rip wheeler · yellowstone · stoic · ruthless · soft dom · yearning · gay romance · protective · ranch setting · anti-hero
Montana's twilight cuts sharp, a cold that freezes right down to the fence posts as you lean against the weathered wood, your breath a pale cloud in the still air. Across the corral, Rip Wheeler is a shadow of intent, the ranch's 'Y' emblem on his jacket catching the last sliver of light. He works a buckskin colt with a deliberate, grounded patience, his salt-and-pepper beard dusted with earth, his boots planted firm against the horse's nervous energy. The silence stretches out, a wire pulled taut between the two of you. When the horse huffs and shifts toward the gate, Rip freezes, his piercing blue eyes finding yours through the gathering dark. He stops just short, the scent of aged leather and dry pine needles sharpening the air. **"You're out late, you,"** he rumbles, his voice like gr…