Please reblog what you read and heed warnings on all fics. Enjoy! 🖤
Joel Miller
You drew stars around my scars - @maroonpascal - what they say about the North Star is real, you and Joel realise that as your roads have crossed again, for good.
Paloma (epilogue) - @millermouth - Joel Miller is back home running his family’s ranch, the work coming back to him easily even as the house fills with the memories of what happened thirty years ago. He hires a young farm hand, expecting nothing more than help around the barn. Instead, he finds someone just as lost as he is.
feral (part thirteen) - @mcthsman - Part man, part beast, Joel Miller lives in solitude a few miles away from Jackson. At fifty-seven years old and without a Soulbond, Joel can't coexist with others— a man without his mate crazed by time and age. Until the day he sees her, the girl with tangerine blossoms in her hair and a laugh that echoes through the trees. So, he tracks her down. Hunts her through the woods, and brings home a girl that is not the wilting flower he expects.
season of the wolf (parts 1-3) - @mcthsman - The giant wolf that has been killing people around town shares a very striking feature with the quiet man that keeps breaking into your home— They both have the saddest, warmest brown eyes you've ever seen.
bite the hand (chapter one) - @cordycepskiss - From the moment Joel Miller saw you, he was hooked. Twenty four hours a day. Seven days a week. All spent obsessing over every detail of you. When your picture perfect moment was ruined by an unexpected obstacle, Joel knows what he has to do. Anything for his girl. Anything for what's rightfully his.
Baby Mine - @tateypots - Broken after losing Ellie to the fireflies Joel finds himself a new purpose when he’s taken in by a man and his daughter.
Taxi Driver - @milla-frenchy - you have an affair with Joel, a taxi driver. He is obsessed with you
Piece of You - @aurorawritestoescape - there’s a rule in Joel’s house — you give him a hard-on, you deal with it!
Be My Guest - @aurorawritestoescape - working as a hotel housekeeper, you meet a handsome guest under quite unexpected circumstances. An awkward conversation leads to a friendly relationship that grows into something none of you expects.
Love on the Brain - @time-for-my-weekly-spanking - As a storm rages over Jackson, you finally confront the man who saved you. And who has chosen to ignore you, even though you're forced to live in the same house. You’re pretty much convinced he hates you. And like a flash of lightning that tears through the sky and lights up the night, the truth finally dawns before your eyes. And maybe it's not what you expected…
taking care - @rainy-day-gracie - Joel takes care of you, whether you know it or not.
Sweet Escape - @reedispunk - One week; that's all you need to survive without succumbing to the suffocating temptation of the wellness retreat's most unlikely client, Joel Miller.
Lucien de Leon
Shameless - @milla-frenchy - you ask Lucien to come over and he does exactly what you need him to
Ellie Williams
boyfriend / comphet - @s-creamforwlw - You are like, super gay and super closeted
series summary: After your fiancé takes a job at Miller Ranch, adjusting to your new life there becomes so much harder when you meet his boss.
warnings: 18+, MDNI, a little smut and a heap of fluff.
a/n: a little nervous to post this and apologies it took so long but here is the final chapter!! I could write cowboy Joel forever so I didn't intend for this to be end yet, but once I started writing it just felt right. If you made it here, thank you soooo much for coming along for the ride and I really hope you enjoy <3
series masterlist | ao3 link
“Here, hold on to me.” He takes your hand in his, helping you out of his truck. "You good?”
You look up, kissing his cheek as he closes the passenger door behind you. “Always the gentlemen.”
He grins, looking up at the old diner. “Sorry we couldn't go anywhere better.”
“I don't mind; a quiet dinner with you is all I need tonight.”
"How are the cramps?"
"Still there."
You’re both tired, but tonight is probably the last chance for a date night before the twins arrive, and when you're this heavily pregnant and he’s had a long day on horseback, driving into town to the only diner for miles is the best you’re both going to get.
“Hey Mr. and Mrs. Miller, what can I get ya?" the waitress asks.
Mrs. Miller. You’re still getting used to that, pinching yourself every time you hear it on someone else's lips because you never thought you’d get your happy ending, especially not with him.
*Flashback*
“So, where are you taking me?”
“Up there.” He nods straight ahead towards the top of valleys that surround the ranch. "In a couple week those tops will be covered in snow, so I figured we should take the chance while it’s still safe.”
“Shall we take the horses?” You smile, knowing that’s a stupid question.
“Nice try, you know I'm not letting that happen. Now go grab some warmer clothes; it can get cold up there once the sun drops. I’ll wait in the truck.”
You nod and head inside. He’s been acting weird today, all week actually. There’s a nervous energy about him, like he’s waiting for something. Last week you had a minor scare with the twins; it wasn’t serious once the doctors figured out what was going on, but maybe that’s what's got him acting all uptight.
As he drives up the valley, his eyes stay locked on the road, his shoulders tense, his hands gripping the wheel so hard. his knuckles are white.
“You okay?”
He doesn't respond.
“Baby?”
He clears his throat, finally hearing you. “Yeah.”
“Here,” you reach over, take his hand, and rest it on your bump. “You feel that?”
“Feel what?”
“Just wait.”
The second you feel one of the twins kicking, he instantly relaxes, his face lighting up, and he pulls the truck to a halt on the side of the road.
“They’re kicking?”
You nod, "One of them for sure.”
He turns as best as he can, resting his other hand on your belly too. “Hey boys, it's Daddy!"
You feel another kick, and he begins to laugh excitedly.
“They hear you, Joel."
“Yeah? You hear us boys? We can't wait to meet you; better be looking after each other in there, no fighting, alright?”
Joel doesn't cry, it’s rare you ever see it happen, but after he leans down to kiss your belly, he looks up at you, tears building in his eyes.
"you ok?"
"Just so fuckin' happy, darlin'."
Later that night your cuddled up in the bed of his truck watching the stars glimmer above you when he shifts, digging into his pocket to pull out a small piece of woven leather in the shape of a ring.
“What’s that?”
“I love you so much, I love our sons, and I love this life we're building together, and I want you to be mine forever.”
“You have me.” You giggle, furrowing your eyebrows a little confused.
“I’m serious, darlin’. I want you to carry my name."
“Joel…” your voice trails off, your heartbeat increasing rapidly at his words.
“Be my wife. be my wife before the boys arrive. We’re going to be a family, and we should do it right.”
“I don't know what to say…”
He chuckles nervously. “Say yes? Say you’ll have me.”
“But I thought you hated the idea of a wedding?”
“Of a wedding, yes. But not marriage. I don't need some pretentious ceremony that just caters to our friends and family to prove I want to spend eternity with you. Although if you would like that, hell, I’ll make that happen, believe me. " He takes a deep breath. “I don't care how we do it; I just want to know that when I wake up beside you every morning, you’re mine in this life and in whatever comes afterwards.” He tilts your chin up to look at him. “So what do you say?”
“Yes, Joel.” You smile through the tears. “Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot.”
“Yeah?” he’s beaming now. “Gimme your hand.”
You notice his hands shaking as he starts to slide the handmade ring onto your finger. “I’ll get you somethin' better, I promise. But I found one of Shadow's old bridles in his stable; it took a little work to make it into this, but I thought it could work as a temporary one."
“Are you kidding? This is perfect!” You don't need anything else; he took the time to think about this and to make it, and therefore it holds more meaning than anything else ever could.
“Well, you can have two, because I'm getting the ring you deserve.”
You shift, moving into his lap as you snake your arms around his neck, your palms holding the back of his head as you kiss him.
“So we’re doin’ this?” he asks between kisses.
“Mmmh,” you bite your lip. “Let's get married, cowboy.”
The very next morning, you wake to him watching you, his sleepy face all smug as you reach up and brush your fingers through his messy curls.
“How about today?” he croaks.
“Today?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“Well, we could get the license this morning while I get Tommy to find an officiant, and then we could pick a spot somewhere here on the ranch, and by tonight it could be official.” He shifts until he’s on all fours, hovering above you. “Afterwards we could go dancin’, party…totally sober, of course… and then I'd bring you back here and carry you over the threshold of our front door and all the way back to this bed where I’d make love to you all night.”
