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He crashed his mouth against mine, his tongue demanding entrance. I gripped his biceps as I lost myself in his kiss, my breath coming out in pants when he finally lifted his head. I was giving serious thought to suggesting we forget about those delicious-smelling crepes when he nudged me toward the small table and rumbled, “Sit down, my beauty. I already have everything ready, including a hot chocolate for you.”
My eyes widened when I spotted the steaming mug in front of one of the two chairs. “I thought you said you didn’t have the stuff to make it?”
“That was last night.” He finished squeezing lemon and sprinkling sugar onto the crepes and brought our plates over. “I ran out to the store this morning and got some.”
“Thank you.” Before sitting, I brushed my lips against his jaw, enjoying the bristly feel of his short beard. “You better be careful, though, or you’re going to spoil me.”
“Good.” He winked at me as he got settled in the chair across from me, stretching his legs out so they bracketed mine. “That’s what I’m aiming for.”
After we devoured breakfast—he’d been right about us working up an appetite—we cleaned the dishes together. It felt so meaningful to be standing at the sink side by side doing such a mundane task. When we were done, I rubbed my hands up and down my arms with a little shiver.
“Are you cold?” His gaze darted toward the fireplace with a grimace. “I should have chopped more wood before I went to the store this morning. Although I enjoy a good fire, I don’t need it for warmth as much since I run so hot with all the electricity coursing through my veins.”
“I can just steal a pair of your socks or something.” I wiggled my bare toes. “As long as my feet are warm, the rest of me will be too.”
“I’ll grab you a pair, but I can do a fuck of a lot better than that,” he growled.
He brought me a pair of sweatpants along with the socks. While I tugged them on and rolled down the waist so they fit a little better, he shoved his feet into a pair of boots and strode outside. The flats I’d worn with my dress weren’t great for stomping around in the wilderness—or wearing with his thick socks—but they were all that I had, and I didn’t want to miss the chance to watch him work up a sweat while wielding an axe.
Seeing the muscles in his back and biceps bunching as he swung the tool up before slicing it through a log was more than worth looking ridiculous as I joined him outside. Covering his broad chest would be a shame when I enjoyed the view so much, but I had to ask, “Is it safe to chop wood without a shirt?”
“I’ve done it plenty of times without getting hurt.” He flashed me a sheepish grin. “I tend to wear as little clothing as possible when I’m home since I have to cover as much of my skin as possible when I’m around people.”
I couldn’t imagine what the past two decades had been like for him, but I was so grateful that he didn’t have to worry about being careful around me. “I’m definitely not going to complain when I’m the one who benefits from you walking around like that.”
His bright blue eyes burned with desire as he flashed me a smirk. Then he chopped a couple more logs and stacked the wood in his arms to carry it inside. I held the door open for him and followed him into the cabin, getting comfy on the couch while he tossed a few logs into the fireplace. When he cast me a worried look after using a spark of electricity to start a fire, I beamed a reassuring smile his way and patted the cushion next to me. “Don’t worry. I’m impressed, not scared.”
“You getting lost in the woods and stumbling upon my cabin is the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me.” He flung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
11
Silas
“Idon’t like this,” I growled as I parked my Jeep in a spot in front of the resort entrance. I hated that we were here rather than staying in our little bubble at the cabin.
Juniper sighed and patted the hand I was resting on her thigh. “I’ll have to deal with this sooner or later, so I might as well get it over with now.”
I knew she was right. It had been two days since I brought Juniper home. The chances of her parents still believing their assumption that she was with that little shit, James, was steadily dropping.
But the time we’d spent together had been like something in a dream. In my wildest fantasies, I couldn’t have thought up anyone more perfect for me than my beauty. Not only was she amazing in bed but she was also funny, smart as a whip, and had a big heart.
Juniper had cemented her place in my life even more when my sister dropped by. As much as I’d hated the interruption, it had been worth it to see Juniper’s delight. And it was the first time I’d seen Maggie relax around anyone but me in two decades. She’d been taken aback when Juniper outright asked about her skin and magic in a way that showed my girl was truly interested as a friend trying to get to know another and not as someone trying to pry into the life and mind of a freak.
When Juniper asked Maggie to show her a few spells, I finally called a halt to their shenanigans. I wanted to be alone with my girl.
Juniper complained for about five seconds until she saw the hungry, desperate look in my eyes. Then she turned an adorable shade of crimson and escorted my sister to the door. Juniper gave her a jaunty wave right before she slammed it shut and climbed me like a tree.
“I won’t be long,” Juniper piped up, pulling me from my daydreams about her sexy body and all the things I’d done—and still wanted to do—to her.
“I’m coming with you,” I told Juniper firmly. I didn’t know her parents and therefore had no clue how they would react to this situation. From the things she had said, they were extremely controlling—as evidenced by the stunt they pulled with that asshole. She hadn’t indicated that they would hurt her, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
Juniper looked as though she might argue but obviously realized from my expression that I wasn’t going to budge. “Okay. Just promise to let me handle it.”
I snorted and grabbed her hand to place a kiss on the back. “I will promise you no such thing. I will always protect you, no matter what.”
Juniper’s face turned soft, and she leaned across the car to brush a soft kiss over my lips. “Let’s go.”
