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

Second Epilogue

King–two months later

The campfire crackles, sending flickers of golden light dancing across the clearing. The lake glimmers under the moonlight, and the towering pines of Copper Mountain stand sentinel around us. It’s quiet except for the distant hoot of an owl and the occasional pop of the fire. Indie is sitting on a log near the flames, bundled in one of my flannels that’s way too big for her, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, her legs crossed under her. She looks so damn perfect, it hurts.

She laughs softly, pulling her knees closer to her chest. “I don’t know how you talked me into camping for our honeymoon.”

“Talked you into it?” I smirk, tossing another log on the fire and brushing my hands on my jeans. “You practically begged me.”

Her mouth drops open in mock outrage. “Begged? That’s rich coming from the guy who said, and I quote, ‘I don’t need a fancy resort when I’ve got you.’”

“Still true.” I lean back against a tree trunk, stretching my legs out and watching her. She has this way of making the simplest moments feel monumental. “And besides, this is better. Just us. No distractions.”

Her eyes soften, and she rests her chin on her knees, the firelight painting her features in warm hues. “You’re not wrong,” she admits. “It’s beautiful out here. Peaceful.”

“Mm.” I study her, my gaze tracing the curve of her cheek, the way her lips twitch like she’s holding back a smile. “But you’re thinking about something. Spill it.”

She quirks a brow at me. “Spill what?”

“Whatever it is you’re not saying.” I tilt my head, my voice low, teasing. “I can see it all over your face, Indie. You’re terrible at hiding things.”

She bites her lip, her eyes darting to the fire. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I push to my feet and saunter toward her, crouching beside the log. Her cheeks flush, and she shifts under my stare. “Liar,” I murmur, my hand sliding to the back of her neck. “You’re keeping something from me.”

“King—” Her breath catches as I tilt her head up to meet my eyes. There it is—the flicker of nervous excitement she can never hide. “It’s nothing. Really.”

I lean in, brushing my lips against her ear, my voice dropping to a gravelly whisper. “You know better than to lie to me, sweetheart.”

She shivers, her hands clutching the edges of my flannel. “Okay, fine,” she blurts, her voice shaky. “But you have to promise not to freak out.”

“Freak out?” I pull back just enough to see her face, my brow furrowing. “Now you’ve got me curious.”

She exhales sharply, her eyes locking with mine. For a second, she looks almost scared, which sends a jolt of protectiveness straight through me. “Indie, what’s going on?”

“I’m pregnant,” she says, the words rushing out in a single breath.

I stare at her, the firelight catching the shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. Pregnant. The word echoes in my head, and for a second, I wonder if I heard her wrong. But the nervous look on her face tells me I didn’t.

“You’re…” I trail off, my voice hoarse.

“Pregnant,” she repeats, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t think I could have babies, that’s what they told me when I was diagnosed with endometriosis last year. I thought my eyes were seeing things when I took the pregnancy test, I thought I misheard the doctor when he confirmed it yesterday… I know it doesn’t make sense, but it’s real. I’m pregnant, King.”

I sit back on my heels, the weight of her words sinking in. My chest feels tight, like it’s too full, too much to hold. Slowly, a grin spreads across my face, and I reach for her, my hands cupping her cheeks.

“You’re serious?” My voice is rough, disbelieving.

She nods, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I am.”

“Jesus, Indie,” I murmur, pulling her into my arms. My lips press against her temple, her hair, her cheek. “That’s… that’s the best damn news I’ve ever heard.”

She laughs, a little choked, her arms wrapping around my neck. “You’re not mad?”

“Mad?” I pull back just enough to look at her, my hands sliding to her waist. “How the hell could I be mad? You just told me we’re having a baby, Indie. That’s a goddamn miracle.”

Her laugh softens, and she touches my cheek, her fingers gentle against my scruff. “Aunt Betty said love could move mountains. Guess she wasn’t wrong.”

I grin, leaning in to kiss her. It’s slow, deliberate, a kiss that says everything I can’t put into words. When I finally pull back, I slide my hand to her belly, pressing my palm against the soft fabric of the flannel. “A miracle,” I repeat, my voice thick. “Our miracle.”

She covers my hand with hers, her smile so full of love it knocks the wind out of me.

“Guess it’s a good thing I swerved for that grizzly bear,” she says, her voice teasing. “I wouldn’t have found a grizzly, grumbly mountain man of my own if I hadn’t.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I should go looking for that bear just to thank it.”

Her laugh echoes through the clearing, and I pull her onto my lap, my hands cradling her hips. “I mean it,” I murmur, my lips grazing her jaw. “That bear gave me you. Gave me this. A family.”

Her breath hitches, and she tilts her head, giving me more access. “King…”

“I love you,” I whisper against her skin, my hands sliding under the flannel to find the warm curve of her waist. “And I’m going to love the hell out of this baby.”

She threads her fingers through my hair, tugging lightly, her voice breathless. “You better.”

I chuckle, capturing her lips again, this time with more heat, more intent. The world falls away as I lose myself in her, the fire crackling beside us, the stars watching overhead.

