We drive through, and where we had a small tent with a blow-up mattress now sits a big white tent, very similar to the one we went glamping in.
Lark gasps as it comes into view. “Tristan!”
The joy in her voice goes right to my heart. I pull up close, stopping the side-by-side and helping her out. She holds on to my arm as we walk up the stairs that I built today. I wanted the tent elevated so we have less chance of bugs.
We enter, and I watch her face. The smile, the brightness in her green eyes, the way she looks around in complete disbelief that this is here.
The tent is pretty basic, but what we did inside isn’t. There’s a full-size bed in the center, complete with pillows, blankets, and even a headboard. On the right side, I set up a makeshift sink with jugs of water under it, and on the left is a comfy chair she can sit in. The front opens to a mesh screen, so we can enjoy the outside without any intruding bugs.
She turns slowly, looking at everything. “How?”
I shrug. “I had help.”
“This is…how do we have lights?” she asks, looking up at the string lights.
“They’re solar powered.”
“Tristan…I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you like it?”
Lark nods. “So much.”
“Then that’s all I needed.”
She closes the distance between us, then takes my face in her hands. “I need you.”
“That went without saying.”
Her lips touch mine softly before she slides her arms up, knocking my hat to the ground. She holds on to me, her fingers sifting through my hair as she deepens the kiss.
Since her injury, we haven’t had any alone time, but the doctor also advised against getting her heart rate up.
“Sweetheart,” I say, pulling away. “We can’t.”
Lark gives me a small smile before biting her lip. “Oh, but we can.”
My eyes narrow as I try not to let my heart—or any other organ—get excited.
She moves back toward me, hand resting on my chest. “The doctor said I could return to doing some light exercise.”
“What I have in mind, baby—there’s nothing light about it.”
One brow arches. “Well, would you be willing to slow it down then?”
“There is nothing more I want than to love you.”
She moves her hand up my chest. “Prove it.”
My mouth is on hers in a heartbeat. I kiss her as though it’s our first. I clutch at her waist, hauling her against me. God, she feels so good. Her warmth, her body, her heart, are all mine.
Her arms loop around my neck, and I lift her, carrying her to the bed. I slowly lower her, careful not to cause her any stress.
“I’m not breakable, Tristan,” she says with a playful grin as she lifts her shirt over her head. “You can’t hurt me.”
She’s ridiculous to think that. “I have the memory of almost two weeks in a hospital that says otherwise.”
Her finger brushes my jawline. “I’m here now, baby. Right here.”
