Then it hits me, it flows through me, a euphoria bigger than anything I have ever felt before in my life.
Colton James loves me.
His hips don’t stop moving, they speed up as he grips the back of my neck, his lips still touching mine, and then he buries himself deep inside of me with a groan. I feel his release fill me and then something happens.
Something magical fills me, then sparks of gold crackle between us.
Colt pulls his head back, his eyes finding mine and I expect him to jump back, but he doesn’t. Instead, his gaze focuses on mine and his lips turn up into a grin.
“This may be destined by the gods, but it is meant to be because it’s what I want, darlin’.”
“Okay,” I breathe. “It’s what I want, too.”
“Marry me tomorrow.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
COLT
Shifting my gaze to the window behind Birdie’s back, I watch as Abraham rides toward the house. Ernest is gathering the priest from the camp and the wedding ceremony will be soon. It isn’t what I really wanted, in fact, I never planned on marrying her, even after I decided to keep her.
Marriage isn’t really for me, not again anyway. I did that once and I haven’t had a desire to do it again, but the scholars were clear. She needs to be my wife, our children need to be legitimate, and to save this world from whatever wrath the gods have somehow enacted, we will need to love.
Love.
Looking into her eyes, I wonder if I do indeed love her. Then again, this was all sanctioned by the gods, so I suppose I’m meant to feel this way. I should just allow the false feelings to flow, what would it matter? I have no choice in this, absolutely none.
Gathering her in my arms, my softening cock still buried deep, I shift my hand from the back of her neck and wrap my arms around her back, holding her close.
“Tomorrow?” she asks, her voice soft as she tilts her head back to look up into my eyes.
“Tomorrow.”
There’s a moment of silence, then I slip from inside of her, an emptiness fills me that I can’t quite explain. Pulling up my trousers, I help straighten her dress out as well, then help her down to her feet.
Birdie looks deliciously rumpled and I can’t help but think about the fact that she is just that and it’s because of me.
“Colt?” she calls out.
“My name, Birdie.”
She shakes her head. “I already told you, that’s hers, not mine.”
Lifting my hand, I cup her cheek. “You did and yet, I still want to hear it.”
“Colton.”
I hum, leaning forward and touching my lips to hers. It’s perfect, the way she says my name, the way her voice climbs, then falls but she’s right. It isn’t ours, it is Adelaide’s. I’m not the same man now that I was with Addie.
“Colt,” I rasp.
“Colt,” she exhales. “Tomorrow I’ll happily marry you.”
“I’d be obliged,” I say with a grin.
Before either of us can say anything else, there is a knock on the door. Walking over, I open it and tilt my chin down. Florence is standing in the doorway, her head tipped back and a grin planted on her lips.
“The priest is here,” she announces. “And Abraham is also here for Miss Collins.”
Florence doesn’t even try to hide her smile, it is plastered across her face. Birdie begins to walk past me, but I don’t allow her to go far. Extending my arm, I wrap my hand around her waist and haul her against my chest.
Lifting my other hand, I cup her jaw and slide my thumb along the apple of her cheek, looking into her eyes.
“Thank you, darlin’,” I rasp.
Her eyes widen and her lips part in awe as she stares at me, then her lips curve up into a grin.
“For?” she asks, feigning innocence.
She knows why, but she wants me to say it aloud. She wants to hear the words pour from my lips and it’s the least that I can do for my bride. I can’t believe that I’m contemplating this, and yet, it doesn’t feel as damning as I thought that it might.
As I figured it would.
Perhaps the gods have sent a balm for my soul, for my heartache, along with this woman.
Perhaps this woman is the balm in and of herself.
“Being you. For coming to me. For everything,” I murmur.
Her eyes widen and they fill with unshed tears. “You too, Colt. Thank you.”
Dipping my chin, I touch my lips to hers then release her. She turns from me and makes her way toward Florence. When I lift my gaze, I notice that Florence is watching me with a shrewd expression on her face. I’m not sure what she is thinking, but I’m not quite sure that I want to know either.
Arching a brow in her direction, I expect her to send Birdie on her way then come in to talk to me, scold me, or just tell me whatever is on her mind, but she doesn’t. Instead, she spins around and follows behind Birdie and together they disappear in the house. It’s unsettling and I shake off the odd encounter as nothing, but can’t seem to push it completely out of my mind either.
Settling behind my desk, I start to go through my correspondence and cringe at the sight of a new letter sent by the Assembly. Ripping it open, I inhale a deep breath, then let it out on a sigh and start to read the short penned letter.
Mr. James,
It has come to our attention that there have been some new developments in your personal life that could have an impact on the fate of this country. We have sent two representatives to your estate and they have been instructed to bring you and your new woman back here for in-depth questioning.
The Assembly
“Great,” I grunt to myself. “Drat.”
“Sir?” Ernest’s voice rings out.
Lifting my eyes, I am not surprised to see the priest standing next to
