I wanted to have him call Robert and his Bible over and become theirs. Why did I want that? Why did I want to stop bickering and just say yes? “I… met you a few hours ago. I need to at least… at least—”
“Yes?” Charlie prodded.
“I need a night to sleep on it.”
“To change your mind?” Charlie asked. I saw the little V in his brow, the worried look. He thought I might reconsider, might not want to be their wife.
I shook my head. “No. No.” I meant it. I had no intention of second thoughts. “You’re right. You’ve claimed me.”
The tension slipped from his features, his jaw unclenched. Those lips that had kissed me, had been on my pussy turned up into a small smile. “That’s good, love.”
It felt good to know I’d eased his mind, to be the one to offer him happiness. It was odd, this sensation, knowing that me wanting to be with him made him content.
“It seems this claiming is more important than a wedding.”
Hank nodded. “We’ve agreed. To me,” he tipped his head toward Charlie. “To us, that’s enough. You’re ours. Since two men are marrying you, it is not conventional, or legal. But we will do it nonetheless.”
“You will marry me, love.”
I flicked my gaze to Hank and he nodded in agreement. I wondered why he wasn’t bothered by the fact that he and I wouldn’t be legally wed. He was the sheriff. The one who believed in black and white.
“You will have my name, but today, when we fir
st saw you, you became ours.”
I felt light, like I could float. Was this happiness? Was this love? I had no idea but I… I liked it. And I wanted it more. I wanted it always.
“I have no intention of changing my mind. But I need a moment to breathe. To think. The two of you are overwhelming.”
Both of them grinned wickedly. “And we still have our clothes on.”
That was definitely what I was afraid of.
“You’re correct, sweetheart. When we get you between us, you won’t be thinking at all.”
I swallowed, then squeezed my thighs together, knowing that was true.
Hank nodded. “All right. We will marry tomorrow after you go to town for a dress.”
Tomorrow. It was as if waiting an extra day was a huge burden, especially since I’d known them less that twelve hours.
“You can sleep between us.”
I sputtered and held up my hand. “If I’m in a bed between you, I hardly doubt you’ll let me sleep.”
Charlie winked. “Smart woman.”
“She can stay here tonight,” Emma called.
We hadn’t walked too far away from the others, and they were definitely a nosy bunch. I liked it.
I tried not to let my relief be too evident. Hank and Charlie were like a stampede, running roughshod over anything in its way. They weren’t thrilled at the idea of me being out of their sight, but nodded nonetheless.
I looked to Emma. “Thank you kindly.”
Charlie turned my head with a finger to my chin, forced me to look up at him. “Know this, love. You’ll be in the dress long enough to say the vows. Then it’ll be stripped off of you.”
I swallowed, for I didn’t need to see the honest intensity in his look. I only had to hear the carnal promise of his voice.