Epilogue
Laney
THREE MONTHS LATER
Mmm. My eyes squeeze tight as pleasure explodes between my thighs and shoots up my spine. I love it when Ayden wakes me up with his mouth on my clit and his fingers inside me.
“Louder, baby. You know Wilder likes hearin’ you.”
His amused tone has me smacking his head.
“Not funny,” I murmur, spreading my legs wider. Thank goodness Serena spent the night with Mallory or we’d have to be quiet like normal. We definitely weren’t last night.
As he flattens his tongue over my pussy, he thrusts faster until a shiver rolls through me. I teeter on the edge as he blows air over my clit, causing me to moan out in desperation.
“You gonna come for me, darlin’?” His tongue circles over me, slow and teasing.
“Don’t stop. I’m so close,” I beg, arching my hips to meet his greedy mouth.
Just as the buildup surfaces, Ayden’s phone on the nightstand rings.
“No,” I whine, the unexpected sound causing me to lose my orgasm.
“Shit, it’s Garrett,” he mutters, reaching over to grab it.
“Don’t you dare—”
“Hey, boss. What’s up?”
He fucking answered it.
Ayden smirks at my pouty face, positioning the phone against his ear and shoulder. Then he kneels between my thighs again and flicks my clit.
What the hell is he doing?
“No, it’s fine. I’m just havin’ breakfast.” He shoots me a wink, and I furiously shake my head.
“Don’t you dare!” I whisper-hiss, wiggling away.
He grabs my hip and keeps me pinned down on the bed. With his eyes fixated on mine, he shoves two fingers inside, and I gasp.
“Yeah, sure. Gimme twenty to finish eatin’ and clean up. Then I’ll meet ya out there.”
Ayden continues finger-fucking me as I try desperately to hold back from making any noise. He makes it nearly impossible when his thumb adds pressure on my clit, and I cover my mouth with my hand to silence my moans.
I could easily get out of his hold if I wanted to, but he owes me an orgasm, and I’m not letting him leave until he gives me one.
“Sounds good. See ya soon.”
When he finally hangs up, he tosses the phone and twists his wrist to fill me deeper. “Scream for me, Laney. I want my face covered in your pussy juices so I can taste it all day while I’m gone.”
And that does it for me.
Ayden’s filthy mouth has only gotten dirtier since we were teenagers. He worships my body like I’m his favorite painting and it’s the only one of its kind.
“Oh my God, that was intense,” I breathe out, panting my way through each word. “I can’t believe you answered your phone.”
He licks his lips, then cleans off the two fingers that were deep inside me.
“I wasn’t about to let my boss get in the way of my favorite part of the day.”
I roll my eyes, swinging my legs off the bed.
“Wait. There’s a new tradition I want to start.”
He carefully pulls me back down on the mattress and speaks to my stomach. “And good mornin’ to you too, little one. Don’t mind your mama’s screams. She likes it. I promise.”
Grinning, I shake my head at his ridiculousness. My heart squeezes at how excited he is already. We only found out two days ago when I took five pregnancy tests to be sure, but I already can’t wait to see him holding our newborn.
Ayden kisses above my belly button, then trails his mouth up to my breast and sucks on a nipple.
“Fuck, I wish we had time to finish this, but Garrett’s expecting me at the barn. New border today and they came early.”
“Damn. Guess you’ll just have to make it up to me tonight.”
His mouth crashes down on mine. “I will, future Mrs. Carson. And every night after that as long as I live.”
My heart flutters every time he calls me that. Ayden’s the only man I’ve ever loved and the only one I will until I die.
When he suggested we take a hike a few weeks ago, I was finally feeling better but wasn’t sure how far I’d be able to walk.
Then he told me we were gonna ride up there, which I hadn’t done yet since moving here.
I was excited, especially since I hadn’t been on a horse in years.
Not since I was little when my mom and Meemaw took me to a riding stable.
But then, he surprised me with a picnic setup off Sunset Trail, the same one he’d taken me to the first time.
I already thought this was a sweet romantic gesture, but then after we ate, he got down on one knee and gave me the surprise of a lifetime.
He held out a much-too-big engagement ring, and of course, I said yes.
