Epilogue
The Malone family home buzzed with warmth, life and chatter. A fire crackled in the hearth they all gathered around to welcome the newlyweds home from their honeymoon trip of a lifetime.
Snow dusted the windowsills, framing a picture-perfect view of the Black Heart Ranch and the snow-capped mountains beyond. Colt cradled his whiskey glass on his thigh. As he raised it to his lips, the spicy liquor played through his senses and mingled with the sweet perfume of the woman nestled close to his side.
Tonight was special for a lot of reasons. The family congregated to welcome home Oaks and Shiloh and to hear the stories of their recent adventures.
Layne, Shiloh and Willow clustered around the coffee table, leafing through the wedding albums that had just been delivered. When Aspen spotted them, she let out a quiet groan that drew a smile from Colt.
“I hate that I’m in all those photos.”
“You’re not in all of them.”
She blinked at him. “What do you mean?”
“There are two sets—one with you in the group photos and one where you’re cut out.”
Her jaw dropped, and outrage battled in her eyes with a flicker of relief. “I was always at the end of the group,” she said slowly as realization dawned on her.
He gave her a simple nod even as he snaked an arm around her. “I couldn’t have known how things would turn out or that you’d be in my life.”
Out of nowhere, she balled a fist and delivered a punch to his shoulder. A laugh rumbled through his chest, and he buried his nose in her hair, breathing her in. “Sorry, princess. You would have done the same thing.”
“I would.” With a sigh, she pulled back to meet his gaze. “Guess that’s why we get along so well. We’re so much alike.”
They shared a smile. Colt never thought he’d be able to claim he was happy. But in this moment, with his siblings around him and the woman he’d fallen in love with snuggled against him, he couldn’t claim to be anything else. His heart was full.
He still had nightmares. But now that he’d let Aspen into his life, they were in this together. He was much more willing to let his siblings in too. With them around him, supporting him, he would heal in time. He wasn’t alone.
“Oh! Look at this one.” Shiloh pointed a manicured finger at the wedding album. His sister and sister-in-law leaned in to get a closer look.
“Everyone looks amazing. And look at how Aspen’s dress picks up the color of the pines on the mountain.” Willow turned her head and waved a hand for Aspen to join them.
“Hell, why not?”
As always, her bad language made Colt laugh. Then she left his side and dropped to her knees next to Willow to study the album.
Layne pointed at one picture. “This is when Faye ran forward to catch the bouquet and tripped.” She giggled, fist pressed to her lips to hold in her amusement about her treasured family friend. “I’m glad the photographer caught that!”
The ladies shared her laughter as they flipped to the next page.
He felt Aspen go still before he turned his head and looked at her.
“Oh my,” she said quietly.
Willow, Layne and Shiloh all turned to him, big smiles on their faces.
What were they looking at? That photographer probably snapped a picture of he and Aspen arguing. Lord knew they’d done it enough during the reception.
When Aspen swung her gaze to his, he saw she was rattled.
“Let me see.” He shifted to the edge of the sofa and set aside his drink to take the leather album that Aspen held out to him.
He skimmed a few other photos on the pages before landing on the one that had the ladies shooting him sly smiles.
It wasn’t Faye tripping to get to the bouquet.
He and Aspen were dancing. She was in the wreath of his arms, and though he knew for a fact they’d been arguing at the time, the way he was looking at her made it obvious that he was attracted to her.
He handed the book back to her. “You’re gorgeous, princess. I could see it even then.”
Her eyes softened, melting at his, and a tender smile played around the corners of her plump lips.
Aspen directed her attention to Shiloh. “I’m really sorry to crash all these photos. Everyone kept urging me to get in.”
“That’s because the way Colt was looking at you made everyone believe you were with him. And it’s totally great that you’re in the photos.”
“I wasn’t there to crash your event.”
Oaks cleared his throat. “Speaking of events. Are we going to talk about what happened to you guys while we were on our honeymoon?”
Colt knocked back the rest of his whiskey, hoping the burn would wipe out some of the memories. He had plenty of memories from battle that he never wanted to revisit, but it would take a long time before he stopped having nightmares of almost losing Aspen.
Waking in a sweat, heart racing, to find her sleeping calmly beside him helped. A lot. In time, he knew the nightmares would fade and he’d be able to put it all behind him.
“The window’s getting replaced in the Tahoe cabin tomorrow.”
Oaks arched a brow. “I figured you and I’d go out and do the work ourselves.”
He waved a hand. “What good is it having money if we can’t use it to make life easier? I didn’t figure you wanted to leave your new wife, and I don’t want to travel so soon after all that happened either.”
“Home sweet home.” Oaks threw him a knowing smile.
“Speaking of home. Aspen and I are going to take over the guestroom. Redecorate.”
Willow grinned from ear to ear. “It was always your room anyway, Colt. You and Aspen should make it comfortable for yourselves.”
They’d discussed staying at the ranch for a little while. She could run her business from anywhere in the world, and neither of them were ready to be parted. Not after they just found each other.
After the shift in topics, the mood in the room lightened. Aspen pushed from her kneeling position and moved in front of him, hand out.
Without a care what any member of his family thought, he slipped his hand into hers. “Well, guys, it’s been nice.”
