EIGHT

Nash

Crickets chirped through the hot night as my eyes drifted across the sea of bodies, gaze trained on the pretty curves of one girl and one girl only. When I finally caught a glimpse of her long waves bound tightly into two pigtails, a grin curved my lips.

Just about every goddamn person I’d met since the time I was twelve was here for the Fourth of July party Eden had whipped together, and still, I only had eyes for her.

I stalked across the party, thinking I’d soon as hell all these people just head home. It was coming up on midnight anyway. Fireworks done. Food finished. Keg nearly tapped. It was time for these people to adios so I could get some time with my girl.

My girl.

Hell, it’d felt damn good saying those two words the last month.

It all felt really fucking good.

Being able to wrap my arms around her whenever I wanted to.

And being with her every night. Naked. That was pretty fucking good too.

I slapped her on her sweet little ass, covered in short denim cutoffs, when I reached her a moment later.

She screamed and turned, her hand instantly falling on my cheek. Instead of slapping like she was pretending to do, she tapped softly, a slow grin curling her lips before she mouthed the word, “Later.”

My cock throbbed as every muscle in my body spiked with arousal, my fingers working the little hunk of metal currently burning a hole in my jeans pocket. “Don’t tease me, Tiger.”

“Now where would the fun be in that?” She beamed up at me before placing a kiss on my lips.

Before she could pull away, I pulled her tighter, forcing her legs up around my hips and holding her to me.

“Nash!” she laughed, lips still attached.

“Been hell watching you prance around in those little shorts all night,” I grunted, heading for the barn and my office. “You’d better be wearin’ panties, Eden.”

She only laughed in reply.

Goddammit.

If I had to place a bet at that moment, I’d bet she wasn’t.

“You’re going to kill me, woman.” I sucked at her neck. I froze in my steps just as we entered the barn, and I turned her against the rough wall. I pushed my jeans down my ass, hands already pulling her shorts down her thighs, when finally, after far too goddamn long, the tip of my cock slid against her searing pussy.

“Oh God. Please, Nash, hurry,” she pleaded.

I pushed in, driven on by her words, the frantic way her body was grinding against mine, like she was as desperate for me as I was her.

I buried myself to the limit inside her, my greedy hands shoving underneath her shirt to cup her full tit. “I’m gonna put my baby in you, Eden. If that’s what it takes to make you mine.”

Her hips worked faster, lips sucking at mine. I hummed as my hands trailed along her skin, the soft scent of her body beneath mine doing my head in. I pushed us down on a bale of hay, hands in her hair as I kissed my way down her nose, across her high cheekbones, licking along her jaw before finding her lips again. I shoved a hand in the pocket of my jeans and fished out the antique band, sliding it onto her left hand before she'd even noticed. “Marry me, Eden. Be my wife, live here with me, have my babies. God, I want lots of babies with you, Tiger.”

Her soft lips parted, eyes darting open as something down deep in my gut pulled at me.

“I…I…” Her eyes danced from the ring on her finger, sparkling in the dim light, and then to mine. Salty tears burst into the corners of her eyes. “Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening.”

I pushed the pad of my thumb against her lips, catching her breath. “I don't know much, Eden Sutherland, but the one thing I know to be true is that my love for you runs deeper than blood. Every waking moment I spend is with you on my mind, and every night, I’m dreaming about you, about us. Love you, Eden. Loved you all along. Just took me till seeing you again to figure it out.”

Tears finally spilled down her cheeks, her soft lips turning into a vibrant smile. “Yes. God, yes, Nash!”

I pressed my lips to hers before she could say another word, pumping my hips slowly as I lost myself and found myself all in the same go.

This woman was my everything, and nothing would ever stand in my way.

“I love you, Nash,” she breathed against my neck. I sucked on the soft skin between her tits, setting a new rhythm to our lovemaking. I had to show her what love felt like. Every last inch of it.

I snaked a thumb between us, swirling at her clit as soft waves of release pressed against my dick, milking my own orgasm from deep within my balls. My fingers sped up as my hips worked frantically, sending us both over the edge and panting together. Her body went soft, supple.

I loved her like this, all open for me.

Letting me in.

