#outer range imagine

“There's my pretty girl,” Rhett mumbled, finding you alone in the Abbott’s old barn opposite Red, an appaloosa, who was greatly enjoying the attention as you reached your hand over the stall door, rubbing between his chestnut coloured ears. You shouldn't have favourites, but this old charmer was definitely yours.

He takes you all in, sweeping his eyes over the pale yellow sundress, with straps tied flimsy around your neck Rhett was sure would come undone with one quick tug, and down to your worn in cowboy boots. Something about the dirt on them had the corners of his lips ticking higher. It was a reminder that your years in the city hadn't changed you completely. Inside your heart, you were still the girl who spent your summers cooling off in the lake, following Rhett and your brother through fields with grass stains on your knees, and sat in the stands at Rhett's first ever rodeo, hands covering your eyes so you wouldn't see him hit the ground after only being on the bull for five seconds.

“Foods nearly ready,” Rhett says, and you turned your head to flash him a smile, his heart skipping a beat every time you did. He was so lucky to have you and he didn't take that luck for granted. “Mom's tried making that salad you like.”

“With the strawberries in it?”

He nodded. “That's the one.” You gave Red one last stroke and turned to Rhett, who was already wrapping his arms around your waist. “Still not sure about that, by the way,” he says, pulling you closer.

You tip the brim of his hat back, uncovering his eyes and all the beauty within them. “That's because all you eat is meat and potatoes.”

“Hasn't done me any harm yet.”

“Yet,” you repeat back to him. “Even cowboys have to eat their greens.” Rhett chuckles, soft and light. “Did you get the fence fixed?” You wrap your arms around his neck, locking your fingers together.

“Nearly,” he grunts, his jaw ticking. The Tillersons would lie and say they had nothing to do with the snipped wire and damaged fencing, but Rhett knew it was them. “Dad wants Perry and me to go out and replace a few of the posts. Better they be done now before winter inevitably comes.”

“I can ask Ford to see if he can lend you a hand?”

Rhett shakes his head. “Your brother's got enough on his plate. When's Lilly due?”

Your eyes light up. “In six weeks.”

“Excited?” The question was unnecessary, Rhett could see it hanging off every feature, and he'd be lying if the smile you bore wasn't infectious. It tugs on the side of his mouth, forming a half-smile.

“Weren't you when Amy was born?”

“I was happy for Perry, but I sure as shit didn't know how to be an uncle.” His thumb strokes along your jaw and you tilt your head, melting into his soft touch. “Still trying to figure it out.”

Your lips brush lightly against his stubble jaw. “I'd say you're doing a perfectly good job at it. Amy loves you.” You go to step away from him, but his hands remain firmly on your hips, face scrunched up and mumbling something under his breath about not wanting to leave yet. “Rhett,” you giggle, shaking your head. “Come on, your mom probably needs some help with dinner.”

“Amy's helping her and Perry and Dad are grilling the steaks,” Rhett protests, walking you one stumbled step after another, moving you both further backwards into the barn. You squeal, laughing as you tighten your arms around his neck, nearly tripping onto your ass. And the barn stall feels hard behind your back as you finally make contact. “I haven't seen you all day,” he speaks in a low voice.

You shrug, nonchalantly. “I've been busy.”

“So I've heard. Guitar lessons?”

“Just the basic stuff.”

“You know she's going to hound Perry nonstop for a guitar, right?”

“I still have my first guitar,” you mumble, “she can have that.”

“They don't give awards out to nannies, you know?” Rhett teases, stroking his thumbs in slow circles up and down your sides.

“But I'd win them all if they did.”

Rhett chuckles. “Damn right, you would.”

His hand curls around the back of your neck, holding you still. His eyes are trained on you, with the briefest of smiles hugging at the edges of his lips. Nothing around you matters when he looks at you like this. And damnit was it too easy for you to get lost in those blue eyes.

They spoke a language you had been trying to learn your whole life.

“No one up at the house needs us right now,” Rhett says, lowering his voice to a tone that sends a shiver down your spine, your arms freckled with goosebumps. His hands slip down to grip your waist. “It's just you and me-”

“-and Red,” your smart mouth adds.

“Yes,” Rhett turns to the horse, who had turned away from you, no longer interested in who was in the barn if he wasn't receiving attention, “and Red.”

“Your mom will send someone looking for us, if we're not back in time to eat with everyone else.”

“I'll be done with you before that happens.”

Your hands slide down to his chest, your throat bobbing as you swallow hard. “Oh.”

He licks his lips, the thin upper lip parting from the bottom as he cracks a faint smile. “Oh,” he echoes you, adding a short chuckle to the end. He leans down, and his mouth finds yours. “Wanted to do that all fuckin’ day, doll,” he confesses, breaking the kiss just as quickly as it began.

He guides the tip of his nose down the column of your throat, his dick stirring in his wranglers as he breathes in cherry notes of your perfume. And you knock his hat off, tugging hard on his long hair, whimpering out into the barn as he greets your collarbone with a soft bite.

You go with a squeak, Rhett's hands gripping your hips harder and turning you to face the stall. The corners of your lips tick higher, hugged by a grin that knew exactly what was to come next.

This wasn't your first rodeo, and the risk of getting caught always made this hotter.

“Such a pretty dress,” Rhett drawls, nose buried into your neck, “on a pretty girl that I'm about to ruin.”

Taking a fistful of your dress, he hikes the hemline up, exposing the backs of your thighs to the elements of the barn.

He lifts his eyebrows. “Panties today?” Rhett only asks because the last time you wore this dress, you had simply ‘forgotten’ to wear them.

“You don't like them?”

“Oh, I like them, baby,” he replies, licking his lips with greed. His thumb traces over the white cotton and lace. “She always does look so pretty when you dress her up for me.”

He kicks your feet apart, widening your legs, and you submit fully to his control. You were going to do everything he tells you to, even if that did go against that fierce independence that's been a part of you for as long as you could remember. He bends your body and you turn your head so your cheek is pressing against the wood, straining your eyes so you can watch behind you.

Your breathing comes out choppy as he hooks his free hand into your panties, dragging them down just low enough to give him enough room. “Rhett,” you whimper, feeling him slide a couple of fingers between your legs. They leave an ache as he retracts his hands to give his fingers a quick clean.

“Already wet,” Rhett groans, his breath fanning across your neck. “Dirty girl. I haven't even started and you're dripping f'me.”

“Please, Rhett.”

He unbuckles his belt. “What do you want?”

“Anything,” you beg, “please, do something!”

“Gonna need you to be specific, princess.” Rhett moves his hand back between your legs, rubbing your clit in slow circles. He teases out faint whimpers and you almost forget his original questions. “What will it be? My fingers? Maybe my tongue?” He withdraws his hand again and you whine at the feeling of him gone. “Or could it be that you're desperate for my cock?”

A moan falls past your lips feeling the blunt end of his cock pressing against your pussy. “Yes. Fuck, yes. That, Rhett.”

“Say it,” he demands, continuing to guide his tip up and down the seam, your body jerking as it hits the little bundle of nerves. Wetness collects on the head and he jerks it down his shaft. “Say, I want your cock.”

“I want your cock,” you reply instantly, cheeks burning with warmth at how desperate you sounded.

“A little louder.”

“Rhett, please!” A whine rips from your throat. “I already said it!”

“I know,” Rhett chuckles, pushing into you with one hard thrust. The intrusion takes your breath, and you gasp and moan at the familiarity you feel as you stretch around him. It’s addictive. “I just like to hear you beg,” he says, speaking against the shell of your ear, “you always sound so pretty when you beg for it, doll.”

He draws back, hands on your hips to hold you steady, and he groans at the wet sheen left behind on his shaft. He slips back in, going in harder this time, slamming himself forward. Your hands shoot out, slapping against the wall, as he does it again, over and over, getting lost in all that was you.

“Rhett,” you moan. His name rolls so easily off your tongue. It was the sexiest thing he had ever heard.

“Doin’ so good for me,” he grunts, grabbing your chin and pulling you back to face him.

