“Sweetheart, what’s wrong? I can tell you’re bothered by something.”

Ellie turned toward me and let a small smile play across her face.

“I guess I’m just nervous. I’m nervous about being home, helping you with the ranch, and meeting your dad. I’m also worried about, what’s going on with Ari. I don’t know. It’s all just so crazy.”

I pulled her hand up to my mouth and pressed a soft kiss on it. “Don’t be nervous about the ranch Ells. Gramps and Grams will help us. As far as my dad is concerned.” I let out a laugh as shook my head. “I’m not so sure that I can tell you not to be nervous about meeting him. He’s a hard ass, and to be honest, he’s made me nervous my whole damn life. Don’t worry though, sweetheart, he’s going to fall in love with you the moment he sees you, just like everyone else has.”

I parked the truck as we pulled up to the cabin. It seemed like just yesterday when we had been here and I asked her to marry me. I sat there for a second, trying to get my heart-beat under control.

I jumped out and ran around to open the truck door for her. I reached in and took her hand as I helped her out of the truck.

“Such a gentleman,” Ellie said with a giggle.

“I’ll get the suitcases in the morning. I don’t think you’ll need any clothes tonight,” I said as I wiggled my eye brows up and down.

Ellie let out a laugh as she jumped into my arms.

“I’m so glad to be home. I loved our honeymoon, and a part of me wishes that we were back there, listening to the ocean, but being home just feels so right.”

I reached down, scooping up her legs, and carried her onto the porch. Right when I stepped up on the porch, the locusts starting singing. I had to smile while I thought about that first night on the ranch a year ago when Ellie had gotten scared and ran into my arms after she’d heard the whip-poor-will’s.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Mathews.” I gently started to slide her down my body. I held her as close to me as I possibly could.

The moment I felt her feet hit the porch, I captured her lips with mine. The small moan she let escape her mouth traveled throughout my body. I wanted nothing more than to make love to her right here and now.

Ellie pulled back just a little as she smiled against my lips. “Listen, they’re playing our song,” Ellie said whispered.

I laughed and took a step back from her.

“Well, it would be rude of us to just ignore such a beautiful song, now wouldn’t it?”

I held out my hand for Ellie, inviting her to dance with me. She threw her head back and laughed while she placed her hand in mine. I pulled her close, and we started to dance on the porch of our new little home. I thought that my wedding day had been the best moment of my life, but here was yet another moment with Ellie that just took my breath away.

“I love you, Drew.” Ellie said as we slow danced to the Locusts humming in the trees.

“I love you, too, Ellie.”

She looked up at me and smiled. “I never want this feeling to end…ever.”

I smiled back at her, watching as her eyes turned from love to passion within a matter of seconds.

“What feeling would that be, sweetheart?”

“The feeling of being so incredibly in love with you that I can hardly even breathe. I’m so happy here, Gunner. I’m so very happy here in our little world.”

Our little world. I couldn’t have said it better even if I tried.

“I feel the same way, Ellie. I couldn’t stop staring at you earlier. The only thing I could think of was getting you back to this cabin and making love to you all night long, baby.”

Ellie pulled back some as she tilted her head up to me. “Well, what are you waiting for, Mr. Mathews? I’m ready to start christening this cabin.”

That was all I needed to here. I reached down and grabbed her as she let out a giggle. I opened the door, and the moment we walked in, I smelled flowers. I smiled as I thought about making love to Ellie as man and wife for the first time in this cabin.

Ellie reached behind us and turned on the lights. We both let out a gasp as we took in the cabin. Daisies were everywhere. A bottle of wine with two glasses sat next to a large tray of fruit and chocolate-covered strawberries on the kitchen table.

Ellie was staring at me I looked at her. We both let out a laugh. At the said at the same time, we said,“Jenny!”

“Damn, that girl is good!” I said. I started to put Ellie down…in that oh-so-slow way I knew she loved.

Ellie walked up to the table and leaned down to smell the flowers. She turned back to look at me and smiled that smile that she saves only for me. I instantly felt my dick get harder than a rock.

My knees just about buckled when she lifted up her T-shirt up over her head. Then, she slowly started to unbutton her jean shorts as she gave me the sexiest damn look I’d ever seen. She stood there in a pair of white boy short panties and white lace bra, and she had the cutest damn smile on her face.

“Well, Mr. Mathews, how long are you going to wait before you make mad passionate love to your wife in our new home?”

I’d never moved so fast in my life. She let out a laugh as I picked her up and walked us over to the bed. I tossed her on the bed and started to take off my shirt and shorts. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. She was now sucking on her finger as she slid her legs up and down against each other. Motherfucker…I felt like it was our first time all over again. The things this girl does to me.