We celebrated that evening with a big party at The Lodge with food and drinks.
I had no idea what was going on until I walked in, and they shouted surprise!
I teased him about being presumptuous about my answer to plan a surprise engagement party ahead of time.
Of course he knew what my answer would be.
I loved every minute of showing off my gorgeous new ring and gushing about finally tying the knot.
Ayden asked my mom for permission—as if he needed it—but he wanted to include her. He didn’t want Serena to be left out, so he bought a little promise ring to say he’d always be here.
Now that I’m pregnant, we’ve decided to elope and then plan a big reception for next summer after the baby is born.
I can’t wait to tell Serena she’ll finally be a big sister. When my mom visits for Thanksgiving in a few weeks, we’ll tell her and everyone else.
I watch as Ayden gets dressed, appreciating how sexy the tight Wrangler jeans and work boots look on him. Now I wish we had time to finish what he started.
“Don’t forget we’re meetin’ the contractors at four for a house update,” I tell him. Once we signed the loan and contracts, we started building our dream house. They estimated it’d take five months, but it’s on schedule to be done in four.
“I’ll be there.”
After getting ready, he gives me one last kiss and then flies out the door.
Instead of taking a shower, I soak in the bathtub before I have to go to work for a few hours.
Dena’s gift shop opened just in time for Halloween last month, and it’s been a huge success.
It’s open to the public seven days a week, and the guests love it.
Even those who aren’t staying at the retreat are stopping in to visit.
It took a couple of months for my ribs to heal fully, and they did right on time for me to start training.
When I get out of the tub, I stare at my naked body in the mirror and rub a hand over my belly.
I’m probably only five or six weeks along, but I can’t wait for my stomach to grow.
Ayden missed out on so much the first time, as did I without him, so I can’t wait to experience this pregnancy as a family now.
Once I get dressed and ready for the day, I text Dena to check on Serena.
She isn’t back home yet, and I have a feeling she won’t be until this evening.
She’s obsessed with the ranch and spends her weekends with Mallory and Noah.
She loves watching them train, and in between, they give her riding lessons.
At first, it made me nervous as hell, but she’s getting the hang of it and is good at listening to their instructions.
Dena
The girls ate breakfast an hour ago, then ran off with Noah. They wanted to watch her do some tricks on Donut.
I thank her for the update, then do some housework before driving to the gift shop. Since my car got damaged in the explosion, I was able to get a new SUV that’ll fit all of us, including a car seat.
“Hey, Laney,” Tripp greets when I walk in. He must’ve swung by after doing cabin call at the receptionist’s desk, or he’s filling in for someone.
“How’s it goin’?” I ask.
“Steady, as usual. I swung by to help with the rush, but now that you’re here, I can take off.”
I walk behind the checkout counter and toss my bag underneath. “Feel free to stay. Unload some boxes, do some inventory.”
He gives me a deadpan expression, and I laugh at his lack of amusement.
I flash him a smile, hoping he’ll stick around at least through the rush. He rolls his eyes, finally agreeing.
As I ring up customers, he wraps the glassware and bags everything. Tripp’s only a couple of years older than Noah and also trains horses, but he has a lot of random responsibilities on the ranch. I know he’s probably needed elsewhere, so once the line dies down, I tell him he can go.
“I’ll do this last one for ya,” he says.
A woman who looks entirely out of her element with a large sun hat and sunglasses approaches. Her dark hair surrounds her face, and I notice her large designer bag and jacket.
“How can I help you?” I ask in my best customer service tone.
“Hello, Laney,” she says, then removes her sunglasses, and that’s when I recognize her.
Holy shit.
Tripp must notice my shocked expression and leans into me. “Who’s that?”
I swallow hard, staring wide-eyed at Ayden’s mother. “Mrs. Carson.”
“I go by my maiden name now. You can call me Ms. Reynolds.”
“Of course.” I bite out a smile of unease. “What can I help you with?”
Ayden cashed her half-a-million-dollar check and spent it to buy land and build our home. If she suddenly wants it back, we don’t have it.
“Well, for starters, I’d like to meet my granddaughter. And see my son.”