Just Say When (Lodestar Ranch, #2)

by Elizabeth Bright

wounds, you’ve got another thing coming,”

“She’s not exactly the sweet nurse type. She’s the smack you on the ass and tell y...

She’s not for you, dumbass.

My wife, it whispered.

“You’ll marry Zack over his dead body.”

“There you go again. Always making

promises you can’t keep.”

“I think I’ve kept my promises pretty damn w...

“Listen up, hellion. Maybe some of this is fake, but not all of it. Here’s what’s true. The marriage itself. We’re signing our names to a legal document. We’re making promises out loud. That’s real.”

“Here’s another thing that’s true,”

“We are going to live together in our house. That’s what it is for the duration of our marriage, whether it’s ten weeks or ten years. Ours. So we’re going inside, and you’re picking something that isn’t for the guestroom. I don’t care if it’s a lamp. I don’t care if it’s a brand-new couch. New dining room table? Fine. But it has to be something you like, something that gives you a little bit of happiness. Something that feels like home to you. Got it?”

“And when we’re done here, we’re going to the jewelry store to get you a ring, because here’s the thing, hellion, and it’s a very real part of being married to me. Even if your heart isn’t taken, your body sure as fuck is, the same as mine, and you better remember that. While we’re married, it’s me or the vibrator. There are no other options, understand? And we’re putting rings on our fingers so there’s no confusion.”

When the truth was nothing had ever felt more right in my life.

All I could think was, would Brax like it?

“Fuck, you’re pretty,”

I looked at him and saw my past, present, and future swirled together. The best friend I had adored, the jackass who irritated the life out of me, the man who in approximately twenty minutes would be my husband—he was all of it. He was everything.

“Behave, hellion, or we’re not going to make it to our own wedding.”

And I hated that. Hated that he always let go first. Hated that I was always the one who wanted more.

“I’ve got you,”

“Not all art is meant to be permanent. Maybe that’s what makes us appreciate it more.”

“Like love.”

“Because he’s small, honey. He’s so fucking small. And you…you’re

you’re bigger than the whole sky.”

Because I knew what it was like to be empty. I remembered how it felt when Brax shut me out fifteen years ago. He would do it again. He would remember I was too much. It was just a matter of time.

“Fuck it,”

“Don’t…don’t tell me to stop. I’ve waited so long. Tell me yes. Just this once, say yes to me.”

“Hush,”

“I’ve got you.”

“Hellion, you’ve always been too much for me.”

“So I guess I’ll have to become more, so I can be enough for you.”

“I told you, honey. You’re bigger than the whole damn sky. How could I ever hope to hold onto the sky?”

“Don’t even think about stopping this now.” I knew I

sounded desperate, and I didn’t fucking care. I would beg if I had to. Get right back on my knees and convince her with my mouth.

“Good boy,”

“Tastes like mine,”

“Tell me,”

“Yes.”

“Exactly like that. You’re doing such a g...

I was about to fuck my wife for the first time, and I was going to do that bare.

“Then take my cock and put it inside you. I want to watch you fuck me.”

Stay with me.

“Don’t hurt my husband.”

My husband.

I’m railing your sister every chance I get, and she fucking loves it.

“We were seventeen. Things were different then. You had a reason, and we both knew it was right. That reason doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Some things don’t change, Brax. I reckon your feelings for Essie are one of them.”

“You poor dumb fuck. You know you can’t keep this from her.”

“Chickenshit. About emotions, of all things. Jesus Christ, man.”

“I didn’t come cross an ocean to punch you in the stomach because you married her. I punched you because you didn’t tell her why. When I read Mom’s letter, I knew you hadn’t told her. Because Mom said it was because of a horse.”

“It was never about the fucking horse. I know that and you know that. The only person who d...