4. CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

WESTIN

She's on her back, one knee cocked, when I return from the bathroom. I use a warm washcloth to wipe her thighs. Gently, I part them to reveal her used pussy. Flushed pink, dripping with my cum. Leaning in, I press a kiss to her clit. She wriggles, smiling.

"How'd I get such a pretty wife?" I ask hoarsely.

She smiles, her nose scrunching. "You don't want to hear my answer for that."

I wipe her clean and go to turn the shower on. She rolls to her side, watching me through the doorway.

"Why's that?" I ask.

"I just keep you around for your dick," she teases.

"Really? What about my tongue?"

She pushes herself upright and swings her legs off the bed. Her hair is all tangled from being fucked through the mattress.

"Your tongue's alright," she says, sending me a look over her shoulder. Clearly I didn't spank all the brat out of her earlier.

She stands, flashing her curvy ass decorated with pink stripes from my belt. I cock my head, admiring my handiwork.

"I can work you over in the shower, darling, but you're gonna wish I hadn't," I say.

She walks past me and I give her a little slap across the back of her thigh, avoiding the sensitive marks. There's a hitch in her step that fills me up with pride. It always does—I like looking at her body when I'm done with it, all freshly fucked and pretty like a work of art in pink.

"Get in the shower," I say, pulling the curtain aside.

She purses her lips and steps in. I join her, pressing my front against her back. I love the feeling of her warmth against me while the water flows over my head.

My arms go around her and she rests her chin on them. My cock, which was satiated a moment ago, rises slowly. Notching beneath the curve of her ass.

"You want to go again?" I ask.

She rubs back on my dick. "No, I'm good."

"Don't torture me, darling," I murmur, nuzzling my face into her wet hair.

Her soft form wiggles in my grip as she turns to look up at me. Big brown eyes, ones I fell in love with all those years ago, fix on mine.

"That's rich, coming from the man who just came twice," she whispers.

I squeeze her ass. "You're pretty sassy tonight."

"You like it," she says. "At least, you did when you met me."

"I still do, darling."

She tilts her head back, offering her mouth. I cradle her head and kiss her, slowly and thoroughly. I might be hard, but I forget all about getting laid again. In this moment, I just want to taste my wife and feel her closeness.

Spring is always busy, at both ranches. Add two children into that and we have trouble finding time for ourselves. The winter is better, but the kids are in the house more often. Moments like these are for savoring, like fine whiskey.

She lays her cheek on my chest. Fingers brushing down my stomach. In the interim between our wedding and now, I've acquired a sprinkling of gray hairs. Those have extended here and there down my chest and stomach. She says she likes them and I think she means it.

Sometimes she sits on my lap and touches the silver by my ears. Then she gets a little smile on her face, and more often than not, I get some.

It's getting late. I soap her down just to feel her curves all over again. She does the same, taking her time running her fingers over my body. When we're dried off and in bed, I pull her back against my chest and kiss the back of her neck.

"Goodnight, darling," I say.

She opens a sleepy eye. "Goodnight, sir."

I thought I'd stay up just to watch her while she sleeps, but I'm out in seconds. When I finally crack my eyes open, the sun is creeping over the horizon. Through the window, the back yard is frosty and glowing gold. Cold air fights its way in the cracks around the windowpane.

Slowly, I roll over to find her side empty. I sit up, blinking and rubbing my eyes. The door to our bedroom creaks open and Diane slips in. She's breathtaking, still in that blue slip that hugs her curves and brushes the middle of her thighs. In each hand, she has a steaming earthenware mug.

"I think I died and went to heaven," I say hoarsely.

Her lips curve. She hands me a mug and I set it on the bedside table.

"Come sit," I say, patting my leg once.

She sets her mug down and straddles me, knees on either side of my waist. Her hair is messy, the prettiest golden tangle down her back. I love how she looks, in the morning, a little makeup under her still sleepy eyes. I cup her chin, turning her head, and kiss the dip below her ear.

Right away, my dick is rock hard under the covers. She feels it and pink tinges her cheeks.

I love that I can still make her blush.

"Do you need to take care of that so we can cuddle up and have coffee?" she asks coyly.

I look down. "Wouldn't hurt."

Looking up at me through her lashes, she backs up until she's straddling my legs. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips. Arousal pours through me like hot water and concentrates right where I need her touch most.

