15. Live Free （Hannah）

No words.

I'd always been good with them, but now I was at a total loss. What can a woman possibly say to a man who'd delivered the heavens, the moon, and the stars in a neat little box?

My knees still hurt a little after the pregnancy and the rough treatment by Dom. I secretly hoped he was watching from hell. Looked up, saw us, and raged because we were alive, in love, and happy.

“Darlin'.” Dusty clenched my hand, stroking my fingers with his thick fingertips. “If it's too much, you don't have to say –“

“I've got it,” I said, standing up straighter in his arms, turning my head. I looked out over all our friends and family, men and women who'd made this crazy thing possible. “This is a huge surprise to me, and I'd like to take a second to thank everybody for coming.”

Near the wall, Bingo let out a single yip, and everybody laughed. Smiling, I was thankful for the interruption, because it gave me just enough time to know exactly what to say. I had the man holding me to thank for it, and also the evil asshole he'd snuffed out forever.

“A minute ago, Dusty stood here talking a lot about love. I want to talk about another word that's close, but just as important.” Everybody leaned in, listening intently in the fat pause while I sucked in a breath, precious air I needed to keep it together without breaking down again. “ Live. That's what I willed myself to do when things were at their darkest, when I never thought I'd stand here with you, in my husband's arms, knowing I have a second chance to do better by myself, by him, and by our family. Live free – that's what I'm going to do, and I'll never take it for granted again.”

I reached up, laying my palm flat against his rough cheek. His forehead touched mine when he leaned in, inhaling me while I breathed him in. Divine, dangerous, and masculine as a pagan god.

“Dusty...you're the reason I get to go on living. If I couldn't live, then I couldn't love. I do, with every single shred of my heart. There's no way to say thanks in just a few words. No way to repay you except with all the kisses, laughs, and smiles I know are coming, year after year. Once, I thought I had it all, chasing money and running from my past. You showed me there was more, baby...so much more. If I ever waver, if I forget and make new mistakes, they'll be brief. I know it, because you taught me what it means to live and love. I've never been prouder to be your wife – the best thing I'll ever be as long as I'm alive. I love you, Daniel. ”

His name was barely off my lips before he pulled me in, smiling and eager, smothering me in another kiss. Naturally, it caused my entire body to smolder.

Applause exploded around us. Everybody cheered, if they weren't too busy wiping their tears, and preacher man said a few more words to finish the ceremony.

Neither of us heard them, though, because we were completely lost in our love.

I remembered how fast Huck and Cora's wedding reception blurred by, the first night Dust gave me his kiss, and turned me into a total addict.

Now, I wondered where the time went by with my own. We sat at the biggest picnic table I'd ever seen, huge enough to seat everybody with plenty of room to spare, feasting on pulled pork with spicy barbecue, beer, fried okra, mashed potatoes thick as sin, and a dozen other rich sides I barely had room to sample.

Everyone came by to wish us well throughout the evening.

Skin and Meg. Firefly and Cora. Joker and Summer.

Lion, Tinman, Crawl, Sixty. Prospects whose names I'd only started learning. Dancers from the Ruby Heel, several looking like they couldn't wait to give the single guys some late night entertainment, after the families left the party to its dying embers.

Laynie came last, bobbing a very sleepy little boy in her arms. “I should really head out when you guys do. He's had his fill of excitement for one night.”

“If he's tuckered out, he won't fuss later,” Dusty said, laying his hand on my thigh, underneath the table. “You've got the easy job, Ma.”

“And the best! Because now I get to be a grandma with a family who's finally had a proper wedding.” She grinned, her old cheeks wrinkling when she looked down at us, real deep pride lighting up her grey eyes. “Oh, except for the dress. Next time you renew those vows, you let her wear it, boy.”

“Well, if I'd had a little notice...” I elbowed Dusty gently, breaking into a smile. “Next time, I'll be honored, Laynie. I promise.”

“She's got the ring, and it's staying right where it belongs,” Dust said, his fingers digging into my skin deliciously, under the table. “Save the dress, Ma. Sooner or later, you're gonna have a granddaughter joining Hank. She'll need it someday for walking down the aisle.”

Laynie laughed, and then narrowed her eyes, looking right at me. “Watch out for him, honey. He's on fire today.”

“Lucky man. That's just the way I love it.” I looked at my husband, feeding the lust boiling in his eyes with a quick, subtle flick of my tongue across my bottom lip.