I slowly crawled onto the bed , lying down next to her. My god, she is so beautiful. She rolled onto her side to face me. Lying there, we just stared at each other. I would never get tired of just looking at her. I took the back of my hand and ran it down the side of her face. She closed her eyes as she sucked in a breath of air. When her eyes opened back up, they were on fire.

“You know, I never did thank you properly for that carriage ride,” Ellie said as she slowly started to get up.

She slowly pushed me down until I was laying flat on my back. She started to kiss my neck, and then her lips moved down my chest.

“I think my favorite part of your body is your chest, Gunner.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Ohh…yeah,” Ellie said as she kept kissing all over my chest.

“I could say the same thing about your chest, Ells,” I said with a laugh.

I quickly stopped laughing when I felt her take me in her hand. Now, it was my turn to suck in a breath of air.

I thought I just died and gone to f**king heaven. She was kissing further down my body, and with every kiss, my body felt more sensitive. The moment I felt her take me in her mouth, I had to do everything in my power not to lose control.

“Ellie.” I groaned.

Good Lord, this girl was going to be my undoing. Then, she moaned, and I felt it move through my whole body. Reaching down, I grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up to me.

“What’s wrong? Was I doing something wrong?” Ellie asked pouting.

I wanted to laugh at the look she was giving me, but more than anything, I just wanted to be inside her.

“No, baby, you were doing it too well.”

I rolled over and crawled on top of her as she opened up her legs for me.

“God, Ellie…I love you so much that it hurts sometimes, baby.”

Ellie arched her body toward mine as she ran her hands through my hair. I kissed the side of her neck, and moving up to her ear. It drove her crazy when I sucked on her ear-lobe. I barely slid inside of her before I backed out and made my way down her neck to her chest.

As I started to suck on one nipple, I played with the other one. Ellie let out a moan that about had me come on the spot. I barely slid back in again before I pulled out.

“Oh god, Gunner, please stop teasing me. I want you so bad…please.”

I smiled as I looked up at her. I watched her reaction to my every move.

I thought about how someday, I hoped soon, we would be making a baby together.

Ellie’s eyes were closed as her head was thrown back slightly. I stopped there for a few seconds, just watching her. I started to enter her again, and I’ll be damned if she didn’t smile. It took all of my control to move slowly. I just wanted to make her feel good.

“Gunner…oh my…that feels so good!”

Ellie looked up at me, and our blue eyes met. I leaned over her and gently bit down on her lower lip. She started to move her hands through my hair faster. The, she grabbed me and pulled me closer to her.

Oh god. I loved the way she moved perfectly with me as we made love. She pulled away from the kiss and started to call out my name. It took everything out of me not to come with her.

When she finally came back to me, I rolled her over so she was now on top of me. I smiled up at her, and I was rewarded with the most beautiful smile ever.

“My turn, baby.” I said as I winked at her.

It took every ounce of energy to last five minutes with Ellie riding me. Nothing had ever felt so good as when she was in control. The moment I heard her calling out again, I let go. She collapsed on top of me, and we were both breathing like we had just run a damn marathon.

“How was that?” Ellie said with a giggle.

God, I love her.

“Ellie, sweetheart, I want to have kids right away.” I wasn’t sure why I said it, but it came out before I could stop myself.

Ellie sat up and just stared at me. Then, I saw her eyes tear up, and I watched as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Motherfucker, What did I just do?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ELLIE

It took everything out of me not to jump up and down when Gunner said he wanted to have kids right away. I felt the same way, but I didn’t know how to talk to him about it. I just thought he’d say we were too young, but I knew I wanted kids right away. I tried not to cry, but I was so happy I couldn’t help it.

Gunner sat up and pulled me onto his lap. I placed my head on his chest, and I just lost it. I wasn’t really sure why I was crying. Is it the idea of Gunner wanting to have kids right away? Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m was scared shitless because I’m worried that I’ll be a shitty mother?

Then, I thought about Ari. She had begged me not to tell Jeff about her being pregnant. I knew she thought that Jeff had a lot on his mind with Rebecca’s stupid stunt, but I also didn’t think she should hide it from him.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, Ellie. We don’t have to start having kids right away if you’re not ready. I just thought.”

I leaned up to kiss Gunner. He pulled away. He seemed so confused.

“Ellie, baby, please tell me why you’re crying,” Gunner said as he wiped away the tears from my face.

“I want nothing more than to start having kids with you, Gunner. I would like to start right away, too. I was so afraid to talk to you about it and kept putting it off. I was worried that you would think we were too young or maybe I wouldn’t be.”

“Stop right there, Ellie. Don’t ever think that way again, baby, ever. You’re going to be an amazing mother.” Gunner placed his hand on my stomach and smiled at me.

That damn crooked-ass smile of his gets me every time. I couldn’t help but smile back at him as I placed my hand on top of his.