CHAPTER 7
EDEN
As I lean down and kiss Macklin’s forehead before I pull the comforter up and over his small body, I can’t help but smile. Today has been a damn good day. And not just for me either. Even though Macklin has loved spending time with Mom and Dad, there was something special about seeing him come alive under the light of Fletcher’s attention.
It wasn’t just Fletcher either. The Burns brothers all gave Macklin the attention and love my boy has been craving without even knowing it. It was beautiful to watch.
After spending a good portion of the day out in the barn with Fletcher answering all of Macklin’s questions about horses, I was nervous about heading into the house for lunch. I hadn’t seen Huxley or Noel for even longer than Fletcher. Would they remember me? Would they resent me and shun me the same way Buttercup did?
I shouldn’t have been worried. The moment they saw me, they had huge smiles on their faces and instantly wrapped me up in their arms and hugged me.
“Eden,” Huxley practically gushed, “it’s so good to see you again.”
Even though I knew who he was instantly from the way his eyes sparkled with mischief, it was jarring seeing him so grown up. When I left, he was still just a boy considering he’s eight years younger than Fletch and I. He had grown up so damn much and it made me want to cry.
The changes in Noel weren’t quite as big since he’s only three years younger than us, but there were shadows in his eyes which weren’t there the last time I saw him. Fletcher had told me about how he enlisted once he graduated, but seeing the way it left scars on his soul took me aback.
I hugged Noel a little tighter and tried to say something, anything. But nothing would come out. The lump in my throat at being near two guys who always felt like younger brothers to me was almost too much to process.
I didn’t get the chance to dwell on it because then Macklin was there. He looked up at Huxley and Noel with a shy smile on his face. “Hi,” his greeting was small.
I got to witness two more men who used to mean so much to me fall in love with my son. Their eyes softened and they both crouched down in front of Mack to introduce themselves to him. The moment they said their names, Mack’s eyes lit up.
Both guys showed up in bedtime stories even though Fletcher was always the hero. What my son never realized was that the stories I told him were always based on my childhood and the things I would get up to with Fletcher and his siblings.
Fletcher and I were old news as Mack latched on to Noel and Huxley. They were both so good with him, asking him questions and answering all of his. They talked about the horses at Limitless for a long time and he told them everything he’d been learning about the cows while he was helping Dad out.
When Noel asked Mack to help with lunch, I was worried for a moment, but Fletcher just wrapped his arm around my shoulders and murmured, “Don’t worry, Shooting Star, he’ll be fine.”
I spent the afternoon surrounded by the warmth of my home away from home, which is what Limitless always felt like to me while growing up. There were times when I spent more time here than I did over at my own home. It was strange how comfortable everything felt and how it was if no time had passed at all.
After lunch, Macklin followed Huxley out to the barn to do the afternoon chores because he insisted, “I’m a big boy, Mama. I can help and the horses love me.”
What was there to say? The only thing to do was to let him go.
The moment Macklin was gone, Fletcher took my hand and gave it a squeeze, “I want to show you something, Eden.”
He looked nervous, which put me on edge a little bit, but I also knew I wasn’t going to deny him. I wasn’t expecting him to lead me back out to his truck and drive a short distance to a house built on the property. The moment we were close enough, tears started streaming down my face.
It was our house. The house we had spent so many hours talking about and dreaming up. Seeing our shared dream as a reality was almost too much.
My voice shook, “What is this place?”
“I had it built a few years after I took over for my parents. I needed a space of my own.” He gave me a sheepish smile, “When I sat down to make the plans, there was only one house I wanted to build here.”
“You built our house,” my voice cracked.
The next thing I knew, Fletch was opening my door and pulling me from his truck. “Let me show you?”
There was so much hope in his voice and his eyes that the only thing I could do was nod and be led inside. It wasn’t just the outside that looked like our dream home, it was everything. Every detail in every room proved he remembered every whispered word, all the big dreams and hopes we had for our future became something real.
When he was done with the tour, I turned toward him and cupped his jaw in my hands. “You built the house we always dreamed of?”
“I did,” he searched my face, probably wondering what I was thinking.
“How?” He opened his mouth to answer, and I shook my head. “Didn’t it hurt you to live here? In our dreams?”
Fletcher swallowed hard and nodded slowly. “There were days it was like a knife to the chest, but,” he paused and took a deep breath, “I think I always held out hope that you would come home. I told myself I let you go, I had to, but the truth is I never did.”
