Protecting Her Secrets (Mountain Men of Culver Springs #1)

Epilogue

Walker

I adjust my tie in the mirror, feeling like a poser. The last time I wore a tie was. . . I don’t remember the last time I wore a tie. I wouldn’t even be wearing one today if my wife didn’t demand it.

“It’s fucking choking me,” I grumble.

“It’s not choking you,” Wilder says. He brushes his hands over my shoulders. “You clean up nice.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“Wilder’s right. You look so handsome,” Rowan says in a feminine voice.

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Where are the kids?” Ridge asks because the man is obsessed with my children. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a couple of his own soon.

“They’re with the women.”

“Damn.”

“I still don’t understand why you’re having a wedding. You’re already married,” Wilder says. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“Because you’re not romantic. They were so blasted, they didn’t even remember their first wedding, so this is their chance to do things right.” Rowan grins.

“And we couldn’t do it before now because Skylar didn’t want to be pregnant in her wedding pictures. We were supposed to get married after Kai was born, but?—”

“Did you even wait until he was born before you put another baby in her?” Wilder asks.

“Yes. Six weeks, like the doctor said. But in my defense, I read that breastfeeding moms don’t typically ovulate, and Skylar hadn’t had her cycle?—”

“Okay, stop. I don’t need to know about Skylar’s cycle.” Rowan plugs his ears like a toddler.

Getting my wife knocked up so soon after giving birth was truly an accident, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Being a father has been the second greatest thing to happen to me.

Kai Leo Carter, my two-year-old, was born two weeks late, much to Skylar’s dismay. She did everything she could to get that kid out of her, but it wasn’t until she gave up and relaxed that she went into labor. Thankfully, we made it to the hospital in time.

Nova Claire Carter, my one-year-old girl, was born two weeks early, much to Dr. Rivera’s dismay because he was forced to deliver her. My daughter has been one surprise after another from conception. While Kai is thoughtful and meticulous, Nova doesn’t waste time thinking about something; she just does it and hopes for the best.

“How you get women to have sex with you, I’ll never understand,” I say.

“Not women, just a woman.” Rowan straightens his tie.

The wedding planner pops her head in from the door of the men’s lounge. “It’s time.”

“Thanks. We’ll be right there.” I take one last look at myself, not knowing why I’m nervous. That woman is as bound to me as someone can be. I guess I just want her to be proud to marry me again.

“Take a glass,” Rowan says, handing out shot glasses of tequila. “We need to toast.”

“I’m the best man. That’s my job.” Wilder takes a shot glass.

The four of us stand in a circle, holding up our drinks. Everything has changed for us in the last two years. We hardly resemble the men we were before Skylar walked back into my life. It’s as if she set off a chain reaction that rippled through us, one at a time.

“The past is always tense, the future perfect,” Wilder says and is met with silence as we look around at each other.

“What the fuck does that mean?” Rowan waves a hand in the air, indicating he’ll take it from here. “Pain makes you stronger. Tears make you braver. Heartbreak makes you wiser. And tequila makes you not remember any of that crap.”

We clink and drink, the liquid burning a path down my throat. I’ve abstained from any booze until this moment, but I have a feeling I’m going to get a little shitty tonight. Jazzy agreed to take the kids, and I have all kinds of filthy plans for my bride.

But first, I have to get through the ceremony. Skylar planned our wedding at the only venue in Culver Springs. The old barn has been converted into one large space, with a patio off the back. Behind it is a house where the groom and bride’s lounges are, as well as the kitchen for in-house catering. It’s perfect for us.

I stand at the front of the barn, my palms sweaty as I wait for Skylar. It seems like every single seat is taken, as the whole town practically shut down for the hour-long ceremony. Afterwards, they’ll return to their shops, since it’s the beginning of spring and tourist season.

The music changes, and my two babies appear with Miss Martha. She’s carrying Nova and holding Kai’s hand. In his other hand is a pillow with Skylar’s new wedding band and my ring Skylar had polished and engraved. Nova’s dancing in Martha’s arms, putting on a show, while Kai looks nervous as hell. The second he sees me, he takes off, running right into my arms.

Skylar and I have spoken about what, if anything, to tell him about his sperm donor, but we haven’t decided. Right now, I’m his dad and he’s my son. That’s all he needs to know.

“Go sit with Miss Martha, okay?” I kiss him on the cheek and set him down. Martha hands Nova to me, and she gives me a slobbery kiss that makes the room let out a collective sigh. I hand her back, and Martha kisses my cheek before they sit in the front row.

