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He lowered his much larger body carefully onto mine, my legs wrapping around his hips as he settled against me.“You look at me like I can conquer the world, and that makes me want to conquer it for you.”He rocked against me, lighting me up.“I want to keep you here with me so I can fill up your life with light and drive out all the darkness that hauntsyoureyes.”

Oh god.Yes.This.Always.“What you had before?Don’t ever expect it from me.I want your emotions.I want your life.I give you my eyes and I want yours inreturn.”

And for the next hour we took turns showing each other just how more satisfying sex could be when you letyourselffeel.

We fellasleep in the loft and I decided it was my second favorite place after Colt’s bed.It was our little hideaway without having to go on vacation.Plus it was a barn and that made it feel like Cowboy and Annie, a little tie toourpast.

As Colt dozed beneath me I made a list of all the fun things we could do up here, all the places we couldmakelove.

The desk was first on my list.Old, sturdy, smooth...the list of options was endless.In fact, if I wasn’t mistaken, those legs would make an excellent place to tie offsomerope...

Bzzzz!Bzzzzz!Bzzzz!

My phone began rattling from across the room.I grabbed Colt’s wrist to check the time.10:15p.m.

The only people who called me after nine were Ted and Elizabeth, which meant I really needed to answerthatcall.

“Is everything okay?”Colt yawned as I slid out ofhisarms.

“Phone.I’ll berightback.”

My heart plummeted to my feet when I saw that it was Ted and that he’d left a textmessage.

Baby time.Ineedyou.

Ted and Charley had just moved home a couple of days ago to get ready for Evangeline’s arrival.She was supposed to have at least two more weeks but they’d goneearly.

“It’s the baby.”I hit Ted’s message and called him as I looked over at Colt.“It’s earlystill.”

He was on his feet in a flash, tugging on his pants and shirt as he threw me mydress.

“Lil!”Ted answered after two rings.“They’re taking her into surgery.Emergency C-section.”

“Is it too soon?How’sEvangeline?”

“She’s thirty-five weeks.It’s early but the doctor assures me it will be okay.We need to get her out.I’ll explain when you get here.I needyou,Lil.”

And then the linewentdead.

I stared at Colt.“I needtogo.”

He dropped my clothes and hugged me, pressing my head into his strong chest.“What’shappened,babe?”

I repeated the phone call.“It will be okay, won’t it?Modern medicine andallthat?”

“Ted didn’t sound scared?”I shook my head.“Then yes.It will be okay.We just need to get you there.”He practically dressed me as he called Grayson because my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.“We need the car.Grab my go-bag and meet me out front.”He tucked the phone away.“Let’s get to your room and pack an overnight bag, okay?Call who you need to.Let them know you’ll be gonetomorrow.”

I appreciated that he used calm tones and a soothing voice because I was anythingbutcalm.

“Why won’t my hands stopshaking?”

He pressed them between his own.“It’s adrenaline.You’re excited and nervous and it’s flooded yoursystem.”

“I can’t drive like this.”The minute he let me go I’d started shaking again.Stupidhumanbody.

“You don’t have to.I’ll take you.”He didn’t let me respond, pushing me towards the stairs, flicking off lights and unplugging things asweleft.

Five minutes later I’d thrown things in a bag.I’m really not sure what.Colt grabbed my underwear after I forgot it and he was the one who made sure my toothbrush made it in with the toiletries.He grabbed my phone charger and then took my hand as he ledmeout.