This time, the pain is white hot, the aftermath bloody metal on my tongue as my lip splits just enough to give me what I need. Fuck, that’s better than good.
My cock pushes so deep in her, I feel resistance. Her throat bobs beneath my grip. Our gazes lock, and she looks me deep in the eyes as I come inside her.
“That’s right, baby,” I grit out. “Take it all. Take all of me.”
She kisses me, mouth open, her hips riding up, legs locked around me until I’m done. When I pull back and out of her, I notice a smear of crimson on her chin. Cradling her face, I wipe it away with my thumb.
“Fuck,” she says, shivering as she stretches and flexes her legs.
“Hey, lay on my chest,” I say.
She crawls into my arms. Her comedown is rough sometimes, but she enjoys it so long as I’m there to help her through. She lays her head on my shoulder, her face against my neck.
“I love you,” I murmur, stroking her hair.
“God, I fucking love you,” she whispers back.
We don’t move for a while. Then, I put her in the shower and get the room back in order. When everything is clean, I join her, and she washes me, paying careful attention to my split lip. She’s always worrying about me when there’s blood, but it never bothers me much.
We fall asleep not long after our bodies touch the bed.
Both exhausted, both safe.
The morning comes too fast, as it always does on the ranch. I extract myself from my wife’s embrace and get up. In the nursery, Delia is already chattering. I get dressed in my work clothes—I’ve got a long list of chores this morning. Then, I move noiselessly down the hall into the nursery.
My daughter is in her crib, waving her arms and legs. She swivels, looking at me through the bars.
“Morning,” I say.
She gurgles, smiling as I lift her, easing her onto my shoulder. For a moment, I close my eyes and just hold her close, breathing in her baby shampoo scent. Time already feels like it’s slipping through my fingers. Someday, she’ll be grown, along with her brother, and I’ll be watching them from afar. But for now, she’s so small, she fits in my hands, and I soak in the time when I can keep her safe.
Della rolls over, blinking sleepily as I bring Delia to nurse. She pushes the blankets aside, making room. I lay our daughter down and press a kiss to my wife’s temple.
“I’m going to do the chores,” I say. “I’ll be right back.”
“No hurry,” she says. “I’ll start breakfast when she’s done.”
There’s never been a time when I have the right words to tell her what the family she gave me means. So, I just brush my fingertips through hers, and she understands.
Out on the porch, I’m surprised to find Landis already awake. He’s crouched on the stoop, my hat on his lap.
“You’re up early,” I say.
He looks up, squinting. “I wanted to feed the horses.”
“Let’s go then.”
He smiles, handing me my hat. We cross the yard where I once laid with Della, long before I knew what the future held. The barn is still cool. The horses line the stalls, throwing their heads, waiting for breakfast. I gather the buckets and help Landis measure the right amount of feed.
“Can I ask you a question?” He stops after the last bucket and puts his hands on his hips.
“Sure,” I say, hoping this isn’t one of those awkward parenting moments.
He hesitates, face screwed up in concentration.
“Penny for your thoughts?” I say lightly.
“Can I call you my dad?” he asks, not looking at me.