You‘re unsure what to say; the idea is crazy but also perfect.
“I know your parents aren't here, or your friends, so we can wait if you want—"
“Today.” You cut him off.
He smiles. “You sure?”
You nod eagerly. “Let's not wait a second longer.” The excitement fills you with butterflies and you could squeal uncontrollably at the thought that today you’ll become Mrs. Miller, but then the panic starts sets in.
“What's wrong?”
“I don't have a dress!”
He pauses for a minute before an idea enters his mind. “I’m on it.” He crawls off the bed and takes his phone off the nightstand to make a call. “Baby girl? I’ve got some big news to tell you, and then I'm going to need your help.”
Following Joel out on the front porch, you see Tommy approaching the house on his horse and Sarah’s truck in the distance coming down the road.
“Tommy, I need you to find an officiant for me. Oh, and go dig that suit out; you’re going to need it later.”
“Huh?” Tommy looks down from his horse, confusion written all over his face. “An officiant? Why?”
“There’s going to be a wedding today.”
“A wedding? Who’s getting married?”
“I am, brother.”
His face lights up. “Wait… are you serious?”
Tommy looks up to you, the smile on your face telling him all he needs to know.
“Holy shit!” Tommy laughs, “I’m on it, brother.”
As Tommy rides off, Sarah pulls up in her truck and rushes over to you, both of you uncontrollably giddy as as she wraps her arms tightly around you.
“Woahhhh, careful! Don’t forget she’s carrying the most precious cargo.” Joel calls over.
Sarah brushes her dad's comment off. “I can't believe this is really happening!”
“Me neither. And… you’re really okay with this?”
“Stop! Of course I am. You're growing my baby brothers. You're basically already my stepmom anyway.”
“Nooo please don’t call me that; that’s too weird.” You laugh.
“Okay, okay! But we should get going if we’re gonna find you a dress in time!”
As you pass Joel on the way to Sarah’s truck, you intertwine your fingers with his and he leans down to kiss you. When you pull away, his hand snakes around your waist, pulling you back into him, kissing you more as you feel Sarah watching on behind.
“Uh guys, this is cute and everything, but if you want to get married today, we have to go now.”
He hums against your lips, kissing you for a moment longer before you reluctantly pull away.
“See you soon, handsome.”
He tilts his hat. “I’ll be waiting."
As the night draws in, you follow closely behind him as he rushes up the steps. You reach out instinctively to support him as he almost trips as you both giggle your way to the front door. He’s tipsy, and you’re simply high on happiness.
He fiddles with the lock for a while until you take the key and do it for him and he smirks down at you as the door swings open. “May I?”
“Be careful mister, don’t drop me.”
“Never.”
He bends down and scoops you up into his arms, holding you close against his chest. He nuzzles his head into your neck, peppering eager kisses on your skin. “Woah, Joel. Let’s get safely in the house first, you’ve had a drink remember.”
By some miracle, he manages to successfully carry you inside and up the stairs all the way to the bedroom, where he places you gently on the bed.
Dressed in his best shirt and jeans, and still wearing that damn hat that will always stir something deep inside you, he lets his eyes travel up and down your form with hungry eyes.
“Mmmmh. You sure did well with this dress, darlin’."
“You like?”
He nods. “Fuckin’ divine, my love.” He takes a deep breath and when you look down, you notice the bulge in his jeans. “But as much as I’m enjoying this sight, I think it’s time we took it off you, Mrs. Miller.”
You giggle. “Say that again.”
He moves over you, snaking his way up your body, breathing you in desperately as he hums in approval. “What? Mrs. Miller?” he stops once he’s level with your face, his lips just above yours as he stares into your eyes. “My wife?”
You whimper at the sound of those words on his lips. “Mmmmh. I’m your wife.”
Present day
“What?” you ask, noticing that naughty look in his eye as he sits across from you in the booth, watching you eat.
"Nothing, I just like looking at ya"
You blush, looking away from him. He tilts his head to the side. “Don’t shy away from me.”
“Just eat your damn food, mister.”
Pregnancy has been hard on you, not just physically, but mentally. Getting used to the way your body was changing at each stage had taken its toll, even if you did have Joel telling you every morning just how beautiful he thought you were, or showing you exactly what it did to him when he’d get home after a long day and find you naked in the shower waiting for him.
He’d always be extra careful, taking it slow to ensure he was never going to hurt you or the babies, but he’d always give you exactly what you needed to reassure you in all the best ways that he still wants every ounce of you.
And then there were his small, tender touches like when he’d lie in bed beside you and rub cream over your tummy to ease the tight skin, or help you wash your hair when you didn’t have the energy. Or just the simple reminders to make sure you’d eaten plenty and hydrated enough. These were the things that made you realized how lucky you were to have a man like Joel by your side and how lucky the twins were to have him as their father.
“Ahh, Marcus, haven’t seen you around here for a while!” you hear the voice of the diner owner, your eyes immediately flicking up to Joel. Surely not.
Joel drops his fork onto his plate with a loud clang. He slumps back against the seat as he glances just past you towards the counter, his jaw locked, his eyes wide like he’s seeing red. You don't need to look over your shoulder to confirm your suspicion; judging by the way Joel isn't taking his eyes off the man tells you all you need to know. Great, that’s the quiet date night officially over.
“Joel?”
He hums in response, but he isn't listening.
“Joel, can we go? The cramps are getting worse.”
“Alright, just gimme a minute, darlin’.” He stands, leaving you alone in the booth.
“Joel, please don’t.”
Your pleas fall on deaf ears, so you sit there, refusing to look behind you, instead carefully listening out in anticipation of what might happen next.
“Shit. Joel," you hear that familiar irritating voice behind you, the sound of it making you cringe.
“Whatcha still doing round here, boy?” Joel asks.
“I'm not; I'm working down south now; just passing through.”
"Ah, yeah?”
“Don’t want no trouble, Miller," the owner of the diner warns, picking up on the tension.
"Oh, I don’t want any trouble either, but it seems someone in this damn place does, showing his face around ‘ere.”
“Alright, relax, I just wanted a drink after a long day; I'm going.” Marcus sighs, his chair scraping along the floor as he stands. He pauses then; and you can feel his eyes at the back of your head. “Heard she married ya.”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“I got my sources.”
“Sure ya do.” He scoffs. “Well, if you heard that, you’ll also know she’s carrying my sons too.”
The room goes silent then. Maybe he didn't know that. “Shit.” Marcus laughs. “Well, congrats, I guess. You both got it all figured out, don't ya? Must be nice.”
Joel smirks, taking out his wallet and flicking through the wad of bills sitting in there; he’s being an ass now, simply because he can. “Drinks on me.”
“Don’t want your money, man.”
“Take it. But I promise you kid, if I ever see your ass in this town again, I won't be so polite.”
“Fuck you, and fuck her too.”
You stand then; you couldn't care less about your ex, but you don't want to have to split up a fight when you're this heavily pregnant. So you turn and look into Marcus' eyes for a second with a blank expression before you take Joel's hand. “Joel, come on, let's go home.”
He doesn’t budge. Rolling your eyes you give up and leave. “I’ll be in the truck.”
As you climb into the passenger seat with a clear view into the neon-lit diner, you notice the sheriff pulling in and an uneasy feeling settles in your stomach then.
It all happens too fast. Joel’s head connects with Marcus’s face making him fall backwards onto the bar, and unfortunately for both of them, the fight then erupts exactly as the sheriff walks.
Pissed, you open the door and climb out of the truck in an attempt to go inside and defuse the situation, but the moment you stand, you feel an intense rush down below and you realize your waters just broke.
You stand frozen in place unsure what to do. The entire pregnancy you thought you'd be calm when this moment came; all the classes, books, and videos made you think you’d handle going into labor pretty well, but not one of those things mentioned your waters breaking as your husband got dragged out of a diner in handcuffs.
