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  “Love you, Tiger,” I murmured against her neck, taking a few moments to come down before we faced all the people milling around our house.

  Our house.

  Eden was mine.

  For good.

  I’d been hanging on to my grandma's engagement ring. The first time I saw Eden again I knew it belonged to her. Only looked right seeing it on her finger now. “This was meant for you.”

  I held her hand between us, admiring the heavy stone.

  “It's the most stunning ring I've ever seen. It doesn't feel right, me wearin' it...”

  “Cut the crap, Tiger. It belongs on you.” I sealed any more of her protesting with my lips.

  We pulled away a few moments later. “I could use some ice cream.”

  I grinned, sliding a palm over her stomach and teasing, “Pregnancy cravings start this early?”

  “Shut up.” She swatted at my shoulder. “I’m going to make an appointment with the doctor for birth control. I just have to get my insurance switched over—”

  “Like hell you are.” My hackles rose.

  “Excuse me?” She pushed away, eyes narrowing.

  “You heard me.”

  “No, I don’t think I did. Because what I’m pretty sure I heard was you telling me what to do. And I know you wouldn’t go making that mistake again.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her, thinking I had to play this smart.

  We’d been having unprotected sex for over a month now. She obviously didn’t care that much about if I managed to put a baby in her…not that I was trying…except I kind of was. But to be fair, I’d been pretty upfront about that. Every single time we had sex.

  Maybe she thought it was just dirty talk, but it was true, and that’s the reason it made me come harder than I ever dreamed I could. Eden made me lose all control, made me think things and want things I never knew I wanted.

  Fast-forward to now.

  “Great, so let’s get you an appointment this week, make sure everything's in—” I gestured up and down her form “—working order.” The doctor wouldn’t give her birth control without a pregnancy test first, right? This seemed like as solid a plan as any to keep me out of hot water, so I ran with it.

  “Thanks.” She placed a soft kiss on my cheek then cuddled back into my arms.

  Just then Eden’s phone rattled off a tune in the pocket of her cutoffs. I passed her the jeans, but she pushed it away. “I’m good just like this.”

  “Pretty late at night for a phone call.”

  Her eyes narrowed before she fished the phone out of the pocket and answered it. “Hello?”

  I waited, hoping it was just a wrong number and we could head upstairs and start celebrating.

  “Is he okay?” Frantic tears welled in Eden’s eyes.

  Shit.

  She swiped at the tears as she struggled to listen, sucking in a deep breath before she murmured, “Okay.”

  She clutched at my arm, eyes tracking across the space between us.

  I wasn’t sure what was exchanged in that moment, but I knew from then on out, things would be different.

  “This is the best number. Thank you,” she finally said and hung up.

  “What happened?”

  “Colt. There was an accident. They didn’t say much, but he was hurt. He’s alive, he’s okay. A broken leg and arm, mild concussion, and a ton of bruises. It was an IED alongside his convoy, Nash.” Her fingers laced with mine, eyes watering.

  “Jesus, where is he now?”

  “In the air. They’re transporting him home. God, the accident happened over twenty-four hours ago. He’s already had surgery to repair three different breaks in his leg. Three!” Eden broke down into tears then, crumpling into my arms as I soothed her, whispering words in her ear and smoothing her hair.

  “They said he’ll probably need physical therapy, but they think he’ll walk again.”

  “That’s good news,” I whispered, chest aching with the knowledge that this was one pain I couldn't take away from her. “He can stay here until he’s a hundred percent. We’ll take care of him, Eden.”

  “We?”

  “Hell yes, we. Hell or high water, I’m right beside you, Eden. Always.” I pulled her knuckles to my lips, placing a kiss on her ring finger.

  “I can’t ask that of you. Not now… I don’t know what’s in store, and you don’t deserve—”

  “Don’t talk to me about what I deserve,” I breathed against her ear, hushing her anxiety. “I need you, I know that. I love you, never been more sure about anything in my life. I’m here for you and Colt, always will be. That won’t ever change.”

