Page 17 of Arctic Mountain Man
“Sometimes crazy is exactly what you need.”
He was right. My entire life had been about playing it safe, making sensible choices, following the path I was supposed to follow. And where had it gotten me? Abandoned on a mountain by a man who didn’t deserve me.
“What about my job?”
“Quit.”
“My apartment?”
“We’ll get your stuff, break the lease.”
“My student loans?”
“We’ll figure it out.”
He made it sound so simple. And maybe it was that simple.
“I’d need to make some calls,” I said, my heart racing.
“Make them.”
I stared at him for a long moment, and I could see the hope in his eyes, the way he was trying not to push but wanting this just as much as I did.
“Okay,” I said.
“Okay?”
“Okay, I’ll stay. I’ll quit my job and break my lease and figure out the rest as we go.”
The smile that spread across his face was devastating. Relief and something that looked suspiciously like love.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.” And I was. For the first time in my life, I was completely, utterly sure about something. “I’m yours, Blake. For however long you’ll have me.”
His answer was a kiss. Hard and devastating, but exactly right. I tasted coffee and heat and everything I hadn’t realized I’d been missing. My body leaned into his, needing more even after everything we’d done last night. When he broke the kiss we were both breathless. “So what do we do now?”
His answer was to scoop me up and toss me over his shoulder.
“Blake!” I squealed, laughing as he headed toward the bedroom. “What are you doing?”
“Taking my woman to bed.” His hand settled possessively on my ass, his rough palm running over my skin. “We’ve got the rest of our lives to figure out the details.”
He slapped my ass lightly through the flannel and the sharp sting made me gasp, made heat lick through me all over again. The bastard grinned like he knew exactly what he’d done.
He tossed me on the bed, following me down. His weight pinned me to the mattress, his hands roaming like he was memorizing me all over again. And I let him, because I was exactly where I wanted to be.
“The rest of our lives,” I repeated, the words sending warmth spreading through my chest.
“That’s right. Starting now.”
And as he kissed me, I knew I’d made the right choice.
The only choice.
I was exactly where I belonged.
EPILOGUE
