When my body finally falls flat against the bed, Clay makes his way up between my legs. He places himself at my entrance and pushes forward, letting out a sigh of relief. “You’re so wet for me,” he whispers against my lips. “You always feel so fucking good. So right.”
My nails dig into his back, egging him on. Right now, I’m greedy. I want all of him, forever. I never want to feel the coldness of his withdrawal. I want us connected as one for as long as possible.
He pushes into me slowly, deeply, rocking his hips at the exact right moment to tease that little spot inside of me. And that’s exactly what he does: tease me. Each time, he changes his rhyme, never allowing me to find my release, not until he’s ready.
“Clay, please,” I beg.
“Not until I say, Autumn.” He rocks against me again and the tingles start, but then he backs away, waits a moment, and repeats the process again.
“Clay, I’m going to explode.”
He chuckles deeply, the sound almost menacing. He’s enjoying this torture. Clay is always sweet and giving, but he has a dark side to him at times—times like this, when he wants to hold me in the palm of his hand, when he wants me begging and pleading, dying with need for him.
I tighten my muscles around him, and he lets out a groan. His hips begin to move quicker, more forcefully. My release is rising fast. If he’s not careful, it may just wash over me without warning. I dig my nails into his lower back, and he thrusts even deeper inside of me, finally pushing me over the edge. My muscles tighten and release around him with each wave of my orgasm. He lets out a powerful roar and explodes inside me, his hips twitching and his eyes pinching closed.
I can feel him pulsing inside of me, spewing with every jerk of his hips. He calls out my name as he spills his last drop. I wrap my arms around him and pull his head to my chest. He lays it against my heart as he catches his breath. I can feel how hard his lungs are heaving for oxygen,. His heart is pounding hard enough that I can feel it against my chest like it’s my own. His hands tangle into my hair as he lifts his head and presses his mouth to mine. He kisses me slow and soft and long. It isn’t rushed. He’s savoring the moment.
When he pulls away, his eyes land on mine. They’re deep blue, filled with love and passion. They remind me of the deepest, darkest part of the ocean, a place few have seen. “I love you, Autumn,” he whispers, running his thumb over my cheek, under my eye.
I can’t help the small smile that forms from hearing his words, words I never knew I wanted to hear so badly before. “I love you too,” I reply, reaching up to cup his jaw. He turns his head just in time to press a kiss to the palm of my hand.
When he pulls out of me, the cold takes over. I instantly roll to his side where he wraps his arm around me. I rest my head on his chest, listening to the deep rhythm of his heart, the sound of the air rushing in and out of his lungs. My right hand is resting on his stomach when his left hand moves to take it in his. His soft touch is something I’ll never get over. Even when Glenn was being soft, he wasn’t this soft. This is all so new to me. Everything feels foreign.
“How is this going to work between us?” I ask quietly as my fear of his answer consumes me.
“What do you mean?” His voice is strained in the darkness, almost like he’s afraid of this conversation too.
“Well, we’re having a baby. Are you wanting to move in here? Are you wanting to keep your place and just stay here from time to time?”
“I never want to leave you again,” he said, his hand rubbing up and down my back.
I look up and meet his eyes. “So, you’re moving in? We’re really doing this?”
He smiles. “Only if you’ll have me.”
I roll my eyes and playfully smack his chest. “Of course I want you.”
He laughs as he rolls to his side, putting us nose to nose. “I love you and Bryce, and I never want to be without you. Hell, I’ll even marry you if you want.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all that,” I joke, but it’s not a joke. I don’t know if I will ever be willing to get married again. If I do, it will be far in the future, after I’m actually divorced.
He laughs at my joke and pulls me closer. “All I need is you, Bryce, and this baby. My family.” He kisses the top of my head and I let his heat sink into me, warming the darkest, coldest parts of me that I thought would never feel warmth again. A lot has changed for me since meeting Clay. I thought I was broken, never to feel love again. I thought I was lost and alone, but he found me and saved me. He showed me the true meaning of love, life, and happiness. He showed me that there is never anything that you can’t come back from or overcome. He showed me the true meaning of family and trust. I know deep within my soul that I’ll never let him go. And thanks to all these lessons he’s taught me, I know he’ll never let me go. The four of us, we’re a family, an unbreakable force to be reckoned with. We’ll never give up. We’ll only ever overcome, together.
Epilogue
Clay
Days turn to weeks and weeks turn to months. Fall and winter come and go, and before I know it, spring is making its grand appearance. I’m fully moved into the farmhouse now, with Autumn and Bryce. Autumn was granted a no-contest divorce since Glenn was charged with murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. It felt like we’d been holding our breaths until we finally received the news of his sentence.
Bryce is now in kindergarten full-time and loving every minute of it. He’s learning to read, and because of that, we have to be careful. Gone are the days of spelling words to avoid saying them in front of him. He’s growing and getting smarter every day, all in preparations of becoming a big brother.
