Page 35 of Home to You
I’d assumed I was done having kids. Thought Cole was it for me, and if it was just me, Eden, and him, I’d die a happy man. But seeing her like this, full of me, made something shift inside my chest—a longing I hadn’t expected. I could picture her in our kitchen, one hand on her swollen belly, the other ruffling Cole’s hair. Could see myself teaching our daughter to ride, or watching our son learn to rope cattle. The images hit me with startling clarity, like they’d been waiting just beneath the surface all along. I wanted to see her round and glowing, carrying the life we made together.
Ours.
I reached for her and pulled her into me, her body melting into mine. Her head found my shoulder, her fingers trailing lazy circles over my chest.
I kissed the top of her head, held her tighter, my throat burning with everything I hadn’t said yet.
I should wait, some faint voice whispered.Do it properly. With the ring. But hell if I could keep it in. Not now.
I swallowed hard and brushed a lock of damp hair from her face. “Eden, baby.”
She tilted her chin up, her eyes soft and hazy. “Hmm?”
I stared down at her, my heart near to bursting. “I didn’t plan to say this tonight. I swear to God, I didn’t. But—” I swallowed deeply. “It’s the only thing I can think about.”
A soft smile tugged at her lips. “Say what, cowboy?”
I cupped her cheek, my voice rough with emotion. “I want you to be my wife, Eden. I want us to build something together—you, me, and Cole. I want Sunday mornings, arguments over coffee, and growing old on this ranch together. I don’t want to spend another day wondering if I’m gonna lose you again. Please, say you’ll marry me.”
Her breath caught, her eyes brimming with tears. “Jake,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Are you sure?”
I smiled, leaned in, and brushed my lips over hers. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
For three long beats, she just stared at me, her eyes shining bright, one hand pressed flat against my chest. I was sure she could feel my heart hammering beneath her palm. Then she nodded, a trembling smile breaking free as tears spilled over. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
I crushed her to me, kissed her deep, sealing her vow. And when I finally pulled back, I held her tight against my chest, knowing without a doubt this was meant to be.
She’s mine. I’m hers. And this time, I’m never letting her go.
Later, I woke to the soft press of her body on top of mine, her mouth brushing my jaw, her fingers trailing over my chest.
I rolled her beneath me, swallowed her gasp with a kiss. We came together again in the dark, her pussy still slick with my cum. I shivered as I kissed her again and rocked my hips into her warm, welcome heat, and when I came with her name on my lips, I stayed inside as long as I possibly could, holding my seed inside her.
When dawn finally broke, painting the edges of the loft in pink and gold, I held her close, my lips pressed to her temple.
“Cole’s going to be over the moon,” I murmured against her hair.
“Think he’ll be okay with sharing you?” she asked, her voice teasing but with an edge of genuine concern.
“Sweetheart, that boy’s been asking when you’re moving in since he came downstairs two weeks ago and saw you at breakfast. He’ll be more than okay.”
She was quiet for a moment, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest. “I never thought I’d get this,” she whispered. “A family. A real home.”
“You've always had it, Eden,” I said, tightening my arms around her. “You just had to come back to claim it.”
The sun climbed higher, painting everything golden, and I knew this was just the beginning.
“Welcome home, sweetheart,” I whispered. “Welcome home.”
EPILOGUE
Five Years Later
The early morninglight slanted through our bedroom window, casting a golden glow on Eden’s freckled shoulder.
Three years married and eight months pregnant with our first child, and fuck if she didn’t still call to me like a siren.
I eased into her from behind, one hand cupping the curve of her belly. Her skin was warm beneath my palm, stretched taut where our daughter kicked against me.