Next, Ridge appears, escorting his girlfriend, Harper. I never thought I’d see the day someone could tolerate that man enough to be with him long-term.

After that is Wilder, escorting his woman, Wren, followed by Rowan and Mickie. Then Jazzy and Dee, who are Skylar’s maids of honor, walk toward me with beaming smiles. The two are equally important to my wife, but for much different reasons.

Jazzy and Skylar bonded over their trauma. Now, the two can hardly be separated. Sometimes I wonder if she moved in and I didn’t notice because she’s always around. And Dee was the only person Skylar could trust for many years. The two may live hours apart, but we get our families together as often as our schedules allow.

I look down the line of women in light brown dresses that don’t match but somehow go together, or at least that’s what I’ve been told. They all have hearts in their eyes, and I’m certain more weddings will be in our future. But looking at my groomsmen, who are all staring back at their women, I don’t think they’ll mind.

There’s some comic relief when Sprocket bounds down the aisle in a doggy tuxedo. He stops to say hello to each human he recognizes before spotting me. I crouch and give him the attention he deserves. He has adjusted like a champ as our family has grown, especially when the two littlest Carters don’t always know the meaning of gentle.

The music changes again, and I straighten, standing tall and proud as my wife makes her entrance. She’s wearing a cream dress that’s all lace and silk. She has never looked more beautiful, and I realize what a lucky son of a bitch I am. She’s being escorted by Luther, who’s become as important to her as he is to me. The man looks sharp in a tan suit, his smile and watery eyes nearly choking me up.

She’s taking too long to reach me, and I barely stop myself from running to her and scooping her up to get her down here faster. God, she’s stunning. Her hair is pulled up loosely, and some of her curls have gotten free. I can’t wait to unpin her hairdo and watch the curls go wild as I fuck her.

“You treat her right, and she’ll never want to leave,” Luther says, shaking my hand before pulling me in for a back-slapping hug. “Love you, son.”

Those words hit me right in the gut. My mom’s not here, even though Skylar sent her an invite. Our yearly Christmas calls have even dwindled, and she hasn’t called the last three. She knows she has grandkids, but not even that is enough to make her care. Yet, in this moment, I don’t care because Luther and Martha have taken me in and aren’t here out of obligation. They’re here because they love me and my family.

The ceremony is short and sweet. There was no chance in hell I could write one vow, let alone multiple, so we went with traditional ones, minus the “obey” line, because we both know Skylar would be lying. I wouldn’t ask her to anyway. She spent too many years being forced to obey first her dad, then her asshole ex, may he rest in hell. She deserves to be free now.

Once the formalities are over, the real party begins. I danced with my wife, even though I have two left feet, but the highlight of the night was dancing with our daughter while Skylar danced with our son. At some point during the song, the four of us swayed together. I’m not a flowery type of man, but even I knew that moment was magical.

But now it’s dark, and the booze is almost gone, which means it’s time for me to collect my wife and take her to our suite. The venue offers a honeymoon suite on the upstairs floor of the house, since the only other place to stay in Culver Springs is a motel that caters to tourists.

I find Skylar talking to Wren, Mickie, and Harper while Wilder, Rowan, and Ridge stand close by. Leaning over, I whisper in her ear, “Time to go, sweetheart.”

“I’ve been waiting for you to come get me.”

“Tonight, I think you’ll be the one coming for me.”

Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink as she takes my hand. We wave to our friends, who hoot and holler like we’re teenagers on prom night, but it makes my wife laugh, so I don’t grumble about it.

Our bag was already delivered to the quaint room with a king-size bed, a dresser, and a small nook with two cozy chairs and a small table in front of a window overlooking my mountain. In the bathroom is a clawfoot tub and a shower, with a separate water closet.

I spot a bottle of champagne sweating on the table next to two flutes. “Want a glass?”

“I don’t think one glass will hurt.” She’s still breastfeeding Nova, though she’s trying to wean her. My daughter is stubborn, though, so it has been challenging. Tonight will be the first night she’ll be given a sippy cup of warmed breast milk. I pray Jazzy isn’t up all night with a screaming baby.

I pop the cork and pour two glasses. After handing her one, I hold mine up. “To my beautiful wife, who made all my dreams come true.”

She clinks my glass and takes a sip. “Can you unbutton me?”

“Wife, I will never not want to undress you.” My fingers fumble with the small, fabric-covered buttons, but eventually, I reach the last one at the base of her spine.

“I’ll be right back,” she says, disappearing into the bathroom, giving me only a small glimpse of the underthings she has on. I happen to know they’ve been shipped in from some expensive lingerie store and can’t wait to see her in them.

