Prologue
This chapter contains sexual/spicy content. 18+ Only.
***
Savannah
8 Years Ago…
I sat on the front porch steps, my bare feet kicking up small clouds of dust as I waited. My heart is beating with a mix of anticipation and dread. The night descended over the rolling hills of the Marlene McKinley Ranch.
I knew what was coming. I knew the words that Wyatt would say when he arrived. We’d been dancing around the subject for weeks now. Ever since he’d received that letter from the rodeo circuit. Promising him fame and fortune. A chance to make a name for himself in the world of professional bull riding.
I sighed, my fingers twisting the hem of my sun-faded dress. I should be happy for him. I should be proud of the man he was becoming. But all I could feel was a hollow ache in my chest, a sense of loss trying to consume me.
The rumble of a truck engine pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Wyatt’s old Ford kicking up a trail of dust as it came down the long driveway. He parked beside Liam’s truck, the door creaking as he climbed out.
“Hey you,” he called, his voice warm, his smile bright enough to rival the setting sun. “Sorry, I’m late. Had to help my dad with some fencing down by the creek.”
I stood, brushing the dirt from my dress as I stepped off the porch to meet him. “It’s alright,” I said, a fake smile on my face. “I know you’ve been busy, with all the packing and planning you’ve been doing.”
Wyatt’s grin faltered, his eyes searching my face. “Sav,” he said softly, his hands coming up, his thumbs brushing across my face. “You know I don’t want to leave you, right? If there was any other way...”
I shook my head, feeling tears trying to come down my face. “I know,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I know you have to go, Wyatt. I just... I wish...”
I trailed off, unable to voice the desperate longing in my heart. The wish that he would stay, that he would choose me, choose our love over the glitz and glamor of the rodeo. But I knew it was selfish, knew that I couldn’t ask him to give up his dreams, his chance at a better life.
Wyatt pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me tight. I buried my face in his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of hay and horses, the faint hint of sweat and cologne. He was my home, my forever love. The thought of losing him was like a physical ache, a hollow emptiness that threatened to consume me.
“I love you, Savannah McKinley,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my hair. “I’ve loved you since we were kids, running wild on this ranch. And I’ll love you till the day I die, no matter where I am or what I’m doing.”
I pulled back, my eyes with tears as I looked up at him. “Promise me,” I said fiercely, my hands holding onto the fabric of his shirt. “Promise me that you’ll come back to me, Wyatt. That you won’t forget about me, about us.”
Wyatt’s eyes softened, his hand coming up to cup my face. “I could never forget about you, Savannah. You’re a part of me, a part of my heart. And I swear, on everything I hold dear, that I will come back to you. No matter how long it takes, no matter what happens out there in the world. Silvercreek City will always be my home, and you will always be the love of my life.”
I let out a shaky breath, my heart swelling with fierce, desperate love. I stood up on my toes, my lips finding his in a passionate kiss.
Wyatt’s arms tightened around me, his mouth slanting over mine as he deepened the kiss.
When we broke apart, our faces were flushed. Wyatt rested his forehead against mine, his fingers tangling in my hair.
“I have something for you,” he murmured, his voice rough. “A promise, of sorts.”
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet pouch. I watched, my heart racing, as he tipped the contents into his palm.
It was a ring, a delicate band of gold with a small, sparkling diamond nestled at its center. Wyatt took my hand, as he slid the ring onto my finger.
“It was my Grandma’s,” he said softly, his eyes never leaving mine. “She gave it to me before she passed, told me to give it to the girl who captured my heart. And that’s you, Savannah. It’s always been you.”
I became speechless, my eyes widening as I stared down at the ring.
“Wyatt,” I breathed. “It’s beautiful. I love it, and I love you… So much it hurts.”
Wyatt smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned in to press a soft, sweet kiss to my lips. “I love you too, babe. More than anything in this world.”
We stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms. It was a perfect moment, a memory that I would always remember.
But like all perfect moments, it couldn’t last. The sound of a car door slamming broke the spell. I looked up to see my daddy striding towards us, his face set in a grim line.
“Wyatt,” he called, his voice gruff and no-nonsense. “I need a word with you, son.”