  Soft tears welled in her eyes again. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much you mean to me too, Colt, since the time we were young. Coming here, spending time with your family were the best memories of my life.”

  “Let’s make more memories, Tiger.” I licked at the salt tracking down her cheeks. “A million more.”

  Chapter 9

  NINE

  Eden

  “Well, no fucking shit.”

  I spun, almost screaming as I barreled nearly full force into my brother.

  “Why’d he have his paws around you, Eden?” Colt ignored my greeting, eyes trained on Nash across the kitchen.

  I stood frozen in front of my brother. His right arm hung in a cast, left leg casted up to the hip and looking so uncomfortable. He’d hobbled in on a cane. We’d already put in a wheelchair ramp for him, but it would be just like the stubborn ass to refuse to use it.

  “How are you? God, I missed you so much.”

  “Was only gone for a month,” Colt huffed, sliding down into a kitchen chair and looking exhausted already.

  “Didn’t the doctor say you had to use the wheelchair for the first few weeks?” Nash approached, sitting opposite Colt at the small kitchen table.

  I hovered at my brother's shoulder, unsure of what to do or say.

  Colt seemed…out of it. I knew he was on a ton of pain pills, but this was more than that. He seemed, actually…depressed.

  “You didn’t answer me.” Colt nailed Nash's eyes. “Thought you were supposed to take care of my sister, man, not fuck her.”

  I flinched at his words. Colt had said a lot of mean things in my life, but nothing like that…

  “Take it easy, man,” Nash muttered, eyes hardening on Colt’s.

  “Whatever.” Colt pushed out of his chair, stalking out of the kitchen and down the front steps.

  He walked on quick, if not stable, steps, all the way across the farmyard to the paddock where Raven rode her horse.

  He stood at the fence, most of his bodyweight on the wood, I could tell from here. “He doesn't look too good.”

  “Who the hell would? Guy intended to finish the job there. Who wants to come home earlier?”

  “And there’s the three surgeries and the two weeks in the hospital.” I sighed when Nash's arms came to rest around my waist.

  “He’ll come around.” Nash kissed my neck, hands sliding up my waist and cupping my tits. “These feel bigger. You sure you're not pregnant?”

  “You’re relentless.” I chastised with a shake of my head. “Speaking of, we should get going to my appointment for birth control.”

  “Right. Wouldn't want to be late for that.” Nash spun me in his arms and planted a kiss on my cheek. A kiss that took my breath. God, I loved him.

  “Maybe we can make time for a date after. We may be celebrating, you never know.”

  “You wish, Nash Campbell,” I teased, pulling my purse off the hook near the door and throwing it over my shoulder. “Now, are you going to escort me to my appointment or what?”

  “With pleasure, ma’am.” He tipped his cowboy hat, eyes brimming with cocky mischief.

  “Cowboy wannabe.”

  “Drama queen,” he shot back, slapping my ass as we went down the stairs, heading for his truck.

  Colt didn’t even spare us a glance when Nash honked and I called that we’d be b
ack in a bit.

  Ten minutes and the always fun exercise of peeing in a cup later, the nurse at the doctor’s office was escorting us into a room. I’d told Nash I was okay to go in alone, but his chest had puffed, jaw clenched. He didn’t want me out of his sight he’d said, and who was I to disagree? His overbearing, protective side was only one of the reasons I’d fallen so hard for him, after all. Truth was, I liked him a little caveman.

  I looked at Nash, his shoulders hunched as his big body tried to fold up to fit into the tiny chair. He would be nearly laughable if he weren’t gorgeous sitting there, looking so out of place and masculine. I had to resist the urge to crawl into his lap and plead for him to take me right here.

  I was about to tease that we should skip dinner and just head home when the doctor tapped on the door, letting himself in.

  Nash's eyes narrowed instantly.

  The caveman in him never ceased to come out when another man was around, no matter the situation.

  “Afternoon, Ms. Sutherland.”

  “Campbell. It’ll be Mrs. Campbell soon.”

