Page 17 of Burly and Rugged

“Yes,” she nearly sobs. “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.”

I snake a hand between us, finding her clit, circling, teasing, pushing her higher, needing to feel her come on my cock.

“Oh God, Cody, I’m—”

Her body tightens and trembles, then her pussy explodes on my cock, pulsing with an intensity that instantly sends me over the edge with her.

I cry out her name, losing all control as I thrust deep one last time, coming hard, feeling like I’m breaking apart and being reborn as a new man. I collapse over her, then move so that we’re face to face, and hold her tightly in my arms.

For a long moment, neither of us speaks.

We just lie there, tangled together, sweaty, breathless, still connected, our hearts hammering in sync.

I press a soft kiss to her shoulder, dragging my lips up to her jaw, then her temple, just breathing her in.

Her sigh is so content, so full of something more than just lust, that I know more than ever that Lindy is the one for me. There will never be another woman I feel this way with. The realization makes me pause—it fucking scares me. Could she let me into her life like I want? Would I be enough for her?

CHAPTER 9

LINDY

Ishift the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder, my chest tightening with something I don’t want to name. This is my last day here. The survival course is over. In a few minutes, I’ll be heading home.

Unless Cody stops me.

Across the room at The Lodge, Cody stands behind a long wooden table, his back partially turned as he scribbles something in an old-fashioned ledger. His broad shoulders shift beneath his worn T-shirt. I want to reach out and touch him again, but he’s been distant since the night we made love. Things have been…comfortable, but he put up some walls, and we haven’t spoken about what happened that night. That perfect, passionate night.

I exhale slowly, willing myself to keep my emotions in check.

I clear my throat and step forward. “So, is this where I get my official certificate for ‘Not Dying in the Woods’?”

My attempt at a joke falls flat. Cody glances up, his expression guarded. “It is.”

My stomach twists. Why is he so distant?

I stop on the opposite side of the table, watching as he finishes signing his name at the bottom of a thick piece of parchment. My name is scrawled in bold letters at the top. A stamp seals the corner.

Cody slides it across the table. “You did good out there, Lindy.”

I hate how indifferent he sounds. How could I have been so wrong about him?

Before I can respond, heavy footsteps sound behind me.

“Hello,” a deep, commanding voice says. “Glad to see you made it back in one piece.”

I turn as a tall, muscular man enters the room, moving with easy confidence.

“This her?” he asks Cody, jerking his chin in my direction.

Cody nods. “This is Lindy. Lindy, this is Jax. I told you about him.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say, extending my hand. Jax grips it tightly and studies me.

“Jax. Good to meet you. How’d it go?”

I pause for a moment, trying to find words that won’t betray the ache in my heart. “It went well.”

“She’s downplaying everything,” Cody says. “She was excellent. A real natural.”

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