#rhett abbott fluff

[sugarcoated-lame]

Pretend To Be My Boyfriend? | Rhett Abbott x Reader

all of my works are 18+ only, minors DNI!

Synopsis: When a guy won't leave you alone, you ask the pretty cowboy at the bar to pretend to be your boyfriend.

WC: 2900

Warnings: not much? this is mostly just fluff :) fake dating, mentions of harassment/guys being creepy, mentions of alcohol and drinking, flirting? like one mention of sex, i feel like that gif of rhett should be a warning

a/n: I've had this idea in my head for a while and finally decided to write it (: kinda feel like it's a bit shit but please enjoy, comments, reblogs and feedback are greatly appreciated! ♥

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“Hey, honey!” Rhett hears a sweet voice call out through the dimly lit, noisy bar. He senses a figure approaching to the left of the barstool he’s sat on, hand freezing halfway to his mouth as he goes to take a sip from his bottle of beer.

It takes him a moment to realize that you’re speaking to him, his confused expression meeting your hopeful, smiling one. He checks behind him for somebody else, but nope, there’s no one there — you’re definitely talking to him.

“Uh…hi? Do I- do we… know each other?” Rhett places his beer down on the bar, wincing as he asks the question; it wouldn’t be the first time he’d forgotten a woman that he’d met in this very bar and drunkenly hooked up with. And that situation never usually ends well for him.

You’re very pretty — beautiful, actually — and Rhett decides right then that he definitely doesn’t know you. There’s no way he’d ever be able to forget a face like that.

He’s pulled from his thoughts as you step a little closer to him, and though you’re still smiling, within the newfound proximity Rhett can now see a frazzled, almost pleading look in your bright eyes as you go to speak again.

“Can you pretend to be my boyfriend?” You ask, your voice lowered to a level that only he can hear.

“Uh…” Rhett’s confusion is written all over his face, from his brows that furrow adorably to his gaping mouth.

Your own expression turns sheepish as you realize how silly the question sounds, and you’re quick to intercept and elaborate for him.

“There’s a guy over there,” you turn away from Rhett slightly and nod your head subtly to your left and catch a glimpse of the drunken stranger who wouldn’t leave you alone. “He’s been trying to hit on me for the last thirty minutes. Can’t seem to get the hint that I’m not interested.”

Rhett follows your gaze and sees a man sipping a beer and staring at the two of you from the other side of the bar.

“So… I told him that I was waiting for my boyfriend.”

When he meets your eyes again, he can tell that you’re trying to play it cool, but Rhett can sense that little hint of fear in your eyes and the worry in voice. And, though he doesn’t know you, he feels his protective instincts kick in.

You can see the change in his demeanor almost immediately, shoulders squared as he sends the other man across the room an intimidating glare that you don’t think you’d ever want to be on the receiving end of.

But, when Rhett’s gaze returns to you, his blue eyes soften and his lips turn up just a bit. He gestures to the empty stool next to his and you take the seat with a sigh of relief and a grateful smile.

“If I’m gonna be your boyfriend, then I guess you should know my name. I’m Rhett.”

Your own shoulders deflate in relief that this kind stranger — Rhett — has agreed to help you, a genuine smile now forming on your lips as you introduce yourself as well.

You’re not entirely sure what made you choose him, but for some reason you found yourself drawn to the pretty cowboy sitting alone at the bar and drinking a beer. And, you’re glad you did.

He’s even prettier up close — little curls peeking out beneath his Stetson hat, adorable button nose, and his eyes captivating pools of blue, intense in their gaze that’s now focused on you. His voice deep and rich, and oh-so soothing.

“You new to town? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here.” He’d definitely remember if he had.

You nod your head in confirmation. “Very new, I just moved here two days ago for work.”

“Well, welcome to Wabang. I promise not all us guys here are creeps like that asshole.” Rhett promises, once again glancing toward the man who had been harassing you earlier.

That draws a light chuckle out of you, but before you can respond, Rhett narrows his eyes and goes to speak again.

“Speaking of which, he’s still staring over here. I’m gonna put my arm around you… if you’re okay with that.”

Your head nods in agreement without really thinking much about it. Admittedly, you find yourself a little bit lost in the quiet, gravely tone of Rhett’s voice, that deep southern accent, and you’re fairly certain he could get you to agree to anything if he keeps talking to you like that.

Before you can register what’s happening, you’re enveloped by warmth and a pleasant musk that’s a spicy mix of vanilla and tobacco as Rhett leans in and drapes a protective arm over your shoulders.

“Can I get you a drink, sweetheart?” Rhett emphasizes the last word sarcastically; if he’s going to pretend to be your boyfriend, he’s going to have fun with it.

You take a second too long to answer, too busy trying to inhale Rhett’s scent again as discreetly as possible, hoping he doesn’t notice — he definitely notices.

When you look back up into his eyes, there’s a playful mirth to them, and a smirk overtaking his lips at how flustered you are by the close proximity and the use of the pet name.

“Y-yeah…yes.” You shake your head as though to clear it. “I’ll have a beer.”

As you inwardly cringe at yourself for stumbling through your answer, Rhett simply smirks and raises his hand to flag down the bartender and order your drink, all the while keeping you close to his side underneath his arm.

Only when the bartender places the bottle down in front of you does Rhett remove his arm from around your shoulders, and you find yourself already missing the warmth of the denim of his jacket on your bare skin.

“So, you moved here for work. What do you do?”

You tell him all about your new job and how excited you are for this fresh start in a new place, and Rhett listens intently, chiming in when necessary, loving how passionate you are about your work and content to just listen to the melodic sound of your voice.

“Alright, enough about me. What do you do, Rhett?” It’s the first time you’ve said his name tonight and Rhett feels his cheeks heat, deciding right then that he loves the way it sounds on your lips and that he needs to hear it more.

“I help out on my family’s ranch,” Rhett tells you. “…But I’m also a bull rider.” A small grin grows on his lips that tells you just how much he loves it.

“A bull rider?!” You’re beaming at him, eyes widened in surprise. “No way, that’s so cool! Way cooler than my job.”

Rhett lets out a deep chuckle and shakes his head in an attempt to protest. Bashful and blushing even harder now, he tries to brush it off – unable to take a compliment, but you’re having none of it.

“Come on, it’s very impressive! Maybe I’ll come cheer you on in the stands sometime.”

“Yeah?” The two of you share light-hearted grins and you give Rhett an affirmative nod. Yeah, he would definitely like that.

The two of you sit at the bar and talk for a while longer, Rhett buying you a couple more beers. You discuss anything and everything that comes to mind and share a good few laughs, the alcohol leaving you on just the right side of tipsy, feeling open and content – light.

Rhett only nurses the one beer that he’s been drinking since you approached him earlier in the evening. He finds himself already feeling a bit protective of you, liking the responsibility of keeping an eye on you and making sure you’re having a good time. Besides, he just really enjoys talking to you and doesn’t feel the need to get drunk tonight.

Rhett continues to also keep an eye on the guy who was bothering you earlier – though he’s fairly certain he wouldn’t try to approach you again since you’ve been at Rhett’s side for a while now, his arm once again finding itself wrapped securely around your side.

However, Rhett’s noticed throughout the night that he’s not the only man in the bar he’s caught looking at you – yes, you’re new in town, but he knows they’re also looking – staring really – because of how beautiful you are. And he maybe finds himself feeling a bit jealous.

“Seems you’ve caught the attention of just about every guy in here tonight.” Rhett informs you with a teasing lilt to his voice to make light of the situation, smirking into his beer bottle as he takes the final sip.

“Not that I want it.” You roll your eyes dramatically. A playful smirk then takes over your lips — you’ve got an idea. The corner of Rhett’s lips quirk up a bit too as his brow raises in question.

“Just trust me.” Your face is leaning in closer towards him and before Rhett can process what’s happening, you lean in and press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

The fact that you’re tipsy has definitely provided you some liquid courage, that much is for sure when you pull back and shift to whisper into Rhett’s ear.

“Gotta let them know that I’m all yours.” Your tone is playful, sarcastically seductive, the warmth of your breath against the skin of Rhett’s earlobe sending a shiver down his spine and he has to fight to hold back a groan. God, does he wish that statement were true.

You can’t stop the little fit of giggles that escapes you as you pull back, and Rhett can’t help but chuckle along with you. Admiring the way your eyes crinkle up when you laugh, the adorable way that your nose wrinkles too. The skin of his cheek is still burning where your plush lips had kissed him.

Now it’s Rhett who has an idea, you can almost see the light bulb flicker behind his crystal blue eyes when they peer into yours again.

“Do you have a ride home?” He asks and your brows furrow adorably, curious as to where he’s going with this. You let him know that you were just going to call an Uber.

“I can drive you home… if you’d like.” Rhett’s nowhere near drunk from the one beer he’s had all evening.

“And there is a way you could show everyone you’re mine.” He proposes, that playful smirk returning to his lips and a mischievous look in his eyes.

“Oh?” You narrow your eyes at Rhett, but you can’t help but grin along with him, still wondering what he could possibly be suggesting.

Rhett goes to remove the cowboy hat from his head, repeating your own words from only a few moments ago. “Just trust me.”

He moves to place the hat atop your head, a silly grin still on his face as he adjusts it over your hair. You meet his look with a puzzled smile of your own, unsure of what he meant, but something within you tells you that you can – trust him, that is.  

Rhett flags down the bartender and closes his tab before lightly knocking his fists on the wooden bar top.

“Come on, let’s get you home.” Rhett chuckles like he knows something you don’t, and you can only roll your eyes in jest as you wait to be let in on the joke.

Rhett watches as you shrug on your jacket, stealing a long glance at you wearing his Stetson – feeling a sense of pride swell in his chest and enjoying the way it looks on your head – before he gently ushers you toward the exit of the bar.

Near the door, he sends a self-assured smirk to the asshole who had been bothering you earlier in the evening, who just watches along from a nearby booth with his buddies, a sour look on his face as you walk out into the night with Rhett’s arm draped over your shoulder.

Only when you’re secured into the passenger side of his truck does Rhett divulge the nature of his plan.

“So, uh — the hat,” Rhett nods towards his hat that you’re wearing and your fingers reach up to touch the worn fabric. “If you wear someone’s cowboy hat, you’re supposed to uh…ride the cowboy…”

He trails off, admittedly a bit nervous now – he doesn’t want to come off as a creep – as he explains the ‘cowboy hat rule’ as he called it, to you. His way of making the whole ‘fake boyfriend’ thing seem a bit more real to any prying eyes, showing everyone in the bar that you’re ‘his’.

You stare at him in bewilderment for a long moment, mouth agape. Your expression sends Rhett into a boisterous fit of laughter, unable to refrain, and earns him a playful smack on the arm.

You close your eyes and cover your face with your palms. “Oh my god…”

“Oh, come on. It’s kinda funny.” Rhett contends through his laughter and you send him what you hope to be a scornful pout. But there’s no real malice behind it, a smile fighting to break through as you find it hard to be annoyed with him.

“And it’s not like I’m gonna hold you to it.” He promises with a wink that might make you swoon if you weren’t already sitting down.

Before you know it, you’re joining in on the laughs, unable to hold back any longer and relishing in the humor or the situation.

Once you’ve rattled off your address to Rhett, the ride to your home is filled with quiet music pouring from the truck’s radio – though it merely serves as background noise as you and Rhett spend the entire 20-minute drive talking. Sharing little details about yourselves and making plenty more jokes. His Stetson still sitting pretty atop your head.

Despite having spent hours talking with him in the bar, you still find yourself wanting to know more about him, not wanting the conversation – or this night –  to end.

The truck reaches your little house all too soon, and Rhett finds himself not wanting the night to end either. Pretending to be your boyfriend was the highlight of his evening and he wants nothing more than to see you again.

When he stops the truck at the end of the little path leading to your front door, Rhett clears his throat before moving to speak.

“So, I — uh, I was wondering, c-could I… maybe get your phone number?” Rhett asks quietly, a pink flush taking over his pale cheeks as he internally curses himself for sounding so nervous.

You don’t mind it, though — this seemingly tough cowboy growing all flustered and stumbling over his words for you? You couldn’t find it more endearing.  

Rhett holds his breath as your pretty eyes — slightly glassy still from the alcohol you’d consumed earlier in the evening, look straight into his blue ones, and you grace him with a coy smile.

“Of course. Who else am I going to call when guys are harassing me and I need a fake boyfriend?”

Rhett releases the breath he was holding and bites back a smile, his shoulders dropping in relief. “Great.”

Once you’ve exchanged numbers, you gingerly remove Rhett’s hat from your head, smoothing down your hair.

Unbuckling your seatbelt, you scoot closer toward him in the bench seat, reaching up to carefully place it back on top of his head  — your eyes gazing into Rhett’s blue ones as they peer back into yours, the two of you sharing bashful smiles.

With the cowboy hat secured on the head of its rightful owner, you move to pull away. However, you pause before you get too far, deciding to lean in and place one last kiss to Rhett’s cheek before climbing out of his truck.

Rhett’s in such a daze – cheeks flushing that bright pink once again as warmth radiates from where your lips had kissed him, and a dopey grin on his lips – that he almost doesn’t notice as you walk around to the driver’s side of his truck, leaning a bit into the open window. Your face close to his, lit up all pretty in the moonlight.

“Thank you for turning my shitty night around, Rhett.” You bite back a grin. “I had a lot of fun.”

Before Rhett can respond – still flustered from the kiss to his cheek and now from hearing you say his name again, you back away from his window, making your way towards the path. Walking backwards, still facing the truck and grinning at him all the while.

“Oh, and you’re a really great fake boyfriend!” You call out.

Breaking off into a giggle that carries in the night’s slight breeze and Rhett can only chuckle back, shaking his head as he watches you with a fond smile.  

With that, you turn around and walk off to your house with a spring in your step. Rhett stays sat there in his truck until he sees you make it through your front door safely, and he’s absolutely beaming.

Rhett's going to call you first thing tomorrow. He hopes that he can turn this ‘fake’ boyfriend situation into something real.

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Thank you for reading! x

taglist: @wkndwlff @sebsxphia @chaoticassidy @dempy @ohgodnotagainn @shanimallina87 @mavrellover91  @memoriesat30  @that-bitch-bri @classyunknownlover @hisredheadedgoddess28 ♥

also tagging a few people that I think may enjoy/liked my last rhett fic ♥ : @roleycoleyreccenter @sunlightmurdock @rhettabbotts @mothdruid @lewmagoo @foreverrandomwritings @pillow-titties @sobshoney

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#rhett abbott #outer range #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott x female reader #rhett abbott x y/n #rhett abbott imagine #lewis pullman #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott fanfiction #rhett abbott fic #rhett abbott one shot #my writing

[writingdumpster]

goodbye kisses

pairing: Rhett Abbott x reader

warnings: none

summary: the morning after a bad fight with rhett you don’t give him his goodbye kiss.

word count: .8k

You woke up without Rhett beside you for the first time in years. The night before you had instructed him to sleep on the couch, but waking up without his arms around you still felt uncomfortable. You sighed.

The fight had been bad. The worst you ever had. And it was your first since being married. You had made it a year without having one, which you were informed by all your friends was a very long honeymoon period.

Earlier that night Rhett had gotten thrown off his bull in the first round. He had been immediately rushed off to the hospital. He was fine. The doctor said he had two broken ribs and a mild concussion. When you got home that night you had said you would stay home with him for the week, but Rhett had told you he didn’t need it. He said he would just keep working. You spent the next two hours fighting about how he didn’t take care of himself enough. It turned into a fight about how you didn’t support his career and then a fight about how bull riding was going to kill him.

“You always want me to stop! You’ve never supported me!” Rhett yelled.

“That’s not true and you know it!” You spit back. “I go to every single one of your competitions.”

“Because you’re scared! Not because you care about it!” Rhett yelled.

“Of course I’m scared, Rhett!” You shouted. “You could die and you never let me help you when you’re hurt!”

“That’s because I don’t need you!”

That had ended the fight. You had left the room without another word and slammed the bedroom door behind you.

You took a deep breath as you headed out of your bedroom for the kitchen. Rhett was standing at the counter with breakfast made as he waited for you. You stopped in the doorway when you saw him.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Rhett called hopefully. You stared at him for a moment.

“I don’t need breakfast. There’s always donuts in the teacher’s lounge on Fridays,” you said. Rhett’s whole posture deflated.

“I thought you were going to stay home with me,” he said.

“I thought you didn’t need me,” you responded. You gathered your things by the door. “Bye, Rhett.” You left without another word. Rhett stood in the kitchen in complete crisis.

You didn’t kiss him goodbye. That had never happened before. Rhett started rushing to clean up so he could go after you but immediately gasped in pain when he moved too fast. He almost started rushing again, but paused. He was doing exactly the thing you hated.

Rhett took his time getting ready, being sure not to stretch himself too far. Rhett called Royal to drop him off at your school. He waved at the receptionist and then made his way back to your classroom. He opened the door and looked at you, a small smile on his face. You looked at him and then at your class full of second graders. They were in the midst of a reading assignment. You reluctantly rose from your desk and stepped into the hall with him.

“What?” You asked in a whisper.

“You didn’t kiss me goodbye,” Rhett said. You screwed your eyebrows together.

“Yeah, I know—”

“And I’m sorry,” Rhett continued. “And I need you. More than I need anything.” His hands came to rest gently on your hips. “I’m sorry,” he said again. You sighed.

“Me too,” you said, letting your hands fall against his chest. Rhett smiled.

“Please come home and take care of me,” Rhett requested.

“You don’t have to do it just to humor me,” you said.

“I’m not. It’s for me. I love it when you take care of me,” he said. ���I just don’t always think I deserve it.” You gave him a sympathetic look before leaning up on your toes to kiss him. There was a small commotion behind the door. You looked over and saw a pair of eyes peeking through the crack in the door.

“Mrs. Abbott’s kissing the cowboy!” You heard a much too loud whisper. Rhett chuckled.

“Can you watch them while I go get someone to cover the class?” You asked. Rhett’s eyes went wide.

“You want me to walk into that room after that and let all those kids question me?” He asked.

“Yes,” you said. “It’ll be good practice for when we have ours.” Rhett beamed.

“Will making them be part of your caretaking?” He asked. You shook your head in disbelief.

“No,” you said with a smile. “You have two broken ribs.” Rhett groaned. “Don’t whine, you know I’m right.”

“Can I at least have the goodbye kiss you stole from me?” He asked. You giggled.

“You just got one,” you said.

“That was a makeup kiss,” Rhett said. “I want my goodbye kiss too.” You rolled your eyes before giving him a short peck. You started to release him to go find a substitute, but his hands stayed on your hips.

“You’re leaving me again,” Rhett said. “I get another goodbye kiss.”

#rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott angst #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott x reader angst #rhett abbott x reader fluff #rhett abbott fanfiction #rhett abbott fix

[sebsxphia]

Okay but like sitting on rhetts lap he's in nothing but his boxers and cowboy hat whispering sweet nothings into your ear.

yee haw cowboy! 🤠

he’s just had a very successful run at the rodeo and he’s finally got his winning prize right where he wants you. you laugh when he tells you this corny one liner, but you wouldn’t have your winning cowboy any other way. especially when he’s striped down to nothing but his boxers. after the evening, there were a couple of beers and shots of tequila at the bar, but nothing too heavy. it’s enough to make you both like giggly teenagers again and as you patch up any fresh grazes, and soothe any blooming bruises, rhett’s still wearing his cowboy hat on his head.

when you finish up tending to your rough and tough cowboy, he pulls you up to his lap with a needy, “c’ere, little darlin’.” he’s got you straddling his bare thighs and he’s kissing over your neck, with his teeth biting at your earlobe. “mm, baby. y’ looked s’ good tonight. y’ do that just for me, hm? dress up all pretty f’ daddy? you’re s’ sweet to me, you’re my diamond girl, my good luck charm. i love you, darlin’.”

sooner than you know it, his cowboy hat is placed on your head and he’s giving your thighs a squeeze. “c’mon, pretty girl. ride the winnin’ cowboy.”

hehe 🤭 i love this thot so much my dear anon! thank you so much for this! 💌

#💌you’ve got mail #rhett abbott #sebs masterlist #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott x y/n #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott drabble #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott smut

[rhettabbotts]

dreaming of a white christmas - rhett abbott x reader

pairing: rhett abbott x wife!reader

summary: in which christmas miracles still happen.

warnings: 18+ only. fluff. soft sex. oral (f receiving). christmas cheer. rhett’s the best husband. rhett walking around naked.

a/n: this is my submission for @lewmagoo’s christmas celebration! i’m so sorry it’s late my love but i hope you enjoy this little fic! and happy holidays to everyone! i hope it’s a good one 🩵.

“We’re looking at a warm and sunny Christmas day. No signs of accumulation over the next week.”

Weatherman Todd Carter crushed all of your dreams in one sentence. Every year since you could remember, there had been inches upon inches of snow throughout the month of December. This year was a little disappointing, but you had been holding out hope for Christmas.

That was your favorite thing about this time of year. The white snow covering the mountains like a blanket. The serene and beautiful landscape always made you feel like a child again.

The early mornings, bundled up from head to toe in snow gear heading out to feed the animals. The anticipation of Santa coming to visit as you baked cookies with your mother. It all reminded you of a happier time. And now thanks to Todd, you weren’t going to have that feeling this year.

Rhett came in that evening and could tell you were upset. It was your second Christmas in your new home and the place was decorated from floor to ceiling. He always said it looked like an elf threw up. You thought it was just enough, but you kept adding more every time you came back from the store.

“Hey, honey,” Rhett greeted you, planting a wet kiss to your cheek. “What’s the frown for?”

“Stupid Todd,” you mumbled as you stirred the cake batter for the chocolate cake you were baking.

“Todd? Who the hell-“

“The weatherman on Channel 7! He said there wasn’t gonna be any snow on Christmas!” You sounded like a spoiled child whining about not getting a toy. The corner of Rhett’s mouth quirked up. “It’s not funny. It’s depressing. We’ve always had a white Christmas.”

“Sweetheart, just because there’s not gonna be any snow doesn’t mean it’s going to be any less perfect. You’ll make sure of that,” Rhett swiped a finger in the cocoa mixture, licking it clean with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Good cake by the way.”

“It’ll be even better if you stop trying to give yourself salmonella,” you swatted at him to get out of the kitchen.

Rhett waltzed out of the kitchen with an extra swing in his step, his tight Wranglers leaving nothing to imagine. It was your favorite pair and he knew it. As he showered and cleaned up, you finished baking your cake. You even threw in a batch of cookies for the hell of it, trying to ignore Rhett’s voice saying in your head “stress baking.”

The holidays were such a wonderful time, but after you and Rhett had married it had become exhausting. Trying to find time for both families and leaving each place more overwhelmed than when you arrived was enough for you to decide to spend Christmas with each other this year.

The repeated questions of “when are you having kids? when are you going to move back to the ranch? why don’t you move closer to us?” wore you down to the point you nearly broke.

You wanted a family but children weren’t on the table at the moment. You and Rhett wanted to travel. See the world. Get out of the little small town you both grew up in.

A strong pair of arms wrapping around your middle snapped you from your thoughts, a scratchy jaw tickled your neck as feather light kisses were placed to your pulse point.

“I know that look. You’re thinkin’ too much again,” Rhett mumbled against your skin.

“Just thinking about you. About us,” you replied, swaying in his embrace.

“I can’t believe it’s our second Christmas. And it’s just us this year. Thank god,” Rhett muttered the last words. He couldn’t stand your aunt Susie. She was touchy.

Rhett continued placing soft kisses on your neck, causing you to moan quietly and lean your head back against his chest. You could feel him smirk. Smug bastard.

“You know… that fire I’ve got going looks real cozy…”

“What are you hinting at?”

“I’m saying I want to eat my wife out by the fire on Christmas Eve so she’ll stop pouting about no snow,” Rhett said bluntly, tightening his hold on you.

And he did just that. He laid out the softest blanket you had on the floor, laid you on your back and threw your legs over his shoulder. His tongue made slow figure eight movements from your clit to your pulsating entrance.

Your knuckles were white from the grip on his long locks, tugging harshly when his lips suctioned on your bud.

“Rhett- fuck- oh Go-God!” You stammered, hips bucking against his face.

He didn’t stop until your thighs were quaking and your juices covered his chin. He made a point to make dramatic slurping noises as he was pulling away.

“That’s it. I don’t need to open a single present tomorrow,” Rhett said as he placed his head on your lower stomach, kneading your thighs gently to stop them from shaking.

“Oh no. You’re opening those presents, mister. I have kept them a secret long enough.”

“I love you, baby.”

“Please fuck me now,” you pouted, practically pawing at him.

“Greedy little thing,” he teased.

So you made love all night by the fire, eventually falling asleep in your husband’s arms and dreaming of a snow white covered yard with two little girls running after Rhett.

The early morning sun shined brightly through the living room window, much brighter than it typically did. You blinked slowly, holding back a giggle at the sound of Rhett’s snoring. You knew he’d be complaining about his back later.

Wrapping an extra blanket around yourself, you made your way to the kitchen to start the coffee, not even bothering to look outside. You didn’t want to be disappointed.

As your cup finished brewing, you stood at the kitchen sink and nearly dropped the mug as you looked outside and saw nearly six inches of snow piled up out front.

You shrieked and caused Rhett to jump awake. He didn’t grab the blanket and stood in the middle of your living room stark naked.

“Where’s the fire?”

“THERE’S SNOW. A WHITE CHRISTMAS,” You exclaimed loudly, wrapping the blanket around you tighter and throwing the front door open. You were greeted with a bitter chill, one that went to the bone and brought a wide smile to your face.

