Page 85 of Broken Roads
"Bradley," I gasp, nails digging into his shoulders. "I'm close—"
"Me too," he groans. "Come with me. Want to feel you squeeze this cock when I fill you up."
His words combined with the pressure of his thumb against my clit send me flying over the edge. I cry out his name as waves of pleasure crash through me.
"Fuck, yes," he growls, thrusting up into me one final time before he comes inside me. The sensation is unlike anything I've ever felt. Intimate in a way I wasn't prepared for, a claiming that goes beyond the physical.
Breathing hard, we cling to each other as the aftershocks ripple through us. Slowly, reality returns, but I make no move to lift myself from his lap, content to stay connected for as long as possible.
With a gentle touch, Bradley strokes up and down my back in a soothing caress. There's something different about this moment, a shift I can't quite name but can feel in my bones. Whatever we're building between us, it's stronger than I ever expected, deeper than I dared to hope.
And for the first time in longer than I can remember, I'm not afraid of what comes next.
Chapter 34
Hailey
The atmosphere in the truck feels like Christmas morning and a funeral procession all at once. A strange mixture of celebration and caution as we bring Bradford home after six long days in the hospital. Bradley drives with careful precision, not hitting a single pothole on the ranch's winding dirt road, while Sebastian sits in the back with their father, monitoring his every breath. I steal glances at Bradley's profile from the passenger seat, at the tension that still lingers in his jaw despite the good news, at the way his eyes flick to the rearview mirror every few minutes to check on his father.
"Almost home, Dad," Bradley announces as the ranch house, silhouetted against the afternoon sky, comes into view.
Bradford nods, his tired face brightening at the sight of home. "About damn time. Hospital beds weren't made for old cowboys."
Sebastian snorts out a laughs. "Most patients don't try to escape three times in six days."
"Wasn't escaping," Bradford grumbles. "Just taking a walk."
"Down the fire escape at three in the morning?" Sebastian asks with a raised a brow.
Bradley's fingers find mine across the center console, squeezing gently. The simple touch a reminder of how much has changed in such a short time. What started as heated glances across the breakfast table has deepened into something I never expected to find here, especially not with the stubborn cowboy who fought me at every turn when I first arrived.
Ruthie waits on the porch with her arms crossed as the truck rolls to a stop in front of the house. The moment Bradley cuts the engine, she moves down the steps with surprising speed for a woman her age.
"Don't you dare try to walk on your own, Bradford Walker," she calls out, pointing a warning finger as Sebastian helps his father from the truck.
Bradford makes a show of sighing heavily, but doesn't resist when his sons flank him on either side, supporting his weight as he takes careful steps toward the house. I hang back slightly, watching this family that's become mine in ways I'm still trying to understand.
"This is ridiculous," Bradford mutters as they help him up the porch steps. "I can walk fine on my own."
"Humor us," Sebastian says. "Doctor's orders."
"Getting real tired of hearing that phrase," Bradford grumbles, but there's no real heat behind it.
Inside, they guide him to his favorite armchair by the fireplace. The relief on his face as he sinks into it is almost painful to witness. This is where he belongs, not in a hospital room with its beeping machines.
"Can a man get a decent cup of coffee around here?" Bradford asks, looking hopefully at Ruthie. "Hospital coffee tasted like motor oil."
Ruthie narrows her eyes. "Decaf. And don't give me that look. Doctor's orders."
Bradford turns to Sebastian with betrayal written across his features. "You're cutting me off coffee now?"
"Just until your medication stabilizes," Sebastian explains. "Then we can talk about one cup a day. Maybe."
I slip into the kitchen to help Ruthie, leaving the Walker men to their reunion. Though I can’t help but watch through the doorway.
Bradley and Sebastian stand near their father's chair. The resemblance between them is striking, especially now with the worst of their anger burned away. Same strong jaw. Same intensity in their dark eyes. Same protective stance as they hover near their father.
"I've been thinking," Sebastian says. "I could drive up once a month. Check your vitals, adjust your meds if needed."