You call out for him but he doesn’t pick up on what’s happening to you as he’s pushed forcefully towards the sheriff's vehicle. “I’m sorry, baby. Go get Tommy; he’ll know what to do.”
“Joel, my waters just broke.”
He frowns. “I can’t hear ya, just go get Tommy."
“The babies are coming!”
His eyes go wide as your words register. Pure panic reverberates through his body then as he starts yelling, trying like hell to free himself from the grip of the sheriff, but of course he can't. Both men stumble onto the ground Joel’s elbow collides with the sheriff's nose, instantly drawing blood.
The deputy steps in then, helping to secure Joel on the ground, both men yelling at him as you look into your husband's helpless eyes as his face squishes against the asphalt. This can’t be happening.
You plead and plead with the men like it’ll make any difference, but they don’t listen. Joel might be liked and well respected around here, but he isn’t above the law.
Once Joel’s secured in the vehicle, the men come over to you, and the sheriff sighs with a pitiful look. “My deputy will drive you to the hospital, ma’am, but I’m sorry; your husband has to come with me.”
———
The entire night felt like you were in somebody else’s body watching this nightmare happen to you. You were scared, pacing the hospital room between examinations and contractions, wondering why hell Joel had to go and get himself arrested tonight of all nights.
But when Sarah and Maria arrived, they helped you realize that anger wasn’t going to help. Tommy was dealing with Joel, and you had two tiny humans relying on you right now, so you had to be strong and try to forget about him in a jail cell for the sake of the twins.
Labor had lasted hours. You were exhausted, highly emotional and honestly terrified. But just as you notice the sun starting to rise, the midwife helps you back up on the bed to examine you again.
She looks up from between your legs, and the look she gives you tells you it's time.
“I don’t think I can do this; this wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I can’t do this without him.”
Sarah grabs your hand tightly then. “You can. You have to.”
“When the next contraction comes, I need you to push for me, okay?”
You don’t know how long you’ve been pushing; you don’t know if this is even real; you just know the pain feels overwhelming.
But at some point between pushing, the door bursts open and you see that face you’ve been desperate to see. He’s here.
Your head falls back against the pillow as you pant hard, feeling relieved that despite the pain, you don't have to do this without him no longer. The tears start to fall then. “How? How are you here?”
“It doesn’t matter; I just know I’ve got a lot of sweet talking to do after this.” He smiles.
“I hate you for leaving me like that!”
He chuckles, dabbing your sweaty forehead. “You can hate me; that’s okay. You do whatever you need to do to get through this.”
You shake your head, anticipating the next contraction. “I’m so tired, Joel.”
“I know, sweetheart, I know. But you're so close now.” He leans down, kissing your forehead. “Take my hand; you fuckin' break it if you need to.” He looks deep into your eyes then. “You’ve got this, my love. Let’s meet our sons, yeah?"
A few weeks later…
“You’re home.” You sigh in relief as he steps into the bedroom.
“I’m home.” He checks on his son in the crib before walking over to you in the rocking chair, bending down to lay a soft kiss on top of your head. “How are our sons?”
“It’s been a long day; I think they’ve been missing their daddy.”
You hand him his other son, watching him cradle the tiny bundle in his huge arms.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, my day was pretty rough too. The auction didn’t go great, and your dad definitely still hates me.”
You smile. "No, he doesn’t.”
“Didn’t say a word to me the entire day. Maybe it was a mistake taking him with me; now he’s seen me failing as a cowboy as well as a husband.”
“Joel, please stop beating yourself up about that. I promise you, he was over you getting arrested the second he saw his grandsons. I think he just likes to keep you on edge.”
“He does that, alright.” Joel grins, a mischievous look in his eye. “Anyway, I got you something today."
“Yeah?” You narrow your eyes suspiciously.
“I mean it’s more for the boys, but I don’t think they’ll quite appreciate it just yet.” He places his son into the crib beside his brother and leaves the room.
“It’s not a horse is it, they’re a little young still.”
When he comes back, he’s smirking and holding a small box. You open it and two tiny pairs of cowboy boots sit there.
“Oh my goodness! Joel!”
“You know I don’t part with my money unless it’s to buy a horse, but not this time. I saw ‘em and couldn’t resist getting the boys their first pair.”
With your hormones still all over the place, this might just send you over the edge. “They’re so cute.”
“Well, my sons are gonna be cowboys one day, they gotta look the part.”
Your son’s babbles turn into cries and you slump back into the chair with a quiet groan, feeling deflated.
He smiles. “It’s alright, you should go eat something, daddy’s got this.” You smile, kissing his shoulder as you pass him.
You weren’t naive; both of you knew having twins wouldn’t be easy, but the reality of having two newborns, running a ranch, and having your parents stay with you for the first few weeks of the twins' lives was often challenging. The house was also a mess and the post natal effects on your body were rough.
But it was the overhwelming love you felt for them as well as those small, soft moments of watching Joel as a father all over again that made the stress and the worry of adjusting to being parents so worthwhile.
Like when he’d been unable to get away from work and he’d come home late tired and filthy, but the moment his eyes caught you sitting on the porch, the twins bundled in your arms as you all waited for daddy to come home, it would give you both a new energy that made the long day just disappear in an instant.
Or how he'd refuse to miss bath time, knowing the twins loved it; he’d never want to miss a moment of their infectious smiles. Watching him read the boys their bedtime story as they fell asleep was always your favourite though, the little funny voices he'd create as he sent them off into their dreams would make you burst with joy. he was the best daddy, and you were so grateful to be on this crazy ride of parenthood alongside him.
“Are they down?” You ask, sitting on the kitchen counter as he walks towards you.
“Finally. What ya got there?” He leans against the counter, trapping you.
“Open up.”
You feed him a spoonful of ice cream, and he hums, licking his lips. “We really have to eat something more substantial.”
“The wonderful joys of having newborns, huh?”
“Any chance your mom put leftovers in the fridge?”
“Uh-uh, that’s a risk I’m not willing to take.”
“Don’t be mean," he chuckles as you feed him another spoonful.
“You smell like horses.”
"Hmmm, and you love it.”
Your eyes scan down his frame. “Maybe, but really you should take a bath."
“Alright, but only if you join me and bring the ice cream too.”
His strong arms wrap around your waits as he pulls you back into his front, peppering kisses along your shoulder. “Now this is more like it.”
He digs the spoon into he tub of ice cream on the side, collecting the biggest amount before taking a bite.
“You think the boys are gonna like this life?” you ask.
Through the mouthful of ice cream he responds, “It’s in their blood, baby; of course they will.”
“But what if they don’t want to be cowboys?"
“They ain't got a choice.”
"Joel—"
“okay, okay, I’m joking. We’ll be there for them no matter what they want to be, just as long as they don’t want to move to the city," he laughs. “Look, all we can do is try our best to raise two beautiful and healthy boys. The rest is out of control.”
“But what if they become criminals like their dad, getting arrested—"
“Heyyy shut up!" He squeezes you playfully then, tickling your sides and making you squeal as the water splashes around. “I ain't no criminal, it happened once, alright?”
“Alright! Please stop!” you giggle as he digs back into the ice cream. "Can i have some?"
He brings the spoon to your mouth and as you go to take a bite he pulls it away quickly, drawing a trail of it along the back of you neck instead. Instantly his tongue comes out to draw along the trail then making you sigh into him.
"That's not fair."
"No? How about this?” He discards the spoon, his hand instead stroking up your front until he reaches your tits, his thumb flicking over your nipple, teasing you as you start to feel him getting hard agaisnt your back.
“Or this?” He brushes his knuckles down your body before dipping into the water and between your thighs until he reaches your folds, making you moan softly into the room. It’s been too long, and even though you're still healing, having him tease you like this feels so good.
"Is this okay?” He mumbles.
"Yesss,"
“You need to tell me if it's too much, darlin’. I don't wanna hurt ya.”
“No, don’t stop; it feels so good.”
He takes his time and he’s so gentle in his touch, but it’s enough to drive you crazy, enough to have you withering against him and enough to have you completely surrender yourself to his control.
