“Did you think I could walk away from you? From the only pure love I’ve ever known?” she asked, kissing his jaw.
“I fucking hoped not.” Bently chuckled.
TJ finally spoke up. “I’ve always wanted a brother.”
Bently released Belle enough to pull TJ into the group hug. “Well, you’ve got a lot more than just me now.”
Of course. His family was now their family. Belle’s heart swelled. That was the thing about love—just when you thought it wasn’t possible to have room for more, your heart expanded and grew to accommodate the new demand. And maybe all those times she’d had her heart broken, left in shattered pieces, it was for this moment. To be able to re-piece it all together to form something much bigger and better than she could have ever had on her own.
“Alright, you two. I’m gonna go stop in and see Cam.” TJ smiled and slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Drive safe,” Bently said as TJ shut the tailgate.
“I will. See you guys at home for dinner.”
“I’m working until seven,” Belle reminded him.
“Love you.”
“Love you too!” Belle blew him a big kiss as he shook his head and pulled the red bow off before climbing into his new ride.
TJ drove away.
Bently rested his arm over her shoulders. “That’s one happy boy.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Can I put your ring on now?” Bently asked.
“Of course! It’s so beautiful.” Belle focused on the red stone as he slipped it over her ring finger.
“You sure you want this? Even though I can’t . . . we could never have biological children?” Bently asked, a shadow clouding those pure eyes.
She lifted her hand to his cheek, narrowing her eyes at him. “I’ve never been surer of anything else in my entire life. As long as you keep working on you, and being open and honest with me. As long as you stay rather than run. I told you—I don’t care about having biological children.”
He blinked. “I just don’t want you to regret anything.”
“I could never regret you,” she said against his mouth.
His lips caressed hers hungrily as his tongue traced the seam. Teeth raked across her soft flesh igniting the fire within her. Passion and lust swirled inside her, mixing and melding and forming something much deeper and unbreakable than what she’d known before—the truest love.
Bently broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, groaning. “I’d better get you to work before I can’t stop myself.”
“I could be a few minutes late.” She panted.
“We have some celebrating to do tonight. I’m gonna take my time making your sweet body come all over my face.” Bently squeezed her ass.
Electricity shot through her core. “I like the sound of that.”
“That’s just the appetizer. Gonna see just how many orgasms it takes until you beg me to fill you with my cock,” he growled the words in her ear, ramping up her desire.
“Mmmm. Please don’t make me wait.” She reached between them, cupping the steel rod in his pants.
“Fuck.” Bently checked his watch. “Alright, just a preview. Then I’m taking you to work where you can show off that ring to Doctor Stanley so he knows you’re all mine.”
“Rick?”
He scowled.
“Why, Bently Evans, are you jealous?”
He tugged her back into the house as she suppressed a giggle.
“Maybe I need to remind you who that pussy belongs to.”
Her body shivered as he swept her up the stairs towards her bedroom. Her inner walls clenched at the feral gaze that scorched her skin through the layers of clothing. He looked like a man possessed. His wild gaze stirred something inside her, something dark and possessive. He’s all mine. Bently is going to be my husband.
***
Belle accepted the cup of coffee from Katy as she glanced at the clock. Only two more hours to go and she could go home and have Bently make good on his dirty promises. He’d been kind enough to deliver not one, but two orgasms before her shift. He’d created some sort of greedy monster in her. Belle’s sexual appetite had never been so insatiable. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Oh. My. God! That’s gorgeous.” Katy grabbed her hand and eyed the unique stone. “Is this what I think it is?”
Belle couldn’t contain her smile and nodded.
“You are the worst friend in the world! How could you not tell me first thing? You managed to nail down the Bently Evans? Is this a joke? Am I stroking out right now?” Katy exaggerated her eyes as she slapped a hand over her chest.
“Shhh. I don’t want the whole hospital knowing,” Belle scolded.
“Girl, the whole town is gonna be buzzing. One of the most eligible bachelors of Shattered Cove is now off the market. You will be small-town royalty to some, and the most hated by others,” Katy teased.
“Poor Tina.” Belle laughed.
Katy joined her and then sighed. “You two moved awfully fast. Didn’t seem like you thought much of him when we had that girls’ night.”
“Well, we certainly got off on the wrong foot.”
“Mm-hmm. Must be that magic cock that won you over.” Katy smirked as her eyes flashed coyly.
Belle burst out laughing. “You’re terrible . . . but not wrong.”
“I knew it!” Katy giggled.
The head nurse on shift waved them over. “We’ve got incoming. Officer-involved shooting. Five minutes.”
Belle’s smile quickly faded. Her heart lurched. Is it Bently? Would fate be so cruel? Was all of this just the high before the lowest of lows?
No. He’s okay. I would know if something happened. They’d connected more than just physically. She shared her soul with the man.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Katy said, seemingly reading her mind as they rushed to prep.
Belle nodded, a sick feeling twisting in her stomach. This was just part of being with a police officer. She’d have to get used to it. She was going to marry the sheriff for fuck’s sake.
“Ambulance radioed in. Looks like a DOA in the first bus.” The rest of the words were drowned out by ringing in her ears. Time slowed down as Belle
