Page 16 of After this Summer (Seasons in Montana: Summer #11)

INDIE

“ A re you all right?” Beau asks me from the driver’s seat.

“What? Oh, yes, of course.” I haven’t stopped looking at the wedding band he added to my left hand when he promised to love me forever.

But it wouldn’t be forever, that fact front and center in my mind because I’d made him write out the terms even as I blinked back tears.

At the conclusion of this marriage we (Beau Sterling and Indie Kade) agree:

To co-parent with only the best intentions

To never speak bad about the other in front of our child

To be supportive of the other

To raise our child with love without limitations

We’d traveled a couple of towns over and gotten married in a courthouse with only the judge and the clerk as our witness.

And the baby growing inside my belly.

I’d placed a ring on his finger too—one that he wouldn’t be able to wear once we got back to Wintervale.

Because no one can know we’re married.

Not yet.

“Indie.”

“It’s silly,” I tell him, lifting one shoulder and letting it drop, turning to face him as he puts the truck in park in front of the house. It’s not our house but I like it here.

I like being here with him.

“Tell me.” Instead of words, I hunt through my purse until I find what I’m looking for.

“Take your ring off,” I tell him, watching his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as he does. The look in his eyes is pained, but I can’t articulate what I’m feeling.

I need to show him.

Uncapping the pen, I pull his left hand toward me, pushing his index and middle finger down until I have enough space to draw a little heart on the side of his ring finger. The breath he exhales is almost comical as I slide his ring back on.

“I told you it was silly. It’s just when you go to work or you leave here, I just want you to have something you can take with you.”

“I can’t tell you what that means,” he rasps, leaning over the console to press a sweet kiss to my lips.

“I’m so thankful that you were willing to do this,” I say, waving my hand in a small circle.

“I told you I want to take care of you.”

“I know.” I smile at the insistence in his voice. “But I think I haven’t been taking care of me. ”

“I need more words, Stunner, I need?—”

“Everything feels out of control, Beau, and I just need a little of it back.” My mind strays to the package sitting unopened on the counter and I smile at the rightness of my idea. “Can you wait here for like ten minutes before you come inside?”

Opening his mouth, he pauses, searching my face for a moment. “Okay.”

Pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, I push out of the truck and hop out before hurrying up the porch steps. I give him a small wave as I go inside, a little thrill shooting through me as I close the door and toss my coat aside.

The package is nondescript, covering the pretty white lingerie inside. It wasn’t expensive, but I’d ordered it because I like it, because the delicate fabric makes me feel feminine and powerful.

Sexy.

And while I’m in awe of being able to grow the little person inside me, I feel like I’ve lost that confidence and I want it back.

Glancing at the clock, I only have six minutes left.

No time to go upstairs.

Stripping out of my clothes, I let them drop to the floor at my feet before shimmying on the sheer white panties. The teddy is pretty, the ruching on the cups delicate with a little white bow in the center, the fabric flowing away in two pieces from the middle.

Pulling it over my head, I do my best to adjust it so my breasts are only slightly spilling out the top. Looking down at myself, I can’t help but smile, my belly parting the fabric.

I feel beautiful.

And maybe this isn’t the way I saw my life going, but I love this little baby and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t really like their father. So even though our arrangement is temporary, and I’ll undoubtedly get attached, I can’t keep denying to myself that I want Beau.

It hasn’t been that long, but sleeping in different beds under the same roof is grating on my nerves as much as the heartburn that comes late at night.

The sound of the truck shutting off has my heart beating fast in my chest as I pull my hair down and fluff it around my shoulders.

Here goes nothing.

BEAU

My boots are heavy on the porch as I cross to the door, my hand hovering above the knob as I take a steadying breath before opening the door.

And freeze.

Because of all the possible scenarios playing out in my head in the last ten minutes, I didn’t dare hope for this one.

I’d watched Indie’s body grow and change over the last few weeks, my dick hard as I imagined her full tits and those curves.

And her belly.

Fuck.

I’d never been more attracted to a person in my entire life, but aside from the weekend she told me she was pregnant, we hadn’t done more than kiss in a long time.

And that was fine.

But this…this is for her.

And me.

“You look incredible,” I manage, stepping all the way into the kitchen as I take her in.

“Really?” she asks, looking down. “You like it?”

“Obsessed with you in it,” I tell her, closing the distance and cupping her face in my hands. “Now tell me exactly what you want, baby, because I’m dying to give it to you.”

“I need you to make me come apart. I need the connection, the quiet in my head, and I need you to show me how I make you feel.”

Those words are like opening a floodgate as my mouth crashes over hers, the bite of her nails in my shoulders and the roar in my ears welcome as I’m finally allowed to claim this beautiful woman.

Without a second thought, I scoop her into my arms, relieved when she simply wraps her legs around my waist and lets me carry her to the stairs.

And to my bed.

Because after tonight, this is the only place she’s gonna be.