His mouth crashes down on yours, his tongue rolling across yours in dominance. You couldn't help but clench around him every time he took your mouth like this.

“And when you do that?” He breaks away, a guttural groan forcing its way past as his eyes roll back.

Quickly, your mind had become mush, and there wasn't much you could say other than “yes,” and “Rhett.”

“You gonna come, baby?” You nod, sobbing what was close enough to answer.

Satisfaction rolls through him, knowing he could turn someone who was so beautiful and smart into a sobbing mess. A pretty, sobbing mess. He grips your hips harder and picks up the pace, his cock repeatedly hitting the sweet spot that twisted and tightened the coil inside you.

“Touch yourself,” Rhett grunts, sliding one hand up your back and over the back of your neck. His hand curls, fingers moulding to the shape as he grabs at your throat, holding you in place. “Come with me.”

Your hand leaves the wall, getting lost between your thighs, as the other is trying to grasp at the wood. “Fuck,” you breathe out, your clit slick and swollen beneath your fingertips, rubbing it in fast circles, until the dam finally breaks. “Oh, my god…”

Rhett follows you, his body unable to hold off any longer as your pussy clenches his cock. He spills into you, your name floating off his lips like a prayer. “This is heaven,” he mumbles, heading falling forward, pressing into your neck as the last of him empties. “It has to be.”

You'd agree, but you were too breathless to find your voice.

He fixes himself back into his jeans and leans down, pulling your panties back up and smoothing your dress out. “How we doing this?” He asks, spinning you around to face him. “I'll distract my family and you sneak upstairs?”

“Not the most romantic aftercare I've received,” you laugh, “make sure to save me some of those rolls, though?”

He kisses your cheek. “If Perry hasn't already eaten them all.”

Rhett doesn’t take his mouth away from you, even as you stumble into your bedroom and practically fall back on the bed. You knew he would be like this when he got home and it was exactly why you hadn’t put on any underwear that day. He rubs his hands up and down your thighs, pushing up your dress and then he pauses, lifting his head to look at you. He doesn’t say anything, but you can see the way that his eyes light up and the way that his lips twitch into a wicked smirk before he pushes his head between your thighs.

Like always, Rhett doesn’t start off slow, he wraps his arms around the top of your legs, just below where they connect to your hips and he pulls you in, rough and quick.

You wrap your legs around his neck without him even having to say anything, you know that he’s not gonna be moving anytime soon and that you might as well get comfortable. Not to mention that you know, he wants to be as close as possible, and if he has any trouble breathing, he’ll let you know.

He wasted no time in shoving his tongue into you, moaning, loudly, at the taste of you. Rhett had never been quiet in bed, not unless the situation absolutely needed it and even then sometimes you need to cover his mouth just to remind him. Now was not one of those times.

You can't help but push your hips up into his face, whining as he removes his tongue and latches his mouth to your clit, sucking roughly with his own grateful moan. He brings his right hand down from where his fingertips were no doubt bruising your thighs and shoves two thick fingers into your tight cunt with no warning.

While you're busy crying out in pleasure, your back arching up off the bed, Rhett is removing his mouth from you and kissing the inside of your thighs. Of course, you had noticed the prickly hair that had been growing out of Rhett's jaw and chin; you knew he hadn't shaved while he was away, but you hadn't thought about how that prickly hair would feel against the sensitive skin of your inner thighs.

The slight burn of it makes you moan, squeezing your thighs tighter against his head just to get a little more. As he got more into it, the burn got hotter, brighter, and the prickling of your skin only added to the pleasure as you writhed against Rhett's mouth, whining out "Gonna cum"

The ramifications of Rhett not shaving and then spending what felt like hours between your thighs didn't hit you until the next day. You woke up, the inside of your thighs still burning as you wobbled to the bathroom and flicked on the light.

Looking down, you could see two bright red patches on the upper insides of your thighs, tiny little cuts left by Rhett's sharp stubble. You place your hand over one of the patches and hiss at the sensitivity, your skin warm to the touch.

Rhett steps up beside you, sucking in a breath through his teeth almost sympathetically. "Shit, I guess I should break out the razor, huh?"

Despite the fire on your skin, you spin around to look at him, placing your hand on his jaw, rubbing it back and forth against the short beard. "Hell no," You smirk. "I recommend you throw it out."

——

Maybe sometimes you exaggerated in your mannerisms, feigning surprise and disbelief every time a boy flirted with you or you laughed softly, blushing when you heard a dirty joke as if the possibility of imagining that didn't exist in your mind.

Oh you, always so adorable and helpful, you helped feed the animals, collected the eggs and helped in the kitchen, sometimes you even offered to carry the heavy alfalfa and tried to watch over the pigeon nests that were on the tin roof of your house despite your height.

But when you walked by that cowboy, your whole facade fell apart because with just one look, you two knew how naughty you really were. But that was a secret, of course. That cowboy wasn't very popular with many people. He was the kind of man who would take advantage of others, or the kind who always had that "all in control" and sarcastic attitude. And your family wouldn't let you get near him for anything.

Gosh, what would the townspeople say if they heard you screaming Rhett's name at night like an unhinged beast? It would be a calamity. Or seeing you "casually" walk past him in a sinfully short skirt only to have him dragged behind the barn? Oh no, God forbid!

No, no one could imagine that behind that sweet appearance hid an absolutely nasty girl, and that amused Rhett. He enjoyed imagining people's faces if they saw you riding him like a wild beast, uttering the filthiest things in his ear that shot out of your sweet little mouth like snake venom.

They also couldn't tell how you walked by him, savoring a lollipop and looking at him through your thick eyelashes, or how you bent over to pick a daisy to take to your mother, accidentally revealing your butt and your under-dress. Or how Rhett, clenching his jaw to contain himself, suddenly snapped and easily lifted you up to sit on the fence, kissing your neck and behind your ear, and how whenever that happened, you'd slyly ask him to please leave some slightly visible hickeys.

Only he knew the real you. And how many times has he laughed mockingly or rolled his eyes at you performing that absurd pantomime like a play where you played the role of a virgin, pure, and perfect girl.

"Why can't I wear a man's cowboy hat?" you asked, pouting.

Your older brother laughed modestly but sympathetically, shaking his head at his sister. As if she couldn't reason with something like that.

"That's a story for another day...or another life."

And Abbott couldn't help but remember all the times he had you on top of him just because of that hat rule.

His cerulean eyes darted from your tits to your face, unable to focus on one spot. He watched them bounce with each thrust you made on his cock, then looked at you, your proud smile lifting one corner higher than the other and your hand holding the hat on your head. His hat

"You are a very dirty girl, I wonder what others would say if they saw you like this right now, doll" He laughed between grunts as he felt your walls tighten.

You laughed sarcastically. "I don't care if I can keep riding you like this."

Your hips rocked back and forth as if you were riding a mechanical bull, following a controlled rhythm so you wouldn't tire. Rhett threw his head back and dug his fingers into your thighs and butt.

"Ngh Jesus doll, look at you taking me so well. But fffuck what will your family say about this?" he teases you because he knew you really didn't care otherwise you wouldn't be with him.

You leaned your body over him and grabbed the hair on the back of his neck, pulling it back. Rhett let out a guttural moan.

"Shut that pretty fucking mouth of yours unless you use it to eat my pussy, huh?"

“Are you okay, honey?” Cecilia asked as she walked into the living room, her bathrobe tied tightly around her waist. You nodded and set your phone down again. She nodded, “Amy, get to bed.” 

“But Dad isn’t home yet,” Amy whined as she sank onto the couch. You frowned and offered her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. Amy groaned and reluctantly got up from the sofa.

“How about I read to you, Ams?” you offered as you followed her lead to the stairs. Amy nodded eagerly. As you were about to go upstairs, the front door swung open, revealing a glassy-eyed Perry and a stumbling Rhett. “Oh lord…” you mumbled, “Ams, how about you go upstairs.” Amy looked between the three of you. 

