Page 43 of Flint

She tries to deepen the kiss, and I pull back instinctively. She’s been through a hell of a lot. There will be plenty of time for moments like this on another day. One where she hasn’t just been through a major life event.

She whimpers. “I need…I almost lost you today…”

As soon as understanding dawns, I know what she’s asking for.

“Slowly,” I grunt out the word, not sure which one of us I’m talking to.

I reach for the gift shop T-shirt that Mira bought her. It’s what we both ended up in, hospital gift shop finds from friends that cared enough to dress us. When she’s naked, I take her into the bathroom, and the two of us squeeze into the tub together. I wash her slowly, my hands roaming all over her, appreciating and worshipping every inch of her skin. You take the little things for granted until days like today. You think you’ll always have your woman by your side then something reminds you that nothing is promised but this moment.

She returns my motions, careful to keep from pressing into bruises and cuts that the water gave me. I don’t remember any of them. I only remember knowing that she was alive. It was that knowledge that gave me strength to keep fighting, keep swimming until Kane could get to me. I still don’t know how he dragged both of us out. I’ll never know, but I’ll thank God every day for that miracle.

She calls my name softly, and I turn off the hot water. I wrap a towel around her and scoop her into my arms, carrying her to bed. She makes a soft sigh of contentment when I stretch over her aligning our bodies. She’s already wet from touching each other in the shower, the way I kept fondling her and teasing her.

I position my cock at her entrance and stare deep into her gaze. “I love you,” I tell her as I push the head inside feeling her heat suck me deeper.

“I love you, cowboy,” she whispers back then she’s kissing me, her tongue mimicking exactly what my cock is doing to her body, invading me everywhere. I take it slow because right now, we just need to be touching each other, holding each other.

When we’ve both come twice, I pull her close and she puts her head on my chest. “I want to marry you.”

I squeeze her hand with the ring on it. “It's a good thing I asked then.”

“I want to marry you as soon as possible. I don't want to wait.”

I call her name softly. “We don't have to make any decisions tonight.”

She shakes her head. “You don't understand. All those weeks ago at the pool, you claimed me. Now this is me claiming you. I want to marry you tomorrow in front of all of our friends and family.”

I’m quiet, wondering how a cowboy gets as lucky as I have.

She adds, “Unless that's too soon.”

I stroke her hair, contentment flowing through me. “Tomorrow can't come fast enough.”

Chapter 20

Ronnie

The toy buzzer makes another loud farting sound, and I turn to glare at Kane. The boys break into giggles because at five years old, fart noises are still the height of entertainment.

He shrugs, unrepentant. “I wanted something to keep them entertained while you guys got ready.”

When I woke up this morning, I discovered that Kane bought my boys a book titled 101 Fart Jokes which also came with a special buzzer that when pressed makes farting sounds. If this man hadn't just pulled my soon-to-be husband out of raging water twenty-four hours ago, I would kill him.

“Hey, they're happy right now,” Flint says and reaches over adjusting my veil.

His living room, well, I guess it's our living room now, has turned into wedding central. We're getting married outside in just a few minutes. When Flint put out the word that we wanted to get married today, everyone dropped what they were doing to show up and help us.

Mallory from Sew Cute bought a collection of wedding dresses to the ranch for me to try on. Austin from Bloom Anywhere handled the bouquets. Camden showed up with the marriage certificate that he sweet-talked someone at county hall into issuing for us this morning.

It amazes me to think that after years of my grandma and I struggling just to survive, we're now surrounded by a big, warm community that cares for us and wants to make our day special.

“What are you doing? You’re going to ruin that makeup,” Mira fusses.

I blink and take a deep breath, forcing myself not to cry. I’ve been extra emotional today, and Flint has taken every tear in stride.

He gives me his patient, steady smile. “You look beautiful.”

Another fart sound fills the room, and Kane laughs right along with the boys.