I’m too tired to argue, but I make sure to shift my body weight over to his left. Then I melt into him, smiling against his chest.
“That was incredible,” I hear him murmur, running a hand through my hair.
“It really was.”
“You did so good, princess.”
My smile widens. I feel like I’m glowing, wrapped up in a cocoon of happiness. I can’t believe that just happened—can’t believe I just lost my virginity to this gorgeous mountain man. But I’m so happy I did. Lying here naked in his arms feels like the most natural thing in the world.
I could stay like this forever.
We hold each other in silence, listening to the bubbling creek and the sway of the trees as we catch our breath.
“Look at me,” Gunnar says after a few minutes.
I do as I’m told, lifting my head up to meet his gaze, and my heart somersaults at the way he’s looking at me—like he can’t believe I’m real.
“I meant what I said before, Everly.” He reaches a hand up to touch my face, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re mine now. I’m not letting you go.”
“Don’t I get a say in this?” I tease, warmth blooming in my chest.
“Yes. You get to say ‘I do’ at our wedding.”
I blink at him, waiting for a wink, a smile, some kind of acknowledgement that he’s joking. Teasing me. But it doesn’t come. He looks deadly serious, eyes blazing with intensity, and before I can find the words to reply, he rests a hand on the back of my head and pulls me down toward him, kissing me hard on the mouth. It’s a fierce, passionate kiss that makes my head spin, and as I kiss him back, I know he’s right.
I’m all his.
10
GUNNAR
I wakeup late the next morning. Sunlight streams through my bedroom window, bathing everything in gold as I blink sleep from my eyes. Everly is curled up beside me, snoring softly, the bedsheets still messy and tangled beneath us.
We spent most of yesterday outside. I gave Everly everything she could take, claiming her perfect body over and over until the evening chill pushed us indoors. But it didn’t stop us. I took her on the living room floor. Bent over the kitchen table. In my bed. Everly’s voice was hoarse from screaming by the time she finally fell asleep, wrapped up in my arms.
My heart thumps as I watch her. She looks so damn innocent. So angelic. Her plump lips are parted slightly, dark lashes fluttering, and I reach out to trace the curve of her cheek. I can’t believe she’s really here in my bed—my perfect, precious Everly.
All I want to do is look after her. Protect her. I want to give her the whole damn world—show her that I’d do anything for her. Show her she’s mine.
Mine.
The word feels so right. It sends a fierce rush through my chest, sparking my nerves to life, like my body knows this woman is my purpose now. Nothing else matters.
The logical part of me says I should cool the intensity and go slow so I don’t scare her off. But when it comes to Everly, logic never wins out. It’s too late to hold back. Too late to pretend she’s not my whole world. Hell, I meant what I said yesterday about our wedding—I’m putting a ring on her finger as soon as I get the chance. I’m making her mine forever.
Everly moans softly in her sleep, and my chest squeezes tight. She’s still too young for me, too sweet, too perfect, and I’m still just a grumpy old man with a bad shoulder and a possessive streak. I’ll never deserve her, but fuck, I’m keeping her anyway. Everly makes me selfish, she makes me greedy, and being without her isn’t an option anymore.
Hell, it was never an option.
I was a goner the second I set eyes on her.
I watch her sleep for a few more minutes before I ease off the mattress and pad out of the bedroom. It’s another bright morning, Sugar Creek glistening in the sunlight outside my window as I head for the kitchen to get started on breakfast. I don’t know what Everly wants, so I make her a bit of everything—waffles, pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages, and a bowl of fresh fruit. It feels good to be making her food, knowing she’s safe and sound asleep in my bed.
I’m plating everything up when I hear the kitchen door creak. I turn to see Everly smiling at me, still wearing my shirt from yesterday. Her caramel hair is mussed from sleep, voice thick as she says, “Good morning.”
“Morning, beautiful.”
I cross the kitchen and pull her into my arms, pressing a kiss on her head. She smells sweet and warm, and my heart flips when she wraps her arms around my neck, nuzzling against me.
