The Cowboy’s Claim (Men of Copper Mountain #7)

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

K ing

The drive to Devil’s Peak is quiet, but it’s not the kind of silence that weighs heavy. Indie sits beside me, her hand resting lightly on my thigh, her touch grounding me in a way I never thought I’d need. The crisp mountain air blows through the open windows of the truck, carrying the scent of pine and snow. I glance over at her, and she’s staring out the window, her lips curved in a small smile.

“What’s that look for?” I ask, keeping my tone light.

She turns to me, her hazel eyes sparkling. “Just thinking about how peaceful this is. You and me, the mountains… it feels right.”

Damn if those words don’t hit me square in the chest. I reach for her hand, intertwining our fingers. “It is right, Indie. It always has been.”

She doesn’t respond, but the way her fingers tighten around mine says enough.

When we pull into Zane’s family’s property, the sprawling Devil’s Peak Lodge comes into view, a beacon of light against the darkening sky. Zane steps out onto the porch, his arms crossed over his chest and a grin spreading across his face when he sees us.

“King Steele,” he calls out, his voice carrying over the crunch of gravel beneath my tires. “About damn time you showed up.”

I park the truck and climb out, pulling Indie’s door open before she can even reach for the handle. Zane watches with a raised brow as I help her out, my hand lingering at her waist.

“Thought you didn’t do relationships,” he teases, his grin widening.

“Thought you didn’t either,” I shoot back, jerking my chin toward the curvy brunette stepping out of the lodge behind him. Winter, Zane’s girl, gives me a polite wave before wrapping Indie in a warm hug. The two women start chatting immediately, their laughter ringing out into the crisp evening air.

Zane steps closer, lowering his voice. “She’s good for you.”

“Don’t start,” I warn, though there’s no heat behind it. He knows me too well to push, and I don’t need his approval anyway. I already know Indie’s the best thing to ever happen to me. “Whaddya think you know me just because we did a few tours in the sandbox together?”

“Damn right, brother. You know how it is, go into the desert with a few dozen strangers and come out family.” Zane slaps me on the back with a smile. It’s been over a year since we last saw each other even though we only live a few hours apart, but it’s like no time has passed at all. Zane Warner and his family are as good as my own and just as welcoming.

Before I can say more, a deep voice calls out from behind us. Flint, Zane’s younger brother, strides over from the barn, his firefighter frame as solid as ever. His gaze snags on a tall, striking woman with a camera in her hands who just stepped out of the lodge. He freezes for a beat too long.

Zane notices and smirks. “Looks like Flint just met his match.”

I shake my head, but I can’t help the chuckle that escapes. Inside, the lodge smells like roasted meat and fresh bread, the kind of meal that feels like home. The long dining table is already set, candles flickering in the center, casting warm light over the room. Indie’s laughter fills the space as she helps Winter set out dishes, her movements graceful and easy.

I can’t take my eyes off her.

“You gonna stand there gawking, or are you gonna help?” Zane asks, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

“Shut up,” I mutter, though my lips twitch. I grab a stack of plates and bring them to the table, keeping one eye on Indie the entire time. She catches me staring and arches a brow, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

“Something you need, cowboy?” she asks, her voice low enough that only I can hear.

“Just enjoying the view,” I say, leaning in close enough to catch the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

Her eyes narrow, but there’s no mistaking the heat in her gaze. “Behave,” she whispers, though there’s no conviction behind it.

“Not a chance,” I murmur back, brushing my fingers against hers as I pass.

Dinner is lively, the table filled with laughter and the occasional burst of teasing banter. Flint and the woman he had eyes on earlier–a videographer named Juniper–sit across from each other, their conversation charged with a tension that’s impossible to ignore. Indie catches my eye and grins, clearly amused by the sparks flying between them.

“He’s so smitten,” she whispers, leaning closer.

“Flint has his hands full with that one, I can tell already,” I say, though I can’t help the satisfaction that comes from seeing him squirm a little. He’s spent years giving me hell about my solitary life. About time he got a taste of his own medicine.

As the night stretches on, the conversation mellows, and we find ourselves gathered outside under the stars. The northern lights dance across the sky, their colors reflected in the snow-covered peaks. Indie stands beside me, her arms wrapped around herself as she stares up at the display.

“I’ve never seen the northern lights before. The sky is so clear out here,” she breathes, her voice filled with wonder. “It’s beautiful.”

I step closer, draping my jacket over her shoulders. “So are you.”

She looks up at me, her eyes wide and shimmering in the faint light. For a moment, the world fades away, leaving just the two of us. I reach for her hands, holding them between mine as I take a steadying breath.

“You’ve shown me a world I didn’t know I wanted, Indie,” I say, my voice rough with emotion. “You’ve made me believe in things I didn’t think were possible—things like love, family, a future.”

Her lips part, but no words come out. I drop to one knee, pulling a small box from my pocket. The faint gasp that escapes her is enough to send my heart racing.

“Marry me, Indie,” I say, my voice firm and sure. “Let me give you the life you deserve. Let me spend every day protecting you and proving how much I love you.”

Her hand flies to her mouth, and for a terrifying moment, I think she might say no. But then she’s nodding, her eyes brimming with tears as she throws herself into my arms.

“Yes,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “Yes, King. A thousand times yes.”

The cheers and whistles from the others fade into the background as I slide the engagement ring on her finger and then pull her close, my lips finding hers in a kiss that seals the promise I just made. The northern lights blaze above us, but nothing compares to the light in her eyes when she pulls back, her smile brighter than I’ve ever seen.

“You’re mine now,” I say, my voice low and possessive.

“Always,” she replies, her fingers tangling in my hair.

