Epilogue
“You know it’s time for your annual supper in bed. Now get in there.” Wynonna waved at the door to Mav’s sleeping quarters, which he’d given up for her room in the big house right after putting the ring on Wynonna’s finger.
He groaned. “Why do we have to remember the night of the tractor accident when you brought me supper in bed?”
“Because,” she wiggled by him and opened the door, juggling a tray of her momma’s good cornbread and chili on one hand and two glass bottles in another, “it’s the event that brought us together. If you hadn’t tipped that tractor over on yourself and scared the bejeezus outta me, you never would have come to admit you love me.”
He entered the room and closed the door. It smelled slightly musty, with nobody using the space these days.
They looked at the mattress. “I much prefer your comfy bed. Just haven’t gotten used to your momma catching me coming from the shower in my towel,” he said.
She giggled. “She’s seen it all over the years.”
“With you, I don’t doubt.” He hooked a finger in the neckline of her tank top and reeled her close. “How ‘bout some dessert before the main course?”
“Nuh-uh. The chili will be cold, and so will the cornbread.”
“’kay, fine, but you know this tradition cannot continue without us reliving every bit.” After she’d fed him a supper in bed, he’d pulled her down and made love to her until the light of dawn seeped into the windows.
A shiver of desire swept her up. She stared at her handsome husband and wondered if she’d ever get enough of him. Not ever, with her raging hormones.
“Get in bed.”
“Not unless you get in with me.”
They looked at each other before shucking their boots like kids. They shared a grin and crawled under the cover, which she’d just freshly washed and placed here that morning.
He dragged the tray up over his knees and looked at the chili. “Wonder how fast a person can eat chili?”
“You’re in that much of a hurry to have me under you?”
He raised a brow. “I’m in that much of a hurry to be inside you. Hand me one of them beers and let’s dig in.”
She held up two bottles. One was beer and one cream soda.
He blinked at them for a second. “You want the beer? I’ll drink the soda.”
“No. I got it for me.”
“But you love a cold one after a long day.”
“I know.” She twisted off the cap. “But I can’t drink it.”
“Can’t…?” He froze as realization struck. He gaped at her. “You’re…”
She nodded. “Havin’ your baby.”
“Baby? Holy shit, Wyn, are you serious?” He nearly tossed the tray and bowls of chili to the floor, but she rescued it in time and placed it at their feet so he could gather her up in his arms.
As soon as she settled against his chest, she dragged in a happy sigh. “So you’re good with it?”
“I can’t process it yet, but yes. I am. Come here, honey, and let me kiss those lips.”
She tilted her face up, expecting the passion and heat that had started the child growing in her belly in the first place. Instead, he cradled the back of her head and plundered her slowly and thoroughly. The stirrings low in her belly made her realize she was sitting on his cock, and he was growing hard.
“God, Wynonna.” He rested his forehead against hers for a moment. “Thank you.”
She smiled, her heart full to bursting with love for everything in her life, and especially this man. Her family was whole and healthy, and continuing to grow as her sisters-in-law tried to compete for the same due date. And the ranch was thriving, especially her horses. She’d dropped out of the rodeo a year before, but Buck had recently called it quits, along with his ropin’ partner. Asher and his new wife were busy raising his two girls from a previous marriage and a new little boy.
And the Calhouns were in negotiations for a final season contract for the Rope ‘n Ride show. It would be sad on some levels—an end of an era. Yet new sprouts came from tilled soil.
She bracketed Mav’s face in her hands and they shared a smile. He sneaked his hand between them and covered her stomach with his big, warm palm. She knew he’d protect his child and any that came after all the days of his life. And her as well—when he wasn’t busy arguing with her just to have makeup sex, that was.
“You ready to be called Daddy?”
“When?”
“September.”
“Close to your birthday?” he asked.
She nodded, and he groaned. “Momma said she got pregnant with me at the same time of year. Christmastime. You know, it must have happened Christmas Eve when you pinned me to the bed and showed me how to—”
He covered her mouth with hers in a hard kiss that showed she’d roused those passions again. “So I’ll have another little fiery girl to deal with.”
“Or boy.”
“Somethin’ tells me we’re in trouble.”
“You are.” She grabbed her hem and ripped her top overhead. Then she twisted to straddle him. “Ask me if I’m wearing panties.”
“Don’t need to. Because either way, you won’t be in two seconds.”
He pulled her down into a deep kiss and made a dozen new promises to love her before they came up for air. Mav trailed a hand down her belly, dotted with perspiration.
“What about the chili?” he asked.
“I was hopin’ you had plans for breakfast in bed.”
“Mmm.” He rolled atop her again. “That I do, honey.”
THE END