“Fuck, Annie, just like that…you’re so good…” His voice sounds strained.
I hollow my cheeks and take him deeper, loving the way I’m making him tremble. When he comes, it’s with a low, broken growl, his hips bucking. I swallow everything he gives me, wanting to burn this moment into my brain forever.
He pulls me up and into his arms. For a while, we just lie there, listening to the waterfall, his hand stroking my hair, and my cheek pressed against his chest. I feel both wrecked and new.
Inside, the old Annie worries about having to leave in a couple of days, about what all this means, about my heart. But I shove her away, letting myself have this moment. The mountains, the man, the feel of wanting and being wanted.
I want to give him everything. I want to stay, even though I know I can’t. But right now, I belong to him.
Chapter 6
Garrett
I don’t wantto take her back. Not to the inn, not to her old life, not to anything that isn’t right here, right now with me. I watch her as she buttons up her shirt—my shirt, actually, since she insisted on “borrowing” the extra flannel I keep in the truck.
I know our time together will eventually end, and I’ll have to let her go. But right now, the thought of our day ending, of having to be away from her for one second, is starting to make me grumpy.
I clear my throat, trying to sound casual, but my voice comes out rough. “Come back to my place for dinner tonight. We had made plans to go out anyway. I’ll cook. We can watch a movie; you can sleep over. Whatever you want.”
She looks up, and a little surprise crosses her features; then she smiles… a slow, wicked smile, as if she sees right through me. “You sure you’re up for that much company, mountain man?”
“I don’t feel like letting you out of my sight yet,” I declare, fighting the urge to pull her back down and kiss her senseless.
She grins while scooting closer, her lips grazing my bearded jaw. “You’re getting soft on me, Grizzly Adams.”
Grabbing her by the waist, I haul her into my lap. “Don’t get cocky, city girl. I just don’t want to spend all night thinking about the possibility of you in someone else’s bed.” I growl in her ear.
That pulls the realest, most genuine laugh out of her, and the sound hits me right where it hurts. This woman makes me feel alive, pissed off, and fucking terrified all at the same time. And it’s fucking amazing.
The truck ride back is full of small touches…her hand on my thigh, my thumb tracing circles on her knee, both of us grinning like idiots. I feel like a teenage boy taking his first crush home, except I’m a grown-ass man and she’s…fuck, she’s what… half my age.
I should know better. But I don’t care.
Not tonight. Not ever.
At the cabin, I throw open the door and let her go in first. The place already feels warmer with her in it, like it’s been waiting all this time. She toes off her sneakers at the door, then takes off toward the living room, plopping down on the sofa.
“Dinner first or are you going to distract me, mountain man?” she says all seductive-like, and I want to take her right here.This woman has me wrapped around her little finger and doesn’t even know it.
“Food,” I grunt, heading to the kitchen. “You barelyate at the waterfall. I’m not letting you pass out on my watch.”
She follows, hopping onto the counter. “Chef Garrett.”
I roll my eyes, tossing her a beer from the fridge. “Don’t push it, city girl. I make one good grilled cheese, and suddenly I’m Gordon fucking Ramsay now?” I state while looking at what I have to work with. “Spaghetti good with you?”
“One of my favs.” She giggles, and I can’t help but smirk as I start gathering the ingredients.
As always, she talks the whole time. Going on about books she loves, movies she hates, and her favorite junk food. I like the sound of her voice filling my space. I like the way she tastes the sauce off my spoon, the way she moans…fuck.Is she trying to make me burn shit?
Dinner is quick and perfect. She licks sauce from her lips, winks at me across the table, and for a second, I want to skip the movie altogether and just drag her straight to bed. But I force myself to slow down.
I want this to last.
We settle on the couch, pulling a quilt over our legs, agreeing on some action movie.
Annie curls up against me, her head on my chest, fingers tracing circles over my heart. I run my hand through her hair, feeling her relax into me, her breath warm on my skin.
“You know,” she murmurs, “I never thought I’d meet a guy like you.”
