boy?”
Tristan had become so obsessed with Riley’s whereabouts, he didn’t understand Hunter’s question right away. His confusion turned to horror as Hunter stooped and pried something from Brutus’ mouth. The white lace bra and pink t-shirt Hunter held between his hands were unmistakably Riley’s. Tristan bit back a groan. With his eyes locked on his hands, Hunter seemed to weigh the scraps of material he held, moving a few feet away, he found the other half of Riley’s clothes. Tristan stared at the top of Hunter’s bent head, praying harder than he had in years, and that was saying something.
“I know I’ve seen these before but darned if I can remember where.” Lifting his gaze, he flashed the light around the surrounding fields and into the nearby tree line. “I wonder what they’re doing out here?”
Luckily, Tristan didn’t have to pretend as if he was searching out the owner of the clothes, as well. He really was. “I have no idea,” he muttered under his breath, before saying louder, “It looks as if their owner is long gone now.”
Tristan watched in horror as he stuffed the clothing under his arm. “I’ll just take them with me. Maybe their owner will turn up wanting them back, or I’ll remember who they belong to if I stare at them long enough.” That was a bit creepy. All Tristan could do was nod. Inside, he was dying. No doubt there were a million ways the night could continue its downhill spiral, but wow, at the moment, he couldn’t think of many. Hunter shook his head again. “Well, Brother Daniels. I’ll leave you to your walk and don’t worry about having wandered off your land. You know you’re always welcome here.”
“You have a good night,” Tristan said, shaking hands and rushing him along. Hunter paused, casting another sad look toward the pond.
“Yep. I think about that night all the time,” he muttered as he walked away, finally leaving Tristan alone with his panic. He watched the other man’s form fade away, trying to wait until he was certain he was alone before freaking out.
“He took my clothes.” The matter of fact words floated from inside some nearby bushes, bringing an immediate smile to Tristan’s face.
“Yes, ma’am. He sure did.”
“Well. Damn.”
Tristan snorted. The instant the sound left him something inside him snapped, and a low chuckle left his lips, followed quickly by a roar of laughter. Relief and adrenaline pooled together in his blood making Tristan almost delirious. This was easily the most ludicrous thing he’d experienced in a long time. He’d never felt more alive.
***
Tristan’s deep laughter poured through the woods, caressing Riley’s ears. She pressed her forehead against the tree she hid behind, allowing the bark to bite into her skin. The smile pulling at her lips was beyond her control. Tristan did something to her on the inside. He touched her in some way. She very much feared it was her heart. Making him happy, if only for a minute, made her night. With a deep breath for courage, she stepped into view. The laughter died on his lips. This time, he didn’t look away as she moved toward him. Even in the dark, she could see the way his eyes flashed with lust. Before she reached him, Tristan tugged his shirt over his head. Her steps faltered. His body was even better than she imagined. When she didn’t move any closer, Tristan closed the distance between them. Rendered mute, she could only watch as he pulled the shirt over her head and tucked her arms inside the sleeves as if dressing a child.
Riley let it happen. Her gaze remained locked on his face. She couldn’t look away. With his head bent over his task, his closed expression gave nothing away. She wanted his thoughts. His words. Everything. His eyes followed his hands, carefully avoiding her stare. As he swept her hair from beneath the collar of the shirt and pulled it over one shoulder, his knuckles brushed her nipple. She gasped. A wave of pleasure rolled
Tristan had become so obsessed with Riley’s whereabouts, he didn’t understand Hunter’s question right away. His confusion turned to horror as Hunter stooped and pried something from Brutus’ mouth. The white lace bra and pink t-shirt Hunter held between his hands were unmistakably Riley’s. Tristan bit back a groan. With his eyes locked on his hands, Hunter seemed to weigh the scraps of material he held, moving a few feet away, he found the other half of Riley’s clothes. Tristan stared at the top of Hunter’s bent head, praying harder than he had in years, and that was saying something.
“I know I’ve seen these before but darned if I can remember where.” Lifting his gaze, he flashed the light around the surrounding fields and into the nearby tree line. “I wonder what they’re doing out here?”
Luckily, Tristan didn’t have to pretend as if he was searching out the owner of the clothes, as well. He really was. “I have no idea,” he muttered under his breath, before saying louder, “It looks as if their owner is long gone now.”
Tristan watched in horror as he stuffed the clothing under his arm. “I’ll just take them with me. Maybe their owner will turn up wanting them back, or I’ll remember who they belong to if I stare at them long enough.” That was a bit creepy. All Tristan could do was nod. Inside, he was dying. No doubt there were a million ways the night could continue its downhill spiral, but wow, at the moment, he couldn’t think of many. Hunter shook his head again. “Well, Brother Daniels. I’ll leave you to your walk and don’t worry about having wandered off your land. You know you’re always welcome here.”
“You have a good night,” Tristan said, shaking hands and rushing him along. Hunter paused, casting another sad look toward the pond.
“Yep. I think about that night all the time,” he muttered as he walked away, finally leaving Tristan alone with his panic. He watched the other man’s form fade away, trying to wait until he was certain he was alone before freaking out.
“He took my clothes.” The matter of fact words floated from inside some nearby bushes, bringing an immediate smile to Tristan’s face.
“Yes, ma’am. He sure did.”
“Well. Damn.”
Tristan snorted. The instant the sound left him something inside him snapped, and a low chuckle left his lips, followed quickly by a roar of laughter. Relief and adrenaline pooled together in his blood making Tristan almost delirious. This was easily the most ludicrous thing he’d experienced in a long time. He’d never felt more alive.
***
Tristan’s deep laughter poured through the woods, caressing Riley’s ears. She pressed her forehead against the tree she hid behind, allowing the bark to bite into her skin. The smile pulling at her lips was beyond her control. Tristan did something to her on the inside. He touched her in some way. She very much feared it was her heart. Making him happy, if only for a minute, made her night. With a deep breath for courage, she stepped into view. The laughter died on his lips. This time, he didn’t look away as she moved toward him. Even in the dark, she could see the way his eyes flashed with lust. Before she reached him, Tristan tugged his shirt over his head. Her steps faltered. His body was even better than she imagined. When she didn’t move any closer, Tristan closed the distance between them. Rendered mute, she could only watch as he pulled the shirt over her head and tucked her arms inside the sleeves as if dressing a child.
Riley let it happen. Her gaze remained locked on his face. She couldn’t look away. With his head bent over his task, his closed expression gave nothing away. She wanted his thoughts. His words. Everything. His eyes followed his hands, carefully avoiding her stare. As he swept her hair from beneath the collar of the shirt and pulled it over one shoulder, his knuckles brushed her nipple. She gasped. A wave of pleasure rolled
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