“I can read to ya, baby, com’on.” Perry hung his jacket on the coat rack as Rhett looked at you like he was about to pounce. Perry clapped his hands, “Com’on Ams. Get upstairs.” Amy nodded and walked upstairs. Perry shot you an apathetic look before following her. The two of them were half way up the stairs when Rhett pounced, making you yip.

“You’re so pretty…” Rhett mumbled as he buried his face in the crook of your neck. You shook your head and tried to push him off of you only for Rhett to wrap his arms around you even tighter. “Why you tryin’ to get away baby?”

“Rhett you’re drunk, let’s just get you upstairs.” you scolded as you tried to wiggle out of his grip.

“With you?” he cooed as he squeezed you tighter. You nodded and Rhett exhaled against your hair, “I love you baby.”

-

He wasn’t sure when you’d snagged the keys to his truck, but you wouldn’t let him drive you home. Perry had driven himself and offered to take him, but Rhett insisted on staying with you, so you took him to your place so he could sober up before heading back to the ranch. It wasn’t like Jamie would be back soon. 

What Rhett tried to tell you was that he wasn’t drunk. 

He was pissed off. 

“I’m going back to that bar and I’m-”

“Sit down and stop talking, Rhett Abbott,” you snapped, filling a glass of water from the sink and setting it down in front of him, your hand shaking so bad you almost dropped it. 

“Y/N, the guy’s an assh-”

“I said shut up!” Your voice rang through the small living room. You brought your trembling hand up to your lips to hold back a cry. “Please, Rhett, I just… I need a second of silence, okay?” Blinking back more tears than you could take, you turned to the window so you wouldn’t have to look at him anymore. If you had to see those fury-filled blue eyes anymore, you would shatter completely. 

Rhett stood, leaving the glass untouched on the table. His boots fell heavy on the creaky floorboards behind you. Rhett raised a hand to lay on your shoulder, but decided against it. 

“I hate to see him hurt you,” he said softly. 

“Yeah, well,” you laughed bitterly, “it’s nothing I haven’t brought on myself.” 

Rhett’s brows drew together and this time, he did grab your shoulder to turn you around to face him. Tears streaked down your cheeks and it snapped something inside him the way it always did. 

“Y/N, you know this isn’t your fault.”

“I married the bastard, didn’t I?” Your face was too hot, the rest of your body too frigid cold. You stared at where his hand touched you and wanted more than anything to lean into him. You wanted him to wrap you in his strong arms and never let go. You wanted him to make you forget. Instead, you stepped away. “I think you need to go, Rhett.” 

His face hardened again. “I don’t think you should be alone when he gets back. He’s had too much to drink and-”

“And what? You think I can fight back?”

“Listen to yourself,” Rhett exclaimed. “Fight back? You shouldn't have to worry about ‘fighting back’ against the man who is supposed to protect you. Who’s supposed to take care of you and make sure nothing bad happens to you. Who’s supposed to make you happy.” The intensity of his stare and passion in his voice almost made you cave altogether. 

But this was Rhett. You couldn’t drag him into your problems any more than you could stop him from riding bulls. 

“I’m not going to ask again,” you said, quieter this time. “Please. Go.”

You couldn't tell which was growing darker, the clouds outside or the anger in his eyes. Rhett nodded. He fixed his hat back on his head and kissed your temple. 

“You take care of yourself, Y/N,” he whispered against your hair. 

You forced a small smile as he pulled away. “I always do.”

And then he did just as you asked. He left. 

And Jamie returned just as Rhett said he would- stinking drunk. He climbed into bed smelling like cheap liquor and even cheaper perfume. It made your skin crawl, but when his arm slung around your waist, you didn’t bother moving it.

“Hey, baby,” he breathed. It was hot and uncomfortable. Not like the way Rhett’s words had fluttered by your ear, warming your neck. “I’m sorry about tonight. You know how clingy some of those buckle bunnies get.”

“I’m pretty sure they only go after the riders, Jamie.” You kept your back to him, trying to hold in your anger and the tears that wanted to spill over again. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Crying in front of Rhett was bad enough for one evening. 

“Let me make it up to you.” Jamie kissed a line along your shoulder, sloppy and beer-scented. 

“Not tonight, James.”

“Aw, come on, babe. I know all the ways to get you hot-” His hands moved from your waist to the hemline of your nightgown. 

You sat up, tugging it down. “I said knock it off,” you snapped. Swinging your legs over the bed, your feet fell to the cool tile. “Don’t you ever know when to stop?”

“Alright,” Jamie huffed. He rolled onto his other side. “Don’t have to be such a bitch about it.”

Hands clenched into fists at your sides, but you didn’t say another word. You just grabbed a throw blanket from the chest at the foot of your bed and went out to sleep on the couch. The glass of water was still on the table. With a deep breath, you brought it to your lips and drank it down. 

Outside, the storm passed over without a drop hitting the dry, hard ground. 

-

You slept most of the next day, though you didn’t get much real rest at all. You tossed and turned on the couch for hours. Jamie didn’t even acknowledge you were there, too busy nursing his hangover. He’d even spilled coffee on your ankle, sticking out from the too-small blanket, because he wasn’t paying attention. It was the first time he even noticed you. He’d just grunted and went out to sit with one of his buddies from the park. 

You hated this trailer park. You hated this trailer. 

You hated your life. 

So, you spent the day wallowing, which had just made you feel worse, but there wasn’t anything to do about it. You felt like you couldn’t move. The weight of everything was just hitting you all at once and there was only one person who’d made it feel a little lighter, and you’d sent him away. 

Jamie headed out for the rodeo a few hours early to pre-game with his ‘friends’. You wondered which girl he’d be taking with him this time. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d been the one hanging off his arm as he cheered in the stands, looking at him like he could solve the world. How that had ever been you to begin with still made your stomach turn. 

The rumble of the truck outside pulled you out of your thoughts and off of the couch. 

You opened the door before he could knock. 

Rhett stood with his hands in his pockets and his hat low. He looked you over with his lips drawn in a concerned frown. Still, as cold as those eyes could be, they warmed every inch of you now. 

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said softly. “I would have come earlier, but I didn’t want to cause you more problems.”

"Shouldn't you be getting ready?” You asked. You could see the outline of his rodeo gear in the back of the cab.

He shrugged. “I’ve got time.” 

With a heavy, low sigh, you stepped aside. “Come in, then.” Turning your back on him so he wouldn’t see the relief on your face, you tried to distract yourself from his stare burning into your back. 

“I won’t stay long.” Rhett’s boots scuffed against your floor and he never took his hands from his pockets as he walked, looking like a kicked puppy. “Like I said, I don’t want to cause you any more problems, Y/N.”

“You don’t have to be so formal.” Your exasperation weighed on your words, but so did your guilt. The guilt of how good it felt to see him. “It’s just me, Rhett.”

A small scoff escaped his lips. “Just you.” Rhett ran a hand down his face. “Y/N, there is no just you.” He set his hat on the arm of the chair and looked at you with an intensity that could have knocked you off your feet. “You aren’t just beautiful or just kind or just brave.” The emotion carried in his voice like a breeze on a hot day. It was everything you needed and yet it warned of a storm. “And you aren’t just my best friend.”

“Rhett-” His name cracked on your tongue like the lightning waiting in the clouds outside.

“I’m in love with you,” he said, sure as a rolling thunder. 

You covered your mouth with your hand to muffle the cry, but your hand shook so badly it didn’t help much.  

“Rhett, don’t,” you pleaded. 

He took a step toward you. He hated it when you cried. “I love you, Y/N. I have since the day I met you and I’ve worked every day to fight it because just being around you is everything to me, but I can’t stand by and let him hurt you anymore without you knowing-” He inhaled sharply. “Without knowing that I could make you happy. I know I could. If you gave me the chance, Y/N, because I know you love me too.” 

Outside, the wind kicked up, but still, not a drop fell from those heavy gray clouds. 

You stilled yourself, hastily wiping away a runaway tear. “I think you should go, Rhett.”

