I ease out of her carefully, both of us wincing at the sensitivity. The cabin has warmed considerably—whether from the fire or our…activities, I'm not sure—and I take a moment to grab a washcloth from the small bathroom and return to tend to her, wiping between her thighs with gentle strokes.
She watches me the whole time, something unreadable in her expression.
"What?" I ask.
"You're being sweet."
"Don't sound so surprised."
"I’ve only known you as an irritable grump." But there's no heat in her words, just teasing affection.
I toss the cloth aside and pull her against my chest, tugging the quilts over us. She feels wonderful in my arms, her head tucked under my chin, one hand resting over my heart.
"I had to be," I admit quietly. "Being nice to you was too dangerous."
Her fingers play with the hair on my chest. "But now?"
"I'm fucked either way." I press a kiss to the top of her head. "Might as well enjoy it while I can."
She goes quiet.
I know I’m full of shit. This isn't just tonight, isn't just physical release born of proximity and forbidden attraction. This is long denied feelings finally finding an outlet, and one night isn't going to be enough.
Not even close.
But I don't say that…I just hold her tighter and feel her breathing slow, evening out into sleep.
I stay awake long after, memorizing how she feels in my arms and the sound of her breathing—reveling in the way she instinctively presses closer, seeking my heat.
Outside, the storm continues. Inside, firelight flickers across the walls.
And for the first time, I let myself feel the full weight of what I've been denying.
I'm in love with Piper Cross.
Always have been, probably. Even from that first moment Jayce introduced her to me, and from every family event where she proved herself capable, intelligent, and adventurous. From all those times I had to watch her with Jayce and pretend my heart wasn't being ripped out.
And now that I've made love to her, now that I know what it's like to make her come apart in my arms?—
I'm completely fucked.
Because morning will inevitably come. The storm will end. And we'll have to face reality: that she's my brother's ex, that she’s so much younger than me, and that my family might never forgive me.
But right now…she'smine. And I'm going to hold onto that for as long as I can.
I wake to Piper shifting against me, making small sounds in her sleep. Her ass presses back against my growing erection, and I bite back a groan.
The fire has burned down to embers, the cabin in near darkness. Through the window, I can see snow still falling, though not as heavily as before. It must be the middle of the night—that dead hour where the world feels suspended in time.
I should let her sleep, close my eyes and ignore the way her body is moving, clearly caught in some kind of dream.
Instead, I slide my hand down her stomach, and then lower until my fingers find her slick heat.
I blow out a breath.
She's already wet. Aroused. Whatever she's dreaming about has her body primed and ready.
"Harlon," she mumbles, still mostly asleep.
