Page 54 of Timber Ridge

The intensity of the moment hits me with full force. My arousal is almost unbearable, a hunger that borders on desperation. I press myself closer to her, feeling the rapid rise and fall of her chest against mine. She looks at me with trust and desire, and I know this is where I’m meant to be.

With a final kiss, slow and deep, I press against her entrance. I take a moment to relish the sensation, the way she fits against me, the way her breath hitches in anticipation. And then, with a gentle push, I enter her, and a surge of ecstasy pulses through my entire being. We move together, a slow, deliberate rhythm that builds in intensity.

The room fills with the sounds of desire, our breaths coming in ragged gasps and our bodies slick with sweat. Her nails dig into my back, and I pause, savoring the sensation of her wrapped around me.

I push and pull, building up the tension until she is writhing beneath me, pleading for release. Every touch, every movement is electric, sending jolts of pleasure through my body.

Her eyes meet mine, and the intensity of her gaze sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not just about the physical connection. It’s the emotional connection, the understanding between us that makes this moment so powerful.

As I move inside her, the world around us blurs. All that exists is the two of us, lost in the rhythm we’ve created together. Her fingers dig into my back, pulling me closer, as if she can’t get enough.

The tension builds to an almost unbearable peak. She is on the edge, teetering on the brink. Her pleas become more urgent. Her body trembles beneath mine.

With a final thrust, she shatters, her cries of pleasure filling the room. The moment she pulses around me, I let go, a wave of release crashing over me. It’s overwhelming, all consuming, and perfect.

As we come down from the high, I hold her close, our breaths mingling. What we’ve just shared is more than physical. It’s proof of the depth of our bond.

Timber’s eyes meet mine, tender and soft. She takes my hand, lacing our fingers together.

I lean in and kiss her. It's gentle and says everything I feel without words.

This kiss speaks to a future together. When our lips part, I rest my forehead against hers, our breaths mixing. I am complete and at peace.

“I’m falling for you.” The words slipping out before I can stop them. But I don’t want to take them back. They are the truth, and I want her to know it.

“I’m falling for you too,” she says, her voice filled with the same raw honesty that grips me.

In the aftermath of our shared passion, we lie together, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside forgotten. It’s just us, here in this moment, and it’s more than I ever dared to hope for.

As I hold her close, I know that this is where I’m meant to be. With her, in this bed, sharing this moment and whatever comes next. It’s a beginning, and I am ready to embrace it with all that I am.

Chapter Twenty-Four

TIMBER

As the day unfolds, Kane and I lie in bed, sated and spent from our lovemaking. He dozes off, his body warm beside mine, his breaths quiet and even. I think about what transpired. It wasn’t just sex. It was something more that goes beyond physical pleasure. It’s two hearts finding each other.

In that moment, lying beside Kane, I realize I could fall in love. Deep down, I know he feels the same. You can’t fake what happened between us. I slip away, careful not to disturb his peace. Standing beside the bed, I watch him sleep. A rare smile curves his lips, one I’ve seldom seen in everyday life.

I quietly exit, closing the door behind me as I head toward the smaller shower near my room. Stepping into the cascade of warm water, the space seems unexpectedly cavernous, a big difference to the closeness we just shared. As the water washes over me, thoughts of him swirl in my mind, mingling with considerations of what to wear when I get out.

Lost in these reflections, I rifle through my wardrobe, realizing I have nothing fancy or particularly feminine. Yet, a grin tugs at my lips as I imagine his reaction—how he wouldn’t care about my outfit choice, how his eyes will light up just seeing me.

With a newfound sense of confidence, I exit the shower, dry off, and choose comfortable jeans and a simple cotton shirt. I know he’ll appreciate the person in the clothes far more than the outfit itself, and that thought alone is enough to quicken my heartbeat.

In the kitchen, I discover a package of thawed ground meat in the refrigerator and a can of pasta sauce on the counter. I realize I’m going to have to broaden his culinary experiences from spaghetti with meat sauce or pancakes for supper. I cook the pasta, brown the meat, and add the sauce. As it simmers, I set the table.

I hear footsteps and turn to see Kane entering, just a towel around his waist. His gaze holds a hunger that I’m not sure pasta will satisfy.

“I missed you.” He closes the gap and gently cups my face. His eyes search mine. Is he looking for something in particular? Something like regret? Well, he won’t find it here. Whether that was one moment in time, or we get to repeat it with abandon, I will never regret it. He brought me back from being broken and unloved to cherished and desired.

“I missed you too,” I reply. “I figured with all the exertion … you might be hungry.”

“I’m starving.” He leans in and presses a tender kiss to my lips. “But not for spaghetti.”

That’s how the next round starts. It begins in the kitchen and ends on the bearskin rug in front of the fire.

The next couple of days pass in a blur of passion. Kane delivers coffee in bed each morning after we make love, and I introduce him to other culinary delights like meatloaf, which I make from a mix of deer and beaver. It isn’t my favorite, but it seems to be Kane’s. At night, we eat dinner by the lake, laying out a blanket on the grass to keep us warm and comfortable. We make love under the stars, the warmth of our bodies and the blanket shielding us from the cool evening air. On day three, it’s time to get Hailey.

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