I kiss her long and slow, savoring the taste of her. My lips graze her ear. “Now that that’s settled I can't stop thinking about how badly I want to fuck every prim and proper part of you.”

“We should go back to our room then, cowboy,” she husks, her words going straight to my dick. I lock our hands, leading her back to the room we’re renting in the lodge.

When we reach the privacy of our room, my hand slides down her thigh, pulling off the denim jeans and heavy cotton sweater that’s been separating us. Her gorgeous curves are on full display and I can't help but admire them.

“It’s unbearable being with you all day and not being able to touch you.” I nibble at her collarbone, my other fingers inching closer to her panties. The thought of bending her over and exploring every inch of her body has me throbbing with desire. “All I can think about is sliding my tongue between those ass cheeks and fucking you with my fingers until you come all over my beard.”

She grinds against my hand, eagerly seeking more pleasure as two fingers slide under her panties and inside her slick core. We both moan at first contact, my cock pulsing with need as I yearn to devour her with my mouth.

I bend and tease the lips between her thighs with mine.

I trace figure-eights around her clit as I pull her hot pussy lips to my mouth and suck. I bury my face in her hole, relishing the taste of her soft, warm pussy. I can't get enough of it, I could live down here.

“Oh, King…” Her throat emits soft whimpers as I speed my fingers and press my lips against hers in a passionate kiss. I slide my tongue along her soaked seam in a furious rhythm, pulling her closer to me as I feast on her.

"King," she gasps, her thighs trembling with desire, "please, I'm ready to feel you.”

The sweetness in her words and the innocence in her big, round eyes when she pleads for my dick sends shivers down my spine. I let out a low growl, grabbing onto her plump ass and pressing her against my hard cock. I have no control when she speaks such sweet words.

"Jesus, sweetheart, I need you like this, hot and wet and needy for me, every day.”

A deep growl escapes me as I pull her into my arms. She moans, fingers tangling in my hair as she moves her hips against my thick shaft. "I'm so sensitive already, just your fingers on me drives me wild. Seeing your eyes on me all day without being able to feel you like this is enough to make me cum harder than ever before, King."

"Fuck, my sweet girl, say it again. Tell me you’re mine, that you’re going to marry me.”

“Yes, yes,” she whimpers as I tease her with the tip of my leaking cock. “I can’t wait to marry you and be yours.”

“Fuck, my precious girl, I’m going to explode all over this sweet cunt and claim you as mine."

I sweep my thumb at her backside as I push myself to the hilt inside of her, and she comes in a crash of soaked waves, coating my dick in her sweet cream. Her thighs glisten with juice, my cock soaked with her sugary honey. "You look sweeter than an angel when you're coming all over me, baby."

"King," she husks, finally catching her breath and pulling my lips up to hers. "You're so filthy."

"And this filthy mouth makes you cream your panties. You don't ever have to hide what turns you on from me. I want to keep you happy and coming a dozen times a day if that's what it takes."

"A dozen times a day?" She hums happily, circling my neck with her arms like a pleased kitty cat. "I can’t imagine being any happier. You've already made me the happiest girl in the world."

Her breathing grows rapid, eyes fluttering closed as I grind my cock against her core, teasing and thrusting in needy strokes as I reach the end of her and then pull back out again. "I’m obsessed with you, my sweet girl, seeing these tits bouncing while I fuck you is such a beautiful sight," I fist at her hot ass as I seat myself against her hot womb, "seeing your gorgeous ass jiggle when you walk makes me so hard, I could come just thinking of sucking on this juicy pussy."

“Oh, King–” I catch her words with my kiss, dragging my teeth along the edge of her bowed lips before sliding over her throat, passing over her deep cleavage, and plucking at her hard little nipple.

“Fuck, I love claiming every inch of this gorgeous body.” I catch my teeth on one raised nipple, cock throbbing as I tease, eyes locked on hers the entire time.

“My cock drips and leaks all damn day just being with your sexy ass,” I suck on her nipples as they turn a sweet shade of raspberry. My mouth waters as I tweak one nipple between my thumb and finger, and latch my lips over the other, sucking long and deep before teasing her with my teeth.

She groans and whimpers against me. Having her beautiful tits filling my mouth is nothing short of heaven. Drops of precome bead at the tip before I’m shuddering and very nearly coming in a violent torrent.

“Baby, you’re killing me. You feel too good. You're too perfect.”

My heart slams against my chest as I realize that I’m owning her for the first time—and the last. I’ve claimed this woman inside and out, and most importantly, I’ve lassoed her heart.

There will be no one after me. I am determined right now to do whatever it takes to make her love me as much as I do her. If I have to fuck her and eat her pussy for hours every day to keep her happy, consider my schedule cleared. Hell, I’ll go into early retirement just to have enough time for my new favorite hobby: her.

“All fucking mine.” I groan against her neck. Her arms wrap around my neck, ankles lock at my waist, as we both begin to move in a fierce rhythm. Our bodies’ chemical reactions swirling in the air as our moans and gasps fill the room.

“You feel so fucking tight, sweetheart, so tight and wet and perfect like a glove. I want you wrapped around my cock every morning for the rest of our lives.”

My balls draw up, tingling painfully. I snake my hand between us and swirl at her clit in wild strokes. She begins coming almost instantly, her legs shaking and losing their grip around my waist as her sexy cunt fists around me, urging my own release from the base of my cock and up through the shaft in fiery bolts.

I call her name as I come, my breathing ragged as I hold her, my cock pumping what feels like buckets of come deep inside of her. And then I come, every nerve firing with pleasure because being inside her is like being alive for the first time. In the span of a few minutes, the man that exists before her dies, a new man reborn inside of this woman.

A better man for her.

Her man.