I tipped up on my tiptoes and kissed him softly, unsure of how else to tell him exactly how much standing in the middle of our deferred dreams come to life meant to me. He kissed me back, but before it could progress farther, the front door opened, and Huxley and Macklin’s laughter had us pulling apart. Fletcher didn’t let me go far and while Mack didn’t seem to notice anything, the knowing look Huxley shot us spoke volumes.
We spent the afternoon playing games and talking. Macklin soaked up every second of attention he could from Fletcher. He did the same when we went back to the main house for dinner, which he warned me might be box mac-n-cheese since it was Huxley’s night to cook. I only giggled, knowing Macklin would be happy if it was.
I thought for sure I’d head back home after dinner, but Fletcher looked at me, his eyes earnest and pleading, “Stay for the night, Shooting Star. Please?”
It was impossible to say no to him and, if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to. Now I’m nervous and, with Macklin snuggled up in bed in Fletcher’s guest room, I can’t put off facing my past. Isn’t this everything I hoped for when I really allowed myself to imagine what coming back to Wintervale would be like?
I had hoped Fletcher and I could find each other again. It’s not like I ever stopped loving him. He’s been in my heart our whole lives and the time we lost, the time we robbed ourselves of, hasn’t changed the way I feel about him.
I’m just scared. I won’t be able to survive losing him again.
Should I be concerned about this moving too fast? I just moved back, but I’ve known Fletcher forever. Wouldn’t it be worse for me to not jump in with both feet? I don’t believe Fletcher would ever let me fall; he’ll catch me.
When I stand and turn around, knowing I can’t put this off any longer, I gasp softly at finding Fletcher with his dark intense eyes focused on me. His shoulder is leaning against the doorway and while the stance is easy—and fucking hot as hell—I can see the tension in his body. He’s holding himself back, but I desperately want him to lose control.
He holds out a hand for me and I know he’s offering me so much more than a hand even though the gesture seems casual. It’s an offering. It’s a chance to have everything I’ve been missing for the last 13 years. It’s what I’ve been dreaming about, always looking for a shooting star to wish upon.
My feet move toward him without me even needing to think about it. The moment I slide my hand into his, his fingers tighten as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear. As he studies my face, it becomes clear I’m not the only one afraid. He is too.
For some reason, the realization eases some of my fears and concerns. We broke each other’s hearts and neither of us were ever able to move on, no matter how hard we tried. Life took us in opposite directions, but our hearts never forgot, our souls always remained entwined.
Fletcher pulls me from the guest room, and I glance over my shoulder one time just to make sure Macklin’s okay. When I look back up at Fletcher as he quietly closes the door, he has a soft, sweet smile on his face.
“You’re a good mom,” he whispers.
It’s not his words which have my throat closing up, it’s the conviction in his voice. He sounds like he would fight anyone who would dare to disagree with his assessment of my parenting skills. I don’t doubt he would.
I can’t seem to form words as he leads me into his bedroom. My eyes widen at the sheer size of the gigantic bed taking up most of the space. It looks like a cloud and the dark wood of the sleigh bed matches the rest of the masculine feel of the room. The colors are a mix of light and dark, but it feels like a sanctuary instead of feeling heavy. I instantly love it and could imagine waking up in this room every day for the rest of my life.
Unlike the rest of the house, this room isn’t exactly like we talked about, but it’s all Fletcher. As it should be.
His arms wrap around me, and he pulls me back flush against his chest. I can feel his hard length against my ass, and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from moaning at the feel of it. It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone. Even when David and I were trying to be together, a sexual relationship wasn’t part of it which should have been a big fucking clue things weren’t going to work out. I wish alcohol hadn’t played such a big role in the conception of my son, but it’s the truth.
“Fletcher,” I whimper as he buries his face in the crook of my neck.
I can feel the bite of his five o’clock shadow scraping along my skin, and it wakes up every nerve ending in my body. Even if we should be taking this slowly, I don’t want to.
“I just need to hear the words, Shooting Star. We’ll go as slow or as fast as you want but know this is happening between us. Too much time has passed. I won’t let you go a second time,” there’s a desperation in his voice, like he knows exactly what I’ve been thinking and worrying about.
He’s always known me almost better than I know myself.
