From his place in the doorway, Blaine barely stifled a laugh at his nephew’s typical cajoling. Bedtime had been the toughest challenge of single parenting a four-year-old the last five and a half months.

After a quick hug, Lindie kissed Cam on the forehead. “Gotta save some stories for tomorrow night and the next night and next week. Love you bunches, squirt. Sleep tight.”

“I love you more. If I go to sleep fast, can I help collect eggs in the morning?”

“You bet.”

“Okay. Night-night. You too, Uncle Blaine.” The boy burrowed deeper into his blankets.

“G’night.” Lamplight revealed amusement on Lindie’s face as she moved to the twin bed on the other side of the room. “You did a good job helping your brother unpack and put everything away today, Leo. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Leo sat up and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m glad you decided to marry Uncle Blaine. He smiles a lot more now. Mommy used to tease him about working too hard and being grumpy.”

Her quiet snicker carried to the hall. “He’s too busy keeping us happy to be a grouchy workaholic anymore. Get some sleep. We have lots to do tomorrow before the wedding. Love you, big guy.”

“I love you too, Aunt Lindie. Good night.” The older boy settled against his pillow and pulled the covers up to his chin. “Good night, Uncle Blaine.”

With his heart fuller than he could ever remember, Blaine flipped the light switch and pushed away from the doorframe. “Good night, boys.”

Lindie slipped her hand into his as they walked toward the stairs. “Are you getting cold feet yet?”

“Nope.” At the bottom of the steps, he held the front door open for her. Dusk had invited shadows into the yard, but light filled his life. “Are you?”

“Well, I am barefoot and this afternoon’s thunderstorm did make the temperature drop by twenty degrees.” Her grin widened as she walked backward to the porch railing and then patted the vertical column beside her. “It’s almost as cool as when you fucked me right here during last week’s downpour.”

“Is that an invitation?” Following the slight ridges beneath her tank top, he traced one bra strap downward and along the upper edge of the cup. “I’ll gladly warm up your feet anytime, anywhere.”

Her breath hitched and she hooked her hands behind his neck. “Do you think we can be quiet enough? Leo heard us last night and I had to tell him I had a leg cramp when he asked about it this morning.”

“More kissing ought to take care of that.” He unfastened her cutoffs and worked them and her underwear past her hips. While she stepped out of the leg holes, he unfastened his shorts. “Ready.”

She glanced toward his dick and back up again. Her smirk said she approved of his pre-bedtime preparations. “That you are. Expecting to get laid, Stockwell?”

“Hoping to get in some more practice before our wedding night.” A slow glide of his fingertips through her slit provided confirmation that she was ready too. He licked his finger and then grasped her naked ass. “Hop on.”

Her lips touched his a moment after she positioned her pussy on the head of his cock. With her slow descent, she invaded his mouth with her tongue, imitating his invasion of her body. A groan vibrated through his jaw as she sank onto him.

The world faded farther away with every smooth thrust. The pure pleasure and utter satisfaction of their oneness drowned him, immersing him in the passion they’d found together. A week ago he never would’ve guessed he’d meet the woman he was meant to share the rest of his life with.

She tunneled her hands into his hair and rocked forward in time with his thrusts, all without pausing for a breath. Her heat surrounded him, as did the seldom spoken emotion he was now certain lay in her heart. Maybe someday she would feel comfortable saying the words to him the easy way she did to his nephews.

He pulled her closer, wishing they were naked so her skin pressed against every inch of him. A sudden contraction around his cock urged him to go faster, to bury himself deeper. Her lips left his for a few quick breaths and then returned as a telltale cry escaped. She tensed, tightening her legs around his waist, and arched against the column. All he could do was hang on for dear life and follow her into that blissful place they always took each other when they made love.

His lungs ached through the release, but he continued the kiss, determined to draw out every drop of pleasure from her. An interruption by the kids during their recovery because they heard her sexy cries wasn’t a good idea, either.

She melted into him, her sex-softened mouth leaving his. “Feet are warm.”

He carried her on rubbery legs to the closest rocking chair and sat without losing their connection. “Good. I promise this is forever.”

“Do you?” Her ponytail fell across his chin as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I do.” He twisted the silky strands around his finger. “I was going to save some news I got for a wedding present, but this is too good not to tell you now.”

“Yeah? What kind of news?” The sleepiness in her voice would likely change the second he told her.

“The private investigator I hired to find out about your little sister’s parentage found something else of interest. You have another sister.”