It soon became too much and you hurried inside, Rhett still walking around without clothes on which didn’t surprise you.

“So Todd lied, huh?” Rhett joked as he sipped on your abandoned coffee.

“I could cry right now. A white Christmas. My favorite,” you whispered, grinning to yourself.

“Darlin’, I pray every Christmas will be white just so I can see this joy on your face every time,” Rhett said as he shimmied his way towards you.

“Go put some clothes on. I’ll start breakfast and then we’re doing presents.”

“Yes ma’am,” Rhett winked, yelping when you smack his ass as he walked away.

You spent the day with just the two of you, both laughing and crying at the different presents you got each other. You watched many Christmas movies while you snacked on the lunch you fixed and watched the snow as you drank hot cocoa. You saved White Christmas for last and you couldn’t stop yourself from shedding a tear as Bing Crosby crooned “may your days be merry and bright. and may all your Christmases be white.”

#a lew magoo christmas #rhett abbott #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott fanfiction #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott fluff #outer range #outer range fanfiction

[vivwritesfics]

If Your Daddy Knew

The youngest member of the Tillerson family was so sweet, Rhett couldn't help but be enamoured with her. There weren't many other people he would risk climbing through the window of the Tillerson house for. If her daddy knew, there was no way he'd make it out alive (worth it)

Set outside of the canon events of the show

This man has my entire heart lol

Sneaking onto the Tillerson's ranch was stupid. That was why he didn't tell anybody what he was doing. It was a death wish, but she was worth it.

Rhett went around the back of the house. It was far too big, he had always thought, especially compared to his own house. The Tillerson family had just as many members as the Abbott family, yet their house was nearly double the size.

Fuck, there were so many windows. Rhett tried to keep himself hidden as he decided on a window. But it was all guess work. With no way to tell which one led to her bedroom, Rhett approached the window to his right.

He moved slowly, trying to peer into the dark room. But he could see nothing. Cupping his hands around his eyes he desperately tried to search for a sign that the room belonged to her. Pictures of her friends on the walls, the desk he knew she'd keep so tidy, sheets that were no doubt the comfiest thing skin had ever touched and a stuffed animal he was sure she'd have on her bed.

Suddenly, the door opened and light flooded into the room. Shit. Rhett ducked down beneath the window as Luke Tillerson walked into the room, the room that certainly belonged to man.

With baited breath, Rhett waited, unable to move. He kept his body pressed against the wall as the light switched on, light that shone outside of the window, and the shadow of Luke Tillerson's body approached. Rhett's eyes followed the movement of the shadow as Luke reached up and pulled the curtains shut.

It was only then that Rhett allowed himself to release a breath. All that time he'd been holding it, waiting for one of the Tillerson family, probably Trevor, to chase him away.

He moved to the next window and tried to peer in. But his view was blocked by closed curtains.

Instead of risking it and knocking his bruised knuckles against the glass, Rhett moved onto the next window.

This had to be hers. He could see the colour of her curtains, the bottom of them cream. But Rhett still waited, waited for any sign of her brothers.

But there was none. Nothing Rhett had to wait for. His knuckles tapped against the window and, seconds later, the curtains opened.

In nothing but her pyjama shorts and a tank top, she looked at Rhett. A smile split across her face and she rushed to open the window and pull him into the bedroom with her.

She pressed her finger to her lips the minute he fell into the room with a thud. They were still, waiting for some reaction to the noise they had made. But nobody knocked on the door or walked past it. Rhett supposed the rooms were so large nobody was bound to hear them.

He sat on the end of her bed and began unlacing his boots. "I missed you," she said as she shut the window.

As soon as his boots were on the floor she climbed into his lap. "I missed you too, darlin'," he said as his hands settled on her hips, his deep voice sending a shiver through her.

Her hands were on the back of his neck, playing with his hair as it curled around his ears.

It had been three days since Rhett had last pressed his lips against her own. Three long, miserable days. The groan he let out the moment she leaned in and kissed him.

But immediately she pulled away, so quick it had his hat falling from his head and onto the bed behind him. Her hand quickly covered his mouth as a series of quiet giggles left her lips. "You gotta be quiet, Rhett," she whispered and leaned in to kiss his neck.

She was teasing, not making it easy for him. His hands squeezed at her hips as she moved against him. But Rhett knew he'd never have her in this bed. Not with Trevor, Luke and Billy down the hall.

He slightly pushed her away from him. "This isn't fair," he said, a slight pout on his lips.

But then she climbed off of his lap and Rhett regretted saying anything at all. "C'mon," she said and grabbed his hat. She placed it on her head and sat against her pillows.

Rhett sucked in a breath. "Don't do that to me, baby," he muttered and laid beside her. He pulled his hat from her head, placed it by his boots and pulled her against him.

They laid together for a matter of hours. Or, it could have been minutes. Time seemed to stop and pass too quickly when he was with her. His calloused fingers brushed against the skin over her stomach, dipped beneath her shorts, but he didnt touch her, not in that way. His thumb rubbed over her hip.

"If your daddy knew, he'd kill me," Rhett mumbled and kissed the back of her neck.

She let out a content sigh and rested her hand over his. "I know," she whispered and shuffled back, pressing her body closer to his own. "Trust me, Rhett, I know."

"We have to tell him one day, darlin'," he replied and changed her grip to lace his fingers through her own.

She let out a scoff. "It's not just my dad." She rolled her, her hand against his chest, fingers feeling the beat of his heart. "It's my brothers, too."

"I can take them."

"I don't want you to." She pressed her lips to his neck as Rhett pulled her in closer, his chin resting on her head.

He could have fallen asleep there, holding her body against his own. She was close to it, eyes closed and breathing even.

But, when the hallway light switched on and the shadow of somebody's shoes appeared under the door. "Shit," Rhett muttered.

Within seconds the window was open and his boots were in his hands and he was leaping out of the window. "Wait!" She hissed, rushing after him.

Her hands were on the window, ready to close it. But she couldn't, not without grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him in for a kiss.

***

"Mornin'," she mumbled as she walked into the kitchen. But she could barely be heard over Billy's singing. She stole something from Billy's plate and grabbed a glass from the cupboard.

Suddenly, Billy stopped singing. He didn't trail off, just stopped all together. "What is that?" He asked as he stared at her.

"What?" She pulled open the fridge and grabbed a carton of orange juice.

But Billy didn't respond.

"I recognise that hat," said Trevor as he walked over and plucked it off her head. "But, it's not yours. You got a boyfriend you haven't told us about?"

Fuck, she hadn't even realised she'd put it on. But wearing it, wearing something that belonged to Rhett filled her with so much joy. Her way of showing him off without showing him off.

"Jesus, fuck," came Lukes voice. "That's Rhett Abbotts hat!"

"Give it back, Trev," she said as she reached for it. But he held it high, too high for her to reach.

Trevor turned around, completely ignoring his sisters attempts. "Well boys, how about we go and pay Rhett Abbott a visit?"

#rhett abbott #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbot x reader #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott oneshot #rhett abbott x you #outer range #outer range imagine #outer range x reader #lewis pullman

[mothdruid]

Love in the Saddle

pairing: Rhett Abbott x fem!reader

summary: the two of you didn't mean to forget about valentine's day, but to make up for it you decided to have a day of riding together.

wc: 2.3k

warnings: fluff!!!! allusions to smut at the end

a/n: happy valentine's day!!

A loud huff passed through the air of the barn. You chuckled and ran the front cinch through the buckle, tugging it lightly after Teaspoon let out another huff. It was a shockingly warm day out, which was good for you and the horses. Teaspoon shook her head from side to side for a moment. Her auburn hair shook about, catching small bits of sunlight through the doorway.

“That so?” You finished the front cinch before moving to the chest strap. You buckled the chest strap into place, having made sure it was snug but not too tight on her. Teaspoon stomped her front right hoof lightly on the dirt. “Excited for the sun? Cause trust me, I bet Sterling is too.”

There hasn't been much sun around within the last few months. Snow had been dusting the ground for months, making it hard to take the horses out. It wasn’t that you couldn’t, it’s just neither you or Rhett were fans of long cold rides. You kept their exercise up though, letting them out into the gated field and taking them into the big round pen. You had been taking them on actual rides more recently since the snow had started to melt, leaving cleared areas of pasture for long rides.

Which is what was happening today. A long ride with Rhett. The two of you hadn’t had a lot of time lately for each other. Rhett had been helping more and more at his parents' place. Royal had started to pester Rhett about needing to get the cattle out on the pastures. Which Rhett hadn’t had too much of an issue with at first, but then it changed into helping with rebuilding fixtures and god knows what else. You had been busy with your own work as well, doing some land survey and mapping. By the time the both of you were home, you were both beat and just wanted to melt into the bed.

By the time Valentine’s Day rolled around you were both flustered, having forgotten. So, Rhett made it a point that the following weekend would be a weekend for the two of you. No jobs, no family, no responsibilities except for each other.

You grabbed the back cinch, pulling it up and tightening it, then threading it through the buckle. After placing the bridle on her head, placing the bit in her mouth and draping reins back around her neck, you gave her a pat of encouragement.

“That’s my girl,” you praised, rubbing her neck.

Rhett was still in town, that you knew of, having said that he had a few errands to run. You took it upon yourself to saddle the horses up, wanting to get right into the quality time he had promised you. You couldn’t help it. You missed him, missed your big strong cowboy. Missed his gruff and grit, and the way it all melted away for you. That soft man that not everyone got to see, the one that came out for you and only you. The goofy little smile he gave you when you laughed a little too hard, or the way he would encapsulate you in the kitchen and sway with you back and forth. Yeah, you missed the sex and being physical regularly. But you really just missed him.

“Stay,” you told Teaspoon after leading her outside.

Sterling was more than excited for you to pull him out. He let out a loud whinny, and shook his head. You smiled and gave him a few pats of excitement. A part of you thought that the horses might be more excited about the little ride today than you or Rhett. You have Sterling a sugar cube, the same you had done with Teaspoon after pulling her out. You had placed the saddle pad and turned around to get the saddle when you saw him. You hadn’t even heard the truck pull in.

“Saddling my horse now?” Rhett let out in his gruff voice.

“Hope that’s not a problem,” you chirped back.

“Thought I would be the only thing you ever saddled up,” Rhett started walking towards you, one arm behind his back.

“Well, if you’re lucky I’ll saddle you up later too,” you gave him a wink, “what’re you hiding?” You went over to where you had placed Sterling’s saddle earlier while getting Teaspoon’s out. Just as the leather was about to touch your hands, Rhett stopped you. His calloused hand wrapped around your wrist.

Rhett pulled your attention from the saddle, guiding you to turn towards him. As you turned to him, the arm behind his back came into view. It was a small bundle of flowers, a bundle of wildflowers. There was a simple small cream colored ribbon holding the collection of wildflowers together. You could make out the off white of the baby's breath, bright white and yellow of the daisies, the soft pink of a flower, and some purple tones of lavender. It made your heart swell seeing the flowers in front of you. Rhett had never been one for buying flowers, but he had a habit of buying them for special occasions.

You went to speak, mouth opening only for Rhett to stop you from speaking. “They reminded me of you.”

“Rhett,” his name was the only thing you could say. Maybe it was because you two hadn’t spent any quality, but the swell in your heart had multiplied at his words. Rhett had never been the best with emotions, but you had seen so much from him over the years. “Thank you.”

Rhett smiled softly, leaned forward, and placed a kiss on your cheek. He felt your fingers creep around the base of the bouquet, brushing against his. Rhett could never get over the way how your hands were still so soft compared to his. You always told him that it was because you moisturized, but he was just convinced that you were perfect with or without lotion.

“Go get Teaspoon warmed up,” Rhett nodded towards the Teaspoon, who was now peeking around the corner of the doorway at the two of you.

“‘Kay,” you gave him a smile with a small nod as you fully took the bouquet from him.

The sound of him moving the saddle hit your ears as you got to Teaspoon. You turned for a brief moment to look at him, fastening the front cinch and whispering to Sterling. The words were indecipherable, but you could hear the gruff of his voice no less. A huff broke your train of thought, pulling you back to face Teaspoon. She took a few steps forward only to shake her head up and down. A toothy smile broke out across your face, amused by her response. It was in moments like this that she felt like a child, being able to read the room between parents.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” you chuckled.

Your fingers wrapped around the left side of her bridle, then guided her away from the stable. Her steps were heavy next to you, hooves digging into the barely warmed dirt below her. When you stopped you undid the ribbon around the flowers Rhett had got you. You tied one end of the ribbon tightly around the stems of the flowers, keeping the bundled with as little length needed. The other end of the ribbon was being tied around the horn of your saddle. Once done, you stepped back to look at it.

“How’s that girl?” All Teaspoon did was barely tilt her head in your direction, looking back ahead without a sound. You rolled your eyes, “I’ll take that as a ‘fine’ then.”

You gripped the horn with one hand, grabbed the back of the seat, and placed one of your boots into the left stirrup. After a few readying bounces, you launched yourself up and swung your leg around to get your other boot into the stirrup. After shifting to get a little more comfortable, you gathered the leather reins in your hands. A tug to the right side of the reins had Teaspoon moving, taking heavy step by heavy step in the direction you’d chosen. As you had started to take a lap around the dried out grass, Rhett led Sterling out of the stables.

Rhett adjusted his cowboy hat after getting up in his saddle. A part of you wished he would have left the hat in the stables, hair out on display for you. Either way you knew you’d be seeing it sooner or later. Those light brown locks that had you daydreaming, imagining the feel of them between your fingers and tugging on them ever so lightly. Once he was half way over you noticed him moving towards you. He had one hand on the reins, the other resting on the horn of the saddle.

The two of you happily moved over to the gate, Rhett hopping down to unlatch and open it. After that the two of you took off in the large expanse of pasture. The sun was shining down intensely in the open space. Sterling’s gray mane was shimmering, Teaspoon’s looking like rays of sunshine. There was a soft crunch of dry grass under the hooves of the horses. It was obviously one of the first days of spring peeking through the veil of winter.

It started as a small trot between the two of you, taking your time to just bask in each others presence. It had been a while since you two were allowed to just ruminate with each other. Being able to be out in the pastures again was exhilarating, almost like a kid in a candy store. There was so much space to run and go, it’s like the possibilities were endless. The trot quickly turned into a gallop, then a race. Laughter bubbled from the both of you as your horses sprinted. The flowers Rhett had got you were resting against your knee, bouncing every now and then depending on the gallop. With each small nudge from them you were reminded of why he got them. Once you were finally ahead of him a small bit, you decided to call it.

“I win!” You shouted and looked back at Rhett. He was wearing a frown already, eyebrows knitted together.

“We didn’t even choose a finish spot!” Rhett yelled back amidst tugging on Sterling’s reins.

“Doesn’t matter,” you jested, guiding Teaspoon around and back towards Rhett.

Rhett relaxed back and let out a huff. He stopped Sterling next to you, Rhett’s eyes locked with your own. You feigned an innocent look, trying to act as if you didn’t randomly decide with the race was over. There was a smirk starting to form on Rhett’s face, making one start to form on your own face.

Appreciation was flowing through your veins, keeping your heart beating in that very moment. All you could do was stare at him and take in the features that you had spent days, weeks, months, even years memorizing. No matter what part of life he was at, he was always catching your attention. When the two of you were on the playground in kindergarten, across the lunch room in high school, how he looked after a bull ride, and even now, looking at you with a smile and smitten gaze. You leaned in, hoping he would too.

His lips met yours halfway, closing the gap between the two of you. It was anything intense, the position and space preventing that from happening, but it was loving anyways. Lips ever so soft, especially after he actually started using the lip balm you had bought him. Rhett smelled like it too, honey butter. It was the only scent you thought that wouldn’t be too bothersome. You pulled back slightly, leaving about an inch or two between your face.

“I missed you,” he whispered, as if he didn’t want the horses hearing.

“I missed you too,” you replied, then gave him a soft peck on the lips.

Before he could pull back fully, you snatched his hat off his head, placed it on your own, and took off. After a small chase you both came to a stop. You couldn’t help but smile, a playful thread weaving through you. Rhett stopped Sterling, hopping down, and walking over to you with Sterling’s reins in hand. You followed suit, getting down from Teaspoon and guiding her over near Rhett with you. Rhett looked at his hat on your head, flicking the brim of it up with his finger. His hair was a windblown mess, but you loved it.

“I think you got something of mine,” Rhett’s voice dropped, kindling a fire inside of you.

“Do I? I don’t remember taking anything from you, Mr. Abbott,” you feigned innocence again, something Rhett loved.

“I’m pretty sure you do, ma’ma,” Rhett ducked his head to look below the brim of his hat more. He was practically eye level with you now. “Hat looks pretty familiar t’my own, and y’know what they say ‘bout wearin’ a man’s hat,” he was laying it on thick now, letting his Wyoming drawl seep into his words.

“I don’t think I do,” you cascaded your fingers down his flannel clad chest, “might have to tell me.”

“I think I’d be able to do that,” his free hand snaked around your waist, tugging you closer to him.

“You could show me too,” you leaned towards him and ghosted you lips over his.

“Course ma’am, whatever you’d ask of me,” Rhett’s breath was hot against your lips.

Just before you were about to press your lips to his, Sterling let out a loud huff and Teaspoon whinnied. The both of you pulled back a little, chuckling at the horses. Rhett leaned over and pressed a kiss to your cheek quickly. His hand slipped from your waist, making you miss the warmth of his touch immediately.

“I can tell ‘nd show ya back at home, if you’d like?” Rhett teased, keeping the character up.

“I’ll have to take you up on that offer, Mr. Abbott.”

#rhett abbott #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott x female reader #outer range #outer range fic #rhett abbott fic #lewis pullman

[iloveprettyboysblog]

Fun Fact: The Kind of Glasses that Bob's Wearing are Called Birth Control Goggles. As in he Looks so Handsome I Just Had to Throw my Birth Control Away 😏🥵🔥

#fun fax #fun facts #the more you know #the more ya know #lewis pullman #lewis pullman smut #robert bob floyd #top gun bob #bob floyd #bob top gun #top gun 2 #top gun #top gun movie #top gun maverick #top gun smut #top gun 1986 #rhett abbott #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott fluff #outer range #amazon prime #hes so cuuuute #hes so soft #hes so sweet #hes so fine #hes so hot #hes so beautiful #hes so pretty #hes mine #hes so tall

[sugarcoated-lame]

Joy Ride

Rhett Abbott x Reader

Synopsis: When your boyfriend, Rhett, picks you up from a night out, you decide to show him how much you appreciate him on the way home.

or I just have a lot of thots about giving Rhett road head and this was the result pls enjoy (:

Word Count: ~1.7K.

Warnings: 18+ only minors DNI! Mentions of alcohol and drinking, smut, oral (m receiving), distracted driving?, Let me know if there’s any I’ve missed!

A/N: This is my first time posting any writing so please be kind! I’d love to hear any feedback, comments and reblogs are extremely appreciated! Thank you so much for reading, I hope it’s not shit! <3 Also, I just wanna say a massive thank you to my beloved @sebsxphia for being an absolute angel and reading this through for me and encouraging me to post it, you're the best seb and I love you so much!!! <3

*

*

It was nearing 2am when the ringing of Rhett’s phone pulled him out of the dozy state he’d fallen into watching a movie on the couch.

Seeing your contact photo, his sweet, shy girl in his favorite sundress and wearing his cowboy hat, had brought a tired smile to Rhett’s face.

He’d been waiting on your call. When you’d told him earlier that day that your girlfriends had invited you for a night out at a bar, Rhett was quick to offer to be your ride home.

“Oh no, Rhett, you don’t have to. I can just get an Uber home.” You’d tried to decline, not wanting to put him out, but he’d insisted. Told you to let loose and have fun catching up with your friends.

He’s more than happy to be picking you up in the middle of the night if it means he knows you’ll be getting home safe after your night of drinking. Even happier for the opportunity to just spend some time with his girl.

After only a few months of dating, Rhett’s pretty sure he’d do anything for you.

It’s now about 20 minutes since you’d called and asked him to come get you, since quickly shrugging on his jacket and hat and heading out the door, that Rhett’s parking his truck just down the road from the bar.

When you see your boyfriend walk in through the bar doors, in your drunken state, you’re up and running.

“RHETT!” Practically squealing out his name, you make a beeline towards him. Jumping into his arms, yours clumsily wrapping around his neck and legs around his waist. You’re giggling and planting a big kiss on his lips as Rhett’s large hands come to cup the backs of your thighs to support you.

All the while, your friends watch on, laughing and cooing at the cuteness of the two of you. They loved seeing one of Wabang’s toughest, stoic cowboys go all soft for you, and only you.

After Rhett returns your kiss, you’re swiping the cowboy hat off his head and placing it atop your own with a grin and a glint in your glazed-over eyes.

Rhett gently places you back on the ground, chuckling at the state of you—a giggling mess, his hands on your waist to steady you.

He leans down to your height, gruff voice in your ear asking, “You ready to go, Sweetheart?”

The gravely nature of his deep voice leaves your head spinning, legs a little shakier than they already are due to the alcohol. He made your head spin more than any drink could.

It’s only after Rhett ensures that your friends have a safe way home that the two of you bid them goodnight, Rhett draping his jacket over your shoulders and leading you out of the bar with a hand on the small of your back.

On the walk back to his truck, Rhett relishes in the way you’re all over him. He loves seeing you like this— your usual, slightly more reserved demeanor gone along with your inhibitions. He knows you’re probably going to go all shy on him when he lovingly teases you about it in the morning.

It’s something he’s only been witness to maybe a handful of times in the months of dating you and he finds it endearing.

The way you cling to his side, leaning up to place soft kisses to the skin of his neck, entangling your fingers with the ones of his hand that’s resting around your waist. Still giggling and whispering in his ear about how pretty you think he is.

“...so beautiful, Rhett. The prettiest cowboy, baby.”

It’s moments like these; alone on an empty street in the middle of the night, just the two of you, that Rhett doesn’t feel the need to be bashful about the blush that he knows is currently coloring his cheeks due to such affection.

After helping you into the truck and buckling you in, Rhett walks around to the driver’s side. Letting out a low chuckle as he watches you through the windows. You’re removing his cowboy hat from your head and tossing it into the backseat.

Rhett drives with a warm hand on your thigh, gently soothing it along your skin as he asks you how your night was. You grab ahold of Rhett’s hand, telling him all about the events of the evening and how fun it was to catch up with your friends.

The feel of his large, calloused palm is a sharp contrast in your smaller, softer one. You’re playing with the fingers that had been tracing along your thigh, before bringing it up to your lips to place a soft kiss to his knuckles.

In your still-slightly tipsy state, you’re thanking him for coming to get you. Telling him how much you appreciate him, how much you love him, and Rhett swears he feels his heart double in size.

The two of you had only recently made that declaration, and he still wasn’t used to how much he loved hearing you say it.

Pressing another delicate kiss to Rhett’s hand, you release it in favor of reaching over to run your hand over his lap. Cupping him through his Wranglers, your lip quirks as his hips jolt in surprise, involuntarily bucking toward your touch.

You scoot a little closer to him on the bench seat of his truck, hands working their way up to his belt buckle.

“What are you doing, Bunny?” A low chuckle rumbles in his chest as you begin to unbuckle it.

“I really appreciate you baby. Just wanna show you how much.” You implore with a voice full of need, hungrily eyeing the bulge in his jeans as you work to free his already-hardening cock.

“Honey, you don’t have to-” Rhett begins to speak, but is cut off by the hitching of his breath when your hand begins to stroke him.

Leaning down to press a kiss to his weeping tip, you feel him twitch in your hand as he nearly swerves his truck onto the wrong side of the street. Luckily, there’s really nobody on the road at this late hour.

You lick at the beads of precum that dribble from his slit, still stroking his shaft as you take him into your mouth. Humming softly at the familiar taste of him, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure down Rhett’s spine.

He’s driving with one hand on the steering wheel, the other in your hair as you eagerly suck his cock. Your warm, wet mouth taking in more of his length while your hand continues to work at the base, stroking whatever you can’t fit. He tries not to buck his hips up too much, not wanting to cause you any discomfort.

“Easy Bunny, easy.” He groans out as you take him down your throat, nearly losing his mind when he feels you gag around him. Swallowing and trying to relax your throat as you hold him there.

The feeling of the tip of your nose pressing against the curls at Rhett’s pelvis as you swallow his entire length has the both of you moaning. His aloud and yours muffled against him, the vibrations nearly sending him over the edge.

It’s taking Rhett everything in him to keep his focus on the road while you release him with an audible ‘pop’. A string of saliva still connecting the head of his cock and your plush lips, your hand wraps around his shaft as you give yourself a moment to breathe.

You’re placing little kitten licks to his tip while you stroke him once more, kissing your way down his length and back up again. Laving your tongue along the prominent vein that spans the underside of his cock before you take him back into your mouth. Bobbing your head up and down, hollowing your cheeks as you pick up the pace.

It’s when he’s stopped at a red light that Rhett looks down at you, wondering what the fuck he did to deserve you.

Your pretty lips wrapped around him, staring back up at him with those wide, innocent doe eyes. Mascara tears trailing down your cheeks, your fingernails digging into his denim-clad thigh.

“Fucking hell, Bunny!” With a particularly harsh suck, Rhett reaches his high with a grunt. Eyes rolling back in his head as he sends hot ropes of cum spilling down your throat.

You keep him in your mouth, continuing to suck him gently. Prolonging his high until he’s well and truly spent. You moan at the heady taste of him, his grip in your hair tightening, cock twitching on your tongue from the overstimulation.

