Page 31 of Chains and Vows

"I hope we have a daughter," I say, the words comin' out before I can catch them. I'm thinkin' about Marigold. How she's related to both of us. And what that means.

Somethin' shifts in this moment.

The Ashby Ranch stops feelin' like enemy territory.

It stops feelin' like a place I visit.

That horse in the barn might be my horse.

This wagon might belong to my daughter someday.

I belong at that dinner table. Even Wyatt's comin' around. And in a few weeks, Mercy'll be home for Thanksgiving, and we'll eat dinner here. Together. Maybe even Destiny and the baby will join us.

"This feels like a dream," I tell her, my voice rougher than I meant it to be.

Savannah moves toward me, her eyes never leavin' mine. She reaches for my coat, slides it off my shoulders. Her fingers find the hem of my shirt and pull it up and over my head. Then her hands are tracin' my tattoos, the demons inked across my chest and arms.

"You can't have him," she whispers to the demons, not to me. "He belongs to me."

I reach for her, my hands wantin' more. But she backs away with a smile that's half angel, half somethin' else entirely.

Savannah keeps her eyes locked on mine as her fingers start workin' the buttons of her dress, one by one, unhurried. Like we got all the time in the world. Like no one's gonna come lookin' for us.

I watch her, wonderin' what the hell I ever did to get a woman like Savannah Ashby. Because it feels like she was delivered, ya know? Right to my secret silo when she was just a girl. Like a gift from somewhere I don't deserve to know about.

Her dress slides down over her hips and pools at her feet. She steps out of it wearin' nothin' but matchin’ lace. The curves of her, the dips and valleys, all of it familiar now but still catchin' me by surprise every single time.

She reaches back, unhooks her bra with one hand, lets it fall. Then her thumbs hook into her panties, slidin' them down slow until she's standin' there bare as the day she was born.

A moment later, she's stretchin' out on the bed, her body a long line of invitation.

I unbuckle my belt, the metal clink loud in the quiet. Pop the button on my jeans. Kick off my boots. Strip down until I'm standin' there just as naked as she is, lettin' her look at me, scars and all.

We stare at each other, not hungry, just happy.

I crawl into bed with her, the chill of the October night suddenly catching up. We slide under the comforter, and Savannah climbs on top of me, straddlin' my hips, and the weight of her settles over my cock, just pressin' it between us.

Her hands slide up my chest, tracin' the demons tattooed across my skin, but then her fingers curl around my cock. Her grip is perfect, not too tight, not too loose, and she starts strokin' me slow, like she's got all night to bring me to the edge and keep me there.

I reach up, cup her breast, roll her nipple between my fingers until her breath catches. Then my hand slides down her stomach and between her legs, findin' her already wet. Just one finger at first, slippin' into her heat, explorin' her patiently.

"Fuck," I groan, feelin' her clench around my finger. "You're so goddamn perfect, Savannah. Every time. Every single time."

Her rhythm falters as I start workin' her clit with my thumb, slow circles, pressin' just right, readin' the way her body answers.

Her eyes flutter closed, her mouth openin' just enough to let out this little sound that makes me throb against her palm.

"Don't stop," I whisper, addin' a second finger, feelin' the way she grips me like she's holdin' on for her life. "Keep strokin' me, baby. Just like that."

Savannah leans down, her hair fallin' around us like a curtain, shuttin' out the whole goddamn world. Her mouth finds mine. She kisses me deep and slow while our hands work each other.

I slide my fingers deeper inside her, makin’ her whole body shudder. She moans into my mouth as her hand tightens around my cock, pumpin' faster now.

We're findin' a rhythm together, her hips rockin' against my hand, my hips pushin' up into her grip.

And I don't want it to end.

I don't want anything past this moment.