Page 111 of Tough Love

“We are gathered here today . . .”

“Put me down, Hudson.” I chuckle.

“Nope, not a chance.” He kicks the front door open and carries me across the threshold, and my dress trails behind us. I drag his mouth to mine with both hands. Charlie trots by his side, his paws clacking over the hardwood floor. The windowsare open, and the cool night breeze rolls in from the mountains around us.

Yellow flowers are tossed over the floor of the entire house. Flames flicker in hurricane lanterns on every surface, lining the hallway. More yellow petals are strewn on every surface of our home. Ruby has been here, and Reed, too, I bet. I pull the hat from Hudson’s head and toss it onto the sofa by the fire.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Rawlins.” His voice is gravel, raw.

“Why, thank you, Mr. Rawlins.” I dot kisses along his jaw, and he strides toward our bedroom.

“As stunning as that dress is, it will still look better on the floor.”

I nip his ear. “I one hundred percent agree.”

He sinks his face into my hair, nuzzling until his mouth finds my neck. When I have worked him up into a frenzy, I wriggle to be put down. Reluctantly, Hudson releases his grip and my feet hit the floor. “One more thing before the rest of our lives start, Huddy.”

I grab his hand and drag him down the hallway and out the back door. More hurricane lanterns dot the back porch, two flanking each step down to the backyard. “Where are you taking me?” he says with a chuckle.

“You’ll see.”

When we clear the last step, I spin back and put a hand over his eyes. He chuckles, his Adam’s apple bobs, and his hand wraps around my free one. “You will never cease to amaze me, Adeline Rawlins.”

Breath lodges in my throat. And I fight the urge to let him fold me into his arms, and instead pull him along beside me to the last weeping willow at the back of the yard. When we round the tree to where his wedding present sits, I turn him on the spot.

“Open your eyes, Hudson,” I whisper as I drop my hand.

He stares at me before turning to face the swinging love seat set under the tree facing south. The one we talked about on that camping trip. Even in the dim candlelight, it’s the perfect spot for our lives to start.

He swallows.

I study his face. “Welcome to the bridge, sailor.”

He chuckles and sweeps me up. Wind hisses through the hanging branches that have us cocooned. When the back of his legs meet the swing, he smashes his mouth to mine. A heartbeat later the zipper swishes, the bodice loosens, and his mouth finds my peaks as I arch into him.

“I changed my mind, that dress will look perfect on the grass.”

A moment later our clothes are a pile on the grass below the willow. I straddle his lap, exploring his face with my lips, and his hair, neck, and chest with my hands.

“Turn around, Addy.”

I sink my knees on either side of him, and lean into him as he thrusts upward, filling every place that matters. I lay my head on his shoulder as he rolls my nipples through his fingers. I take up the rhythm between us, the four winds caressing every inch of my skin.

“Goddamn, how much I love you, sweet girl.”

I moan as his pace gets rougher, faster. His thumb finds my apex and I open my eyes. Ragged breaths burn as I say, “Always, Hudson...”

Stars shimmer in the messy spaces between the waving long, thin branches overhead. The inky blanket that bursts with stars disappears as I close my eyes, climbing so high with Hudson wrapped around me. “Come for me, beautiful.”

I let go and spiral, whimpering his name.

He follows.

My heart is full.

My Hudson.Always.

Epilogue

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