When you’re certain you’ve swallowed down every last drop of cum Rhett had to offer, you release him with one final kiss to his tip, making his entire body jolt with sensitivity. His grasp on your hair going slack as you carefully tuck him back into his pants.

It’s a good thing there are no cars on the road behind you because Rhett’s frozen for a good few minutes. Eyes glazed over much like yours when he picked you up from the bar, a thin sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead, chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath.

He doesn’t know how long he’s sat there in such a state before you’re softly calling his name, leaning over to place a kiss to his flushed cheek.

Before you’re whispering, “Baby, the light is green...” and falling back into your seat in a fit of giggles as he fails to come back down to earth.

When Rhett’s breathing finally returns to normal, he’s grabbing you by the back of your neck and pulling you into a feverish kiss.

It’s hungry and full of need, Rhett groaning as he tastes himself on your tongue. Pulling quiet little whines from your throat as he catches your bottom lip between his teeth.

When Rhett pulls back, his eyes are wild. Pupils blown, barely a hint of that beautiful, crystalline blue you’ve come to love is visible.

He starts up the car again, and this time it’s you that’s left breathless. Left in a daze as he practically growls out, accent as strong as you’ve ever heard it,

“Gotta get you home so I can return the favor. Gonna fuckin’ ruin you, bunny.”

...

Thank you for reading! xx

(Credit to @h0neyfire for the Rhett photos for the header (: )

Tagging a couple people I think might enjoy this <;3 @angelic-dreams13 @rhettabbotts <3

#rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott one shot #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott x female reader #rhett abbott x y/n #rhett abbott fanfiction #outer range #lewis pullman #rhett abbott fanfic #rhett abbott fic #outer range imagine #outer range smut #outer range fanfiction #outer range fic #rhett abbot smut #rhett abbot x reader #my writing

[strawhbrrries]

rhett abbott + lazy sundays

The sun would peak through the curtains and splay across Rhett’s back in the early hours, slowly moving to the space on the floor just before the bed as the morning went on. On days you woke up early enough to admire the sun on his back you’d find yourself tracing words and letters onto the skin, poking each freckle, and scratching his back just lightly enough to elicit a groan.

“You're up early.” His voice was husky, throat dry from the mouth breathing he’d done all night.

His hair stood up in every direction, it was a miracle any amount of gel could keep it tamed. He’d turn his head in your direction and just look at you, the corners of his mouth turning into the biggest smile Rhett Abbott could muster this early in morning.

“Sun woke me up, just wanted to love on you.” Your voice barely above a whisper, smoothing some of his hairs down but ultimately failing as they shot right back up.

“Mmmm, you can love on me all you want.” He moved just close enough to you that he could give you a sweet kiss without having to get up. It was a lazy Sunday after all.

You’d spend the next few hours talking in whispers about anything and everything. Who he was going to ride against this week, your work schedule and how it was frustrating you this time, if you were up for aunt and uncle duties with Amy or not. After, and only after, you talked about everything under the sun did the two of you get up for the day. It was slow and took about thirty minutes, by the time the two of you were actually out of bed the sun had found its spot on the floor just above the bed.

He’d find a random pair of plaid pajama pants and slip them on, scratching his chest with a yawn as he made his way into the kitchen to start some coffee and breakfast. You slipped into the nearest robe and padded down to the kitchen to hug him from behind, kiss his back before laying your head against him and sighing. You could die happy just like this. He’d chuckle and squeeze the hand on his stomach before continuing breakfast, talking you through every step of what he was doing. He did it every time. You���d never get tired of hearing it.

Sundays always meant breakfast on the couch, some random cartoon that wasn’t nearly as good as the ones you grew up on playing in the back. You’d praise his cooking, as you always did, and savor the sweet peacefulness in front of you. After you ate, he’d take the dishes and wash them. You’d watch from the couch and think about how lucky you were to have a man that cooked and cleaned with no complaints. He’d come back and lay his head in your lap, your fingers playing with his hair and twirling it around your fingers. Sundays were your favorite day of the week.

#maddies fics #lewis pullman fluff #lewis pullman #lewis pullman fanfic #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott fic #rhett abbott #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott fanfiction #outer range

[sebsxphia]

gentle, rough and loving.

rhett abbott x reader.

￫ description: rhett abbott’s aftercare is the final piece to the puzzle you need.

￫ word count: 2.5K.

￫ music: listen to the incredible and beautiful playlist made by @laracrofted for this fic here! 💽

￫ c/w: endings of smut, endings of BDSM/rough sex, mentions of BDSM, rope, derogatory language used towards reader, one mention of no previous aftercare in previous relationships, sub space, soothing injuries, kissing, swearing, rhett giving you proper aftercare, rhett being an absolute sweetheart and fluff, fluff, fluff.

￫ a/n: i’m dedicating this piece to the wonderfully talented @lewmagoo. their writing is absolutely phenomenal, and what always gets me most, is the beautiful aftercare that they write. therefore, this piece was born! please kindly check out their writing, i cannot recommend it enough! <3 i hope you enjoy! <3 my main masterlist can be found here! 💌

Gentle, rough and loving are the three words you would use to describe what it felt like to make love to Rhett Abbott. He had your face pushed down with one hand, onto the hard and cold floorboards of your living room floor. His other hand was gripping at your hip so hard, you knew his fingertips would leave bruises. Yet, the hand that was pressed on your face had his fingers curling round to the rise of your cheek, so the wooden floorboards wouldn’t hurt too much. The hand on your hip worked to steady your wrecked frame, so you would never fall forward and hurt your neck.

He had secured your wrists tightly together with some rope. The rope itself wasn’t some tattered and fraying rope that he had found in his barn, no. Rhett had insisted that he purchased proper bondage rope. Your safety was of the upmost importance to him, regardless that he was treating you like a common whore in this very moment. He used his extensive, and ever growing knowledge of cowboy knots, to tie your wrists together and let them rest on the arch of your back. It was the perfect centre of gravity so that you wouldn’t topple over when his thrusts became particularly rough.

At the beginning of your relationship, before any rougher type of sex had occurred, you explained to Rhett your prior experience of aftercare with previous partners was, minimal, to say the least. It was during the quiet confines of your shared bed during one moonlit night. You remember the look on his face, shadowed gently by the moonlight filtering in through your lacy curtains. His face contorted into hard lines above his eyebrows, yet his eyes still wore a soft and loving gaze for you. He was both angry beyond belief that no one would take care of you like that, and deeply consoling to your fears and hurt.

“I promise you, I’ll never let that happen to you, m’love. You’re safe with me. I hope y’ can come to trust me, in time.”

He understood that he had to earn that trust from you in time, and he made a promise to himself that gentle night that he would.

A year later and Rhett had kept his promise.

After the scene was over and he came down from his own ecstasy inducing high, the word loving, was about to replace the word rough. He could still hear your faint whimpers that escaped your mouth in time with your body twitching from your heightened sensitivity. With heightened caution, he slowly slipped his fingers out from under your cheek to allow for your face to gently meet the floorboards. His other hand still had a hold on your hips to steady you, but his moved his fingertips an inch upwards so he wouldn’t press down on the particularly sore points. His hand from your face traveled over the base of your skull, along your spine in your neck and dipped in between your shoulder blades. This was when you first registered his voice.

“Darlin’, can y’ feel that? Feel my hand on your neck?” You let out a small grunt in response. You had intended it to be a hum in agreement, but with lack of water it distorted your voice. He understood your tone none the less and made a mental note to get you water as soon as he was able. He continued to trace your spine with his hand until he reached your tied wrists. He was allowing you to feel his gentle touch, to remind you that his far rougher touch was finished now. His fingertips reached your bound wrists and you heard him speak again.

“I’m goin’ un-tie your wrists now, darlin’. I won’t let y’ go, I promise.” He worked his set of fingers nimbly to un-tie the knots. He only ever used knots that were quick and easy to un-tie, especially with one hand. As you felt the rope be pulled out from underneath your wrists like a table cloth off a table, your wrists went limp and they slid down your hips. Rhett was quick to grasp onto them to allow your centre of gravity to stay. You huffed out a groan that he could only register as, exhaustion.

He made another mental note. “Your poor back and wrists, they must be so sore. Cream, after water.”

“Shh, m’love. I know, I know. I’m goin’ turn you over now, okay?” The hand on your hip guided you down to the floor and then slid round to your belly, to turn you around to face him. The gentle hold on your wrists let go momentarily before he gathered them back in his hand to rest on your stomach. He had you turned over and now sat in his lap, as he sat on the floor. He had one hand resting in between your shoulder blades, allowing him to hold you up right and see your face. Your cheeks were flushed a rosy red, with tear stains tracking down your flesh. Your eyes were drooping and completely glazed over, and you wore a cock drunk, lopsided smile.

He was proud that he could fuck you so good that you would end up as a wreck like this, but that was done now. It was now his responsibility to be gentle and loving with you, and take care of you.

“Can you tell me your name?” Rhett avoided using any pet names that would be used during a scene like that, as to not push you into subspace any further.

“Bambi?” You croaked out with your eyebrows furrowing slightly. His lips quirked up in the corner of his mouth, but he kept it hidden from you.

“That’s not your name right now. Can y’ tell me your name?”

Your brow furrowed deeper and you inhaled a shaky breath. Your glazed over eyes scanned his face and he felt a wave of relief when he saw your eyes crinkle in the corners ever so slightly. It was a tell tale sign that you were coming back around and you remembered Rhett as your lover and someone who was safe, to you. You called out your own name and he placed a softening kiss to your forehead with praise.

“Atta’ girl.” He beamed in delight. “That’s your name ‘nd I’m here to take care of y’ now, okay, darlin’?” You nodded in response and removed your hands from his to grab onto the collar of his plaid shirt. You buried your face into his neck, letting your cheeks scratch over his stubble and your nose inhale his familiar scent, grounding you further.

“Rhett, Rhett, Rhett…” You mumbled incoherently into his flesh.

He smiled to himself and moved his hand to cradle your head. “That’s right, sweetheart. It’s me, you’re safe now. I’m gon’ take y’ upstairs ‘nd get y’ cleaned up, okay?”

You nodded against his shoulder and let him scoop you up under your thighs, allowing himself to get off his knees and cradled you next to his torso. He carried you up the stairs to your shared bedroom, letting you down softly onto the mattress below. He shed his own plaid shirt and instructed you to sit up briefly. He guided your arms into the sleeves and wrapped it around your bare chest, noticing you were shivering slightly. You held tightly onto his biceps as he pulled away from you. There was a look in your eyes, a pleading desperation for Rhett not to leave you. He recognized it instantly and reassured you within a second.

“I jus’ need to get y’ some water and ointment first, m’love. I’m gon’ be ten seconds.” He pressed another praising kiss to your forehead. Your glazed over eyes looked almost tearful and it caused his stomach to drop through the floor. It teared at his heartstrings, knowing that you entrusted him so deeply like this.

You watched as he left your bedroom, with the glass from your nightstand in his hand. You kept your eyes intently focused on the doorway and awaited for his return from the bathroom. You heard the faucet running and the pipes shaking throughout the rest of your home. When he returned, you held out your hand, as to beckon him for his reassuring presence. He squatted down by the bedside and handed you the glass. He reached up to brush the hair out of your eyes, looking up at you with a prideful smile when you gulped down the soothing liquid within seconds.

“I’ll get y’ another glass in a bit. Can I have your wrists first, please?”

Rhett was well aware of the fuzzy headspace that you could be in. Regardless of the stage, he understood that you may be unable to communicate back to him. Therefore, asking for your permission, or telling you what he was doing was always first on his mind.

You held out your wrists and let him take them delicately into his own hands. His calloused fingertips had always been rough, since the day you met him, but somehow, when they were drawing over your skin it seemed as though it was a featherlight and tender touch. You adored how your rough and tough cowboy, could be so gentle and loving.

He moved the ointment over your wrists and asked you to sit up next so he could soothe your aching back. He could feel your eyes fixated on him the whole time. You were tracing and following his every move. But he knew it wasn’t because you didn’t trust him, it was because you were finally receiving the proper aftercare that you deserved and you wanted to burn it into your memory forever. He could feel how your body was keening into his loving touch, with every simple swipe and stroke of the cooling ointment. When his fingertips ran over your wrist, he could sense your pulse coming back to a resting rate, which pleased him greatly.

When the pain points that he was aware of were covered, he moved onto your needs that you perhaps hadn’t yet communicated to him.

“Darlin’, can y’ tell, or point, to any other parts that hurt, please?” You out stretched your finger to point at your knees and he let out a quiet chuckle to himself. “Of course. I’m not surprised, y’ took me s’ well, sweetheart.”

He moved up and onto the bed, and caught your gaze in the process. Your eyes had lit up and sparkled brightly at his sweet praise. Your mouth was parted with an anticipated smile.

“I— I did?”

Your fingers twiddled with one another in your lap. He recognized how your body language shifted and the look you wore on your face. You were asking for praise and reassurance, something that you had never had prior.

“Oh, m’love,” he scooted up to where you sat against the headboard. He knelt next to you and took your face in his hands again. “You did incredible for me. I’m s’ proud of you. You’re such a good bunny for me.” He leaned down to gingerly press a kiss to your cheek but your lips met his instead. You hovered mere millimeters away from his lips and you swore you could’ve felt a zap! of electricity connect you both. You felt his warm breath fan over your lips and you gazed up at him through your lashes.

He swallowed thickly and his voice got caught in his throat. “Can I kiss you, darlin’?”

“Please, Rhett.” You breathlessly pleaded. He leaned in to meet your lips and your body almost went limp against his. The first loving kiss that came after a particularly rough fucking, was always the final piece to the puzzle. Like clockwork, you came back around and you were now fully understanding of your surroundings and who you were with. You were with your Rhett, who was gentle, rough and loving.

He pulled away, with you both letting out a small gasp at the sudden contact of air. He held your gaze for a couple of moments longer. He loved the way how you keened into his touch, how you were moving your face to press your cheeks harder against his large hands.

“Let me finish taking care of your knees, ‘nd then I’ll cuddle up close to you, okay?” You nodded in his hold and let him slip away, back down to your legs.

Moments later your body was smoothed out with the ointment, you had another glass of water down you and you had been moved back into Rhett’s arms. He’d pulled out your old laptop from underneath your bed to watch something easy, alongside some emergencies snacks for occasions such as these.

He had taken his plaid shirt off you at your request. You wanted to feel the ever comforting feeling of skin on skin contact. He was sat back against the headboard with you in between his legs. His broad and toned thighs were locking around you and keeping you protected. His hands ran up and down your arms in soothing strokes, and sketched out mindless shapes on your flesh. He occasionally dipped into the snack you had in your hand to feed you one or feed himself, which always earned a giggle from you.

“Do y’ want a bath after this, darlin’? I’ll give y’ a proper massage too, the lavender oil and everythin’.”

Your head rolled back into the crook of his neck and onto his shoulder. You let out a satisfied hum and looked upwards towards Rhett. Your hands moved to cradle the back of his skull and toy with the lick of hairs at the base of his neck. He craned his face down to catch your satisfied, yet still drooping gaze.

“Please, lover.” You paused for a second and sucked your bottom lip in between your teeth. “You’re s’ gentle, rough and loving to me.”

If your hand was on his chest right now, you’d be able to feel his heart beating in double time. So fast, it could burst right through his chest. Your trust was solidified in Rhett and it made his heart feel as though there was a bed of wildflowers blooming inside of him.

“Anythin’ for you, m’love. I’ll always take care of you.”

“I’ll always take care of you too, cowboy.”

Your own statement was as true as his. After a particularly rough ride and having his knees scraped and his shoulder pushed out of his socket, you would be there. Your hands would roughly grip at his chest and shoulder to pop the bone back in its place, but your hands would turn gentle as you pressed the cotton pad to his bloodied knees. You would lovingly run your hands through his hair as he lay with his cheek pressed on your bare chest, when the exhaustion would wrack his body entirely.

You loved and cared so deeply for each other, that you both knew no one would, or could, ever match that.

taglist: @beachbabey @tallrock35 @currentlybradshaw @unmistakablyunknown @iloveprettyboysblog @wkndwlff @flames-thebitch @randomfandomgirl97

tagging who maybe be interested: @sunblchdfly @bradshawsbitch @rhettabbotts @bobfloydsbabe @bobfloyds @peachystenbrough @sugarcoated-lame @sushiwriterhere

#(also i hope you all get the header showcasing rhett being gentle rough and loving. okay thank u <3) #rhett abbott #rhett abbott x f!reader #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott x y/n #rhett abbott x female reader #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott fic #rhett abbott fanfiction #rhett abbott fanfic #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott angst #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott drabble #outer range #outer range x reader #outer range fanfic #outer range fic #outer range imagine #outer range drabble #outer range smut #lewis pullman #lewis pullman x reader

[rhettabbotts]

angels with filthy souls - pornstar!rhett abbott x fem!reader

taglist | drabbles

pairing: pornstar!rhett abbott x inexperienced!fem!reader

setting: las vegas, nv. 1987.

summary: when the lives of a struggling cocktail waitress and an adult film star cross paths, it’ll change them both. in ways they’d never expect.

warnings: 18+ only. SMUT. lots of it. there will be some angst and fluff. age gap. drinking. smoking. some religious and familial trauma mentioned. each chapter will have its own individual warning.

coming soon…

#rhett abbott #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott angst #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott fanfiction #rhett abbott fic #lewis pullman #pornstar!rhett abbott #pornstar!rhett

[vivwritesfics]

Lewis Pullman Masterlist

Okay so i don't actually write for Lewis, but I do write for two of his characters (so far) and it made sense for me to group them here

Bob Floyd

Series

Shine A Light Into The Wreckage

Imagines

Military Flyover

The dagger squad don't want to do a military flyover of the Las Vegas grand Prix. None of them really knew much about and, those that did only really knew about Nascar. She hated the Vegas Grand Prix as much as those doing the military flyover. But the cute WSO there to support his friends was making it bearable.

Grow Old With You

Bob didn't want to introduce his girl to his squad. But she was his fiance and he did want them at the wedding. When Hangman tries it on, Bob knows she really is the one

Sweetness

The dagger squad didn't expect much from Bob. He was quiet and reserved, and they didn't expect anything else from him. But they didn't know about the girl waiting for him at home, dressed in her prettiest lingerie.

Blurbs

Girl dad bob

Damsel in distress

Cowboy bob

Bobs original pilot

Rhett Abbott

Series

Imagines

If Your Daddy Knew

The youngest member of the Tillerson family was so sweet, Rhett couldn't help but be enamoured with her. There weren't many other people he would risk climbing through the window of the Tillerson house for. If her daddy knew, there was no way he'd make it out alive (worth it)

Blurbs

Rhett and Sparrow

#bob floyd #bob floyd imagine #bob floyd x reader #bob floyd fluff #bob floyd smut #bob floyd x reader smut #bob floyd oneshot #bob floyd x you #rhett abbott #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott x you #top gun #top gun bob #top gun maverick #outer range #outer range imagine #outer range x reader

[mothdruid]

The Librarian

pairing: Rhett Abbott x Librarian fem!reader

summary: Rhett wasn't expecting to find you as the new librarian, let alone the one that was teaching Amy's summer reading program. Over the course of the summer program you two start casually dating, falling in love with one another.

wc: 10.3k

warnings: fluff, smut, 18+, mdni, pet names (mouse, darlin', sweetheart), oral sex, hand jobs, unprotected sex (p in v), alcohol use, swearing

a/n: finally! it's here! i hope you all enjoy it!

Rhett had been surprised when he heard that Cecilia signed Amy up for a summer reading program. Summer was meant for fun and helping out around the ranch, not having your nose stuffed in a book. Amy seemed happy about it though, so Rhett didn’t question it too much. What Rhett did question was why he had to go pick her up.

“It’s just for today, Rhett.” Rhett huffed and rolled his eyes for a moment. Rhett got to his feet, grabbing his ball cap and placing it on his head. Why couldn’t she just go pick her up? She was the one who enrolled Amy in the program anyways. Amy was a smart young girl, she made him proud to call her family. Sometimes he wondered how such a smart person had come out of their family. It wasn't that they weren't smart, just not necessarily book smart. Perry had been the only one who went to college, making Rhett hope Amy would eventually follow Perry's footsteps.

After Rhett muttered an agreement, he grabbed his keys and headed out to his truck. The ride into town wasn't too bad, hot like any other summer day. The heat like this reminded Rhett of his youth, days when he was much more concerned about looking cool than reading a book. A chuckle or two would come out when he thought about it by himself, remembering how much of a prick he used to be. He never spent much time in the library growing up, it was never something that interested him. It tended to just remind him of how much he had hated school.

Rhett pulled into the parking lot of the library, killing his engine with a twist of his keys. He waited for a moment before checking his phone.

pick up is inside the library - mom

Rhett rolled his eyes once more, exiting the vehicle and heading up to the doors. Sometimes he wondered how Wabang was able to have such a nice library. Afford one that wasn't falling apart. Rhett made his way in, finding his way up to the main desk. A middle aged woman greeted him, answering his question and pointing him in the right direction. Rhett walked past a few different areas before coming up on a slightly open space. Couches and tables with chairs littered the area with about fifteen kids sitting at them. Some kids were talking amongst themselves, while only a select few were actually reading.

"Can I help you?" A soft and oddly familiar voice interrupted his sight seeing. Rhett was surprised when he turned, seeing you looking at him. It had been years since he'd seen you, high school in all honesty. He hadn't even heard that you were back in town. He didn't remember you ever looking this cute.

"I.. I'm.." You smiled at him, watching as he tumbled over his words. He closed his mouth, jaw clenching as embarrassment plagued him.

"Well, hello to you too, Rhett. I'm assuming you're here for Amy?" Rhett nodded. Why couldn't he just fucking talk?

"When did you get here?" Rhett asked bluntly. One of your eyebrows raised, a little confused by the question.

"Do you mean when I showed up behind you? Or when did I come back to Wabang?"

"The second one." Finally, his words were working again. Rhett looked you up and down for a moment, taking in your brown overalls and white long sleeve shirt. You were holding onto a few children's books, a small silver necklace hanging around your neck.

"Earlier this year, got this job shortly after. I've been flying under the radar. Under your radar." It wasn't a secret that the two of you had a history. Throughout high school the two of you pined over one another, that was until Maria came along. It hurt a little at first, knowing that you weren't Rhett's first choice, but you also knew that his hormones were too high at the time. By junior year the two of you had moved on, only making small talk when needed during class or at school events.

Your family had always been singled out as the "weird" family in Wabang. It was mainly because your family didn't ranch. They didn't do anything relatively "normal" for the culture in Wabang, aside from taking you and your siblings to the rodeo every now and then. It had never bothered you, and sometimes Rhett wondered if that was why he had a crush. You were different, but not too far off. Always had your nose stuck in a book instead of trying to get fucked after the Friday night football game.

Rhett let out an amused noise at your confession.

"That so?" Rhett smiled at you, the curve gathering to one side of his mouth.

"No, it's not. Just pushing your buttons." There it was, that odd quirkiness that seemed to pull Rhett in so long ago. He watched you give him a wink before you walked over to Amy. She was sitting at a table alone, reading a book. His heart warmed as he watched you tap Amy's shoulder for her attention. You leaned over and whispered that Rhett was here to pick her up. Amy immediately lit up, excited that her uncle was the one retrieving her.

Amy quickly gathered up all of her things, shoving her book into her backpack before you walked her over to Rhett. "I didn't know you were getting me today." Amy said with a bit of excitement. Rhett smiled at her words.

"Neither did I." Amy giggled quietly as she started to head towards the front of the library. Rhett nodded his head at you, a soft smile still plastered on his lips.

"I'll see you around."

"Yeah, see you around cowboy."

-

-

Rhett couldn’t believe that he volunteered to pick Amy up. Again. Rhett was finding him picking her up from her reading program more often than he wanted to admit. It had been two full weeks into June, meaning the program was one third of the way done. Cecilia informed him after the first day that it was a six week program. Six lucky weeks that Amy got to spend with you.

Rhett didn’t want to admit that he was going to see you. But he knew deep down that was the main reason. Seeing you for not even a full five minutes was slowly becoming the highlight of his days. Amy and Cecilia also started to notice his happy demeanor after picking her up.

“What’s got you so uppity?” Cecilia asked when they walked through the door. A devilish smirk appeared on Amy’s face. She set her backpack down near the table. Rhett rolled his eyes at the both of them, setting his keys on the table.

“Uncle Rhett likes the librarian.” Rhett narrowed his eyes at her, a look of disbelief on his face. Amy giggled as she watched Rhett shake his head at her and held his finger up to his lips. It was supposed to be their secret, one they didn’t speak about. Cecilia turned around with a smirk on her face.

“It ain’t Mrs. Benson, is it?” Cecilia joked with Amy. Rhett gave her a simple ‘what the fuck’ face, listening to Amy giggle some more.

“No, Grandma! Mrs. Benson’s too old for Uncle Rhett. It’s Miss Y/LN.” Cecilia raised an eyebrow, acting surprised. It wasn’t like she had forgotten who you were, or who your family was. She remembered Rhett talking about you a little bit in high school, and how you would volunteer at the local old folks home. Cecilia had always known you were a kind soul, something she knew that might work out Rhett's rough edges. Amy trotted off to the stairs, running up the steps quickly to go search her room for something.

“Rhett..” He gave her a curious look, not exactly able to pinpoint the tone in her voice. Cecilia threw her dish towel up over her shoulder, leaning back against the kitchen counter.

