“Well, she’s all happy in a committed relationship with a baby on the way,” she said with a frown. “Doesn’t really have a lot of time to devote to me anymore.”
Once again, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her back against my chest. Her head dropped to my shoulder, those green eyes bright as she stared up at me.
“Your sisters—all of them—love you, El. That’s never goingto change.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Besides, I have every intention of monopolizing your time from here on out.”
Ella smirked. “Oh really?”
I nodded. “If you’ll have me.”
“In all the ways you’ll let me,” she promised.
“All of them. Everything I am is yours.”
After breakfast, we lost ourselves in each other’s bodies for another few hours before we decided to do some exploring. We spent most of the day wandering the foothills around our rental, content not to share our attention with anyone or anything but each other and the vast expanse of nature. We had a picnic out in the fields, where numerous wildlife, including bison, deer, and too many rabbits to count, roamed nearby.
That evening, I booked us a hot springs excursion, which sounded romantic in theory and felt even more so now that Ella and I were…doing whatever we were doing. We hadn’t slapped labels on anything, but I knew I belonged to her on a soul-deep level, in a way no one else would ever have me. I hoped, and was fairly confident, she felt the same.
When we arrived, I was surprised to find the lot in front of the rustic lodge empty. The hot springs were part of some sort of spa retreat, and inside were rooms for massages, facials and other self-care treatments, plus an indoor pool and hot tub, a restaurant, and gift shop. The second and third floors held the guest suites that offered beautiful views of Grand Teton National Park beyond the windows.
“Hello!” the woman behind the check-in counter said brightly when Ella and I entered the lobby, the ceilings soaring high above us. The entire place was decorated in muted, neutral tones, andsoft, instrumental music filtered through some unseen sound system. “Welcome to Grand Lodge and Spa! How can we help you today?”
“Hello, Marcie,” I said, squinting at her name tag. “I’m Liam Danvers. I called yesterday to book a soak in the hot springs.”
“Ahh, yes, yes,” she said, her long-nailed fingers tapping away at her keyboard. “Two of you, correct?”
I smiled down at Ella. “Yep, just the two of us.”
She squeezed my hand tighter in response.
With a flourish, Marcie tapped the keyboard a final time and stepped out from behind the desk, motioning for us to follow. Her steps were extra peppy as she led us down a long hallway. At the end, Marcie pushed through a door. Three doors branched off each side of the small alcove, one markedmen, onewomen, and the thirdunisex. I appreciated the inclusivity.
“The locker rooms beyond these doors are the only way to access the hot springs,” Marcie said, gesturing at the fogged window on the far wall, beyond which I assumed were the springs. “All we ask is you rinse off when you get out.”
“I think we can handle that,” I said, and Ella nodded in agreement.
“Then I’ll leave you to it!” Marcie crowed with a clap. She retreated to the door we’d entered through, but just as she pulled it open, she turned back to us.
“By the way, I don’t have anyone scheduled for the rest of the day. You’ll have the place entirely to yourselves for as long as you want.” She winked suggestively, and I nearly choked on my tongue at the implication. “Have fun.”
And then she was gone, leaving me and Ella staringdumbfoundedly after her.
“Well, what do you say, Wildflower?”
Ella grinned as she grabbed my hand, towing me toward the door to the unisex locker room.
“I don’t think—”
“Shh, Wills. Just go with it.”
And who was I to deny this woman anything?
The locker room was as spacious and well-appointed as the parts of the lodge we’d seen so far, with sturdy wooden cubbies, a row of toilets, and individual shower stalls. The wall next to the door outside was lined with hooks draped with fluffy white robes and a cabinet filled to the brim with towels and toiletries.
We quickly changed into our swimsuits, and I barely kept my hands to myself when Ella was naked before me, only doing so by reminding myself I could play later. Before we stepped outside, we donned robes and grabbed a couple of towels.
The wind nipped at my exposed skin the second we left the building, and I gave into a shiver, tucking Ella into my side as we made our way toward the water.
The rocks surrounding it were worn smooth, whether by some feat of man or from natural wear, I couldn’t tell. The water itself bubbled gently and steamed the air around us, enticing us closer, wrapping around us invitingly.