———
It's still dark and silent when you stir the next morning and when you turn in the sheets, you find the bed cold and empty next to you. Sitting up, you check the crib, and it’s empty too. Naturally as a mom, you panic but then your phone lights up and see the message from Joel telling you that he’s taken the boys down to the barns.
Curious, you dress and go downstairs; you take Joel’s coat, loving the way it smells of him and wrap it around your body as you stroll down the hill in search of them.
A soft voice draws you in, and when you peer around the door, you see him, the twins bundled protectively inside his thick flannel as he introduces them to the horses. “This one’s daddy’s. He's the biggest and he’s the best boy I’ve got, although I hate to say it but he’s getting a little old now, just like me I s’ppose."
He walks over to the other side where shadow stands watching him. “And this is Mommy's horse. There’s a little story about him and how she got him and I’m sure she’ll tell ya when you’re older.” He looks down to his sons snuggled against him. “And, one day when you're both a little bigger, I’ll get ya both have your own and maybe, just maybe you might wanna help run this place alongside your big sister, huh?” He sighs. “Yeahhh, you don’t have any idea what Daddy's talking about, do ya?”
“Morning.” You interrupt softly so as not to startle him.
He gasps. “Who’s that? "Is that Mommy?"
“What’s going on in here?”
“Just letting ‘em meet the team.”
You chuckle. “It’s super early; they usually sleep a little longer?”
“Not today; I guess they're going to be early risers like their old man.”
“Hmmm. I wonder how long that’s going to last.”
A few years later…
The sun is only just rising, but the summer heat is already starting to settle in now, and it gives you that giddy feeling because you know it means long days in the saddle, warm family nights by the camp fire, and days off watching the boys play with their father, uncle and cousins in the river.
You check the boys' room, and sure enough, their beds are empty. School might be out for the summer, but that just means the boys get to learn alongside their father instead.
You dress before heading down the hill where like always you spot the group of cowboys along with Tommy and Sarah saddling up their horses, ready for yet another day out on the land.
You lean against the corral fence, watching the cowboys when you spot Joel. He’s saddled up like he means business, except this time your sons are sitting up there with him, their little smiles lighting up from the excitement of being on their dad’s horse. They’re growing up so fast, and seeing them like that, with their little boots and hats looking just like their father makes you a little emotional.
When Joel spots you, he gives you that irresistible miller smile and rides over and dismounts. “You hold him steady now while I go talk to your mama.”
He comes to the fence, lifting the brim of his hat a little to capture your lips in that way that will forever make your tummy feel fuzzy. "Morning, darlin’.”
“Heading out?”
“Hmmm. Gonna take them with me today.”
“You sure they'll be okay?”
“Of course, they're so eager to get out there; they were down here with the horses even before I was.”
That makes you smile, they’re just like their father. “Of course they were. Just be careful, please.”
"Always," he pauses, an idea running through his head. “You wanna come with us?”
When you were pregnant with the boys, you’d spent a lot of that time finalising your second book. And to your surprise but not to Joel’s, it was big success, but that meant now you had a team of people working for you, eagerly anticipating the second draft of your third novel so you were busier than ever. Yet today, the idea of taking Shadow out and riding alongside your three boys is just an opportunity too perfect to be missed.
“Okay!”
He smiles. “That’s my girl. Go saddle up; we’ll be waiting for ya."
“Yes sir.”
You walk away from him, feeling his eyes on you as you do.
“Hey,”
You turn to his call. “Yeah?”
He comes to you, removing his hat from his head and placing it on yours. “That’s better. I love you, Mrs. Miller.”
series summary: After your fiancé takes a job at Miller Ranch, adjusting to your new life there becomes so much harder when you meet his boss.
warnings: 18+, MDNI, a little smut and a heap of fluff.
a/n: a little nervous to post this and apologies it took so long but here is the final chapter!! I could write cowboy Joel forever so I didn't intend for this to be end yet, but once I started writing it just felt right. If you made it here, thank you soooo much for coming along for the ride and I really hope you enjoy <3
series masterlist | ao3 link
“Here, hold on to me.” He takes your hand in his, helping you out of his truck. "You good?”
You look up, kissing his cheek as he closes the passenger door behind you. “Always the gentlemen.”
He grins, looking up at the old diner. “Sorry we couldn't go anywhere better.”
“I don't mind; a quiet dinner with you is all I need tonight.”
"How are the cramps?"
"Still there."
You’re both tired, but tonight is probably the last chance for a date night before the twins arrive, and when you're this heavily pregnant and he’s had a long day on horseback, driving into town to the only diner for miles is the best you’re both going to get.
“Hey Mr. and Mrs. Miller, what can I get ya?" the waitress asks.
Mrs. Miller. You’re still getting used to that, pinching yourself every time you hear it on someone else's lips because you never thought you’d get your happy ending, especially not with him.
*Flashback*
“So, where are you taking me?”
“Up there.” He nods straight ahead towards the top of valleys that surround the ranch. "In a couple week those tops will be covered in snow, so I figured we should take the chance while it’s still safe.”
“Shall we take the horses?” You smile, knowing that’s a stupid question.
“Nice try, you know I'm not letting that happen. Now go grab some warmer clothes; it can get cold up there once the sun drops. I’ll wait in the truck.”
You nod and head inside. He’s been acting weird today, all week actually. There’s a nervous energy about him, like he’s waiting for something. Last week you had a minor scare with the twins; it wasn’t serious once the doctors figured out what was going on, but maybe that’s what's got him acting all uptight.
As he drives up the valley, his eyes stay locked on the road, his shoulders tense, his hands gripping the wheel so hard. his knuckles are white.
“You okay?”
He doesn't respond.
“Baby?”
He clears his throat, finally hearing you. “Yeah.”
“Here,” you reach over, take his hand, and rest it on your bump. “You feel that?”
“Feel what?”
“Just wait.”
The second you feel one of the twins kicking, he instantly relaxes, his face lighting up, and he pulls the truck to a halt on the side of the road.
“They’re kicking?”
You nod, "One of them for sure.”
He turns as best as he can, resting his other hand on your belly too. “Hey boys, it's Daddy!"
You feel another kick, and he begins to laugh excitedly.
“They hear you, Joel."
“Yeah? You hear us boys? We can't wait to meet you; better be looking after each other in there, no fighting, alright?”
Joel doesn't cry, it’s rare you ever see it happen, but after he leans down to kiss your belly, he looks up at you, tears building in his eyes.
"you ok?"
"Just so fuckin' happy, darlin'."
Later that night your cuddled up in the bed of his truck watching the stars glimmer above you when he shifts, digging into his pocket to pull out a small piece of woven leather in the shape of a ring.
“What’s that?”
“I love you so much, I love our sons, and I love this life we're building together, and I want you to be mine forever.”
“You have me.” You giggle, furrowing your eyebrows a little confused.
“I’m serious, darlin’. I want you to carry my name."
“Joel…” your voice trails off, your heartbeat increasing rapidly at his words.
“Be my wife. be my wife before the boys arrive. We’re going to be a family, and we should do it right.”
“I don't know what to say…”
He chuckles nervously. “Say yes? Say you’ll have me.”
“But I thought you hated the idea of a wedding?”
“Of a wedding, yes. But not marriage. I don't need some pretentious ceremony that just caters to our friends and family to prove I want to spend eternity with you. Although if you would like that, hell, I’ll make that happen, believe me. " He takes a deep breath. “I don't care how we do it; I just want to know that when I wake up beside you every morning, you’re mine in this life and in whatever comes afterwards.” He tilts your chin up to look at him. “So what do you say?”
“Yes, Joel.” You smile through the tears. “Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot.”
“Yeah?” he’s beaming now. “Gimme your hand.”
You notice his hands shaking as he starts to slide the handmade ring onto your finger. “I’ll get you somethin' better, I promise. But I found one of Shadow's old bridles in his stable; it took a little work to make it into this, but I thought it could work as a temporary one."
