said, “It’s good for you.”
“Whatever.” Jim walked off the porch and met them. “You’ve never brought a friend. Who’s this?”
Dominic started to introduce her, but Opie reacted before he could.
“I’m Opal Ibarra. You can all me Opie.” She shook Jim’s hand.
“It’s great to meet you. Want me to show you around?”
Dominic dropped Opie’s hand and stepped forward. “Here, take this, and I’ll show her around.”
Jim took the cooler. “Well, okay then. It’ll take us about an hour to finish up and get these cooked.”
“Sounds good.” Dominic held Opie’s hand again and led her to the first pasture. The dogs followed them, walking next to her. They never walked with him.
“Can I ask you something?” she said.
“Sure.”
“Isn’t it kinda weird for a horse shifter to own a horse ranch?”
“I suppose, but I’ve always loved being outside. More than anything, I wanted a place for my father.”
“Does he live here?”
“Yeah.”
“I want to meet him.”
“I thought about that.”
Her mouth curled to the side as she furrowed her brows. “Are you worried about what he’ll think of me?”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed them. “No. That’s not it. It’s just hard to explain. You’ll have to see for yourself.”
He walked her through the barn where they boarded horses. They met the men working the barn, and Julie, his trainer. Then they rode a cart to the back pasture.
“I need to tell you something first,” he said as they walked to the fence.
His father came to them and lowered his head over the rails. Opie reached out and touched him, then bent her head forward until they touched. Dominic wanted to explain, but Opie closed her eyes and seemed to zone out.
Her eyes flew open, and she pulled away. “This is your father?”
He rubbed his hand. “Um, yeah. How did you know?”
“I can see him. What happened?”
Dominic climbed the rails and sat on the top. His dad ran off, and Opie sat next to him. He watched his father run around for a few minutes before saying anything. She must have sensed his unease because she reached out for his hand.
“I was young when my mom first got sick. When they heard about the cancer, she came home and shifted, thinking it would be better. But it came back and kept coming back. Shifting helped a little, but in the end, the cancer was just too much. Many shifters forget we are immortal. When she died, Dad didn’t know what to do. He had this rebellious kid who was angry at everything. He worked as a mechanic but never made enough money for us to have much. The owner of the shop where he worked ran an illegal fighting circuit. My dad was tough and took a lot of shit in those fights. I can’t be sure, but maybe he needed to feel that pain. I know he blamed himself for my mom getting sick.”
“He didn’t cause the cancer.”
“I know that, and I’m sure deep down he did too, but he wasn’t able to keep her safe. Each fight got a little worse. He would shift to heal. He started staying in his horse form a little longer each time. Then one day, he ran off and didn’t shift back. I found him in the wild park area behind our house and found a place to board him. That’s how I met Jim and Dolly. They had a small horse training, but it didn’t work out. When I bought Wild Horses, they were the first people I hired.”
“They’re human, aren’t they?”
Dominic nodded.
“You’re lucky they are so understanding.”
“They are great people. I don’t know what I’ll do when they’re gone.” He turned his head away from her and watched his dad playing with two other younger horses.
“I’ve heard about what happens when one of us loses a mate, but I’ve never met anyone with a story like your dad’s.”
“I haven’t either. Some shrink would say that’s the reason I threw myself into work.”
“To avoid mating?”
“The thing is, we aren’t even guaranteed a perfect forever.”
She hopped off the fence and stood between his legs, her arms resting on his bent legs. “Nothing is guaranteed. We live for right now and hope the future replicates the good of the present. It’s all any living creature can do.”
He didn’t deserve this beautiful woman staring up at him.
“Can I ask you another question?”
He nodded.
“I think you feel about me the way I feel about you. Am I right?”
He nodded.
She stepped back and smiled. “Then let’s go do something about it.”
He took another glance at his father. “I can’t do that here with my dad right there.”
“Then take me someplace more private.”
He no
dded, got off the fence, and drove them to a small pond. He spread out a blanket he found in the back of the cart.
She laid on her side and propped up her head in a hand. “Come here, Dominic Kingston.”
