Page 67 of Like a Hurricane

His eyes bounce to me before I’ve approached and he runs them down my body, not in desire or even lust but in protectiveness. As if something terrible could have happened to me in the last ten minutes.

His hand curls around the back of my jean clad thighs as I place the coffee down on the table and then he pulls me into his lap, wraps his arms tightly around my waist and buries his face into my hair. He inhales deeply, his muscles seeming to loosen now that I was in his arms.

I thread my fingers into the thick hair at the back of his head.

“Can we go back to the cabin?” I ask quietly, my voice almost lost to the crackle and pop of the flames in front of us. “I think I want to do this with only us.”

He nods slowly, “Yeah, princess we can.”

“It’s not real,” I whisper, “We’re okay.”

He just tightens his arms more and doesn’t say a word and when we go to bed that night, he holds me the entire time. There isn’t a second where some part of him isn’t touching some part of me and even in sleep, his worries still claim him. The deep set of his frown, the downturn of his lips which almost made him look like he was in pain, told me his dreams were not being kind.

When we wake the following morning neither of us look well rested.

His hand smooths down the back of my black hair and he kisses my forehead before he finishes packing a bag for us to take to the cabin.

We would only be there for a few days since more snow was forecasted. He said it would be safer for us to stay in town where we can still access all the necessities we will need.

I also think he likes giving me the company of his brother and Maya. And I appreciated that. I’d been so lonely without realizing it, and the last few days spent with his family and friends has given me something I didn’t know I needed.

I hug Maya before we set off and Harper surprises me when she rushes over to wrap her little arms around my middle, her rosy cheek pressing into my stomach.

“How long!?” She asks.

“How long for what, sweetheart?”

“How long will you be gone?” She looks up at me with her big, innocent eyes.

“Only a couple days,” I assure her, “Don’t worry, your uncle Rett will be back in no time.”

“Rett always comes back,” She dismisses, “But I was scared you wouldn’t.”

My heart does a weird little gallop in my chest. “I’m coming back,” I promise, “Thank you for being my friend, Harper.”

Rett gives Harper a kiss on the head before we both leave, and though this was what I wanted, this was the right thing, every step I take away from the town, I can’t help but feel like I was leaving a part of me behind. The trees swallow us, the wind chills us but it wasn’t just externally I felt cold, it was like my blood was cold too.

I can’t shake the feeling, can’t even place what it is that I am feeling but it remains, like heavy metal in the pit of my stomach.

Rett helps me up the cliffside, aiding me over large, slippery rocks that jut out of the earth and over downed trees. I don’t remember it being this dangerous on the way down, but we manage it, my lungs burning from the exertion of the climb. While most of the snow had melted over the last few days, some remained in the darkest parts of the forest, where the sun can’t touch it.

After a couple hours of hiking, I glimpse the tiny little cabin buried in the woods. My breath whooshes from me and a smile touches my lips.

“Never thought I’d come to love this place,” I laugh, squeezing Rett’s hand.

“It has a certain appeal,” He quirks a brow at me playfully, “I like it more now that you’re in it.”

“That’s just because you can fuck me against every surface,” I tease, lightening the somber mood that saturates us, “No one around to catch us after all.”

Some light has reentered Everett during the hike up, his shoulders don’t appear as tense. I doubt he’s happy accepting the path we have chosen, but it doesn’t seem to be weighing on him as much now that it was just us here.

“Every surface,” he steps closer, “In front of every window, on the porch, against a tree…” his finger curls beneath my chin, “And it doesn’t matter how loud you scream, the only ones to witness my destruction of you are the trees and the sky, and I think they like your pretty screams.”

An ache blooms in the pit of my stomach as his words travel their way through me. Heat burns in his gaze and his mouth notches up at the side in a knowing smirk, eyes dipping down to where I press my denim clad thighs together, his words painting a vivid picture.

“You know how I love when you submit to me, princess, how needy your perfect little cunt is. I like destroying you for any other man. You are mine.”

“Yours,” I agree.

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