Chapter 15 #3
All these people who love us, who fought for us, who are genuinely happy for us.
Dad cuts in eventually, and Shadow gracefully steps aside to let my father dance with me.
"You happy, baby girl?" Dad asks as we sway together.
"So happy, Daddy."
"Good." He's quiet for a moment. "I'm proud of you, you know, even if I don’t always tell you."
"Thanks, Daddy."
"You did good, Grace. Real good. Shadow's a good man. He'll take care of you."
"I know he will."
"And if he doesn't—"
"Dad." I laugh. "He will. I promise."
The song ends, and Shadow reclaims me immediately. Possessive, claiming, making it clear to everyone that I'm his.
I don't mind at all.
The party continues for hours. Stories get told, drinks get drunk, laughter echoes through the clubhouse and out into the Texas night.
But eventually, Shadow leans down and whispers in my ear, "Can we go home? I want you alone."
Heat floods through me at the promise in his voice. "Yes."
We make our rounds saying goodnight—thanking Mom for organizing everything, hugging Dad, promising Dakota we'll have lunch soon, saying goodbye to Shiver and Siren who are heading back to Vegas tomorrow.
Then we're in the truck, driving back to our house under a sky full of stars.
"That was perfect," I say.
"It was," Shadow agrees. "Your mom did good."
"She did." I look at him in the dashboard lights. "But I'm ready to be alone with my husband now."
Shadow's hand tightens on the steering wheel. "Yeah. Me too."
The house is quiet when we get home.
Charlie greets us enthusiastically, tail wagging, spinning in circles, but after some pets and a quick trip outside, she settles on her bed in the living room.
Shadow locks the front door, and when he turns to me, the look in his eyes makes my breath catch.
Predatory. Possessive. Hungry.
"Grace."
That's all he says. Just my name.
But the way he says it—like a prayer, like a promise, like a claim—makes heat pool low in my belly.
I walk to him slowly, deliberately, and take his hand. "Bedroom. Now."
We make it to the bedroom, and then Shadow's kissing me—deep, demanding, consuming.
His hands are everywhere, pulling at my dress, needing skin.
I help him, stripping off the dress, letting it pool at my feet.
I'm in just my bra and panties now, and Shadow's eyes drag over me like he's memorizing every inch.
"Beautiful," he murmurs, his voice rough. "You're so fucking beautiful."
I reach for his cut, carefully remove it, hang it over the chair—this symbol of everything he fought to get back.
Then I unbutton his shirt, push it off his shoulders, expose his tattooed chest.
My name. Right there on his ribs, permanent.
I trace the letters with my fingers, and Shadow's breath hitches.
"Grace."
"Shadow."
I push him backward until his legs hit the bed, and he sits. I climb onto his lap, straddling him, and the position puts us eye to eye.
"I love you," I say, cupping his face in my hands.
"I love you too."
I kiss him, slow and deep, taking my time.
His hands come up to my waist, holding me steady, and I can feel him hard beneath me.
I roll my hips, grinding against him, and Shadow groans.
"Darlin', you're killing me."
"Good."
I reach behind me, unhook my bra, let it fall away.
Shadow's eyes go dark immediately, drawn to my breasts—full, heavy, my nipples already hard and aching for his touch.
"Fuck," he breathes, his hands coming up to cup them, his thumbs brushing over my nipples.
I gasp at the sensation, arching into his touch.
"So perfect," Shadow murmurs, lowering his head to take one nipple into his mouth.
The wet heat of his mouth on my sensitive flesh makes me cry out.
He sucks hard, teases with his tongue, teeth grazing just enough to make me squirm in his lap.
His hands knead my breasts, strong fingers working my nipples while his mouth worships first one, then the other.
I'm panting, grinding against him, desperate for more friction, more sensation, more everything.
"Shadow, please—"
He releases my nipple with a wet pop, looking up at me with eyes gone almost black with desire. "Please what?"
"I need you. Now."
"Then take what you need, darlin'."
I reach between us with trembling hands, unbuckle his belt, unbutton his jeans.
Shadow lifts his hips to help me push them down along with his boxers, and then there's nothing between us except my panties.
