Page 139 of Drowning in Darkness

Eleanor: Don’t panic, brother. She’s everything you deserve. Stop running from your future and hiding in your past. You’ve paid your dues. Now it’s time to start living.

Fucking meddling menace.

I stride to the front door and fling it open to wait for her to appear. Time stretches as the rumble of the engine echoes off the mountains.

I’m plotting how to get her to turn her ass back around, the words I can spin to hurt her. But then she appears, looking like a dream in a pink dress wholly unsuited for life on a mountain that’s about to get stormy. Snow flutters around her as she locks eyes on me and stalks toward me with determination.

I scan every inch of her, noting the fading bruises, but more importantly, the take-no-shit heart she’s wearing on her sleeve, which makes any and all lies slide away. I can’t hurt her. I don’t have it in me, even if it’d be done with good intent.

Her feet stomp up the steps, then she throws her arms around my neck and presses her lips against mine. Our bodies come together as if they were built for each other, and I’m powerless to do anything but give her everything. I could never be enough for this woman, but damn if I’m going to spend the rest of my days trying to be.

The thought makes my heart race as she pushes on my chest and guides me back into the lodge. She pulls her lips from mine, and I’m already feeling the loss. I’m endlessly greedy for this woman. She slams the door shut with her foot and faces me.

“That was quite a greeting.”

She shakes her head, toes her ballet pumps off, and pulls her dress over her head, revealing the pale pink silk lingerie underneath. Then she’s back in my arms and tugging my shirt over my head.

“You’re not running from me, and I’m cold. Warm me up.”

I stand there like a moron for a second, blinking, a smirk lifting the corner of my mouth.

“I’m hardly the man you deserve.” Stephanie rolls her eyes at me. “But I’ll try to be, every damn day.”

A wide grin stretches over her lips, and she kisses me, hard and chaotic, before leaning back again with a dazzling smile. “Good. Because I want you, James Austin.” She reaches for my pants and shoves them down, leaving me standing in the living room in my boxers, both of us half naked with a storm about to hit. “I love you.”

My jaw drops, my grip on her reflexively tightening. “I love you, too.”

Stephanie smiles wider, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the bedroom. “Now fuck me like you hate me.”

Before, I’m not sure if I would have been able to take the joke—or suggestion—but I know this woman. I know her curves and what she wants, how strong and brave she is. I will give her whatever she wants, and the dark corners of me can come out to play in the light with her.

The beacon that helps me find my way home.

Sweeping her off her feet, I throw Stephanie over my shoulder and smack her ass hard. The little moan she lets out goes right to my cock, and if I weren’t already getting hard for her, I am now. I bring her to the bedroom, dropping her onto the bed. She bounces playfully, and I take a second to admire the lingerie. It’s the softest pink. It’s lacey. And it’s going to look damn good on the floor.

A part of me feels like I should take my time, but the other part is ravenous. I didn’t know if I was ever going to see Stephanie again. I planned not to. Now she’s here. She’s within arm’s reach, having just told me she loves me.

“What are you waiting for?” Stephanie pushes up on her elbows, eyeing me.

“Nothing.”

I dive in, getting that lingerie off her in a flash. I eat up the sight of her naked body, growling hungrily. She gets my boxers off, and I pull her to the edge of the bed, dropping to my knees. Before she can question me, I spread her legs and devour her. I spend several minutes exploring every inch of her pussy, while her legs quiver around me.

“Oh, fuuuck.”

Smiling, I press her legs down to the bed, holding them there so she can’t close them. I flick my tongue over her clit, knowing she’s close. I want to feel all of her. I want to know that she’s mine in every way. I stuff my fingers inside her, two going into her pussy and one… Well, she did enjoy that ass-play porn. Time to be inspired.

I pump in and out until she’s squealing for me, and before the orgasm has even settled, I flip my girl around on the mattress and sheathe my cock deep inside her. I start up a rhythm, fisting her hair as I press her to the bed. It’s wild and raw, all of me focused on fucking her hard.

“James!” Stephanie’s cries are music to my ears, and she grips the covers on the bed until her knuckles go white.

“That’s it, baby. Call out my name. It sounds so good on your tongue.”

Anchoring my hands on her hips, I thrust hard and fast, then lift a hand to crack it down over her ass cheek. She hisses, and it blends into a moan. The sound is electricity in my veins, spurring me on. If I had the time to prepare, I would’ve made sure we could really bring that video to life. As it is, I’m going to warm my girl up. I’m going to show her just how good that’s going to feel when we get there.

Because we will get there.

I smack in time with my hips, fucking and making her skin turn a rosy pink like the long-gone lingerie. Then my hand moves to the back of her head, shoving her down into the mattress so the blanket provides a bit of breath play.