Wyatt tensed, his arms tightening around me for a brief moment before he released me. He straightened his shoulders as he turned to face my father.
“Yes, sir,” he said, his voice respectful. “What can I do for you, Mr. McKinley?”
My daddy stopped a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest as he fixed Wyatt with a hard stare. “I hear you’re to leave us,” he said, his tone flat. “Chasin’ some fool dream of bein’ a rodeo star.”
Wyatt swallowed hard, his jaw clenching as he met my daddy’s gaze. “Yes, sir,” he said firmly. “I’ve been offered a spot on the circuit, a chance to make a name for myself. It’s an opportunity I can’t pass up.”
Daddy’s eyes narrowed, his mouth thinning into a hard line. “And what about my daughter?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. “What about the promises you made to her, the life you two have been plannin’ together?”
Wyatt’s eyes flicked to me, a flash of pain and regret crossing his face. “I love your daughter, Mr. McKinley,” he said, his voice rough. “I love her more than anything in this world. And I swear to you, I will come back to her. I will make a life with her, and build a future together. But I have to do this first. I have to see what I’m capable of, have to chase this dream while I still can.”
My daddy stared at him for a long moment. And then, to my surprise, he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping.
“I was young once too,” he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. “I had dreams, had things I wanted to do and see. But then I met Savannah’s mama, and everything changed. She became my world, my reason for bein’. And when we lost her...” He trailed off, his eyes growing distant with old pain. “Well, it nearly broke me. But I had Savannah, her brothers, and her sister. The ranch and the life we’d built together. And that saved me, in the end.”
He fixed Wyatt with a piercing stare, his eyes hard and commanding. “You promise me, boy,” he said, his voice low and fierce. “You promise me that you’ll come back to my little girl, that you won’t break her heart the way mine was broken. Because if you do, if you hurt her...” He let the threat hang in the air, his meaning clear.
Wyatt looked at him, his chin lifting in defiance. “I won’t, sir,” he said. “I love Savannah more than my own life. And I will spend every day proving that to her, to you, to the whole damn world.”
Daddy nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes. “See that you do, son,” he said gruffly. “See that you do.”
With that, he turned towards the house, leaving Wyatt and me alone.
I let out a shaky breath, my eyes wide and shining with tears. “Wyatt,” I whispered. “Do you mean it? Do you really promise to come back to me, no matter what?”
Wyatt turned to me, his hands coming up to my face, his thumbs brushing away the tears. “I promise, babe,” he said, his voice low and passionate. “I promise that I will always come back to you, that I will always love you, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. You are my home, Savannah McKinley. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”
I stood up on my toes, my lips crashing against his in a fierce, desperate kiss. Wyatt’s arms wrapped around me, crushing me to his chest as he deepened the kiss, pouring all of his love.
Wyatt rested his forehead against mine, his fingers tangling in my hair.
“Should we go to the barn for a while?”
I led Wyatt by the hand, my heart pounding in my chest as we made our way to the barn. The moon was now high and bright over the rolling hills of the Marlene McKinley Ranch.
The air between us crackled with anticipation. The weight of our impending separation hangs heavy over our shoulders. But tonight, we would push aside those fears and doubts, and instead, enjoy the time we have left with each other.
I pushed open the barn door. The scent of hay and horses filled my nostrils, a familiar and comforting aroma that I’d grown up with.
I turned to face Wyatt, my eyes searching his face as I tried to memorize every line, every curve, every freckle. He was so handsome, with his short, dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me.
Wyatt held my face in his hands, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “Hey, what’s this?” he murmured, his voice low and soothing.
“I’m just... I’m going to miss you so much, Wyatt,” I whispered.
He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I’m going to miss you too, babe. More than you’ll ever know. But I promise you, I’ll come back to you. I’ll make you so proud, and we’ll build the life we’ve always dreamed of.”
I nodded, sniffling back my tears as I tried to be strong for him. For us.
Wyatt’s lips found mine once again. His kiss deepened as he backed me up against the wall of the barn. His hands roamed over my body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake as he explored every curve.
I let out a soft moan, my fingers in his hair as I pulled him closer to me. I wanted to feel him, to taste him.
