Page 11 of My Surly Valentine

Standing up, I grab her by the waist, setting her up on the kitchen counter so we’re eye to eye and clasping her hand. “You’re asking if this…whatever-it-is…has real potential?”

She nods, eyes wide and eager.

“Why don’t you tell me, gorgeous.”

Spreading her legs wide, I step between them, gathering her in my arms as I kiss her gently. Her lips part instantly. Everything about her softens. Thirty seconds later, I’m practically crushing her to me, but Hazel only moans in delight as my hands roam under her shirt, caressing the soft skin across her back everywhere. The kiss is too powerful to control, leaving us both breathless.

“Would you be happy living out here in the sticks?” I murmur against her lips.

“If you were here to keep me warm, yeah.”

I promised myself that I wasn’t going to take her until she begged. From the way she’s wrapping her legs around me and gripping the back of my hair, I know I’ll have her begging in moments.

This feels like a decision that should be weighed. Calculated. Mulled over.

No fucking way. This stunning girl ismine.

I found her in my bed, and I need to keep her…with every part of my body and soul.

If anyone in town heard that I had fallen for a sweet young lady in just a few days, and that I was already prepared to fight for her, to change my life for her…

They’d never think it was truly me.

But maybe this is just the version of me that I was supposed to be all along, and my grouchy-ass personality was simply aself-defense mechanism because I hadn’t met the love of my life yet.

Well, now I have.

7

HAZEL

If I were back in the city, in my parents’ house, I probably would never have the courage to do this. Out here, I do.

Cuddling into Axton’s chest, I’m grateful for every decision that brought me to this point. Going to university and living in the dorm for a while. Meeting people in school who weren’t all directly connected to the business world. Applying for my dream job and securing the position with a kick-ass video interview.

Being brave enough to drive all the way to Hope Peak to hide out and work in a cabin.

Logically, Axton’s life is not set up to have a partner. There’s no way two of us could live in this small cabin. I don’t know how long it would take for me to be able to afford another place, and just visit him here.

But right now, logic doesn’t matter. In this moment, I want to continue being brave. Continue exploring this heat with the man who is unlocking my sensual side piece by piece. I’ve been insanely curious about sex for the past few years. What the hell – I might as well finally test the waters with the hottest man I’ve ever seen.

I slip down from the counter, letting my body brush straight down his front. “Where do you think you’re going, Goldilocks?” His low growl sends tremors through me and his warmth burns through my clothing where he is touching me.

“The counter’s a little hard.” I trail my fingers through the side of his hair, looking up at him through my lashes. “I was thinking maybe we could snuggle somewhere softer.”

There’s a grinding sound in the back of his throat. “You mean, like the bed?”

I nod slowly. “Like the bed.”

His hands skims down to grip my ass, squeezing firmly and holding me in place. “Tell me what you have in mind…exactly, precisely, what you’re thinking.”

I stretch up on my toes, my lips hovering beside his ear as I whisper, “Well, I went on the pill while I was in university, just in case. But none of those silly boys interested me.You, on the other hand…”

His fingers dig into my skin as his other hand grips the back of my shoulder. “Keep talking.”

I walk my fingers along the top of his shoulder. “You’re interesting. Definitely the kind of guy who would know how to treat a girl.”

His eyes have darkened as he keeps staring. “Tell me what you want, gorgeous. Every detail.”

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