“Hey, you. I can’t believe you came back.” She must have been tossing hay because she greeted me with a pitchfork in hand.
“Nothing could keep me away,” I said. She didn’t need to know exactly how much I meant it.
Devyn planted a hand on her waist. “How does this work? Do you let Shirley get used to it before we put it on her? She’s nervous, you know.”
“Hopefully, it will only take a few minutes. We ought to know pretty quickly if it’s going to work.” I pulled the contraption I’d pieced together out of the back. It might look a little rough, but I’d incorporated some of the technology we’d been developing in the lab. If the company charged full price for something like what I’d come up with, it would probably cost her a small fortune.
“I can’t thank you enough for doing this.”
“Thank me if it works.” I followed her to the barn where Shirley had been sequestered. The big bird turned her head my way as we entered the pen.
“What can I do to help?” Devyn asked.
“Keep her calm if you can.” The last thing I needed was to have my eye pecked out by a nervous bird with a sharp beak. I moved toward Shirley, keeping my voice low and soft. “Hey there, Shirley. I’ve got something that ought to make you feel better.”
Shirley looked like she’d given up, though Squiggy squawked a warning as I got closer to his mate.
“It’s okay.” I reached out and lightly touched her side. Shirley just laid there, eyeing me with a large, googly eye.
“I think she’s depressed,” Devyn said from behind me.
“Hopefully, we’ll get her up and moving around in just a few minutes.” The brace I’d built for her leg fit just as well as I’d hoped.
“You don’t mind if I take some video, do you?” Devyn pulled out her phone. “I want to catch her reaction when she realizes she can get around by herself again.”
“As long as you don’t post it anywhere.” I couldn’t have my boss finding out I’d gone against his damn rules. With the brace secured around her leg, Shirley rolled over and tucked her legs underneath her.
“She’s trying to get up.”
I stepped to the side while the bird staggered to her feet. Her injured leg buckled. Dammit. My heart took a nosedive as she landed back on her stomach.
“I’m sorry. I really thought it would work.”
“Look.” Devyn pointed to where Shirley made another attempt to stand. With both legs under her, she got to her feet.
“Go, girl,” I whispered in encouragement.
She took a step forward but didn’t stumble. Then another and another until she stood at the edge of the pen.
“You did it.” Devyn rushed toward me.
I caught her in my arms and immediately crashed my lips against hers. She reached up, circling my neck with her arms. My heart pounded as my body came alive. I wanted more. The kiss deepened and my tongue pressed against the seam of her mouth.
She opened for me, then tilted her head, giving me better access to ravage her mouth with mine. I couldn’t process what the fuck was happening. Didn’t want to take the time to try to figure out if I’d just fucked up or opened up a whole new world of possibilities between us. All I wanted was more.
More kissing.
More tasting.
More Devyn.
Her fingers slid up the back of my neck and into my hair. My scalp tingled. I moaned into her mouth, and she pressed her entire body into me in response.
Kissing her was like tasting heaven. I didn’t deserve her, but I wanted her. Wanted her with a desperate need that pushed all rational thoughts out of my head. I cupped her ass with my hands and lifted her up until her crotch lined up with my cock.
She ground her hips against me, eliciting another groan. Her hand brushed the hair away from my temple and moved across my cheek.
I cracked an eyelid open to see Shirley rubbing her neck against my face. “What the hell?”