Page 234 of Mountain Grump

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Not trying to get away.

Trying to get him to follow.

He steps forward, lowering the axe to his side.

I part my lips so I can pull in deeper breaths.

He takes another step.

I step back.

And we keep eye contact.

Keep staring at each other as I back into the house.

As he drops the axe on the ground.

As I back toward my bedroom.

As he kicks the door shut behind him.

We’re both breathing heavy.

Both feeling the effects of the adrenaline rush.

And when my legs bump into the bed.

When Ethan enters the bedroom.

We still hold eye contact.

We hold it while we tear our clothes off.

Hold it while we fall onto the mattress.

We hold it, and each other, as Ethan enters me.

As we rock.

As we moan.

And we hold it the whole time. Until we come apart.

Then our eyes close. And we exhale.

Chapter 127

Tilda

Quackers takesthe pea from my palm.

“You like that?” I smile and take another one from the bowl, holding my hand out.

She takes it, then waddles over to her pool, and I set the bowl of partially thawed peas next to me on the front step.

The day is beautiful.

The sun is out, but it’s not too hot.

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