I strip them off quickly, and Shadow's hands immediately go to my hips, my thighs, my ass—squeezing, kneading, exploring every curve of my body like he can't get enough.
"Love your body," he growls, his voice rough with need. "Every soft curve. Every inch. These hips, this ass, these perfect tits. You're perfect, Grace. Absolutely fucking perfect."
I position myself over him, and slowly—so slowly—sink down onto his hard cock.
We both groan at the sensation. Perfect. Complete. Home.
I start to move, riding him slow and deep, my hands braced on his shoulders for balance.
Shadow's hands are on my hips, then sliding up to my waist, then back to my breasts, unable to stop touching me.
"That's it," he murmurs, watching my breasts bounce with each movement. "Just like that. Take what you need, darlin'. Use me."
I lean forward slightly, change the angle, and gasp at how deep he feels like this.
"There?" Shadow asks, thrusting up to meet me, hitting that perfect spot inside. "Right there?"
"Yes. God, yes."
His hands cup my breasts again, thumbs circling my nipples, and the dual sensation of him deep inside me and his hands on my sensitive flesh is almost too much.
I ride him faster, harder, chasing the pleasure building inside me.
My breasts bounce with the movement, and Shadow's eyes are locked on them, his hands kneading the soft flesh, his thumbs working my hard nipples relentlessly.
"So beautiful like this," he groans, his voice strained. "Riding me, these perfect tits bouncing, your curves—fuck, Grace, you're perfect. So fucking perfect."
His words push me higher. I change the angle again, leaning back slightly, and suddenly he's hitting that spot inside me with every thrust.
"Shadow—I'm close—"
"Look at me," he demands, his voice rough and commanding.
I open my eyes, meet his gaze, and the intensity there—the love, the possession, the absolute devotion—takes my breath away.
"Mine," he says, one hand leaving my breast to grip my hip, helping me move faster, harder. "You're mine, Grace. Say it."
"Yours," I gasp, my body climbing higher and higher. "Always yours."
"Say it again."
"I'm yours, Shadow. Forever. Only yours. Always."
That does it. Shadow's control snaps completely.
He flips us suddenly—I'm on my back and he's above me, still inside me, driving into me hard and deep and relentless.
His mouth finds my breast again, sucking hard on my nipple while he pounds into me.
The sensation is overwhelming—his cock hitting that perfect spot deep inside, his mouth hot and demanding on my sensitive nipple, his hand kneading my other breast roughly.
"Mine," he growls against my skin. "My wife. My Grace. Mine."
"Yours," I cry out, my nails digging into his back, leaving marks I know he'll wear proudly. "Yours, yours, yours."
The pleasure builds impossibly higher, coiling tighter and tighter in my core, and then I'm shattering, crying out his name as waves of pleasure crash over me.
Shadow follows immediately, groaning my name as he comes deep inside me, his body shuddering with the force of it.
We collapse together, sweaty and gasping and completely satisfied.
Shadow rolls to the side carefully, pulling me with him so I'm tucked against his chest.
His hand cups my breast possessively, his thumb lazily circling my nipple as we come down from the high.
"I love you," he says quietly, his voice rough and sated.
"I love you too."
We lie there in silence, our breathing slowly returning to normal, and I trace idle patterns on his chest—over his tattoos, his scars, the evidence of the life he's lived.
"Shadow?"
"Yeah, darlin'?"
"Thank you. For everything. For fighting for me. For protecting me. For loving me enough to give up everything."
He kisses the top of my head, his arms tightening around me. "Thank you for choosing me. For choosing this life with your eyes open. For being strong enough to survive it and thrive in it."
"I'd choose you again. A thousand times."
"Me too, darlin'. Me too."
I close my eyes, content and safe and loved in a way I never thought possible.
Tomorrow, we'll wake up and continue building our life together. The ranch. My practice. His club duties. Our future is stretching out before us.
Maybe someday, kids. A family of our own to raise on this land.
But tonight, I just want to lie here in my husband's arms and be grateful.
For survival. For safety. For love.
For Shadow.
My enforcer. My protector. My husband.
Mine.
Forever.