Emma nods. “Same. I came for only a little bit. That was supposed to be it. Then Rhett happened.” She smiles softly.“Now I can’t picture being anywhere else. It’s family. Real family. They don’t let you go once you’re in.”
Kayley closes the book and sets it aside. “I didn’t even plan to come here. Gavin brought me up after some bad stuff went down in town. I was scared out of my mind. Thought I’d be a burden. But everyone just… took me in. Aidan too. Now this mountain is home. I wouldn’t trade it.”
Harper reaches over and squeezes my knee. “And you? How are you feeling about it?”
I look down at Poppi, who’s tugging on my hair. “It’s… a lot. In the best way. I never thought I’d find somewhere that felt safe like this.”
Harper’s smile turns knowing. “Silas is smitten with you. Never seen him like this. He’s always protective, but with you? It’s next level. Possessive in the sweetest way. The man looks at you like you hung the moon.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “He’s… intense.”
“He’s in love,” Fiona says plainly. “Give it time. You’ll see.”
Kayley grins. “We’re all rooting for you two. You fit here, Hannah. You fit with him.”
Poppi chooses that moment to pat my cheek with a sticky hand. I kiss her palm and feel something loosen in my chest. These women aren’t just being kind. They’re letting me in. No strings. No conditions.
Silas appears with two plates piled with cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, and bacon. He sets mine in front of me and drops a quick kiss on my lips before sitting on the blanket besideme. The kids swarm him immediately. Aidan climbs into his lap and demands to be bounced. Silas obliges, grinning wide.
Breakfast passes in easy chatter. The men drift over in waves, refilling coffee, teasing the kids, checking in. When the plates are cleared Silas stands and offers me his hand.
“Walk with me?”
I take it. We say goodbye to the group and head back to the cabin. The path is shaded, needles crunching under our boots. His thumb strokes the back of my hand in slow circles.
Inside he locks the door and turns to me. No words. Just heat in his eyes. He backs me against the wall, hands framing my face, and kisses me like he’s been starving for it. I melt into him, fingers digging into his shoulders.
He lifts me without breaking the kiss. My legs wrap around his waist. He carries me to the couch and sits with me straddling him. His hands slide under the flannel, palms hot on my bare skin. I rock against him, feeling how hard he already is through his jeans.
“God, I want you again,” he mutters against my throat. “Can’t get enough.”
I tug his shirt up. He helps me pull it off. My hands roam his chest, tracing scars and muscle. He groans when I scrape my nails lightly down his abs.
He flips us so I’m under him on the couch. The flannel falls open. He stares at my breasts like they’re a gift. “You’re so beautiful.” He lowers his head and takes one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard enough to make me arch. His hand slips between us, cupping me through my jeans. “Already wet for me?”
“Yes,” I gasp. “Always.”
He rubs slow circles over the denim. “Gonna take my time with you later. Right now I just need to taste you.”
He kisses his way down my body, unbuttoning my jeans, tugging them off along with my panties. I’m bare under him. He spreads my thighs and looks up at me with pure hunger.
“Mine,” he says, voice rough. Then his mouth is on me.
I cry out at the first swipe of his tongue. He licks me slow and thorough, savoring every sound I make. One finger slides inside me, then two, curling just right. I thread my fingers through his hair and hold on. He groans against me like he’s the one being pleasured.
When I come it’s fast and bright. He works me through it, licking gently until I’m trembling and oversensitive.
He climbs back up my body and kisses me deep. I taste myself on his tongue. His erection presses against my thigh, insistent.
“Your turn?” I whisper, reaching for his belt.
He catches my wrist. “Later. Right now I just want to hold you.”
He pulls me on top of him, arms wrapping around me tight. I rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. His fingers stroke through my hair in long, soothing pulls.
“You okay?” he asks quietly.
“Better than okay.” I press a kiss to his collarbone. “I think I could get used to this.”
