"Oh, I can show youjusthow foolish I can be for you if you want." She shook her head and his blood sang at the wide-eyed look she gave him. He wanted to touch her, to taste her again, this time for hours. Shifting in his seat to relieve the pressure on his dick, Gavin steered the conversation to safer ground. "And I had to change the cologne; you would've known immediately the way you huff my shirts at home."
She tried to wiggle out of his hold in indignation but he held on, grinning. "I don't huff them!"
"Mmm sure," He had seen the happy smile on her face whenever she got ahold of one of his sweatshirts or the way she pulled the fabric over her nose and inhaled.
She chewed at her lip, a habit that only made him want to kiss her, as she considered her next words. "But you're not saying why you did it?"
"Why do you think? I've wanted you for years," He caught the flicker of shock on her face. "Yes, years. I was beyond frustrated thinking I would be forced to spend the rest of our lives as fake brother and sister. I had nightmares of you going off and getting married, getting pregnant by some other man." His jaw tightened, fury burning at the thought alone. "It felt like I was watching myself slowly drown. I was trying to push you away and do the right thing while at the same time I wanted to do something to get your attention. Anything that would let me touch you, kiss you how I wanted to."
"What changed your mind? I mean, what made you…come after me?"
“Well, we saw how me trying to put distance between us worked,” his mouth curved, but it wasn’t really a smile. He could never find any humor in the time he nearly lost her. “And also… I spoke to Dad. He knew what this was doing to me. He knew I couldn't lose my family, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to lose you. He didn’t tell me to stay away, Ebbs.” His fingers tightened around her. “So here I am, taking what’s mine.”
Later that night, on the flight, he watched her. On the back of the seat ahead of them a movie played on the screen, its shifting light flickering across her skin in the dark. Around them the cabin was dark, the rest of their classmates asleep, leaving only the steady hum of the engines filling the silence. They had just got done bickering about her hiding spot in the library and how he had known about it all along. He laughed at the memory. Of course, he knew about her little secret room. It was his magnanimous personality and grace that allowed her to keep it to herself for as long as she did. The indignant heat that sparkled in her eyes when he told her was something he should've gotten on camera.
Ebony leaned back against her headrest, earbuds in, completely unaware of his gaze. Every small movement she made from her fingers brushing a stray curl behind her ear, the way her mouth curved faintly at something on screen, all of it made his chest tighten. He could hardly believe this was real, that after everything, she was here beside him. His.
Sliding his phone from his pocket, he opened a message to Garrett.
Me:It's happening. Use my credit card on the kitchen counter. Call the resort. I need a private room. I do not care how much it costs.
He drummed his fingers against the back of the phone. He should've fucking texted this hours ago but he was too entranced by everything to even think of it.
The phone vibrated.
Garrett:On it. Congrats.
He exhaled. Putting an arm over her shoulder he pressed her to his side and breathed easier. Every plan, every move, every sacrifice had brought him to this moment. Nothing could tear it away from him now.
He’d made a serious miscalculation.
Between hardly any sleep last night, two bus rides, and the flight, they were both tired as fuck. While everyone else had caught their second wind from by sleeping on the plane both he and Ebony were running on fumes by the time they walked into the lobby.
He was just about to check his phone for Garrett's text when a woman came directly over to them with a smile.
"Mister Rosebank?"
"Yes?"
"Hello and welcome to Crystal Summit Lodge, my name is Araceli and I have your private cabin ready; please leave your luggage." A man in uniform who had been standing off to the side promptly took their bags as she gestured for them to follow. "I will take you in the jeep up the mountain to your cabin."
Ebony looked at him with rounded eyes. "Cabin?"
He gave her a look in return. "Need I remind you that we are-" He didn’t get to say rich before she cut him off.
"Do not say it." She scowled, making him grin. Even half dead he took enjoyment in messing with her.
They left the lobby and the others and took the jeep up a small winding road through the snow-covered trees until they stopped at a two-story A-frame cabin. As tired as he was, Gavin nodded in appreciation at the cabin. The tall glass windows glowed a warm amber, a silent promise of warmth and luxury waiting for them inside.
Araceli was already talking as she led them inside, her voice bubbly and professional. “Large windows for natural light… the second story is the master bedroom and bathroom… kitchen fully stocked…”
Her words blurred at the edges of his mind. Gavin could barely register them. He and Ebony just stood there like statues, exhaustion pressing down on them until the mere act of nodding felt like too much work. Somewhere in his tired brain the massive windows, the warm wood, the blazing fireplace, it all sank into him in fragments, for appreciation at a later date. Not now. He was far too tired to give a shit.
“…anything you need can be ordered through the tablet. Your private butler is on call twenty-four seven, stationed in a nearby cabin.” Araceli was holding a tablet and cheerfully swiping through its features.
Heflicked a glance at Ebony. Her eyes were wide, but glassy with fatigue. Worried she looked a little unsteady on her feet he put an arm around her shoulder. Immediately, he felt her head rest against his shoulder.
Araceli’s gaze went to them for a moment, and he knew she saw the silent exhaustion. With a polite smile she folded her hands in front of her. “I’ll leave you two to rest.”
