When I open them again, I cup her face with both hands.
The words are right there.
I love you.
Three words.
They’ve been sitting in my chest like unrefined ore for days now. Waiting to be extracted and examined and processed into something I can actually voice.
But they still feel like too much. And way too vulnerable.
Especially after the fight that nearly destroyed us.
So instead I kiss her forehead. Her nose. Her mouth.
Then we stay like that. Just holding each other. My hands in her hair. Her face pressed against my neck. The fire crackling beside us.
The rest of the world can wait.
Right now there’s just us.
I can feel every curve of her body pressed against mine. The soft weight of her in my lap. Her breath warm on my throat.
Part of me wants to fuck her so bad. To strip her down and pin her beneath me and claim her again.
But I force myself to just hold her.
To give her this moment of quiet safety.
There will be ample time for the rest.
Besides, Mountain Rescue will be here soon.
She pulls back after a while. Frames my face with those small capable hands that fixed the generator and held the ladder and refused to let me face danger alone.
“Make love to me,” she pleads.
My breath catches. “Sorrel. The helicopter will be here soon.”
“I know. We don’t have much time.” Her voice is low and determined. “But I need this. I need to know this is real. Thatyou’rereal.”
I search her eyes. Looking for doubt. For second thoughts. “Are you sure?”
She nods. “I feel like we wasted last night. Let’s not waste any more time. I choosethis. I choose you.”
Fuck.
I stand in one motion and she wraps her legs around my waist. She’s so damn light. So breakable. Yet somehow the strongest person I’ve ever met.
I fucking carry her to our spot in front of the fucking fireplace and lay her down on the fucking blankets.
“Gregory.” She’s looking up at me with those fucking eyes that see everything. “I’m sorry I pushed you away. I’m sorry about last night.”
“Stop apologizing.” I settle over her. Brace myself on my fucking forearms so I don’t crush her. “We both fucked up. We both let fear win for a minute. But we’re here now.”
“We’re here now,” she echoes.
I kiss her fucking slowly. Thoroughly. Mapping her fucking mouth like I’m committing it to memory. Which I am.