This was the only time she ever let anyone in, and I was fairly sure I was the only one who had ever been allowed in.

“Love you, Tiger,” I murmured against her neck, taking a few moments to come down before we faced all the people milling around our house.

Our house.

Eden was mine.

For good.

I’d been hanging on to my grandma's engagement ring. The first time I saw Eden again I knew it belonged to her. Only looked right seeing it on her finger now. “This was meant for you.”

I held her hand between us, admiring the heavy stone.

“It's the most stunning ring I've ever seen. It doesn't feel right, me wearin' it...”

“Cut the crap, Tiger. It belongs on you.” I sealed any more of her protesting with my lips.

We pulled away a few moments later. “I could use some ice cream.”

I grinned, sliding a palm over her stomach and teasing, “Pregnancy cravings start this early?”

“Shut up.” She swatted at my shoulder. “I’m going to make an appointment with the doctor for birth control. I just have to get my insurance switched over—”

“Like hell you are.” My hackles rose.

“Excuse me?” She pushed away, eyes narrowing.

“You heard me.”

“No, I don’t think I did. Because what I’m pretty sure I heard was you telling me what to do. And I know you wouldn’t go making that mistake again.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, thinking I had to play this smart.

We’d been having unprotected sex for over a month now. She obviously didn’t care that much about if I managed to put a baby in her…not that I was trying…except I kind of was. But to be fair, I’d been pretty upfront about that. Every single time we had sex.

Maybe she thought it was just dirty talk, but it was true, and that’s the reason it made me come harder than I ever dreamed I could. Eden made me lose all control, made me think things and want things I never knew I wanted.

Fast-forward to now.

“Great, so let’s get you an appointment this week, make sure everything's in—” I gestured up and down her form “—working order.” The doctor wouldn’t give her birth control without a pregnancy test first, right? This seemed like as solid a plan as any to keep me out of hot water, so I ran with it.

“Thanks.” She placed a soft kiss on my cheek then cuddled back into my arms.

Just then Eden’s phone rattled off a tune in the pocket of her cutoffs. I passed her the jeans, but she pushed it away. “I’m good just like this.”

“Pretty late at night for a phone call.”

Her eyes narrowed before she fished the phone out of the pocket and answered it. “Hello?”

I waited, hoping it was just a wrong number and we could head upstairs and start celebrating.

“Is he okay?” Frantic tears welled in Eden’s eyes.

Shit.

She swiped at the tears as she struggled to listen, sucking in a deep breath before she murmured, “Okay.”

She clutched at my arm, eyes tracking across the space between us.

I wasn’t sure what was exchanged in that moment, but I knew from then on out, things would be different.

“This is the best number. Thank you,” she finally said and hung up.

“What happened?”

“Colt. There was an accident. They didn’t say much, but he was hurt. He’s alive, he’s okay. A broken leg and arm, mild concussion, and a ton of bruises. It was an IED alongside his convoy, Nash.” Her fingers laced with mine, eyes watering.

“Jesus, where is he now?”

“In the air. They’re transporting him home. God, the accident happened over twenty-four hours ago. He’s already had surgery to repair three different breaks in his leg. Three!” Eden broke down into tears then, crumpling into my arms as I soothed her, whispering words in her ear and smoothing her hair.

“They said he’ll probably need physical therapy, but they think he’ll walk again.”

“That’s good news,” I whispered, chest aching with the knowledge that this was one pain I couldn't take away from her. “He can stay here until he’s a hundred percent. We’ll take care of him, Eden.”

“We?”

“Hell yes, we. Hell or high water, I’m right beside you, Eden. Always.” I pulled her knuckles to my lips, placing a kiss on her ring finger.

“I can’t ask that of you. Not now… I don’t know what’s in store, and you don’t deserve—”

“Don’t talk to me about what I deserve,” I breathed against her ear, hushing her anxiety. “I need you, I know that. I love you, never been more sure about anything in my life. I’m here for you and Colt, always will be. That won’t ever change.”

Soft tears welled in her eyes again. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much you mean to me too, Colt, since the time we were young. Coming here, spending time with your family were the best memories of my life.”

“Let’s make more memories, Tiger.” I licked at the salt tracking down her cheeks. “A million more.”