“Say you belong to me,” I demand.
“I belong to you. I love you, Rowan. I’m yours. Always.”
Always.The climax hits me like a fist to the head. My vision blurs, and a dull roar fills my head. I come, spurting streams of fluid inside her cunt. Her back bows as my hot fluid pours out and sets off another climactic response. This is a new beginning. The first day of an adventure for the two of us. She’s not afraid of me. There’s nothing I want that will scare her.
“I love you, Charlee. I love you.” I chant those words over and over even after I’m spent, after her shudders turn to small shudders. I slip out of her and draw her into my arms, stroking my hands over her shoulders and down her slender back. She gulps at the air, trying to find her breath. Her forehead burrows into my neck as she allows me to soothe her.
“I think we should keep this place,” I say after a while when we’re both settled under the covers. The snow is falling outside, the bright moonlight making the flakes sparkle like tiny crystals.
“And build a new house?”
“No. I want to keep it like this. Uncluttered and simple. When things are going crazy, we can escape here—just the two of us. I can tie you up and tease you for hours. No one out here can hear you scream.” A sadistic grin spreads across my face. “I have things I want to do to you that need proper planning.”
She giggles. “I think I’m up to it.”
“I know you are, baby. That’s why this is going to work for us. We were meant to be together. There was a small speed bump, but we’re over that.”
“Smooth sailing from here on out?”
“Nothing we can’t solve together.” I tilt her head up. “We’re partners, you and me. As long as we stick to each other, our waters won’t capsize us.”
“I appreciate you adopting the ocean metaphor.”
“Always happy to oblige you.”
Her giggles turn to laughter, and I know it’s more than just her finding me funny but her being filled with joy. I know because I’m feeling the same awesome sensation. Inside this cabin, we let ourselves go and found our true love once again.
ten
CHARLEE
I situp holding the blanket to my chest, wondering where Rowan went. Hell, I’m not even sure what day it is at this point. It should be Christmas, but who knows? Everything has been a bit of a sexy blur.
We made love, then we snuggled in bed and talked for hours. Now that everything was out in the open between us, we had so much to catch up on. The only time we left was to get food, which we brought back to the bed.
I feel closer to Rowan than I’ve ever felt, including before everything went to hell. There is nothing between us now. No hidden desires or need to walk on eggshells. Rowan was worried that he might be too much for me to handle. But now that he knows that’s not the case, he has an ease about him.
It’s silly really to think we could have had this all along but we’d both let things from our past cloud our minds. We might not have had past lovers, but we still had baggage. We know now that we both need to be clear in the things we want because the reality is we both have deep needs to please the other. Not to mention I crave every dirty thing my husband wants to do to me. Even his over-the-top jealousy.
I kind of understand a bit better why he was so confused about Arabella. To him it’s crazy for me or anyone else to think he wants another. In fact, he worries more over how much he wants me. His fear is that he’ll scare me away with his intensity. My fear is being lost or forgotten.
Having grown up in such a large family, I understand how that can easily happen. It’s crazy how you might not have past lovers, but things from your childhood can still drag over to mess with you.
When I hear the front door open, I jump from the bed, laughing when I see that Rowan put socks on my feet. It’s the only thing I actually have on. My toes always get cold. I snatch his shirt from off the floor and slip it on to go find out what he’s up to.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” Rowan says as he kicks the door shut behind him. A Christmas tree lays at his feet. “I know you wanted to come get it with me, but the storm was rough, and it was getting late. I pretty much grabbed the first one I found. I didn’t want you to not have a tree on Christmas.”
“I love it, Rowan. It’s perfect.” I walk over, helping him out of his coat. “You want some coffee?”
“I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”
“You’re a terrible cook.” I laugh. “Leave the cooking to me.” He slips his cold hand under my shirt, grabbing my ass. I try to wiggle away but get nowhere.
“Watch it.” He gives my ass a squeeze before he releases me. “I’ll put the tree up then. Make me some food, woman.” I laugh, scurrying off toward the kitchen to get breakfast going. With how the sun seems to be setting, I’m wondering if dinner would be more fitting.
I put on some coffee and decide to make a French toast casserole. I slip it into the oven. It should give us time to decorate the tree.
“I miss doing these small things together. I don’t think I could bear you going back to work so much.”