  The doctor’s eyes caught Nash’s for a moment. “Well, that’s good to hear. You may want to get to planning that wedding.”

  “Why’s that?” I asked politely, drawing the doctor’s attention back to me.

  “Well, Ms. Sutherland, I’m guessing you didn’t realize this, but you’re pregnant.”

  My jaw hit the floor.

  My heart rattled against my rib cage, fighting for release.

  The doctor rambled on about vitamins, appointments, and more, but I had to trust that Nash caught it all. The bastard was riveted and hanging on every word the doctor was saying, dopey grin on his face.

  Goddammit, that fucker knew all along.

  Well, it wasn’t like I’d really done anything to prevent it, and it wasn’t even like I disliked the idea. I wanted kids, someday. Definitely with Nash, whenever fate saw fit…which apparently was right about now.

  Truth be told, I just hated that the sonuvabitch had been right all along. All those times he’d teased me about cravings or my boobs getting bigger, I had been pregnant.

  “You knew,” I accused, eyes spearing his.

  “Uh, I'll have the front desk schedule your next appointment,” the doctor said, backing out of the door.

  “Calm down, baby. I don’t want you getting upset.”

  “Oh, shut up.” I launched off the exam table, throwing my purse over my shoulder. Nash’s laugh followed me all the way down the hallway and past reception. “You’re the most infuriating human on the planet right now.”

  Once we were all done and outside, he opened the passenger door of his pickup, taking me by the elbow as he gently lifted me in. “Love you too, Tiger.”

  I couldn’t help the grin that danced across my lips when he dusted his mouth over mine. “Love you too.”

  “Well, don't act so mad about it. This is good news. Means we push the wedding up.”

  “Nash!” I breathed, catching sight of his ring glistening on my finger.

  He shrugged, shutting my door and crossing around the front of the truck. “So how we gonna break this one to Colt?”

  “Oh God, Colt is gonna kill both of us.”

  Nash laughed out loud, his rich, throaty voice shaking me to the core.

  Whatever happened, I’d be in good company at least

  As much as he may infuriate me, Nash was definitely my partner in crime. I knew he always had my back, and wherever I went, he went. We were in this together; it hadn’t taken long for Nash to prove that.

  “So what about that date, Mama?” My stomach turned somersaults with his words.

  “Mama,” I breathed the word out loud. “I think that just became my new favorite thing.”

  Nash grinned, palm landing on my knee and squeezing. “Everything about you is my favorite thing.”

  EPILOGUE

  Nash - five months later

  I wrapped the smooth leather reins around Eden’s cream forearms, taking my time to weave the leather between her elbows, making sure it was snug to her skin but not near enough to bite. Not now anyway. After the baby was born was a whole other ball game, though. Eden had taken a liking to my rough touch from the beginning, and it was killing me a little not to give her what I knew she loved. What she craved.

  “Tighter,” she pleaded, a soft sigh on her lips.

  “Behave, or I’ll cover your mouth too.”

  Her eyes fluttered closed in instant submission. She had it running through her blood. She was a hell-raiser at every single other moment in her life, but with me, the barriers came down and she came alive.

  “I know exactly how tight you can handle right now.” My palms stretched to her round stomach, stretched with my baby

  A son.

  My boy.

  I was one blessed motherfucker.

  “Please, just a little tighter, cowboy?”

  My cock pounded with her words as I finished the knot behind her arms. Strung up and pretty for me, tits out and sweet little nipples begging for my tongue. “Makes my dick leak when you talk like that, Tiger.”

  Her neck arched back, eyes hooded and sexier than hell.

  “These tits are so big and gorgeous. Fuck, seeing you walk around in those strappy little dresses is a sin, Eden.” I tugged at both of the straps of her dress, ripping the thin fabric and tossing it on the floor at our feet. “You need punishin’?”

  A flirty little grin passed her lips before she purred, “Yes, Mr. Campbell.”