The B&B is finally completely finished, including the barn that’s now home to not one or two horses, but four. We have two for any guests we have, and we have one for Bryce—who he named Lightning, because nothing is as fast as lightning—and one for me. Autumn has plans of getting her own after the baby is born. Every day after Bryce gets home from school, we spend time in the barn, riding the horses, brushing them, feeding them, and cleaning out the stalls.
Autumn is nine months pregnant and ready to pop any day. Her stomach is large and round, and I love to touch it and feel the baby move inside of her. She has been spending her days nesting, making sure everything is perfect for the baby’s arrival. Since neither of us wanted to ruin the surprise, we’ve opted to painting the nursery a light green color, something that will work for a boy or girl.
“Hey, what about Stella?” Autumn asks, nudging me with her foot as we sit on the couch.
“Stella?” I repeat.
When I say the name, she wrinkles her nose. “You ruined it.”
I laugh. “How did I ruin it? I didn’t do anything but say it.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, but the way you said it ruined it.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I’m sorry.” I stand up. “But we need to get ready to go. It’s going on three.”
“Fine,” she mumbles, holding out her hands for me to help her up.
I take her hands in mine and help her to her feet. Slowly, she starts up the stairs and I follow along behind her.
“You know I hate it when you follow me. Just go around.” She has one hand on the rail and one hand on her lower back, supporting the weight of her growing belly.
“I’m not going around. I want to be here if you fall.”
She shakes her head. “Well, this is as fast as I can go.” She sounds completely fed up with the whole pregnancy thing.
I want to laugh, but I hold it back. These last few weeks have been trying for her. She can no longer just hop up and take off. Now, her stomach is big enough to slow her down, and she’s not liking it much. No matter how much she pushes me away, I stay by her side. I’ll be her punching bag if she needs.
By the time we make it up the stairs, she’s breathless. “Why didn’t we put in an elevator?”
I laugh. “Because it woul
d change the structure of the house. Plus, that baby will be out soon, and you’ll be right back to zipping up and down these stairs like the good old days.”
She snorts. “Not soon enough.”
We make it into the bedroom, and she has to sit and rest of the edge of the bed. She winces and grabs her stomach.
“Are you okay?” I ask, rushing to her side.
She nods. “Just more false labor pains. This baby is really practicing for the big day.”
“Want me to run you a bath?” I ask, knowing they seem to help her.
“No, we don’t have time.” She pushes herself up and goes to the walk-in closet to get dressed.
I go into the bathroom to wash up and shave, and when I step back out, she’s laying on the bed, tangled up in her dress.
I laugh. “What happened?”
Her arm is bent like she couldn’t push it through the arm hole and the skirt of the dress is hanging around her neck.
“Help me?”
I laugh and pull her up into a sitting position. “You didn’t unzip it,” I tell her, lowering the zipper on her back.
“I didn’t realize that it zipped.”
As I unzip the dress, it becomes looser, allowing her to get her arm through. The skirt falls down to her lap. “There,” I say, pulling the zipper back up and helping her to her feet.
She looks herself over in the mirror. “I look like a big, fat bag of cotton candy.”
I really have to hold back my laughter with that one. I move up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, holding her stomach in my hands. “You’re beautiful.”
“You need your eyes checked. Maybe I should’ve picked a different dress. This pink, yellow, and blue look exactly like cotton candy.”
I spin her around in my arms. “It does not. You should enjoy this time. The baby will be here soon and then neither of us will be getting much sleep.”
“I can’t sleep now anyway. At least then I’ll be able to dress myself properly.” She heads into the bathroom to finish getting ready.
Thirty minutes later, the three of us are piling into the truck and heading toward Colton’s new place. We pull into the drive, and the wedding setup is already in view. There are chairs lined up along with the same archway that I fixed for Drake and Celeste’s wedding. There are white and pink roses everywhere, along with white tulle and ribbons. I step out and Bryce darts out of my door behind me. I go around and help Autumn down. She wraps her arm around mine, and I lead her around the newly built pole barn style house.
“The house is beautiful,” she says, looking over the porch and landscaping.
“It is,” I agree.
In the back yard, we find Colton and Drake. They’re both wearing their nice jeans, flannel shirts, boots, and hats.
They look up, finding us. “Bout time you made it,” Colton says, looking at me. “Good to see you again, Autumn. You’re absolutely glowing.” He leans in and presses a kiss to her cheek.
She snorts. “Liar. The girls inside?” She’s already turning, heading for the back door.
He laughs but nods as she goes inside, leaving us guys outside alone. Bryce has a seat and stares down at his video game. Colton opens a beer and looks over at me.
“Looks like you’ll be next in line for a wedding.” He wags his brows at me.
I laugh. “I don’t think so. We’re living together and having a baby together, but there’s no talk of marriage.”
“Yet,” Drake adds.
“Come on, guys. Let’s get this wedding started.” Colton stands up right and smacks us both on the back.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask, straightening my belt buckle.
“He’s a little under the weather,” Drake says, moving to stand under the archway.
“So, hungover?” I joke.
