“Adilynn,” Brantley’s groan of pleasure is music to my ears. The feel of his rough, impatient hands in my hair is soothing as I slide to my knees on the shower stall floor. “You’re going to be late.” He hisses out a breath when the feel of my tongue flicks out to lick the head of his hard cock.

The flavor of him on my tongue gets me off faster than anything else can. Unless he’s inside of me. Then I’m completely done for.

“I won’t be,” I promise. My voice husky with desire.

“Flicka,” there’s a warning to his tone as I wrap my lips around the head of him. Sucking and flicking with my tongue, I feel his body strain with the need to take over. He loves to be in control, and this is the one and only time he allows me to take the lead.

“Mmmm,” I moan against him, letting him feel the vibrations up and down his hardness as I slowly suck him deep into my mouth. His hand's fist in my hair, struggling not to tug me closer.

Scraping my nails up and down his thighs I start a slow pace, giving him just enough to set him on edge as water cascades down both our bodies. Closing my eyes, I savor the warmth of him as I pull back, the veins pulsing against my tongue with his every breath.

Sucking him back I can feel the throbbing between my own legs intensify, and I tighten my core to try and hold back my own pleasure. I wanted this to be for him, a thank you for everything he’s done for Luke and me.

I love pleasing my man as often as I can, especially when I see him in the shower, wet, hard, aching for the feel of me wrapped around him in one way or another.

This past year has been a whirlwind of emotional highs and lows with the engagement and quickie wedding on New Year’s Eve. Selling the farm to Faith had been harder than I anticipated because my mother didn’t have the deed notarized before signing it over, so all debts fell on her. When the bank couldn’t find her, the house went into foreclosure and Faith was able to get it for a steal of a deal this past summer.

Luke took his team for its first championship in over twenty years at the end of football season in the spring, and I couldn’t be prouder of the young man he’s turning into. He’s been working hard to keep his grades up while excelling as a quarterback. Scouts have even been watching him. One from Notre Dame even told me he’s one to watch for over the next few years.

I couldn’t be happier with my little family than I am at this moment. Even Thunder has taken such a liking to Brantley that he’s the only male the animal will let near him. He’s not 100% yet, but he’s getting there. Drew and I have faith he’ll keep recovering from his trauma.

“Ady,” Brantley’s growl is full of impatience. “I told you not to tempt me. That all this is for your pretty little pussy. I want a baby in you before the year is up, now knock that shit off.” I smile as I swallow his cock again before slowly dragging my lips down and off his length.

“Whatever you want.” My giggle as he picks me up and slams my back against the shower wall turns into cries of pleasure when he slams his manhood into my core with an aggressive thrust. “Ohhh.”

“That’s a good girl.” He shudders against me as his hips piston in and out of my heat. With each pump of his hips, I lift my hips into him. Feeling the depths he goes, I know it won’t be long before I come apart.

“Brantley,” I groan into his neck, nipping the flesh as his thrusts slow down before picking up speed again.

I can feel myself clenching around him, sucking him deeper into my body as his breathing grows deep with his impending release.

“Fuck Ady, you feel so good.”

Together we explode into a state of orgasmic bliss to rival anything we’ve done before. My body tingles in a delicious way as he keeps moving in me. I can feel the warmth of his seed as he pushes it deeper into my body. The hopes of planting a baby high for us both.

“I love you.” His words are soft and sweet. They always are after we make love, no matter how quick and dirty it gets.

“I love you too.” I can’t help but smile lazily as he releases me, and I glide down his body. My nipples brushing his chest hair have a shiver working through me.

With a tap on my ass and a kiss on the nose, he tells me, “get cleaned up, and ready or you will be late.” I watch his muscular ass as he leaves until I can’t see him anymore and sigh. Starting back to school over the summer after Drew threatened to withdraw his clinic from their courses and no longer make yearly donations, they took me back as long as I finished the classes I missed over the summer. So, while it’s been an exhausting few months, it’s been well worth it, and now I’m back on track to earn my assistant veterinary degree in another two years’ time.

“You’re still getting Luke today?” I call out to him. With no practice, I won’t be there in time to pick him up even though I’m working in Drew’s clinic in town. I have to stay until closing every day this week for my practicum.

“I got him.” His head pops back in the bathroom with a grin as his eyes devour me while I’m soaping up my body. “I’ll have you later.” With a wink, he’s gone, and I’m tingling all over again.

Our life is good, great even. Far better than I ever imagined I would have when I was a girl and dreaming of getting away. When I pictured my white knight, he was in a faraway land, with walls built high as the treetops. Never did I anticipate a hometown cowboy would change my mind with the sweetest love I’ve ever known.

* * *

Standing on the outside looking in gives me a sense of déjà vu as I watch Adilynn in the corral Thunder once called home with Sand Stone. She’s been working tirelessly for years rehabilitating the broken creature.