She dips her head and my jaw goes tight as her mouth wraps around my cock. I slide my hand over the nape of her neck and gather up her hair, holding out of the way. My other palm slips around to cup her throat. So I can feel when she swallows.

Never in my life prior to Diane did I think I would end up with someone like her. She's a one in a million. I'm in awe of every part of her—from her sass, to her little flashes of moodiness, to how willing she is to do whatever dirty thing I ask.

Her head bobs. I'm right on the edge, still restless from not getting round three last night. All it takes is for her to drag her tongue up my length and curl it while she sucks. I come, emptying everything I have into her mouth. She moans, vibrating my cock as I pump. Then her throat bobs and she lifts her head, primly wiping her mouth with two fingers.

"Fuck," I say, breathing hard.

She sidles up until she's in my lap again and reaches for her coffee. "Don't forget I need you to run into town and get more chicken feed this morning."

I laugh, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Was that my motivation?"

"Like you would ever tell me no," she says.

"That's true," I say. "Can't say no to those big brown eyes, darling."

She's blushing again, turning to look out the window. I pick up my coffee and have a sip. She makes it in a percolator and it's always good and strong. Her's is swirled with thick, sweetened cream, mine is plain black.

"I was thinking…about the selling season," she says.

"Yeah? What about it?"

"You go to the city so you can make sales for the fall," she says. "Maybe you and me could go this time."

My brows rise. "You want to go into the city?"

She shrugs. "Maybe, I need to think about it more. But I've only been three times in my entire life."

"You getting antsy, darling?"

She shrugs. "Not really, but it might give us some time alone. Maybe the kids can go up and stay at Sovereign Mountain."

"As long as somebody keeps an eye on them," I say. "I don't trust teenagers for shit."

She narrows her eyes, studying me. "Not everyone shows up and compromises women far too young for them the second time they meet."

So the button pushing hasn't ended. I give her ass a light slap, not hard enough to make her spill her coffee, but enough she shivers. My touch lingers on her hip, enjoying the warmth of her bare skin. I can tell my face is sobering because she gets a crease by her right brow. Her lips purse.

"What?" she asks.

I shake my head. "You're not getting tired of our life here, right?"

She leans in and kisses my forehead. It's the sweetest little touch.

"No, this is all I've ever wanted," she says. "You gave me my farm and my babies. And you've given me anything else I ask for, including all of this." She gestures over my body.

"I can't say no to you, darling," I say, even though I've said it a hundred times before. It's the truth.

From the moment we met, all I wanted to do was give to her. It's an inexorable pull. I pour into her cup and she pours selflessly back into mine.

I clear my throat and draw her closer, taking the mugs and setting them aside. Her warm body melts against my chest. Her eyes are endless pools, so close.

"All I want is to see you happy," I whisper.

She smiles, flashing white teeth. "I am so happy, Westin."

I kiss her and shift to my side, pulling her up against me. Through the window, we watch the sun rise and melt the frost slowly. Our mugs are empty when I finally peel myself out of our bed, get dressed, and kiss her goodbye before heading out to do chores.

I go into town to get feed for Diane's chickens before the kids get back at noon. The air is cool with a promise of a hot afternoon. I swing out of the truck and walk across the street to the diner at the corner. The door is propped open and it smells like coffee and sweet cream.

Inside is Sovereign, standing with Jensen Childress at his side. They're talking, arms crossed.

I walk right past them, stopping long enough to punch Jensen in the side, and go get my cup of black coffee. He sidesteps and swipes back. Sighing, Sovereign sinks down at a booth, stretching his legs out.

I join them, coffee in hand. "Why are you in town this early?"

"I got errands," says Jensen. "Whatever my wife wants on this list I got here somewhere." He pats his back pocket, frowns, and checks the rest of his pockets until he comes up with a folded envelope. "There we go."

I sit down opposite Sovereign. "You want some coffee?"

Jensen shakes his head. "I gotta fuck off, but I'll see y'all later."

He heads out the door and I watch him cross the street to his truck on the opposite curb. The waitress appears at my elbow and Sovereign and I get breakfast. We sit in silence for a while. The diner is filling up with locals. Sovereign shakes a few hands and I nod when someone waves at me.

"Small world," I say.

"Yeah," Sovereign says. "Can say that again."

"Speaking of the world being small," I say. "I don't know how I feel about your boy coming around asking about my girl."

Sovereign cracks his neck. The waitress sets our food down.

"How's that?" he says. "Cash plays it straight."

