Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"Your mom is a bitch," I growl, flipping her over onto her back. I tip her chin up until she meets my gaze. "I don't use that word lightly, pretty baby. But I mean in this time. Anyone who knows you and can say that kind of shit about you doesn't deserve you."
"She doesn't deserve me," she says, smiling softly. "We don't talk often anymore. I see her on holidays and that's about it."
"Good," I grunt. "You should know I won't be fucking nice to her if she's a bitch to you. I don't care if she is your mom. If she doesn't treat you with respect, she'll answer to me."
"Yeah?" Her smile grows. So does the softness in her eyes.
"Lesson six," I remind her. "You're mine to take care of in every way. That means in this bedroom and out of it, pretty baby. I protect you now, even if it means protecting you from your mother. No one makes you cry or hurts you without answering to me."
"Does that mean I get to protect you too?"
"You want to protect me?" I ask, grinning at her. Fuck, she's cute.
"Yes," she says, her expression somber. "No one gets to hurt you either, Cord. I may not be a big, mean, scowly cowboy, but I've been learning a thing or two from one. If you're mine, that means your heart is mine to protect."
"I'll make you a deal," I say, linking our fingers together. "You promise to run to me when something I do hurts you, and I'll let you be my knight any time you want, princess."
"Can I have a sword?"
"Uh, no. Definitely not."
She scowls at me, making me grin. "Fine, then can I have a white horse?"
"Pretty baby, you can have five of them if it makes you happy." I'll give her whatever the fuck she wants if she forgets about the sword. "But no more running from me. You raise nine kinds of hell and use that smart mouth to tell me what I did to piss you off or hurt you, but you don't run. Those few hours without you this morning were the longest of my goddamn life."
"Mine too," she whispers. "I didn't like them at all."
"That's because you know you belong here with me," I murmur, leaning down to kiss the pout from her lips. "This is your home now, Cassia. I'm your home."
"I love you, Cord."
"I love you, princess," I whisper, leaning down to claim her lips in a deep kiss.
"I'm really glad I came here to spy on you," she says a few minutes later.
"I'm really glad you're fucking terrible at it," I chuckle.
She gasps in outrage, pushing against my chest until I flip over. I land on my back, my hands beneath my head and a grin on my lips. She scrambles up over me, scowling daggers at me as she rises to her feet on the bed.
"You take that back right now, Cord Decker," she demands.
"Not a chance in hell, pretty baby."
She growls and launches herself at me. I catch her in mid-air, dragging her into my arms. Fuck, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life loving this wild woman. Keeping her happy is going to be my greatest adventure, I already know it. I'm already looking forward to it.
Epilogue
CASSIA
Five Years Later
"What are you doing?" Paige asks.
"Trying to convince Cord to breed me again," I say, putting the phone on speaker so I can snap a photo to send to my husband. He's somewhere out on the ranch, handling business. He won't be for long. If I know my husband—and after five years, I definitely do—he'll be rushing in the door to handle my business in about five minutes.
Since the kids are all with Cleary until tomorrow, we've got the house to ourselves. I intend to put it to good use. I'm already naked. Well…mostly naked. I'm wearing a Stetson and a pair of boots. I also bought a lasso just for the occasion. It's coiled around me on the bed. If that doesn't get my cowboy in the door, nothing will.
Paige's groan fills the bedroom. "You know I hate when you call it that. Also, TMI."
"You asked," I remind her. "Besides, didn't you just tell me last week about that thing Cam does with his tongue that I never needed to know about?"
"Oh yeah." Her wicked laugh echoes down the line, followed by a dreamy sigh. "He has the best tongue."
I giggle despite myself. Having one of my best friends as my sister-in-law is great. I love it so much. She and Cam and their kids spend half of their time here in Lake Tahoe and the rest in Austin with her family. I miss her like crazy when she's gone, but I have plenty to keep me occupied. We aren't the only ones who ended up finding forever in Lake Tahoe. Emmy, Zoey, and Clover did too. Mina comes to visit every chance she gets. Plus, Cleary is here too. I love it so much!