“Gray, I—” her words die on her tongue as I pull back to the tip, her walls pulsing around me, insistent on keeping me inside her before I intentionally slide forward.
My hands grip hers, placing them above her head, our fingers twining as we move in a tantric beat. The glacial undulations of our bodies guiding us. Today, we’re not just two strangers who slept together and became more. Today we chose each other and I can’t fucking wait to call River my wife.
“You are my everything,” I whisper.
“And you’re mine.” Swollen lips find mine, hips rolling at a quicker beat. Our mutual orgasms winding through us the longer we move together.
“Forever.”
“Yes. Forever,” she agrees, before a gut-wrenching moan leaves as her release rips free.
I’m moments behind her, rolling to the side and dragging her with me. Rather than pulling free of her, I hike her leg over mine, blindly reaching for the bag I brought. I find it, tearing the spare blanket free before I drape it over us.
It’s too hot for the throw, but I’m not ready to break this connection. Not ready to leave the moment my life became as complete as it’s ever been.
And for once, I wish my mother and father were here to see it. I wish her family were different and would applaud the happiness she’s found without a critique of how she should have gone about it differently.
River won’t be ready to shout this from the rooftops the way I am. Yet another reason I’m not ready to leave this moment just yet. Here in our bubble with my cock still inside my woman, we’re in bliss.
When we return home, that excitement might fade.
She’s warned me this wouldn’t be easy, but I’m up for the challenge.
Chapter 36
Grayson
It’sbeentwoweekssince I proposed. Behind closed doors, we’re perfect. That bubble we found the day I asked River to legally be mine holding strong. But the moment we step outside our front door, it pops.
I’ve noticed River wears her ring on a long chain. She can hide it beneath her clothes when we’re out in public that way. A way to avoid the probing questions and comments that automatically toss her walls high. Walls I’ve worked my ass off to demolish.
It’s been a fight to keep my mouth shut, accepting the trade-off of her constant touch in public. PDA was never her thing, but now it’s like she needs my hands on her body to function.
A win is a win.
We knew this would be a process. My patience would need to remain intact to push through it. A virtue that’s only improved with that woman at my side.
It’s my first official day back at the ranch. I’ve done some minor work here and there, but not in a full capacity. Neither Tate nor River would allow it until the doctor gave me a clean bill of health.
With that finally behind me and a fiancé at home, I feel like a new life is just beginning.
It’s funny, after the first near-death accident, I didn’t feel the same way. It didn’t feel like I got another chance to make better choices. All I could think about was busting my ass to get back to where I was so I could pick up exactly where I left off. Though that wasn’t the path, this is a better one.
“Mornin’ Gray,” one of the ranch hands salutes me with his hat.
“Morning.”
“Glad to have you back.”
“Feels good to be back,” I flash him a smile. He jerks wildly as if I’ve terrified him.
My carefree smile wasn’t something I gave away so freely before. Sure, when we were messing around and cracking jokes, they may have seen it, but even this feels different. It’s the one River gets every day. The type that brings out those crinkles at the corners of my eyes and the laugh lines around my mouth. Valleys River insists on tracing as we lie on the couch, cuddled up under the blankets.
“This beard doesn’t hide your happiness when you let it show,”she tells me, picking at the coarse strands.
Heading up to the offices, I stop at Tate’s, rapping lightly on his open door. “Hey,” he greets me plainly, looking up from a stack of paperwork.
“Hey. Just letting you know I’m here. I’ll get things organized out there.”