“What ‘ma?” Rhett didn’t like her silence. He slowly started to recognize the situation more than the tone of her voice.

“That’s Amy’s teacher right now. You can’t be messing anyth-”

“I ain’t messing anything up, ‘ma. Besides.. She’d be too smart for me anyways.” Rhett smiled while he thought about you. It had been a long time since someone made him feel like this. Feel more than just the urge to fuck. It was an urge to meet you, learn everything about you, the ins and outs of your very essence.

“Well someone has to be smart enough to look out for you. Lord knows me and Perry can’t do it forever.” Rhett’s gaze flicked up at her from that table, a glint in his look. He hated to admit it was the truth. He wasn’t rushing to settle down anytime soon, but he sure did yearn for it from time to time. And one of those times happened to be now.

Which is what led him to now. Sitting in the parking lot of the library, twenty minutes before he was supposed to arrive. His foot was tapping on the floor near the gas pedal, his nerves finally starting to get to him. After the conversation with Cecilia, he planned to ask you out. But now it was one week later, three full weeks into the summer program. He looked up at the ceiling of his truck, pulling the brim of his hat down to cover his eyes. “Fuck.”

Rhett moved out of his truck, finally deciding that this was it. It was now or never. He tipped his hat to Mrs. Benson who gave him a small smile. “You’re early, Rhett.” He nodded his head to her, walking up to the front desk.

“I know Mrs. Benson, I was hoping to talk with Miss Y/LN. I don’t want to interrupt the kids though.” Rhett whispered to her with a smile. It was a partial truth, he didn’t want to interrupt them. He also didn’t want them to see him ask out their summer learning teacher. Mrs. Benson gave him a knowing look. Was it actually that obvious?

“She’s in the back room. There will be a door all the way down the third aisle of the non-fiction area. Just over there.” Mrs. Benson pointed in a direction near where the kids would be, but not that exact spot. Rhett tipped his hat and gave her a nod with a thank you. He headed off to find you, making sure he didn’t get lost somewhere in the library. Perry would never let him live that down.

Rhett peaked around the corner of what he thought was the third aisle. He was rewarded by seeing an open door at the end of it. He made his way down the aisle, knocking on the wooden door frame when he got to the doorway. He poked his head in, looking around in the old store room. It wasn’t very big, but sizable. There were three aisles within the room, made by many bookshelves that housed old, unused, and extra copies of books.

“Come in!” He recognized your voice immediately. There was a small rustling noise that came from the third aisle, letting him know where to find you. After a few steps into the room he peered around, finding you on your tip-toes trying to grab a book from above.

“Need any help?” Rhett asked, hoping you would entertain his offer. He took in your outfit, a knee length maroon skirt with a neatly tucked in beige button down. A pair of slip-on black Toms covered your feet, which you rolled back onto after not reaching the book. You looked down the aisle at him, surprised to see him, a small smile covered your lips.

“Some help would be much appreciated. Normally,” he made his way down the aisle, “there is a stool. But it is MIA today apparently.” Rhett nodded with a smile, reaching for the book you pointed at. You checked your watch, seeing there was another fifteen minutes before pick up. “Pretty early today, Rhett.”

“Yeah,” he handed the book to you and watched you flip the pages, “I wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh, that so?” You looked at him, his warm oases staring down to meet your own eyes.

“Yeah, it is.” You moved back, leaning against the wall behind you. Rhett moved to stand in front of you, your hands clutching the book to your chest. Your heart fluttered, this exact situation being something you had dreamed about since meeting him. You could tell something was different, he was a little different. It wasn’t just the awkward small talk the two of you had while he picked Amy up.

“Well, go on.” Rhett bit his bottom lip for a moment, thinking about the right way to ask you. He had been over it multiple times prior, but now his mind was failing him.

“Would you like to go out? Like to dinner or something.” Rhett ran his tongue over his bottom lip, pulling your gaze away from his. You watched as the slick muscle glided over the dry skin, wetting it thoroughly. Rhett took notice and moved a little bit closer to you. Your cheeks filled with a warmth when you noticed how close he was, only a few inches away.

“I-I would like that, Rhett.” He never thought he would be able to get someone as articulate as you, to stumble over her words. You looked away for a brief moment, turning your head to look down the hallway. Rhett brought a finger up to your cheek, gently pulling your face back to face him. A soft smile matched his soft gaze. He tipped his hat up, leaning closer to you.

When his lips pressed against your it was like fireworks went off. It was gentle, a gentleness you were surprised Rhett had inside of him. One of his hands moved to your waist, just resting, while the other cupped your jaw and cheek. Three weeks of small talk and ruminating on memories had finally come to a precipice. The kiss wasn’t anything crazy, maybe the beginnings of what could have been an intense makeout. Rhett pulled back, the hand on your waist moved to adjust his hat a little bit. His thumb was rubbing your cheek, making your heart flutter.

“When do you want me to pick you up?”

-

-

“There ain’t no way.”

“No, I’m being serious!” The two of you had moved to the Handsome Gambler after diner, deciding to get a few drinks.

“How am I supposed to believe that little ol’ you stole a traffic cone?” Rhett could barely picture it in his brain. University years you drunkenly toting home a traffic cone. Not to mention the fact you were apparently living in the dorms at the time.

“I was different then, more wild.” You sipped at your cider while watching him. That dopey smile appeared again, making your heart flutter. It was true that your years at university were a bit more wild. Experiencing everything that wasn’t little ol’ Wabang was exciting at the time. You tried to experience as much as you could while at university. Partying, drinking, smoking, fucking, etc. It was all new and something you needed to try, at least once.

“I just,” Rhett leaned across the table a little bit as his voice lowered, “can’t really picture it.” You cocked your head to the side, giving him a questioning look.

“Picture what, Mr. Abbott?” Rhett felt a heat rise to his cheeks at your words. Mr. Abbott had always been a title reserved for his father, but he couldn't ignore what it stirred up in him. He leaned back into the booth seat, his hand holding his beer firmly on the table.

"Picture you out partying and what not. I'm just used to you being a little bookmouse." Rhett was mentally kicking himself in the ass. Bookmouse? What the hell was that?

"A bookmouse?" Rhett flushed even more, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Yeah," Rhett thumbed the rim of his glass bottle, "cause you liked books and were quiet." Another flutter. You couldn't help but smile at Rhett's cuteness. The way he was talking, both awkwardly and confidently, made you giggle.

"Well, this bookmouse did a lot more than just read books at university." You winked at him. Rhett's mind swirled with possibilities of what you meant. He shifted in his seat, adjusting himself in his pants. "Maybe I'll show you some day."

Rhett raised an eyebrow at your proposition. Fuck, he liked the sound of that. He leaned over the table one more time, "How's about we get out of here?" Eyes flicking towards the door.

"I'd love to but," Rhett's eyebrows knitted together, "I gotta get stuff ready for the kids tomorrow." Rhett had almost forgotten that it was the middle of the week. He actually had forgotten until you grounded him. Rhett nodded, jaw clenching in a casual way. He wasn’t annoyed at you, more or less annoyed with the situation. Rhett loved that you enjoyed helping the kids with reading, making sure they grew up smart. Just like you.

“How’s about,” you mocked with a glint in your eye, “you take me home, cowboy?” Rhett smirked at your request, watching you finish off your bottle of cider. He nodded and finished off his own drink. He climbed out of the booth and offered his hand out to you. You gladly took it, lacing your arm around his.

The walk to his truck was full of giggles, your feet not wanting to keep you balanced. It had been awhile since you decided to drink, mainly leaving it back in your university days. Rhett was there for every stumble though, a smile plastered on his face while he caught you. When the two of you got to his truck you leaned near the rear fender, staring at him. A soft giggle came out of you, earning you a cute questioning face from Rhett.

“Hmm?” Rhett crept closer to you, his hands grabbing the top of the truck's bed. Rhett had effectively caged you between him and his truck. “What’s got you gigglin’ like that?” Rhett leaned towards you, bringing a hand up to tip up the brim of his hat. Rhett was only a few inches away from your face. Rhett couldn’t get enough of this, seeing you nearly pinned underneath him.

“You’re cute.” Rhett could smell a hint of cider on your breath, lacing your words while you talked. “I want you to come home with me.”

“You’re pretty cute yourself.” Rhett tilted his head so his lips were near your ear, “And that could be arranged.” Rhett’s hand traveled down to your waist. You squinted at him, remembering your words from earlier.

“We can’t do anything tho-” The hand that was on the truck came to your cheek as his lips covered yours. It was another gentle kiss, just like the one earlier in the back room. Your hands rested against his chest while his lips worked over yours.

“We don’t have to.” Rhett didn’t want to pressure you into anything. He wanted this to work out. He yearned for it to work out. “I’ll help you get stuff ready for the kids, promise.” Rhett pressed a small kiss to your cheek before removing himself from you. He stepped towards the passenger side door, opening it and gesturing for you to climb in. “Hop on in.”

The ride back to your little house was quick, not too far out of town. You always deemed yourself lucky by getting somewhere this close in town, not out in the middle of nowhere. Rhett’s hand sat planted on your thigh, thumb rubbing small circles during the ride. Rhett made sure to get the door for you, offering his hand to stabilize you when you stepped out of his truck. A smile spread across his face when he saw the inside of your place. Art adorned the walls while the shelves of your bookcases were packed full. It was messy but neat, something Rhett always found captivating about you.

“Whatcha think?” You toed your shoes off while you looked at him, balancing yourself against the wall. Rhett took off his own boots then followed you into the kitchen.

“It’s you.” Rhett couldn’t think of any other way your house would be. It felt homey. It felt like you. You grabbed out two glasses from the cabinet, filling them up with water from the sink. You offered him one, which he reluctantly accepted. Water wasn’t his favorite type of drink, but it would do for now. Rhett placed his hat on your kitchen table, sitting down while you sat across from him.

For the rest of the night the two of you joked while getting around your items for the program. Rhett questioned your choices of coloring pages, while you pressured him to drink more water to sober up. A warmth had spread all over him, knowing this is the spot he wanted to be. He wanted to be here helping you get wax paper ready for sun catchers, and laughing about the embarrassing old things the two of you had done.

“Sleep is finally catching up with me.” You checked your phone briefly, seeing how late it was. Rhett hadn’t realized how late it actually was. A part of him was surprised that you were even up this late. He thought you might be the type that went to bed at 10pm almost every night.

“It’s about time I left then.” Rhett didn’t want to leave, he wished he could stay forever. He reached for his hat, fingers barely touching it when he spoke up.

“Or you could stay.” Your eyes met his, watching as his tongue wetted his bottom lip. Rhett tugged his bottom lip between his teeth. The proposition was too tempting.

“Would that be okay?” His cerulean eyes never left yours. After a moment you averted your eyes and nodded. The two of you placed your cups in the sink before making your way back to your bedroom. A nervousness was settling inside of you, a part of you worried that things would get out of hand. Rhett noticed this and placed his hands on your shoulders, pulling you in so his chest was pressed against your back. “It’ll be okay, we won’t do anything you don’t want to.”

Rhett wouldn’t admit it, but he was also nervous. Nervous to finally have you in this manner, something so domestic. It was scary, opening himself up to someone. It was more terrifying than riding a thousand pound bull. The thrill was much different though. “I don’t have any pants for you to sleep in.” Rhett nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck.

“I’ll wear my underwear, if that’s fine.” You reassured him that that was okay before moving out of his grasp. You dug into your own dresser, finding your own sleep shorts and then an old t-shirt. You excused yourself to the bathroom, taking your clothes to change into. You hadn’t expected your nerves to ramp up.

After you brushed your teeth and changed you made your way back to your bedroom. Rhett sat on the edge of his bed, typing out something on his phone. He had shucked off his pants and flannel while you were gone, sitting in his grey boxer briefs and white t-shirt. A flutter stirred inside your chest, making your nerves jump up again. Rhett set his phone on the side table before noticing you were back.

“Oh, hey.” A small smile covered his lips when he saw you. God, you were so fucking beautiful. He took in your messy hair and old Wabang High t-shirt, one that he probably also had laying around somewhere.

“There is a spare toothbrush in the bathroom cabinet.” Rhett nodded before standing up. He stopped next to you, bringing a hand up to your cheek. A small kiss was placed on your forehead. Rhett’s thumb rubbed softly against your cheek until he left for the bathroom. You climbed into bed, a loving smile on your face.

Many thoughts swirled around in your head but one specifically stood out. He is the one you would want to do this with every night. He is the one you wanted to be domestic with. The one you didn’t want to screw up with. Rhett was the one.

-

-

The sound of your alarm woke you up first. You quickly turned it off, not wanting the blaring noise to continue any longer. When you laid back down a firm arm wrapped around your midsection. It reminded you that there was someone else inside of your bed. Rhett Abbott. He was pulling you back into his toned chest.

Heat radiated from his chest to your back, igniting a flame inside of you. This is everything you ever wanted. The man you had always wanted curled up behind you, keeping you close to him. If it wasn’t for having to work you would lay here all day with him. Rolling around in the sheets, the both of you treating each other to all the pleasures you had to offer. But alas, the library was calling. You went to sit up, the firm arm not releasing you.

“Don’t.” His voice was gruff, soaked in sleep still. When you looked at him he kept his face pressed into your shoulder blade, rutting his hips into your ass lightly. The heat in your chest moved up to your cheeks, his erect cock pressing into the flesh of your ass. A small part of you loved that he wasn’t even trying to hide it. Hide the effect you had on him, especially so early in the morning.

“Rhett, I have to.” Rhett nuzzled into you, pressing his hips harder into your ass. Rhett was really trying to get you to stay, tempting you with something you both wanted. You didn’t have intentions of giving in fully, but what would be the harm and giving him something to remember?

Rhett’s hand gripped on your hip, you rolling your ass back onto his cock. A groan emanated out of him. “Fuck.” You pulled back from him and rolled over to face him. Rhett moved onto his back as you shifted to hover over him slightly. Your hand snaked under the blanket, palming his dick under the covers. Rhett let out a few more groans and profanities, eventually pushing the blanket down to his mid thigh.

Rhett’s breath was a touch shaky as you dipped your hand below the elastic band. His hips bucked slightly when you fully grasped his cock. Rhett groaned at the contact of your soft hand on his cock. “Fuck, darlin’.” His head fell back into the pillows as you watched him, feeling his cock pulse under your touch. Rhett’s hands drifted to push his boxer briefs down, letting you get a full view of everything. Rhett looked back up at you, oases warm and inviting as ever.

You connected your lips with his, consuming his groans while you continued to stroke his cock. His hips bucked every now and then, trying to get more friction. When you pulled back from the kiss, you moved your mouth down over his cock in your hand. After stopping your strokes you locked eyes with Rhett, letting a large glob of spit fall off your tongue to his cock in your hand. Rhett groaned as you resumed your strokes, a new slick feeling to your hand. You ran your thumb over his head every now and then, collecting his precum to mix with your spit.

“So dirty.” It was all Rhett could say as his hand gripped the back of your neck, pulling you up to him. He smashed his lips into yours, tongue forcing its way into your mouth. You never thought Rhett could get this needy, but god did you love it. Rhett’s cock started to twitch more often in your hand, signaling his orgasm was approaching. You pressed your forehead to his when you pulled back from the kiss. Then as faint as a whisper you heard him speak. “Please.”

“Give it to me Rhett, let go.” Rhett’s free hand moved to push up his t-shirt, showing off his flexing abdomen. Without another second Rhett was spilling his cum on your hand and his stomach. A ragged ‘fuck’ fell from his lips, with whimpers mixed with groans following. You stroked him through his orgasm, his hips stuttering and bucking with every stroke. Rhett couldn’t remember the last time a hand job made him feel this good.

Rhett laid there, blissed out on the bed. Rhett could barely focus on the world around him, only focusing on the amazing hand job he just had. He was pulled back from his thoughts when he felt a warm wet washcloth drag over his stomach, He groaned softly when you wiped off his cock, cleaning off all potential left over cum.

Rhett smiled as he watched you toss the washcloth into the hamper, moving back over to him on the bed. “That enough to hold you over?” Rhett pulled his boxer briefs back up around his waist. He leaned up and kissed you, one of his hands cupping your cheek.

“More than enough.”

-

-

For the next three weeks Rhett made it a point to show up for pick up early. He would seek you down in the library, not caring if you were with the kids or not. If you were with the kids he would patiently wait, scanning whatever bookshelves were closest. That’s where you caught him today.

“Gonna start reading anytime soon?” Rhett looked up from the shelf to see you. You were wearing a pair of mom jeans today, something you corrected him on a few weeks ago. The baggy sweater you wore complimented them. Rhett put on a little bit of an embarrassed smile as you crept a bit closer. He took his cowboy hat, leaning in a bit closer to you. He was only a few inches away from you now.

He couldn’t help but stare at you. How did he manage to actually capture your attention? Someone this ethereal giving him the time of day seemed like a dream. Your eyes flicked from his cerulean eyes to his lips. Rhett brought his hat up to the side of your faces, shielding anyone from seeing the two of you. It felt like the heat of the library had been turned up a few degrees.

Just as he was about to kiss you, you put your hand up to his chest. Rhett stopped immediately, not wanting to push too far. It wasn’t that he was worried about you not wanting him. You definitely wanted him, or at least that’s what he picked up on from late night texts and pictures you had sent him. “Hmm?”

“I don’t want any of the kids to see.” Rhett smiled. That was one thing he had learned to love about you within the few weeks. Even though they tended to be too much sometimes, you always thought of your summer program kids first.

“You’re right,” Rhett took a step back from you, “wouldn’t want them to get any ideas.” He placed his hat back on his head.

The two of you slowly made your way over to the work area for the kids. They were reading, as usual. You had told Rhett that this was the best way to get the kids to calm down before handing them back to their parents. Amy had always been a relatively calm kid, so he couldn’t imagine what she’d be like riled up.

“End of the week?” Rhett was counting down the days. Waiting for the end of the program to finally show up. Waiting for the night he could take you out, show you how much he cared about you. Rhett ashamedly couldn’t wait to bed you either. His own hand was starting to get boring, the only thing spicing it up was the half naked photos you sent him accompanied by texts about what you’d like to do with him. His brain clung to the memory of you jerking him off, something he couldn’t let go of. Which made the next day extra special.

Rhett barely got a lick of sleep that night, fisting his dick harshly until he came to the picture you sent him. It was as if you knew the effect you were having on him. Sending a picture in this old cowboy hat you had found somewhere, black lace bra and panties on display. It was a good thing that Rhett wasn’t a religious man, because he would definitely be condemned to hell after this month.

So, Rhett made sure to show up to the library an hour early that day, not just fifteen or twenty minutes. Mrs. Benson politely told him that you were in the back room again, a bit of a confused look on her face. He bee-lined for the back room, silently walking in and closing the door behind him. He made sure to switch the lock on the back room door before looking up and down the aisles for you. He found you in the third aisle, in just the outfit he needed you to wear for his plan. He had double checked in the morning, asking for an outfit picture which earned a small winky face with a picture.

The plaid skirt flared out from your hips, stopping at a little bit before your knees. A baggy cardigan covered your top, making Rhett wonder if you had a tank top or anything underneath it. God, he wished he could have done this sooner.

“Hey.” Rhett watched you jump slightly, spooked by his presence.

“Oh my god, Rhett. You scared me.” You held your hand over your chest, Rhett’s eyes trailing to look at your fingertips touching the bare skin of your clavicle. Nope, no tank top. It was the skin he craved to mark up, leave little trails that you could remember him by daily.

“Wasn’t my intention.” He flashed a crooked smile as he took a few steps closer. You could tell there was something different about him today, almost as if he was stalking you. When he reached you he pecked your cheek, making your heart flutter. You loved that he still had this effect on you. You checked your wristwatch, realizing he was much earlier than normal.

“What’s got you coming in so early? There ain’t another hour, well, forty-five-ish minutes before you have to be here.” You went to turn back to face the shelf but Rhett grabbed your wrist.

“Wanted to give you a surprise.” Rhett walked around you, guiding you so your back was almost against the bookshelf.

“A surprise? I don’t recall you saying you had one for me.” Rhett chuckled at your words, leaning in and kissing your jawline.

“Wouldn’ be much of a surprise then, now would it?” Rhett’s lips trailed down your neck, nipping every now and then. Your hands instinctively moved to his chest and shoulders, the material of his flannel soft under your fingertips. One of his hands settled on your waist while the other cradled the other side of your jaw and neck. A soft noise escaped you, urging Rhett to continue with his plan.

“Been waiting weeks,” he lips were soft on your neck in between words, “waiting patiently.” The hand on your waist found the bottom of your baggy cardigan. It was thrilling when he pushed it up slightly, his calloused fingertips grazing over the newly exposed skin.

“Rhett, I-”

“I locked the door.” He pulled back, pupils blown wide with lust as he stared at you. “Wanna make you feel good, the same way you did to me.” You checked your wrist watch again, seeing there was still forty minutes before you had to get the kids ready to leave.

“You better make it quickly then, Mr. Abbott.” Rhett groaned at the title you called him. You had picked up on it throughout the weeks, noticing how his breath would hitch after hearing it. Rhett smashed his lips into yours, a messy kiss pursuing.

The hand grazing your skin under your cardigan moved to the front of your skirt. Fingers dipped between the apex of your thighs, pressing tightly on your pussy. A moan was torn out of you, not expecting Rhett to do this. Was this the surprise he was talking about? It had to be. The hand on your pussy left your body, Rhett pulling back for a moment.

“I wanna taste you.” It felt like the breath had been knocked out of you. You pulled your bottom lip between your teeth, slightly worried about the situation. What if someone were to walk in? Rhett did say he locked the door though. Finally you spoke.

“Depends on how quick you can be, Mr. Abbott.” A smirk tugged at his lips. Without warning, Rhett started to drop to his knees. His hands moved to the hem of your skirt, barely brushing the skin of your thighs.

“Don’t worry ma’am, I can be quick.” The heat in your cheeks boiled as you nodded your head. He pushed the plaid skirt up your thighs, kissing newly exposed skin. “Hold this.” Rhett said as he offered the edge of your skirt to you. You grabbed the material, holding it in your hands tightly. Rhett let out a groan when he saw your soft pink lace panties.

Without warning Rhett pressed his fingers against your panties, rubbing softly at first. Rhett could feel a wetness soaking through the front of your panties. He watched as your hands tightened on your skirt, faltering slightly. His hand touched yours, eyes flicking up to meet yours. “Keep your skirt up, sweetheart.” Your cheeks burned at the pet name he had started to call you through the weeks.

Rhett moved closer, fingers hooking into the waistband of your panties. He slowly guided them down your legs, taking them off and sneakily placing them in his back pocket. He pressed quick kisses to your thighs before reaching your bare cunt. Rhett pushed his tongue between your folds, licking at your clit. You used one hand to hold your skirt, stabilizing yourself with the bookshelf behind you.

Your mouth hung agape as Rhett flicked and licked at your pussy. One of his arms wrapped under your thigh, placing one of your legs over his shoulder. You gripped the shelf behind you tighter, pleasure mounting inside of you. Rhett brought a hand up, slipping a finger inside of your entrance. It was a stretch, but it wasn’t enough. The sensation made you yearn for more, yearn for more of Rhett to be inside of you.

“Rhett..” His name was barely a whisper on your lips, trying to stay quiet. You looked over at your wrist watch once more, noticing only ten minutes had passed. Rhett pushed another finger inside of you, earning a moan as your head lolled back. His two fingers thrusted into you as his mouth gave all its attention to your clit.

“You taste so good.” Rhett whispered just loud enough for you to hear. “Been thinking about this for weeks.” The hand on your skirt tightened a little bit more, your hips starting to cant forward. You started to roll your hips against Rhett’s mouth, the vibrations from one of his groans adding to your pleasure. Rhett’s fingers prodded at that sensitive spot inside of you, increasing the speed of his tongue flicking your clit.

With that combination you let go, coming all over Rhett's mouth. Rhett’s tongue switched from the quick flicks to slow languid strokes, helping not to overstimulate you too much. Soft moans poured out of you, riding out your climax on Rhett’s tongue. Rhett pulled away from you, his fingers leaving you empty inside. A strong desire within you wished he would fill you again, with his cock this time. But you knew that there wouldn’t be any time for that.

Rhett helped lower your leg down, standing up and making sure you were stable. You let your skirt fall, reaching out and grabbing his hand. You brought his hand up to his mouth, taking the two fingers covered in your cum into your mouth. Your tongue swirled around his digits, making him groan and adjust himself in his jeans.

“You’re so dirty.” Rhett whispered against your cheek, his forehead resting against your temple. “Told you you tasted good, don’t ya?” You nodded. You popped off of his fingers, licking your lips afterwards.

“Can I get my underwear back?” You asked playfully. Rhett smirked again, giving you your answer. “Really?”

“It’s my prize, sweetheart.”

The two of you left the back room, earning a questioning look from Mrs. Benson. It was only ten minutes before the other children's parents would start showing up. Rhett hung around and chatted with you, letting Amy keep reading her book. Which ended up with her still reading after all of the other kids had left. Rhett said she could use the time, but you knew the real reason why he was hanging around.

-

-

It was a Friday night, which meant the summer program was over. It had ended that morning, Rhett showing up early to pick Amy up for the last time. He hadn’t mentioned this ride all week, probably not wanting to pressure you into coming. But you wouldn’t have considered it pressuring, you wanted to see him.