“Are you kidding? This is perfect!” You don't need anything else; he took the time to think about this and to make it, and therefore it holds more meaning than anything else ever could.
“Well, you can have two, because I'm getting the ring you deserve.”
You shift, moving into his lap as you snake your arms around his neck, your palms holding the back of his head as you kiss him.
“So we’re doin’ this?” he asks between kisses.
“Mmmh,” you bite your lip. “Let's get married, cowboy.”
The very next morning, you wake to him watching you, his sleepy face all smug as you reach up and brush your fingers through his messy curls.
“How about today?” he croaks.
“Today?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“Well, we could get the license this morning while I get Tommy to find an officiant, and then we could pick a spot somewhere here on the ranch, and by tonight it could be official.” He shifts until he’s on all fours, hovering above you. “Afterwards we could go dancin’, party…totally sober, of course… and then I'd bring you back here and carry you over the threshold of our front door and all the way back to this bed where I’d make love to you all night.”
You‘re unsure what to say; the idea is crazy but also perfect.
“I know your parents aren't here, or your friends, so we can wait if you want—"
“Today.” You cut him off.
He smiles. “You sure?”
You nod eagerly. “Let's not wait a second longer.” The excitement fills you with butterflies and you could squeal uncontrollably at the thought that today you’ll become Mrs. Miller, but then the panic starts sets in.
“What's wrong?”
“I don't have a dress!”
He pauses for a minute before an idea enters his mind. “I’m on it.” He crawls off the bed and takes his phone off the nightstand to make a call. “Baby girl? I’ve got some big news to tell you, and then I'm going to need your help.”
Following Joel out on the front porch, you see Tommy approaching the house on his horse and Sarah’s truck in the distance coming down the road.
“Tommy, I need you to find an officiant for me. Oh, and go dig that suit out; you’re going to need it later.”
“Huh?” Tommy looks down from his horse, confusion written all over his face. “An officiant? Why?”
“There’s going to be a wedding today.”
“A wedding? Who’s getting married?”
“I am, brother.”
His face lights up. “Wait… are you serious?”
Tommy looks up to you, the smile on your face telling him all he needs to know.
“Holy shit!” Tommy laughs, “I’m on it, brother.”
As Tommy rides off, Sarah pulls up in her truck and rushes over to you, both of you uncontrollably giddy as as she wraps her arms tightly around you.
“Woahhhh, careful! Don’t forget she’s carrying the most precious cargo.” Joel calls over.
Sarah brushes her dad's comment off. “I can't believe this is really happening!”
“Me neither. And… you’re really okay with this?”
“Stop! Of course I am. You're growing my baby brothers. You're basically already my stepmom anyway.”
“Nooo please don’t call me that; that’s too weird.” You laugh.
“Okay, okay! But we should get going if we’re gonna find you a dress in time!”
As you pass Joel on the way to Sarah’s truck, you intertwine your fingers with his and he leans down to kiss you. When you pull away, his hand snakes around your waist, pulling you back into him, kissing you more as you feel Sarah watching on behind.
“Uh guys, this is cute and everything, but if you want to get married today, we have to go now.”
He hums against your lips, kissing you for a moment longer before you reluctantly pull away.
“See you soon, handsome.”
He tilts his hat. “I’ll be waiting."
As the night draws in, you follow closely behind him as he rushes up the steps. You reach out instinctively to support him as he almost trips as you both giggle your way to the front door. He’s tipsy, and you’re simply high on happiness.
He fiddles with the lock for a while until you take the key and do it for him and he smirks down at you as the door swings open. “May I?”
“Be careful mister, don’t drop me.”
“Never.”
He bends down and scoops you up into his arms, holding you close against his chest. He nuzzles his head into your neck, peppering eager kisses on your skin. “Woah, Joel. Let’s get safely in the house first, you’ve had a drink remember.”
By some miracle, he manages to successfully carry you inside and up the stairs all the way to the bedroom, where he places you gently on the bed.
Dressed in his best shirt and jeans, and still wearing that damn hat that will always stir something deep inside you, he lets his eyes travel up and down your form with hungry eyes.
“Mmmmh. You sure did well with this dress, darlin’."
“You like?”
He nods. “Fuckin’ divine, my love.” He takes a deep breath and when you look down, you notice the bulge in his jeans. “But as much as I’m enjoying this sight, I think it’s time we took it off you, Mrs. Miller.”
You giggle. “Say that again.”
He moves over you, snaking his way up your body, breathing you in desperately as he hums in approval. “What? Mrs. Miller?” he stops once he’s level with your face, his lips just above yours as he stares into your eyes. “My wife?”
You whimper at the sound of those words on his lips. “Mmmmh. I’m your wife.”
Present day
“What?” you ask, noticing that naughty look in his eye as he sits across from you in the booth, watching you eat.
"Nothing, I just like looking at ya"
You blush, looking away from him. He tilts his head to the side. “Don’t shy away from me.”
“Just eat your damn food, mister.”
Pregnancy has been hard on you, not just physically, but mentally. Getting used to the way your body was changing at each stage had taken its toll, even if you did have Joel telling you every morning just how beautiful he thought you were, or showing you exactly what it did to him when he’d get home after a long day and find you naked in the shower waiting for him.
He’d always be extra careful, taking it slow to ensure he was never going to hurt you or the babies, but he’d always give you exactly what you needed to reassure you in all the best ways that he still wants every ounce of you.
And then there were his small, tender touches like when he’d lie in bed beside you and rub cream over your tummy to ease the tight skin, or help you wash your hair when you didn’t have the energy. Or just the simple reminders to make sure you’d eaten plenty and hydrated enough. These were the things that made you realized how lucky you were to have a man like Joel by your side and how lucky the twins were to have him as their father.
“Ahh, Marcus, haven’t seen you around here for a while!” you hear the voice of the diner owner, your eyes immediately flicking up to Joel. Surely not.
Joel drops his fork onto his plate with a loud clang. He slumps back against the seat as he glances just past you towards the counter, his jaw locked, his eyes wide like he’s seeing red. You don't need to look over your shoulder to confirm your suspicion; judging by the way Joel isn't taking his eyes off the man tells you all you need to know. Great, that’s the quiet date night officially over.
“Joel?”
He hums in response, but he isn't listening.
“Joel, can we go? The cramps are getting worse.”
“Alright, just gimme a minute, darlin’.” He stands, leaving you alone in the booth.
“Joel, please don’t.”
Your pleas fall on deaf ears, so you sit there, refusing to look behind you, instead carefully listening out in anticipation of what might happen next.
“Shit. Joel," you hear that familiar irritating voice behind you, the sound of it making you cringe.
“Whatcha still doing round here, boy?” Joel asks.
“I'm not; I'm working down south now; just passing through.”
"Ah, yeah?”
“Don’t want no trouble, Miller," the owner of the diner warns, picking up on the tension.
"Oh, I don’t want any trouble either, but it seems someone in this damn place does, showing his face around ‘ere.”
“Alright, relax, I just wanted a drink after a long day; I'm going.” Marcus sighs, his chair scraping along the floor as he stands. He pauses then; and you can feel his eyes at the back of your head. “Heard she married ya.”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“I got my sources.”
“Sure ya do.” He scoffs. “Well, if you heard that, you’ll also know she’s carrying my sons too.”
The room goes silent then. Maybe he didn't know that. “Shit.” Marcus laughs. “Well, congrats, I guess. You both got it all figured out, don't ya? Must be nice.”
Joel smirks, taking out his wallet and flicking through the wad of bills sitting in there; he’s being an ass now, simply because he can. “Drinks on me.”
“Don’t want your money, man.”
“Take it. But I promise you kid, if I ever see your ass in this town again, I won't be so polite.”
“Fuck you, and fuck her too.”
You stand then; you couldn't care less about your ex, but you don't want to have to split up a fight when you're this heavily pregnant. So you turn and look into Marcus' eyes for a second with a blank expression before you take Joel's hand. “Joel, come on, let's go home.”
