Page 83 of Wilder Heart

That drew Wilder up short. “What?”

“Mary-Beth gave him a pretty stern dressing-down after you left the hospital. Said he’d let you down, and I told him I agreed.”

“You did what?” His eyes were going to fall right out of his head.

“He should’ve defended you. Mary-Beth’s parents have always been assholes. She still loves them, because they’re family, but they’ve never made it a secret that they don’t think Lain is good enough for her. He’s learned to let their words rolloff him to keep the peace, but he shouldn’t have expected you to do the same.”

Wilder closed his eyes, slotting his body against Cash’s and resting his head on his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here. How did you find me?”

“Well, Billy said he took you to the bus stop. This was the nearest motel within walking range, if he left you on foot.”

Wilder hummed. “This used to be the only motel in town. It was the first place I thought of.”

“It all worked out in the end, then,” Cash murmured. His hands swept up and down Wilder’s back, slow and soothing. “Why don’t I text Lain that I’ll bring his truck to the hospital tomorrow, and you and I get some rest? We’ve had a really long day.”

“Wehave,” Wilder agreed. “Sleep sounds great. You want to stay here?”

“Why not? You paid for the room. Might as well use it.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Wilder let himself be led toward the bed. Cash’s gentle hands stripped his shirt off and then went for his jeans. His body reacted to Cash’s familiar touch, his cock thickening, but there was no urgency behind it. They were both tired and strung out from the day’s emotional rollercoaster. Cash left him only to draw the curtains and leave his hat on the little round table in the corner. When he returned, Wilder took his turn undressing Cash, scattering kisses on his strong shoulder as he did.

“Bed,” Cash whispered, thumb stroking his cheek.

In the dark and cocooned under the blankets, Wilder curled against Cash, marveling that this was how the day would end. He’d gone from trying to talk himself into a future full of loneliness to cuddling with the man he loved.

He snorted out a laugh, and Cash shifted against him.

“What’s so funny?”

“I just… I spent the last hour telling myself it was better for everybody if I left. What a waste of time. All that stress and for what? I didn’t want to leave. I wanted this. Just seems weird that you delivered yourself right into my arms when I wanted you the most. Right after I realized I love you.”

“What can I say? We’re meant to be, baby.” Cash’s lips found his in the dark. They were both smiling.

Wilder didn’t consider himself a superstitious man, but even he had to admit, it was a pretty wild coincidence.

CHAPTER 27

CASH

Cash would never admit it to Wilder, but he didn’t sleep well that night. He kept dreaming that Wilder was gone, and every time he woke, he had to reassure himself that Wilder was still there beside him. He didn’t think Wilder would go back on his word, but he had a habit of running when something spooked him. Cash couldn’t deny that he was afraid Wilder would get scared again and make a break for it while Cash was asleep.

But when he woke for the final time, when the early morning light peeked through the gap between the curtains, Wilder was still right there. In fact, he was all but on top of Cash. They shared the same pillow. Wilder had an arm and leg thrown across him, his weight shifted more on Cash than the mattress. And he wasn’t complaining one damn bit.

The day would be a rough one. He’d have to take Lain’s truck to him. There was a chance Mary-Beth and the babies wouldn’t be discharged today, which meant Wilder’s talk with Lain might have to wait. Being in limbo for the next couple of days while they waited for a chance to clear the air had the potential to be…long.

But right now he had a mostly naked Wilder on top of him, and he intended to take advantage of that. Sliding his palms down Wilder’s bare back, he slipped them under the waistband of his boxer briefs and pulled, shifting his weight the rest of the way onto Cash. Wilder groaned as he went, spreading his legs to straddle Cash’s hips.

“You’re feeling me up,” Wilder rasped.

“I am.”

Wilder’s body flexed, dragging their morning wood together. Cash felt like he had molasses in his limbs, making everything languid and sticky. Wilder raised his head, sloppily finding his mouth and slipping his tongue inside as they rocked together. Cash tugged their boxers down just far enough to free their lengths and took them in hand, delighting in Wilder’s sleepy moan. Cash wanted to wake up to that sound every morning for the rest of his life.

“I love you,” he said, his free hand threading into Wilder’s hair.

A smile bloomed on Wilder’s face. “Say that again.”

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