Page 149 of Catching Sparks

Her lashes are wet when she nods, then throws her head back and cries out for me. I let my jaw drop open and grip myself hard as I come, thick gobs of it decorating my stomach. The absence of the dildo is immediate once she retreats and pulls the toy out of herself before tossing it on the bed. I extend my legs, and she’s quick to move up my body, ignoring the cum that smears between us as she does so.

I hold her face and push her hair out of my way so I can kiss her, long and slow. The passion from moments prior lingers as we take our time, trying to catch our breath. Poppy traces my jaw with a ghost of a touch and sighs against my lips, the sound one of pure happiness.

“We need another shower,” she whispers.

“In a minute. I’m content just holding you.”

“Mm, I like that. I’ve missed having you hold me.”

I palm her back and dip my fingers over the top of her ass. “I plan on holding you every night from now on.”

“Every night is a big commitment. What if we have a fight and I kick you onto the couch?”

“I’ll just creep back in once you’re asleep.”

“And if you have to go somewhere on business? You are quite successful, or have you forgotten?” she teases, tapping a nail to my shoulder.

“Well, you’ll be with me, or I’ll be coming home that same night.” I rub my nose along hers. “I’m serious. No more nights apart.”

She wets her lips and falls from my chest to her side, an elbow digging into the mattress to keep herself steadied. Her stare is heavy with disbelief, yet the smile on her lips is serene.

“You don’t believe me?” I ask her.

“I do. I do, and I think that makes me think this is too good to be true. You just told me you’ve picked your life up and moved it for me. How many women can say their man did that for them?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re the only one that matters to me. And I was serious about it. I’m here to stay.”

“Have you found somewhere to live yet?”

“I’ve got a rental booked for the next couple of months while things settle, but I was hoping that you’d want to help pick something a bit more permanent out,” I admit, my cheeks warm.

Her surprise is obvious. “Really? Like, for just you, or?”

I roll over, hovering above her and caging her beneath my body. “For both of us. I told you I wanted to start over as a family.”

“You want me to move in officially? To a house we pick together?”

“Yeah, honey. That’s exactly what I want.”

Her eyes turn glossy, but I’m shaking my head and leaning down to kiss her before the tears have a chance to fall.

“If that’s what you want as well. I was thinking we could spend the weekends here. We’d have to talk to Eliza and Wade, but?—”

“Yes. Yes! I’d love that. All of it,” she cuts me off, the biggest grin I’ve ever seen parting her swollen, pink lips. “They’ll say yes. I know it.”

I laugh, my heart soaring, the ice around it long since thawed.

Winding up in Cherry Peak was the best thing that could have happened to me, and I will come back here as often as I can if not only because I’ve grown to love it, but because it will always be the place I met Poppy.

My forever woman.

EXTENDED EPILOGUE

POPPY

The July sun is hot, the air muggy around us as we lean against the metal bars wrapped around the Calgary Stampede dirt arena. My shirt may be loose, but the band of my jean shorts is sticking to my sweat-slicked stomach in a very uncomfortable way. If I didn’t have my hat on, I’d be half-blinded from the glare of the sun to our left.

The stands are packed around us, not a seat empty as the current bull rider attempts not to get flown into the dirt before he hits the eight-second mark. I don’t know shit about bull riding, but Wade gave the majority of us here with him today a bit of a summary so we didn’t make fools out of everyone at Steele Ranch. The ranch is a major sponsor for the Stampede this year, and while usually I’m not a rodeo girl, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get an up close and personal experience. Not to mention, miss Brody Steele’s first Stampede-headlining performance.

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