Wyatt’s hands moved to the hem of my dress, slowly inching it up as his lips trailed kisses down my neck. I shivered, my body aching for his touch. His hands gripped my thighs as he lifted me as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Pulling him closer as our kiss deepened.
He groaned, his hands gripping my thighs harder, carrying me over to a nearby pile of hay bales. He gently lowered me down, his body hovering over mine as he gazed into my eyes.
Our clothes started to come off in a frenzy, each of us eager to feel the other’s skin against our own. Wyatt’s fingers traced over every inch of my body, his touch igniting a fire within me.
His mouth followed the path of his hands. Kissing every inch of my body.
I let out a gasp as Wyatt’s hands found my sensitive breasts, squeezing them as I gasped. As he drove me closer and closer to the edge.
“Wyatt,” I begged, my body desperate for release.
In response, he leaned down, his tongue replacing his fingers as he tasted and teased my breasts. My hands gripped his hair, my body bucking wildly as I cried out his name, the waves of pleasure crashing over me.
His fingers traced a path down my stomach. Sliding his finger under my panties. I bit my lower lip as he explored my wet entry. Kissing me as his fingers started to move in and out of my body.
But I wanted more. I wanted all of him. I wanted him inside of me.
“I need you, Wyatt,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with desire.
He didn’t need to be told twice. With one swift thrust, he was inside me, filling me completely. I let out a cry of pleasure, my nails digging into his back as he began to move, each thrust driving me closer and closer.
Our bodies moved together, the sounds of our pleasure filling the barn. Panting and spent, we collapsed onto each other. Our limbs tangled together in an embrace.
We spent the night wrapped up in each other’s arms. Our breathing eventually slowed down as we whispered sweet words. We made promises that we vowed to keep, no matter what the future held.
“I love you, Savannah McKinley,” he whispered, his voice rough.
“I love you too, Wyatt Jameson,” I murmured, my heart swelling with love for this man, this cowboy who had roped my heart.
As the first light of dawn began to break through the cracks in the barn walls. We reluctantly untangled ourselves from each other’s embrace. Wyatt pulled on his jeans and shirt, his eyes never leaving mine as he dressed.
I watched him, my heart aching with a mix of love and sadness as I tried to memorize every moment, every touch, every kiss.
Wyatt leaned in, pressing one last, lingering kiss to my lips. “I’ll be back before you know it, babe. And when I am, we’ll build the life we’ve always dreamed of. I promise you.”
“I have to go,” he murmured, his voice rough with regret. “I need to leave in an hour, and I still have to finish packing.”
I nodded, my throat tight. “I know,” I whispered, my fingers clutching at his shirt. “Just... just promise me one more thing, Wyatt Jameson.”
Wyatt pulled back slightly, his eyes searching my face. “Anything, Sav. Anything at all.”
I took a deep breath, my eyes locking with his. “Promise me that you’ll be careful out there,” I said fiercely. “That you’ll remember that you have someone waiting for you. Someone who loves you more than life itself. Promise me that you’ll come back to me in one piece, no matter how long it takes.”
Wyatt’s eyes softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I promise, babe,” he said. “I promise that I will always be careful, that I will always remember what I have waiting for me here. And I promise that I will come back to you, whole and healthy and ready to start our life together.”
I nodded, a watery smile spreading across my face. “I’m going to hold you to that, cowboy,” I said. “I’m going to be here, waiting for you, for as long as it takes.”
Wyatt grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned in to press a soft, sweet kiss to my lips. “I’m counting on it, babe. I’m counting on you.”
With that, he released me, stepping back and grabbing his hat from where it had fallen in the dirt. He settled it on his head, his eyes never leaving mine as he backed towards his truck.
“I love you, Savannah McKinley,” he called, his voice carrying across the distance between us. “I love you more than anything in this world.”
My smile widened. “I love you too, Wyatt Jameson. Always and forever.”
I watched as he climbed into his truck, the engine rumbling to life as he pulled out of the driveway. He lifted one hand in a final wave as he disappeared down the road, taking a piece of my heart with him.
With a final glance at the ring on my finger, I turned and headed back towards the house, a small smile on my face.
