Chapter 9
Eden
The scent of sugar and vanilla wraps around me as I step behind the bakery counter, wiping my hands on the flour-dusted apron tied around my waist. Silas leans against the far end, arms crossed, watching me with that lazy, cocky grin that’s been driving me insane all morning.
“You know,” he drawls, eyes locked on me like I’m the last pastry in the case, “I could watch you knead dough all day.”
I roll my eyes but can’t stop the heat crawling up my neck. “You’re supposed to be here to help, not distract me.”
“Oh, I’m helping. Just… supervising,” he teases, pushing off the counter and sauntering closer. His hand brushes against my hip as he passes, lingering just a second longer than necessary.
“Supervising, huh? More like eyeing the merchandise.” I grin, leaning into him as he wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me closer.
He dips his head to press his lips to the shell of my ear, his breath warm and slow. “Guilty. But in my defence, the merchandise is very irresistible.”
I laugh softly, tilting my head so his mouth grazes the sensitive spot below my jaw. His beard scrapes gently against my skin, sending a shiver rolling down my spine.
“Silas,” I whisper, pushing at his chest half-heartedly. “We’re at work.”
“Doesn’t matter.” His lips brush mine in a teasing kiss, barely there but enough to make my toes curl. “I’m still going to taste you later.”
Heat pools low in my belly, and I pull away with a breathless smile. “You’re impossible.”
“Impossibly in love with you,” he murmurs, and just like that, I’m melting all over again.
The bell above the bakery door chimes, and I step out of Silas’s grasp just as my brother Luke walks in. He pauses, squinting at us with suspicion before grinning.
“Wow. You two are disgusting,” Luke jokes, shaking his head as he approaches the counter. I stick my tongue out at him, but Silas just laughs, draping his arm around my shoulders, keeping me close.
“You’re just jealous,” Silas fires back, and Luke snorts.
“Maybe. But I’ll give you this—you make her happy. I can see it.” Luke extends his hand, and Silas takes it without hesitation, shaking firmly.
“Thanks, man,” Silas replies, sincerity softening his voice.
Luke releases his grip and points at us both. “You hurt her, and I’ll break your legs.”
Silas grins, pulling me even closer. “I’d let you. But that’s not going to happen. I’m keeping her for good.”
I roll my eyes but can’t stop the blush creeping across my cheeks. Luke just chuckles, grabbing a bag of muffins from the display case.
“Alright, lovebirds. I’m out of here before I lose my appetite.”
The door swings shut behind him, and Silas wastes no time, turning me in his arms. His gaze is soft but heated, locking with mine like I’m the only thing that exists.
“I meant what I said,” Silas murmurs, pressing his forehead against mine. “I’m keeping you.”
I smile, threading my fingers through his hair. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
His kiss tastes like sugar and promises, and for the first time, I know this—us—is forever.
“Can we go home?” I murmur, trailing my fingers down his chest, feeling the tension coiled beneath his skin. “There’s something I desperately want to try.”
Silas’s gaze darkens instantly, his eyes flashing with heat. One brow arches slowly. “Oh? Care to elaborate, sweetheart?”
I press up on my toes, brushing my lips over his ear. “Not here. I need you all to myself.”
His growl is low and dangerous, vibrating against my skin. “Say no more.”
A few hours later, we’re tangled up in his cabin, the fire crackling in the background, but all I can focus on is him—naked, stretched out on the bed, his cock already thick and hard as I kneel between his legs.
“You know,” he rasps, dragging his knuckles along my jaw, “I always thought those blueberry scones you make were the best sight in the world. But you, on your knees in front of me like this? A fucking sight to behold.”
I smirk, trailing my fingertips along his thighs, watching them tense beneath my touch. “Better than scones?”
“Infinitely.” His voice is rough, thick with need. “But if you keep teasing me like that, sweetheart, you might not make it to dessert.”
I glance up at him through my lashes, heart pounding as I lean forward, pressing soft kisses along the length of his cock, feeling it twitch beneath my lips. His hands slide into my hair, guiding me gently, but there’s a hunger behind his grip that makes my pulse race.
“I’m just getting started,” I whisper, flicking my tongue along the underside of his shaft, savoring the low groan that rumbles deep in his chest. “I want to take my time.”
“Take all the time you need,” he growls, tightening his hold, “but don’t expect me to hold back when it’s my turn.”
I hum against him, letting my lips part as I trail lower, taking him inch by inch, tasting every bit of him like he’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever had. And judging by the way he moans my name, I know he’s thinking the same about me.
I slide my tongue around the thick head, circling slowly, teasing him with featherlight flicks. His grip tightens in my hair, and I can feel the tension rippling through his thighs, his hips shifting like he’s barely holding himself back.
“Fuck, Eden.” His voice breaks, raw and needy. “You’re killing me.”
I take him deeper, hollowing my cheeks as I suck, letting him feel the heat of my mouth wrap around him. His cock twitches against my tongue, and I moan softly, letting the vibration sink into his skin.
His head falls back against the pillows, but his eyes stay locked on me, dark and possessive. “Look at you,” he breathes, threading his fingers tighter in my hair. “So pretty with your mouth full of me.”
I hum in response, dragging my lips up and down his length, slow and deliberate, savoring the taste of him. I let him slide out just enough to flick my tongue over the tip, swirling around it before sinking back down, taking him deeper, inch by inch, until I feel him at the back of my throat.
“God, Eden,” he groans, bucking his hips slightly. “You’re perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect.”
I grip his thighs, holding him steady as I work him, taking my time, drawing him closer to the edge with every stroke of my tongue and every hollowed pull of my lips. His breathing grows ragged, and I know he’s close—so close.
