I held my breath and waited for Cooper to say something.
“Really?” He sounded as shocked as me, but not upset or wary.
“Would it be weird if I stayed next door?”
“Not at all. Come.”
And just like that, the weight of the world fell from my shoulders. I had a purpose and a place to go, and there was someone there who wanted to be with me.
I couldn’t wait.
CHAPTER 10
COOPER
Spring had finally arrived in the Four Forest area.
Trees that had been bare for months were budding, and determined daffodils had pushed their way through the stubborn patches of snow still clinging to the ground. Ice had all but melted on Lake Norman, wildlife had begun to crawl from their winter resting places, and birdsong filled the crisp late March afternoon on an ordinary Wednesday.
I’d come home early to greet Silas and felt a little silly for it. But that might have just been nerves. I was anxious to see him. It had been two months, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew what I wanted, though, and I hoped we were on the same page.
“Look at you in a sensible four-wheel-drive vehicle,” I snarked, my arms folded across my chest.
“I learned my lesson.” Silas beamed as he stepped out of the red Jeep, tilting his stubbled chin to the heavens and sucking in a deep gulp of forest air. “Damn, it’s freaking gorgeous in spring. Who knew?”
“I did. I would have warned you, but sometimes it’s more fun to figure it out on your own.”
“Ha ha.”
I smiled and reached for Silas’s suitcase. “You didn’t bring one of these last time.”
“I’m hibernating, remember? My season might be off from bears and squirrels or—” He wrinkled his nose, hiking his carry-on strap over his shoulder and closing the Jeep’s hatch. “Do squirrels hibernate?”
Fuck, I wanted to kiss him. Right here, right now.
Silas the soon-to-be-un-retired football star looked mighty fine in faded jeans and an unbuttoned gray flannel shirt worn atop a snug black tee. His hair was longer, and his thick scruff could almost qualify as a beard. I drank in the sight of him, lingering on his full lips before meeting his eyes.
Electricity sparked and sizzled in the air. I cleared my throat and replayed his question in my head. Squirrels?
“I don’t think so, but I’ll let you google it. Lead the way, hot stuff.”
He flashed a winning grin and led the way to the front entrance of his buddy’s grand log cabin. The lock required a password code access. Silas fumbled through his phone for the information.
“Eureka!”
The house had been cleaned and opened in preparation for a visitor. The fragrance of lemon-scented furniture polish and dishwashing detergent drifted into the foyer from the great room. I left his suitcase next to the console table and stuffed my hands into my pockets, unsure what to do with them.
“It’s positively sparkling in here. You can see your reflection in the—oomph!”
Silas dropped his bag on the floor and lunged for me, pushing me against the wall and crashing his mouth over mine.
There was no reason to pretend this wasn’t going to happen. We could reset expectations later, but for now…I’d take anything and everything he offered. I cupped his neck and devoured him,sucking his tongue and nibbling his lips. Silas wound his fingers in my hair, molding his body to mine. I could feel his muscular abs and his cock hardening through two layers of denim.
I switched our positions, tilting my chin to deepen the kiss as I slipped my hands under his tee and splayed my palms on his stomach. His skin was so warm. I wanted to lick every inch of my football boy. Stat.
I shoved Silas’s flannel shirt off his shoulders, yanked his tee over his head, then dealt with his belt buckle.
“Too many clothes. I gotta touch you,” I grunted, feasting on his neck and tugging an earlobe between my teeth as I unzipped his jeans and slipped my hand inside his boxer briefs.