“Don’t do this.” Now it was his voice that cracked. He was open and raw and bleeding out in front of you and you couldn’t bear it. You couldn’t. Not in this place. 

“You need to go get ready.”

“Y/N-”

“I need you to go get ready, Rhett!” Your voice rang through the trailer. Raking your fingers through your hair, you felt like every bit of you was coming apart at the seams. The longer he looked at you like that, with the honesty and fury of a summer storm in his eyes, the more you could feel yourself falling to pieces. “Please. Just get out.” 

Rhett lingered a moment, hoping that you’d changed your mind. But you didn’t. So he picked up his hat and headed for the door. 

He stopped, hand on the frame, hat tilted forward to cover his face. “Will you be there tonight?”

You swallowed back a sob. “Aren’t I always?”

“Good,” he muttered, more to himself than to you. “Good.” Rhett straightened up and headed out, leaving you to collapse onto your couch, shaking worse than a flame holding onto its wick in the rain. 

You must have laid like that for hours before you pulled yourself together. You knew you needed to get ready. The rodeo would be starting soon and you never missed it when Rhett rode. Rain or shine, you were there. 

Because you knew he was right. 

-

The clouds were dark behind the bright lights of the stadium. There were grumbles of the event being canceled due to lightning, but you had yet to see any. Not that it mattered. You couldn’t focus on anything, keeping your eyes trained on the gate in front of you. Rhett’s chute was dead across and you couldn’t bring yourself to look up. 

Everything he’d said, every flash of pain and honesty and love in his eyes, still burned through you until you couldn’t take it. 

Overhead, the sky finally lit up in a blinding flash of white light. 

The crowd all sighed, knowing it was all over now. When one came in… 

Another bolt of lightning struck. 

“Alright, folks, it looks like we’re going to have to postpone…” The announcer's voice faded in your ears, the terrible crash of the storm still echoing in your head. 

Rain pattered on your windshield all the way back to your house. 

Tiredness seeped into every aspect of your being. It didn’t help that you were disappointed not to get to see the bull ride. You always thought Rhett looked so right out there, so in his element. You wondered if Rhett had looked for you and, for a split second, you wished you’d stuck around to find out. But the second you saw the trailer, you remembered who you were. Who you were married to. 

And it was because of who you were married to that you shouldn’t have been surprised when you heard laughter and rustling throughout the trailer. Coming from your bedroom. 

Maybe it was because of what Rhett said. Maybe it was because he’d brought her to your house, to your bed. Or maybe you just couldn’t take it anymore. But when you opened the door and found Jamie lying beneath a woman you didn’t even know, you just closed the door and walked away, no matter how loudly he called after you. 

You kept walking. Then you drove. Then you walked through the doors of the bar you knew he would be at. 

Rhett swirled his drink around the glass before downing it in a gulp. First, he’d blown things with his best friend. Then, his chance at a belt was tossed out because of a little rain. 

The front door of the bar swung open.

Thunder rolled. 

“Y/N?” Rhett set his glass down. “What are you doing here-” His words were stopped by your lips colliding with his. 

Your fingers tangled in his light-brown hair, body pressed against his. After the initial shock, Rhett’s hands found your waist, pulling you even closer while a few cat calls sounded around the bar. 

“Y/N,” he breathed, pulling away with his forehead resting against yours. “Sweetheart, what are you doing?”

“What I should have done a long time ago.” You didn’t let him go, not for a second. If you did, you worried he’d slip away just like you were always terrified he would. Not this time. You couldn’t. “I’ve just been too stupid to let myself see it.”

“Hey.” He lifted a hand to your cheek. “You are not stupid.” He pressed his lips to your forehead. 

His sweetness stung your heart. Tears threatened to spill onto your cheeks and you knew how much he hated to see you cry. So you kissed him again, this time less rushed, letting yourself taste the whiskey on his tongue and take in the warmth of his mouth against yours. 

“If I’m not stupid, then I’ve been kidding myself for a long time.”

“Y/N,” he said your name again, making your knees buckle. “Y/N, tell me what happened.”

“Let’s get out of here first. Can we, Rhett?” If you stood there any longer with so many of Jamie’s drinking buddies leering at you, you’d scream. All you wanted was him. All you ever wanted was him. 

“Yeah, just let me pay-”

You pried your wedding ring off of your finger and dropped it on the bar top. It rolled, the metallic cling echoing around the now quiet bar until it settled. “That oughta cover it.” 

-

You didn’t hesitate to book the hotel room, not caring what anybody who passed by would think. Let them report it back to Jamie. Let them see what you saw in that goddamn trailer. Then maybe they’d understand. 

“Will you stop pacing and just tell me what happened?” Rhett said. He sat on the edge of bed, boots still on like he was ready to walk out with you if that's what you wanted. 

“I’ll give you one guess.” You raked your fingers through your hair. “God, I’m an idiot.”

“Come on, Y/N, quit saying that.” 

“He took her to my home. My bed!” You kept up your pacing, moving faster and faster until your head felt like it was spinning. “All this time, I thought staying with him made me better. That it made me a good person, a good woman, a good wife. But all it did was almost make me lose the one thing that I have ever really loved and, Rhett, I’m so sorry.”

Suddenly, he was in front of you, grounding you again. “You don’t have to be sorry. But Y/N-” He inhaled sharply. “I will console you, but I won’t be your consolation prize.” 

You jerked away like you’d been hit. “Is that what you think this is?” Trailing a hand down your face, you laughed. “Of course you do. Because I’m here talking like a crazy person after everything you said before and-” You cut yourself off before you started rambling again and said the thing you really meant to say. “I love you, Rhett Abbott. I should have said it before. I should have said it the day we met because I have always loved you.”

A long, painful silence took over the room. 

“That’s enough for me, baby.” And then he was kissing you and you were kissing him and your hands could pull each other close enough. Rhett’s tongue slipped between your lips, sending a moan shaking through your body, spurring him on further. His hand cupped the back of your head, tilting it just so. You didn’t think anybody had ever kissed you like that. 

“Rhett,” you whimpered against him. “Please.” 

Rhett’s hands moved from cupping your face to the buttons of your shirt, slowly undoing each one. The pace alone sent shivers down your spine. Each time his fingers grazed your skin, you felt like you couldn’t breathe. 

He kept his blue eyes on yours as he slipped his hand beneath your waistband, trailing further down to the wetness pooling between your legs. His heartbeat hitched in his chest to feel you so ready for him. He drew a line over your clit, swiping back and forth. You gripped his wrist, head falling back. 

“How long has it been since someone touched you like this, baby?” He asked softly, pressing a kiss to your throat. You could only sigh in response, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth, reveling in the feeling of his touch. Rhett kissed you again, this time across your collarbone. “Lie back for me, sweetheart, okay?” 

“R-Rhett,” you cried, his fingers still working against your skin with a painfully light touch. 

“I know.” He gently urged you back onto the bed, his hand pressed against your chest to lay you down. “But I’m gonna take care of you, alright?”

He started pulling your jeans down your legs, revealing a pair of black panties that almost made his control snap. But he kept moving slowly, oh so slowly, kissing his way up your beautiful thighs. 

“Y/N? I need to hear you say okay, okay?”

“O-okay, Rhett.” 

He hooked his finger around the waistband of those little black panties and pulled them off as well, leaving you almost entirely exposed beneath him. Your flannel splayed out around you, bra covering your breasts, heaving with every breath. 

“Fuck,” he muttered. “You are so beautiful.” 

Rhett kissed his way up your chest, between the valley of your tits, all the way up to claim your lips with his while his fingers slipped inside you. You gasped into his mouth and clenched around his touch. 

“You like that? Does that feel good?” He asked. 

You could only nod, the fire he was sending through you all-consuming. 

Rhett pulled his fingers out only to dive them in deeper, making you buck against his palm. He pressed the heel of his hand against your clit and curled his fingers inside you to brush against the soft spot that made you moan so loud, you worried about other guests. He rubbed your clit with his palm and kept up the motion inside you until you were panting. 

