Page 65 of Wylder Ranch
I carried a baby and gave birth by myself, because I was too scared to try to find Alex until I knew I couldn’t cope for much longer. And even then, a small voice thatsounds an awful lot like Saylor is saying, “I only bought my flight here because she made me.”
“If you hadn’t gotten pregnant, would you ever have called me?”
No point lying. I shake my head, loosening the buildup of unshed tears I wipe away. I should have stayed in bed and counted sheep.
Alex doesn’t say anything. The kitchen is silent save for the ticking of the clock and his slow, measured breaths. It stretches out, and I’m not going to be the one to break this time. We’ll stay here in silence until the sun rises for all I care.
Because I’m looking at anything but him, I don’t notice him push away from the table until he’s in front of me, finger hooking under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes are so hypnotizing up close, bright blue and clear.
Exactlylike Everly’s.
He swipes his thumb over my damp cheek. “First things first. I don’t know what would have happened between us, but I do know I would have made every effort to keep seeing you. Fuck the distance.”
Picking up my hand, he twines his fingers with mine, examining the pale pink polish I went with at the spa, and smiles.
“Last year, you had Christmas decorations. Each nail was painted a different color with a little drawing on it. Even though I fucking hate Christmas, I thought they were so cute. Wherever you went, there was always the scent of pine trees and cinnamon. Sometimes if I concentrate hard enough I can smell it again.” He closes his eyes, like he’s trying to conjure it up. When he reaches out, I try to remember how to breathe. “And this freckle,” he continues, brushing his thumb across my top lip. “I thought it was a grain of sugar when I first saw it and tried to lick it off.”
His admission makes me giggle. “What?”
“Yes, it’s true. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.” The grin he’s wearing disappears, and his expression becomes serious again. “All I’ve thought about since I left you in Aspen isyou. Every fucking day, Haven.You.”
His fingertip is directly on my chest, right above my hammering heart.
“This life of mine, you’re part of it now. Everly’s partof it.” His eyes scour my face, so intently it feels like he’s trying to bore into my soul. Then a smirk tugs on the corner of his lip. “And might I remind you that last nightyoukissedme.”
“I know.” It’s useless denying it when my cheeks are flushed pink. He’s so close all I can see is the curve of his mouth, and all I can think about is it happening again.
It’s all I want.
His finger trails up, crossing my collarbone, and rests on the thumping pulse in my neck. His palm curls around my chin, his thumb swipes over my lip, over the freckle.
“You are so fucking beautiful, Hayve,” he whispers.
I barely notice the stinging from my burn when his lips find mine, and by the time his tongue tangles, I’m breathless.
Eleven months of being apart. Two weeks of living under the same roof. A couple of hours ago, I kissed him and ran away.
Now we kiss like there’s no escape.Really kiss.
His stubble bites into my skin, and I don’t give a shit that my face will be scratched up. I’ll wear it with pride because I can’t get enough. We’re hungry and desperate.
My hands loop under his shoulders and grip the taut muscles spanning his back, the ones I’ve been thinking of daily. I relish the feel of his hot, smooth skin under my palms, and when his hands move to surround my face and pull me in further, the cool of his pinky ring against my cheek is all I register.
I want to remember this moment for when I’m back in Aspen.
I focus on the sensation of his hand gripping the back of my neck, the nudging of his dick against my hip, theheat of his body. I want to remember in case this is the last kiss we have.
We can’t get enough. It doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to end, and I don’t want it to. When we finally break apart, I know my lips are swollen, and the sound of our panting is only broken by the force of the rain against the windowpane.
This time, the look in his eyes is different. Last night, he was a rabbit in headlights. Now, he’s the predator, and I’m his prey.
“You don’t think this complicates things?” I blurt.
“No,” he replies firmly and with conviction. “I think that we need to see what happens, for our sake. Even without Everly, I’d want to know. It’s all I’ve wanted to know since I left you in Aspen. We don’t have to rush, but we’re tied together now, and I’m not going to spend the rest of my life wondering what if.” He brushes his knuckle against my chin before tucking loose strands of hair behind my ear while we both catch our breath. “I want you, Haven, and not just for the sake of our daughter. For real. Don’t be scared.”
Somewhere along the way of our kiss, the ridiculous, too big sweatpants fell and pooled at my feet. When Alex notices, he crouches, grips the waistband, and with one flick of his eyes, slowly pulls them back up.Obscenelyslowly.
All hangups that my body isn’t the same as it was a year ago vanish as his hot breath travels the length of my thigh, his knuckles grazing across the sensitive spot at the back of my knees and up my burning skin. He rises with each inch he pulls the pants up, and by the time he reaches my hips to maneuver them over my ass, my pussy is throbbing and my panties are soaked through.