He doesn’t budge. Rolling your eyes you give up and leave. “I’ll be in the truck.”
As you climb into the passenger seat with a clear view into the neon-lit diner, you notice the sheriff pulling in and an uneasy feeling settles in your stomach then.
It all happens too fast. Joel’s head connects with Marcus’s face making him fall backwards onto the bar, and unfortunately for both of them, the fight then erupts exactly as the sheriff walks.
Pissed, you open the door and climb out of the truck in an attempt to go inside and defuse the situation, but the moment you stand, you feel an intense rush down below and you realize your waters just broke.
You stand frozen in place unsure what to do. The entire pregnancy you thought you'd be calm when this moment came; all the classes, books, and videos made you think you’d handle going into labor pretty well, but not one of those things mentioned your waters breaking as your husband got dragged out of a diner in handcuffs.
You call out for him but he doesn’t pick up on what’s happening to you as he’s pushed forcefully towards the sheriff's vehicle. “I’m sorry, baby. Go get Tommy; he’ll know what to do.”
“Joel, my waters just broke.”
He frowns. “I can’t hear ya, just go get Tommy."
“The babies are coming!”
His eyes go wide as your words register. Pure panic reverberates through his body then as he starts yelling, trying like hell to free himself from the grip of the sheriff, but of course he can't. Both men stumble onto the ground Joel’s elbow collides with the sheriff's nose, instantly drawing blood.
The deputy steps in then, helping to secure Joel on the ground, both men yelling at him as you look into your husband's helpless eyes as his face squishes against the asphalt. This can’t be happening.
You plead and plead with the men like it’ll make any difference, but they don’t listen. Joel might be liked and well respected around here, but he isn’t above the law.
Once Joel’s secured in the vehicle, the men come over to you, and the sheriff sighs with a pitiful look. “My deputy will drive you to the hospital, ma’am, but I’m sorry; your husband has to come with me.”
———
The entire night felt like you were in somebody else’s body watching this nightmare happen to you. You were scared, pacing the hospital room between examinations and contractions, wondering why hell Joel had to go and get himself arrested tonight of all nights.
But when Sarah and Maria arrived, they helped you realize that anger wasn’t going to help. Tommy was dealing with Joel, and you had two tiny humans relying on you right now, so you had to be strong and try to forget about him in a jail cell for the sake of the twins.
Labor had lasted hours. You were exhausted, highly emotional and honestly terrified. But just as you notice the sun starting to rise, the midwife helps you back up on the bed to examine you again.
She looks up from between your legs, and the look she gives you tells you it's time.
“I don’t think I can do this; this wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I can’t do this without him.”
Sarah grabs your hand tightly then. “You can. You have to.”
“When the next contraction comes, I need you to push for me, okay?”
You don’t know how long you’ve been pushing; you don’t know if this is even real; you just know the pain feels overwhelming.
But at some point between pushing, the door bursts open and you see that face you’ve been desperate to see. He’s here.
Your head falls back against the pillow as you pant hard, feeling relieved that despite the pain, you don't have to do this without him no longer. The tears start to fall then. “How? How are you here?”
“It doesn’t matter; I just know I’ve got a lot of sweet talking to do after this.” He smiles.
“I hate you for leaving me like that!”
He chuckles, dabbing your sweaty forehead. “You can hate me; that’s okay. You do whatever you need to do to get through this.”
You shake your head, anticipating the next contraction. “I’m so tired, Joel.”
“I know, sweetheart, I know. But you're so close now.” He leans down, kissing your forehead. “Take my hand; you fuckin' break it if you need to.” He looks deep into your eyes then. “You’ve got this, my love. Let’s meet our sons, yeah?"
A few weeks later…
“You’re home.” You sigh in relief as he steps into the bedroom.
“I’m home.” He checks on his son in the crib before walking over to you in the rocking chair, bending down to lay a soft kiss on top of your head. “How are our sons?”
“It’s been a long day; I think they’ve been missing their daddy.”
You hand him his other son, watching him cradle the tiny bundle in his huge arms.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, my day was pretty rough too. The auction didn’t go great, and your dad definitely still hates me.”
You smile. "No, he doesn’t.”
“Didn’t say a word to me the entire day. Maybe it was a mistake taking him with me; now he’s seen me failing as a cowboy as well as a husband.”
“Joel, please stop beating yourself up about that. I promise you, he was over you getting arrested the second he saw his grandsons. I think he just likes to keep you on edge.”
“He does that, alright.” Joel grins, a mischievous look in his eye. “Anyway, I got you something today."
“Yeah?” You narrow your eyes suspiciously.
“I mean it’s more for the boys, but I don’t think they’ll quite appreciate it just yet.” He places his son into the crib beside his brother and leaves the room.
“It’s not a horse is it, they’re a little young still.”
When he comes back, he’s smirking and holding a small box. You open it and two tiny pairs of cowboy boots sit there.
“Oh my goodness! Joel!”
“You know I don’t part with my money unless it’s to buy a horse, but not this time. I saw ‘em and couldn’t resist getting the boys their first pair.”
With your hormones still all over the place, this might just send you over the edge. “They’re so cute.”
“Well, my sons are gonna be cowboys one day, they gotta look the part.”
Your son’s babbles turn into cries and you slump back into the chair with a quiet groan, feeling deflated.
He smiles. “It’s alright, you should go eat something, daddy’s got this.” You smile, kissing his shoulder as you pass him.
You weren’t naive; both of you knew having twins wouldn’t be easy, but the reality of having two newborns, running a ranch, and having your parents stay with you for the first few weeks of the twins' lives was often challenging. The house was also a mess and the post natal effects on your body were rough.
But it was the overhwelming love you felt for them as well as those small, soft moments of watching Joel as a father all over again that made the stress and the worry of adjusting to being parents so worthwhile.
Like when he’d been unable to get away from work and he’d come home late tired and filthy, but the moment his eyes caught you sitting on the porch, the twins bundled in your arms as you all waited for daddy to come home, it would give you both a new energy that made the long day just disappear in an instant.
Or how he'd refuse to miss bath time, knowing the twins loved it; he’d never want to miss a moment of their infectious smiles. Watching him read the boys their bedtime story as they fell asleep was always your favourite though, the little funny voices he'd create as he sent them off into their dreams would make you burst with joy. he was the best daddy, and you were so grateful to be on this crazy ride of parenthood alongside him.
“Are they down?” You ask, sitting on the kitchen counter as he walks towards you.
“Finally. What ya got there?” He leans against the counter, trapping you.
“Open up.”
You feed him a spoonful of ice cream, and he hums, licking his lips. “We really have to eat something more substantial.”
“The wonderful joys of having newborns, huh?”
“Any chance your mom put leftovers in the fridge?”
“Uh-uh, that’s a risk I’m not willing to take.”
“Don’t be mean," he chuckles as you feed him another spoonful.
“You smell like horses.”
"Hmmm, and you love it.”
Your eyes scan down his frame. “Maybe, but really you should take a bath."
“Alright, but only if you join me and bring the ice cream too.”
His strong arms wrap around your waits as he pulls you back into his front, peppering kisses along your shoulder. “Now this is more like it.”
He digs the spoon into he tub of ice cream on the side, collecting the biggest amount before taking a bite.
“You think the boys are gonna like this life?” you ask.
Through the mouthful of ice cream he responds, “It’s in their blood, baby; of course they will.”
“But what if they don’t want to be cowboys?"
“They ain't got a choice.”
"Joel—"
“okay, okay, I’m joking. We’ll be there for them no matter what they want to be, just as long as they don’t want to move to the city," he laughs. “Look, all we can do is try our best to raise two beautiful and healthy boys. The rest is out of control.”
“But what if they become criminals like their dad, getting arrested—"
“Heyyy shut up!" He squeezes you playfully then, tickling your sides and making you squeal as the water splashes around. “I ain't no criminal, it happened once, alright?”
“Alright! Please stop!” you giggle as he digs back into the ice cream. "Can i have some?"
