Page 6 of Designing with the Mountain Man
“Don’t be sorry. You needed to chase your dreams and figure out who you are. I promised you I’d wait for you, and I did.”
“Thank you.”
After Marlowe finished the mural, we stood side by side and admired her work.
“I knew you could do it, Mar.” I elbowed her in the side gently. How did she always manage to lift my shitty moods?
“You did say that. Maybe I should listen to you more, huh?”
I chuckled. “Not always. But sometimes I know my shit.”
“You know, when I was a little girl, I used to draw the sky with rainbows in it, over and over again, wishing for good luck. It’s weird to say this, but it feels like a complete circle.”
I slipped an arm around her shoulders, unable to hold back from physically touching her any longer. It was like a need, an ache I couldn’t fulfill. “That’s pretty cool. I’m glad you said yes.”
“You didn’t leave me much choice, did you?” Marlowe joked as she leaned into me, and I pulled her tighter against my side.
“You know, the main reason I came back is you.”
“It is?” My mouth dropped open.
“Yes. Genevieve wanted to try someplace new, a small town in northern Colorado was her first choice, and all I could think about was you. It had been so long, I didn’t want to live apart anymore. I could tell myself all day I didn’t love you anymore, but who the fuck was I kidding? I did. Hopelessly. Genevieve understood and when I shared my idea about revamping the old bakery we loved as kids, she was down for it. We found a cute place to rent together and soon we were back and working in our bakery. If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve gone wherever the wind took me.”
“Thank you for coming home to me, Mar. I’ve missed you. So much.” I cupped her cheek with my hand and ran the pad of my thumb along her cheek, her skin so soft compared to my rough fingers. “Please don’t be afraid. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
“Me either.” She whispered, and I stole the opportunity to kiss her, finally pressing my lips to hers in a swift move I’ve waited four years for.
Her hands wrapped around my neck, and she deepened the kiss, her tongue sliding in between my lips to dual with my own.
Now all of my dreams were coming true.
CHAPTER FOUR
Marlowe
Once his lipslanded on mine, that was no control. A dam of emotions burst wide open, and all rational thought no longer existed.
Steeler tasted better than I remembered, and I couldn’t get enough, his kisses like a sweet elixir that cured all my pain.
“Want to get out of here?” Steeler huffed, his body pressed against mine, his very large and noticeable erection rubbing against my leg.
I nodded, my body flushed with desire. We quickly cleaned up all of my supplies and moved the furniture back into place.
After another quick make out session in the front yard, we climbed into our cars and I followed him to his place, a large log cabin, deep in the woods, with no neighbors around.
Typical Steeler. In his own grumpy bubble. I was happy he joined a construction crew, instead of the unsteady work he always got before. He deserved a good-paying job and appreciation for a job well done.
“Wow, you’re really out here in the boonies, huh?” I said as Steeler opened my car door for me after having parked behind him. “Not even a bar of service on my phone.” I held it up to the sky and waved it around like you see them do in the cell phone commercials. “Nope, nada.”
Steeler chuckled. “Yeah, good luck with finding a signal. I’ll give you the Wi-Fi password, and you can try that?”
“Okay. You know, this is kind of like the start of every horror movie where the girl is brought to a cabin deep in the woods with no service. Why am I starring in a horror movie right now?” It didn’t scare me though even if the outside was creepy as all hell.
But Steeler wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. He’d guard me with his life, no doubt about it.
“I thought you’d fit the role perfectly.” Steeler grunted and next thing I knew, he lifted me off my feet and threw me over his shoulders. He slapped my ass as he carried me inside his cabin, the atmosphere both warm and cozy.
He didn’t put me down once we were inside and instead, flicked lights on as he walked around, before finally climbing the stairs and heading straight to his room. He slapped my ass two more times before tossing me down gently on the bed.