"Yeah, but does he play it straight like you?" I say. "Or like an actual gentleman?"

Sovereign fixes me with a pale stare over the steam rising from his coffee. "I never act up."

"Not anymore, but you did way back," I say. "And don't forget how you got Keira."

His brow arches. "At least she's not running around with one of Deacon's boys. He's got me beat when it comes to his methods of acquiring women."

"That's beside the point," I say. "You talk to him."

Sovereign sets his mug down carefully, swiveling it. "And say what? He can't crush on girls? He's a teenager. You were wild when you were his age."

"Incorrect," I say.

"Correct." His jaw works. "Eat your fuckin' food."

He has a point, and the food is getting cold. We eat in companionable silence and he goes with me to the feed store to load up the bags. We drop in at the general store because Keira wants a bolt of fabric for curtains. Sovereign leans on the counter and I go to get a handful of Diane's favorite candies.

We part ways. I drive back to Carter Farms, thinking back to when I left Sovereign Mountain. Part of me was afraid things would change more than I'd like. But having our ranches side-by-side quelled that fear. We share a property line, there's a gate in our fence that our children ride their horses through whenever they like.

No, everything is perfect now. We each have our homes, our families, but we're not far apart.

When I get back, I'm unloading the chicken feed in the front barn when Allison walks in with a glass of lemonade. I straighten and take my hat off, hitting it on my thigh to clear the dust.

"That for me?"

She nods, holding it out. I take it, draining it and handing it back.

"How was the bull rider?" I ask.

She shrugs, a crease between her brow. "It was okay, not really my cup of tea. River was all about it though."

"Good, you keep away from it," I say. "And I'll keep River away from it. It's a rough way to make a living."

She crosses her arms, leaning on a supporting post. "Have you ever done any bull riding?"

I shake my head. "No, I've been thrown enough times during work hours to go and do it in my spare time."

She purses her lips, watching as I toss the last bag in the bin and fasten the lid. I sink down on it and take my bandana out to wipe my face.

"Mom's making lunch," she says. "I might ride up to Sovereign Mountain later."

She says it casually, like I don't know what she's up to. I open my mouth. Then I shut it and stand up, holding out my arm. She gives me a reluctant hug, wrinkling her nose at the dust and sweat on my shirt.

"You take Reign up there with you," I say. "Tell Sovereign to put that new bridle he promised me on him before you come back."

She nods, her shoulders sinking in obvious relief. We head back to the house and I pull the door open for Allison.

"You don't be too late on Sovereign Mountain," I say.

She nods and disappears into the hallway, her boots clattering on the stairs. In the kitchen, I find Diane leaning on the counter with a book open between her elbows. Something bubbles on the stove behind her. I lift the lid and the scent of chicken broth hits my nose.

"Dumplings?"

She glances up and nods. "River's out the back by the way, staring at his colt through the fence."

"I think after the spill he took, he might want to work on just getting the horse to eat from his hand for a little while," I say.

She nods and I come up behind her, leaning my body over hers, and kissing the back of her neck. She squirms under me, but she loves it. Her ass pushes against my groin, waking my dick right up. My lips pull back and my teeth graze her neck. Her hips wriggle and I ease up so she can turn around and lean her elbows on the table.

"You better calm down," she says, a ghost of a smile on her face.

I kiss her neck again, right in the hollow under her ear. "River is glued to staring at that horse and Allison is getting ready to ride up to Sovereign Mountain."

Diane's brow arches. "You let her do that?"

I nod. "I did."

She bends in, her mouth ghosting over mine. "Maybe later this afternoon, we can get a minute to ourselves."

"Oh, yeah?"

She kisses me before pushing me off her, ducking around my body, and going to the stove. "I don't know. We'll see if you behave yourself."

I take advantage of there being nobody around to crack my hand across her ass. She whirls and I kiss her hard before heading into the bathroom. She's flustered, but she loves it. Judging from her little huff, I'm definitely getting some when we have a moment alone.

The rest of the day is peaceful. We all eat lunch together. Then I help Allison up on Reign and remind her again to pick up that new bridle. When she's gone, I take River out and start him on cleaning out the colt's new stall. If he wants to keep him, he's got to learn to care for him.

A few of the ranch hands have questions. I stand on the porch and talk with them for a while. Then, by my watch, I have at least fifteen minutes before I need to start chores.

I've had a lot of practice. I can make fifteen minutes work easy.