Page 83 of Mountain Hero

“Ah, Winter.” Enzo swallows hard. “I didn’t know it was possible to love someone this much. I love you with all my heart. Anything you need. Anything you want. I’ll find a way to give it to you.”

Tears press behind my eyes, and my nose prickles. But this time, it’s a good feeling. It’s because I found the one person in the world who fits me.

“I think I know what you could give me.”

“Oh?” He raises his eyebrows. “What’s that?”

My lips curve up. “I’d really like to make love to you. We haven’t in three days, and that’s much too long. Do you think that would be okay?”

With an answering smile, Enzo nods. The lingering pain in his eyes fades away. He leans in to kiss me, first tenderly, then more demanding. His tongue strokes the seam of my lips, teasing them open and plunging inside. One hand cups the back of my head, his fingers threading through my hair.

As we continue kissing, he hardens under me, pressing against the growing ache between my thighs. My nipples go taut as they brush against Enzo’s chest, my hyper-sensitized skin sending sizzles of arousal through my body.

Enzo groans, low and deep in his throat.

My womb clenches, desperate to feel him inside me.

In one move, Enzo stands with me still glued to him. One hand moves to palm my ass, the other supports my back.

He ends the kiss, and I gasp for the breath I forgot to take.

His gaze holds mine, and I can see everything he’s feeling. Love. Trust. Need.

With a grin, he finally answers, “Yes. I think that would absolutely be okay.”

CHAPTER 22

ENZO

Fall has always been my favorite season in Vermont.

As a kid, I made tons of great memories—carving gruesome jack-o'-lanterns with my mom and uncle, watching scary movies with my friends and pretending we weren’t terrified, and raking giant leaf piles for Rascal to jump in.

When I got a little older, I would go hiking with Uncle Caleb through the property and up north along the Long Trail. That’s when he taught me about appreciating the stillness and beauty of nature.

Even now, when I look at the trees transformed into brilliant reds and oranges and golds, I can remember that first fall after I moved here. I was sad, missing my friends, still feeling worried and guilty about my mom getting hurt, but something about the peace out here soothed me.

Sitting on the front porch with my uncle, drinking apple cider and eating fresh-picked apples, I looked out at the woods that were so different from our city apartment in Buffalo and my problems didn’t seem as big anymore.

I think, deep down, I always thought of Bliss as my real home. Even though I left it for so long, I never forgot how special it was.

How special it is. Especially now that I have Winter.

With Winter, I’m making new memories. And they’re ones I’ll carry with me forever.

Memories like taking her to Blissful Days and watching her concentrate so intently on that duck pond game, cheering in delight when she finally won the grand prize. And the date I planned at home, with all her favorite things, and how I think even then, I was falling for her.

I’ll never forget Winter’s expression when she saw all those signed books I got for her.

I’ll never forget her face the first time we made love.

And I won’t forget the quiet moments, like we’re having now—sitting out on the front porch together in the matching Adirondack chairs I bought, holding hands while we enjoy one of the last warm days of the season.

As I glance over at her, she gives me a soft smile, and the love that sweeps through me is so intense it steals my breath for a second.

She’s so beautiful; the sun catching the copper and bronze in her hair, a few stubborn freckles still dusting her nose, and her emerald eyes sparkling with flecks of gold and amber. But that’s not why I love her. I love Winter for her kindness and bravery and strength and intelligence and how damn cute she is when she gets all competitive and how she looks at me like I’m the most important person in the world to her.

Yeah. I really love Winter. And I can’t wait until it’s the right time to propose.

---