He brings the spoon to your mouth and as you go to take a bite he pulls it away quickly, drawing a trail of it along the back of you neck instead. Instantly his tongue comes out to draw along the trail then making you sigh into him.
"That's not fair."
"No? How about this?” He discards the spoon, his hand instead stroking up your front until he reaches your tits, his thumb flicking over your nipple, teasing you as you start to feel him getting hard agaisnt your back.
“Or this?” He brushes his knuckles down your body before dipping into the water and between your thighs until he reaches your folds, making you moan softly into the room. It’s been too long, and even though you're still healing, having him tease you like this feels so good.
"Is this okay?” He mumbles.
"Yesss,"
“You need to tell me if it's too much, darlin’. I don't wanna hurt ya.”
“No, don’t stop; it feels so good.”
He takes his time and he’s so gentle in his touch, but it’s enough to drive you crazy, enough to have you withering against him and enough to have you completely surrender yourself to his control.
———
It's still dark and silent when you stir the next morning and when you turn in the sheets, you find the bed cold and empty next to you. Sitting up, you check the crib, and it’s empty too. Naturally as a mom, you panic but then your phone lights up and see the message from Joel telling you that he’s taken the boys down to the barns.
Curious, you dress and go downstairs; you take Joel’s coat, loving the way it smells of him and wrap it around your body as you stroll down the hill in search of them.
A soft voice draws you in, and when you peer around the door, you see him, the twins bundled protectively inside his thick flannel as he introduces them to the horses. “This one’s daddy’s. He's the biggest and he’s the best boy I’ve got, although I hate to say it but he’s getting a little old now, just like me I s’ppose."
He walks over to the other side where shadow stands watching him. “And this is Mommy's horse. There’s a little story about him and how she got him and I’m sure she’ll tell ya when you’re older.” He looks down to his sons snuggled against him. “And, one day when you're both a little bigger, I’ll get ya both have your own and maybe, just maybe you might wanna help run this place alongside your big sister, huh?” He sighs. “Yeahhh, you don’t have any idea what Daddy's talking about, do ya?”
“Morning.” You interrupt softly so as not to startle him.
He gasps. “Who’s that? "Is that Mommy?"
“What’s going on in here?”
“Just letting ‘em meet the team.”
You chuckle. “It’s super early; they usually sleep a little longer?”
“Not today; I guess they're going to be early risers like their old man.”
“Hmmm. I wonder how long that’s going to last.”
A few years later…
The sun is only just rising, but the summer heat is already starting to settle in now, and it gives you that giddy feeling because you know it means long days in the saddle, warm family nights by the camp fire, and days off watching the boys play with their father, uncle and cousins in the river.
You check the boys' room, and sure enough, their beds are empty. School might be out for the summer, but that just means the boys get to learn alongside their father instead.
You dress before heading down the hill where like always you spot the group of cowboys along with Tommy and Sarah saddling up their horses, ready for yet another day out on the land.
You lean against the corral fence, watching the cowboys when you spot Joel. He’s saddled up like he means business, except this time your sons are sitting up there with him, their little smiles lighting up from the excitement of being on their dad’s horse. They’re growing up so fast, and seeing them like that, with their little boots and hats looking just like their father makes you a little emotional.
When Joel spots you, he gives you that irresistible miller smile and rides over and dismounts. “You hold him steady now while I go talk to your mama.”
He comes to the fence, lifting the brim of his hat a little to capture your lips in that way that will forever make your tummy feel fuzzy. "Morning, darlin’.”
“Heading out?”
“Hmmm. Gonna take them with me today.”
“You sure they'll be okay?”
“Of course, they're so eager to get out there; they were down here with the horses even before I was.”
That makes you smile, they’re just like their father. “Of course they were. Just be careful, please.”
"Always," he pauses, an idea running through his head. “You wanna come with us?”
When you were pregnant with the boys, you’d spent a lot of that time finalising your second book. And to your surprise but not to Joel’s, it was big success, but that meant now you had a team of people working for you, eagerly anticipating the second draft of your third novel so you were busier than ever. Yet today, the idea of taking Shadow out and riding alongside your three boys is just an opportunity too perfect to be missed.
“Okay!”
He smiles. “That’s my girl. Go saddle up; we’ll be waiting for ya."
“Yes sir.”
You walk away from him, feeling his eyes on you as you do.
“Hey,”
You turn to his call. “Yeah?”
He comes to you, removing his hat from his head and placing it on yours. “That’s better. I love you, Mrs. Miller.”
In the dark of the night, Din always calls you by another woman’s name. And it’s starting to wear on you.
Take it Off by @dindjarindiaries
Your new ally extends his hospitality a little too far—and now Din’s determined to remind you of what he alone can provide you with. 🔥
Those Eyes by @beyondspaceandstars
A little, sweet night pillow talk with Din. Short and sweet!
Kar’taylir by @the-archxr
the four times Din Djarin almost says it, and the one time he does. alternatively, the four times you almost say it, and the one time you do
Tension by @reedispunk
It’s Din’s first night in his new home on Navarro. He’s distracted and on edge so you find a way to help him relax.🔥
Sight Unseen by @/reedispunk
over the years he happily fulfills all of your desires, except the one you want most of all: to see his face.🔥
Silk and Beskar by @cherrycokeispunk
Din Djarin takes a job from a Hutt-linked merchant on Nal Hutta, thinking it’s just another bounty. But the “payment” isn’t credits: it’s a human girl, held in a palace cruiser full of the kind of moral compromises he usually avoids.🔥
in honor of mando and grogu coming out soon: what are your favorite din djarin fics??
hiiii nonnie friend!! 👋🏼 thank you for this ask, I’m soooo in love with our fave beskar clad space dad and his green little baby!! there are so many good fics about din around and I’m always in awe of the talented writers who share their work with us. here’s a random selection of some of my faves:
🌌 Stars fading by the talented @bergamote-catsandbooks
🌌 Touchstone by the talented @sawymredfox
🌌 It’s getting tight by the talented @queenofslowburn
🌌 The Long Way Round by the talented @din-cognito
🌌 locked out of heaven by the talented @quinnnfabrgay
🌌 Sight Unseen by the talented @reedispunk
🌌 Brown Eyes by the talented @thedivinereverie
🌌 long gone and found (two parts of the same story) and Meet the Teacher by the talented @burntheedges
🌌 Surgar, Spice and, Starlight by the talented @lamentationsofalonelypotato (link to first part of the series)
🌌 Best Kept Secret by the talented @lincolndjarin (link to first part of the series)
this list is by no means exhaustive and please feel free to drop your fic recs in the comments too!! 💫
Summary: It’s Din’s first night in his new home on Navarro. He’s distracted and on edge so you find a way to help him relax.
Tags: 18+ MDNI!, established relationship, a sprinkle of fluff, protective!din, the helmet comes off, smut, oral sex (m&f receiving), fingering, face sitting, cum swallowing, dirty talk, language, basically pwp
wc: 2k
“Grogu… you gotta stop that.” Din warns, walking over towards the kid who hasn’t stopped bouncing up and down on his brand new bed for the last 20 minutes. “Please, buddy, I know you’re happy but it’s time to sleep.”
Grogu looks up at his protector, raising his little arms up in the air for one last goodnight cuddle. Unable to resist, Din pats his head gently as he holds him against his chest. “I know today was exciting, but you’ve got to put all that energy away and rest. I need you ready for tomorrow, alright?” Din turns, noticing the snacks hidden beside the bed. “And no more of these either.”
Grogu makes a reluctant grumble as Din confiscates the snacks and places the child back down into his bed. “You sleep now, little one.”
Din comes away from the bunk and heads down the hallway to find you in the bedroom. It’s late, so when you turn out the lamp, only the gentle glimmer of the moonlight allows you to see him.
Usually he never hesitates to climb into bed beside you, but tonight he remains solid and unmoving as he stands by the door, watching you change into your nightgown and climb under the covers. Looking up at him, you can tell something’s on his mind because he’s yet to remove his helmet too.
