Page 34 of Cozy Cabin for Two
All we could do was hope and pray the bear wouldn’t be a nuisance during the open house. If there even was a bear. Willow had cried bear once before, which bothered me.
Would she have a reason to do it again? Cause us all more trouble with the search? And why? I found her in the cabin, rubbing her arms in front of the bedroom window, peering out.
“I swear I saw it.” A visible tremble worked down her body.
“Hey, come here.” I wrapped myself around her from behind. “I believe you saw something, I do. My guys will have a look around again in the morning, and during the day they all know to be aware and keep an eye out. That’s all we can do about it.”
She leaned her head back against my chest. “How dangerous is this, really?”
“Come on, city girl. You’re on a ranch with a bunch of rugged, ex-military dudes. If there’s a bear, we’ll handle it.” My voice was steady, reassuring, but I caught the tension rising in her shoulders. I brushed kisses there. “Most bears avoid humans when given the choice, and tomorrow this ranch will be flooded with people and noise. We’ll be fine. Please trust me. Now, it’s been a long day. I could use a shower and you, together. Are you up for another challenging game of How to Fuck in Ash’s Tiny Shower?”
“If you ever build another cabin, please build a shower big enough for two.”
“Lesson learned.” At least I caught a flicker of a smile and a sparkle returning to her eyes.
A few minutes later, I undressed her and myself, and held her close as the stream of water and steamswirled around us. Her fingers traced lazy patterns up and down my back.
She was quiet. Worried, chewing her cheek. I could tell. “Talk to me and tell me what’s going on?”
“Ash, I need you to be careful, okay? I can’t shake the feeling of finding you again after all these years, but what if I lose you? What if we only have a predetermined number of days left? I’ve already lost—” She stopped and swallowed before saying Scott’s name.
“No, baby. Stop thinking that way.” This was not at all what I thought she’d worry about. Me? Hadn’t I survived through the military in extreme foreign destinations, plus my time on the ranch in Virginia and now here? Ranch life was rough at times. Granted, coming face to face with a bear wouldn’t be my idea of fun, but I would put all my years of training to use and fight it off the best I could.
There was more to it, though. She’d already lost my brother. We both had. We knew how time was fleeting and uncontrollable, how we could blink and it’d be all over.
I leaned her against the wall, caught her hip high upon my thigh, and slid inside of her to bring us closer together, and not just because the shower walls crowded us. But in the only way I knew—bone deep—how to show her how much she meant to me and reassure her not to worry.
Raw and vulnerable, we rocked together, slow and passionate movements. Kissing, sucking, caressing. Nothing at all like I’d ever had with another woman. This was better and meant everything to me.
“There is one thing I’m afraid of, but not about the bear,” I admitted, voice rough and low.
Her eyes widened. “Of what then?”
“Of screwing this up between us. Or not being enough for you. Not being the father figure Ro needs. Worst of all, of turning out like my dad. Most of all, of falling so hard for both of you, I can’t get back up if it ends.”
“First of all, you could never be your father, Ash. You’re not like him at all.” She cupped my face with wet hands, the depth of her eyes pulling me in. “Can’t you see how Ro loves you already? You are what she needs. As for falling, don’t be afraid. Because I’m not, and I don’t want us to end,” she whispered.
In her words and lips, in her bright eyes, and with my cock so deep inside of her I could touch her soul, it became clear that she’d fallen for me. It hit me in the chest so fast, so hard, that I followed her there, too. The ache I used to feel from the hole Scott left in my heart healed a little more, replaced everyday by everything Willow gave to me, even when I didn’t feel like I deserved it.
TWENTY
Claimed
ASH
“I haveto hand it to Willow, she made putting together the Open House seem effortless. All of her plans and preparations paid off.” I hugged her to my side, boasting about her to Chris and Nicoletta when they finally arrived.
“This was beyond what I envisioned. Perfect. Thanks to the two of you, the ranch has a solid foothold in the community.” Chris gave us an approving nod.
“It’s really thanks to all of us here on the ranch. Ash has a great crew working with him. I might have helped plan it, but they put the plan into action.” Willow beamed up at me, winking.
“I’m so proud of you, Ash. This ranch is spectacular. But all of that aside, what I want to know, Willow, is what you did to tame this fella right here. Ash never looked quite as at home in Virginia as he does now. I’m bettin’ that has more to do with you, honey.” Nicoletta chimed in with a contagious smile and her slight Southern accent.
Willow blushed at her compliment, keeping her smile contained, biting her lips. But Nicoletta didn’t let up.
“If I recall, Ash, you were such a playboy. You had women for miles around after you. Some still stop by the ranch wondering when you’re coming back.”
Willow froze, eyeing me.
