The gesture steals my breath.
Not because it’s grand.
Because it’s him.
Because, for the first time since I’ve known him, it feels like he’s finally letting himself believe me.
His fingers thread through mine.
Then he kisses me—every sweep of his tongue sweet.
And when he pulls back, there’s something different in his eyes.
Unfortunately, body heat isn’t enough to chase away the crisp night air.
When I shiver, curling closer to Emmett, he smooths a hand over my hair.
“I think it’s time to get you inside.”
“But it’s so perfect.”
“It sure is.”
Without a fight from me, Emmett helps me into his shirt, only taking time to slip his underwear on and press a kiss to my forehead before pulling me to my feet.
The auroras still dances overhead.
“Come on, Angel,” he says, threading our fingers together once again. “Let’s get you inside.”
For once, I don’t think either of us is running from anything.
We’re just moving toward whatever comes next.
When I pull my eyes from the Auroras twinkling like they’re just for us, he’s looking at me.
Emmett goes down first, taking our trash, clothes, and the blanket. I follow in only his sweatshirt and my panties. As soon as my feet touch the ground, he’s wrapping me up in the blanket.
With the navy blanket around my shoulders and Emmett at my back, his gaze sweeps over the dark expanse. A precaution that’s probably more habit than anything—always expecting the worst will do that.
We head inside the camper, and he clicks the lock in place behind us.
There’s no rush as we move around the camper. His shirt is peeled over my head and tossed aside, his hands warm where the air was cold a second ago as he helps me into the bed.
Then we settle beneath the blankets, the camper humming faintly around us.
Next to me, his arm is tucked under his head, making his bicep look obscene. I lean over and kiss it. It’s either that or biting it.
For a second, he looks like he’s about to say something important. Something heavy.
Then, he stops himself.
Instead, he brushes his thumb under my eye.
“You didn’t run.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had.”
