Justin seemed to think for a moment, then said, “Tell me about your recovery.”
I sighed. “My therapists are great. They are. They know I’m into horses so they worked them into my therapy from the beginning. While I was still in a wheelchair, I brushed Oakley to build my shoulder strength and endurance. When I progressed to a walker, they had me brushing her while holding onto a post, or feeding her carrots. That helped increase my control and stamina. Later, I braided Annie’s mane for finger coordination, and cleaned the tack—Mama loved that, of course. Less work for her,” I said with a chuckle.
“Eventually, they put me on a machine that mimics a horse’s movements, and finally, they let me on Oakley. But I still can’t ride like I used to. Not yet anyway.” Even admitting that aloud made me feel weak. I hated that feeling. “My grip is different, my balance is off. Even now, over a year later from when it all started.”
I stared past him, toward Oakley’s stall, regretting sharing so much. Now I felt exposed.
Good plan, Peyton.
“You really are incredible.”
I smirked. “I don’t know about that…”
“You’re a fighter,” he said. “The strongest person I’ve ever met, in fact.”
“I just did what I had to do.” I shrugged as a blush from his praise lit my cheeks. “Anyone would’ve done the same.”
Justin tipped up my chin with his finger and said, “You’re far from just anyone, Peyton. You’re impulsive and fearless. You’re stubborn and curious. You drive me insane with your millions of questions. And your heart… Sunshine, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
I wanted to look away. Hearing compliments was hard for me, I never really believed them. But when it came to Justin? God, I wanted to believe them so badly.
He brushed his thumb across my jaw. “Instead of giving up in the hospital, like most people would’ve done, you walked away optimistic. Grateful, even. I’m in awe of you.” Justin looked deep into my eyes and said, “Peyton, you make me want to be a better guy. I want to deserve those sweet smiles of yours. I—”
I leaned forward and kissed him.
Words wouldn’t express what he did to me. My heart felt heavy, so overflowing with love for this wounded, insecure boy that I couldn’t contain it all. So I put it in my lips. In my mouth and in my tongue and in my small gasp of surprise when Justin yanked my body flush against his.
I gave myself over to emotion, threading my fingers through his thick, dark hair. Deepening the kiss and tangling my tongue with his. Dizzying desire whipped through my body, fogging my head with want, and settling in a warm pool of tingles in my belly. Goose bumps danced across my skin as the cool, crisp taste of mint exploded on my tongue.
“Baby…”
Wow. The word set off a flame in my blood. It was a claiming, every bit as much as his lips as they ravaged my mouth, taking over control, possessing me. And I wanted to be his. Completely, in every way I possibly could.
Justin was wrong before. I wasn’t strong or incredible. I wasn’t anything special. But he made me feel as though I was. If I’d learned anything living post-GBS, it was that life was short, and when you found happiness, you grabbed on with both hands and never let go. I had no intention of loosening my grip.
“Uh…” Justin groaned as he tore his lips from mine. “We can’t.” He pushed my hips back, but kept his hands clenched around my waist and leaned forward to brush another kiss against my swollen mouth. His heavy-lidded gaze fell on his handiwork. “Your dad… your whole family… they’ll see us. We have to…”
That he was so breathless over me was a thrill of its own. I grinned up at him, taunting his inner battle by raking my teeth across my bottom lip, and he swallowed hard before inching closer to the edge of the bench. Closer to me.
“We need to slow down.”
“No, we really don’t.” Setting my palms against his chest, I pressed my lips to his jaw. “No one ever comes back here but me.” He moaned as my lips traveled higher, closer to his ear, and he tugged me back between his legs. “Besides, they’re too busy with my grandparents to—”
“Peyton!” At my father’s disembodied voice calling from a not too far distance, Justin’s eyes grew wide with fear. “Justin! Where are you, son? Jesse wants to watch you catch.”
There goes that plan.
Sighing the sigh of the sexually frustrated, I bowed my head and stepped out of the warmth of Justin’s arms. “We’ll finish this later,” I promised. Then, with a final nip of his lips, I called back, “Coming!”