Carson and Oaks flashed knowing smiles. In the corner, on the far edge of the group, Gray sat nursing his drink. He hadn’t offered much to the conversation. In fact, he was silent and sullen—probably similar to how Colt had been when he first left the military.
Gray didn’t know what to do with himself after his recent decision to exit the only life he knew. All of the brothers in this room could identify. Gray would be all right in time. Later on, Colt would make it a point to get him alone and give him the ear he probably needed.
Aspen gave his hand a little tug, and he offered her a heated look, allowing her to lead him out of the living room.
As soon as they reached the bedroom, he pulled her flush against him. Before she could tell him her reason for coming in here, he claimed her mouth for his own.
The seeking kiss morphed into a deep one throbbing with harnessed passion. He plundered her with passes of his tongue. She raked her fingers through his hair and rocked her body into his hardening cock.
All at once, she twisted away from the kiss and stepped back, panting. When she slipped her fingers through her curls to rearrange them, she actually did the opposite and mussed them further, giving her a thoroughly loved look.
He hooked an arm around her middle, dragging her back to him. “What did you want to come in here for if not for this?” He dipped his lips to her earlobe and delivered a flick of his tongue over the silky lobe.
She wiggled in his hold. “Not that. But”—she gasped, “it is nice!”
With a chuckle, he released her, waiting to hear what was on her mind. With Aspen, that could mean anything. Since the topic of discussion had been redecorating the room and making it their own when she chose to leave the gathering, he could only guess that was the reason.
He waved at the wall behind the bed. “You think we should paint?”
She shook her head. “You really want to talk about paint and colors?”
His eyes lidded. “You have something better in mind?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’d love to make this into a cozy space for us. A real retreat. That leads me to the thing I wanted to talk to you about.”
Searching her eyes, he couldn’t find any trace of worry in her direct gaze. Her green eyes were clear of fear or sadness that he’d seen too much of in them recently.
“I’m listening.”
“Um. I need just a minute. Okay?”
He laughed at her sudden flustered words. “Okay.”
“Don’t go anywhere.” She rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door.
He stood there staring at the door for a moment before drifting to the bed. He sank to the mattress and listened to the faint sounds coming from within.
When she whipped open the door, he stared at her in shock. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
Aspen wore a sexy red bikini. The tiny strings holding it up made his tongue loll out. And the miniature triangles covering her breasts had his cock growing even stiffer.
“Holy fuck. Princess, what’s going on?”
With a cute little push off the doorframe, she padded across the floor. Even her bare feet had him aching hard, and he’d never been turned on by that body part before.
In the crook of her arm, she cradled a leather portfolio.
“That looks familiar.” He nodded at the object. It was tied in a silk bow the same color as her bikini.
“Mm-hm.” She sauntered close enough for him to grab. But he was a good boy and held back.
“What’s this all about, princess?”
Tilting her face up to his, she smiled into his eyes. She presented the portfolio to him in the same way she’d handed off the honeymoon one at the wedding meant for Oaks and his bride.
He took it from her. Upon closer inspection, he realized the bow wasn’t a bow at all. His cock surged against the fly of his jeans. “A thong?”
“Untie it and look inside.”
“I’d like to do something else right now.”
She stomped her foot. “Colt! Play along please.”
He tugged at the knotted thong, and it sprang free. Dangling it on one finger, he held it up for closer inspection.
“Colt!”
He laughed along with her and dropped the thong to the mattress so he could give his full attention to the portfolio.
Aspen hovered over his shoulder. “What you’ll see is a plan for a real getaway. Not a cabin or hot springs. A real couple’s trip.”
He skimmed the brochure and photographs layered with a printed itinerary for an exotic bungalow while his heart thumped at the fact that he was actually in a relationship with Aspen. They were a real couple, something he never thought he’d have.
“Well?” She bounced a little on her toes.
“I love it, princess. I really do. I can’t wait to be alone with you, to spend quality time together.”
She let out a small squeal and threw her arms around him. “I was worried it wasn’t your thing.”
“Anything that includes you is my thing.” He slid his hand down her spine. When he reached her ass, he stilled.
“Goddamn, woman. I need to see more of this.” He tossed the portfolio on the bed and circled her to stare at her bare ass in the thong bikini.
Swiping his hand over his face, he let out a groan. “We’re going to celebrate our trip. Now.”
“Now?”
“Right fucking now. Get on your hands and knees, and put that gorgeous ass in the air. I’m going to peel that thong off you, and unwrap you like a package. Then worship every inch of you with my tongue.”
“Hell yes!” She spun to face him, crushing her lips to his and hooking one bare thigh around his hip.
The kiss spiraled out of control for long minutes. When they came up for air, she studied his face, her heart in her eyes. “I love you, Colt Malone.”
“I’m the happiest man alive. I never thought I’d find love, but here you are.” He walked his fingers down her spine again to cup her glorious bare ass in one hand and her breast in the other.
When he spun her to the mattress and guided her to her hands and knees in the position he craved, she issued a throaty laugh, shooting him a come-and-get-me look over her shoulder. “My hunky SEAL…cowboy…bodyguard. Let’s get this celebration started.”
In that moment, Colt knew that whatever challenges lay ahead of them, they would face them together—stronger, braver…and with their hearts wide open to love.