"Grayson?" Hunter knocked softly on my bedroom door and I groaned, sitting up, "Hey?"

"Are you okay?" Clearing my throat, I wrapped a blanket around myself and went to the door, opening it quickly, "it's like midnight."

"I… I know I just… I had a bad dream and I didn't know…" he wrung his hands, staring down at me.

"Do you want to sleep in here?"

"I'm too tall so…"

"Go on," pushing him softly from my room, I followed him into his and forced him back into bed. Tossing my blanket onto the floor, I climbed in next to him and took his hand, lacing our fingers, "You've been having nightmares a lot."

"I always do," he sniffled, pressing our foreheads together.

"Let's talk about something happy so we can get some sleep since your birthday is… technically today but I won't tell you until we wake up again."

"What do ya wanna talk about?"

"I like your room. It's the first time you've let me in here," I smiled.

Hunter's room was massive, the walls the same as the rest of the house, his bed a platform made of solid oak that sat in the middle of the room. All of the furniture was oak as well, a large television sitting on top of the dresser at the foot of his bed.

"I put a lot of work into it," he ran his fingers through my hair, "before ya lived here, I spent all my time in my bed. Watchin' movies or readin'. Ain't had no reason to be in the livin' room after all."

"It's more welcoming than my room," I cuddled closer, yawning softly.

"Wanna… do ya wanna move in this… um… no wait. I wanna wait."

"When we take that next step, to officially be boyfriends, I will move into this room with you. But for now, I'm only here to help because you had a nightmare. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Um… ya left me. I came to pick ya up from work and… you were flirtin' with some guy. Touchin' him. Ya kissed him and… it hurt. A lot. I didn't think I could feel that way. It ended with ya packin' everythin' up, leavin' the phone I got ya on the counter, and… you were gone."

"I would never do that to you," I looked at him in shock.

"Well yeah, I know. But it was a bad dream. That's all… can I ask ya somethin'?"

"Always."

"Why're ya wearin' my shirt?"

"Oh," blushing, I covered my face with the blanket, "I uh… took a ton of your comfy shirts from those baskets before we donated everything. I like to sleep in them. They smell like you."

"Huh? I don't smell like anythin'."

"Yes you do," I laughed, "you smell like raspberries and rum."

"Oh! My soap. Okay, that makes sense. You're… so cute," he rubbed my cheek gently, lingering on my jawline before he suddenly kissed me, pulling me close.

A whimper escaped me and I gripped his arm, before sliding my hand up to tangle into his hair. Hunter slowly pulled until I was on top of him, his hands tight on my lower back before he slowly slid them to my rear, making me jump and break the kiss.

“Oh…” I whispered.

“What?” he looked at me confused.

“I just like your hands there. That’s all,” smiling, I began kissing him again, my heart starting to race at the quiet groans escaping Hunter.

“Fuck,” he moaned softly and rolled, pinning me to the bed carefully, his chest heaving, “I… we need to slow down… I…”

“Okay. It’s okay,” I rubbed the back of his hand with my thumb, “I don’t mind at all.”

“I don’t wanna slow down… I just… I don’t quite know… what to do and I… don’t wanna disappoint ya…” he hung his head, his curls brushing my cheeks.

“I don’t know what to do either, Hunter… neither of us has any real idea. I mean… I do know one thing but we’re… supposed to be taking it slow. It’s clear we’re attracted to each other… I can feel that,” I gently rubbed my thigh against his groin and he moaned softly, “trust me. It’s not just you. But…”

“We shouldn’t rush.”

“Probably not. Let's take a few… deep breaths."

Hunter closed his eyes, his forehead now resting against my shoulder and I gently rubbed the nape of his neck, doing my best to relax. This was proving impossible as I could still feel him pressed against me.

"This ain't gonna calm me," Hunter sighed, "You're too close."

"I love being close," I whispered.

"Gray…" he leaned up and suddenly kissed me with fervor, his hands wrapped tightly in my hair.

Holy shit.

Where did that come from?

He's always so shy.

I began to match his pace, my legs now locked around his waist and Hunter slowly slid against me, making me gasp and break the kiss.

"Hunter?"

"Quiet," he whispered, his lips now on my throat after he pulled my head back.

"Hunter… s… stop."

"I… I'm so sorry…" he panted, "I just… lost control and…"

"I'm not complaining. You just told me we need to calm down and… I don't want you to regret anything. You told me kissing me was further than you wanted to go before we were together."

"I know… but…"

"Really think for me," I ran my fingers through his hair, "think if this is what you want."

"Is it what you want?"

"I want you to be comfortable. I'm okay with anything because it's you."

Hunter took a shaky breath before kissing me softly, lingering for a moment before pulling back, "I'm not… ready."

"Thank you for being honest."

"Does it hurt your feelings?"

