AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We get off the freeway, grab dinner at a small diner, and head back on the road. She puts on an audiobook of a murder mystery she has been wanting to listen to and I’m grateful for the distraction. The whole drive I have been fantasizing about what life will look like years from now with her, taking trips like this with our kids or just the two of us. If I’m not careful, I’ll scare her away. Andrew’s right, I need to slow down.
A couple hours later, we arrive at the reception building at the resort. I grab her rolling suitcase and sling my duffle over my shoulder. She tries to take the suitcase from me. “Absolutely not, E,” I insist, shaking my head. Once inside, we head to the check-in area. When it’s our turn, I give the receptionist my name on the reservation.
“Ah yes, I have it here. Two bedroom cabin.” She types for longer than I would expect. “Unfortunately, it seems that we overbooked this weekend, but I can offer you an upgrade to one of our lakeside cabins that are right on the water.”
“Oh, sure, that would be great. Thank you,” I tell her, but then remember from when I looked it up earlier this week that the lakeside cabins only have one bedroom. Clearing my throat, I ask, “Sorry, I just want to confirm…we’ll still have two bedrooms?”
She shakes her head. “No, but the couch in the living room has a sofa bed.”
“Ok, that’ll work.” I pull out my card.
Emma interjects, “Yes, that’s totally fine. I’ll take the couch.”The fuck you are.
“Nice try, beautiful, but you’ll be taking the couch when hell freezes over.”
The receptionist is visibly uncomfortable, but Emma giggles, shaking her head. “Oh my gosh, I should have seen this coming! Classic.”
I frown down at her. “What?”
“Oh, come on, you know…the one-bed trope.” The receptionist laughs with Emma, but I have no idea why. “Dylan, I know you didn’t plan this, but I have read this in no less than fifty books.” She’s still laughing when the receptionist hands my card back. I sign the paperwork and get keys, still a little lost about this inside joke she has with a stranger.
We walk along a paved trail for about five minutes before we reach the cabin. Once inside, I set our bags near the front door, and take her hand to lead her to the back porch that has an amazing view of the lake. She wraps her arms around my middle and hugs me tightly while looking out on the water. I put my arms around her in response and kiss the top of her head. “This is incredible, I could live here,” she says snuggling closer.I could live here with you, Emma.
“Yeah. Incredible,” I echo, looking at her, not the lake.
I don’t want to let her go, but it’s getting cold, so I release one of my arms and use the other to guide her inside to get warm. We close the door, and I grab my duffel bag to pull out a bottle of wine and a small bag. She looks curiously at me. “What’s in there?”
I take out two e-readers. I know she has one, but these two are both linked to my account. “One for you and one for me. I already loaded a few books on there.”
Her eyes light up, in appreciation and disbelief. “Wait,what?I don’t understand, you know I have one, I even brought it!”
Shrugging, I unwrap one of them and power it on before handing it to her. “I know, but you are an especially difficult woman to buy for. This way, we can read the same books, and I’ll be able to see what you highlight.” I playfully wiggle my brow at her, which makes her laugh.
She looks through the library on it, and has no doubt found the series she bought a physical copy of at the bookstore last weekend and a few new releases from authors I know she loves. “This is”—she gestures with the e-reader in her hand to the cabin around us—“it’s too much!” Her smile is wide and there’s a twinkle in her eyes.
I move closer and wrap my hands around her waist, bringing her body flush with mine. Her hands travel up my arms to my neck. I reach behind me to take the e-reader out of her hand that she doesn’t want to let go of, and set it on the table. My hand glides into her hair as I bring her in to kiss me. It’s the sweet and loving kiss I remember from when we were younger—safe and comfortable. Our tongues explore each other’s mouths, feeling as if no time has passed. I guide her exactly where I want to deepen the kiss.I want more of the Emma from the other night.My other hand moves up her side, still over her hoodie, grazing the underside of her breast. I pull her back in one swift motion to abruptly end it. “Emma,” I growl. “Are you not wearing a bra?”
Chapter seventeen
Emma
I’mprettysurehejust growled at me—and no, I am not wearing a bra. Honestly, it was a comfort thing! I didn’t want to be in the car with an underwire poking me for hours. It’s bad enough I had to wear jeans! I smile up at him, his gaze burning me. “No, why would I?”
He runs his hands down my side and under my sweatshirt, slowly moving his fingers up until he grazes my peaked nipples. It causes my entire body to light up. “Fuck”—his voice has a darkness to it—“the whole ride here, I could have been touching you like this?”
I laugh. “I mean, it might not have worked logistically, you driving and all. But yes, hypothetically, you could have had your hands under my shirt and would have found I wasn’t wearing a bra.” I shrug as if it is no big deal, but I knew damn well I was taking a risk by going without. “I wanted to be comfortable.”
"Smart ass." Dylan pinches one of my nipples, and I suck in a breath. Quicker than I can process, he removes his hands, lowers his body and hoists me up and over his shoulder.
“Hey, put me down,” I playfully swat his back as he takes me into the other room.
He tosses me onto the bed and towers over me placing one hand on either side.I am pretty sure caging me in is a favorite pastime of his now.He licks his lips. “Take off the sweatshirt.” It isn’t a question, he demands it. The control and command in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. I do as he asks, pulling it over my head, then shaking my hair out once it’s off. He isn’t touching me yet, but I can feel him everywhere. His hands move to my thighs, he squeezes once, then hooks his hands behind my knees and pulls up, forcing my back onto the bed. I am still almost straddling him with my legs. I may be topless, but I feel like I’m wearing too many clothes. “I want to see you, baby.”And…now I’m wet.
I’m so self-conscious about my body—especially after three kids—but when he looks at me like this with so much hunger in his eyes, all negative thoughts leave me. I can’t find my words, so I just nod. His hands move to the button of my pants, slowly unzips them, and slides my jeans and panties down my legs. He’s on his knees and places a kiss on the inside of my thigh. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are? So fucking beautiful…Emma, you weren’t waxed when I saw you a few days ago.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Surprise!” A rumble comes from his chest, then he stands up to leave the room. I prop myself onto my elbows. “Hey! Excuse me,Mr. Alexander, but where do you think you’re going? You can’t just strip me down, tell me I’m pretty, then walk out!” Yes, I called him that with the sole purpose of getting his attention.
He shakes his head and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “I’ll be right back, just need to grab my bag.”