I turn in his hold and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m scared, Fletch,” I admit quietly. His eyes flash with sadness, but before he can say anything I shake my head to let him know I’m not done. “I’m willing to be all in with you, but just know I can’t go through losing you again.”
He presses his forehead to mine and takes a deep breath. “We’re not going through that again, Eden,” he sounds so sure that my heart starts to pound in my chest in response. “You’ve always been mine. I had to let you go, but I always hoped you’d make your way back to me, even when it hurt, and I tried to convince myself it wasn’t going to happen. Now you’re here and I’m never letting you go again. You’re stuck with me.”
I smile up at him and tease, “I like being stuck with you.”
“Good,” he growls before he takes my mouth in a passionate kiss.
His hands start to roam, but I’m so overcome with the feeling, the sheer fucking joy exploding inside of me because I’m kissing Fletcher again, and I hardly notice. It’s only when he pulls back enough to pull my shirt over my head that I freeze.
“My body has changed,” I croak when he narrows his eyes, the challenge clear in the way he’s looking at me.
“Oh, Eden,” he murmurs. Then I’m in his arms and being laid out on the softest bed I’ve ever felt. His touch feels like worship. He strips my clothes quickly and while I don’t even think about stopping him, I am afraid he’s not going to like what he sees anymore. When I’m laid out naked, I force myself to look into his eyes to find them filled with heated desire and feral hunger. “You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen and I’m about to show you exactly what I think about how your body has changed.”
He strips down to his boxers and my mouth waters as he exposes himself to my gaze. He looks the same and yet different. The way he’s grown into himself is clear to see and the work he does on the ranch has kept him in damn good shape. When I press my thighs together, seeking some sort of friction because I’m so turned on, Fletcher smirks.
“Like what you see?” There’s a tease in his voice and all I can do is nod in response.
Starting with my ankles, he starts kissing up my body. His strong hands spread my thighs, and I tremble underneath him. The way he’s looking at me, as if he can’t look away, has me relaxing.
Fletcher was never one to blow sunshine up anyone’s ass. He’s never been afraid to speak his mind and tell you how it is, at least to him. His honesty is something I’ve always loved about him, and I trust him with everything in me.
He kisses the stretch marks on my abdomen before licking my skin. “So fucking beautiful, Eden,” he rasps. “I saw the picture of you pregnant with Macklin and you were glowing. Never seen a more beautiful sight.” His eyes find mine and I can see longing there. “Next time I’m going to be there, touching your belly, and telling you how gorgeous you are. I’ll take a picture of you every week because I don’t want to miss a moment of how your body changes.”
I suck in a breath, his words rattling around in my head. He doesn’t give me any time to process his promise though because he dives between my thighs and licks along the seam of my pussy. My fingers twine in his soft hair and I’m fucking lost.
Lost to the feeling of Fletcher’s mouth on me again.
Lost to the pleasure of him sucking my clit into his mouth.
Lost to how close I am to the edge, partially because it’s been so long but mostly because it seems he knows my body just as well now as he always did.
The sensation of him eating my pussy, the sounds of him slurping up my arousal and groaning in delight, the feel of him slipping one and then two fingers inside of me, is all too much. In no time at all I’m teetering on the edge.
With a nip of my clit with his teeth, I topple over. My body quakes and I press a hand to my mouth to muffle the scream of pure bliss trying to escape. Everything is languid heat and gentle caresses as he helps me ride the wave of pleasure and after as I float back down.
When the bed shifts and Fletcher stretches out next to me, I reach for his boxers, but he catches my wrist. “Tonight was all about you, Eden. I want you to feel how beautiful you are. Tasting you again, watching you come undone for me was all I wanted tonight.”
I pout a little and then look down his body to see a darker patch on his boxers and I bite my lip. But when I look back into his eyes to find him arching an eyebrow as if he’s challenging me to say something, I can’t stop myself from giggling.
“Yeah, yeah,” he pulls me closer and wraps me up in his arms. “You made me come in my pants. Don’t look so smug,” he admonishes, but his dark eyes dance with delight.
My cheeks ache with how big I’m smiling at him before I pull him closer and kiss him, wanting him to feel everything I feel for him, but can’t put into words quite yet. This has been moving fast, but I don’t want to slow down either.
After he gets cleaned up and helps me into one of his shirts, we snuggle together, and I fall asleep. I sleep better than I have in years and not a single regret filled dream wakes me up.