AllFreeNovel
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I just had the worst year of my life, and now, on January 1st, my gorgeous grumpy mountain man with a heart of gold is telling me he’s in love with me. It doesn’t feel real.
“I…” I whisper. “I…I love you too, Nash. I know it’s nuts, but I feel the same way. I don’t want to leave you. I want to stay here. I want to be with you.”
Nash’s permanent scowl melts into a grin that takes my breath away. I’ve never seen him look so happy, and my heart is ready to burst as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to him. I melt against his thick chest, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. It feels so right. Like this is where I’m meant to be—wrapped up in Nash’s arms.
“My perfect Ava,” he says, his voice low against my ear. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
His Ava.
His.
This year only just started, but it’s already the best year ever.
10
Nash
“Oh my God,” Ava mutters from beside me, tears streaming down her face. She’s holding a handful of Hershey's Kisses in one hand while her other hand is gripping my knee tightly. “Oh my God.”
I try to hold back a laugh at her adorable reaction. We’re sitting on the couch in the living room, and on the screen in front of us, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are kissing as Auld Lang Syne plays in the background. It’s the third time Ava has watched When Harry Met Sally this week, and she’s always bawling by the time the credits roll.
“I love this movie so much,” she says, her voice shaking with emotion.
“I can tell.”
She grins at me, wiping away her tears. “It’s just so beautiful. He loves her so much.”
I grunt, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her onto my lap. “I love you more, sugar.”
Ava giggles, pressing her plump lips against my cheek. “I love you too.”
It still gives me a thrill of pleasure to hear her say it. We’ve been living together for a month now, and every day is better than the last. Ava moved out of her apartment and I moved out of the mansion. I took the vacation cabin off Airbnb, and now this place is our home. It might be only a fraction of the size, but this place feels like a fresh start. It’s cozy and comfortable and there’s plenty of room for me and Ava. And Dinah, of course.
We’ve spent most of this past month planning and researching for the cancer retreat. I told Ava she didn’t need to help, but she is just as passionate about this project as I am. We’ve decided to call it the Marion Retreat, after my mom, and I’ve already drafted a proposal to the Crave County Cancer Trust. I’ve become one of their biggest donors over the last ten years, and I’m hoping they will be interested in collaborating with me. With their backing and influence, I know we can make this retreat something really special. It feels good to be making myself useful. I’m finally doing something to help people. For years, I’ve been too busy losing myself in self-pity to make a difference, but I’m going to right that wrong now. With Ava by my side, anything is possible.
“Did you check the mailbox today?” Ava murmurs, her head resting against my shoulder.
That question is the only stain on my happiness. Lincoln never replied to my letter. I didn’t think he would, but it’s been a month now, and as the days pass, I’m becoming more and more certain that I’m never going to hear from him again. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. But I let him down badly, and if he doesn’t want to talk, then I can’t blame him.
“I checked,” I say. “Still nothing.”
Ava sighs. “Well, at least you tried, Nash.”
I make a noise of agreement, pushing down the hurt in my chest. “You’re right. It is what it is. As long as I’ve got you, baby. That’s all that matters.”
My girl smiles, her blue eyes lighting up. It still shocks me sometimes how damn beautiful she is. I run a hand through her chestnut-brown hair, curling the tresses around my fingers as I lean in to kiss her. My heart thuds as I suck her plump bottom lip into my mouth, tasting her sweet strawberry ChapStick. She tastes like home, like happiness, and I part her plump lips with my tongue, filling her warm mouth. She moans softly, adjusting herself so that she’s straddling me, her curvy body wrapped around mine.
Fuck, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.
Every time we kiss, it’s like the first time—my heart stutters, my cock hardens, and my whole body fills with red-hot desire, fierce and pulsing. I’m already reaching for her sweater, pulling it up over her head before urgently unclipping her bra, feasting my eyes on her juicy, rounded tits as they spring free. I grope her breasts, rubbing the pads of my thumbs against her pebbled nipples, making her shudder for me. Ava whimpers, grinding herself against my lap as I play with the sensitive buds, brushing feathery kisses down her neck.
“Please,” she moans, rocking her hips against my erection. “No more teasing. I want you, Nash.”
With a hoarse grunt, I reach down between us to unzip my jeans, pushing them down until they’re around my ankles. My boxers follow until my cock springs free, standing to attention between us. Ava grabs it, stroking it hungrily with both hands, making me groan.
“I thought you said no teasing,” I say.
Ava giggles, getting off my lap so she can pull off her pants and underwear. My mouth goes dry once she’s naked in front of me, those thick curves making my cock swell until it aches.
