She wiggled a little bit, a blush spreading up over her cheeks, and I smirked to myself as she helped me carry the plates to the kitchen, taking the time to press a kiss against the curve of her neck. Damn, she smelled so good.
The snow had picked up again since we’d come home, and the skies were fully dark. Heavy flakes drifted past the kitchen window, slow and silent, blanketing the yard. The world outside glowed a pale blue in the streetlights.
She stood at the sink, rinsing dishes she didn’t have to, her curls escaping down her neck. Every few seconds, sheglanced toward the window, then back to me, like she was trying to remind herself she was home.
In no time, I had a good-looking fire going in the woodstove, which had to be original to the house; it was so old. It was in good working order, though. Checking the dampers to see how the logs were burning, I eased back on my heels to watch them for a few minutes, making sure they caught properly. Over the last few days, I split some wood at Kipp’s and brought down half a cord, stacking it in Lila’s wood shed since it was low. Now, with the snow settling in, I was glad I had. Earlier, I called to check on Maggie, and thankfully, Kipp drove down to stay and help bring in wood and whatever else the storm might bring.
Satisfied with my fire, I latched the door and moved back to the kitchen.
It hit me all at once—this image of her, standing in the space I’d rebuilt. Every cut of wood, every nail, every late night had been worth it for this moment.
“You’re staring,” she murmured, not turning around. Her eyes met mine in the reflection over the sink. Her voice was low, soft enough to blend with the sound of running water.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “Can’t seem to help it. I’ll dry.”
When she finally looked back at me, her lips curved into a smile. “Oh, really? Is that what you had planned?”
I crossed the room slowly. That wasn’t what I had planned at all. I wanted a taste of her.
“I have to open early in the morning. The sidewalks?—”
“I’ll get up and take you. Then I’ll handle thesidewalks. I’ll shovel them,” I said. “You’ll do your shop stuff. Bake and all that fancy stuff.”
That earned me a soft laugh. “Fancy stuff.”
“Maybe. But I’m also right.” My hands found her hips, steadying her when she started to turn. “You’ve been running on empty, sugar. Let somebody else take care of things for once.”
Her breath caught. I could feel it, the hitch in her chest as she tilted her head up. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not easy to let go,” I said. “But it’s worth it.”
For a moment, we didn’t move. The only sound was the snow whispering against the windows and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat where she pressed against me. Then she reached up, fingers sliding over my jaw, tracing the line of stubble there before brushing across my lips.
“East…” My name was half a sigh, half a promise.
I bent and kissed her, slow this time—no rush. Just the deep, lingering kind that felt like it could undo both of us if we weren’t careful. She melted against me, her hands finding my chest, gripping like she needed to hang on.
Her body fit perfectly against mine, and I let my hands move over her curves, groaning as she bowed closer to me. That softness of hers against me nearly brought me to my knees.
When the kiss broke, she stayed close, breathing me in. “You rebuilt my house,” she whispered. “And I think maybe we were meant to be together. Is that weird?”
“Well, you are a little weird.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “But I’m going to keep you. Don’t run anymore. Because I’m going to chase you down every damn time.”
“I won’t,” she said.
Outside, the snow kept falling, thick and steady, muting the rest of the world. In here, the only thing that existed was her heartbeat under my hands, the sound of her breath, the way she looked at me like she finally believed we might be safe.
I lifted her into my arms and carried her toward the fire, the house glowing around us like something brand new.
44
Lila
Her hands dove under my shirt, nails scraping my skin, dragging me back into her kiss like she’d die without it. “Inside me. Please. I don’t want to wait. You’ve been teasing me all night.”
My mouth crashed back to hers, wild now, unrestrained. I tugged her tighter against me, grinding into the heat between her thighs, groaning at the feel of her arching up to meet me. “I’ve been teasing you?” I nipped at her. She drove me wild just by existing, but I wouldn’t contradict her. I had been teasing a little. I had really wanted to make her a meal.
Buttons fumbled, and fabric tore until I could fumble her blouse from her shoulders so she was bare to me. Her chest heaved as I pushed down the cups of her bra, lifting her tits so they were exposed, her nipples hard as she drewmy mouth down. Circling each one with my tongue, I let my teeth scrape over them gently, just enough to make her cry out my name, watching as her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.
