Page 57 of Relentless Hearts
She came hard. A cry ripped from her lips. He kept driving…and let himself go.
His release tore out of him on a hoarse sound he didn’t recognize as his. Every thick jet of cum that flooded her bare walls ripped away another part of him and gave it to her.
He stayed buried inside her sweet folds, his breath ragged against her mouth. His body locked on the final thrust until the world settled back into place one heartbeat at a time.
He rolled to the side and kissed the tip of her nose because he could, because he wanted to do something sweet after filling her with everything that hadn’t fit into words.
She sprawled over him, her legs tangled with his. He felt her heartbeat against his ribs, fast and strong, and damn if his eyes didn’t sting with the knowledge—clear as the North Star over the ranch fields—that he was in love with her.
The declaration burned on his lips, but he held them back.
Not yet. Not tonight.
He’d hold the words like living hot coals in his chest and keep her warm with all the other things he could say instead.
“I’m glad you came looking for me.” He kissed her temple. She snuggled closer, already drifting into the healing sleep he wanted to spend the rest of his life defending.
“I forgot to open that package.” Her voice was slurred with sleep.
His entire body tensed. “What package?”
“It arrived before Rhae’s party. Some delivery for the ranch.” She yawned.
“Where is the package now?”
“In the mudroom. I’ll get it in the morning.” She drifted off almost immediately.
He should be thumping his chest for wearing her out with his skills in bed. Instead, he lay awake and listened to the sounds of the lodge and the wind whispering at the windowpane.
The package could be nothing. Or it could be another gift.
They didn’t have any leads on the gifts she’d received, and he wanted to tear the world apart to find whoever it was. His instincts screamed that it was much more than a few small trinkets.
Whatever came next, he would be there, ready to protect the woman he loved.
Chapter Eleven
Willow was six the first time she sneaked into the old barn, ignoring the DANGER—DO NOT ENTER signs her father posted around the crumbling structure. Even then, with creaky, rotting floorboards and gaps in the roof that let in shafts of dusty sunlight, she’d seen its potential.
She’d stood in the center of that dilapidated space, dodging the occasional drop of water from the leaky roof, and imagined what it could become.
Of course, Carson had found her twenty minutes later and dragged her out, lecturing her about the danger of the whole barn caving in on her while she protested that the barn just needed love, not demolition. Her brothers hadn’t let her out of their sight for a week, but the vision had stayed with her.
Years later, when Denver announced his engagement and they started planning the wedding, Willow was the one to suggest the barn restoration. She’d presented her brothers with sketches and a timeline that would make it safe and beautiful in time for the ceremony.
Now, the walls were restored, the roof repaired and every beam gleamed with fresh honey-brown stain. Willow felt a deep satisfaction that went beyond the beauty of Denver and Rhae’s joy.
This was what happened when a person fought for their vision, when they refused to let others tear down something worth saving.
The restored barn had been transformed into somethingmagical.
Swags of fabric in rich jewel tones draped from the exposed beams—emerald, sapphire and deep amethyst that caught the late afternoon light streaming through the tall windows. White lights twinkled overhead like stars, and the scent of gardenias and roses filled the air from the elaborate arrangements positioned at the end of each pew.
Willow smoothed her dress one last time as she waited for her cue. The deep burgundy silk made her feel elegant in a way that was rare for someone who lived in jeans and boots. Her hair was swept up in the intricate style that Honor insisted on, with tiny, jeweled pins catching the light.
The music swelled, and she took her first step down the aisle. The barn was packed with family and friends, but she immediately sought out one face in the crowd.
When she found Decker sitting in the third row, his stare locked on to hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.
