Buck Me Cowboy

But Tyler won’t be put off.

“Maisie, I swear to God, if you don’t stop …” his words trail off, eyes boring into mine.

“Then what?” I prod, wound tight, beginning to unravel. “Then what? What are you gonna do?”

“Maisie,” he warns again while pacing the living room like a caged animal, running his fingers through his hair.

But I’m on a roll, my emotions pouring out now.

“I gave you everything, Tyler. Everything I had. I was so open and giving, and you were a fucking lie. That’s all it was; a fucking lie. But my baby was made in love, even if it was my love alone. You had your chance to be real with me and you chose to betray everything we built. So no, you will not have a role in this child’s life,” I hiss emphatically. “No child deserves a liar for a father.”

The words sting, making him jerk back, big body tense. But Tyler gives as good as he gets.

“Are you serious? You up and left me without even saying goodbye. I haven’t heard from you in months! Do you know what it’s been like here? Waiting for you to come back, with no idea where you were? Do you know how fucking awful it’s been?”

His last sentence comes out in a fury, the pain and rage palpable, but I can’t hear it, I’m so angry.

“So what?” is my challenge. “Waiting is nothing compared to your betrayal, big boy. Just in case you forgot, you pumped our life full of lies. You did that, not me.”

And Tyler explodes then.

“BUT YOU’RE MY FUCKING WIFE!” he rages and I swear the entire house rattles from the fury in his voice. My stomach muscles clench at his possessiveness, curling in on itself. But what the hell does he mean, I’m his wife? Why does that justify anything?

Riding the wave of courage, I go for the jugular then.

“There’s no reason to keep that up,” are my cold words. “I get it now. You wanted my land so you pretended to care about me. You’re a masterful businessman,” I mock him while rubbing my belly. “Fucking girls left and right to make more money. What else have you done?” I ask nastily. “Have you fucked truckloads of prostitutes, hoping to turn a buck? Gotten horny with a bunch of working girls to start a gold rush?”

And the fury in his eyes sears me then, the air around that big frame literally vibrating with anger.

“Don’t. Start,” come the words, low and harsh, trembling with suppressed rage.

But I’m on a roll, and let it fly again.

“You’ll never touch my pussy again, Tyler,” come the harsh words. “This pussy and ass are off-limits to you. Forever,” I spit, and with that the cowboy springs into action. I cower in my corner, thinking for a moment that he’s gonna hit me. But instead, the big male seethes, pinning me with a murderous gaze before swinging silently on his heel and stalking out of the house, screen door banging loudly.

Suddenly, the room is too small, the air warm and stuffy, and I can’t breathe. Leaning forwards, I try to put my head down between my knees, gasping for oxygen. Because before, I thought my worst nightmare had come true, with the lies, betrayals, and hopeless situation.

But for some reason, this is worse. This is Tyler and me fighting, exchanging verbal blows, drawing blood and I can’t take it. It hurts so bad, and I hate myself as much as I hate him. Why won’t it stop? Why can’t I stop? My soul is crushed, heart in smithereens, and for the first time in my life, I wish I was dead.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tyler

The world feels like it’s stopped spinning. My boots pound into the earth even as I heave deeply, trying to breathe. Fuck! I’ve spent the last six months working tirelessly to fix the Double H, praying that Maisie would return one day. But now that she’s here, it’s all gone haywire.

Because everything the female yelled was true. How could I have taken her virginity without telling her who I truly was? How could I have lied about my identity? Why did I pretend I was a know-nothing ranch hand, when all along, I was the enemy next door?

And now look what’s happened. The little lass is everything I want in the world, yet she wants nothing to do with me. Even worse, she’s carrying my child, that curvy body firm and round. Oh god. My heart feels torn from my chest, breathing erratic and choppy. I’m so fucked.

But words come to my mind then.

You’ve gotta try, the voice urges. There’s so much at stake, you can’t give up now.

And my subconscious is right. I can’t give up. Maisie’s my woman, we’re bound together before the eyes of the law, and she’s carrying my child. I won’t give up, I can’t give up.