Rhett was beyond happy to see you out at his competition tonight. Even more happy when you gave him a small kiss, telling him to break a leg. It was something you had picked up in college, your theater friends explaining that it was bad luck to wish someone good luck before a show. Which you had explained to Rhett briefly one night while the two of you were cuddled up watching a movie. Rhett couldn’t help but think that was what saved him during his ride, when his hand felt like it was gonna slip from the rope. It didn’t though, finishing his ride without anything bad happening.

Tonight was the first time he was allowed to show any type of overly affectionate PDA. Finding you after his ride couldn’t come soon enough. You were hanging out near the rider area, patient as always. Rhett just needed you, needed to thank you for everything. You let out a squeal when his arms snaked around you, picking you up and spinning you around. You quickly grabbed for your glasses, making sure they wouldn’t fall off your face. Hoots and howls could be heard from the other riders. Rhett tipped his hat after he set you down, hand caressing your jawline. His lips connected with yours, butterflies fluttering in your stomach.

It was a gentle kiss, like a lot of the kisses you had shared so far. Kisses at the library, when he took you home after dinner, on the couch cuddled up. So many gentle kisses before, but this one was different. It was something unspoken in this one. An unspoken amount of love for one another.

“Let me take you home.” He whispered, adrenaline still pumping through his system. Rhett hunted down Perry, instructing him to drive his truck home. Perry gave him a knowing look before telling him he was proud of him.

Your heart raced as you sat in the passenger seat, Rhett driving the both of you back. His hand was glued to the inside of your thigh, thumb rubbing small circles. It wasn’t that you were nervous to be with Rhett, that was not it. It was the gravity of the day. The two of you had been keeping things as steady as possible, not wanting anything to get too convoluted while you were teaching Amy. But you weren’t teaching her anymore. The two of you were essentially free now, free to be together to the fullest extent.

“We don’t hav-”

“I want to.” You looked at Rhett, his eyes flicking over to you before focusing back on the road. You adjusted your glasses, “I’m not nervous about doing it or anything.”

“I mean you did promise to show me your wild side one day.” Rhett snickered, remembering the first night the two of you went out.

“I think your surprise at the library counted as that.” You shot him a playful glare as the two of you pulled into your driveway. “It’s just..” Your words trailed off, biting at your lower lip.

“Jus’ what?” There was a short silence. The look on your face was softer now, not as playful. But Rhett could tell you were struggling with something, there was clearly something on your mind. He reached out, rough fingertips gently guided your face to look at his. Rhett knew it had to be now that he told you the thing he had wanted to tell you for weeks.

“I love you.” The two of you said it at the same, confessing your love for one another. You let out a giggle as Rhett flashed you a big smile. He leaned in towards you, grabbing your chin between his thumb and forefinger. His lips moved heatedly on yours, consuming everything you had to offer. His hand shifted to the curve of your jaw, fingers splaying out near your ear. The kiss continued for a moment longer before you both pulled back for air.

“Inside, now.” You demanded.

Rhett killed the engine while you got out. His hand snaked around your waist when you got to the door. While you pulled your keys out, Rhett’s hand sneaked into the back pocket of your jeans. A brief squeeze on your ass had you shooting him a look. He smiled, leaning in to press a kiss onto your neck. “Who locks their door out here?”

“It’s an old habit from the big city.” You explained while you slid the key inside the lock. “Plus, I don’t want any unwanted critters inside.” The two of you stumbled in the doorway, Rhett still close by your side.

“Is that what I am? Unwanted critter?” Rhett joked, hands pulling you flush against him after closing the door. You giggled as he started nipping at your neck.

“Don’t think I’d tell an unwanted critter I love him.” Rhett chuckled at your response. The two of you headed through the hallway, hands and lips traveling all over each other. Rhett’s flannel and hat had been lost in the living room, yours in the hallway.

Once to your bedroom, Rhett started to take a bit more control. His hands gripped your hips and pulled them tight to his. You could feel his cock getting hard in his jeans, his belt buckle digging into your hip. One hand moved to your face, cupping your cheek while kissing you roughly. He kept walking you back until the bed hit the back of your knees. The kiss broke as you went to lay down on the bed, Rhett following you immediately.

"You look so beautiful." Rhett said as he admired your beauty. He finally had you laid out underneath him, a dream come true. His hands ghosted over your sides, grabbing at your hips and pulling them tightly to his. Your arms snaked around his shoulders, fingers combing up through the hairs on the nape of his neck. Rhett’s mouth worked on your neck, groaning as he left a wet trail along your skin.

A small giggle came out of you as he nosed along up your neck. He kissed up your jaw before pulling up to look at you, “What’s got you gigglin’”?

“Oh nothing, Mr. Abbott.” Rhett rutted his hips into you harshly at the name.

“You better watch yourself with saying that.”

“What? Don’t like it, Mr. Abbott.” You teased. Rhett groaned, fingers grabbing your chin tightly.

“You know what that does to me.” You pulled him down and connected your lips with his. The both of you smiled into the kiss as your hips rocked together. His hands moved to the hem of your t-shirt, pushing up the shirt to get access to your skin. Fingers ghosted and trailed up the skin of your midsection. He pushed the shirt up over your chest, exposing the light pink lace of your bralette. Your back arched when he grabbed your breasts, kneading over the lace.

“Like what you see?” You only half joked.

“You have no idea.” Rhett tugged at your shirt more, signaling it was time to remove the article. After your shirt was gone Rhett kissed the valley between your breasts. His hands kneading at your flesh while kissing your chest. His fingers slipped underneath the band of your bralette, guiding it up over your head.

It was the first time he had seen your bare breasts. Yeah, you had sent pics of you in lingerie to him, but never anything completely bare. He pressed a few more kisses all over your chest before taking a nipple into his mouth. Your back arched slightly, his mouth consuming more of your breast. His thumb and forefinger started pinching and rolling your other nipple. Your fingers threaded through his hair, tugging lightly.

“Rhett.” His name was barely a whisper on your lips. You could feel him groan around your nipple when your hand trailed down between the two of you. You palmed the front of his jeans, his cock pressing hard against your hand. Rhett sat up, pulling his own shirt off and undoing his belt buckle and jeans. After he shucked them off he moved to undo your jeans.

“A matching set?” Rhett questioned when he saw the light pink lace panties. You had planned it out all week, knowing that you would finally have a moment like this. A moment of being completely vulnerable to Rhett. His fingers ghosted up over your legs as he settled between your legs. You felt completely bare under his warm oasis of a gaze. A bit of nervousness flowed through you, nodding softly as a response to his question.

“Cat got your tongue, mouse?” You shot him a little look. The little name took you by surprise, a small call back to your first night at the bar. Fingertips trailed over the pink lace covering your core. Rhett started rubbing his fingers on your clothed cunt, feeling the small wet patch that had started to form. His gaze locked with yours as you let moans and gasps fall from your lips. His hands moved to the edges of the lace, pulling them down slowly over your legs.

After tossing the panties somewhere behind him, he grabbed one of your ankles and lifted it up to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss to the inside of your ankle. Soft lips continued down the inside of your leg, Rhett slowly settling against the bed. His hot breath fanned over your cunt, your insides clenching at the sensation. Rhett wrapped his arms around your thighs, keeping you locked in place before he even started.

Rhett’s tongue flattened on your clit, licking slowly. Both of your hands snaked down, one landing on the comforter while the other took its place in Rhett’s hair. Your back arched, pleasure flowing through you with each lick of his tongue. One of his arms left your thigh, reaching out to your hand on the comforter. He laced his fingers with yours as he continued his feast between your thighs.

Gasps and moans mixed in with calls of Rhett’s name, urging him to continue. Small vibrations could be felt from Rhett’s groans, pushing you closer to your climax. The tightening sensation in your abdomen was becoming more noticeable. Rhett flicked his tongue on your clit then dragged it slowly back and forth.

“Holy fuck…” You could almost feel the smirk on his lips. Rhett flicked his tongue more intensely on your clit, finally pushing you over the edge.

This was a similar sensation that Rhett got from riding bulls, pure ecstasy. All Rhett could think was how beautiful you looked, coming all over his mouth. The way your back arched off the bed, hand tightening against his own. Seeing you give yourself up to him, letting him push you over the edge in such an intimate way had him grinding against the bed. Rhett couldn’t help but think about how good you would feel wrapped around his cock. Being connected at your core.

When he pulled back you finally got a break, your chest falling heavily. A small trail of wet kisses was created as Rhett moved back up your body. He nuzzled your neck and jaw, pressing more kisses before capturing your lips with his. You could taste yourself on his tongue, moaning into his mouth.

“You taste so fucking good, mouse.” You rolled your eyes.

“My turn to taste you.” You pressed your hand on his chest, acting as if you were going to roll the two of you over.

“Nah,” Rhett grabbed your hand and laced his fingers between yours, “I can’t wait to be in you any longer. Been waitin' too many weeks for this.” You rolled your hips up, feeling Rhett’s clothed cock press against your cunt. A groan rumbled in Rhett's throat while he captured your lips with his. One of his hands snaked down between the two of you, pushing his boxers down.

A moan passed your lips when you felt his cock rest against your pussy. Rhett haphazardly pushed his boxers all the way off. You brought your hand down to wrap around his cock. He groaned at the few strokes you gave him before you guided the tip to your entrance. Rhett propped himself up, looking down at you as his hips pushed forward.

Rhett watched as your jaw went slack. The stretch of his cock was intoxicating, filling you up the more his hips pushed forward. Your eyes never left Rhett's, warm oases welcoming you. A small whimper left Rhett once he bottomed out. Your warmth encapsulated him, letting him know this was where he was meant to be. Rhett eventually broke the stare, nuzzling down into your clavicle. Small kisses were peppered all over your skin.

Rhett dragged his hips back a little, slowly pushing forward the small amount. The sensation already had your body shivering with pleasure. Rhett started slowly rolling his hips, wanting to savor the moment as much as possible. He knew that the chances of this activity happening again were high, but he just needed for this moment to last. You wrapped one arm around Rhett's left shoulder, threading your fingers into his hair once more. Your other hand rested on the front of his chest.

"God, you're perfect." Rhett groaned, placing kisses along your neck and jawline. He knew sex would be special with you, but life-changing wasn't what he was expecting. The way your body reacted to every small touch had Rhett teetering on the edge of climax already.

"Rhett, I-" You couldn't finish the sentence, to caught up in the waves of pleasure flowing through you.

"What do you need, sweetheart?" Rhett pulled back to look down at you, cupping the side of your face. "Tell me."

"Harder."

Rhett pulled back, leaving just the tip inside of you. He kept his eyes on your face as he slammed back in hard. Your whole body reacted, back arching while your hands scrambled for purchase. Your mouth was agape as sinful sounds poured from it. Rhett kept this steady pace of hard thrusts, giving you exactly what you wanted.

"Oh fuck, Rhett!" The head of his cock pounded into the sensitive spot inside of you. Every time he hit it, a new jolt of pleasure ran through you. The coil in your lower abdomen was tight, about ready to snap and send you over the edge. You could tell Rhett was getting close too, harder breaths coming from him. Rhett didn't say a word, his hand moving between the two of you to rub your clit. That's when it was game over.

The combination of his fingers on your clit and powerful thrusts sent you tumbling over the edge. Pleasure washed over your nerves, Rhett’s finger still working your clit. Rhett groaned at the feeling of you clenching around him. His thrusts started to stutter, focusing on the feeling of your walls working his cock. Crescent shapes formed in Rhett’s skin, your nails digging harshly as he kept your orgasm going.

“Fuck, sweetheart. The way you feel,” Rhett pressed his forehead to yours, “I ain’t gon’ last.” You nodded as you stared into his eyes. It was Rhett’s turn for his mouth to be agape, groans and heavy breaths coming from him. Your fingers threaded into Rhett’s hair once more, pulling him down to the nuzzle against your clavicle. Rhett felt safe with you, rutting into your warmth that he had craved for weeks. It was a sense of security, something he had never truly felt in his life.

“Fuck, I love you.” Rhett whispered against your skin.

“I love you too, Rhett.” With those four words and his name he was gone. His hips steadied as he thrusted into you one last time. Small kisses littered your collarbones as he kept his hips tight to yours, spilling his cum inside of you.

The two of you laid there for sometime, Rhett still slotted between your thighs as your fingers traced small circles on his shoulder blades. He traced a small pattern along your side, basking in the subsiding afterglow. That sense of security was blanketed over him. He never wanted it to end, wanting to feel this safe forever. A part of him wondered how he had never felt it before but he knew why. He hadn’t had you before. Not just in a sexual way, but he had never fully experienced this kind of love. The love that let him know he was always welcome. Always loved.

“Hmm?” You questioned, sensing a tiny shift in his demeanor. It wasn’t a bad shift, something much softer than what you thought Rhett might be capable of.

“Nothin’, I just..” Rhett propped himself up on his elbows, looking down at you. Your beauty was something Rhett could still marvel at. Like watching the early morning sun rise. “You make me feel something.” Small butterflies could be felt in your stomach.

“Feel what?” Rhett smiled, pushing some hair back from your face.

“Welcome.” A kiss. “Safe.” Another kiss. “Happy.” Another kiss. “Loved.” A final kiss. A warmth had raised into your cheeks. The smile on his face was one that was pure. The two of you stared at each other for a few more moments, just taking one another in. Rhett shifted, pulling himself out of you. Even though he was softened it still felt like you were losing something. Rhett moved to the spot on the bed next to you. You rolled on your side to look at him, letting out a soft noise as his cum started leaking out of you.

“We should clean up and talk.” The look he gave you was one full of sincerity.

“Talk about what?” You questioned. You used a playful tone to mask the tiny amount of anxiety you suddenly had. Rhett must have noticed because he cupped your cheek when he sat up.

“Don’t worry,” he pressed a kiss to your nose, “it’s nothin’ bad, mouse.”

The two of you made your way to the bathroom. Rhett used a warm washcloth to clean himself up, you sitting on the toilet watching him. It was domestic, something you could get used to. Might even let him clean you up the next time. Rhett kissed your forehead before heading back to the bedroom, letting you finish using the toilet and cleaning up.

Rhett had climbed under the comforter when you got back, his boxers being the only thing he wore. He was checking his phone briefly before looking at you, placing his phone on the side table. You moved to your dresser, grabbing a large t-shirt from the drawer. You didn’t bother with any underwear, climbing into bed and curling up next to Rhett. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, keeping you close.

“So-”

“I th-” The both of you stopped and giggled. Rhett motioned for you to go first.

“I was just gonna ask what you wanted to talk about.” Rhett nodded, thumb rubbing softly on your skin.

“I want to talk about us.” Rhett was never great with conveying his emotions through words.

“What about us?” You teased. Rhett rolled his eyes.

“About how I want to,” Rhet paused for a moment, “want to be with you.”

“Rhett, you ju-”

“No,” Rhett bite his lower lip, “I want you more than physically. I want to be with you all the time.” You knew what he was asking of you. It was funny to watch him still beat around the bush after everything.

“Rhett, I’m not quite sure what you’re asking me.” You said with a smirk. He rolled his eyes once more, letting out a sigh.

“You really gon’ make m-” Rhett was cut off by you pressing a kiss to his lips.

“Rhett, I want to be with you too.” Rhett smiled as he kissed you again. His arms wrapped around you completely, rolling the two of you over. He peppered you with kisses, happiness spreading over the both of you. Rhett couldn’t be happier with you, happier with his little bookmouse.

#rhett abbott #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott fluff #outer range fic #outer range #lewis pullman #lewis pullman x reader #lewis pullman character

[ohtobeleah]

Counterweight // Rhett Abbott

Summary: At the Amelia County Fair, you prove to yourself and the people around you that you’re one of the boys. You and Rhett finally fall head first into the slow burn love you’d been harbouring for one another since your childhood.

Warnings: Mentions of Rodeo accident. Injuries sustained from said accident. Best friends to lovers trope. Rhett Abbott x Female Reader. Fluff. Angst.

Word Count: 6.5k

Author Note: This weekend we welcomed Rhett Abbott and Mickey ‘Fanboy’ Garcia to the every growing list of fictional men I’d let rail me.

Amelia County Fair. It had always been your favourite place to be—the smell of kettle corn always lingered in the air the closer you sauntered over to the state rides, forever in search of a Pluto Pup that rivalled one you had in your youth. Carnival food—albeit not the best for your gut, would forever be a comfort that you sort out when you were nearing your call time. You could never ride on an empty stomach. For a serial spewer, your thought process always led you to believe it hurt less to throw up a small amount of food than to hurl stomach acid and bile. 

“I thought I saw your name on the mixed division sheet.” Rhett stood behind you in line for a Pluto Pup. Was he going to order one? Fuck no—but he’d seen you gallivanting off after handing over Sir Rocco to the holding pens. Knowing exactly where you were heading. Rhett Abbott saw you as his counterweight, the one thing that kept him in line, in pace, in check. “You competing in the camp draft too?” He asked as you passed the lady at the stand the three dollars she’d asked for and stepped aside. Rhett followed as to not hold up the line.

As you stepped aside ready to entertain the boy who grew up on the ranch that boarded your father’s, you watched as he tipped his brim and smiled softly at Maria as she walked past in what had to have been the shortest skirt you’d ever seen. 

“Mornin’ Maria, nice day for it, yeah?” You wanted to gag as she kept walking, turning on her heels to respond to Rhett like she had him wrapped around her little finger. 

“It’s a nice day every day Rhett—it’s getting it that counts.” It almost hurt how hard you rolled your eyes and groaned beside your best mate. You could have sworn he’d been in love with that girl since you were both sixteen. Too busy pining over her to realise you were always right by his side. In his corner. He’d worked all his life with hands on his throat, searching for highs to balance the lows. You just wished he saw you there too, right by his side. 

“Y/n, I saw your name down for the camp draft?” Maria turned her attention to you as you looked down at your boots for a brief second. Not really wanting to draw too much attention to yourself. 

“Yeah well, I thought I’d give it another go—see what happens.” You had come in second place at last year's state fair, on your own horse Ella. You were this year's pick for top spot. The talk of the town. Only for all the wrong reasons. 

“Yeah well, good luck with it—not that you need it of course.” She smiled before heading off. You knew that the moment she turned her back that Rhett’s eyes lingered down to her ass. Slapping his chest as you scoffed, secretly wishing that you had that much attention from your best friend. 

“If that skirt were any shorter Rhett you’d see her bloody tonsils.” You could have sworn the laugh Rhett let out came from the heavens above. It was lengthy and genuine, the kind of laugh that takes you by surprise and stems from a place so wholesome it shows the world such a true and deep part of you. You didn't hear Rhett laugh all that much these days, too serious and broody for his own good. “I’m just having a lend.” You felt the need to clear the air as the lady at the food stand handed you your Pluto Pup. “She’s nice enough–” You truly had nothing against Maria, except for the fact she drew all Rhett's attention away from you. He’d never see the way you looked at him while he was too busy looking at her. 

Everyone else however, including Maria–knew how you looked at Rhett Abbott. To put it frankly it was quite clearly the most pathetic display of puppy love they’d ever seen. 

“I know I know.” Rhett cooed with the corner of his mouth as he walked with you back to the Rodeo Rings. “I bet you a slab you won't win–” He teased as you took a bite, offering him some as he politely declined. He could never eat before a competition and never understood how you could. 

“Just make sure it's full strength and cold.” It was always the same, each and every time. Rhett would make bets he knew he’d lose just to give your ego a little bit more of a stroke. You and Rhett had both been born and raised around the rodeo so there was no surprise when you both fell in love with it—the only surprise to everyone around you was that you hadn’t fallen in love with each other. Not that you didn’t try. 

“Righto.” You and Rhett had known each other since before pre-k. “Why Sir Rocco?” He asked as he walked beside you, tilling his hat every which way at people who nodded his way—his father’s friends, your fathers friends. A gentle hand on the small of your back as he guided you through a particularly crowded part of the fair. 

“Everyone talking–” You mumbled as you stopped in your tracks, Turing in to face Rhett as he poked his tongue against the inside of his cheek. He wasn’t all that big on words, he knew you were suffering a lose that was unexpected. They way you chose to work through that grief he couldn’t judge—but sometimes he felt the need to reel you in before that grief got you hurt. 

“It doesn't matter what people think Y/n and you know that.” 

“Yes it does.” Your Father Jack had recently passed away from a heart attack. “They all know that I fired my stockman, they all know the shearers walked out on me.” When your father had died so suddenly, the farm immediately became yours. His only daughter, his only family. “they’re all saying Y/n Y/l/n can’t do it, not on her own, not without her dad and that's not true.” The stockman had been stealing oil from your tanks, you’d caught them in the middle of the night and fired them on the spot. No questions asked. The shearers wanted more money per head, you could afford to pay them any more than what you were already paying them—and you knew they wouldn’t have asked your father. They walked off the job thinking you’d beg them to stay, but you didn’t. You finished the job yourself after four days of non-stop labour. Rhett had come over to ask for a hand fixing the north paddock board fence—he ended up staying to help you finish the job. 

“So you have to prove you're as good as he was?” Rhett eyed you down as you poked your index finger into his chest—your lips in a firm line. 

“I have to, cause I am.” He knew you had a heart of gold, but you were just as stubborn as your father was. There was never a need ask for help when you were drowning—you got yourself into whatever mess you’d stumbled into so you could claw your way back out. If those who doubted you saw you ride and win on your father’s temperamental stallion exactly like he did then they’d have to start treating you with respect and not just shrug you off like some hobbyist buckle bunny. 

“There's gotta be an easier way to keep Drovers Y/n.” Rhett spoke through gritted teeth, crewing on the toothpick he’d fished out of the little packet from the top poker of his flannel. You’d both settled against the fence of the main rodeo rink. Watching on as amateur hour finished up.

“What? like marry you?” You smirked, bumping your hip against Rhett’s as he scoffed softly at you. 

“Royal and Jack's plan, wasn't it?” Rhett had and always would be in love with you—he was just too blind to see that you were head over heels for him as well. He always thought that the friendship you both shared was priceless and to ruin that by letting his own selfish feelings get in the way would be unfair. Hence why he pinned after Maria—it always hurt less to fool around with her than to know that if he spoke up about the fact he would marry you tomorrow if you let him. That would never happen, who was Rhett to kid himself. 

For a moment you both stood by the fence drinking in the sight of each other, eyes trailing the expanse of each other’s faces. Every perfect imperfection was memories and studies like a fine art. There was even, for the briefest of moments, a split second where you leaned in as Rhett ducked his chin—closing the gap a little more as if you were both about to allow your selfish desires escape. But when you realised there was hesitation looming in Rhett’s eyes? You shook off the moment, cleaning your throat as you stepped back and turned your attention back to the amateurs getting their adrenaline kicks. 

“Silly old bastards.” You sighed as you checked your watch. “I should probably get going, camp drafts about to start and I’m second on the call sheet.” 

“Yeah, yeah no of course—“ Rhett Agreed as he tipped his hat and cleared his throat. “Good luck.” He mumbled, giving you one final longing look as you pressed your lips together and smiled tight. “I’ll be watching darlin’.” The term of endearment slipped out far too easily for you to not notice, your heart skipped a beat in your chest as you turned on your heels. Heading towards the shoots before you could think about Rhett any longer. 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Second up, we have a very special horse that came in first place last year in the open campgrounds—Sir Rocco.” The announcer bellowed through the speakers as Rhett stood in the crowd ready to cheer you on. “As most of you would know, Jack Y/l/n won on Sir Rocco last year—sadly, Jack is no longer with us, but we have a brave little lady here to hopefully carry on the tradition.” 

“A brave little lady?” Perry frowned as he came to find Rhett in the stands, handing him a crisp beer as he’d just finished standing in line for what felt like half an hour. “Oh Y/n’s gonna hate that.” 

“Sure will—bet I won’t hear the end of it too.” Rhett added as his eyes never left yours. Watching as you stalked around the holding pen trying to segregate your target. Pulling on Sir Rocco’s reins. 

“Let’s give a big welcome to Jack's daughter, Y/n Y/l/n!” The announcer yelled through the speakers, revving the crowd up to cheer you on. Rhett being the loudest, the proudest, the most invested. 

“Dig your spurs in darlin’!” He shouted as he cupped his hands around his mouth. Perry chuckled beside his brother as he took a sip of his beer. Fuck that kid was in love with you. 

“Y/n’s got ten seconds to choose her heifer.” The announcer explained as Rhett never looked away from how you worked to separate your choice. Back and forth, side to side—. “Okay she’s picked her beats!” You were ready to go, nodding at the guys who watched on from the fences. 

“Gate!” You shouted, the second the gate was sprung open you took off after the heifer, guiding it around the ring expertly. The crowd was wild for you—cheering you on as you focused on your one chance, your one shot to make your name known. 

“Heading to the first peg now.” The announcer explained as Rhett’s eyes followed you around the ring. You were stunning on the back of Sir Rocco, handling the fiery animal with expert poise and grace. 

“Go! Y/n Go! You got this!” He shouted, Perry cheered you on as well, but it was always Rhett who was louder, more invested. 

“Looking for the second peg, she’s gaining up on her.” Everything felt like it had slowed down into slow motion as you heard the announcer explaining where you were at. “She’s crossing over to the second lap.”

“Come on darlin’ bring it round! Bring it round!” Rhett couldn’t stop cheering you on as he whistled from the crowd. 

“Remember folks, Y/n’s got to complete the full figure eight or else she’s disqualified.” That didn’t make things any easier, hearing just how easily it would be for you to be disqualified. But you kept your head clear of the negative as you focused on the task at hand. You were so close. 

“Get him there! Go you good thing!” Perry finally joined in as Rhett beamed a bright smile, still cupping his mouth to echo his cheers as loud as he could. 