When I lay her down near the fire, the soft ground cradling her, she looks up at me, her eyes shining. “Guess you’re stuck with me now,” she teases, her voice soft but playful.

I grin, brushing her hair back from her face. “Damn right I am. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I unbutton her flannel slowly, then push the cups of her bra down, revealing her dark, enticing nipples. My tongue flicks at one as she arches, my teeth grazing against the hardened flesh. I slip my hand down her waist and remove her leggings, cupping her wet pussy and sliding my fingers along her slick lips.

"I can't wait to fill you up with my seed and make more beautiful babies," I whisper breathlessly. She looks at me with dark eyes, her fingers stilling in my hair. I can feel the heat radiating from between her legs as she nods eagerly.

"I've been dreaming about you inside me all day," she confesses, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she locks her legs around my waist. I groan and press myself against her, the intensity of her desire like a blazing fire.

I’m so hopelessly in love with this woman.

"I need to claim you as mine," I growl, removing my jeans and boxers and reveling in the primal lust coursing through me.

My girl's hands push up my torso, as I’m nestled between her thighs. "Baby," I groan, “you're so wet and ready for me." I slide a finger through her silky folds, gathering her juices and bringing it to my mouth. "Sweet as candy."

A tremor runs through her body.

"When I see you, I know you're made just for me. I feel it deep in my bones." I breathe against her lips, my hands tangled in her hair as my cock presses against her entrance. With a gentle thrust, I enter her tightness.

"Oh God." She arches and grips my back.

Her muscles flex and tighten around me. I hold her closer to me, stilling my hips until she adjusts to the feeling of me inside her. I cradle her in my arms, whispering in her ear.

"Deeper. I want to feel you deeper," she begs. I love when she begs for my dick.

"My sweet girl." I kiss under her ear, slowly moving my hips and sliding even deeper into her. "I can't tell you how much you mean to me."

"King, yes, please." She tugs on my hair, pulling my lips to hers in a soft kiss. I kiss her back, thrusting my tongue past her pouty lips and savoring the sweet taste of her. I pick up the pace, groaning as her eager body moves against mine.

“You were made for me. That’s the only thing I know for sure,” I whisper against her lips, thrusting one final time before hitting the end of her. “Talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me how it feels.” My hips slide back and forth, our bodies finding a rhythm just for us.

“God, you feel so good.” Her words are serrated groans. Indie might be the death of me. I move my lips down to her hard nipples and pull one into my mouth. With one hand supporting me over her body, the other wraps around her shapely waist, pulling her into me as I continue to pump away.

“Jesus, you're perfection." I thrust into her, and she takes everything I have to give. My hair falls into my face as I sink into her over and over again, her moans echoing across the clearing, nails biting into my back, the pain-pleasure sensation causing the base of my spine to tingle. I grind my hips and circle, my pelvis working against her clit. I angle my hips and clench at the flesh of her ass to lift her up into me, positioning her to hit the spot on her inner wall that will have her coming apart beneath me.

It works just like I think it would, as a string of curse words erupts from her throat and she comes around my dick. “Aww, feels so good milking me, baby. Your pussy is pulsing, pulling my orgasm out of me, tightening and fisting."

I dip my head as I continue to thrust and grind against her. I catch her lips and kiss her as I pound until my release erupts through me. Her body goes limp beneath me, sated as I pour into her. Her chest heaves, her nipples rasping against my chest, arms over my head and fisting around my neck with pleasure.

“You fuck like a sex God, King,” she grins slyly, her cheeks flushed from the orgasm. My cock throbs with desire for her.

“Stop that smug grin,” I tease, giving her nipple a gentle pinch. She squeals in delight.

“Whatever you say, cowboy.” She wraps her arms around my chest, running her nails over my bare back.

“I love it when you do that,” I tell her, pulling her chin towards me for a kiss.

“My body is sore from your fucking,” she giggles, like music to my ears. “But in the best way possible.”

“I'm glad you think so,” I say, holding her close as we come down from our high. This woman is everything to me and nothing can change that.

“Thank you for loving me, even though I know I'm just a cranky old man?—”

“Oh, King,” she interrupts me, climbing on top of me and wrapping her arms around my neck. “You're not old or cranky to me. You're the most amazing and generous man I've ever known. You’re only a cranky old man sometimes.”

I playfully smack her on the butt and she lets out a yelp.

“Ow! What was that for?!”

“For calling me old,” I confess with a smirk before capturing her lips again. I flip her over, spreading her legs open and slowly licking up the wetness between them. “And now I owe you another thank you for saying yes.”

Later, as we lie tangled together, the campfire burning low, Indie rests her head on my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin. Across the lake, the faint silhouette of a grizzly bear with her cubs climbs the ridge, their shapes illuminated by the moonlight.

She lifts her head, her eyes following mine. “Full circle,” she murmurs, a smile playing on her lips. “A grizzly bear brought me to my grizzly mountain man.”

I laugh softly, pulling her closer. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life thanking that bear.”

Her laughter is warm and bright, and as she snuggles closer, I feel the undeniable weight of contentment settle over me. This is my world now—her, this mountain, and the family we’re building together. And it’s more than I ever dared to dream.

THE END