Chapter 25

Ledger

Posey positions her pussy just over my mouth, and I stick out my tongue to greet her. I use my hands to rock her hips so she rides my face. I grip her ass, my mouth hungry for her.

She rocks along me, her body picking up speed as she finds her rhythm. I keep guiding her, moving her along with me as she grows closer and closer to her release.

God, I love this woman.

"I'm so close, Ledger," she calls out, and the bed rocks, smacking up against the wall as she rides my fucking face. "Oh, I'm coming," she calls out, and I pride at the fact that I've done this for her.

That she's mine now, and I'm never letting her go.

After we clean ourselves up and grab some fishing gear and more clothing from a local shop, I pull Roman's SUV into a spot near May Lake. We travel down a little beaten path that nobody knows about, surrounded by towering trees and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. The air is crisp and fresh, filled with the scent of pine and earth. We hold hands as if we've got nothing to care about in the world.

Roman"s been keeping me updated, and so far, Bane's been quiet. I'm not really sure if that's a good or bad thing, but either way, I push thoughts of Bane and the fiasco of the wedding out of my mind and focus on today, on the present moment.

I"ve got Posey with me, and she's safe. The sunlight filters through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground as we walk. Birds chirp in the distance, and the serene beauty of the lake comes into view. The calm water reflects the clear blue sky, creating a perfect backdrop for this stolen moment of peace.

"You ready to show me how it's done?" I ask Posey, holding up a fishing pole.

She lets out a tiny gasp. "This place is beautiful."

I glance around, taking in my surroundings. "Not many people know about this place. Most tourists gravitate toward the park on the other side of the lake. Roman and I use to come here as kids."

"I can picture you two causing a lot of trouble."

I blush. "Maybe we caused some, but we weren't too bad."

Posey steps up closer to me. "I know you're a good man. I'm happy I know you."

I set the fishing supplies down and wrap my arms around her, bringing her closer to me. "Why do you sound like you're never going to see me again?"

She sighs heavily. "I'm just hoping everything works out."

I bend at the knees, so I'm on eye level with her. I stare into her eyes. "It will. You have to visualize the perfect life we're going to have together."

This gets her to smile wide. "Well, so far it's pretty perfect. I can't think of anything better I'd rather do than fish with you right now."

I squeeze her ass. "I can think of a few things."

She laughs, pushing at my chest as I tug her closer to me. "You're incorrigible."

I let go of her as we start to set up. She shows me how to bait a hook with the worms we bought from a local bait shop. Her hands move skillfully, and I can"t help but admire her ease and confidence. For the next few hours, we sit together under the bright yellow sun, casting our hooks and waiting for a fish to bite. The tranquil sound of the water lapping against the shore and the occasional rustle of the trees make the time feel almost magical. She catches something small, and we gently remove the hook from its mouth before throwing it back into the lake.

"Is this how it was?" I ask her, curious about her past.

"Fishing with my father?" she replies, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.

I nod. "Yeah."

She grins, the sunlight dancing off her kissable skin, her hair swaying slightly in the breeze. "It's something I want for my future. I want to be able to teach my kids to fish. I want to spend that special time with them. It goes by so quickly."

"So, you want kids?" I ask her, feeling a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

She gazes at me, her eyes searching mine. "I do. Do you?" There"s a touch of worry in her eyes as she waits for my answer.

"I want to make you happy. Forever."

"That doesn't really answer my question." She laughs lightly, her voice like music to my ears.

"Greer's pregnant, and Dev and Chloe just had a baby. It's crazy that they're moving on with their lives, and I'm here. I never thought I'd be somebody who had a woman by my side. And I never even thought twice about having kids, but now that I've got you, yes, I can see me having kids."

"I love you," she says slowly, savoring each word.

I lean into her, holding the pole with one hand and wrapping the other arm around her shoulders. "I love you, Posey."

We sit there, wrapped in each other's arms, feeling the warmth of the sun and the promise of a future filled with love and shared dreams.

"Don't worry," I say, tugging her hand as we step into the Atta Boy Brewery and Restaurant. "You look great."

Posey's all dolled up in a baby-blue sundress with a light white cardigan draped over her shoulders. The color complements her eyes, making them sparkle even more.

"I feel like everyone is staring at us," she whispers, glancing around nervously.

"They're only staring because of how beautiful you are," I reassure her, giving her hand a comforting squeeze.

After fishing, we went back to the BB and made love a few more times, savoring each other before getting dressed and heading out for food. Now, with a pleasant tiredness in our limbs and a contentment in our hearts, we're ready for a hearty meal.

The rustic charm of the brewery welcomes us with warm wooden accents and the inviting scent of freshly brewed beer. Soft, ambient lighting casts a cozy glimmer over the patrons, who are engaged in lively conversations and laughter.

"I've heard great things about this place," I tell her as we find a table near the large windows, which offer a view of the picturesque town outside. The owners of Atta Boy Brewery are friends of mine, and I've always wanted to try out their menu.

The friendly waiter arrives, and we order a couple of their craft beers along with a selection of their most popular dishes. As we wait, I take in the details of the restaurant—the exposed brick walls, the collection of vintage beer bottles displayed on shelves, and the soft hum of live acoustic music in the background.

"Ledger Thorne," Paxton Atwood says, stepping up to our table and holding out his hand.

I shake it firmly. "Paxton, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Posey." I know Posey and I haven't labeled exactly what we are to one another yet, but she's lucky I don't introduce her as my wife. Because that's what she'll be as soon as this mess is cleared up and we get ourselves settled back in Saint Pierce.

Posey's all smiles, shaking Paxton's hand as he tells her a little bit about the brewery. "It's so great here," she says. "I love this Kunt Kicker IPA I'm drinking."

Paxton laughs. "That's one of our best beers. Although my girlfriend, Hartford, would fight you on it. She loves the Puppy Politics Pilsner."

Posey laughs lightly. "I'll have to try that one next."

I lean back in my seat, eyes wide. "So, you finally got off your ass and asked her to be your girlfriend?"

Paxton's had a thing for Hartford for as long as I've known him. He's our beer distributor for the club, and every time he comes in for an order, he always talks about her. They grew up together, been best friends as long as they've known one another, and now they're happily together. Sort of reminds me of Greer and Roman.

Paxton's genuinely happy as he nods. "She's the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm going to ask her to marry me soon."

I catch Posey's attention, our eyes locking. "I know exactly what you mean," I say, and Posey blushes bright pink. "I plan on doing the same thing." I reach across the table and take her hand in mine.

Paxton raps his knuckles along the table. "I'm glad you both came in. Let me take care of your bill, anything you want on us."

"You don't have to do that, my friend."

Paxton shakes his head. "Nope. It's seriously on me. You helped me out more than you'll ever know by giving Hartford and me those passes to your club."

I smile. "I'm glad it all worked out."

Paxton agrees. "It definitely did. Enjoy your time here," he says, focusing on Posey. "It was great to meet you."

She nods. "Likewise."

As Paxton walks away, I turn back to Posey. The soft light of the brewery casts a warm glow on her face, and I can"t help but feel grateful for this moment. The atmosphere around us buzzes with laughter and clinking glasses, but all I can focus on is the woman sitting across from me. The future feels promising, filled with endless possibilities and the shared dreams we talked about by the lake.