Page 79 of Claimed By the Cowboys
“Well,” Piper finally managed to get out, struggling to catch her breath. “I think I might need to do a little cleaning up,” she laughed weakly, still suspended on my cock, thanks to my upper body strength.
“Why don’t I navigate us to the shower, then?” I laughed, peering over one of Piper’s shoulders at Montana and the sight he made. “We can leave the others to clean up around here.”
“We can sit down until your knot settles,” Piper offered, a tinge of embarrassment in her voice, as I carried her away. “You must be exhausted after all of that.”
“Respectfully, Pipes, I’m a damn ranch hand and a drover.” I chuckled as I easily carried her into the new, massive walk-in shower. “You’re about ten times lighter than most of the stuff Ilift and carry around all day, every day. As long as I’m carrying you in a way that’s comfy for you.” I gently squeezed the backs of her thighs with my hands, my arms still threaded beneath hers to lend additional support.
I felt another deep clench of her muscles around my cock and took a deep, steadying breath, determined to keep myself relaxed.
“Oh, no, I’mquitecomfortable.”
Once we’d gotten into the bathroom and the huge shower, I steadied Piper against me and turned on the water. Steamy rain poured from the huge head built into the tiled ceiling above us.
Immediately, Piper softened against me, the soothing water undoing some of her involuntary muscle tension. “Gosh, the hot water is gonna put me right to sleep,” she sighed happily, her eyes fluttering closed.
I felt myself finally ease free of her, my knot drained enough that I could set Piper back onto her feet.
The steam rose in tendrils around us as she turned to face me with the shower running in a gentle stream over her face.
“Piper.” I reached out, my thumb brushing the water from her full lips as I dipped my face down toward hers.
“Yes?”
For a moment, panic gripped me, my tongue unable to form the words.
“What is it, Zeke?” Piper cooed, one of her hands cupping the side of my face.
“I have something I wanna tell you, but I’m scared if I say it out loud, you’re gonna run away,” I admitted haltingly, my voice catching in my throat.
“Why would I run away?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never said what I want to say to you to anyone before.” I allowed my hands to reach for her, to fall on her shoulders, pulling her closer to me.
“You can tell meanything, Zeke. I promise I won’t run away.” Piper smiled softly up at me, her body melting into mine.
“I’m scared because I’ve never felt like this, not with anyone.” As I took her face in my hands, her eyes widened and her breath hitched in anticipation.
“Piper Collins, I can’t say that I’m falling, because, honey, I’ve alreadyfallen. I’ve crashed into the damn ground, spent a winter frozen in the soil, and popped out of the dirt six-foot-four inches of sunflower reaching back up to that big blue sky the color of your eyes,” I blurted, struggling to keep track of my thoughts and feelings. “What I’m trying to say is, I am wildly, madly, hopelessly, head-over-heelsin lovewith you. Like a sunflower who follows that big ball of light from blooming till its dying day, I’ll follow you, Pipes.”
I kissed her soft and slow until I pulled back and met her glassy eyes.
“Ezekiel Hunter, I love you, too!” she cried out, sniffling back a sob.
Chapter 37
Piper
Dakota and Monty had some business to attend to downtown, and both Maisie and I had a hankering for ice cream. Truth be told, I also had a craving for a chili cheese dog with extra pickled jalapenos. Lucky for me, Evelyn’s diner could handle my pregnant lady cravings in the comfort of robust air-conditioning. So, we opted to join the twins on their errands so that we could hole up in one of the booths at the diner while the Flint brothers went about their business.
“All right, ladies, that’s one junior mint-chip sundae with extra whip and two cherries, and a rocky road sundae with extra hot fudge—and a chili cheese dog with extra pickled jalapenos,” Emmy confirmed. “You want your ice cream or your chili dog first?” She snickered at me as she finished scribbling down our order.
“Would it be the most crazy pregnant lady thing to ask for the ice cream first?” I winced, making my unconventional request.
“Not as weird as when you put syrup all over your omelet.” Emmy pantomimed a gag.
“Hey,” I protested, wagging my finger at her. “I’m telling you, that’s really good! I ate that even before I had these wackypreggers cravings,” I protested before the pair of us dissolved into laughter.
“No, but seriously—I’ll take my chili dog first and my ice cream second.” I looked to Maisie out of the corner of my eye. “The little ones are always watching us.”
