Josh & Hannah (Redwood Falls 1)

“It was no big deal. Mom and Dad and Josh were there. I know you hate going to stuff like that. I haven’t even told Katie.”

In that moment, Zach looked at her as if he realized how much his sister had grown up.

“Well, I can’t say I’m not disappointed. I would have loved to have been there.”

“It’s no big deal, I didn’t even want to go to a big four-year college. Josh made me.”

Surprise showed on his features. “Josh made you?”

“Yeah, I was ready to get married at eighteen after I graduated from high school.”

“Shit, Hannah! What were you thinking?”

“Don’t bitch at me! I still think it was pointless. To me, it was three years that I wasn’t with him. And all because he wanted me to have a degree first. I could have easily finished college after the wedding. And I would have.”

Zach had a highly doubtful look on his face. “All that aside, I don’t think you need to be rushing into anything. Wait awhile, let me meet him—”

Hannah cut him off in surprise. “You’re willing to meet him?”

“What do you expect me to do? Ignore this?”

“No. I’m happy you’re willing to meet him. I knew you’d be okay with this eventually, I just didn’t think it would be this quick. But I’m not waiting. I don’t care anything about a big wedding, or a white dress and flowers. All I want is Josh, I’ve waited for what feels like my whole life, and I’m not waiting one second longer. He wants to marry me now, I’m twenty-one and have satisfied everybody with my college degree. Now I get what I want. This weekend.”

Zach studied her. “How do mom and dad feel about all of this?”

“They like Josh, a lot. But they don’t know we’re getting married yet and I’m not going to tell them until it’s over. They can throw me a reception or something later on if it will make mom feel better.”

Zach threw out a smile. “Is there anything I can do to slow this down or make you change your mind?”

For the first time since she had walked into his office, she relaxed back in her chair and smiled at him with warmth. “I love you, Zach, but there’s not a damn thing you can do. I want Josh Turner and nothing and no one can stop me from having him.”

****

Las Vegas was amazing. Amazing. Hannah had never seen anything like it before in her life. Hollywood didn’t do it justice. The lights, the nightlife, everything was bigger than life.

But she really didn’t care about any of it.

They rented a car as soon as they hit the airport and the first thing they did was find a wedding chapel.

Hannah knew her parents were going to kill her but she didn’t care. This wasn’t about her parents. This was about Josh Turner and only Josh Turner.

Oh, my God. She was about to become Hannah Turner. She liked the sound of that!

They stood before a balding, middle-aged man who droned the ceremony in a monotone voice that should have made her angry, but didn’t because she was too excited to care. Josh held her hand through the entire ten-minute ceremony as static, pre-recorded wedding music played over the speakers in the background. The two witnesses were old, and Josh had given them each a cell phone to record the wedding. Surely, one of them would get it right.

They said their ‘I do’s’ without any fanfare but they didn’t need any.

Josh was smiling at her as if his world was complete, and Hannah knew for a fact that hers was.

It was the most romantic moment of her life.

The hotel they had chosen was only four star, but it was fantastic. Josh carried her over the threshold into their room.

“Aren’t you supposed to do this at home?”

“Yeah, I’ll do it there, too. I just like to carry you.”

Hannah smiled up at him as he placed her on the bed and then shut and bolted the door.

He turned around and walked to the end of the bed with indolent grace and came to a stop. Standing completely still, he made no move to touch her; he only watched her from the foot of the bed. Hannah felt the exact same shiver of excitement that she’d felt at fifteen when he’d followed her into the public library and stood staring at her in silence.

It had thrilled her then, and it was thrilling her now.

His eyes turned a darker shade of green and Hannah recognized the expression reflected there. Her heart pounded as he looked from her face, down to her feet, and then back again. His gaze penetrated her, becoming hotter, more intense and her smile slowly faded. He reached out and wrapped his hand around her ankle, his grip tightening until Hannah gasped, butterflies rippling through her stomach.

“What do you want, Mrs. Turner?” His voice was low and deep and it made Hannah ache for his touch.

She answered him as the smoldering flame of his appraisal penetrated her. “You. What … what do you want?”

His eyes fell to the juncture of her thighs and the air around them electrified. “Just you.”

His answer, determined and intense, struck a chord within her and she wanted to give him anything and everything he desired. “You have me.”

He scanned her slowly; his attention riveted on her. His eyes came back to hers and held her gaze for a count of three seconds before responding. “Yeah, I do, don’t I?” His arrogant words, although a question, were inflexible, and a hot sexual sizzle filled the air. As fast as a snake striking, he reached out and grabbed her other ankle and pulled her to the end of the bed, her butt landing on the edge.

The breath hitched in her lungs and her entire being was filled with hot, sensual need as he took her sandals from her feet and tossed them aside.

His lazy movements disappeared; his hands landed on her hips and within seconds, he’d shoved her skirt up and pulled her panties off. Her pulse pounded an erratic rhythm as he separated her legs and pushed them up, bending her knees until her feet lay flat on the bed. She was totally open to him, and the oxygen caught in her throat.

Seizing her at her knees, he looked down, his eyes riveted to the naked place between her thighs. His nostrils flared and flecks of red tinged his cheekbones. Her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. A low vibration came from his throat. “I’m not going to lie to you Hannah; I like what I see.”

He’d seen her this way a hundred times before, and her physical response to him was as powerful as it had always been and she felt a rush of damp heat. “I’m … I’m glad?” Her voice rose in question while the blood hammered in her ears as she waited for his next move.

His restraining grasp tightened and as he forced her legs apart another inch, Hannah was captivated by his sensual threat.

“That’s real good, baby,” his eyes lifted and locked with hers. “Because it’s mine forever.” As he spoke, one hand slid down and he cupped her femininity with irrefutable strength.

He released her only for enough time to tear at his zipper, pulling his boots off and pushing his jeans and underwear away.

His hand came back to her immediately. She gasped at the lightning quick move, and when he slid his long, middle finger inside her, her breath caught as irresistible pleasure raced through her system.

His gaze held hers and it was intent, compelling. That single, thick finger swirled inside of her, and Hannah let out a tiny moan. His erection pulsed, thick and hard between them. Stepping as close as he could get to the bed, his eyes never wavered from hers as he explored her body. Her breathing accelerated. “You like that, Hannah baby?” his voice dropped.

Hannah lifted her hips. “Yeah.”

“That’s damn good, sweetheart, because it’s mine; you’ll never get away from me.”

“I’ll never want to get away from you,” she panted harshly, her internal muscles squeezing around his finger, begging him for more. Her hand lifted between them, and she just managed to reach the head of his erection. Her fingers slid over him, a drop of pre-cum feeling like silk as she spread it over him and caressed him with it. Long since on the pill, Hannah loved everything about

the wet silk that came from his body.

He hissed in a breath and the tic in his cheek became erratic as they caressed each other. His eyes were brilliant and green as they held hers. “I love you, you know that?”

Tenderness gripped her. “Yeah, I love you, too.”