“Rhett,” you whined, bringing a hand to your mouth to muffle the sound. 

“No, baby.” Rhett took his free hand and laced his fingers through yours, pinning your arm up next to your head. “Please, I need to hear you.” He sped up his movements, every hit inside you making your legs shake. He felt your wet heat and couldn’t help but press his hips into the bed to relieve the tension building in the front of his jeans. 

Rain pattered on the window, drowned out by the heavy breaths coming from you. 

“Keep doing that,” you pleaded. “Just like that, Rhett. Just-”

“Like this?” He scissored his digits inside your core, pushing them as deep as he could and adding one more. He moved his thumb to circle your clit around and around again. You tightened around him, nearly making him come undone altogether.

“Fuck, Rhett,” you cried. Your back began to arch. 

“That’s it.” He pressed a soft, sweet kiss to your cheek. “Just feel good, baby.” 

You held his hand as tight as you could, feeling the burning coil inside you grow…and grow… and-

You managed only to breathe his name as your orgasm crashed through you, so strong and searing that tears sprang to the corners of your eyes. You weren’t sure you’d ever felt this good in your whole life. 

This loved. 

“Y/N, I-” Rhett’s words died on his tongue, the sight of your swollen lips and hooded eyes enough to rip him apart from the inside out. He swallowed hard, slowly removing his fingers from inside you, causing a gasp to escape your lips. He nuzzled his face against your cheek. “God, I love you.”

Your gasp was replaced by a breathy laugh. He felt your hands on his chest, tugging at his shirt. 

“And you, Rhett Abbott,” you smirked, kissing his temple, "are wearing way too many clothes.” With one good pull, you got most of his buttons undone, leaving his chest bare to you. You leaned up, trailing a line of kisses over every bit of skin you could reach. 

Rhett pulled away to get his shirt off the way, smiling down at you. “Your turn,” he teased, motioning to your half-on flannel and bra. 

You ran a foot along his jean-clad thigh, quirking a brow. “In that case, then.” 

Between deep kisses and lingering touches, the rest of your clothes ended up somewhere on the floor. Rhett’s slick fingers ran along your sides, leaving goosebumps in their wake. With a roll of thunder, you rolled the two of you over so you straddled him. 

Like he had before, you took a second to just take him in. From the sculpted ridges of his chest to the muscles in his arm to his waiting and ready cock, glistening with the pre-cum you knew you were the reason for. 

“Have I ever told you that you’re kind of amazing?” You asked. 

Rhett snorted, gripping your hips. “Will you just come back here and kiss me?” He started to sit up, but you pushed him back down. 

The lightning flashed in your eyes and Rhett knew he was ruined for the rest of his life. When you lowered onto him, taking him in completely, both of you shook at the feel of it, even as you had to adjust to his size. 

“Fuck, you feel good,” he managed to choke out. He couldn’t help but rock into you, feeling your heat envelope him perfectly. Your core clenched and he had to bite his lip to keep the growl from turning into a moan. 

You put your hands on his shoulders for balance and started to move, not bothering with a subtle pace. You bounced on his cock, the sound of skin and wetness filling the motel room. Rhett wrapped his arms around you, sitting up, and this time you didn’t stop him. You needed his lips against yours if only to muffle the sounds coming out of you. 

Your bodies molded together like they were always meant to be like this. The tip of him edged your G-spot, so you let him take the lead, angling his hips better into you until he rammed into you just right. 

“Rhett…Rhett…Fuck, please, Rhett…”

“I know you’re almost there, honey.” He took a handful of your hair, pulling just enough to expose your neck to him again. “Put it all on me, Y/N. Let it all go.” 

Your body trembled against his. “Rhett…” It was like his name was the only word you could fathom anymore. 

“Let it go.” He rolled into you one more time and sent you spiraling. 

You threw your arms around him, your body overcome by the waves of pleasure. Like you’d been struck by lightning. 

Rhett only needed a few more strokes of your core around him before he came undone beneath you, his hot cum shooting into you, adding to the sensation buzzing through both of your bodies. 

He didn’t let you go at first, keeping himself sheathed inside you so he could keep you as close as possible. 

“I love you, Rhett.” Suddenly, emotion cracked in your voice. “I love you.”

“It’s alright, sweetheart.” The urgency from before faded into his gentle touch, taking your face in his hands. “We can make up for the lost time, yeah?”

You laughed tearfully and kissed him again. And again. And again. 

“For now,” he said, finally pulling out, but pulling you right back to his chest. “Let’s just listen to the rain, baby.”

As you walked out of your trailer, a crisp breeze hit your face. Much to your relief, it cooled you down significantly, the space heater in your trailer running the whole time you were in there getting dressed and doing your makeup.

Your sister, also known as your ‘personal stylist’ insisted it was much too cold out for it to not be on. Even when you assured her it was only fifty degrees outside. 

Now here she is walking beside you in a giant puffer coat while you try to tune her out and focus on calming yourself down. No matter how many rodeos you went to, how many speeches you gave, how many parades you've rode in, all of it still riddled you with anxiety. 

It did not help one bit that everyone in the ‘Riders Only’ prep area was gawking at you. You did stick out like a sore thumb.

Decked out in a gorgeous scarlet button up, adorned with detailed black beading along the collar and cuffs and matching chaps over your bootcut jeans. Atop your head sitting a black wide-brimmed cowboy hat. 

Though, the most glaring of all would have to be your pearly white sash, dark cursive letters writing out ‘Canyon County Queen’. 

Nearing what you assume to be the other royalty court, you look extremely overdressed. Silently, you curse your sister for suggesting this outfit. 

“That’s Miss. Amelia County over there, Alexis is her name. Taylor is Miss. Junior-” Your sister starts, whispering in your ear before you wave her away, already stopping in front of the two girls. 

Politely, you introduce yourself and your sister, shaking hands with them. Taylor immediately lights up with recognition, giving you a toothy smile as her braces glint in the stadium lights. Alexis is equally as nice, more quiet and reserved compared to her younger counterpart. 

It didn't take much waiting near the green utility gate before handlers approach the four of you with horses. 

“Is this one mine? Oh thank you- gosh he’s handsome!” You gush to the man bringing a stunning bay with white markings on his face towards you. You shake his hand (if being a rodeo queen has taught you anything, it’s how to give a good handshake) and take the reins from him. He introduces himself as Bill, the man who you had emailed earlier this month when you were looking for a horse to ride this weekend. 

“Do you have your phone? Give me your phone, it’s almost call time.” You hear your sister behind you say, already reaching for your back pocket as you spin around to face her.

“Here-” You take it out of your jeans and roll your eyes playfully, “Don’t be bad while I’m away.” You chide and kiss her cheek before slotting your foot in a stirrup and hoisting yourself up on the huge horse with minimal help from the handler. 

“His name is Merlot, my daughter’s horse.” Bill explains, rubbing the palm of his hand over the horse’s neck before a younger man comes up and hands you the American flag pole to hold. 

“Well, be sure to tell your daughter thank you. She’s a very lucky girl.” You grin down at him before being called over to where the gate opens up to the arena, following Alexis and Taylor. 

An older woman with a very professional demeanor greets the three of you before briefly explaining the game plan, arranging by flags with you last to enter. Merlot shifts beneath you, stepping back as Alexis’ horse flicks him in the nose with her tail as you wait for the opening music. 

Soon enough, some random rock song plays and you are off, pressing your heels firmly into Merlot’s sides to urge him along with the other horses.

You grip the wooden pole and his reins tightly, plastering the biggest smile on your face as he enters an energetic gallop. Your body rocks with the power of his strides, the roar of the decently sized crowd making your body buzz with excitement as he takes you in a circle around the ring.

“And last but not least holding the American flag, Idaho’s very own Canyon County Rodeo Queen! First claiming her title in 2023 and again in 2024, this two time winner hails from Wilson, Wyoming. A skilled barrel racer and coming from a long line of pros, we are lucky to have her as a guest bull riding judge tonight!” The announcer roars through the crackling intercom system. Your palms prickle with the thrill of it all, coming to a stop and facing the audience with Alexis and Taylor on either side of you. 

