Page 140 of Heart Over Heels

He was gasping and moaning loud enough to wake the whole damn house, but I didn’t even think about shushing him. I gorged myself on his squeals and sighs and the slap of his skin on mine. And every time he called out my name, begging, praising, barely breathing, I felt myself creeping nearer to my own imminent surrender.

Climax barreled down on me, a rush like wind that swept up my back and bent me forward. I pinned Darby to the bed with my hands on his shoulders and my cock buried to the hilt. There, I captured him with a kiss, claiming his mouth and swallowing his final cry as he came with me, spilling between our stomachs while I emptied myself inside him.

The kiss dragged on until my lungs burned for air. Darby clutched my wrists, holding me on top of him and threatening my balance. Jelly legs were a hazard when I had two, a disaster with one and a half. Slowly, I eased back, body buzzing and brain pleasantly hazy.

When my softening cock slipped free, Darby exhaled long and low. He went limp on the mattress with his legs dangling over the edge and his tail hanging loose.

I was grateful for the towel still within reach. I scooped it up, removed the condom, tied it off, and set it aside. A quick swipecleaned me up, and then I folded the towel to a fresh patch and took care of the mess on Darby’s stomach. He didn’t move—eyes closed, hands flat on the bed, breathing like he was already drifting off.

When he was clean, I moved to the head of the bed and folded down the covers. Coming back for him felt instinctive and maybe necessary since he seemed content to melt into a puddle exactly where he was. Sliding one arm under his knees and the other around his shoulders, I lifted him. He didn’t weigh much, but stooping, shuffling, and maneuvering him onto the pillows with my balance being what it was turned into a dangerous dance. With moderate effort, I got him settled and tucked beneath the blankets, warm and snug.

Darby rolled onto his side and curled into the sheets. I brushed a wisp of white hair from his brow and kept my hand there a moment, feeling him breathe.

“Do you need water or anything?” I murmured.

He cracked his eyes open and cut his gaze toward me, pondering perhaps, like I was. After a moment, he said, “Mercy, I need you to ask me something.”

I eased onto the mattress beside him. Whatever this was, it had nothing to do with water. “What is it?”

Darby’s throat worked as he gathered the words. “Something important,” he replied. “Something you deserve to hear, and I want to tell you. Ineedto. But I can’t…” He bit his lip and looked away, and I almost thought he’d give up on the idea entirely until he forced out, “Will you ask me?”

I studied his face, riddled with exhaustion and a glimmer of bravery. Becausehewas brave. And true. And endlessly capable of compassion, and care, and maybe…

“Do you love me?” I asked.

Relief pulled the final threads of tension from his body. He gazed up at me, smiling wide and watery then nodded. “I do.”

I expected the statement to settle. Being loved came with responsibility—at least, that was what I’d been taught. But Darby’s confession didn’t add weight. Instead, it lifted something that had been pressing on my heart for too long. Because I hadn’t married for love, hadn’t joined the service for love, hadn’t returned home for love. I’d done all those things for the sake of duty, honor, and courage.

But this?

Being loved by Darby and loving him back restored the sense of purpose I’d been starving for. It sent me in a new direction and bound me to a cause no less worthy than any I’d served before.

“Baby, that’s so good,” I praised and watched the fire ignite in his eyes.

He turned toward me, cocooned beneath the blankets with only his face peeking out, but that was all I needed. I cupped his cheeks with both hands and kissed them, then his lips, then back to his cheeks again until he broke into giggles beneath me.

Pulling back, I met his gaze, as serious as I could be. “I’m gonna take care of you. You know that? I know you look out for everyone else, but you’remyjob now. And I’m gonna give you everything.”

His brows pinched, but his voice was soft and resolute. “I just want you. That’s everything.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I paused to clear it. “I might have… a little more to give you. Soon.” His expression shifted to a curious one before I declared, “Molly’s coming to visit.”

Darby’s irises glowed like a sunrise. “Oh, Mercy, that’s fantastic!”

I nodded. “I want to make it a regular thing. Have her over on the weekends, maybe. And…” I swallowed down yet another swell of emotion to conclude, “I’d like her to meet you. Again. As my partner.”

Darby went still. Then his eyes shimmered with tears. He wormed his way upright, blankets slipping down his shoulders.

“I’m gonna be a mommy?” he whispered, voice breaking with wonder.

A soft laugh escaped me. “Yeah, baby.”

He launched himself at me, arms wrapping around my neck as he pulled me into a crushing hug. I held him back just as fiercely, letting him shake and laugh and cry against me, grateful down to my bones that he was mine to hold.

The sounds of wood scraping and fabric rustling stirred me from sleep. Darby was tucked against me with his head under my chin, which meant the noises weren’t coming from him.

Sunlight streamed through the window blinds, giving the bedroom a mellow glow and outlining the figure hunched in front of my dresser. His tail swished through the air above a head that was crowned with an unmistakable cowboy hat.