Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 140

There's a deep satisfaction in my chest, this greedy caveman thing, seeing her wearing my ring.

She's mine.

She's all fucking mine.

Inhaling roughly, I pull her into my arms.

"I might be many things, Lady Bug," I tell her, my lips a whisper from hers, "but I'm no damn grumpybutt anymore."

"You don't kiss like one, I guess. Hard to argue with that," she says, closing the distance.

Time stops cold as I claim her mouth, teasing what I mean to do to the rest of her later, the second we're alone.

I don't give a shit if my brothers are watching and jeering from the windows, or if Mom's looking on with teary-eyed joy.

This is our moment and Salem Hopper finally belongs to me. My wife.

My son's mother.

My future, my fight, my lady since the day she was born.

My own personal lady luck, and the winning streak that's coming will be one for the ages.

We kiss breathlessly, our hands pulling at our clothes high and low, until thunder rumbles overhead and we're doused in a cool, sudden rain. It's like the universe is urging us to get a room.

Sighing reluctantly, I break away and look up at the sky, then back at Salem. Her swollen lips, her big brown eyes, and the ring glinting on her finger that matches the gold flashing in her gaze.

"We should go tell your family the news," she says.

"Maybe," I admit, tugging her back to the house. "But there's something else I'd rather do more."

"Patton! What if someone's watching, they're probably waiting for—" "Let them. I want to fuck you, Salem. I want to see that ring on your finger when you grab my cock. I want to feel it on my skin when you're wrapped around me, begging for dear life." I bring her in closer so I can rumble the last part in her ear. "And I want to feel it against my fingers when I'm pinning you down, telling you to come for me. Can you do that for me? Can you wear that pretty ring while I mark you tonight?"

Her lips quiver and she nods slowly, too lost for words. "Later, yes. But we really shouldn't keep them waiting…"

Smiling, I take her hand, already loving how right that little piece of gold feels on her hand.

It's only right to give her fair warning about what she's gotten herself into.

Judging by the shy excitement in her red cheeks, she doesn't mind at all.

SALEM

"No, I've just been pinching myself about fifty times since I woke up," I tell her with a laugh.

A photographer in the background snaps a not-so-discreet candid shot. I try to remember her advice to forget she's there. We'll want these shots for memories later.

Delly giggles and finally releases her hands. She's wearing a sapphire- blue dress that matches the necklace, regal as ever as mother of the groom.

Patton.

My soon-to-be husband.

He's had three whole months to change his mind, but if anything, he's just been pushing for everything to happen at breakneck speed. There was barely time to book the wedding venue and set up all the moving pieces. Without Delly pulling some strings and calling in favors, I'm not sure if we could've pulled it off.

I can't say I blame him for the urgency. For us to be a family faster.

Marrying this man isn't a trial, though. I'm so over judging him for being gruff and demanding when I know his heart's in the right place.

"Believe it, lovely lady. You two were meant to be," she says. "Fate has a funny way of being pushy until you give in."

That was me, the not giving in part. Patton, to my eternal gratitude, was ready from the start. Or at least from the moment I told him about Arlo after that trip to Utah.