Autumn comes out and sits in the front row between me and Bryce. Music softly starts up and the wedding begins. The wedding isn’t anything eventful. There’s a traditional exchange of vows and rings and then the kiss. Instead of having an outdoors cookout, Brennan and Colton decided to have the event catered. We all make our way inside and take a seat in the dining room. The table is set beautifully, like something you’d see in a magazine. There’s a big bouquet in the center, full of pearls, roses, and candles. With the bride and groom at each end of the table, the five of us take a seat, with Milly on Brennan’s lap.
A waiter comes out and pours us all a glass of wine, everyone but Bryce and Autumn. I push mine away and opt to stick with water.
Colton raises his glass of wine. “To lifelong happiness,” he says, looking at Brennan.
She smiles and tilts her glass in his direction before everyone takes a sip.
The food comes out, and it’s exactly like what you’d expect at a catered event. It’s fancy, tastes good, but is in small portions. We all sit, laugh, and talk while eating. Bryce decides that his fancy food is yucky and opts to go watch TV and eat chips out of the bag with Milly until the cake is cut.
All through dinner, I can’t help but notice the way that Autumn is shifting in her seat. When everyone is up getting their cake, I lean over.
“Do we need to go? Are you feeling okay?”
She nods. “My back is killing me. Probably just sitting in this hard chair.”
I reach over and take her hand in mine. “We can go whenever you want. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
She nods, but I can tell that she’s trying to put on a brave face.
When dinner and cake is done, Brennan stands to clear the table.
“Here, let me help,” Autumn offers, standing up. The moment she’s upright, she clutches her stomach and lets out a painful gasp, falling back into her chair.
Everyone jumps up and gasps. “Are you okay?” I ask, kneeling at her side.
She’s gritting her teeth as she nods. Her face is turning red and sweat starts to bead up on her brow.
“Are you in labor?” I ask.
Finally, she takes a breath. “I think so. That was a contraction. It wasn’t like the false labor pains like before.” Fear fills her eyes.
“Okay, come on. Let’s get to the hospital.” I take her hand and help her to her feet. The moment she stands, her water breaks, and she lets out a cry as another contraction hits her.
“I don’t think she’s going to make it,” Celeste says, taking one of her arms and looping it around her neck.
“How long have you been having these pains?” she asks her.
“They started last night,” Autumn admits.
“What? Last night? Why didn’t you tell me?” My anxiety shoots through the roof.
“I just thought it was Braxton-Hicks, but they’ve been getting stronger all day. I didn’t want to ruin the wedding…”
“Lay her down in the guest room. I’ll call an ambulance,” Brennan says, rushing for her phone.
Celeste and I help her to the back of the house where the guest bedroom is located. I lay her on the bed and kneel by her side. I brush her hair away from her face and try soothing her the best I can.
“The ambulance is on its way.” Brennan rushes into the room. “Celeste, help me get some towels to put under her.” She looks at Autumn. “I love you to death, but that’s a brand new bed.” She offers up a weak smile, and the two of them rush out of the room.
Minutes later, mid-contraction, they’re back. They managed to find a couple of puppy pads from Milly’s new puppy, and they stick those under her with some towels on top for extra absorbency. By the time they’re done, two EMTs are walking into the room.
“Good evening, Autumn. My name is Dawn. How are you feeling right now?” the blonde woman asks.
Autumn shoots her a death glare. “Not too great as you can probably imagine,” she answers through her guiding teeth.
Dawn smiles. “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to check and see how dilated you are. That will help us determine if we have time to make it to the hospital or not.” Her partner sets the bag down and dig
s out a pair of rubber gloves. Dawn puts them on and then goes right to work on checking Autumn.
Celeste and Brennan exit the room, leaving me alone with Autumn and the two EMTs.
“Ten centimeters. You’re ready to start pushing.” Dawn flips Autumn’s dress up over her knees.
“Start pushing? Here?” I ask, feeling light-headed.
She nods. “We’ll deliver the baby, make sure they’re both stable for transport, and then we’ll go to the hospital.” She moves to the foot of the bed. “Okay, Autumn, whenever you’re ready. You feel that contraction, you push. Okay?”
I fall to my knees beside the bed, holding her hand. “Come on, baby. You can do this. You’re the strongest person I know.”
She’s crying and shaking her head. “No, I’m not. I can’t do this here. We need a hospital.”
I shake my head. “You can do this, Autumn. Come on. Focus. Push.” I try thinking over all of those birthing videos she made me watch over the last six months. Living in such a small town, there wasn’t any local classes we could join. We had to do what we could. Just like now. We’ll never make it to the hospital on time. We have to do what we can.
She lets out a scream and bears down. I hold her leg and watch in amazement. She pushes long and hard, but stops to rest. The whole time, the EMTs and I are rooting her on. Screams fill the room around us as the tiny bones in my hands break and crumble from her death grip.
Twenty minutes of yelling, pushing, cussing, and threats, I hear the most beautiful sound in the world: my baby’s cry fills the room.
“Congratulations, you have a little boy,” Dawn says, holding up the baby. And sure enough, it’s a boy. I have a son.
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