Taming His Stallion [BWWM]

30_Detention

Danny

The early morning sun streamed through the windows and past the curtains, prancing along the walls, surface of the bed, chairs, and several other articles in the room.

My eyes followed the gleams and shadows, my right arm splaying across my forehead, bent at the elbow while I lay in bed, deep in thought. Pondering the facets of my dilemma.

Life was good–heck, great even–before my ex decided to set foot back into town.

What did Ellie want?

Why come back after all these years to play a game of checkers?

I'm lucky my baby even spoke to me after witnessing what I'd imagined would be an unnerving sight.

God forbid the roles were reversed. I would certainly blow a fuse if some guy was to be so forward with my girl.

In fact, I didn't even want to think about it.

That insidious kiss had etched its way into Paege's psyche–doing God knows what–serving to undermine and rattle her faith in the severity of my feelings for her.

After all the careful effort and progress I'd made, coaxing her to open up to me in the first place, it was cruel to have something wedge a gap in our bond.

I'd never been so close to anyone in my life. Not even Bell, as impossible as that may seem.

I found myself gravely annoyed that something so fickle had the audacity to imprint on our connection, and stupid that I even allowed it to happen, due to my initial surprise and inaction.

As a result, the development had set us back, and we may be close but not as close as before.

I grieved the loss of such a vibrant connection. Especially since I'd experienced so few in my lifetime.

We had agreed to take things slow. A necessary pace, I admit, with someone like my ex hovering.

Not because I felt anything for her. I didn't.

Because it would be painful for us to move forward only to suffer some sort of devious ploy from that woman again.

A groan rumbled within my chest. Everything was just peachy before she showed up.

As it stands, I had to survive sleeping alone when I got a taste of what my future could be like with Paege.

She hadn't moved back into the main house. Probably to spare herself having to move if anything were to jeopardize our relationship further.

Instead of wrapping her in my arms while we slept, which enabled me to sleep like a baby–content and unconcerned–I had to settle for insomnia or an acutely unpleasant wrestle with my subconscious mind before my eyes would even close.

No matter what position I slept in, it wasn't the right one. Not without Paege beside me.

Served me right for getting attached so quickly and messing up a good thing when I had it. Even if it wasn't of my own doing.

Turning to the analogue clock of the nightstand, the neon green read Six forty-two a.m.

Long before the sun's glorious streaks registered in my room, I'd been awake in bed, contemplating the latest developments in my life. And I couldn't help it either.

If I was to sleep like a baby again, I would have to get to the bottom of things where my ex was concerned and make it up to Paege.

I spent most of the day out on the range, herding cattle, and all the while Paege never left my thoughts.