Page 88 of Promised to the Cowboy

She comes hard on my tongue, her whole body shaking. I stay with her through every wave, gentling my licks until she’s whimpering and oversensitive.

By the time I kiss my way up her body, I’m already hard again. I should be spent after the orgasm she gave me, but this is Evie. The woman I love. The woman who almost left me tonight. Damn right, my body is ready for her again.

I settle between her thighs and look into her eyes as I push inside her in one smooth, deep thrust. We both moan loudly as I sink to the hilt—her tight, fluttering heat gripping me like a fist.

I start moving immediately—long, urgent, powerful strokes that rock the bed. Sweat beads on our skin, making us slide together deliciously. Bracing one arm beside her head, I cradle her belly protectively with the other, thumb stroking the firm, warm curve as I thrust harder.

“You’re mine,” I growl against her neck. “This heart. Don’t you ever try to take it away from me again.”

“Yes—yours,” she sobs, legs tightening around my waist, heels digging into my ass. “I’m yours, Gabriel. All of me.”

“And I’m yours,” I say,my voice hoarse. “God, Evie. Always.”

I angle my hips to hit that perfect spot with every thrust, grinding against her swollen clit. Her nails rake down my back, leaving burning trails that only heighten my pleasure. Her breasts press soft and full against my chest, nipples hard points rubbing with every movement.

She tightens around me suddenly. “Gabe, I’m?—”

“Give it to me, darlin’.”

Evie comes with a sharp, broken cry, pulling me over the edge right behind her. I bury myself as deep as possible and come hard, groaning her name. The pleasure is so intense that my arms shake as I hold myself over her, hips still rocking gently through the aftershocks.

Afterward, we stay joined for a long moment, breathing each other in. Eventually, I ease away and return with a warm, damp cloth. I clean her gently, stroking softly between her thighs.

Evie sighs contentedly, watching me with heavy-lidded, loving eyes, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my forearm.

When I’m done, I toss the cloth aside and pull her into my arms, spooning her from behind. My chest presses to her back, skin hot and damp. I wrap one arm around her, hand splayed wide and protective over the warm swell of her belly and bury my face in the curve of her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair and skin.

“Don’t ever try to leave me again,” I whisper, pressing soft kisses along her shoulder.

She threads her fingers through mine where they rest on her stomach. “I won’t. I’m staying.”

We lie tangled together in the quiet dark, hearts slowing, bodies warm and sated. A few minutes later, I feel it—a strong flutter against my palm, then a distinct kick. Evie laughs softly, the sound full of wonder and happy tears.

“She’s saying she’s staying too,” she whispers.

I smile against her shoulder and hold them both even closer, my heart finally at peace.

“Good,” I murmur, my voice rough with emotion. “Because I’m never letting either of you go.”

Chapter 22

Gabriel

Two days later, I’m down at the old barn before sunrise with Evie and Falcon.

Evie stands inside the empty corner stall with her hands on her hips, turning slowly as she studies the walls.

The rescue mare—who Evie has now decided is called Chance—watches from the aisle behind her.

The mare still won’t come all the way into the stall. She has her front hooves across the threshold and her hind feet planted firmly outside, neck stretched long as if she wants to inspect the place without committing herself to it.

The stall hasn’t held a horse in years. It gets the morning light. Warm in winter, shaded by noon in summer. Close enough to the house that Evie could hear if a frightened mare started kicking up trouble in the night.

It would make a good rehabilitation stall. That’s what I tell myself I’m thinking about.

Not the small bedroom across from ours. Not whether the old dresser in the attic can be sanded down and painted. Not whether a crib should go beneath the window or against the inside wall, where the morning sun won’t fall directly across it.

“Take that partition out,” Evie says, pulling me from my daydreams. She points at the wall separating the stall from the empty one beside it.