After another week and a half of doing nothing but existing, Rex couldn't take it anymore.

Flora had finally fallen asleep on the couch, and he saw it as an opportunity to get some fresh air.

He was still and sore as he carefully moved from the bed to the door, grabbing his boots and slipping out the front door.

He took a deep breath of the fresh air and winced, and the pain it caused his still healing ribs.

Sitting on the small bench near the front door, he pulled on his boots and started the walk up the hill.

When the barn finally came into view, he saw his horse walking around in a small enclosure.

He felt emotion choke his throat as he tried to hurry to the gate and slipped into the fence.

With a soft nickering sound, she approached, nuzzling her soft nose into his hand.

"There's my girl," He crooned softly, rubbing her forehead.

She whinnied slightly, sniffing him all over, no doubt hunting a treat or small snack.

"I thought you were gone, old girl," He admitted softly.

Her brown eyes focused on him, and he kissed her nose. He had been there when she had been born, and those eyes had look3d right through him.

Until Flora, he didn't think anyone really knew him, but this horse.

"She's a stubborn old brat, just like her owner," a deep but teasing voice called from the fence.

Biting back a smile, Rex turned and walked to where Roy stood, using the fence to take some of the weight off his legs.

"How's my boy?" Roy asked, pulling him into a one-armed hug over the fence between them.

"I'm fine, honest."

"You gave us all one hell of a scare."

"Nah. It's gonna take more than a beating to keep me down."

"Rex, I'm serious. None of us would be able to handle losing you, that pretty little wife of yours included."

"She's not my wife, not really. It's just... a paper mostly."

"Son, open your eyes. That girl is in love with you. Let yourself be the man I know you can be."

Rex shook his head, and after a few minutes, Roy sighed heavily before walking away, disappearing into the bunkhouse.

Rex was stroking his horses neck and talking softly when he saw Flora cresting the hill and walking towards him.

Her hair was down in long waist length curls, a white cowboy hat on top. She was wearing a dress that reached her ankles with some kind of pattern on it and brown cowboy boots.

He felt a lump in his throat, something burning deep in his chest, but he pushed it away as she drew closer.

"I was scared when you were gone," she said softly.

"Sorry."

She reached out to scratch his horse between the ears, and in return, the horse nudged him aside to step closer to Flora.

"Traitor," her murmured,

They stood there awhile, and then he heard thunder in the distance. The raining season was always his least favorite season.

"Let's get her inside," He said softly.

Flora smiled and opened the gate to let the horse out of the enclosure, and together, they walked to the barn.

He led the horse into her stall as the thunder rumbled a little closer.

"We should hurry home it. We want to beat the storm," Flora said.

"I want to show you something."

He turned, and she followed him cautiously, a little on edge about where they could be going.

At the back of the large barn, a wooden ladder was secured to a wall, and he motioned with his head for her to climb.

She hesitated it seemed to disappear into the rafters of the tall barn and was covered in dust.

"It's safe, I promise."

She grabbed a small rung and began to climb the ladder, it creates under their combined weight and she knew she was taking forever to climb, heights had never been her strong suit and he legs wobbled.

"It's okay, I'm here," He said.

"I um....I don't like heights," she admitted.

"Take your time."

Finally, she reached the top, and to her right was a landing she stepped onto it, grateful for a solid floor beneath her feet.

Tucked away safely at the top of the ladder just under the metal barn roof was a small room.

A single window in the middle, below that a mattress was tossed on the floor with sheets and blankets, to the right a hammock hung on large hooks.

A small dresser to the left that looked empty.

A few scattered items lay on the dust covered floor.

"What is this place?" She asked.

"This is where I started on the ranch, this is where I lived for a while."

Some rain began to beat against the small window and the metal roof and she turned to face him.

"I just wanted you to know... you're not the only one who came here with nothing."

He walked further into the small bedroom, taking her carefully into his arms.

She allowed him to pull her closer her hands resting on his chest but not pushing away.

He tipped his hat back on his head and leaned down, kissing her gently.

He always gave her plenty of time to push him away, plenty of time to let him know he'd gone too far, but she didn't.

He bent down his hand, finding her butt and lifting her off the ground.

She didn't stop him or help. He broke their kiss to trail his lips along her neck.

"Put your legs around my waist," He urged.

She complied, her arms wound around his neck. She weighed nothing in his arms but his bruised ribs still protested her slight weight.

He walked to the edge of the mattress, sinking to his knees but still cradling her body to his.

His hat fell off, so did hers somewhere on the way to the bed. She wiggled against his chest trying to press closer to him, trying to tighten her legs around him.

His hands moved towards her hips gripping the dress and pulling it up until it bunched above her hips and her legs were bare.

Leaning forward her laid her on the mattress, pulling his lips from hers and sliding down between her legs.

"You don't have to do that..." she said softly.

He didn't reply as he lifted her knee over one of his shoulders, sliding her panties down and tossing them somewhere onto the dust covered floor.

He leaned forward finally tasting her again, for the second time.

He hasn't been able to touch her properly since his injuries and it was nearly driving him mad.

She arched her back, letting out a soft cry of surrender.

He was thankful for the weather picking up outside, the thunder, rain and wind drowning out every moan and cry she made.

Although he was intoxicated with her sounds, he didn't need anyone to come investigating the source.

He stayed between her legs devouring her, making sure every single inch of her inside and out was properly attended to with his mouth.

He lost count of how many times he felt her cum on his tongue but every time was addictive.

Finally, she gripped his shoulders pulling harshly at his shirt.

He climbed up the mattress, his left hand stroking her thigh as he made his way up her body for a deep kiss.

Her hands were shaky as they fumbled with his belt, his button on his jeans.

He pushed his jeans and his boxers off his body, kicking them until they took his boots with them to the floor.

He reached blindly for the small end table and tore the drawer completely out onto the floor. Odds and ends spilled everywhere, but he ignored them, grabbing the foil wrapped condom near the back.

He took a second to flip it over examining the date. It hadn't been too long since he had lived in the loft but it felt like a lifetime ago.

The date was a few months away before it expired, so he tore it open. He paused to look down at her.

"Are you...okay with this?" He asked.

"I am yours. Completely, hopelessly, you do not ever need to ask me again."

He leaned forward kissing her deeply. He slid the condom on before pushing into her, impaling her with his length.

She let out a small gasp, tensing for only a minute or two before her body went languid beneath him.

He tried to keep a slow, soft, steady pace. It was only her second time he didn't know how much she could take but her soft gasps of pleasure made him wild.

Soon he was burying himself into her, hard and as deep as possible. Her fingers digging into his shoulders through his shirt. The soft little sounds had turned into high pitched cries as he thrust into her again and again seeking both of their release.

They came together, her body clenching so tightly around his it was nearly impossible to keep moving.

He collapsed beside her, both of them breathless and spent.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked.

"No."

"I'm sorry I wasn't more gentle."

"I'll be okay."

She rolled over and he noticed the way she winced when she brought her legs together.

Curling up at his side she rest her head on his shoulder.

He stripped the condom off and grabbed a sheet that lay tangled near their feet. Pulling it up over their bodies before slipping into a deep and dreamless sleep.