Cherished (Wanted 4)

“I thought I might find you in here.” I walked up to him.

He looked at me and grinned as he shook his head. “Damn, dude. I only have one thing to say to you.” He set the saddle down.

“What’s that?” I asked as I grabbed a brush.

“Look the fuck around before you take your bride-to-be outside!

I let out a laugh and shook my head. “Ah hell, I don’t know what came over us. My mother is in the house, too.”

Lark rolled his eyes. “Ugh…that makes it hot, I guess, but damn…I like Jessie, and I didn’t need to see that shit. I’ve never turned a horse around so fucking fast in my life.”

I threw my head back and laughed harder. As I stopped laughing, I looked at Lark. “Shit, don’t tell Jessie you saw us. She’d never be able to look at you again.”

“Trust me, I’d rather forget what I just saw.”

I slapped him on the back. “Did you have fun last night? You got home late.”

He turned and looked at me. “Yep, I had a good time. Met some girl named Monica. Well, I think that was her name.” He stopped and thought about it.

I rolled my eyes. “Tell me you didn’t…”

He smiled as he opened the stall door to lead the horse back in. “Fuck yeah, I did. Let me tell you, that girl probably gave the best head I’ve ever had.”

I let out a sigh. “Lark. Dude, aren’t you afraid you’re going to get a girl pregnant one day?”

He just looked at me like I was an idiot. “I’ve never in my life had sex without a condom. Ever. That is my number one rule. No condom? Then, she can give me head, and if she’s good, I return the favor.”

“My god…you talk about it like it’s nothing, like it’s meaningless.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “It is.”

“What if it’s not to them? What if they actually don’t want a one-night stand?”

“I never make any promises. They know that all I’m looking for is a fuck. I make that pretty damn clear, and so far, I haven’t had any problems.”

I shook my head. “Lark, don’t you want to settle down? Get married and raise a family?”

He looked at me with sadness in his eyes. “There was only one girl I wanted to do that with, and she’s dead.”

“If you just opened up your heart, dude…”

He put his hand up and smiled. “I don’t need a lecture. I got one from Miss Goody Two-Shoes last night when I got home,” he said with a laugh.

“Azurdee?” I asked.

“Yeah. She was up, reading. She came into my room and asked if I got laid. When I said yeah, she sat on my bed and began to tell me how dangerous it was.”

I smiled and nodded. “Sounds like her. She has a good heart and means well.”

“Well, I already have a mother. I don’t need another one. And that’s exactly what I told her. She got pissed and walked out. So, really, Scott, I’m good. I know you’re happy and all that shit, but I don’t want the same things you want. Plus, my job would never allow for me to be in a relationship. I travel too much.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled out my phone. “You ready to go meet Gunner and Jeff?”

He smiled. “Let’s do it.”

As we walked back toward the house, I smirked and said, “Dude, bring your gun.”

Lark looked at me and smiled. “Why?”