Page 46 of Evergreen

His hands gripped my hips hard enough to leave marks, and I knew I’d probably find bruises tomorrow in the shape of his fingers. The thought just turned me on more. I wanted everyone to know he was mine. That I belonged to him.

“You feel so fucking good,” he growled, his entire body tense with effort. “Fuck, Sparks, I could do this forever.”

“Don’t you dare stop,” I warned, my nails digging into his chest. “I’m gonna cum again.”

He didn’t stop. If anything, he fucked me harder, driving into me with a desperation that told me he was close too. His magic was flaring so bright now that I could barely see, golden light filling the entire room. I could feel my weather magic responding, crackling through the connection between us like lightning seeking earth.

The second orgasm hit me harder than the first, my entire body convulsing as I came all over his chest again. This time, I didn’t even try to be quiet. I let out a sound that was somewhere between a moan and a shout, not caring who heard.

Linden came seconds later, his body going rigid as he filled me with another load of his seed. Our magic flared simultaneously, and I actually heard glass rattle in the window frame. For a moment I was genuinely concerned we’d broken something.

When it was over, we both just lay there, completely spent. My legs felt like jelly, my entire body was covered in sweat and cum, and I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to walk normally for at least a day. But I’d never felt better in my life.

“Okay,” Linden said eventually, his voice hoarse. “Now we really should clean up.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, though I made no move to get up. “Give me a minute.”

He shifted beneath me carefully, making sure I was stable before he eased out of me. I felt the loss of him immediately, a sudden emptiness that made me want to pull him back inside. But I resisted the urge and instead rolled off to the side, collapsing onto the mattress beside him, my hole leaking and used.

We lay there for another few minutes, just breathing and letting our hearts slow down. Then, finally, we dragged ourselves out of bed and into the shower. The hot water felt amazing against my sore muscles, and I let Linden wash me. He loved to do that, to take care of me after sex. And honestly, I don’t think I’d ever felt so loved as when he did that. It was an incredible feeling.

And because of that feeling growing stronger and stronger for the past few weeks, I’d decided something needed to be said. I’d been waiting for the right moment. But now that the greenhouse repairs were finished, and we finally had a break, I felt like it was time.

Tonight, at the grove, I was going to tell him how I felt. That I was falling for him. Just the thought of it made my heart race. I was worried, of course, because who wouldn’t be? Confessing feelings was never an easy task. There was a lot of risk involved. But I was going to do it tonight.

I just hoped I wouldn’t scare him off.

Chapter 20

Linden

As I expected, the grove was a few weeks ahead of the surrounding area in terms of warmth and growth for the season. Outside the edges of the grove, where the magic couldn’t reach, things were still buried in deep snow, the air frigid and unforgiving. But inside the grove the trees were coming back to life. The pines were greener, the sap was flowing, and the air itself was warm and fragrant. And, here and there, snowdrops had begun to poke through the thin layer of snow still clinging to the earth. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Of course, I was a bit biased in that department. However, the moment we stepped inside and Cass gasped, I knew it wasn’t just me that felt that way. He was stunned too and quickly shed his thick winter jacket in exchange for a hoodie.

“What are these things?” he said, pointing to all the tiny white and green flowers poking up through the snow. “I’ve never seen them before.”

“Snowdrops,” I grinned. “I told you they’d be up.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know what they looked like.” He knelt down, running the back of his finger over one of the delicate blooms. “They’re really pretty.”

“They’re one of my favorites,” I nodded. “There’s something really magical about a flower pushing up through the snow, forcing its way into the sunshine before any of the other plants have even thought about sprouting.”

There was something about watching Cass appreciate the flowers that made my heart flutter in a way I wasn’t expecting. His usual cocky demeanor had softened, replaced by genuine wonder, and I found myself studying him as he tilted his head to examine another bloom more closely.

“They’re stubborn little bastards,” he said, glancing up at me with a slight smile. “I like that.”

Of course he did. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Cass had always struck me as someone who respected things that refused to be broken by circumstance. He pushed to his feet, brushing snow from his jeans, and I tried not to notice the way his hoodie rode up slightly, revealing a sliver of the toned stomach beneath.

“Come on,” I said, perhaps a bit too quickly. “There’s a clearing deeper in where we can set up for the night.”

We made our way through the grove, and I was hyperaware of his presence behind me. I could hear his boots crunching on the frozen ground, and felt the occasional brush of his arm against mine as we navigated between trees. The night air was cool on my skin but not cold. The grove was in that strange space between seasons that felt almost dreamlike, like a painting had come to life.

The clearing opened before us, the canopy of branches overhead creating a natural shelter while still leaving enough sky visible to see the stars beginning to emerge. Cass let out a low whistle.

“Okay, I’ll admit it,” he said, dropping the pack he’d been carrying. “This place is pretty incredible. Every time I come here, it seems even more beautiful than before.”

“Thanks,” I replied, unable to suppress my smile. “I’m glad you like it.” I dropped my bag on the ground, stooping down to pull it open. “Want to help me put the tarp down so we don’t get soaked?”