After almost four years of hard work, bruised limbs, and many curses–from me–my wife has the horse ready for her new owner.

Little Christine Marbury is gearing up for her first barrel race, and she insists Sand Stone is the only horse that can do it with her. Like Thunder, Sand Stone took a shining to one person, and that happened to be our little girl from almost the moment Darrell brought her to us four years ago.

Adilynn has been working with her non-stop ever since. With Luke preparing to go to college at Notre Dame in the fall, she’s been more occupied than usual. Not wanting to say goodbye to her baby brother. I can’t say I blame her either, I’m pretty attached to the kid myself.

“Daddy!” The children in question come racing over at the mere thought of their names like normal.

“How’s she doing in there?” Luke asks with Christine on his shoulders, a place she loves to be.

“Said she was ready a month ago,” I tell him. My wife is nothing if not cautious where our girl comes in.

“Momma! Daddy says she’s ready for me!” Christine’s hands are around her mouth as she calls out. Her light blonde hair, and hazel eyes a perfect match to her mother. Two couldn’t be more alike if they tried. “Down please, Uncle Luke.”

As he helps her to the ground, he looks up to me. “You ready for this man? That horse could eat her tiny frame.”

“Eww Sand Stone won’t eat me, she loves me.” With that, the princess is off and running. Sand Stone dancing over to her as she climbs each rung. Adilynn there to help her down and showing her how to approach the horse, where to go, where not to stand. Christine absorbs it like a wet sponge. Her attention completely on what her mother is saying.

I still remember the day Adilynn told me she was finally pregnant. It’s been nearly six years to the day.

“Brantley?” Ady comes running from the bathroom looking pale in color but excited.

“Are you okay?” She’s been sick a lot lately, and it’s killing me not knowing what to do to help her.

“Look!” She waves a pink and white stick in my face with double pink lines, and it takes my brain a full minute to register what it is.

“You’re pregnant?” I stare at my wife in awe. We’ve wanted this for what feels like forever. I’ve been trying for over a year to plant my seed. “We’re having a baby?”

“We’re having a baby!” She screams at the top of her lungs.

“What is going on?” Luke and Pops are in the doorway. Sly looks on both of their faces.

“How’d you know?” I ask Pops.

He shrugs, “I just did. Been through this a time or two. Didn’t want to take your surprise away.” There’s a tear in his eye as he grins and walks away.

“A baby Ady?” Luke’s voice sounds just like mine, full of awe and wonder.

“A baby Luke.” She waits, poised for his rejection.

Luke walks over to her, drops to his knees, and makes a man fucking proud. “Hey there peanut, I’m your Uncle Luke. You’re going to have the best life.”

The kid wasn’t wrong.

“Am I ready for my little girl to get on a horse that hasn’t been ridden in years?” He raises a brow. “Not in the least.” Squeals of delight as Adilynn helps Christine onto the mare’s back, as the animal dances happily in place, no I’m not ready. “But damn does she look good up there.”

“That she does. You know she’s going to conquer every race there is on that horse, right?” The kid laughs as he walks away, his truck half packed and ready to leave for school on the weekend.

“Well, Brantley, what do you think? Will she be a star?” Adilynn smiles with more pride then the day we had Christine as she trots around the pen.

Life’s funny sometimes, you think you have everything in the world you want, then boom! You get smacked upside the head by a quiet blonde bombshell, and nothing makes sense. Your priorities shift and there right in your face like a beacon of hope is the one thing you know will always be your shining light.

“You did good flicka, real good.” We stand, watching, like the proud parents we are as the two race around the barrels in perfect harmony. Gold in their future.

* * *

For more than half my life I watched Ady struggle to accept her life. Who she is. For half my life I watched as a woman who was supposed to love us both, burned and rejected her at every chance. For my whole life I’ve been loved and supported so completely by that broken woman, I don’t miss the toxic presence that was my mother.

Adilynn has everything I ever wished for her and more. Brantley wasn’t just my brother-in-law, he was the father I never had. The friend I needed. The man I looked up to when I decided what I was going to do with my life.

Because of Brantley, I’m going to a college on a full academic scholarship. He told me that football wasn’t everything and I couldn’t predict the future. If I were to ever get injured, I’d lose the scholarship, my life, everything. He told me I needed a backup plan, and he was right.

Leaving the ranch after Christine hoped on Sand Stone left me feeling proud of where I come from. How our lives have turned out. With a 1400-mile drive ahead of me, I’m leaving the Running M Ranch with peace in my heart for myself, Adilynn, Christine.

I know Brantley will take care of them so I can find myself.

Who knows, maybe I’ll be as lucky in love as they were and find my soul mate early in my journey through life.