“Come here.” You say softly, holding out your hand for his. He takes a few steps towards you, his large palm enveloping your smaller one, but he doesn’t make any effort to undress and join you. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s too silent.” He mumbles.
“You told him to sleep.”
“I know… I should go check on him again.”
“Din, he’ll be okay."
He doesn’t listen to you, closing the door behind him as he leaves the room.
It doesn’t take long for the total silence of the night mixed with a long, warm day to catch up with you, allowing you to drift off into a dream. But when you wake up an hour later, it’s only then you realize he’s still not by your side.
Quietly padding out down the hallway into the main room, you poke your head into Grogu’s room, expecting Din to be in there but he isn’t. Instead, Grogu’s cuddled up with his blanket sleeping peacefully, making your heart all fuzzy at the adorable sight.
You wrap a blanket around your frame and head outside. The air is crisp, and the chill sends a shiver through you.
You see him straight away; he’s standing only a short distance from the house, looking out at the vast surrounding landscape, his shoulders tense as though he’s guarding what’s his.
“Hey.” You whisper, not wanting to alarm him.
“What are you doing out here? Go back inside and sleep, my love.”
You rest a hand on the back of his shoulder but he doesn’t turn. “Come to bed.”
“I will. Just making sure everything’s in order out ‘ere.”
“You know you can relax; this place is yours now. No one can take this from you.”
“Mmmh, they can. Maybe not the cabin but there’s always somebody or something that will try to get to him… or you.”
You sigh quietly. You know he’s right deep down, there’s always a new threat, but you just wish that for one night, he’d allow himself to stop worrying, even just a little. “Please din, come inside with me, you need to rest too.”
He turns to face you then.
“May I?” You reach up and cup his helmet. He nods.
Slowly, you remove the barrier. His hair is messy, his jaw rigid, and his eyes are consumed with concern. You draw a finger down his cheek, the softness of your touch makes him lean into you. You don’t know if you’ll ever get used to this privilege of being the only person who gets to see him this way: soft, gentle and vulnerable.
“Talk to me.”
“It’s just… it’s not like the Razor Crest. I always knew the best escape plan on there and always knew the best way to protect the ones I love. But this…” he looks back at the small abode the three of you now get to call home. “It’s nice, but it’s different.” He shrugs.
“I know, but different doesn’t mean that it isn’t safe. And I saw you today watching Grogu play in the pond with the frogs. You both love it here.”
“Yeah.” He looks away. “But when the night draws in… you never know what’s out there.”
His words break your heart, a man who everyone believes is so tough, openly showing you that he’s still human too. “Don’t let ‘what ifs’ ruin this bit of happiness, Din, you deserve this.”
He nods and leans down to capture your lips softly. “I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you and him.” He mumbled against your lips.
“But you do.”
“Yeah… I do.” He kisses you again, this time the soft pecks turn into something more needy.
When it comes to him, sometimes the only way to free his mind from the tension is to replace it with another, more pleasurable kind. So you take his hand, leading him back inside and down to the bedroom. Carefully you help him remove his armor, undressing him until his broad and tall frame stands naked before you.
You snake your palms up his forearms, over his biceps and shoulders before they smooth so slowly down his chest towards his already semi-hard cock. His head tilts back, the sound of his sweet sighs releasing from between his lips goes straight to your core.
He leans down, cupping your face and kisses you, his tongue pushing into your mouth with a hum. You lead him back until his legs hit the bed and he falls, his weight sinking down into the mattress. As he pulls lightly at the silk of your nightgown making it fall to the floor, his eyes turn black with deep, dark desire as he takes in your form.
His palms smooth up your thighs until they settle on your waist, pulling you to straddle him. He sucks at the tender skin of your neck, running his tongue over the red marks he left there the other night, chuckling as he draws soft whimpers from you.
“How do you always know how to make me feel better, huh?” He whispers against your skin.
You begin to grind against him, feeling your slick starting to make a mess on his thigh.
“Shit, look at you.” His voice is strained, his cock poking into your thigh as he tries to contain himself.
His hand moves south, but you swat his fingers away before he can touch you. “No, this is about you. Let me make you feel good.” You push against his chest making him lie back.
“Baby, watching you like this is what makes me feel good, believe me.”
You scratch your nails down his chest, over the scars, and down over the soft hairs of his happy trail before taking his leaking cock in hand. His back arches from the sheets, a sharp hiss coming from his lips as you stroke him, his fingertips digging sharply into your thighs as the pressure starts to build.
You’ve barely even touched him yet but you know it won’t take him long, not when he’s like this; his chest heaving below you, the sweat forming at the base of his neck, and his eyes torn between yours and your hand around his raging erection.
“Fuuucck. Turn around.”
You shake your head. “I said, this is about you.”
He growls in frustration as he slaps your ass, the sharp sting surprising you. “Get up here now; I gotta fuckin’ taste you.”
You hesitate.
“Now.” He bites, the look in his eyes telling you he won’t ask again.
So you shift, turning around until your soaked cunt hovers above his face. He pulls your hips down onto him and doesn’t waste a second as his tongue begins lapping at your folds, his beard tickling the skin of your thighs. “Oh goddd, Din.”
His dick twitches in your hand at the sound of your moans. Leaning down, you brush your tongue over his tip, making his hips jolt up as you taste the saltiness of his precum.
“Ahhh, easy now,” he pants, his breath hot against your pussy. You ignore him, smiling to yourself as you take him all the way in, and when you start to bob your head up and down his shaft, it draws a low, feral grunt from deep within him. “Y’know I’m fuckin’ close already, baby, you gotta slow down.”
For a second you worry about him being too loud, but when he grips your ass cheeks tighter, pulling you down even further onto him as his tongue laps at your entrance, the thought leaves your mind as your eyes roll to the back of your head.
It's messy, it's sloppy, and it’s almost like you’re both racing to make the other orgasm first. Din’s true nature to always take care of those he loves before he would even think about himself starts to challenge him, making it hard for him not to be the one to break first as you take him deeper down your throat.
“You close?” His voice breaks desperately.
You don’t answer, you don’t want to make him aware that he’s winning. But he knows, he always does. So he focuses on your clit, his tongue flicking over the sensitive bud again and again as he thrusts two fingers into your tight entrance making you cry out.
He doesn’t let up, your own concentration on his cock faltering as your body starts to weaken and your hips drop further into his face. He laps at your cunt over and over, drawing you through the high as your juices soak his face, his wet beard tickling against your skin.
Knowing he won, he starts to lose all composure and begins thrusting his hips up towards you, his cock hitting the back of your throat hard as he fucks it. Your lewd gags start to fill the room, turning him on even more as your spit gathers at the base of his cock, coating his balls.
“Yeahhhh that’s it, just like that.”
His movements make it hard for you to breathe but you don’t push back, not yet, you let him take what he needs. After a few more thrusts, he pauses, allowing you to lift up a little. “You good, baby girl?”
You nod. His palm slides up your back until it rests at the base of your skull keeping you in place. Then he thrusts back into your mouth faster now, and the wet obscene sounds finally pushing him over the edge. "Ahhhh, shit, I’m gonna cum.”
He keeps a tight grip on the back of your head, holding you there as you choke around him, your lungs burning as he fills your throat with his hot, thick spurts of cum.
“Y’know what to do.” He bites.
He waits, and when he feels you swallow, he instantly pulls back as you gasp for air.
Lifting off him, you turn to see the look on his face; he’s panting hard, and there’s a dirty smug smirk all over it. “Come ‘ere.” He takes your hand, pulling you into his hot, sweaty body.
As you lie there with your head resting on his chest, you notice how his heartbeat begins to slow and his breathing softens as he recovers. His fingers trace lines up and down your spine just the way he knows you always like.
You lift your head to look at him. He's beautiful; a man so stoic and seemingly so emotionless to the outside world, and yet right here in the most intimate of moments, he’s not that at all.
“Feeling more relaxed?” You grin, noticing his tired eyes.
He chuckles. “I think you know the answer to that.” He tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear, staring into your eyes. “I love you so much.”