“Sweetheart,” he grits out, tugging at my hair gently. “If you don’t stop now, I’m going to come down your throat.”
I pull back just enough to smirk up at him, licking the bead of precum off the tip. “Maybe that’s exactly what I want.”
His eyes flash dangerously, and he grips my jaw, dragging me up until our mouths crash together in a searing kiss. His cock presses against my stomach, hard and throbbing between us.
“You keep talking like that, Eden,” he growls, pulling me to my feet with one swift motion, “and I’m not going to be gentle.”
I grin, wrapping my arms around his neck as he lifts me effortlessly, my legs locking tight around his waist. His hands grip the back of my thighs, rough and possessive, and I can feel every inch of him pressed against me.
But instead of the bed, he lowers me slowly until my feet touch the floor. I blink up at him, confused, breathless.
“Turn around,” he growls, voice dark and thick with desire. “Hands on the bed.”
I shiver, but I obey, turning to press my palms against the mattress, arching my back just enough to give him the view he wants.
“Fuck,” Silas groans behind me, his big hands sliding down my hips, spreading me wider. “Look at that. Your pussy’s already dripping for me.”
I bite my lip, rocking back slightly, desperate for him to touch me where I need it most. His fingers glide over my slick heat, teasing me until I’m trembling.
“You’re soaked,” he murmurs, his thumb circling my clit lazily. “Just from getting me off?”
I moan softly, pushing back against his hand. “I could come right now.”
“Not yet,” he growls, withdrawing his hand. I whimper at the loss, but before I can protest, I feel him line up behind me. One hard thrust and he buries himself to the hilt, filling me so deep I gasp his name.
“Silas—”
“Fuck, you’re tight,” he grits out, gripping my hips like he’s holding on for dear life. “You take me so good, baby.”
I drop my head, eyes fluttering shut as he pounds into me relentlessly, the sound of our bodies slapping together echoing through the cabin. I arch further, one hand leaving the bed to pinch my nipples, rolling the sensitive peaks between my fingers as his cock drives me higher.
“Harder,” I gasp, twisting the soft bud until pleasure shocks through me. “Silas—fuck—harder.”
A growl rips from his throat, and he slams into me with enough force to make the bed creak beneath my hands. His grip tightens, pulling me flush against him with each brutal thrust, and I can feel every ridge, every thick inch stretching me to the limit.
I’m spiraling, falling apart beneath him, and he knows it. One hand slips between my legs, finding my clit and rubbing tight circles that make my legs shake.
“You’re close,” he growls, his breath hot against the back of my neck. “I can feel it. Come for me, Eden. Now.”
I break apart with a cry, shuddering as the orgasm crashes over me, pulling him deeper as my walls clench around him. Silas doesn’t stop, doesn’t slow—he rides me through it, cursing under his breath as he chases his own release.
His body stiffens behind me, and with one final thrust, he groans my name, emptying himself inside me as his lips graze the curve of my shoulder.
For a long moment, we stay like that, tangled and breathless, the only sound in the room our ragged breathing. Then, Silas pulls me upright, wrapping his arms around me from behind, his cock still buried deep. His lips press against my ear, voice soft but firm.
“I need you here, Eden,” he whispers, rocking his hips gently, as if to remind me exactly how good we fit. “I need you in this cabin. With me. Every day.”
I blink, still lost in the haze of pleasure. “You can’t make me.” I tease to ruffle his feathers.
His teeth graze my neck, and I feel his smirk against my skin. “Yes, I can.”
I open my mouth to argue, but his hand grips my chin, tilting my face until his lips meet mine in a possessive kiss that steals the breath from my lungs. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I lean into him, my smile curling against his mouth. “I guess I’m moving in, then.”
Silas lifts me effortlessly, carrying me back to the bed without breaking our kiss. His lips move slowly over mine, softer now, like he’s savoring every second. When my back hits the mattress, he hovers above me, his gaze tracing my face as if memorizing it.
“You’re everything to me,” he murmurs, brushing my hair back from my face. His thumb glides over my cheek, and I nuzzle into his palm, heart swelling with the tenderness in his eyes. “You know that, right?”
I nod, threading my fingers through his hair. “I know.”
He presses his forehead to mine, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. His warmth surrounds me, and I melt into him, letting my head rest in the crook of his neck.
For a long moment, we stay like that—wrapped up in each other, listening to the crackling fire and the steady rhythm of his heart.
Then, I feel him shift. His arm stretches toward the bedside table, and I peek up just in time to see him pull open the drawer.
“What are you doing?” I ask softly, propping myself up on my elbows.
Silas doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulls out a small black box, turning it over in his palm for a moment before his gaze locks with mine.
“I’ve had this for a while,” he admits, voice low and thick with emotion. “I was just waiting for the right time.”
My breath catches as he flips the box open, revealing a simple but stunning diamond ring that glimmers in the firelight.
“Eden,” he says, taking my hand in his, his thumb grazing over my knuckles. “I want you. Every day. Forever. Move in with me, marry me… be mine in every way.”
Tears blur my vision, and I bite my lip, trying to keep from crying. “You’re serious?”
He chuckles, leaning down to kiss me softly. “Dead serious.”
I laugh breathlessly, throwing my arms around his neck. “Yes. Of course, yes.”
His lips crash into mine, and he slips the ring onto my finger, holding my hand up between us as if sealing the moment.
“You were already mine,” he whispers against my lips. “This just makes it official.”
I smile, pressing into him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
We sink deeper into the sheets, wrapped in each other, as the fire flickers beside us, warming the room—and every part of me.