Page 117 of Paper Horses

“Language,” I teased, my smile causing him to pull away. His eyes raked over my face, a look of pride in them.

“Are you?” he asked.

“Yes. I need you, Hudson. And if you can put up with me and my city girl ways, I want to spend the rest of my life discovering who I am with you by my side.”

“Every step of the way,” he said, combing his fingers through my hair. “Shit, guess I really fucked this up with my impatience.”

I reached up and bit his bottom lip. “I’m going to start a swear jar.”

“Never gonna get me to stop cussing, no matter how many coins you collect.”

“We’ll see. And no, you weren’t impatient. You were sweet, and I love you for it.” I smoothed my hand down his chest. “But as hot as you look in this suit, I miss the jeans and cowboy hat.”

“Wanna take it off me?” His eyes glinted deviously.

“Only if you tell me how much you love me.”

He pulled me against him. “How about I show you?”

“I like that idea. Where are you staying tonight?”

His brow quirked. “Was planning to stay with you unless you kicked me out.”

“Good, because I never want to wake up to an empty side of the bed again.”

A grin that had my stomach twirling like ribbons formed on his face before he kissed me, muttering, “I love you, Olivia Icinda.”

His arms wrapped around me, picking me up and causing my skirt to ride up my thighs as he walked me to my desk where he dropped me and proceeded to show me how much he loved me while he covered my moans with his large hand and muttered about loving honey.

Epilogue

Liv

Hudson’s voice rang through the house, but when I didn’t answer, his heavy foot strikes echoed up the stairs.

“They’ll be here any minute. What are you doing?”

I gnawed my bottom lip, staring at the guest room that had once been mine. Gone was the country yellow quilt and embroidered pillow with matching curtains. In their place was a comforter with a field of wild stallions on it and an embroidered pillow I’d asked Jessie to make with a lone dappled horse on it.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” I asked as Hudson’s arms wrapped around my waist. He buried his face in my neck, kissing it.

“He’ll love it, and since when do you care if your nephew likes something? You going soft on me, Olivia?”

“Maybe, but I thought that's what you wanted.”

"I do, but there are times that bitchy side of you gets me seriously riled up."

He tugged at my blouse, loosening it enough for his hand to slip under it.

"Then what's your excuse now?" I asked as his fingers skated over my skin.

"No excuse, just you and how fucking sexy you are."

I rolled my eyes and tried pushing his hand away. "You’re wrinkling my shirt.”

“I’m going to do more than wrinkle it,” he murmured against my neck as he cupped my breast through my bra. “Fuck, that was a mistake.”

“You’re adding two more quarters to the swear jar.”