“Come on Y/n! All the way home baby! All the way—!” Rhett was high on your performance, he couldn’t believe how well you were doing. He’d seen you ride last year but he didn’t remember you being this entertainingly captivating. Perhaps that was just because he’d fallen even more in love with you since. “Go darlin’!”

“Now they’re heading towards the gate!” As soon as the heifer you had chosen was back in the pen you pulled back on the reins, slowing Sir Rocco down to a standstill as you beamed an unbelievably bright smile. You’d done it. “And it’s a completed course ladies and gentlemen—let’s wait for the judges to give their marks.” Waving to the cheering crowd you caught Rhett in the crowd. He was cheering you on so loud and proud it made your heart burst. 

“Y/n’s score today is twenty three for camp, sixty three for horse work, four for the course—“

“That’s gonna be bloody hard to beat Perry!” Rhett gabbed at his older brother’s shoulders as he excitedly cheered for you. “She’s gotta make the final for sure.” Perry had to hold his tongue as he just watched as Rhett had looked the happiest he ever had. He hadn’t been messing around with that Maria girl as much these days. Sure he still flirted and kept her close—but that was only to ward of the ever looming fact that Rhett Abbott was and always would be obsessed with you. Perry just wanted the pair of you to fuck and find out for yourselves. 

“That’s an excellent score ladies and gentlemen, for Y/n Y/l/n and Sir Rocco—Jack would be proud, that score should see her into tomorrow’s finals.” When you’d made it back to the holding pens only a few short minutes after your first run, Rhett was there to greet you with a wide child-like smile, as was Perry.  

“Well done champion!” Rhett beamed as you slowly flung your leg over to climb down from the saddle, feeling the burning sensation rising in your cheeks as Rhett helped you down, your hands on his shoulders as he cupped at your waist. “You did great, I can’t believe Sir Rocco didn’t give you shit.” 

“Damn good run Y/n.” Perry added as he watched Rhett scoop you up into his arms and spin you around. Still trying to regulate his own emotions after having seen you ride so amazingly. This was the most he’d touch another human with clothes on in months. 

“Better pay up fast Abbott—“ You chuckled as Rhett put you down, slapping his chest softly with the back of your hand. “I always hate it when you welsh out on a bet.” There had only been a handful of times where Rhett had forgotten to pay up. Ever since? You’d never let him forget. 

“Get away.” Rhett smirked with one side of his mouth. “The finals aren’t till tomorrow—“

“Make it Budweiser too!” You ignored Rhett as you started undoing Sir Rocco’s saddle. He deserved the world after that ride.

“Honestly Y/n, I really thought he was gonna play up.” Perry chuckled. “That last turn when he buckled a little cost you a couple of points but I don’t think I could’ve done any better myself.” Perry had always been like an older brother to you so his feedback meant a lot. “Don’t let your own ego mess up the finals for you though.” 

“Yeah well, I can make it up in tomorrow’s heat.” You sighed, finally unclipping the last claps on the saddle before Rhett was swooping in to lift it off Sir Rocco for you. “Besides—I still got Mixed Division to have a little fun in now.” Wiggling your eyebrows Rhett’s way, you smiled bright as he returned the expression. 

“Ah, let’s be real for a second here, you might be a hot shot in camp draft but you and I both know I’m coming out on top in mixed.” Rhett was careful as he placed your saddle into Sir Rocco’s trailer. Coming back to stand before you, tilting the brim of his hat up as he looked down at you. Perry was quick to make himself scarce—not wanting to see the train wreck that was about to collide. He’d seen this play out far too many times, the almost kiss followed by the awkward silence. 

“In. Your. Wet. Dreams. Abbott.” It may have been the adrenaline rushing through your veins or the feeling of accomplishment that made your confidence level boost to a new high, but as Rhett smiled down at you, you reached up and around the back of his neck—pulling him down to meet your lips. No almost kissed this time, just a single kiss that had you forgetting how to breathe. 

Rhett’s hands quickly moved to find a hold on your hips, bringing you in flush against him as he took over, deepening the kiss as his tongue trailed your bottom lip in search of permission to enter. You granted him that wish—a soft moan escaping as you took Rhett’s Stetson off his head and placed it on your own. Tipping the lip up so as to not smack against his forehead. 

If it were anyone else? Rhett would have snatched his Stetson back in a heartbeat—but because it was you? Well—he’d let you keep it if you wanted it all that bad. 

The kiss felt like it lasted for an eternity, neither of you wanting it to end. Scared of what were to come when you pulled away to face the reality of the situation, the gravity that this one silly little kiss could cause. But as Rhett moved his hands up from your hips to cups your cheeks? You didn’t fucking care about the consequences of your actions. All that mattered was that Rhett Abbott was finally kissing you the way you always thought about. He was kissing you and not some buckle bunny. He was kissing you, his best friend, the love of his life. 

“Y/n—“ Rhett mumbled as he bit down gently against your bottom lip, pulling it back softly before letting it go. Pulling his lips away for yours as his hands still cupped your face—the pads of his thumbs rubbing against the expanse as f your cheeks. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that for.” 

“Well it’s a bit of a coincidence that I was gonna say the same thing.” Catching your breath as your eyes drank in the sight of one another, it was Rhett who made the leap to spark the kiss again. Guiding you back until your back was flush against the railing of the holding pen. “Rhett—“ It sent chills down his spine and blood rushing to his length the way you said his name in a flurry of soft moans. 

“Fuck—“ Rhett had to pull away before he got to carried away. Pulling back as his eyes never left yours. “This isn’t over.” He sighed, grabbing his Stetson back from the top of your head. “After I flog you in mixed, I'm taking you out for dinner.” Rhett pointed his index finger in your face as you wiped your swollen lips on the back of your flannel. His flannel, one he’d left at yours ages ago that you’d gaslit him to believe was always yours. Rhett knew, he just wanted you to have it. 

“You don’t take people to dinner, Rhett.” You moved off the fence and made your way back into the middle of the holding pen, Sir Rocco still needed to be looked after before your next event. 

“You aren’t people, you’re Y/n, and I’m taking you out to dinner because you’re the only person who’s ever looked at me like I’m worth more than my next ride.” It took you back for a moment as Rhett stood there confessing his inner thoughts to you. “I know I don’t bring an awful lot to the table darlin’ but if I’m gonna do this with you? I wanna do it in all the right ways.” You couldn’t help the smile they came across your face as he took a few steps forward. “So dinner, after I win.”

Rhett had always thought of himself as Mr.forgettable, but as he watched the way your eyes lit up at his suggestions of dinner, he couldn’t help to think that maybe for a moment you’d always remember him. 

“You mean after I win?” Rhett chuckled softly as you bit at your bottle lip, trying your best to hide your smile as the heat in your cheeks intensified. “Because I’m gonna win the mixed division as well, Abbott.” You teased as Rhett once again leaned in a little closer, drunk on the taste of your lips. A hint of bourbon still on your breath from the drinks you’d had earlier to settle your nerves and the vanilla of your chapstick mixed perfectly together. “I'm gonna knock you right off the leaderboard.” 

“I’d like to see you try darlin.” Was all Rhett managed to mumble before his lips were on yours one final time, wrapping your arms up and around his shoulders as he drew you into him. Enjoying the moment because this was all he’d ever wanted. 

You.

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the Amelia County Rodeo. It's great to see you all here today–“ You’d been loitering around the shoot watching as your competitors dropped like flys. The bulls were particularly nasty today and you couldn’t say that made you a little nervous. 

“Getting the action underway again–we have our Mixed Division Bull riding championship Rhett Abbott stepping up into the shoot as we speak.” 

“Come on Rhett just hold on—“ You mumbled to yourself as you watched Rhett climb up onto the back of the seemingly relentless bull. “You got this.” 

You knew Rhett would be able to hold out, but for how long you weren’t too sure. When the buzzer sounded and the gates flug open he came barreling out as Mickey bull tried to shake him off. 

“Go Rhett!!” You shouted as you jumped up and down on the spot. “Hold on! Hold on!” Your cheers escaped like a mantra of praise and admire for your best friend. Watching Rhett ride was one of your favourite past times. He looked untouchable, fearless. Rhett Abbott belonged on the back of a bull, much like he belonged with you. 

“Hold on Rhett! You’re so—Ohh!” Before you could even utter the word close, Rhett was dismounting with a thud as he hit the dirt. Laying on his stomach for a moment longer than you would have liked. Your heart raced as you watched him stand slowly, waving with a pressed lip smile to the car that cheered him on before limping back to the shoot. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, Rhett Abbot—six seconds total.” The announcer said with a tone you knew Rhett was going to hate. “Is it enough to advance him into the next round? Possibly.”

“I hope you don’t think that because you fumbled the bag that I’ll take it easy on you?” Rhett looked like he was in a foul mood as he took the stairs down to meet you. Limping the whole way down from the platform as you waited with your arms crossed over your chest. “Mickey Bull is a pain in the ass to ride Rhett—“

“Six seconds ain’t enough.” He mumbled through gritted teeth as he met you at the bottom of the stairs. “It won't be enough.” 

“There’s like twenty more riders on the call sheet still to ride.” You were quick on the draw to remind Rhett that there was still a chance. “You aren’t out just yet.” You always knew just what to say to ease Rhett’s temper. Thinking about all the time he’d wasted not loving you the way you should be loved, Rhett just smiled, shaking his head softly as he took off his riding glove. 

“Nineteen if you take yourself off the short list.” Rhett smirked for a brief moment, taking in the sight of you geared and ready to ride. “Grip tight, dig your knees in and just hold on for dear life darlin.” 

“You just find a good spot to watch and learn Abbott.” Whatever the hell it was that had been sparked between you and Rhett would have to wait. He was still your best friend before anything else. Tapping him on the shoulder as you made your way over to the shoot. “Keep an eye on the leaderboard for me!” 

“Darlin I got bets placed on your ride today so don’t you go fucking this up!” Rhett countered your taunt before you were swarmed with officials ready and helping you settle down into the shoot. Rhett had to admit it to himself as he made his way over to the edge of the rink, climbing up so he could perch pretty on the railing. A front row seat. He had to admit that he was scared to watch you ride knowing how pissed the hills were as a whole today—they were relentless, took no prisoners and saw no mercy. 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Y/n already in the shoot?” Royal asked as he came to stand beside where Rhett sat patiently waiting on the edge of the fence. A nod was all Royal got as a response. “I always thought she had more smarts about herself than you did.” Royal smirked to herself as Rhett turned his head down at his old man. “Until she rode that Bronco bear back and fell face first into the mud.” 

Rhett smiled for a brief minute at the moment, he’d been the one who dared you to give it a go. Royal and Jack had been furious at the pair and of you for days after—but now it was just another memory that sat amongst all the rest. 

“Lining up in the shoot now—“ The announcer's voice bellowed through the speakers loud enough to cut whatever Royal was about to say next off completely. “She's only up and coming but hell on earth is she making a big impression on the old timers today.” Rhett's cheeks hurt with how much he’d been smiling today. “Thats right ladies and gentleman, Y/n Y/l/n showing us what she's made of again, give the kid a round of applause.” The crowd began to cheer and raw as you nodded one final time and braced yourself—holding your breath as you tensed your entire body. 

“Go! Go you good thing!” Rhett shouted as the gates sprung open and you came out with one hand held above your head and the same bull Rhett had been riding not a few short minutes ago tried to Buck you off with everything it had. “Hold it darlin! Hold onto it!”

“Oh-hooo look at her go folks.” You were struggling to keep yourself steady. “She's getting tossed around like a rag doll but she's holding on tight, she's holding on.” You tried to last just one second longer than Rhett, one second was all you needed, but when you were riding bucking bulls seconds felt like hours. 

“Stay on! Stay up Y/n! Stay—!” Rhett winced at the sound that you made when you hit the dirt. It was rough and for sure knocked the wind out of you as you landed on your left side. Popping your shoulder out of its place with a whelp. 

“Ohh—! and she's down!” The announcer cried out, as you rolled over to escape from chaos that had begun to unfold around you as clowns rushed towards you—everything all at one felt like it had caught on fire. No part of you was safe from the crushing weight of four hundred pounds of pure muscle.

“Ohh! she's getting trampled! Getting trampled folks, someone get her outta there! Where are the medics? The poor kid’s gonna get killed!”

“Fuck! No no no no no—“ Rhett didn’t think as he jumped into the rink, racing straight for you as rodeo clowns raced around trying to get a handle on Mickey bull. “Y/N! Y/N! darlin—I’m here.” Rhett shouted as he slid to your side, kicking up the dirt as he held your head in his lap. “Oh god! Oh my god oh my god oh my god—“ He didn’t know what to do, Rhett had never seen so much blood. The Bull had been right on top of you for a split second but that was all it took. 

“Rhett—“ Blood spilled from your mouth as you coughed his name, dripping down your chin as your eyes rolled, struggling to stay afloat. You saw everyone rushing around you, the clowns chasing the bull away, the sound of the ambulance and the medics attending the scene, officials shouting, but none of that meant shit to you when Rhett was looking at you the way he was. “Mm-fine.” 

“Shut up you look like fucking road kill Y/l/n.” That made you laugh, although it hurt an astronomical amount. “You’re gonna be alright though, just keep talkin’ okay, you can do that can’t you pretty girl?” Rhett couldn’t stop himself from crying as he let a sob escape. You couldn’t leave him now, not when you’d been with him since day fucking one. “Just hold on for me okay? Just need a couple of stitches.” Rhett didn’t know who he was trying to kid, you or himself. He knew how bad it was just by the blood seeping out from your stomach and the way your leg was bent in all the wrong ways. The gash on your head worried him the most though. 

“Hey Rhett?” The sirens were all too loud as Rhett leaned a little closer to hear you mumble his name. “Rhett—“

“I’m here, I’ve got you, I’m not going anywhere darlin you’re gonna be alright.” Rhett felt like he couldn’t breathe 

“I love you—“ It was barely audible, but Rhett heard you say the three words the two of you had been far too afraid to say for your entire lives. Rhett had been spending his days with reckless abandon, searching for balance, day in and day out. You were his balance though, he knew that now. His counterweight. He was drifting away with no counterweight as he held you in his lap, watching as your eyes rolled and your jaw slacked and a steady stream of blood poured from your mouth. 

“No, no Darlin don’t you go leaving me here alright?” Rhett had never asked for a goddamn thing in his life. He was a simple man. “Please?” As medics asked him to move, Rhett could barely stand—on unstable legs he watched as your lifeless body was carted away into the ambulance. He couldn’t bring himself to love as he stood near the blood of blood that had seeped into the dirt. Your blood. 

With blood on his hand Rhett wiped his tears before collecting himself as much as he could so he didn’t fall apart, hoping his feet took him in the right direction. 

“Rhett what the fuck happened?” Perry asked as he hurried over. “I heard the announcer? Is Y/n alright?” Rhett had nothing in his reserve to give, simply stumbling as he leaned into Perry for support. 

“Take me to the goddamn hospital.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

It was the steady rhythm of a heartbeat monitor that brought you back to reality. Through a few fluttered blinks, your vision was clear enough as you slowly but surely looked around the room you were in to see that it was in fact a hospital room. 

The continuous flow or oxygen felt funny racing through your nose as you reached up to tug at the oxygen tube strung across and back behind your ears. It didn’t budge when you tried to remove it, giving up as you settled in deeper to the bed with a groan. Everything hurt, you felt stiff and sore and groggy as all hell. 

But then you saw the heap of a man slung over the small armchair in the corner of the room. The worn in jeans and patchy flannel were dead giveaways to the fact it was Rhett. 

“Rhett—“ Your throat was dry and scratchy like you hadn’t talked in weeks. “Rhett?” You tried again this time a little loud. “Hey, Abbott—?” Third times a charm. At the sound of his name Rhett jolted slights, groaning as he looked around for whoever had been calling his name, not expecting to see you laying there awake. “Hey cowboy.” You cooed, smiling softly just enough to have Rhett’s heart leaping out of his chest. 

“How are you even awake right now the doctors said it would be weeks?” Rhett was in utter disbelief as he came to your bedside, dragging the chair along with him. “It’s only been a week—“

“Miss me that much you’re counting the days huh?” It was meant to be a joke as you let your head fall in the direction Rhett was sitting. His hand in yours as he brought his lips to your palm. 

“I thought I’d lost you forever.” Rhett choked back tears as he sat back, looking at the love of his life, his girl, his pluto pup loving best friend. “I watched that bull tear you to shreds Y/n.” 

“What have they got me on?” You replied softly. “I feel so groggy and out of it.” You knew it was going to be a long road ahead, there was nothing light hearted about being trampled by a bull. But for now you didn’t want to know, didn’t want to ask about all the things that were wrong with you or what chances you had at ever riding again. You just wanted to be with Rhett. Nothing else mattered. 

“Hydromorphone, and a bunch of other things for the pain.” Rhett explained as he drank in the sight of you, the strongest woman he ever knew. 

“Huh, no wonder I can’t feel my legs.” It was the softest of laughs, a split in your lip that was healing nicely stopped you from turning the corners on f your lips too much. “Have you been here long?” 

“Oh I uh—I haven’t left.” Without you, Rhett had no counterweight. His whole life he’d known you, you’d been right fucking there. But if you were always in front of him, why did you dying in his arms awaken the kind of sensation of falling suddenly, every step he took could be pulled from under him. At any second—as if to outrun the reaper himself Rhett moved at the speed of light, losing his peace of mind, pursuing his demons, lucid or dreaming, just waiting for you to come back to him. “I tried to, once, but I only made it halfway down the hall before turning back.” 

“You didn’t have to stay.” You cooed. “But I really appreciated that you’re here.” Rhett knew you didn’t have anyone else to visit you, except for maybe his own family. “I’m assuming you didn’t go back and ride?” 

“Are you kidding me?” Rhett couldn’t get the image of that bull dancing on top of you out of his head. In the waiting room he’d sat in for hours upon hours just waiting for any information, he sstarted actually giving a fuck about who would be there to catch him when he fell down. He always knew the only person who’d ever truly been in his corner was you. “The fuck would I do that for when you’re all I got huh?” Rhett wanted to get as far away from Amelia County as he could. He prayed that you’d follow him, he’d pave away to escape from this lotto if you told him you were with him. Through anything, through it all. Amelia was a beautiful town but Rhett knew the longer he stayed it would become heartbreaking. 

“The rodeo is all you’ve ever cared about—“ Rhett withdrew his entry from the rodeo before Perry had even made it to the car to take him to the hospital, there was no way he could ever ride without you riding right by his side. Leaning in as he held your hand tight, with tears falling freely from his eyes, Rhett confessed his deepest love. 

“I saw the love of my life nearly die, fuck the rodeo, you’re all I care about Y/n, none of it matters if you aren’t there by my side.” 

“Rhett, what about the farm? Dads land?” You were starting to panic, Rhett could see that clear as day. But all he did was lean in and kiss your forehead as gently as he could. 

“One day at a time, yeah?” All you did was nod as you held back a sob. “One day at a time, but I'm by your side every step on the way, your counterweight.”

#rhett abbott angst #rhett abbott fluff #rhett abbott fanfiction #outer range #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott x female reader

[bobfloydsbabe]

heartbeat | rhett abbott x oc | a linger blurb

SUMMARY: Lou has news to share with Rhett

WARNINGS: pregnancy

WORD COUNT: 740

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A/N: I word vomited this last night and decided to share it even though it's waaaaay down the timeline of the actual fic. I'm adding everyone on the official Linger taglist, as well as the people who showed interest earlier. Enjoy!

“Rhett?”

“Yeah?” he answers without turning around from where he stands at the sink, washing their mugs from earlier that morning.

Lou wrings her hands, heart beating wildly in her chest. “I have to tell you something.”

She watches his shoulders tense, his entire body going rigid. He reaches for a dish towel, drying his hands as he turns around to face her. His expression is stony, his eyes hard, and his mouth is a straight line. Lou’s stomach clenches and she feels sick.

“What’s going on?”

Tears prickle in her eyes. She can tell Rhett is primed for bad news, maybe even betrayal–so used to being put aside for the sake of others. “Will you sit?”

Putting the dish towel down, he crosses the room and sits on the couch. Lou sits on the coffee table, facing him, their knees bumping against each other, making her chuckle. She peers up at him, hoping to see the tension gone from his shoulders, but no such luck.

She opens her mouth, but Rhett beats her to it.

“Are you breaking up with me?”

Lou flinches, drawing back. “What?” It’s like a gut punch and the word sounds breathless.

He keeps going. “I know this isn’t the life you wanted, but we can do something else. We can leave Wabang, just don’t leave me–”

To make her usually quiet and gruff cowboy stop talking, she places her palms on either side of his face, pulls him to her and kisses him. 

His shock is palpable from the way he freezes, but he recovers quickly, and kisses her back with a fervor that reminds her of their first kiss. His hands cradle her neck, move into her hair, and she holds onto the front of his t-shirt like her life depends on it, keeping him close.

Out of breath, she pulls away and stares into those bright blue eyes she loves so much.

“I’m not breaking up with you,” she whispers, giving his lips another quick peck.

“Good,” he says, voice rumbling and finally the corners of his mouth turn up. “You scared me.”

Her heart aches for him. He’s so used to being pushed aside for the sake of others and their needs that he’s terrified of people leaving. If Lou could go back in time and convince little Rhett that he deserves to take up space, that he’s loved and cared for, she would do it without a second thought.

“I’m sorry,” she tells him. “Can I tell you the thing now?”

He chuckles, pecking her lips. She takes that as a yes.

She leans back, reaching around to the back pocket of her jeans, and hands Rhett the stick with a very clear message on it. He takes it from her with an adorable furrow between his brows. Flipping it over, his eyes dart to the little display immediately. 

His eyes grow to the size of teacups as his head whips up. “You’re pregnant?”

His voice is small, serious but anxious, and Lou doesn’t blame him for that. It’s a lot to process, and completely unexpected. Unplanned too.

“I am,” she confirms. “Dr. Bailey thinks I’m about 10 weeks along.”

He looks down at the test again, running his thumb over the display that clearly tells him it’s real. PREGNANT.

He’s so still that Lou almost thinks he’s having a stroke, but then a drop falls on his hand and she realizes he’s crying. Reaching for his hands, she brings them into her lap and it looks comical with her much smaller ones holding his.

“Rhett,” she says. “Please say something.”

He lifts his head then, tears trickling down his cheeks. “We’re gonna need a bigger place.”

Lou laughs. He’s not wrong. She takes the test out of his hand, puts it down on the table next to her, and crawls into his lap, her thighs on either side of his. Snaking her arms around his neck, her fingers play with the wavy ends of the hair at his nape. 

“Tell me you’re happy about this,” she whispers, pulse racing.

“Darlin’, these are happy tears,” he tells her matter-of-factly as his big, warm hands land on her hips. “Can’t believe we’re gonna have a baby.”

One hand slides to her belly where a new life is growing, half Rhett and half Lou. All love.

“I love you,” she says, leaning her forehead against his. “You’re gonna be an amazing dad.”

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[lewmagoo]

silent falls the winter snow | rhett abbott

description: in which a cowboy's kind and tender heart nearly costs him his life

warnings: 18+, allusion to smut, mentions of trying to get pregnant/pregnancy, near death experience, physical injury (no blood), talk of doctors/hospitals, brief discussion of miscarriage, angst

pairing: rhett abbott x f!reader

notes: this story has been a long time coming. i wanted to do something for the christmas season with rhett, and this was what came of it. it's quite long, so get all cozied up under a blanket, maybe with a cup of hot cocoa to accompany you, and enjoy! merry christmas to all

The morning of Christmas Eve started out as any holiday morning might in your household.

You had nowhere to be that morning, so there was no rush to clamber out of bed and get ready for the day. Instead, you nestled further into the warmth that your flannel sheets and multiple layers of blankets provided, along with the heat radiating off of your husband, who lay beside you, still sound asleep.

In those first few moments of waking, you couldn’t help but smile to yourself as you pressed yourself further into Rhett’s chest. You loved the peace that mornings like this brought. You often found yourself overwhelmed with gratitude at the fact that you were both safe and sound, cozy in your bed, within the walls of the home that you’d built together. 

And then you’d feel him stir beside you, his arm tightening around you as he succumbed to consciousness, and your smile would grow even bigger still. You knew that this was right where you were meant to be. Wrapped in the arms of the man you loved. 

But this morning was different. Not because of the holiday, but because of something else. And it came in the form of a tiny life growing within you. A secret that Rhett was not yet privy to. 

You were waiting for the perfect moment to tell him, and you’d decided that Christmas morning was the best opportunity to do so. However, that meant you had to wait another full day before revealing the news to him. You weren’t sure if you could contain your excitement that long. 

You’d been talking about starting a family for a while. And while you hadn’t necessarily been actively trying for a baby, you hadn’t been trying to prevent such a thing, either. 

The rush of emotions that flooded you when you’d stared down at those two lines on the test you took was overwhelming. You’d taken a few, just to be sure. All of them were positive, and your eyes welled with happy tears. Your first thought was to tell your husband immediately, because you told each other everything. But it needed to be special, because Rhett cared about things like that. He’d never admit it to anyone but you, but he was the sentimental type, and appreciated special gestures. 

Presenting the news of your pregnancy in a neatly wrapped gift box was exactly the type of thing he would love. And you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was going to cry, because he was a complete softie when it came to you. Adding a baby into the mix would only soften him up even more so. 

But you still had a full day before you revealed the news to him. So you decided to enjoy the peaceful morning and relish in it being just the two of you for a little longer. 

