“You want to come?” he asks, his hand between my legs stroking my cock at the same pace with which he’s fucking me. “You had enough?”
Against all reason, I shake my head, and he actually laughs. “Fuck, you really are perfect.”
Perfect.God, it really does feel like he’s right. Like nothing could be better. And I decide right then that even if I don’t believe in dreams, I believe in him without question. I believe he’s mine. That I belong with him and he with me.
And I would do anything to keep it that way.
A few months pass by before Aiden and I do make it back to the front steps of Dolly’s place, waiting for the last of our belatedly assembled plan to fall into place. None of which involves running, and all of which has Aiden fidgeting where he stands.
“He’s late,” he mutters, verifying it on his watch before glancing to where the sun is hanging high overhead, albeit slightly to the west. “Least he could do is be on time.”
I shrug. “Can you fault him?”
Aiden glares at me. “Yes. Yes, I can, seeing as how he is largely to blame for most of this mess.”
I grin. “Almost feels like we should be thanking him.”
“Wouldn’t go that far,” Aiden grumbles, though the corner of his mouth twitches. “You’resureeverything else is taken care of?”
“Yes,” I tell him, not minding repeating the details if it will soothe him. “The first part is done. Clayton got the money we sent, and he’s handled paying off Maddock’s friend in thestagecoach business. Already stopped his stations distributing the posters.”
“Turned awful quick.”
“No more than they usually do,” I reply, shrugging.
“Right,” Aiden says, letting out a breath. “Keep forgetting this is theusualway.”
I grin. “You know what they say…no honor amongst gentlemen.”
Aiden quirks an eyebrow at me. “That isnotwhat they say, nor is it how that phrase goes.” He considers momentarily. “But it probably should be.” He goes back to fidgeting. “Won’t people ask questions?” Aiden asks, still dubious. “Want an explanation for why the posters are coming down?”
“As eye-catching as we are, I doubt anyone will notice. Not when there’s plenty to take our place,” I point out. “If they do, they’ll be told it was all a mistake. A clerical error—”
“Amistake?” he questions. “The word of more than two dozen witnesses is a mistake?”
“If the right people say it is.”
“Christ,” Aiden mutters, looking like he would ask more questions on that point if he weren’t so concerned elsewhere. “And what about the law? You’re sure they’ve also been paid for and settled?”
“Notpaid for, in this case. We didn’t have to,” I remind him. “Simon still had the agreement he found in your pocketbook. Wanted to keep it as an autograph, but Clayton paid him off as well. Kid drove a hard bargain.”
“I’ll bet,” Aiden mutters. “Still not sure what it even proves. I didn’t exactly hold my end.”
“It proves that Maddock didn’t either. And that he didn’thold his endfirst by gambling what he shouldn’t have. That covers you. Plus, Ben also has Clayton’s word that I wasn’t cheating on the last game. Seems to hold a lot of weight with him.”
“Who is Ben?” Aiden asks, pulling his revolver from its holster and opening the chamber to check rounds even though he did the same thing five minutes ago. “Do I know him?”
“The sheriff? In Soldana?”
Aiden scoffs. “The one whose deputies probably helped chase us out of town?”
“Well, you know law enforcement…” I reply. “Hard for them to see chaos and not want to contribute. Clayton said Ben feels sorry, though, for the inconvenience.”
“Funny thing to call being hunted on horseback with guns.”
“They both send their best.”
Aiden chuckles. “Well, tell Clayton I wish them a long life together.”