He did as told, lying on his side to face her.
“Gerri told me you were stubborn, and she wasn’t exaggerating.”
He kissed her. “What else did Gerri tell you about me?”
She used her free hand to unbutton his shirt. “She mentioned something about rope. Do you like rope play?”
One side of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “Maybe. I guess you’ll have to stick with me to find out.”
“Does that mean you are ready for this?”
He rested an arm on her side then used his body to roll her over and lie on top of her. “I am very ready for this. You are mine, and I am yours.”
“We’ll live for today and let tomorrow sort out itself?”
“Yeah.”
She clasped her hands behind his head and pulled him closer. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
The night sounds of the ranch ebbed and flowed around them. The sun disappeared, and a pale crescent moon hung in the sky. The smell of night perfumed the air. The world around them breathed a sigh as day became night.
They laid on the blanket under the stars. He stopped thinking about business and progress. The future didn’t worry him anymore. It was only him and his mate, and that’s all he would ever need.
Acknowledgements
I learn something new about myself with each book I write. It’s no so much about the writing process, but it’s the personal journey I go on with each book. I started this book before Christmas in 2019 and I didn’t finish it until after the time of quarantine, COVID-19. So, I write these acknowledgments I want to take the time to thank the people in my life that I have contact with, but don’t have the time to interact with. Like the person at the grocery story who walked in the door when I did, or the man at Starbucks who stood next to me while waiting or coffee. I miss those simple interactions. What this book taught me is that no introvert is ever completely alone and it is possible to be introverted and still interact with people. I can be both, an introverter interacter! When this crazy time has passed, I plan to be home as little as possible for awhile.
This book came about after waiting on my daughter to finish her horse riding classes. I wanted a different shifter and horse seemed perfect. So, thank you August for that.
I want to thank my proofreader, Katie. Please remind me I can not find my own mistakes no matter how cocky I might be.
Thank you to my reader’s group, my Luvers. It is such a thrill to write books that you enjoy and interact with you over our shared love for books, puns, funny memes, and hunky guys
Thank you to the readers from the MT Press World.
Thank you Milly for letting me write in your world.
Thank you Jennifer and Heather for helping behind the scenes.
Thank you to my family, for loving me despite how crazy I get when I work on a book. A special thank you to Cap for reminding me to eat like a normal person at normal times and reminding me that toast and coffee do not make a
And thank you readers for helping me realize my dream. A special thank you to those readers who have read this world within a world that I created since the beginning.
About the Author
Terri considers herself a professional liar. That's right, she tells stories for a living. She creates worlds and brings dreams to life. She writes paranormal romance and contemporary romance with the hope that she will make others enjoy reading as much as she has.
When she's not writing, she's staying connected to her inner hippie and searching the internet for funny memes. Her tribe includes a dog, two daughters, a ton of imaginary friends, and an incredible man who keeps her tethered to the ground while she flies.
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Website- http://www.terriawilson.com
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/wilsonterria/
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Also by Terri A. Wilson
Sanctuary for My Mate- Sassy Ever After
Forgiveness for My Mate
Harmony for My Mate
Shelter for My Mate
My Mate’s Destiny
Harmony for Mate
League of Wolf Protectors ~ Federal Paranormal Unit
Her Damaged Guardian
Her Redeemed Hero
Her Injured Protector
The Shadows
Let the Shadows Fall
Dragon Royalty
A Slow Burn
Fuel the Flame
Hot & Bothered
Feel the Burn
Light the Fire
Bonus Chapter: His Injured Protector
Talulah
There was only one way out of the small, dark room where Talulah sat, and since Tiny blocked the exit, she needed to think fast. Her concentration was flawless compared to the idiots sitting around her. Show off the valley snuggled between her mountains, and the blood from every man’s big head rushed to his little head. It worked every time. At least every time, she was the only female. Just her luck, the night she needed to win enough money to pay her rent, Ruby came too. Poker became more difficult with another set of boobs in the room.
