Using the shirt propped under my head, he dutifully cleaned between my legs, which only reignited my desire. I almost pouted when he fixed my underwear back in place. One arm under my shoulders, and another across my middle. He bundled me in his arms and rolled us to the side until he became a shield against the elements. One of his large legs hooked over my hip to keep me warm, my head tucked and cradled against his bare chest.
I was about to demand we go again when a familiar, huffy growl filled the air. At first I wondered if it were Gray, but Gray laughed.
“Look,” he whispered.
I hesitated to fulfill his request, too sated to move, but when his hand guided my head toward the view, it didn’t surprise me. Sure enough, Tallulah stood on the opposite bank, sitting on her rump, watching us with a beheaded fish under one paw. She chewed, eyes half-hooded and snout in the air.
I sighed and rolled my eyes back to Gray.“What a little hussy,” I murmured.“You think she’s jealous that I stole her man?”
He chuckled.“I’m not sure she thinks I’m her man. Snack vendor, maybe.” He kissed my forehead.
I tried to laugh, too relaxed to complete the action.
He chuckled at my obvious delirium.“What just happened? I’m still dazed,” he said.
I trailed my finger over his chest, snuggling into him.“What just happened was the result of two very stubborn adults giving in,” I replied.
He laughed, chest shaking us both.“And thank fuck for that,” he huffed.
“Take me back to the cabin, Gray,” I whispered.“I’m not done with you yet.”
He grumbled, tightening his hold on me before rolling up and hoisting me into his arms. Leaving everything by the bank, he walked us back to the cabin and locked us inside.
Chapter 27
Gray
The next morning, I reluctantly slid out of bed, finding it difficult to leave Betty’s warmth. Standing at the bedside, I held the comforter aloft, allowing myself a moment to admire her naked form.
She lay on her back, one arm relaxed over her head and the other beside her. Her chocolate hair spread out across the pillow. The frustrating strands had an innate propensity to tangle, and I wondered how she’d kept them so pencil-straight and perfect in New York. Personally, I liked it better this way.
The knuckles of my free hand brushed down her abdomen to her hipbone, skin so smooth, you couldn’t resist touching her. Her dusky nipples hardened, a reaction to both my caress and the cool air. I loved the way her body reacted to me. It was a growing addiction.
When I pulled back my touch, her lashes gave a slight flutter, and her mouth parted to murmur something inaudible. Endless kisses had swollen her rose-tinted lips, and love marks dotted the skin of her neck. I watched her chest rise and fall; her breasts were a sight I’d never tire of seeing.
God, I still wasn’t satisfied, my cock aching for her tight warmth; I could never get enough. She must have been sore after all we’d done last night, but I forced myself away. I had to give her a chance to recover, and the best way to do that was to prepare a warm bath for her before she woke.
I gently let the comforter fall over her, tattooing her beautiful form in my mind. My arms ached, and my body was sore, a feeling I hadn’t experienced since a full day of stripping logs of bark to build this home.
I stretched my arms overhead, my abs lengthening before reaching down to the floor. Not wanting to wake her, I quietly gathered my clothes and dressed in the bathroom before slipping out the cabin door.
Standing on the porch, I took a deep breath and let it out slow. Everything felt different, like the last piece of a puzzle clicking into place. I could see the complete picture for the first time since I’d arrived out here. In the ten years I spent alone, I never thought I’d feel this complete again.
Even though our situation wasn’t perfect, it was all we could do for now. I just hoped it would be enough for her. Could she truly be happy here and still have everything she desired? She hadn’t complained, other than missing movies, which we’d solved with the projector. Minor problems like that weren’t a hurdle. I’d solve anything if it meant keeping her.
The crunch of my shoes on the gravel as I stepped off the porch was a welcome sound. The only snow left in the yard lived in the shadowed spots where the sun couldn’t reach. I walked to the shed, emptied the old water from the tub, and set the pump to refill it. While that was happening, I added logs to the stove and started the fire.
Larry skidded into the shed, chattering and squealing wildly.
Twisting his direction, I laughed.“Sorry, bud. Villy’s still sleeping.”
He chattered again, sprinting toward me. He was acting weird, almost terrified. Just then, a black and white blur came tearing into the shed at his heels, barking and yipping.
Startled, I jumped at the sight and sound.“Whoa, holy shit,” I cursed out, stumbling back.
Larry scrambled up my leg like a tree, perching on my shoulders and trying to hide in my hair. The black and white blur stopped a few feet away from us, barking so fervently that its front paws leapt skyward.
It took me a moment to process, frozen in response. Initially, my brain screamed“wolf!” but this dog had a red harness and a leash dragging in its wake. It was tame.
