Page 18 of Spring Forward

“I guess he’s got it,” there’s amusement in his voice.

While staring at where my brother used to be, I nod slowly. “He’s doing so well here,” I muse. “He’s enjoyed other placeswe’ve lived over the years, but this is different. It’s,” I have to pause and swallow hard, “more somehow.”

Noel grips my chin and turns my face until I’m meeting his gaze before his large hands cup my cheeks. “It’s because he’s family, Delaney. We’re his family. He knows he’s safe here. Safe from judgement, from criticism. He knows he can spread his wings and fly and we’ll be here to help him along the way.”

His words have tears filling my eyes and when one falls, he wipes it gently away with the rough pad of his thumb. As much as I want to get completely lost in his eyes, something holds me back—reality. This won’t be forever. It can’t be; it never is.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do when it’s time to move on. The assessments are going really well, and I’m almost done. I have no doubt that you’ll pick up the training and so will the horses. You’re set for the website to go live.” I try to not sound dejected, but I fail, “Our time here will be over before we know it.”

“No,” Noel growls fiercely and my mouth opens in surprise, “you’re not going anywhere.”

I rear back from him as much as I can, which isn’t much considering the way he’s holding my face. “What are you talking about? I’m not a prisoner,” I snap.

“You’re not,” his voice is softer now, but no less fierce. “You’re not a prisoner, but you are mine, Freckles. You and August. You’re my woman, he’s my little brother or my son, whatever works for you. You both belong to me, and you belong right here.”

My voice is a barely there whisper, “What are you saying?”

“I know it might be fast to a lot of people, but I don’t give a fuck. I knew the moment I saw you that you’re mine and meant to be right here at Limitless. You’ve stopped keeping me at a distance, but you still haven’t been willing to see what is right in front of you.” I open my mouth to argue, but he gives a firm shake of his head. “I don’t blame you, but it’s true. You’ve had to survive on your own while raising August for a long time. I can understand why you hold onto your independence so hard, but you don’t have to anymore, not as tightly.”

“My contract isn’t indefinite,” I protest but it sounds weak, even to me.”

Noel chuckles under his breath and there’s an edge of danger in the sound. “Your contract doesn’t say anything about staying after the job is done.”

“You want me to stay?”

“This is your home,” he insists and something in me believes him. “I know how important your job is. If you want to keep taking on contracts, then we can get a travel trailer or something and I’ll go with you. August can stay here and start school, make friends, and have a home. Our family will keep him safe and happy while still allowing you to follow your dreams. Or you can consult over the phone or whatever works for you. Or people can come here for training. I don’t have all the answers, but I know you’re mine.”

I launch myself at Noel, totally forgetting about still being in his truck. My ass hits his horn and blares, the sound competing with the booming laugh of my man as he catches me easily and then moves his seat back to make room for me on his lap.

My hands find his jaw and cradle it as I search his face. This man has laid it all out there, everything he wants and hopes for at my feet. It’s too much and just right somehow.

“Noel,” I breathe out right before I crash my mouth down on his, unable to put into words how I’m feeling, but wanting him to know I hear him all the same.

I’m not sure if he’s real, if I’m really his in the same way it feels like he’s mine, but it doesn’t matter as I kiss him with all my hopes and dreams trapped between us.

CHAPTER 8

NOEL

I get lost in the way it feels to have my woman pressed up against me as she straddles my lap. When she showed up at Limitless, I knew she was the woman for me, but today she entwined everything she is with my soul. Having her by my side and noticing the way I was bothered by the attention and thanks from the people we came across in the market meant more to me than she’ll ever know.

To have her hand in mine made me feel like I could take on their gratitude and their praise without losing my shit. I love Wintervale and the people here are coming from a good place, but it’s not easy for me to accept the way they put me on a pedestal.

I don’t deserve to be up there as if I’m some kind of hero. I’m not.

All I did was follow the path I thought was the right onefor me. In doing so, I lost parts of myself, and I lost men who became like brothers to me. I know others had it much worse while serving than I did, but it still changed something in me.

Coming back to Wintervale was a blessing and a curse. The way people view me is one of the things I would normally put under the curse column, but Delaney made it bearable.

My hands grip her ass and knead her luscious globes, my grip helping her grind down against my cock. I’m hard for her, but that’s nothing fucking new. I’m always hard for my woman.

It’s kind of a problem.

Until moments like this and right now it’s a welcome state of being.

The need to be buried inside her is becoming harder and harder to ignore. Remembering how it felt to be buried balls deep inside of her days ago has me wanting to do it again. And again. And a-fucking-gain.

I’m never going to get enough of her.

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