"Not at all! I'm just happy to be with you in any way," I hugged him tightly, "why don't you go take care of… that?"

"It'll go down. I don't wanna leave ya," he pressed another kiss to my forehead, "let's just talk."

"If you're sure. But let me lay on my side."

Hunter laughed softly as he climbed off of me and I rolled onto my right side. He slowly tucked himself around me and I took his hand, relaxing.

"I'm still… turned on but… it's nice to hold ya," Hunter nuzzled the nape of my neck.

"Mhm."

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?"

"I thought you might like to put my saddle on Fawn. So we can take a ride somewhere. I already made a nice lunch for us for tomorrow. Another picnic. Then, when we're home, we can dance. I know how much you love slow dancing and it's been over a month since we last did. After that, we'll watch the sunset from a special spot I've been setting up when you're busy. I put a lot of thought into it."

"We coulda just sat on the couch and watched movies and I'd be happy," he laughed, shaking me a little, "did ya really do all that for me?"

"I did. It's nothing special, Hunter…"

"It's special to me. This is the first time I'm spendin' a birthday with someone so… important to me. What do ya wanna do for yours?"

"Nothing," I laughed.

"Hm… how about I take ya to the mountains?"

"We live in Montana," I laughed, "there are mountains everywhere."

"I own a cabin. It's only one little room with a big bed and everythin' we'd need to spend a few days in Glacier National Park. We could hike, fish, swim. Or just spend time together where we ain't gotta take care of the animals. Just you and me. I'll leave the dogs with Mom and Dad. Spend 4 days focused on ya."

"We're going to North Dakota in three weeks though… I'll feel guilty if we go on another trip in three months."

"Gray," Hunter softly rubbed my stomach, teasing me without realizing it, "then pick somethin'."

"I just want to spend time together. Not working. But I want to be home. You cook my favorite foods. We watch movies in your bed with the… our dogs as you play with my hair. Maybe a cake. But that's it."

"Grayson, you were the one who told me he ain't ever had a birthday party before. I wanna make somethin' like that happen for ya."

"I'd rather it be just me and you. Or we can do dinner with your family and then I'll steal your attention for the rest of the night. But I don't wanna go anywhere. I'm happiest here," I cuddled closer, pressing back against him, "in your arms. In this house."

"Our house," he whispered softly in my ear, "it's our house."

"Right," I turned my head to look back at him and Hunter kissed me softly, "I forget sometimes. Our house."

"Try to remember," he laughed before yawning, "ready to sleep?"

"Sure."

Closing my eyes, I gently rubbed his hand as I drifted off to sleep, happily cradled in Hunter's arms.

I woke up alone, the blankets tucked tightly around me, and on Hunter's pillow was my walkie-talkie.

"Hunter?" I whispered into the walkie-talkie, "You left me. It's your birthday. Come back."

"There was a problem out in the barn. I need your help. Hurry."

Jumping out of bed, I ran to grab pants from my room before throwing on my jacket and boots and running outside, Bear chasing after me to the barn where we found Hunter with one of the cows, doing his best to harness her to one of the gates.

"Hey, what's going on?" I ran over, "Is Cupcake okay?"

"She's birthin' a calf. But it's breech. I need your help keepin' her calm so I can pull it out," Hunter finally got her in place and stable and I went over to Cupcake, rubbing her snout softly.

"Alright. I got her," I smiled.

Hunter got to work, quickly moving around the barn to grab what he needed and I stayed where I was, patting Cupcake who was letting out painful sounds, clearly uncomfortable.

"I know," I whispered, "You're okay. I promise."

"She's a cow," Hunter laughed as he walked behind Cupcake, "she doesn't understand ya."

"But she will know that she's not alone. That it's going to be okay."

"Fair enough. She might kick me so don't distract me."

"You got it."

Hunter slowly began to help Cupcake and I did my best not to watch, the memories of my grandfather birthing calves on the ranch when I was a child leaving a nasty taste in my mouth. Cupcake continued to let out loud noises of discomfort and I did my best to keep her calm until Hunter let out a loud, happy sigh and I finally looked at him. He was covered in blood and some other fluid I couldn’t identify and at his feet was an adorable, if not messy, small calf.

“Can ya unhook Cake? She’ll wanna see the baby,” Hunter kept making strange faces and I realized he felt disgusted.

“Sure,” I laughed, unhooking Cupcake who immediately turned around and started doing what she needed to get the calf on its feet and feeding, “Oh. I’m guessing this isn’t her first then?”

“Nope. Fourth. She ain’t havin’ anymore after this though. Cows live about 20 years on a small farm like this, and she’s already 10. I ain’t wanna push her anymore. She deserves to live the rest of her life happily. Just walkin’ around the field and stuff other than when I milk her, Clarabelle, and Dottie. Oh and this little one,” he smiled at the new calf.

