"Mm," I moan."I love you too."
"Did you finish your book?"
"Yeah."I smile up at him."It's about you."They're always about him.Pieces of him seep into every single one, parts of him painted across the pages as if to immortalize the man he is.It's never intentional, but I find him there anyway.His wicked smile.The devilish things he says to me.The strength of his embrace.The way he settles me.Mostly though, it's the way he loves me.So soundly, so completely that it touches every moment of my life.My love for him spills out, hidden carefully in the pages of every story.I hope if someone picks up one of my books a hundred years from now, they see it and wonder about the man who inspired it.
"It damn well better be about me," he growls, eyes narrowed.
"Caveman."
"Cowboy," he corrects.
I laugh quietly, reaching up to run my hand through his hair.It's shot through with gray now, but he's still the sexiest damn cowboy I've ever met in my life.The man ages like whiskey, growing better by the year.
"You want another baby, Cassia?"
"Yes," I whisper.
"Why didn't you say anything?"he asks, watching me again.Always, he's watching me.
"I was worried you'd tell me no."
"Pretty baby," he sighs, nuzzling his nose against mine as his hand slides down my hip."Don't you know?I'll never tell you no."His lips meet mine, his devotion searing me."Not ever."
"Then breed me, cowboy," I demand, hooking my leg around his hip."Give me one more."
"Yes, ma'am," he breathes, already rocking into me again."Whatever you want."
He means it.I know he does.This crazy man doesn't just love me, he worships me.I see it every time he looks at me, feel it every time he touches me.He's rough and wild and every little piece of him is mine.If that's not a hero worth writing, I don't know what it is.
Bonus Epilogue
CORD
Seven Years Later
"What are you doing?"
"Ahhh!"Cassia shouts, slamming the lid of her laptop closed.She jumps so high her ass actually rises out of her chair."Gosh dang it, Cord!Stop doing that!I'm too busy to have a heart attack.I have books to write and cows to play with and babies to raise and things to do!"She glares at me with her hands clutched over her heart.
She has always been and will always be a terrible liar.My pretty baby just isn't good at it.Oh, she still tries to pull the wool over my eyes.But she's as bad at it now as she was seven years ago.
"Stick to writing, pretty baby," I growl, stomping across her office toward her."Because you're a shit liar."
She gasps in outrage."You take that back right now, Cord Decker!"
"Nope."I plant myself beside her and lean down, still covered in dust and hay.I smell like the outdoors—sweat and warm earth baked into my skin.Cassia can't get enough of me when I've been working outside, though.My wife has a thing for cowboys.Or this cowboy, anyway.She's not allowed to have a thing for anyone who isn't me, not if she doesn't want my handprint on that perfect, round ass."Open the laptop, princess.Now."
"Can't.It's 5:23.My workday is over.I have to go cook," she lies."And, um, I think the baby is crying.Yep.That's definitely the baby."She pitches her voice low and fake cries, trying to maneuver her chair around me at the same time.
Goddamn, I love her crazy ass.The baby is out cold in the nursery down the hall.I know because I peeked in on her on my way in here.
"Did you just try to mimic the baby crying?"I ask, fighting a grin.
"What?No.You're hearing things.You should probably get your ears checked."She scrunches up her face at me in what I assume is supposed to be concern."I bet cowboying knocked something loose in there."Her eyes grow wide."Or it's old age."
Old age, my ass.As soon as she shows me what's on the laptop, I'll show her exactly how much stamina this old man still has.
"Open the laptop, pretty baby," I growl, planting my hands on the desk on either side of the chair to block her in.I was only mildly curious about what my wife didn't want me to see.Now, there's no fucking way we're leaving this room without her showing me whatever she's trying to hide.
