Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
COLE
The first thing I’m aware of is morning light streaming through my curtain. The next thing I feel is heat. It takes me a full minute to remember my own name. The only thing I know for sure is I’m happy. Like, really fucking happy. My heart’s hammering, and I can’t stop grinning.
Reine is draped over my chest, one leg tossed across both of mine, her cheek pressed against my pec.
She’s snoring lightly, which I find adorable.
Wild chocolate strands stick up in all different directions and tickle my chin.
I smooth a hand down her back, breathing in her unique citrusy vanilla scent.
My wife.
The thought explodes through my mind as I stare down at my left hand, blinking at the simple gold band sitting on my finger. Fuck, I’ve never been this goddamn happy.
I shift a little, trying not to wake her, but she immediately stirs and tightens her hold, mumbling into my skin, “It’s too fucking early.” Her grumble is sexy as all hell.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing and just hold her tighter. “It’s actually pretty late, Mrs. Carrington,” I whisper back. My hand drifts to her hip, tracing the perfect line of her waist, up to the curve of her bare shoulder. She shivers, sending a pulse of hunger straight to my cock.
“I love the sound of that.” She snuggles closer, rubbing her luscious curves against my rock-hard cock.
“Me too.” I nuzzle my nose along the side of her neck, breathing her in. She tastes like home. Like everything I ever wanted and never thought I’d have. I can’t help grinning like a total maniac as I kiss her shoulder, just soaking in the fact that this is real.
“I’m having a little trouble believing we hopped on your family jet and flew straight to Vegas for a quickie wedding yesterday.” She leans back and stares into my eyes. “It all just feels like a dream.”
I know. I still can’t wrap my head around it, either. One minute, we were hustling through the airport with Grams and Hudson, and the next, we were getting married in a little chapel on the Las Vegas strip. “You don’t regret not having a fancy ceremony, do you?”
“God, no.” My wife snuggles closer to my side. “The little ceremony we had with just Grams and Hudson as witnesses was perfect.” I’m glad she thinks so. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure my wife is happy.
My phone buzzes on the bedside table, and I roll over to see I have a message from Hudson.
Huddie Poo
Get your ass over here before Grams takes over.
Me
Don’t tell me the big, bad Hudson Carrington is scared of one little old lady.
Huddie Poo
Get your ass over here, or I’ll tell her you called her an old lady.
Fuck. I can’t believe I gave him that kind of ammunition over me. Falling in love really has scrambled my goddamn brain. I drop my phone on the bedside table and turn back to my wife. “We need to get up and get dressed. Hudson needs someone to rescue him from Grams.”
Reine throws back her head and laughs. “Please tell me your brother isn’t scared of one little old lady.”
“He’s terrified.” I laugh and roll out of bed. “Come on, Montana, it’s time for you to meet my family.”
Our quick shower turns into a marathon lovemaking when Reine's lips find mine under the shower spray.
Her wet body slides against me as I press her against the tile wall. "We should hurry," I murmur against her neck, but she’s too goddamn tempting. I end up exploring every luscious curve. Twice.
Forty minutes later, I'm toweling off when my phone lights up for the fifth time.
Huddie Poo
SERIOUSLY. Stop ignoring my texts and get your ass over here.
"Your brother again?" Reine asks, wrapping her hair in a towel.
“Yep. He's losing his mind." I smirk at her as we dress.
Outside, the morning sun glints off my truck. I open Reine's door, stealing a kiss as she climbs in. My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I leave it there. Hudson can survive Grams for the five minutes it takes to drive to the main house.
We barely park before Hudson yanks the front door open. He’s standing there, jaw tight, boots planted wide, and I can already tell he’s about two seconds from losing his mind. “About fucking time,” he growls, but there’s relief in his eyes when he sees I brought backup.
My wife squeezes my hand, and I wink at her as we walk up. “Sorry to keep you waiting, big brother. I thought you assured me you’d have no problem occupying a little old lady for one night?” I throw his words back at him, straight-faced.
My brother just glares at me. “She realized I have a channel that plays Wheel of Fortune twenty-four hours a day. Do you have any idea how many episodes we’ve watched since yesterday?”
I try not to laugh, but Reine totally loses it, snorting behind her hand. Grams pops up behind Hudson and waves us inside. “I had no idea you could watch any game show ever made any time you want.” She just about vibrates from happiness.
We barely step in the door when I hear a truck pull up in the driveway. Tanner barrels in the door like a tornado. “Is this the woman who Cole managed to corral?” He grins at Reine, then grabs her in a bear hug before she has time to brace herself. “Welcome to the family, darlin’.”
My jaw clenches tight enough to crack teeth as I wedge myself between them, my shoulder bumping Tanner back a step. The muscles in my forearms flex as my fists ball at my sides.
"Greedy asshole." Tanner's eyes dance with mischief as he glances past me to Reine. "He never was any good at sharing."
Heat crawls up my neck as I plant my palm square on his chest, pushing him back another inch. “And I’m not about to start now.” My other arm slides around Reine, pulling her against my side, where the scent of her soothes me.
Before Reine can catch her breath, the front door bangs open again. Maggie, Todd, and Silas all stroll in. Maggie pulls Reine in for a quick hug. "I’m so happy to finally meet you!"
“Happy to meet you, too.” Reine holds her own with my crazy family. She meets each member and, in turn, introduces them to Grams.
My girl handles the chaos like a pro. I can’t help but stare at the way she moves, all confidence and sass, and charms the socks off of all of my siblings. I thank my lucky fucking stars she’s mine.
That afternoon, we fire up the grill. Hudson insists on manning the steaks, but the rest of us aren’t about to let the chance slide by without giving him hell. Tanner starts it, obviously. “Watch out, Huddie Poo, don’t burn ‘em again—you know what happened last Fourth of July.”
Grams jumps in to take up for Hudson. “Leave Huddie alone,” she growls at Tanner. “He’s doing a stellar job manning the grill.” Fuck. I can’t believe my asshole brother actually won over Grams.
Reine stands beside me, blue eyes bright as she watches the mayhem.
She fits right in, laughing her ass off when Tanner tells some filthy joke at Hudson’s expense.
I wrap an arm tight around her waist, loving how sweet she feels pressed against me.
My wife. My life. I’m not letting her go, not for anything.
“I love you, Montana,” I murmur against her temple.
“I love you, too.” She leans back and laughs, and I swear my heart is seconds from exploding right out of my chest. I don’t even care that my entire family is watching; I grab the back of her head and kiss her right there in the goddamn backyard.
My crazy siblings hoot and whistle. Tanner yells, “Get a room!” and Silas makes a gagging noise, but none of it matters.
All I can think about is the taste of my wife’s mouth, the way she melts against me.
I pull back and pull her tight as I watch the chaos explode around us. Reine fits like she’s been here forever. Even Grams has found her people. She and my sister Maggie are already plotting, heads together, and I’m pretty sure I hear the words “bingo night” and “bourbon slushies” float over.