His hand moved higher up my thigh, under my skirt, closer to the sopping wet mess in the middle. “Get the kid home and rest up, Ma. We're out soon. I think we've had our fill, as nice as this has all been.”

She didn't need another nudge. Smiling, she stepped away, heading toward the front of the clubhouse. We lasted about another minute, sharing several quick bites off a decadent chocolate cake Cora made, and then we stood. Everybody waved as they saw us off.

It was still too crisp for a long ride into the mountains on his Harley, so we took the truck, strategically parked by a prospect, waiting for us.

“How long does it take to get down there?” I asked, knowing full well he had a little spot in mind, deep in the Smokies, a comfortable distance from the tourist thrills in Gatlinburg for the honeymoon we were due.

“'Bout an hour, maybe a little more going down these curvy mountain roads in the dark.” Dusty's cool grey eyes were fixed on me, sending lightning up my legs. He leaned in, pushing hot breath in my ear. “Let's see if we can make it before I have to pull over, throw the seat down, and fuck you on the side of the road.”

We got about halfway to the cabin before his hand wouldn't be kept off my panties, and I lost my will to fight it.

Thankfully, this section of the mountains had all sorts of little paths leading into the forests. We took the first gravel road we found in his headlights, rumbling into the dense, dark growth about a quarter of a mile before he parked, and killed the engine. Huge piles of leaves swirled around us, the trees above just beginning to bud as winter relented.

Dusty looked at me while I folded my arms, searching for warmth .

“Forget the heat, darlin'. We'll make our own,” he promised, shoving my panties aside with a single flick.

He kissed me while his stiff fingers pushed into me. I moaned against his tongue, giving him mine, opening my lips for the conquest I'd always welcome, my legs instinctively parting for his hand.

Fuck, he felt good.

He brushed my clit with his thumb, taking me to that please, for the love of God, fuck me now stage before drawing his fingers back. They grabbed my panties in the middle, jerked them down, and rolled them off my legs while I shuffled out of my boots.

Dusty reached underneath his seat with his free hand. His seat collapsed, making space for me to climb over him, and find my way onto his lap.

“Get on this dick, darlin'. Now. ” Thunder filled his throat, running into my skin when he pulled me onto his lap, pressing his stubble into my neck. “I've been waiting all evening, and I ain't wasting another second.”

“Oh? Is that an order?” I asked, running my hands along his leather clad shoulders, grinding into the bulge in his jeans. I loved the smooth, rough contrast his clothes made with his stubble on my bare skin.

“Like you gotta ask. Fuck, darlin', I haven't had enough of you since I brought you back. Waiting for you to heal up wasn't easy.” He lifted my skirt, holding it up, allowing him to see the PROPERTY OF DUST ink I had tattooed high on my lower belly a couple weeks ago. “Goddamn, I love seeing my name on you, babe. Never gonna get tired of it. Never gonna stop missing it when you ain't naked in my bed, about to ride this dick for all we're worth. Never, Hannah, you understand me?”

Tell me about it. No sex for several weeks was the worst part about having a baby, and being tortured by those assholes.

Dusty pushed his fingers into my hair, forming a fist, moving my face until it was just where he wanted. Our eyes locked, frantic as jagged breath filled our lungs, the violent want beating in our veins.

“I missed you, too,” I whispered, muscles turning taut when he pulled my nipple. “Jesus, I missed you so bad.”

His free hand went down between us. I heard his belt buckle coming apart, and soon his cock was out, its angry tip rolling against my wet pussy.

“Nothin' like our honeymoon, making up for lost time. No more games, darlin'. I need to be in you, and if you think I'm gonna wait for sweet talk...” Laying his hand on my ass, he pushed me down, engulfing his length in one sweet, raging movement. “Think again.”

“Dusty...”

I murmured his name while we started to fuck, the only thing I could on our second wedding night. Alive, in love, and lucky to enjoy it.

He filled me. So deep, so hot, so fucking good.

Outside, the early springtime mist coalesced around our truck. The Smokies offered us their majesty while we gave into our primal urges, nothing but our hearts and breath beating in our ears. The air was plenty cool, but we started to sweat within a minute, moving against each other faster, harder, needier.

“So fuckin' tight,” he rumbled, quickening his thrusts. “Even after Hank. This pussy's getting another kid sooner than you think, darlin'. Count on it.”

Holy shit. If there was any set of words priming me to come on command, he'd found them.

