Page 60 of Could Have Been Us
She laughs softly. “Are you anxious?”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, baby.”
Stella’s smile is sly. “I like games.”
“I always win.”
“I think we’re both coming out victorious here.”
She would be right.
I pull into my driveway, making it here in eight minutes flat, and throw the car into park. Before she can get her seatbelt off, I’m out of the car and opening her door.
Once she’s out of the passenger side, I grab her face and kiss her, shoving her back against the door.
Stella matches my enthusiasm with her own. Her tongue meets mine, pushing her way into my mouth as though she’s claiming me. I’ve never been anyone else’s. Stella has owned my heart from a young age.
This girl, who is funny and sweet, has always been what I wanted.
I took her once when she wasn’t mine to have. This time, there’s nothing holding me back.
“I want you inside,” I say, lifting her and tossing her over my shoulder.
Stella giggles as I carry her toward the house.
“I want you inside too,” she says, slapping my ass as we get to the door.
“You’re going to kill me, woman.”
“I sure hope not. At least not until after.”
This is why I love her. The playful, fun side that is all mischief and smiles.
I get the door open and climb the stairs to my bedroom. When I toss her onto the bed, she laughs as she bounces softly.
Stella takes a second, looking around. “I’ve never been up here.”
“You haven’t.”
I would never have been able to handle it. Stella in my bedroom would’ve ended exactly like this, which wasn’t an option before.
She takes her lower lip between her teeth as her eyes move. The cabin is small, but nice. I’ve worked hard at remodeling it and modernizing it when I could. While I may work in the wilderness during my tours, I don’t want to live like that constantly. The cabin is basically a large studio downstairs with a bedroom loft. From up here, you can see the entire place. There’s a nice-sized kitchen and a huge fireplace against the southern wall. The television is off to the side of the big windows that look out at the mountains.
Her eyes meet mine. “It’s very you.”
“How so?” I ask, suddenly feeling like that is a question I don’t want to know the answer to.
Stella lifts her hand, touching my face softly. “It’s strong, masculine, and tucked away where it thinks it’s hidden, but I see it.”
My heart is pounding as her words sink in. “And what do you see?”
“That it’s perfect.”
I move, climbing onto the bed and crawling toward her. She falls back, looking up at me with desire in those brown eyes. “You’re perfect.”
She shakes her head. “I’m far from it.”
“Allow me to show you how wrong you are,” I say. I push back a strand of hair that lies across her cheek, running my finger down her jawline. “First, you are beautiful beyond words. When I look at you, I want nothing more than to touch you. I dream of how my hands would skim every surface of your skin.”
