Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(110)

They never left since all hell broke loose.

They’re all here because of Edison.

He’d been a hero in my eyes long before now, and now I have a new one.

Drake.

He’d told the sheriff to call a vet even before he’d found me. And he’s done a whole lot more than that. Because of him, I know what I want.

I lean my head against the solidness of his chest for a moment, and then nod at the vet. “Thanks, Dr. Little.” I look at the crowd. “Thank you all!”

Mom steps forward then. I’m surprised she still hasn’t put up a fuss to change, or tried to wipe the dirt off her blouse.

But there are tears in her eyes as she glides a hand down Edison’s face, and then as she wraps her arms around me. I’m amazed at the warmth of her lips as she kisses my cheek, and not just the air next to it.

“You stay right here, Annabelle,” she whispers. “Stay with Edison and Drake. Your father and I will take care of everything.”

Within minutes, she has everyone herded out of the barn.

I have no idea where the food comes from that I eat while Sheriff Wallace questions me about the day’s events, and later, when Dr. Little shakes his head after drawing and testing Edison’s blood.

Drake holds me tight as I try to hold in more tears.

Hours later, it takes me a moment to pull my eyelids open. Drake’s face is above mine.

I sit up fast, a hundred questions hanging on my lips.

“Your wish came true,” he says.

I smile, unsure if he’s talking about himself in my still half-asleep brain. “What wish?”

He kisses my forehead. “You slept all night in the barn.”

“I did?” The haze of sleep completely disappears. “Edison!”

Pushing aside the blanket covering me, I leap to my feet. Drake is smiling and so is Dr. Little.

Then I hear a loud nicker.

I cross the stall and see him then. His eyes are clear, and his nose feels cool to the touch.

“His blood work looks perfect,” Dr. Little says. “I’ve loosened the sling, but we’ll keep him in it for a couple more hours just to be safe. Overall, I’d say he’s as healthy as a horse.”

Pure elation. That’s the only way I can describe the joy tearing me apart from the inside out.

It doesn’t take long before the entire ranch knows it, too.

Once everyone has seen Edison for themselves and given him their best, Mom herds us all to the house.

“Drake and Annabelle, you two go shower, change your clothes. Angie and I will have breakfast on the table when you come down,” she says as we enter the house. “Dr. Little, please come in the kitchen. Coffee’s ready for the hero of the hour. This one, anyway.”

Who is this woman?

I didn’t think this kind of transformation could happen outside Dickens’ novels. But I think Mom clearly saw the ghost of something when Avery dragged us to death’s doorstep, and maybe, just maybe, it was her own soul.

Drake takes my hand, leading me up the steps. “I didn’t know your mother was so domestic.”

“Neither did I!”

We both laugh. I’m too happy to ever stop now.

Until we are in the hallway, that is, outside of our bedrooms.

“Go on. You shower first,” Drake says, a knowing smile on his face.

I shake my head and loop my arms around his neck. This may be the only alone time we’ll have all day, and I’m going to make the most of it.

“Together, cowboy. You’re crazy if you think I’d settle for less.” I press up against him and bring my lips close to his, begging.

His kiss delivers, sweeping me off my feet, into his arms.

The raw, wicked heat just ignites my desire for more.

I don’t think our lips miss a single second as we move. We barely make it into the bathroom before I shove his shirt over his head. “You’ve been neglecting me long enough.”

He laughs. “Neglecting you?”

I nod. Way too seriously, and he laughs again.

His hands slide under my shirt, his thumbs seeking out my nipples.

I think the floor might fall out under me when I feel him squeeze. Oh, hell.

“Sounds serious. Better rectify that right now, darlin’.”

Then our hands, our lips, our hearts are everywhere.

Searching, feeling, tearing off our clothes while we drink each other good and deep.

I’m desperate for this man, this beast who’s saved me a hundred times over.

In no time, Drake has me pressed up against the shower wall, his washboard body slick, wet from the water steaming out the shower head, forming this heaven for our skin.

The tension, the ache, of needing him inside me is overpowering.

I shove at his shoulders, forcing enough space between us to grasp his cock.

So hard, so perfect, and so freaking ready.

Knowing it’s the only thing in the world that could satisfy right now, I give it a couple hard pumps. “I want this inside me, Drake. Fucking now.”

He releases my nipple from his mouth, his whole body going stiff.

“Fuck, darlin’. Hang on.” He leans down, giving me one more quick lick, just above my breast. “I’ll go get a condom.”

I keep my hand on his dick, pumping it harder. “We’re married, Drake. And I’m on the pill.”