Talulah, Lou to everyone but her grandmother, didn’t know Ruby well. The few times she ran into her, neither acknowledged the other. That was fine with Lou. Honey badgers didn’t play well with others.
She studied the cards fanned across her hands. If she discarded one, and Fate smiled on her, she’d win with a royal flush. If Fate was on her cigarette break, Lou was screwed. She carried four aces in various places in her body for just such instances, but with the males’ attention split, it would be harder to get to them.
Phoenix sat on her right. She sneaked peeks at his hand all night. He had nothing. Micah sat on her left. He sneezed when he had a good hand, and since he’d started sniffling, she knew his hand was decent. Kiefer sat across from her. He was hard to read. Cole and Ruby flanked him on either side. Cole’s talking increased as his hands improved. He sat quietly most of the evening. He wasn’t of any concern.
That just left Ruby, and she was as cool as any player that had joined on the Friday poker nights, the illegal Friday poker nights.
Ruby was a vampire-human hybrid. She enjoyed sunlight and digested food and blood. Her teased hair matched her ego, and her makeup was reminiscent of a teenage girl stuck in the eighties. Lou shuddered again, looking at the blue eyeshadow and matching blue mascara. The eighties were good, but not that good.
“We ain’t got all night, Lou. Whatcha gonna do?” Kiefer held the extra cards in his hand, ready to deal.
As fast as possible, she silently counted the played cards. It was a trick she’d learned when she worked in Vegas. They had played only three aces, clubs, spades, and hearts. She blew out her breath. The diamonds sitting in her hand needed a friend, and the friend was in Lou’s boot.
She sneezed. “Excuse me.”
Micah startled and made a grand gesture of wiping off his arm. “What the hell, Lou?”
She sneezed again. The grip on her cards lessened. The cards slipped onto the floor.
“Seriously?” Micah glared at her.
“Give me a break.” She bent over, reaching for her them. One hand moved past the karambit in her ankle sheath and slipped out the diamond ace in her boot. The custom bevel of the curved edge reminded her she had options, but she’d only pull out that hidden ace, if needed. Her other hand slipped the unwanted card inside her bra.
Kiefer chewed the cigar nub hanging out of his mouth. “You got it together?”
Lou nodded. “Fuck a duck. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
“Ha. She knows
your secret, Kief. Did you wear the pink lacy ones or the red thong?” Cole teased.
Kiefer squeezed Cole’s hand so hard the wolf shifter’s eyes bulged.
Cole slapped the table with his free hand. “Man, I was joking.”
Kiefer growled, confirming his displeasure. He let go, then pointed to the cards in his hand. “Lou, a card?”
A testosterone surge rained over the room. Angry males weren’t as easy to distract. Lou brought her arms closer together, pushing out her breasts, then leaned across the table. Cole’s face froze, his eyes transfixed on her bosom, but Kiefer’s eyes never moved away from her eyes.
Her voice, coated with so much sweetness it made her head hurt, purred, “I am soooo good, Kiefer.”
“So, I’ve heard, but do you need a card?”
Ruby snickered and rolled her eyes.
“No, no cards for me.” Lou pulled back and relaxed against the chair.
The hand played out until Ruby called for everyone to show their cards.
As she suspected, Phoenix had nothing. He slammed down his cards and pushed away from the table. Micah had two pairs. Cole didn’t bother showing his hand and pushed away too. That left Ruby, Kiefer, and Lou.
Ruby placed her cards on the table one at a time. She had a full house. “Beat that.” Every one of her big-ass teeth showed through her big-ass grin.
Kiefer nodded to Lou.
“That’s a pretty house, Ruby. Too bad it’s not a castle.” Lou laid down her hand.
Ruby scoffed.
“All right, Big Boy, what do you have?” Lou asked.
He smiled and laid down four cards. They amounted to nothing. “Oh, I’ve got nothing of significance.” He paused as his eyes shifted to the black-glass marble of a wolf. “But I’ve also got this, and it’s very interesting.”
Lou gulped her next breath, and her throat tightened. The square space of the room closed in on her. The ace of diamonds sat in front of Kiefer.
Wild Horses in Love Page 13
