Page 39 of Mountain Grump Protector

Willow

I wake up tangled in Cal’s sheets with the birds chirping outside the window, just like every day I’ve woken on the mountain.

Only today, it’s different because Cal’s arm is draped heavily across my waist.

He didn’t sleep on the chair in the living room.

I didn’t lock the door behind me when I went to bed.

Instead, I’d invited him in. And after I assured Cal it was exactly what I wanted, he’d joined me.

I roll, so I can look at him properly without disturbing him.

Even in sleep, he doesn’t look relaxed. Not completely. It’s as if some part of him is always standing guard and waiting for the next thing.

Morning sunlight spills through the curtains, streaking his naked chest with gold.

Sensing me watching him, he groans in his sleep and shifts, pulling me close as if I’m going to slip away.

I’m not.

A soft sigh escapes my lips with the realization.

For the first time in longer than I care to remember, I feel like I belong somewhere. With someone. And not because I can take care of them or clean up their messes. But because I’m wanted.

Beyond these four walls, there’s a whole world of trouble, but at least for this moment, I don’t have to think of any of it.

Cal’s hand flexes against my waist, and a smile tugs at my lips as he opens one eye to check on me.

“I’m still here.”

Apparently, he wasn’t sleeping nearly as deeply as I thought.

“Good,” he mutters, his voice rough with sleep as he pulls me closer. “Because I think Murph would be pretty disappointed if you’d left.”

“And you?” I laugh.

He responds by pulling me easily on top of him. His cock is rock hard, pressing into my belly. “What do you think?”

I bend and press a kiss to his lips as I shift myself over his hips, lining up my center, already wet for him. “I think you’d miss this,” I say as I lift myself just enough before lowering onto his shaft with a groan.

The size of him steals my breath.

“Fuck, woman.” His eyes are still shut, as his hands come to my hips, holding me in place for a moment before I start rocking back and forth. Just enough for Cal to open his eyes and stare directly into mine.

“You were saying?”

“Damn,” he growls. “If I knew we’d be waking up like this every morning, I⁠—”

“Wouldn’t have been sleeping in the chair outside my door?”

His eyes flash.

“Oh no, darling. That wouldn’t have changed.”

“No?”

“Not a chance.”