“Darlin’,” he pants. “Baby,” he grunts. “Stop. You have to stop.” His hips buck, forcing me to take him deeper. “I’m gonna come if you don’t stop. I want to be inside of you,” he stresses.

I pull back, and he pounces. Within a second, he has me pinned beneath him. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I say.

“Don’t ever stop,” he says as he enters me.

My eyes roll back as I feel him fill me. “I won’t,” I promise.

We make love. Sometimes it’s really sweet and slow, other moments it’s frantic. I cling to him as my second orgasm hits me like a freight train. He tells me how beautiful I am, how much he wants me, and how he needs me.

I feel more tied to him than I ever have. Today we gave each other everything we have, and there’s no way I can get that piece of myself back, even if I wanted to. My life with Zach will never be easy—both of us are too hardheaded—but it’ll be worth every tear shed. He’s where I’m meant to be.

We lie here, entwined in the sheets. “I want to talk to Logan,” he states.

“About?”

“Us.” Zach rolls over and places his hand on my hip. “You mentioned that he feels bad. I don’t want him to worry.”

I nod. “He needs that.”

“I think we all do. I think Cayden and I should get a few minutes together too.”

I place my hand on the side of his face. “Okay.” I smile. “Let’s talk to them.”

“First, I think we should make up one more time just to be sure.”

I giggle as he yanks me on top of him.

One more time is the least I can do to ensure we’re fully made up.

Zachary

I’ VE NEVER BEEN SO NERVOUS about seeing the boys, but the last time was horrible. Watching them cry and cling to Presley like that pulverized me.

Knowing that I had a hand in them finding out that way is killing me.

They may not be mine, but they’re a part of her, which means they’re a part of me. I meant every word I said to her—I’ll be whatever they need.

“Hey guys.” I try to give them an easy smile and hope it looks that way.

“Zach!” Logan rushes over, and I open my arms. “I’m sorry I hit you,” he says immediately.

He gives me a big hug, and I hold on to his shoulders. I want him to really hear me.

“It’s water under the bridge, little man.” I hate that this kid felt torn up about it. If I saw someone yelling at my mama, they’d have to deal with the three of us boys. “I think it’s admirable the way you defended your mama. It showed real strength and courage.”

“I didn’t hurt you too bad?”

I keep my face stoic. “I had to ice my leg.” I pretend to stretch it. “But it’ll be fine.” Logan beams with pride, and I can’t help but to feel proud too.

Cayden hops down off the porch, and I wait to hear what he has to say. “Does this mean I won’t be a Benson anymore?”

Presley walks over and puts her hand on my arm. I figure she wants to take this one. “You’ll always be a part of your dad. He gave you life, his name, a home, and so much more. Your name will never change, even if someday mine does.”

If the boys weren’t here, I’d be telling her it most definitely is changing. Pretty soon, I’m going to make sure the entire world knows who she belongs to.

“I want you guys to know something,” I explain. “I’m always here for you. Always. If you want to talk or learn some pretty cool pranks—I’m your guy. I grew up with Trent, who did it to me, and I turned around and did it to Wyatt.”

They both laugh.

“But seriously, I care about all three of you very much.” I hesitate a little about telling them how much I love Presley. They’ve had a rough couple of days, and there’s still a right time for things. I would rather show them how much she means to me than say the words.

A man’s words are only as true as the actions that follow.

I want to teach them the things my own daddy taught me. He’s given my mother the world and treated her like she owned it. He never complains. He told us once that if she ever left him, he’d lose himself. I used to think he was out of his mind, until I lost Presley.

Presley takes my hand in hers. “I think,” she says with enthusiasm. “We should team up and race again. What do you say?”

Logan and Cayden perk up. “I don’t know,” I joke back. “I whooped you once, it was really embarrassing for you.”

“Ha!” she says in my face. “I beat you! I think your memory is going, old man.”

She wasn’t calling me old when I was making her back arch and cry out in pleasure. “Old?”

Presley’s eyes shine as she looks at me from over her shoulder. “Older than me.”

“Regardless, you’re wrong. I won, right, boys?”

“You lost, Mom. I think since Cayden is the youngest, he should be on her team,” Logan offers. I take it as a good sign that he wants to be on the winning squad.

“Sounds good to me.” I fist bump him.

“Again?” Cayden grumbles. “I get stuck with Mom again ?”

“Hey!” Presley jeers. “I got stuck pushing you two melonheads out, you don’t see me complaining.” She turns and mumbles. “I give birth to them and they like him because he gives them a horse,” she gripes. “Insane.”

“We can hear you.” I remind her.

“I’m glad,” she taunts back.

She’s so cute when she gets like this. But while my girl was off in the big city, I was raising horses. I’ve learned a thing or two. I’m going to school her ass.

“Okay,” she says as she takes out Shortstop. “Rules are there’s a new route.”

I narrow my eyes at her. She’s up to something. “I don’t think so.”

“Are you going to deny me, Hennington?”

“You’re in trouble.”

She saunters up to me with those green eyes full of mischief. “I think.” She pats my chest. “That you’re the one in trouble, Cowboy.”

When she says my nickname, I can’t handle it. I want to throw her to the ground and make her scream it. “Presley,” I warn. “You’re going to pay for this.”

Her lips form a straight line and my body goes still. Her fingers graze across my chest. “I look forward to it.”

“I bet you do.”

We race as the boys root for me. Logan and I have our own victory dance at the end. Presley swears that, once again, she’s been cheated. And she thought she could win.

The rest of the day I spend time with the twins working on training their horses. We decide to go for a really easy ride with them both. It’s a slow, relaxing day for the four of us. The boys laugh a lot, mostly at Presley’s expense, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Each time one of them lets loose and smiles—she lights up.

She’ll give me a look every once and a while that tells me how grateful she is.

“How about we cook out at my place?” I offer when the four of us get everything settled after our ride.