The craziest things sounded sane, sounded hot, whenever they left his lips. Our bodies thrashed and mingled at a base chemical level, and I'd come for this beautiful bastard whenever he asked.

Harder, he thrust into me, another sharp groan catching in his throat. Hearing his pleasure pushed me over. I clenched my teeth, riding him like mad, letting raw passion carry me up and down his magnificent cock.

A harsh moan slipped out my lips, telling us both what was imminent. His hand jerked my hair tighter, bringing my face to his. Dusty's mouth buried me in another kiss, his tongue probing deep, like he wanted to own the pleasure ripping through my body.

“Come already, Hannah. Come like every sweet inch of you is begging to.” He growled the words into my ear, then sank his teeth into my neck, doubling his speed, pistoning into me.

No contest. No delay.

I came.

Sinking down on his cock, clenching him tight, I held on and screamed. My pleasure cry pierced the dense, dark Tennessee night while climax owned me. His relentless cock fucked me straight through it.

I had about thirty seconds to catch my breath before he grabbed me with both hands, shifted my body under him, and kicked down his pants. He drove into me, pushing my legs apart with his hips, grinding his pubic bone hard against my clit. That little patch of hair above his cock burned like sweet sandpaper, forcing another moan from my lips.

“Please, Dusty,” I whimpered. “Please come. Fill me. I need to feel you –“

Growling, he pushed a calloused hand across my mouth, a new arrogant quirk in his lips. “You know who gives the orders, darlin'. That game we started months ago at Firefly's wedding, trying to see who had better control?”

He thrust into me harder, making me squirm, my legs twitching against his with wild, wanton need.

“Never ended,” he said, a wicked smile spreading his lips. “You're a wild one, Hannah. I'm one lucky sonofabitch. Get to spend the rest of my life taming every inch of you, making you come every which way I want, never giving you that seed you crave 'til you fuck it outta me.”

Evil, beautiful bastard. I loved the challenge.

Secretly, we both did.

I pushed my face into his palm, probing his skin. My teeth dug into his hand. A love bite, perfectly timed to my hips rising to meet his. Faster, harder, ready to blow through another mind bending orgasm if it caused him to let go .

This wasn't human fucking anymore, not lovers on a misty, still southern night.

We were animals. We mated like possessed fiends, frolicking a little closer to delicious exhaustion every second.

His hand went up my shirt, shoved aside my loosened bra, and pinched my nipple. His fingers rolled it hard – just as hard as his next few thrusts, which shook the entire truck.

I thought he'd fuck me until the wheels came off when I couldn't hold back. My head tipped back into the leather seat, and I started screaming again, loving the rough tug of my hair his fist delivered.

This time, I wasn't alone. “You're a damned wildcat tonight. All right, beautiful. Here it fuckin' comes!”

My pussy seized, clenched, and sent its convulsions into every other muscle all over again when his cock swelled deep inside me.

Growling, bucking, sweating, cursing, we came together. His seed pumped hot, echoing the storm in our blood, our breath, our very souls. Dusty filled me with the same rough vigor as he'd injected his essence into my life.

Live.

Love.

Conquer.

Those stark words echoed in my head again and again, never fading until the bliss wracking my whole body began to wane. Dusty's fist in my hair became tender fingers again, stroking it, showering me in slower, sensual kisses as we came back to earth .

“Love you, darlin'. Love you so damned much,” he spoke slowly, saying the words in between catching his breath.

“I love you, Dusty. Love you like nothing else. You and our kids are my everything.”

“Kids?” He pushed his forehead to mine, quirking an eyebrow. “So, you're on board with six now like we talked about, right?”

He knew I'd only agreed to three, maybe four babies, tops. Laughing, I punched his arm, settling into his huge embrace.

He hadn't even pulled out of me yet. If anything, it felt like he was getting hard again. He'd probably demand a second round before we hit the road.

It might be early morning by the time we got into the cabin, but so what?

This was our night. Our marriage. Our love, bigger and bolder than the infinite soft darkness all around us, and thicker than the mountain forest.

As long as I had eyes to see, lips to kiss, and ears to hear his wicked words, I'd never stop loving this man. Never stop loving it when he whispered in my ear, and said the word mine.

And maybe this week, just this once, I'd admit he had a little more control over this sexy business than me. A woman had to fluff her husband's ego sometimes, after all.

After everything he'd done for me, and everything still ahead, my outlaw man deserved it.