“You can tell already?”

“I’ve been watchin’ cows be born since I was two. Ya get pretty good at figurin’ out if it’s a heifer or a bull. This is a heifer.”

“I thought all female cows were heifers?” I looked at him confused as Cupcake continued to care for the calf, both of us watching over them.

“Nah. They become cows after they have a baby. Before that, they’re heifers. Hm… I wanna keep this little girl too. I only sell the bulls. Too much work to keep ‘em separated. When I wanna new cow, there’s a ranch a few miles down the road that has a few bulls and well… insemination and all that fun stuff. But I think I’ll wait a few more years before there’s another. Four is a bit much.”

“I know how to milk cows,” I laughed, “let me help.”

“Alright,” he smiled, “ya can start milkin’ Cupcake then once uh…”

“Pancake.”

“Really? Pancake?” he snorted.

“You already named her mom Cupcake!”

“I didn’t name her. Zee did.”

“Well, I still like Pancake. It’s cute. Or Sprinkle.”

“Fine, I can handle Pancake. So once Pancake ain’t need to nurse from her anymore, you can take care of Cupcake. She likes ya.”

“Really?”

“More than me. She always tries to eat my hat. See?” He had turned to start moving the hay and as soon as his back was to Cupcake she started trying to pull his hat off of his head, “She’s too playful for me.”

“Oh I love her,” I laughed, “I never come in here to see them.”

“I know. You’re so caught up on Peep.”

“Hey! You leave my tiny marshmallow hen alone!” I pouted.

“Whatever. Dork,” he winked at me and I laughed softly, “I need a shower. We uh… might have to move my birthday celebration thing. I can’t be away from the calf for long for the first little bit. Gotta make sure she’s okay.”

“I know. It’s okay. We can still eat our lunch. Just right outside the barn. I’m in no hurry to go anywhere. Even if it takes a few more weeks for me to finally get to ride Fawn. I’m patient.”

“You’re so good to me,” he came close and kissed me softly, keeping his hands to the side, “I’m gonna shower. Can ya keep an eye on Pancake?”

“Duh. Do you need me to let Clarabelle and Dottie out?”

“Nah they’ll be fine for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

“Alright.”

Hunter jogged off to the house, Moose right behind him, and Bear joined me in the barn, going to each cow and letting them lick him, making me laugh.

“Bear you’re not a cow,” I smiled as he came to sit next to me outside of Cupcake’s pen, “look. A new baby.”

Bear barked softly and Cupcake let out a loud moo before she also licked Bear through the gate. Pancake stood finally and slowly started nursing from Cupcake who began drinking water from her trough. Smiling, I leaned against the gate, petting Bear absentmindedly.

“Hi,” Hunter whispered softly in my ear, his arms wrapping tightly around my waist.

“Jesus you scared me,” I laughed, leaning against him, “hi. How was your shower?”

“It was good. Still don’t feel as clean as I could but it’s fine.”

“Yeah, you didn’t seem to be enjoying yourself.”

“I don’t like blood. It’s gross,” he kissed my cheek softly, “it’s a good sign that she’s on her feet. She should be okay.”

“Good.”

We stood there for a long time, simply watching over Cupcake and Pancake. Moose and Bear started to run around the barn, clearly restless and I helped Hunter take Clarabelle and Dottie from their pens, following them as Hunter let them into the pasture to roam.

“What about Cupcake?” I sighed.

“She can go out. So can Pancake. But she gotta stay in for another two hours or so. Just to make sure they’re both okay.”

“Okay,” smiling, I leaned against him before tilting my head up to meet his gaze, “hey Hunter?”

“Yeah?”

“Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you,” he laughed and kissed me deeply, his hand tight on my hip, “best birthday gift I coulda asked for.”

“Pancake?”

“No,” he snorted, “no Grayson. You. You’re the best gift I coulda asked for.”

“You’re getting better at being honest when you’re looking at me,” I softly patted his cheek.

“I’m tryin’. I know ya like to hear my thoughts.”

“Mhm. Because they’re so honest and cute.”

“Oh shut it.”

“Make me,” I stuck my tongue out and he kissed me again, forcing his tongue into my mouth. I groaned, tossing my arms around his neck as he carefully lifted me, wrapping my legs around his waist, “okay okay,” I panted as I broke the kiss, “good job.”

“I ain’t done kissin’ ya yet. Come back,” he whispered.

Smiling, I pressed my lips to his again as I began to lazily rub his upper back, feeling more at peace than I had since I moved in with him.

“Thank you,” he whispered against my lips.

“For?”

“Stumblin’ your way through the beginning of a relationship with me. I… like that we’re both inexperienced. Makes me feel better if I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“Well, I could thank you too then,” I smiled, stealing his hat.

“Anythin’ for you, Gray,” he kissed me softly.