“Mm,” you heard Rhett hum beside you, voice gravelly with sleep. “Mornin’, sweet thing.”

You smiled, watching as his eyes fluttered open, revealing brilliant blue. “Mornin’, handsome man. Merry Christmas Eve.”

He nuzzled into you, the scruff of his stubble scratching against the sensitive skin of your neck, causing you to shudder. “Merry Christmas Eve.” His mouth trailed kisses over where his stubble had scraped, soothing the burn. 

“Don’t wanna get out of this bed,” you sighed, “s’too warm.”

His arm tightened around your middle, his hand resting against your abdomen, and felt the flutter of butterflies there, knowing what rested inside, just beneath his touch. The product of your love. 

“It is nice ‘n warm, ain’t it? I wouldn’t be opposed to hanging out here with you all day. But then again, those animals aren’t gonna feed themselves, are they?” he spoke, referring to your horses, chickens, and select few barn cats. 

Rhett took the job of caring for the animals very seriously. He loved all of them in his own way, and it was very important to him that they were looked after. His gentleness with the creatures always warmed your heart. Especially when you watched him interact with his horse, June. 

He’d had her since he was seventeen years old. She was a stubborn mare who only let three people close to her. Rhett, of course, Amy, his niece, and you, his wife. June seemed to hate everyone else, and refused to let them near her. 

This distrust stemmed from years of mistreatment from her previous owners. Rhett had rescued her and spent countless hours gaining her trust. You remembered it well. You would come over to the Abbott ranch after school each day, when you and Rhett were both still in high school, and watch him work with her. 

He’d poured his blood, sweat, and tears into that horse, and it eventually paid off. Now, years later, the two were inseparable. Their bond was something to behold, and you never tired of watching them communicate with one another. 

“You’re right,” you sighed in response to his statement. “June will probably be mad at you if you’re late with her breakfast.” 

Rhett smiled in amusement. “You know she will be. Stampin’ her hoof and everything.” Even so, he snuggled further against you. “But I suppose I could stay here a few minutes longer. I like not having anywhere to be for a change.”

“Me too,” you happily agreed. 

Rhett’s fingers drew circles against your skin, and you melted into him. You were putty in his hands just from a simple touch, and he knew it. When his lips began trailing kisses along your neck, you were a goner. 

“If you don’t stop, we’ll never leave this bed,” you breathlessly spoke.

You felt his mouth quirk into a smile, and his large, warm hand wandered lower, brushing beneath the band of your pajama pants. “Doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” he murmured.

But the bastard was set on teasing you. His fingers brushed just above where you needed him most, all while his mouth was at your neck, teeth grazing over soft skin, soothed by his tongue. Just as you were allowing yourself to bask in his touch, his hand was gone from between your legs.

You whined in protest, bleary eyes fluttering open to look at him. There was a stupid smirk on his handsome face. “Sorry darlin’, that was just a preview. You’ll get the rest tonight.”

You groaned, rolling your eyes. “Rhett!” You scolded.

“What? I ain’t makin’ love to you until tonight. You’re gonna have to be patient.” He still had a smile on his face. He knew exactly what he was doing, teasing you like that. 

Maybe it was silly, but the two of you had a tradition. On Christmas Eve, before the clock struck midnight, you would make love by the light of the Christmas tree in your living room, and fall asleep beside the flickering fireplace, wrapped in each other’s arms under warm blankets. It was something you’d done ever since you were first married, and though it might have seemed inconsequential to anyone else, it was special to you both.

Rhett liked to tease you leading up to it. Little touches here and there that he knew drove you crazy. Subtle foreplay that lasted throughout the day, so that when the evening finally rolled around, you were so needy for him you’d hardly be able to think straight. 

Which was exactly what he’d just done, and he seemed perfectly smug about it too. 

He kissed your pout off your face and said, “I promise I’ll make it up to ya tonight. Until then, I got hungry animals to feed.”

You watched as he slipped out of your warm bed, and the view you were met with was not one you could complain about. He’d foregone a shirt the night before, even in the dead of winter, which allowed you to admire his naked torso as he moved to grab his clothes.

You watched as the muscles in his back rippled, and you were certain you’d start drooling at any moment. Rhett was not bulky by any means. He was well-defined from years of physical labor and bull riding, and it only further reminded you just how strong he was. 

“I can feel you starin’,” he said as he pulled on his first layer of long underwear, followed by jeans. 

“I’m admiring my husband.”

“Oh really?” You didn’t miss the pink flush that warmed his cheeks. Compliments always did make him bashful.

“Yes. You’re too handsome for your own good.”

He shook his head, leaning over the bed to kiss you. “Whatever you say, sugar.” Then he righted himself, grabbing his flannel. 

“I’ll get breakfast started, that way you can sit down for a warm meal when you come back inside,” you told him, watching his skilled hands button each button on his shirt.

He smiled. “Always take such good care of me.” 

Even still, your eyes followed him as he stepped over to the window, and you sat up when he let out a low whistle. “Guess it snowed last night,” he mused.

Reluctantly, you got out of your warm bed and padded over to the window. You were met with the sight of a winter wonderland. It had snowed a lot overnight, and flakes were still falling silently from the sky.

“Wow. The roads are probably a disaster,” you echoed, leaning back against him as he slung an arm around you. 

“I’d say you’re right. I wonder if we’ll be able to get to Ma’s tomorrow.”

“You know she’ll be so upset if we don’t make it for Christmas dinner.”

“She sure will. But you know her, she’ll also fret about us stayin’ safe and tell us to lay low until the roads are clear.”

“Guess we’ll play it by ear and see what the weather holds,” you murmured in response. Yet again, Rhett pressed a kiss to your head before he nodded in response.

He left you alone in your bedroom, and you remained by the window for a few moments longer, admiring the snowfall. When you checked your phone promptly after, you noticed a weather alert at the top of the screen, indicating that a winter storm was approaching, and would likely carry over into Christmas day, adding to the already large amount of snow surrounding your home outside. 

“There goes Christmas dinner,” you muttered. You’d been looking forward to dinner at the Abbott’s. Though their family dynamic had been strained when you and Rhett were first married, things had greatly improved since then, and Christmastime was a very enjoyable season to spend with them.

According to Rhett, it hadn’t always been that way. Growing up, Christmas had never been his favorite time of year. Cecelia tried to make it special, and to her credit, she did succeed in some ways. They never had much money, so gifts were small, and Rhett could always sense the stress the holiday season put on his parents.

From a young age, he’d determined that his own children’s Christmases would be much different from his own. He would give them everything he couldn’t have, and then some. And he would be more emotionally present than his father ever was. 

Royal had always seen to it that his family was provided for. He had a good work ethic and Rhett had always admired that about him. But he never allowed an emotional connection to form between him and his sons. 

This was part of why Rhett had always struggled to express his own feelings and emotions. In the beginning of your relationship, it had been quite an issue. But you’d helped him greatly in overcoming that hurdle. And while he still had a hard time communicating on occasion, he actively tried to be better about it for you. 

That was one of the things he loved about you. Your ability to take his hand and push him to be a better man. And along with that, his distaste for Christmas had long since gone away. You had breathed new life into the season for him, setting everything alight with a magic that only you could bring. 

Now, he would freely admit that Christmas was his absolute favorite time of year, all thanks to you, the light of his life. 

But little did he know that Christmas was soon going to take on a brand new meaning for him, thanks to the little babe currently residing in your belly. Oh, you were so excited for him to finally hear the news. 

With that thought in mind, you smiled to yourself, and finally moved to grab your robe, slipping into its fleece warmth before you shoved your feet into your slippers, and made your way out of your bedroom and down to the kitchen, where you set about preparing breakfast. 

As you worked, you hummed Christmas carols, allowing your mind to be completely occupied with the work at hand. You were so engrossed in your breakfast making that you hardly heard Rhett come back inside. 

“Smells good,” he spoke up, as he surprised you by wrapping his arms around your middle. He nuzzled against your neck, and his cold nose sent a shiver through you. 

“Babe!” You scolded, and he laughed. 

“What? I gotta warm my nose up somehow,” he replied. 

“Preferably not on my neck,” you shot back, though a smile played at your lips. You turned, leaning in to kiss him. “Breakfast is almost ready. How about you put on a record for us to listen to?”

As he sauntered over to the table that held your record player, you knew which record he was going to choose before he even rifled through the collection. Sure enough, just as you’d expected, a few moments later the sounds of Buck Owens’ Christmas album filled the air, beginning with the all too familiar tune to Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy. 

It was Rhett’s favorite holiday album, because he’d grown up listening to it. You weren’t initially a fan, but you saw how much joy it brought him, so it had quickly become your favorite holiday album, too. Now it was a tradition to listen to it every year. 

As you set everything out on the table, he focused on getting a fire started in the living room fireplace. He tossed in a few logs, ones he’d spent hours chopping for the long winter. Your man certainly had a habit of working himself to the bone. 

Before he joined you in the kitchen, he turned the Christmas tree lights on, providing a nice sort of ambiance to accompany your breakfast. Then he stepped over and took a plate full of pancakes from your hands and set it atop the large oak table that he’d made with his own hands.

While you finished setting food out, he took the liberty of putting on a pot of coffee, grabbing your favorite matching Christmas mugs from the cabinet. Before long, you were seated at the table, coffee in hand and breakfast spread out before you. 

You started out in your own seat, but it wasn’t long before you found yourself in your husband’s lap, snuggled into his warmth as you shared your food. His free hand rested absently over your belly again, and part of you wondered if he actually knew you were expecting, or if he’d only placed his hand there out of instinct. 

Your heart quickened in your chest as you momentarily considered telling him right then and there. But the thought was fleeting, and you brushed it off as soon as it entered your mind. You needed it to be special. Blurting it out at the breakfast table hardly seemed special enough. 

But Rhett noticed your shift in demeanor. “You alright, darlin’? Your heart’s racin’.”

It was? You’d hardly realized. “Just thinking about how much I love you,” you responded. Cheesy, maybe. But it was what came to your mind in the moment. 

He hummed, tightening his hold on you and kissing the back of your neck. “I love you too. More than anything.”

You turned in his arms, leaning in close to bump your nose against his before you kissed him. He tasted like syrup and coffee, and it made you smile against his mouth. 

When you parted, you let your head rest against his chest, and Rhett hummed, a deep rumble that vibrated through your entire being. 

“Storm’s brewing,” he murmured after a few moments of silence. “Probably won’t be getting into town anytime soon.”

“Good thing we planned ahead,” you replied. You’d spent the last few weeks preparing your little homestead for the upcoming winter. You had plenty of food stocked, for yourselves and for your animals. There was enough firewood to last you for a good long while. If you were to be snowed in, you’d be safe, sound, and well-fed, at least.

“I wouldn’t mind being snowed in with you,” Rhett mused, his mouth quirking into a smile as he squeezed your thigh. 

“As long as it doesn’t keep you cooped up for too long. You go kinda stir-crazy when you don’t have anything to do,” you teased. That was your husband, after all. Always working, always needing his hands to be busy. He hated being idle.

“Oh, I could think of a few things we could do,” he continued, hand sliding further up your thigh. 

You lightly slapped at his hand, though it was good-natured. “Of course that’s where your mind would go, ya dirty cowboy.” 

“Can’t help it. You make my mind go to those places.” Again, his scruff dragged against your warm skin, causing you to shudder in his arms. The familiar warmth of desire flickered between your thighs, and you surged forward, hands gripping the collar of his henley, mouth seeking out his own.

He grunted in surprise at your sudden movement, but he soon melted into you, lips moving with yours. When you parted, he rested his forehead against yours, baby blues drifting shut. “If I don’t get up right now, I’ll end up bendin’ you over this table and taking you right here in the kitchen.”

His words, low and gravelly, ignited the growing spark that had already been burning within you. “What’s stopping you, then?”

“I ain’t fucking you until I can get you in front of the fireplace tonight and do it proper. S’much as I’d like to fuck you right now, it won’t be special, and I really like having our tradition of makin’ love by the Christmas tree.”

Rhett held your shared traditions near and dear to his heart. Even something as simple as making love. He wanted to honor the traditions you’d built together over the course of your relationship, and he’d be damned if he let any of them fall by the wayside. 

You smiled at him, reaching a hand up to brush his brunette locks away from his face. “How’d I get lucky enough to score a man like you, Rhett Abbott?”

His cheeks warmed pink at your statement. “Don’t get all sappy on me now, baby doll.”

You kissed his nose. “Can’t help it,” you replied, echoing his words from just a moment prior.

You sat there for a few more minutes, enjoying one another’s company. But all too soon, it was time to continue with the day. There was much to be done before the dawn of Christmas day. While Rhett went about making sure the property was in order for the upcoming storm, you tidied up the kitchen and headed upstairs to ready yourself for the day.

By the time you came back downstairs, Rhett was back inside, removing all the layers he’d put on to stay warm. “It’s so fuckin’ cold out there,” he announced. “And the wind’s picking up. Nearly froze my face off.”

You sauntered over, planting a kiss on his lips. “That’ll warm you up,” you teased. 

He nodded, smiling cheekily as his hands rested on your hips. “My ma called while I was outside. Gonna call her back now, figured she’d wanna talk to us both.”

That was how you spent the remainder of your morning, talking to Cecelia on the phone. Of course, she insisted that the two of you stay home, because there was no sense in risking it with a blizzard on the forecast. She suggested you all celebrate Christmas together at a later date, once the weather had cleared, and you and Rhett happily agreed. Though it was slightly bittersweet to not be able to spend time with everyone, you were happy to get to enjoy a quiet, intimate holiday with your husband and no one else. 

After you bid goodbye to Cece, you went about your final Christmas preparations while Rhett took the time to shower upstairs. You’d already placed a few gifts around the tree, and you added more to the bunch. 

You couldn’t quell the butterflies that fluttered to life within you as you picked up a small, neatly wrapped box with Rhett’s name on it. Inside, there was a positive pregnancy test and a tiny knitted cowboy hat. You’d had the present packaged up for weeks now, so eager to put it under the tree and see your husband open it on Christmas morning. Oh, the joy that would fill his face. You couldn’t wait.

Shaking yourself out of your reverie, you continued setting everything up. You filled Rhett’s stocking, you finished putting out the gifts, and finally, you were finished. The living room looked like a Christmas wonderland, and it brought a wistful smile to your face. 

Soon after, you turned over the record that had long since stopped playing, and once again, Buck Owens’s voice filled the room with his twangy Christmas tunes. And that was how the rest of the day continued. 

You enjoyed a cozy Christmas Eve day, preparing a quick lunch for you and Rhett, enjoying quality time together, and soaking up every moment you could. It was your last Christmas with just the two of you, of course, so you wanted to make it special.

However, little did you know that it all was going to come to a screeching halt very soon.

You remained blissfully unaware of what was to come, however. The snow had begun to fall outside, blanketing everything in stark, glimmering white. But it wasn’t a peaceful, romantic snowfall. It went from moderate to severe within mere hours, and by the time dinnertime rolled around, it was a complete whiteout outside.

“Guess they weren’t kidding when they said it’d be a blizzard,” Rhett observed as he gazed out the window while helping you prepare dinner. You’d tasked him with chopping everything since it was your least favorite part of prep work.

“Good thing we have nowhere to be,” you chimed in, glad for a warm house to cozy up in. Although the winds howled outside, and the snow fell in blankets, you were safe inside the home you’d built together. 

Rhett had put his blood, sweat, and tears into building this house from the ground up, and you’d come alongside him, helping build the home you’d always dreamed of. But in reality, it was just a building. Home wasn’t four walls and some windows. It was his warmth enveloping you, his touch grounding you, his presence calming you. For you, home was Rhett Abbott.

“Looking forward to having a nice, quiet Christmas with just the two of us,” he continued on as set the cutting board and knife in the sink. 

“Me too,” you agreed, “I love your family, but I also love having you all to myself.”

Rhett hummed, stepping closer to slip his arms around your middle, face nuzzling against your neck as you stirred the pot of soup on the stove. “Me too. An’ I can’t wait to make a family of our own to carry on Christmas traditions with.”

Your heart quickened within your chest at his words. It fluttered even more so when his large, warm hands splayed over your abdomen. “Can’t wait to see you all round with my babies.”

There it was again, that familiar spark of desire within you. But as his palms rested on your belly, you found yourself turning in his arms, looking into his eyes. Cerulean stared back at you, so bright and full of love. You opened your mouth, fueled by the spur of the moment. 

“Rhett, I–” You started, nearly blurting out the news you’d been withholding for so long. But you never got to finish your sentence, because suddenly, the lights flickered, and all at once the power went out. 

Rhett pulled back, pausing for a moment. “Figured that was gonna happen,” he mused. 

Although your generator soon kicked on and restored the power, the spell you’d both been under was broken. He looked at you, mouth quirking into a smile. “Were you about to say somethin’, before the power interrupted us?”

But you shook your head. “It wasn’t important,” you said. That seemed to be enough for him.

When he stepped away to set the table, you leaned back against the counter and let out a breath. You couldn’t believe you’d almost spilled the beans. You were thankful that the power going out had provided a distraction, as if it was the universe slapping you upside the head for almost spoiling the surprise. 

You went back to finishing dinner, settling into a comfortable quiet, save for the Christmas music that played lowly in the background. However, the quiet was soon interrupted when Rhett glanced out the window and found that something was amiss.

“Shit, the barn door blew open,” he announced.

You joined him at the kitchen window, and sure enough, you could see the door blowing in the wind. 

“I’m gonna go close it. Otherwise, June’ll probably wander off into the storm and get herself lost,” he said, already starting for the door. He was right in worrying about the stubborn horse wandering away. She’d done so on a few other occasions, but it had always been during warmer months. Never during a storm like this. 

“Put a coat on!” You called after him, knowing he’d probably just throw on his Carhartt hoodie since he was just running out for a minute. But it was much to cold to go without a proper coat. 

“You sound like my ma!” He called over his shoulder, though there was mirth in his tone. He loved that you looked out for him in ways big and small. 

You shook your head and continued your work, focusing on getting dinner finished. A few minutes later, just as you were putting the food on the table, Rhett stumbled in from the cold, cheeks and nose bitten and blushed from the harsh winds. 

“June got out,” he said with a weary sigh. 

“Oh no,” you spoke up, concern washing over you. 

“I’ve gotta go find her.” He was already moving to put on more layers. 

“Rhett, it’s a whiteout out there. You won’t be able to see her,” you reasoned. Your stomach twisted at the thought of him going out into a storm like this. 

He looked at you, his face serious, and you knew there was no changing his mind. “I can’t just leave her out there. I won’t.”

You knew it, too. He loved that horse, and would never forgive himself if something happened to her. Besides, there was no changing his mind once it was already made up. He was stubborn like that. 

You let out a soft breath and nodded. “Alright. I’ll keep dinner warm for you.” You stepped into his space, placing your hands on his chest. “Please be careful.”

He hummed, lifting his own hands to place over yours. “I will. I’m sure she isn’t too far. I’ll just take the snowmobile.”

Nodding, you leaned in to kiss him. “Make sure you bundle up.” You didn’t want him freezing out there. 

Again, your lips met, and he soon slipped away to pull on his toboggan and gloves. You saw to it that he was wearing a scarf, to cover his ears from the cold and avoid the earache that was sure to come if he didn’t. 

He could see the worry creasing your brow, and he reached up, brushing his gloved hand over your cheek. “I’ll be back in no time. I promise.”

Never make promises you can’t keep. 

“Okay, I’ll be here waiting.”

And with that, he headed back out into the howling storm. You shivered at the residual air that had rushed in when he opened the door, but you made no move to leave the cold entryway. You stood at the door, watching him disappear into the winter wonderland. 

A few minutes later, he was headed out on the snowmobile, and you watched until you couldn’t see him anymore. You couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled in your chest, as if someone had reached in and taken your heart in hand, squeezing just enough to apply an uncomfortable pressure. 

You decided to blame it on pregnancy hormones. Surely it had caused the logical part of your brain to go haywire. 

Instead of standing by the window wringing your hands, you decided to busy yourself by cleaning up the kitchen, putting a load of dishes in the washer, wiping down the table, cleaning off the stovetop. You placed the pot of soup back on the stove to keep warm until Rhett returned. 

By the time you were finished, thirty minutes had passed, and he still hadn’t returned. You told yourself to relax. It took a while to get across your property as it was. Add a snowstorm to the mix and it would take twice as long. 

You considered eating some soup to pass the time, but you didn’t want to have dinner without Rhett, so you decided against it. Besides, you weren’t even sure if your stomach could handle food at the moment. The bitter twinge of anxiety had sent it into knots.

Trying desperately to keep yourself occupied, you decided to go around and straighten up the house, even though there wasn’t much cleaning to be done. You tidied up the entryway, organizing shoes and coats, sweeping the hardwood floor, straightening the rug that had been knocked crooked. 

You turned up the record player so the music would fill the house and hopefully distract you from the incessant ticking of the large antique clock that sat on your mantle. You remembered the day Rhett brought it home, after your house had just been built. He was beaming from ear to ear, so proud of himself for scoring such a thing from an antique store a few towns over.

It was very ornate, and it really wasn’t your style of decor, but you hadn’t had the heart to tell him that, not after he was so eager to add to the decor in the home he’d built. So you let him place it on the mantle, and it had been there ever since. Funnily enough, that clock had become one of your most prized processions, because it reminded you of him, and his love for you.

But now, as you looked at the crafted wood, and watched the delicate hands tick by, it just made you feel sick to your stomach. Over an hour had gone by, and you could do nothing to quell the dread thrumming through you.

Your next solution was to head upstairs and clean the bathroom, hoping a laborious task like that would get your mind off the situation at hand. But an hour later, the bathroom was clean, and you were only more worried than you had been before.

You headed back downstairs, gazing out the front window, hoping to find that Rhett was returning. But all you were met with was vast miles of white, with your husband nowhere to be found.

The tremor that ran through you was powerful, and you had to reach forth to brace yourself against the wall. You just knew something terrible had happened.

And as it turned out, your intuition was correct.

Rhett had gone out into the east pasture, figuring June had wandered out there, because he’d found her there the last few times she’d gotten out. He followed the fence line, using it as a point of reference so he wouldn’t get himself lost. It was much too difficult to gather a sense of direction in the middle of blinding snow.

He drove by the light of the snowmobile, his eyes scanning his surroundings, hoping to catch sight of the dapple gray horse named June. After driving for a good while, he saw movement out of his peripheral, and he slowed, glancing over to see that something was in the woods, just on the other side of the fence. 

Sure enough, as he came to a stop, he found that part of the fence had fallen in, likely from the strong winds. He was willing to bet that June had gone over it and found herself in the woods. With a soft sigh, he shut off the engine, and climbed off of the snowmobile, grabbing the rope he’d attached to the back as he went.

He pulled a flashlight out of his pocket and used it to guide him to the tree line. Sure enough, the closer he stepped, he realized that it was indeed June that he’d seen. He stopped just between two trees, and he placed his hands on his hips as he looked at her. 

“What’re you doin’ out here, old girl?” He called out. June let out a whinny and stepped toward Rhett, clearly happy to see him. “Gave me a hell of a scare, you know that?”

He was flooded with relief, happy to see that she appeared safe and sound. He’d have to get her back to the barn to check for sure. He stepped through the trees, approaching the mare with an outstretched arm. 

But as he moved, he neglected to double-check his footing. The snow had covered everything, and it made the ground appear flat. But just beneath the blanket of white was a large root protruding from the earth. And what should occur but Rhett catching his boot on that branch and going down?

The fall wouldn’t have harmed him whatsoever. He would’ve been able to get back up just fine, with minimal injuries thanks to the padding of his clothes, and the fact that he was youthful and could bounce back from injuries quickly.

But as fate would have it, there was also a large rock covered in snow, and as he fell, he went backward. He hit his head on that very rock, hard enough to instantly steal all consciousness from him, leaving him alone and vulnerable in the middle of a blizzard, with no way of seeking help.

Indeed, you were right in thinking something was wrong. Because something was very wrong. 

Over two hours had passed and you were beside yourself with anxiety. It crawled through you like an icy chill, robbing you of all warmth, and settling in your chest uncomfortably. 

You considered calling Rhett’s father. Royal would know what to do. But you knew that you’d likely not be able to get a call out in this weather. Even if you did, there was no way he or Perry could get to you. Not in this storm. The Abbotts had a snowmobile of their own, but it was old, and hardly trustworthy enough to go long distances. Rhett had been meaning to get his parents a new one as a gift, but had never gotten around to it. 

That meant you were essentially up the creek without a paddle. You decided to try to call Rhett, even though you knew the call wouldn’t go through. There was hardly any signal out in the east field as it was. 

As expected, your phone didn’t even let you get to the dial tone. It remained silent as you held it to your ear. “Dammit,” you cursed, locking the device in irritation. 

You’d have to go out there and look for him. And as you gazed out into the night, your tummy twisted. You placed a hand over your abdomen, where your little one rested warm and safe. You knew you had to find your husband. If, God forbid, he died out there, you knew you would blame yourself for the rest of your life. Your child needed a father, and you were going to bring him home. 

But just as you moved to begin bundling up, you heard an all too familiar whinny just outside the house. Heart leaping in your chest, you rushed for the door, flinging it open. You were met with the sight of a restless June, but no sign of Rhett. And that’s when you knew for certain that something had happened. 

You stepped outside, reaching your hand out to place on June’s cool muzzle. “Where is he, girl? What happened?” You asked. 

She whinnied again, and you got the sense that she wanted you to follow her. So you rushed back inside, finished layering up, and grabbed the things you’d need, tossing them into a backpack. 

