Chapter Fifteen

Victoria

For a big man, he moved quickly. In an instant he was over her, settling between her thighs. Clasping her head between his hands, he held her gaze. His cock pressed against her sensitive core, and without any conscious thought, she parted her thighs more and opened to him. He entered her with slow, gentle movements. While he didn’t say a word, she knew he watched her for signs of pain.

She nodded to encourage him. Giving herself to him was the start of something inevitable, something she’d wanted for longer than she cared to admit, even to herself. They’d been one, a couple, ever since they’d boarded the small plane in Sitka Lake. Losing her innocence to Clay had been set in motion by fate. It had only been a matter of time.

The sensation of being filled impossibly grew until a single thrust brought a sharp pain. She gasped. He stilled and waited until she pressed her fingers into his shoulders. Lowering, he caught her mouth with a hungry kiss. With each stroke, her pain ebbed until something else took its place, a tight coil of pleasure that wound around her senses.

Skimming her fingers along his back, she traced the bands of muscle and sinew. Large, rippling muscles framed smaller ones. The rough hair of his chest accentuated his massive build. He was powerful and twice her size, but treated her with infinite care, like she was precious and fragile. Something told her that wouldn’t always be the case. For her first time, he wanted to shield her from as much pain or discomfort as he could.

He lowered his hand to cup her breast, groaning as he brushed his thumb over her tight nipple. Pleasure spilled across her skin. Seeking more of his touch, she arched her back.

He muttered a single word. “Mine.”

To her amazement, her pleasure spiraled and heated her body. He sensed her arousal. The feral gleam in his eye told her as much. Lifting her legs, she clasped his hips. From this position, he could deepen his thrusts and almost immediately her body responded. Small mewling cries spilled from her lips. She arched and writhed as she built again, finally shattering beneath him as he followed an instant later.

He rolled to his side, facing her, and while she could hardly find the strength or will to breathe, he smiled at her. “Want to know how long I’ve wanted to make you mine?”

She nodded.

“Since the first time I saw you. You walked through the foyer of the Lodge in a beige dress and kick-ass boots and gave me a look.”

“What kind of look?”

“Like a, ‘who the hell do you think you are?’ look.”

“No.”

“I thought to myself, ‘I’m your husband, baby-doll.’”

She felt her face heat. Candlelight burnished his handsome features as a slow smile spread across his mouth.

“Is that what you thought?” she asked. “Truly?”

“Truly.”

He got up, a smirk curving his lips, and put on his boxers and sweat pants. He unlocked the door and left the bedroom, shutting the door softly behind him, leaving her alone in bed, listening to the wind’s howl. When he came back he returned to the bed, wrapping one arm around her while he helped her clean up.

She flinched and he soothed her with a gentle word. Clay said something about burning the cloth in the fire. He looked solemn and spoke quietly before slipping out the door, but when he returned he wore a playful smile once again.

“I knew the instant I laid eyes on you that we were going to be together. Love and marriage and all that.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “We’ll be out of here one day. We’ll see if you put your money where your mouth is.”

His brows lifted. “I intend to. I had a grand seduction planned for you in Napa. Dinner. Walks in the moonlight. The opera.”

“We can have a do-over in Napa.”

He lifted his chin. “I think I should get a refund on my room. Or a free stay.”

She bit her lip and shook her head. “Sorry, sir. We don’t offer refunds without seventy-two-hours’ notice.”

“What if I saved the owner’s daughter’s life? And the lives of two precious and innocent children?”

She smiled. “No exceptions.”

“What if I marry the owner’s daughter?”

She pretended to think ponder his question. “Possibly,” she drawled.

He closed the distance between them and pressed her back to the bed. “What if I spank the owner’s daughter’s ass?”

She giggled as he lowered to kiss her. “Maybe. Yes, I think we could work something out. I’ve seen what those hands can do.”

“Good. I get to set my evil plan in motion.” He threaded his fingers through hers and brushed his lips across her mouth.

“Where you do what, exactly?”

“Convince you that I’m your man. That we belong together.”

A thrill ran through her veins. He said the words often, that he was her man and that they belonged together, but this time he said the words right after they’d made love. The words, the light in his eyes and they soft pulse of having given herself over, hummed inside her. She was his. He was hers. They’d shared something they’d never shared before.

“And then?” she asked.

“Take you to bed. Keep you there,” he said softly. “Fuck you. A lot. Order room service and feed you.”

His words were filthy. Yet he whispered them like a sonnet or some sort of love poem. She smiled, closed her eyes and moaned. “Room service?”

His smile widened. “Out of all that, room service is the part that sounds good to you?”

A wave of laughter came over her. “I have to admit, it sounds pretty amazing. My mother’s chef won’t have anything that comes from a can.”

“So is that a yes? You agree to my plan?”

She sobered and drew a deep, contented sigh. “I do agree. It sounds heavenly.”

“I’m going to keep us safe until help arrives or the snows melt and I go get help and then we’re going to have a little vacation. Just the two of us. No short people.”

Her eyes prickled at the idea of the four of them leaving the cabin and returning to civilization. She’d come to love the cabin and their day-to-day life, but almost getting killed by a wolf had shown her the reality of their situation.

Their safety was precarious. Even Charlie was in danger out here in the wild. Threats lurked everywhere. They had two children with them, two children whose parents were probably dying a little more each day. No, the cabin was both a blessing and step back in time. Their time here had changed each of them, but they needed to get home.

All of them. Soon.