Acute sensations, forceful in their intensity, spiraled through her. With a groan, she dropped back on the bed and let them take over, as he worked the heart of her core over as though he intended to tame it. But he wasn’t seeking to corral. He was seeking to free—
She screamed his name as her body spasmed, her back arched, and wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her.
Then he was there, buried deeply inside her, his mouth blanketing hers, as he pumped into her, hard and fast, until they were both crying out as ecstasy engulfed them.
When he went to roll off her, she held him close. “Not yet.”
He sank down on her, levering himself on his arms to keep most of his weight off her, yet still she absorbed his warmth, his tremors. She welcomed the press of his lips against the curve of her shoulder.
“I love you, Faith,” he said into the quiet.
She smiled. “How fortunate for me, since I love you, too.”
And she would through all the days and nights that were to follow.
Epilogue
One year later
Faith sat on the porch swing beside her father, looking on tenderly as he cradled his month-old grandson, Jackson Cooper. It wasn’t the first time he’d done so, but it always filled her with an abundance of happiness to see the joy and pride reflected in his face. He’d turned the management of the ranch entirely over to her and Rawley, who was standing with his backside pressed against the porch railing, his arms folded over his chest, one foot crossed in front of the other. Although she knew he wasn’t nearly as relaxed as he appeared.
She also knew they made a great team with him handling the cattle while she had renewed her interest in oil. She believed with all her heart that before too long they’d find a gusher or two. But even if they didn’t, she took comfort in knowing her father’s faith in their ability to ensure his legacy continued relieved him of a burden he’d grown weary of carrying. And with any luck, he’d be with them for a good many more years.
Her mother sat in a nearby rocker keeping a watchful eye on Callie as she chased after Rufus, who would suddenly turn around and start chasing her. Her laughter and shouts of glee echoed around them.
“I can’t believe how big this fella is already getting,” her father said as he skimmed a roughened finger over what she knew to be an incredibly soft, chubby cheek.
“He’s always hungry,” Faith told him.
“He’ll be eating beef before too long.”
“I have little doubt,” she assured him.
He lifted his gaze to her. “I would have loved him just as much if he’d turned out to be a girl.”
She smiled tenderly. “I know, Pa. You never made me feel like you wished I’d been a boy.”
“Not a lot of women could handle running a business as good as you do.”
“I think you’d be surprised.” She looked over at her mother. “We’re pretty sturdy when it comes right down to it.”
“We are that,” Ma agreed.
“Your ma and I have been talking,” Pa said. “We don’t need this big monstrosity of a house anymore—”
“I never saw it as a monstrosity,” her mother said quickly. “It represented a bold man with big dreams.”
“Well, that bold man is growing tired, and you young’uns need the space more than we do, so we’re going to build a smaller place not too far from here, but far enough away that you’ll have your privacy. Or you can build yourself something else, but that little cabin just won’t do any longer.”
She glanced over at Rawley, and with nothing more than a quirk of his mouth, he told her his answer.
“We’d like to move in here,” she said. “It’s full of wonderful memories, and we’ll pass them on to the children.”
“Good, that’s what we were hoping for,” her father said.
“With that settled, are y’all ready for dinner?” her mother asked, starting to rise out of the rocker.
“Uh, before we do that,” Rawley began, halting her progress, looking over at Faith. She gave her husband an encouraging nod. “Uh, I’ve got something to say.”
