Page 100 of His One True Wish

“I told you,” he said. He put his hands in my hair.

I leaned over and kissed him. Our lips collided. His face was cold, but his mouth and tongue felt hot against mine. “I came back,” I said, gasping between kisses.

“I wished,” he said. “I wished for you.”

My lips against his, tears streaming, I wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let him go. I wanted to warm his cold body as he shivered.

“Let’s get you inside,” I said. “You need to warm up.”

I heldAxl’s hand in mine the entire walk back to the cabin. Once inside, there was no time to light a fire. I turned on the hot water, stripped off his clothes, and filled the bath. He climbed in and shivered until the water rose over him.

I leaned over and kissed his temple. “I’m getting you something warm to drink,” I said. Cam followed me down the hall into the kitchen. I put the kettle on, then ran back down the hall to the bedroom. I sat beside Axl, stroking his hand as his shaking subsided.

“Did you forget something?” he said, giving me a half smile. “Or did you come back here so I could beat you one more time at poker.”

I laughed, tears filling my eyes again. “No, I read your emails.”

His eyes widened, and he squeezed my hand. “Billie, you were right to leave me.”

“Shh,” I said, putting a finger to his lips. “It’s my turn.”

He nodded. I sunk to the floor beside the tub, sitting beside him the way he’d sat beside me when he’d rescued me from the snow. “I have trust issues that aren’t your fault.” I looked straight into his deep-green eyes. I didn’t want to hide from my truth any longer.

“When I told you about my dad and my bad radar, that was only half the story,” I said. “I think a part of me has picked the wrong guybecause I knew it would end. On some level, I wanted it to end. I didn’t think I deserved a happily-ever-after, but I do. Maybe you and I aren’t so different after all.”

“I should have told you the truth,” Axl said. He held my fingers in one hand, the other trailing over the water. The color back in his cheeks, his breathing steady, I felt my anxiety lessen. He’d been in the river long enough to scare me, but we’d dodged hypothermia.

“You should have, but I should have told you the truth, too. I didn’t tell you about Gran. I had my walls up, Axl. I had my walls up, and you found a way to bust them down.” Then I said, my voice a whisper, “Gran found you.”

“She did.”

“I think she knew that I needed you, that Smoke River needed you. I’ve spent my whole life proving to myself and to the people in my life that I don’t need anyone. I’m so tired, Axl. I’m tired of being alone. I’m tired of pretending I can do everything on my own.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice gruff.

“I need you. I need you so much.” I cried, tears pouring down my face.

“Come here, baby,” he whispered, wiping my tears away. “Get in this water.”

“You’re crazy,” I said. “This tub’s too small.”

He reached over and pulled me into the water. We kissed, our bodies tangled together, water soaking through my clothes. His hand on my back, his mouth against mine, I reached down and felt his cock in the water. I stroked him until he was as hard as a rock.

Eyes hooded, Axl’s head rocked back. I climbed out of the tub, and as he watched me, slipped out of my pants.

I climbed back into the water and straddled him. His hands gripped my hips as I lowered my aching pussy onto his hard shaft. He slid into me, and I cried out at the sensation of being filled by this beautiful man.

“Mine,” he growled, his cock driving into me.

I moaned in reply. His lips found mine again. He held my lowerback, and we rocked together in the water. His cock rose up and rubbed my clit with every thrust. My climax came hard and fast.

“Now, now, now,” I gasped, my head rolling back as an orgasm shook my body.

He roared and came inside me with steady pulses. Our movements slowed, and I lay my head on his shoulder, safe in the arms of the man I loved, the man who believed in wishes, just like I did.

CHAPTER 30

BILLIE

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