Carefully you transfer the reins to your other hand, waving to the crowd and blowing an air kiss to them as he finishes reading the bio your agent sent. You can feel Merlot’s back legs lock as you sit there half listening to the announcer, his warmth and heavy breath beneath you draws your full attention away from the national anthem. You watch as his ears twitch and you pat his neck reassuringly as Merlot pulls on the reins. 

With the anthem done, you take him back through the gate, keeping a smooth trot till you find Bill and the young man with him. They help you dismount, your boots kicking up dust as you land, thanking them again and venturing back to the trailer where you have no doubt your sister is. 

-

You do have to admit, without your chaps on it is kinda cold out here. Only a few steps out of your trailer you turn on your heels and sprint back inside, your sister already calling after you. You return with a heavy brown bomber jacket on your shoulders, fixing your hair as the two of you make your way over to the judge’s station. 

It’s more modest than you are used to, just a folding table with chairs pressed against the fence on the opposite side of the opening gate. A darker skinned man sits there with a pen in hand, ordering the scoresheets. 

“You must be David Acothley. I’m-” You start, extending your hand towards him.

“Miss. Canyon County herself, pleasure to meet you.” He interrupts, taking your hand. His eyes are like warm chocolate, inviting you in as he gestured to the empty seat beside him. You turn back to your sister and bid her goodbye as you sit, taking your stack of the sheets. 

“You sure you know what you're doin’?” He asks, handing you a pen.

Internally, you roll your eyes and cringe. Your previous positive thoughts about him disappearing into annoyance. 

“Yup.” 

And you refuse to make anything but curt small talk with him the rest of the night. 

-

“Now up is Wabang’s very own hometown hero, Rhett Abbott! Let's show some love to our local boy!” You hear over the speakers, the crowd quite possibly going crazier than when you were announced. You see a tall man enter the chute, his hair was longer, neutral brown in color. Number eleven was pinned to his back, the paper looking small compared to his wide shoulders. 

With a sharp nod, the gate springs open and the massive beast bursts from its containment. Powerful muscles rippled under its dull black coat in an attempt to kick Rhett off. The arena is full of motion, the bull’s thick hooves tearing up the ground. 

He’s not keeping his heels up. You think to yourself, pen tapping on the paper. The eight seconds seem to last forever, nearing the end his rhythm is off, already slipping to the left side before his time is up. 

His control is way off.

As soon as his body hits the ground you scribble on your sheet. 

Fourteen for the bull, sixteen for Rhett. 

When you glance over at David’s sheet, seeing that he scored the bull seventeen and Rhett twenty-one, your opinion might not be very popular then. The runner takes the two of your sheets before you can even comprehend and runs it to the announcer’s booth to display it on the board, a total of sixty-eight. 

You can hear the crowd’s disappointment echoing through the arena and your eyes flick to the now standing cowboy. His face was turned to the screen, angled towards you. Rhett was quite handsome, you could tell even yards away from him. A strange feeling of warmth and a flutter in your chest took hold of you. So distracted you almost didn’t catch the look of dismay in his face before exiting the arena. 

- 

Music played over the speakers, the random podunk dive bar you were at was lively with people. Some of the barrel racers took pity and invited you to go drink with them. You jumped at the chance, eager to leave the trailer you had been in for the past two days. 

You had never changed so fast, scrubbing off your stage makeup and reapplying a more natural, minimalist look as a few girls stood in your trailer out of the cold. Trading your dressy button up for a branded quarter zip you finally blended in with the rest of them. 

You were already recognizing some of the men you judged, unable to recall their names as they slid up next to you to talk to the girls you were with. A few chatted with you, asking how the Canyon Night Rodeo scene was and if they should go next year. You were excited to talk with them, telling them all about qualifying and next year’s dates.

Playing pool with your newfound friends nursing a beer which had long gone warm, you feel a firm tap on your shoulder. Setting down your drink on an empty nearby table, you turn, tipping your hat up to see better.

Above you stands a tall, broad man. You recognized him after a few blinks. Rhett Abbott, Wabang’s Hometown Hero. 

“Hey Rhett, finally sick of Cowfish?” Joked the woman standing across the table from you.

“You know it, Sandy. This is a better bar anyways.” He responded, still looking at you with smooth blue eyes. His chin was scruffy, facial hair dark compared to his freckled skin.

“Sure it wasn't cause they kicked ya out?” She ragged, pulling giggles out of the rest of the girls, but he ignored her. 

Rhett was crossing his arms, swaying the tiniest bit. Curious, you cocked an eyebrow, wondering if he was drunk. It was like his shoulders were straining against his long sleeve carhartt, the blue sleeves hugging his biceps. 

“Hi Rhett, I’m-” You start, trying to make this whole situation less awkward, you could feel your friends staring holes in your back.

“I know who you are.” There was no malice, or really anything in his tone, just calm and steady as if he wasn't tapping his fingers almost nervously against his biceps.

When you got back to the trailer, you were going to pull your hair out. Interrupted again, it was like no one really cared who you were beyond the frills and white sash, even when you were wearing street clothes. You swore your eye twitch as you tried to muster up a smile that probably looked like a grimace. 

“What’s with my score?” He asked, just as if he was wondering why the sky was blue.

“Your score? What do you mean?” You laugh, glancing back at the rest of the girls before going back to Rhett. You had scored so many men that you barely even recall who topped the chart and was going out tomorrow night. 

“You gave me,” He huffed out a laugh and shook his head, “a fourteen and a sixteen. David told me.” 

This time, you did roll your eyes. Why did this David guy have so much beef with you? You didn't even know each other. That’s probably why no guy had stayed longer than to pick your brain on how to get ahead in the sport. Who knows how many guys he told about their less than desirable scores. 

“Listen Rhett.” You stated, stepping closer to him and straightening your shoulders, not eye level to him but tall enough so it didn't feel like he was intimidating you. You were close enough to smell him, salty and earthy with a hint of smoke, like he had a cigarette earlier. 

“I don't know what David told you, but I only give scores that people deserve. I have no prejudice against you or any other bullrider here. I’m just doing my job.”

“Do you have the qualifications to judge?”

Now that stung. It stung worse than when your childhood horse Oswin kicked you off and you believed for weeks that you broke your ass. Faintly, you could hear the barrel racers talking behind the two of you, the sound of them playing pool long gone. The kind part of you tried to reassure yourself that he was just some poor drunk, to just ignore him. 

“Do you know who I am? And don't say ‘Rodeo Queen’ cause that's not my name, buddy.” You snarked, planting your hands firmly on your hips. You await his answer, raising your eyebrows in question as he opens his mouth and shuts it with a click, looking down at his boots. 

“Right. So next time you wanna talk to me about scores, how ‘bout you address me by name and we can be civil.” You turn back to the pool table and grab your beer, taking a long swig and cringing at the warmness of it. 

“Just cause you're some legend’s daughter doesn't give you the right to judge hard, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart? 

Spinning right back around, your skin burns with animosity. You step up to him again, toe to toe. Even as he stumbles back you step forward again so you are basically nose to nose. Strange electricity crackles between the two of you as you press the lip of your bottle into his chest.

“Okay then, how ‘bout this. Your control is way off, and by the way you hold yourself,” You look him up and down, taking in his stance, and fuck, why does this dickhead have to be hot, “I suspect it has something to do with your core. That’s what's causing you to start slipping off the bull early and why your feet can't stay up.” You practically hiss, refusing to back down without a fight. You didn’t come this far to bow down to a shitty bull rider with an ego. 

Then something happens, and you swear you might be hallucinating. In Rhett’s clearly drunken state, you could've sworn the side of his lip twitched up in a smirk. It only lasts a second and you chalk it up to the dim bar light. It still makes an odd ache between your legs, realizing you two had been sharing breath and his eyes were fixed on your lips. 

Not wanting to waste a good night on an ignorant man, you step away and call over your shoulder, “And if I remember correctly, you still made qualifiers. So I'll see you tomorrow, Rhett.”