While she’s gone, I slip off my coat, remove my shoes and socks, and unbutton my shirt, making things as easy as possible to remove once my wife comes out of the bathroom. Minutes tick by, and I’m on my second glass of champagne before I start to wonder if history is repeating itself. I already know she’s good at climbing out of windows.

I knock on the door, and even though I know she’d never leave me and the kids, I do breathe a little sigh of relief when she calls out, “Come in.”

I find her still in her dress, sitting on the ground. “What are you doing?”

She nods at the counter, and I spot what could only be a pregnancy test. Her reaction tells me all I need to know, but I look anyway. Positive. My poor wife has spent three years being pregnant and breastfeeding. She was looking forward to weaning Nova and having her body back, but it looks like my pull-out game is weak.

“This is your fault,” she says.

I sit next to her. “It is, but I’ll never apologize for making babies with you.”

Her head rolls back on her neck. “I was so close to not growing a human or having one attached to my boob.”

“If I promise to go get snipped, can I have my wedding night back?”

She chuckles. “It was the smell of the meat at dinner. My stomach turned a little, and I just knew. Dee ran and got me a test during the reception.”

“Just think, though: you got it all done at once. None of this starting all over shit after we’ve already potty trained them all.” I wrap an arm around her, and she buries her face in my neck, giving me hope she’s not too angry.

“It’s your super sperm. Even your pre-cum is too potent,” she says, though it’s muffled.

I laugh. “I’m gonna give you more of my super sperm tonight too. In you, all over your tits, down your throat. And lucky for us, you’re already pregnant, so no pulling out.”

She slaps my chest, but her gaze is heated when she looks up at me. “That’s not very romantic.”

“Baby, I’ve been romantic all night. Now it’s time for the real fun to begin.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“Orgasms. So many orgasms. I even beat off in the shower earlier so I wouldn’t blow my load the second I got inside you.”

“How considerate.”

“It was. Some might even call it romantic.”

“Hmm. It depends on what you were thinking about while you were masturbating.”

“You, of course. More specifically, you riding my cock, your tits in my face, leaking milk as you come.”

“I don’t know who appreciates my milky breasts more: you or our daughter.”

I stand and scoop her up into my arms. “Me. Definitely me. I can’t explain it. It does for me what squirting does for other men.”

“Mommy issues,” she sasses.

“Ten swats on the ass for that one.” I set her down next to the bed and pull her dress down her arms. It falls to the floor, pooling at her feet, revealing the sexiest lingerie I’ve ever seen.

The delicate lace bra is see-through, exposing her rosy nipples. She complains that her tits have shrunk with each baby, but she’s wrong. They just get so much bigger when she’s pregnant. My mouth hangs open as I trail my gaze down the rest of her body. She’s thicker than she was before Kai, but all it did was make me want her more. I’m obsessed with every inch of her body, and I make damn sure she knows it.

The matching panties are the same delicate lace, so I can clearly see her bare cunt, making my mouth water. I circle my finger, and she turns around slowly, giving me time to look my fill. The lace hugs the top of her ass cheeks before disappearing between them. No granny panties tonight, though she could wear long underwear and I’d still want to get inside them.

“I can’t believe you’re mine. It feels like a fucking dream.”

“You’re ridiculous. You see me all the time. This morning, if I remember correctly.”

“Oh, I know you remember.”

The smile she gives me is one I only see when we’re like this, alone and baring ourselves to each other, and I scoop her up in my arms and kiss the living daylights out of her. Her lips part for me the way they always do, but it never gets old. I know every inch of her mouth, but there’s never a time I don’t want to taste her.

I palm her breast, thankful there’s no padding separating our skin. Her nipple puckers and leaks a little, dampening my hand. I know it makes me a kinky fucker to like her milky tits, and I know it doesn’t do anything for her, but she likes turning me on, so she feeds into my desires. Like I said, I’m a lucky son of a bitch.

“This is just the beginning, you know?” I say more than ask as I lay her down, parting her thighs.

“The beginning of what?” She sucks in a sharp breath when I latch onto her lace-covered pussy.

“Our life together. We have so much to look forward to, and when our youth and our kids are gone, I’ll be damned happy I still have you.” I swirl my thumb over her clit, gazing down at my bride.

“I’ll be happy too, husband. Risking frostbite was the best choice I ever made.”

I lower back down and drag my tongue up her slit. “I have to agree. Though I’m glad you didn’t lose a finger.”

“Me too. Now, make me come.” She grabs my head and presses me against her wet cunt. Fuck, I love it when she gets bossy.

“Always, sweetheart.”

THE END