  I rubbed my palm over my dick, pulling the zipper to finally free it. “That’s what I like to hear, Mrs. Campbell.”

  Hearing my name attached to her still made my chest ache.

  The day Eden married me had been the happiest of my life.

  We’d had a quick ceremony right here in front of a small group of friends, a party after, and even after Eden had insisted she didn't want a honeymoon, I’d surprised her with a trip to Hawaii anyway. I’d only been able to get away from the ranch for a week, but that was enough to get my fill of her before we headed back to real life.

  “Look how hard these pretty pink nipples are, begging for my attention. Maybe I should spray my come across them, rub it in good and mark my property.”

  She nodded softly, lips parting as soft gasps of desperation puffed out of her lips.

  “Say please,” I ordered, grabbing a second set of reins off the floor and binding her beautiful, full tits together, beads of milky sweetness leaking from the tiny peaks as she groaned, hips arching against my cock.

  “Pleeease.” The word was hoarse.

  I growled, working quickly as my cock left a wet spot on her naked skin. “I can’t fucking wait to get inside you.”

  I slipped the end of the leather under itself and took my cock in hand, lining it up with her soaked pussy. I ran my shaft up her delicate length, coating myself in her juices before pushing inside her in one soft thrust.

  She cried, arching against me, nipples coming into contact with my lips. I latched on, sucking and thrusting, tasting the sweet cream that beaded from her tits. “You taste like fucking heaven. How does it feel to get off to my mouth on your tits, sucking every last drop of milk out of these gorgeous nipples?”

  She hummed, “Oh my God, so good, Nash. So good, so, so, good.”

  I growled, sucking harder and sliding my hand between her thighs. “Ride my hand, Tiger. Ride it rough. I want to see how hot my mouth on your tits makes you.”

  She sang a string of curses as her legs began a slow shake, tightening around my hips as I doubled my rhythm, my own orgasm hovering just at the edge and threatening to spiral out of me at any fucking moment.

  “Come, Eden. Coat my dick.” Her lips clamped down as I staccatoed my thrusts to punctuate my words. She gasped, pussy clamping down in waves around my cock before she came in a violent rush. She cried out, her skin turning a pretty shade of just-fucked pink, before her body softened, eyes finally sliding open.

/>   “Not done with you yet,” I whispered at her earlobe, catching it between my teeth as I yanked my cock from her body and fisted up the shaft. I tugged quickly, using her arousal as lube, before the orgasm I’d been barely reining in crashed over me. I sprayed seed across her full, trussed-up tits, white come splattering the rosy shade of her nipples and driving on my orgasm. I came harder than I ever had, and Eden always made me come. Hard.

  “My come, right where it belongs,” I whispered, spreading my seed all over the creamy skin.

  She sucked in soft breaths, a smile dancing across her lips as she turned her head to catch my lips. “I love you.”

  “Mmm.” I kissed her soft and slow, my hands working behind her to untie the leather. With her hands free, she shoved her fingers into my hair and kissed me harder, locking her ankles around my waist and grinding her pussy against my still rock-solid cock. “Again?”

  “Please?”

  “Jesus, Tiger,” I murmured, carrying her to the couch along one wall. I laid her down softly, loosening the leather that strung up her tits and discarding it on the floor before turning back to her lips. “Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

  A soft smile played across her lips. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.”

  “You aren’t used to it yet?” I smiled, sliding her against my body, covering her as much as I could because having her tucked against me felt like exactly where she belonged. I knew she was safe, taken care of, and sure as hell loved.

  “Eden!” A door slammed somewhere on the other side of the barn.

  Colt.

  Eden and I both groaned.

  “You locked the doors, right?”

  “Always,” I whispered. “Three, two, one…”

  “Nash! You in there?”

  “Go away!” Nash threw his boot at the door.

  Colt pounded. “Come on. Found a guy willing to sell you some—”

  “Colt, for the love of fuck, go away.”

  “It’s a great price. We can’t sit on this—”

  “Colt!” Eden called, a mischievous grin pulling at her lips.