-

And you did see Rhett that next night, it was almost like he made sure of it too. 

He just so happened to be right near the entrance gate when you were mounting Merlot for the opening ceremony, chatting with who you assumed to be his friend. 

Rhett tipped his hat forward in a greeting, pulling a glare out of you. And now you have to listen to your sister gush about ‘that mysterious man’ and how pretty he was right up until you galloped away into the ring. 

Pretty fucking annoying. You think to yourself, and stew for the rest of the evening. 

You don't dare say a word to David when you join him to judge, now hyper aware of every time he looks over at your paper. Not that you cared at this point, tomorrow you would be driving back to Idaho never to think about Wabang and its residents ever again. 

Taking a deep breath as you hear Rhett’s name get called, you bite the inside of your cheek as he slides into the chute. The bull thrashes once, the sharp bang echoing through the arena, not even giving Rhett enough time to tie himself on. 

Out of the gate he looks better, maybe he actually listened to all the things you told him last night. He’s stiffer though, which does help him keep his feet by the bull’s shoulders but it interferes with his rhythm. He was too focused on staying upright, causing him to not be able to move with the bull. 

The bell sounds and he falls, feet slipping on the dirt as he tries to get away. 

He was significantly better than last time, but far from perfect. 

Sixteen for the bull, eighteen for Rhett.

Curious, you look over at David’s sheet. A twenty-one and twenty-two, which makes a total of seventy-seven. You don't even bother watching him find out what his score is, you just arrange your papers and get ready for the next guy. 

-

You're fiddling with the generator outside your trailer when you hear your name called out behind you. Getting up, you brush the dust off your jeans before turning around and locking eyes with the last person you want to see. 

“So you finally figured out my name, huh?” You ask and kneel back down to the generator, praying he leaves. You hear his boots move closer to you, stopping inches away from your crouched form. There was hardly anyone still here, most of them out celebrating or sleeping in their trailers. 

“Listen, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted last night. My momma raised me better than that.” Rhett admitted softly, “A couple of us are headed to the bar in a little and I was wonderin’ if you'd join us?”

“Thanks, but I doubt I’m welcome. I reckon David has told everyone how badly I fucked them by now.” You huff, and Rhett’s silence is all you need to hear. 

 Standing up and turning around, you stumble back with how close Rhett is, narrowly bumping right into his chest. You cross your arms and notice that he’s just in his button up, striped and blue, he looks infuriatingly good. 

“Have you also come to question me about your score?” You ask, it's cold enough that your breath creates steam in the nighttime air. 

“What? No I- I came here to apologize.” He furrows his brows, shoving his hands in his pockets. His admission to defeat makes you huff in annoyance. 

“Really? You're not the tiniest bit curious why I scored you the way I did?” You pressed. 

“Okay well maybe I am. But that was an afterthought to the apolo-” Rhett starts, taking off his cowboy hat and running his fingers through his hair. Hair that you wanted to touch, hair that you desired to feel the texture of. 

“You were too stiff this time. Yes, your legs were up which earned you some points but it's not all about that.” You interrupt, gesturing to the arena, “Now, because of your vest I couldn't tell if it was mostly in your stomach or back, but-” 

“Oh so you're the expert now?” Rhett grumbled, looking to the sky. 

“Yes, actually, I kinda am. You have to be more than a pretty face to win a Rodeo Queen title.” That same funny feeling leaped into your throat as you argued with him. And although you were outside, it felt as if the atmosphere was shrinking even though you had all the room in the world to back away. 

“I’d like to see you ride a bull then.” 

“Oh trust me, I can ride a bull.” You quipped, turning away and walking towards the stairs to your trailer. But before you could climb the first step, a strong hand grabbed you by the elbow and pulled you back. You make a soft umph sound as you hit his chest, and the next thing you know his warm lips crash against yours. 

It was a sharp contrast to the cold outside, the heat increasing as you kissed him back, wrapping your hands around the back of his neck and pulling him in. Rhett walks you backwards so your body connects with the side of the trailer, the freezing metal zipping through your decorative button up. The sudden temperature change draws a whine from your chest, only halfway emerged before Rhett swallows it up, his hands pulling your waist in close. 

You pull away for just a moment, Rhett now kissing your jaw and nearing your neck, “Inside-” Is all you manage to get out before he’s biting at your neck, his cowboy hat knocked off his head and now resting on the ground. 

Pushing him away, you bite your lip. Although your red lipstick said it was smudge proof, it somehow ended up leaving a light sheen of pink smeared over his mouth. He follows you inside, tossing his cowboy hat on the couch as you lock the door. 

“Wait, isn't your sister staying here too?” He asks in a hushed voice, as if she could jump out at any moment.

“Yeah, but she’s out.” Is all you can say before crossing the short distance between you two and kissing him again. It doesn't take long to get you both out of clothes, your pearl snaps coming undone easily to reveal your lace balconette bra, your jeans already unzipped by Rhett’s wandering hands by the time you pushed open his own shirt.

You were mesmerized by his bareness, Rhett’s torso perfectly displaying softness and pure muscle. Your stomach flips as you look down to the bulge in his blue jeans. Catching his hands trying to pull your own jeans over the swell of your ass, you take him to the small bedroom, if you could call it that. 

You push him to sit on the bed, sheets still messed up from this morning. Stepping back, you push your jeans down, kicking them and your boots behind you. Rhett impulsively reaches out, hooking a finger into your thong before you smack his hand away. 

“No touching.” You chide, watching him nod like a big, dumb puppy. His obedience causes the inside of your thighs to tingle, his eyes almost looking sorrowful as you reach behind yourself and unhook your bra, tossing it to join your jeans. 

In just socks and panties, you step between his jean-clad thighs, running your fingers through his hair and kissing him. He tentatively touches his fingertips to your sides, so light you could barely feel them. They inched their way up your body before stopping before your breasts, pausing for a moment then swiping his thumbs boldly over the underside of them. 

Catching his wrists, you push his hands down and away from you, halting your kisses. 

“What did I say about no touching, Rhett?” You firmly scold, watching his eyes widen  and his cheeks grow impossibly redder, the flush continuing down to his chest. 

“Take off your pants.” You command and let him go, watching as he jumps up and kicks off his boots, nearly tearing off his pants and boxers. His cock slapped against his lower stomach, the thick head a deep purple with the lack of attention. You start to wonder how far you can take this, break down this cowboy you hardly know.

“Get to your knees.” You say simply, watching as Rhett pauses only for a moment before dropping with a soft thud to the linoleum. His nose is basically touching the fabric of your thong, his warm breath fanning over you. Dropping your panties you tangle a fist in his hair and spread your legs a bit, pushing his face closer. 

It doesn't take much convincing before his hands are on your thighs, urging them further apart. His tongue parts you with ease, a moan already rattling in your lungs. He laps at you like a man starved, stubble chafing your inner thighs as his brow furrows in concentration. 

With his eyes closed you can see a few small freckles marking his eyelids, though you only notice it for a second until he sucks your clit in his mouth, your vision going blurry. It doesn't take long till you are pulling him away by his hair, a string of drool connecting his mouth to you as he parts. You don't even notice how bad your legs are shaking till he loosens his grasp on them. 

Your hand cups his jaw, thumb running over his swollen pink lips before you nod to the bed, unable to speak. He clambers up to the bed, his knees popping as he stands. Crawling over his naked body, you straddle his narrow hips and pin his hands above his head, kissing down his neck. You suck a sneaky bruise under his collarbone, feeling him wiggle under you. 

Looking up, you try to find something to restrain him with. The only thing nearby is your sweater resting on a pillow, and surely that won't do. Then you remember a certain something hanging from the wall behind you. 

Getting up and snatching it from a nail in the wall, you return to your earlier position with your silky white sash in hand. Rhett looks up at his hands as you tie them together with the fabric. And you know your sister will be screaming about it later but you really can't find the mindset to even care right now. 