Then you hurried back outside, guiding June back to the barn. You knew what a risk it was to ride her in weather like this. It would be difficult for her to walk, and there was always the possibility of her misstepping and injuring herself. 

But you also knew how stubborn the mare was, much like her owner. If you tried to corral her into her stall, she wouldn’t take well to it. She’d throw a fit and refuse to budge. She was already giving you flack for dragging her back to the barn. It was clear that she was distressed, likely from whatever had happened to Rhett. 

“We’ll go get him, I promise,” you assured her, running your hand over her flank. She was your only hope of finding your husband. 

Quickly, you saddled her up, making sure to place a fleece quarter sheet on her back half to keep her warm when you ventured outside. 

Finally, you led June back out into the snow, and mounted her, pausing to turn on the large flashlight you’d grabbed from the house. “C’mon, girl. Show me where he is,” you told her, hoping and praying to whatever powers that be that she’d actually lead you to him. 

She went in the direction of the east pasture, and you made sure to keep her at a slow gait. The last thing you needed was for her to fall. Then you’d certainly be fucked. 

It took ages to get to the pasture. The entire time your heart was pounding in your chest, and many different scenarios were flashing through your mind. 

Had he been in an accident? If he had been, how badly was he hurt? Your head spun as you pictured him injured and bleeding in the snow. It sent a shock of terror through you, and tears stung your eyes. 

You chastised yourself for not coming after him sooner. Or insisting he stay in the house and wait for the storm to pass. But you never would’ve been able to convince him otherwise. His could never live with himself just let June remain outside in such weather. 

Damn Rhett Abbott and that tender heart of his. You shuddered to think that maybe this time, that heart had gotten him killed. 

“Please, let him be okay,” you whispered into the night. 

Around you, the wind moaned and howled. You felt like joining in with your own wails. Instead, you focused on keeping your breathing steady, and your horse on track. 

To calm yourself down, you took in your surroundings more thoroughly. The fence line beside you. The cold, delicate flakes landing on your cheeks, melting into your skin. 

It was a wonder, that even in a storm this violent, the snow made no sound as it fluttered through the air. It fell just as silently as if it were but a tame snowfall. 

However, what was happening around you was anything but tame. It was wild and unpredictable and it made you tremble with a fear you’d only felt once before. 

You remembered it like it was yesterday. The last bull ride Rhett had gone on. The one he’d told you would be his last, because he wanted to settle down and start a life with you. 

But the bull he was riding got the best of him, and managed to throw him to the ground like he weighed nothing. And when he hit the ground, he didn’t get back up. He remained there, entirely still. Too still. And when you saw them drag him out of the ring, your heart leaped out of your chest, because the way he looked, limp and lifeless, you thought for sure you’d lost him. 

It was the most terrifying moment of your entire life, and you lost yourself, succumbing to a wave of panic that rendered you unable to speak or move.

While everything had worked out in the end, and Rhett had merely been knocked unconscious and had sustained no other injuries, it still harrowed you to the bone, and you hoped you’d never experience such a thing again. 

But now here you were, enduring the same fear you’d felt the moment he fell from that bull. 

The length of time it took to get to him only worsened that mounting anxiety. You shook, both from the cold and from the fright. 

What if you found him, and he was dead? The thought made your stomach churn, and you thought you would be sick, but you managed to pull yourself together, trying to tell yourself to calm down and not jump to any conclusions. 

But how could you, when your worst fear was taking place before your very eyes?

You weren’t sure how long it took to get across that pasture, but after quite some time, you spotted a beacon of hope ahead. The parked snowmobile. 

But it did nothing to relieve you. It only worsened your worry, and you urged June ahead, still keeping her at a slow pace. All you wanted to do was push her into a gallop so you could get there faster, but it would only serve to make her stumble, and possibly injure you both. So you exercised as much self-control as you could. 

After what seemed like utter eternity, you finally reached the snowmobile. Quickly, you dismounted, stepping into the heavy snow and stumbling over to the vehicle, using your flashlight to guide you. 

A layer of snow sat atop it, indicating it had been parked there for a while. Your heart sank, and you cautiously glanced around, expecting to find the worst. 

Nearby, June let out a panicked neigh, and you whipped around, realizing she’d crossed over a broken part of the fence and had gone over to the tree line. 

Heart hammering within your chest, you leaped to your feet and fought your way through the snow. When you reached her, you looked ahead, and then you saw it. A glimpse of something dark, just between the trees. Shining your light, you could see that it appeared to be a body. 

You hardly processed your body kicking into action, dashing forward. Sure enough, when you got closer, you could see that it was indeed a body. 

You fell to your knees, reaching out and turning him over onto his back. It was Rhett. You’d found him.

“Oh my God,” you sobbed. He wasn’t moving. 

Quickly, you yanked your mitten off, reaching your hand into the collar of his coat to check for a pulse. Much to your relief, you found one, albeit slow. 

“Baby, can you hear me?” You called, touching your hands to his face. His skin was freezing, and you pulled your hands away with a gasp. 

You had to get him somewhere warmer, and fast. “I’ll be back, I promise,” you assured him, unsure if he could even hear you. 

You pushed yourself to stand, scrambling up the snow bank. Having no choice but to leave him, and June, you made the split-second decision to take the snowmobile back to the main part of your property. It would be much faster than riding on horseback. 

Fueled by adrenaline, you rushed toward the vehicle, stopping only to brush the layer of snow off the seat before you climbed on. Much to your relief, the engine started with ease. 

Without wasting another moment, you headed off toward home. All that mattered was getting back to Rhett. 

It was as if you couldn’t get back fast enough. Once you finally skidded to a halt outside the barn, you jumped to the ground, careening into the building. 

You searched frantically until your eyes fell upon the item you were looking for. A black cargo sled that was meant to be attached to the back of a snowmobile. You rushed forth and grabbed it, dragging it back outside. 

You yanked your mittens off to free your hands and allow you to attach the sled to the hitch. Once it was properly attached, you shoved your mittens back on and climbed onto the vehicle, turning over the engine and taking off back toward the east pasture. 

When you reached the spot you’d left Rhett, you were quick to jump back into the snow and stumble into the woods. Again, you found yourself at his side. He still appeared to be unconscious, but he was alive. 

“I’m here, baby. I’ve got you,” you told him. You hoped he could hear you, hoped he knew that help had come and that he wasn’t alone any longer. 

The thought of him alone out here like this sent tears burning in your eyes, but you shook them off. You couldn’t dwell on that now. You had to get him to safety first. 

Your dilemma was trying to get him over to the vehicle. He was dead weight, so it would not be an easy task, especially not with all this snow.

Bending low, you grabbed under his arms, hauling him up a little. But you fell backward almost immediately, jarring your whole body. 

“Dammit!” You cried out. 

A flash of panic went through you as you realized what all this stress could possibly do to you, and the babe inside you. But you had no choice but to press on. You were Rhett’s only hope of getting out of the cold and into the safe warmth of your home. 

So you stood back up and pulled him up again, fighting like hell to drag him back to the snowmobile. By some miracle, you made it, and soon, had managed to wrangle him into the sled. 

As you did so, you fell again, landing on your knees. You let out a loud sob, exhausted from fighting to get to this point. But you stood up again on unsteady legs and climbed onto the vehicle. 

You turned the engine, and it roared to life. As you pulled away, June began following you, which you were relieved for. It saved you the trouble of having to go back out and get her later, taking precious time away from helping your husband. 

Another eternity seemed to drag on at an excruciatingly slow rate as you drove through the storm. The entire time you silently prayed that he would be okay. You needed him to be okay. 

Sometime later, you made it back to the barn. Quick as you could, you jumped off the vehicle and rounded June back into her stall, tying her lead to the post and making sure to secure her door so she wouldn’t get out again. You’d have to come back out and remove her saddle later on. For now, Rhett was your sole priority. 

Spinning on your heel, you dashed back outside, grabbing the barn door and slamming it shut, securing the latch before you scrambled back over to the snowmobile. 

Once you reached the house, the main battle was getting him up the porch steps and into the house. You killed the engine and jumped to the ground, moving to Rhett’s aid. 

“I’ve got you, I’m here,” you told him. Again, you lifted him, struggling to pull him out of the sled. You tried to lay him gently on the ground, but ended up dropping him. 

“Sorry! Sorry! I’m so sorry!” You exclaimed, tears pricking your eyes. But jarring him was entirely unavoidable. Especially since you had to get him up the steps. 

Groaning laboriously, you grabbed onto him again and managed to drag him to the porch steps, hauling him up until you collapsed onto the porch beside him. 

You let out a breath and stood on unsteady legs to open the door, after which you continued to drag him into the house, to safety. 

Once you had him inside, you kicked the door shut, and then pulled him the rest of the way into the living room, away from the drafty entryway. 

You ripped your mittens and hat off, then shrugged out of your heavy coat and under-jacket. Once your arms and hands were free, you made quick work of getting Rhett out of his clothes. 

You pulled his hat off, then you unzipped his coat and lifted him enough to pull the opposing fabric off of him, leaving him in his sweater underneath. He was so cold, even under his layers, and it sent an icy twinge of fear through you. You needed to get him warm, his life depended on it. 

“I’m gonna get you warm, I promise.” At that point, your tears wouldn’t stop. They ran down your cheeks as you worked to care for your husband, dripping down onto your hands that fought to undress him. 

Though you were panicked, you kept your movements gentle. You knew being rough with him could only exacerbate the problem. 

You obsessively checked that he was breathing, terrified that you would lose him. But as far as you could tell, he was still taking in oxygen. 

Once he was stripped down to his underwear, you scrambled to grab all the blankets in the living room. Just as you knelt beside him again to wrap him up, he stirred, letting out a soft groan. 

“Baby?” You hovered over him, eyes wide as you watched him stir again. “Rhett, can you hear me?”

Another soft groan, but he wasn’t fully conscious. Instead, you continued bundling him up in blankets. Once he was significantly covered, you ran upstairs to grab some towels, throwing them in the dryer to get them warm, along with a pair of woolen socks to put on his feet. 

It was then that you realized how badly you were shaking. Your hands trembled so terribly that you could barely hit the button to turn on the dryer. 

While the towels and socks were warming, you ran back downstairs. Rhett still remained on the floor under the blankets you’d wrapped him in. But you could see that he was stirring again. 

You landed beside him, calling his name. To your surprise, his eyes slowly opened, and he moaned, squinting at the light. 

“You’re safe,” you said, “you’re home with me.”

His eyes drifted shut again, but he let out another sound, and suddenly, he was attempting to sit upright. 

“Hey, it’s okay, don’t try to get up,” you soothed.

He looked up at you in confusion. “What…wh-what happened?” He mumbled, voice slightly slurred. 

“I found you in the woods. You were unconscious.”

His brow furrowed, and suddenly, concern washed over his face. “Oh no, June,” he gasped. 

“It’s okay, I got her back to the barn.”

That seemed to calm him down, and he tried to sit up again, but you stopped him. “Stay there, baby. I’ll be right back.” 

You hurried back upstairs to retrieve everything from the dryer, and in a few moments, you were back at your husband's side. 

You were quick to open the layers of blankets, pressing the warm towels to his upper body and groin area, closing the blankets back around him to hold in the warmth. Then you put the woolen socks on his feet. 

Once you finished, you moved over to stoke the dying fire, adding another log to the fireplace while you were at it. Soon, the fire roared back to life, providing warmth throughout the entire room. 

You sat back down on the floor, moving so you could hold Rhett’s head in your lap. You ran your hands through his hair, and your eyes blurred with tears again as you gazed down at him. 

“You scared me to death,” you whispered. “I thought…I thought I lost you.” 

“‘m sorry,” he mumbled softly.

You closed your eyes, willing your tears not to fall again. But it was futile, and they spilled hotly down your cheeks anyway.

“I fell,” you heard him whisper. “I remember now. I lost m’ footing a-and hit my head.”

“Oh, baby,” you whimpered. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve come looking for you sooner.”

“S’okay. You found me.” He smiled lazily, but it did nothing to calm your heart. You wanted to burst into sobs, but you managed to hold them back. 

He likely had a concussion, or worse. But there was no way you could get him to the hospital in this weather. You had no choice but to simply take care of him and hope for the best. 

And that’s exactly what you did. You stayed by his side for hours that night, caring for the man to whom you’d promised “for better or worse” when you spoke your vows to him. And you were certainly in the midst of the or worse.

But you made good on that promise, and you cared for him into the wee hours of the morning, until consciousness seemed to finally come to him fully, and he no longer shivered in your arms. 

When he felt that he was able to get up, you helped him move up to the couch, instructing him to stay put while you ran to get pajamas for him. You tossed those in the dyer for a few minutes before rejoining him in the living room. 

“I can do it,” he said, when you moved to help him dress. 

You reached your hand out, lovingly stroking his jaw. “Let me, handsome man. You’ve been through a lot, I just want to take care of you.”

To your surprise, he didn’t protest again. He let you put the thermal pajamas on him, and once you were finished, you wrapped him back up in the blankets and kissed his forehead. 

“Would you like some cocoa?” You asked. 

He smiled softly. “Please.”

So you busied yourself with making it, preparing two cups and soon bringing them back to the living room, where he still remained huddled on the couch. 

Finally, you settled in beside him, wrapping one of his blankets around you both. You needed him close. It reminded you that he was alive, and that you hadn’t lost him. 

As you sat in the silence of the moment, you found yourself overcome with emotion again, and you nuzzled in close to Rhett. 

“I was so scared you were going to die on me,” you whispered, the confession hanging in the air like thick, swirling smoke. 

Rhett reached out to squeeze your thigh. “But I didn’t. I’m a little banged up, but I’m okay, darlin’. You didn’t lose me.”

“I know, I just…” you trailed off, imagining a life without him. Imagining bringing your baby into the world without him. Again, your tears fell, and this time, you couldn’t stop them. 

The dam broke, and quiet sobs began to leave you. Without hesitating, Rhett pulled you closer, wrapping his arms around you. 

“Shh. It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m okay.”

You felt awful for falling apart before him when he’d just endured so much, but you couldn’t help it. He held you to his chest and let you cry. Little did he know there was so much more to it than just being afraid for his safety. 

You longed to reveal to him the true reason for your outpouring of emotion, but it wasn’t the right time. You couldn’t tell him now. 

Instead, you let yourself cry, and when your tears eventually slowed, you pulled back, wiping your damp cheeks. “I’m sorry,” you whispered. 

Rhett shook his head, reaching up to run his knuckles over your cheek. “Don’t be. I’m sorry I scared ya so bad. I really thought I’d be fine. And I woulda been, too, if I hadn’t fallen like a fuckin’ idiot.” His mouth quirked into a smile at his self-deprecation. 

You smiled despite yourself, but soon fell serious. “I’m just glad I got to you before it was too late.”

“I am too. And don’t you go blamin’ yourself for any of this. I’m the one who insisted on going out there. Me and my hardheadedness.” 

“What matters is you’re home safe, with me.” And what a relief it was.

Soon after your heartfelt reverie on the couch, Rhett admitted that he was exhausted, so you guided him upstairs. However, while he slept peacefully under the warmth of your blankets, you couldn’t sleep a wink. You watched him like a hawk, terrified that something might happen, no thanks to the head injury he’d sustained.

Once the weather cleared, you were going to get Rhett in for a doctor’s appointment, just to make sure he had no lasting damage from what he’d endured. You knew he would put up a fuss over it, but you didn’t care. It was better to be safe than sorry, and you weren’t taking any chances.

But for now, all you could do was watch over him. And you did, until your exhaustion overwhelmed you and you could hardly keep your eyes open any longer. 

Christmas day had already dawned, bringing a morning clear and bright. The snow had finally stopped, but the cold persisted, with bitter winds moaning through the rafters of your home. 

But you were safe within those four walls, wrapped in your husband’s arms. Even in sleep, you were subconsciously holding him closer, relieved that he was okay. 

You both slept Christmas day away, and by the time evening rolled around, Rhett was the first to open his eyes. He groaned softly beside you, and the sound pulled you out of your sleep immediately, sending you upright in bed as your eyes frantically scanned him to make sure he was okay. 

A warm hand reached for you, pressing against your thigh. “‘m okay, darlin’,” he assured you, sensing your sleep-induced panic. 

You let out a breath, easing yourself back down beside him. “S-sorry,” you whispered. 

“It’s okay.” He pulled you to him, nuzzling his face against your neck. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, voice gravelly against your skin. “Sorry I ruined Christmas.”

You threaded your fingers through his hair and gently pulled his head back to look at you. “Rhett Abbott, don’t you even say that. You didn’t ruin Christmas. You’re here, warm and safe in our bed. That’s the best Christmas present I ever could’ve asked for.”

He smiled softly. “I love you. I really am sorry I scared ya so bad. Next time I’ll be more careful.”

You hugged him to your chest before finally breaking away, glancing at the bedside clock. “It’s 5 pm, but how would you like a Christmas breakfast?”

Again, he smiled. “I’d love one.”

“Okay. Stay here, I’ll bring it to you in bed.”

But he adamantly protested. “No ma’am. I’m sittin’ myself down in front of the fireplace while you cook. Don’t wanna be up here all alone.”

You stood from the bed and held your hand out to him. “C’mon then, handsome man.”

He took your hand and allowed you to pull him out of bed. He groaned as he stood, realizing just how sore he was from the night before. 

“Damn, I’m sore,” he remarked. 

“How’s your head, baby?” You asked. 

“Hurts like a bitch.” 

You pressed a gentle hand to his cheek, your heart aching for him. “I’ll get you some meds to help with the pain,” you assured him. 

You leaned in to kiss him, lingering against him for a moment before you parted. You intertwined your fingers with his and led him out of the bedroom and downstairs. 

When you reached the living room, you fussed over him, having him sit down on the couch while you wrapped a blanket around his shoulders before moved to reignite the fire. 

Of course, Rhett tried to protest and tell you he could do it himself. But you gave him a look, and it shut him up right away. After all you'd endured in the last 24 hours, you would be damned if you didn’t take care of him, if only to give yourself peace of mind. 

After he was settled in, you strolled into the kitchen and grabbed some pain medicine and a glass of water, handing both to your husband before set about preparing food. As you worked, you took pause, whispering a prayer of thanks that you were able to do this. In your heart of hearts, you knew you’d never take the ability to love and care for your husband for granted again. 

After the scariest night of your life, you were grateful to do something as mundane as making him food. And when you’d finally finished preparing it all, you joined him on the couch and ate your dinner of pancakes together, and it was a sweet moment you would forever cherish. 

You remained cuddled into him, always touching some part of him. And he welcomed it. Although he’d long since warmed up from his exposure to the elements, he still seemed to have a perpetual chill, and he welcomed your comforting warmth. 

A calming silence fell between you as you sat together, basking in the glow of the Christmas tree and the warmth of the hearth. No words needed to be spoken. You’d already said all you needed to say, and now, it was time to soak up every last moment you could together. 

However, with a childlike twinkle in the blue of his eye, Rhett finally turned to you, mouth curving into a smile as he said, “how ‘bout we open presents?”

Your heart quickened in your chest. It was time. 

You nodded your head and returned his smile. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

And so, at six o’clock in the evening, your Christmas morning commenced. You stood from the couch and rifled under the tree, pulling out gifts. You handed Rhett the ones you’d gotten him, and pulled out the ones from him to you. 

Of course, you saved one very special present of his for last. 

Together, you snuggled back up on the couch and began tearing into the gifts. Rhett was not the most outwardly expressive guy, so you never expected a big reaction out of him when he opened things. 

He did his best to be animated for you, though, not wanting to come across as ungrateful. He thanked you with sweet smiles and gentle kisses. 

Once he’d opened his gifts, it was time for you to open yours. He watched, eyes bright and eager, as you unwrapped each present he’d tried so hard to wrap nicely. His gift wrapping skills were certainly lacking, but he tried, and it touched your heart. 

He’d gotten you a few things you needed, and the last gift was something special. When you pulled back the paper, you were met with the sight of a black jewelry box. 

Eyes widening, you opened the box, and gasped softly. Inside was a delicate gold pendant. Engraved on the pendant were the words ‘me and you’. Those three words were significant because they were what Rhett often uttered to you. 

“It’s me and you against the world, darlin’,” he’d say. 

“Me and you,” you’d echo. 

You looked at him, tears shining in your eyes. “Oh, Rhett,” you whispered. 

“You like it?” He asked, face hopeful. 

“I love it, baby. It’s perfect. Thank you.” 

You leaned in to kiss him, too verklempt to say anything else. 

“Here, let me put it on ya.” 

You carefully pulled the necklace out of the box and handed it to him before you turned around. With the gentlest of touches, he fastened the chain around your neck. For a man who worked with his hands, those very hands were so delicate in the way that they handled you. He made you feel like a precious, valued treasure. 

When you turned back around, he admired the look of the necklace against your skin. “Beautiful, m’love,” he hummed. 

You kissed him again, mouth warm and gentle on his. When you parted, you took in a breath, and spoke. “I have one more thing for you.”

With a racing heart and trembling hands, you knelt before the Christmas tree, leaning down and reaching all the way to the back, where you’d stowed away the gift that would change the course of your lives together. 

You stood, gingerly holding the package as if it would break, and turned back to Rhett. He looked up at you with curious eyes, lips curving into an unsure smile. 

“Whatcha got in there? A puppy?” He joked. 

“Better,” you replied, finally handing him the box. He noticed the tremor in your hands as you did, and his brow furrowed. 

“You’re shakin’, sweetheart.”

“Just open the present. You’ll understand why.” You sat beside him, your body thrumming with excitement and fear all at once. You felt like a live wire. 

Rhett set about tearing off the wrapper, tossing it aside. Then, he opened the top of the box, and you held your breath as you watched his face, your heart going wild within your chest. 

He was dead silent as he gazed down at the contents of the box. Then, moments later, he reached his hand in and pulled out the small hat and the pregnancy test. Now, his own hands were trembling. 

You waited for him to speak, too afraid to break the spell of silence. 

But he couldn’t speak. You knew this because when he looked at you, there were tears in his eyes, and his bottom lip was wobbling. 

He held the test up, opening his mouth as if to say something, but closing it again. He couldn’t get the words out. They were inhibited by the tightening knot in his throat. 

But you knew what he was trying to say without the words even having to leave his mouth. 

“You’re gonna be a daddy,” you whispered. 

He nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he was reaching for you, pulling you into his body and holding you close. He buried his face against your neck, and you soon felt the dampness of his tears against your skin. 

In turn, tears sprang to your own eyes once again, and you both sat there, in the middle of your living room, holding each other and letting yourselves cry. 

You had no idea how much time had passed. It seemed like ages, but somehow, also no time at all. When you parted, your tears had slowed, though your eyes still shined. 

“‘m sorry,” Rhett apologized, laughing slightly as he wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. “Didn’t expect to have a reaction like that. It just hit me real hard.” Then, a large, warm hand splayed over your belly. “There’s a little bitty baby in here?”

“There sure is,” you replied, voice still wavering from your emotion. 

He pulled you to him again, hugging you tightly. “I can’t believe it.” Then, he pulled back to rest his forehead against yours. “I’m gonna be a father. Holy shit.” 

You couldn’t help but giggle softly at his amazement. You lifted your hand to brush his hair out of his face, letting your hand fall to rest on his neck. “And you’re going to be a wonderful father, too.” 

“I don’t know about that, but I sure am gonna try.” He glanced down, his palm covering your stomach again. “I just…wow. Our baby is just hangin’ out in here, safe and warm.” 

But his wonder soon melted into grave concern. His face went slack as his gaze met yours, realization dawning on him. “You had to go through everything you did last night, all while you’re expectin’ a baby?” 

The thought of you putting yourself through such an ordeal made his heart twist in his chest. As morbid as it was, his mind began to drift to the terrible thought of you losing your little one because of him. Because he’d given you reason to put yourself through hell and back just to find him. 

You tried to cut in, tried to calm his already racing mind, but it was too late. “God, you went through all that because of me. You drug my sorry ass home in a dangerous fuckin��� storm. You put yourself at risk, all because I was stubborn and had to go after that damn horse. What if-”

“Rhett.”

“What if somethin’ happens? All because of me?” 

You could see the fear written clear across his face. So you lifted your hands, placing them over his own, and shushed him gently. “Baby, it’s okay. My body does a good job of protecting this little one. I feel okay, as far as I can tell nothing is wrong. But I promise you right now, I will go to the doctor as soon as the weather improves. I just want to know for sure that everything is alright.”

Rhett nodded, his shoulders relaxing only slightly. His face still remained hard with concern. “If something goes wrong, I w-”

“Shh,” you soothed, squeezing his hands. “Don’t. I’m not letting my mind go there. Like I said, I feel okay. But I’ll go to the doctor to be certain. Until then, let’s not jump to any conclusions. It’ll only drive us both crazy.”

He let out a breath, nodding his head. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll try to stay calm until you go to the doc.”

You reached up, tipping his chin so he’d look at you. “No matter what happens, it’s you and me against the world, okay?”

“You and me,” he responded. 

Your lips met in a tender kiss, and you both found some semblance of peace. 

In the end, it was all going to be okay. You would make that trip to the doctor, and sit in the ultrasound room, clutching your husband’s hand as you waited with bated breath to make sure your little one was unharmed. 

And as fate would have it, the babe would turn out to be perfectly fine. A few months later, you would give birth to a healthy baby boy. 

And the moment you saw the love and adoration shining in Rhett’s eyes as he beheld the tiny life he held in his strong arms, you would quickly  realize that all you’d endured that fateful Christmas was well worth it, for it had all brought you to this very moment. The best moment of your lives. 

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