Gently, you trail your manicured fingernails down his wrists and then his biceps, all the way down to his chest and torso till you wrap a hand around his thick cock, smearing the head through your dripping folds. You can feel his breathing quicken as you lean down to whisper in his ear.

“I'll show you how to ride a bull.”

And his gasp when you sink down will forever be one of the sweetest noises you will ever hear. His fists clench as you lower yourself slowly, your nails biting into his ribs. You pant till you're lightheaded, the stretch almost too much. Fully seated, you let your head fall back and a long whine escaped your throat. No matter how many times you blink, it’s still blurry, the ceiling nothing but a flat plane of color. 

“God- you’resofuckin’beautiful-” Rhett praises you in one breath, his muscles getting twitchier the longer you wait to move. You grind down on him, his pubic hair just the right amount of friction to rub your swollen clit on. 

Lolling your head back up, you bite your lip, raising yourself up a few centimeters before dropping back down, testing the waters. The sting is glorious and you can hardly keep your eyes open. Rhett struggles against the sash, clenching and unclenching his fists as you tentatively ride him. The cursive letters are all wonky, pulled tight against his wrists. You could bet money the tip of his dick was pressing hard against your cervix as you struggled to take him whole. 

You can already feel sweat gathering in the pits of your knees, a sheen covering Rhett’s flushed chest as he panted and groaned, begging for more. The drag of his cock filled you to the brim, making you unable to take a breath when you were fully seated. You move your hands to his chest, thumbs brushing over his pink nipples before leaning down and sucking one into your mouth, pinching the other. 

“Please darlin’ I- ohh…” Rhett whimpered, skin stretched thin over his chest and showing his ribs and he squirmed under your touch. His pleading tone made your pussy clench, a swell of ecstasy shooting you right in the chest.  

You take pity on him, sitting up and quickening your pace as you steady yourself on his chest. The bed rattles under your motion, the mattress squeaking with effort. You can feel his hips canting upwards in an attempt to meet yours. 

Slowing, you lean back and plant your hands firmly on his thighs behind you. The new change in position already has you keening, the head of his dick pressing into something that causes stars to burst behind your eyelids. A spot that you could never quite reach with your fingers  when you were masturbating, a spot that has you choked up and gasping as you ride him. 

Riding him recklessly, you feel a familiar pressure build in your lower half. You steady yourself on one hand, the other massaging your clit to bring you closer and closer. The two of you have locked eyes, half-lidded yes, but all you need to communicate as words die on your tongue. Your cheeks are burning, hair sticking to your forehead while beads of sweat run down your spine. 

“Rh-Rhett… I’m gonna- I’m gonna-” You start, lips tingling as you fail to finish your thought. He was already nodding, a fist grasping at the pillow above him and you genuinely thought he was going to shred it. 

The balloon inside you pops violently, so much so it has you bordering on dizzy and sick. A wet gush dampens your inner thighs and all of Rhett’s lower stomach, the frantic slapping of his hips on your ass turns increasingly wetter. It takes everything in you to hold yourself upright, gasping for air as your vision tunes in and out. 

Catching yourself on his chest as you fall forward, he lifts his thighs and pounds into you like a jackhammer. Faintly you can hear him crying out your name like a prayer, as if it would be the only thing that could save him. His motions grow sloppy till he stops, the feeling of his hot cum pumping into you like a mini orgasm and zapping you back to life. 

Your throat was sore from crying out, nose burning from hyperventilation. Placing soft kisses on Rhett’s warm neck, you blindly reach up and somehow untie him. His wrists are red and bordering on raw from struggling. The fabric is wrecked and stretched thin, the letters no longer spelling out your status. 

It gets thrown off the bed in exchange for kisses from Rhett. With his hands finally free he cups your breasts and gently tweaks your nipples, smiling against your mouth when you whimper. 

“Don't leave for the bar.” You murmur against his plush lips, his cock still inside your cum-filled pussy.

“Wouldn't dream of it.” He mumbles in return, rough hands smoothing down your bare back and making you shiver. 

You were back in Wabang for Fall break. When you turned eighteen, you left Wabang and went to San Diego, California for college. You graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communications from San Diego State University. After you graduated, you stayed out in the area of San Diego and moved into an apartment, but then a few years later, you decided to go back to college and get your master's degree in Journalism.

“What is Y/N doing back here?” Perry asked Rhett. Perry noticed you and your friend group walking into the bar. It was your friend group from when you were younger. All of you were coincidentally back in Wabang at the same time, so all of you decided to go out for drinks.

Rhett turned his head around to see. He saw you and your friend group all take a seat at one of the booths. “I have no idea,” Rhett shook his head. He turned his attention back to Perry who was sitting across from him at one of the tables located in the bar.

“You should go talk to her,” Perry insisted.

“What? Why?” Rhett asked his older brother. Rhett would totally like to talk to you, but he wasn't sure if the two were on good terms. You left for college and Rhett stayed back in Wabang. That wasn't supposed to happen. Originally, you and Rhett were planning to leave Wabang together.

“Because the two of you haven't seen each other, that's why.”

Rhett sighed, “She probably hates me, because I stayed here and didn't go to California with her.”

“You don't know that, Rhett,” Perry said. “Maybe she might think you hate her instead.”

As crazy as it might sound, Perry was right. Rhett doesn't know if you actually hate him or not. He won't know until he gets him and goes over where you are and tries to talk to you.

“Well,” Rhett sighed. “Here goes nothing.”

Rhett got up from the booth that him and Perry were sitting in and started walking over. Rhett could feel his heart rate start to increase. He was starting to get nervous. He wasn't quite sure where this situation was going to end up. He hopes that he doesn't make a fool of himself when he approaches where you and your friends were sitting.

You and your friend group were in the middle of a conversation. All of you were talking about your new lives and your friend, Madison’s upcoming wedding which is in December. When all of a sudden, your other friend, Sophia, cut the group off.

“Is Rhett coming towards us right now?” she asked everyone, including you. Your friend group knew what happened between you and Rhett.

You leaned your head to the left to see for yourself. When you did, that's when you saw Rhett. He definitely had to be walking towards where you and your friends were sitting. You were wondering if he was approaching you and your friends, because he wanted to talk to you. You weren't quite sure why though.

“Hey guys,” Rhett smiled when he approached the booth. Rhett wasn't just gonna greet you, and not your friend group. He wasn't raised like that. Plus, that’s just a rude thing to do.

“Hey, Rhett,” all of them smiled at him, including you.

“Is it okay if I steal Y/N from you guys for a few minutes?” Rhett asked them.

“Of course.”

Once you were out of the booth, Rhett led the two of you outside the front entrance of the bar. You leaned up against the wall while Rhett stood right in front of you.

“I wanna apologize for what happened between us,” Rhett said.

“Go on,” you said to Rhett. You wanted to hear the whole apology. You wanted to hear every detail about it.

Rhett ran a hand through his hair and sighed, “I’m sorry that I didn't stick to our plan that you and I were going to go to California as a couple,” Rhett started to explain. “I’m sorry that I changed my mind at the last minute about the whole thing. You have no idea how much I regret it. Also, I’m sorry that I never called or texted you either. I should have,” he said. “You can accept my apology or not, it doesn't matter to me. I just needed to say what I needed to you.”

“I forgive you, Rhett,” you nodded. “Trust me, I was upset about the whole thing, and hated you with a passion, because of it.” You were completely telling Rhett the truth about that. You hated him for the longest time after what happened between you both. Over time though, you eventually moved on from the situation since you knew hating him wasn't going to change anything.

“So, are we on good terms then?” Rhett asked carefully. He didn't just assume that you two were. He wanted to ask just in case.

“Yes,” you smiled up at him.

“So, since we are on good terms, you wouldn't mind if I did this then.”

Rhett stepped closer to you and placed a hand on your cheek, and kissed you. When you kissed him back, you could start feeling butterflies in your stomach. You still felt the same way that you felt when Rhett kissed you for the very first time about eight years ago. Your feelings for Rhett were still there. The same goes for him.