Going Au Naturale at Hallow’s Cove (Hallow’s Cove)

24. Sydney

Chapter twenty-four

Sydney

I zipped my suitcase before making sure I wasn’t leaving anything behind. After what happened with Preston, I realized I’d done all I could here. Staying would only make everything worse.

So I planned to go over to the inn and tell Matilda I was going back early. I was sure she would find another way to make it to the city—if she even wanted to, that is. I hadn’t really checked on her and on her dating situation with Brooks’s grandfather.

Checking the time, I knew I should get going. Part of me thought about going to get the camera from Brooks’s house before I left, but it was broken anyway, and facing him just didn’t feel like an option. The hurt on his face was seared into my brain, and I couldn’t see it again. I had to go.

I was stacking my backpack on top of my roller when there was a knock at the door. It was still plenty early, so it shouldn’t be housekeeping.

As I opened it, my mouth fell open.

Brooks looked perfect, his blond curls shining on his head and his worn hat in his hand. He looked tired, but his eyes were no longer sad—there was a light in them today, and it looked good with the slight crinkle in the corner from how much he smiled.

“Hi,” he said. “Can I come in?”

I blinked a few times, trying to figure out what was happening. I had made peace with the fact that I wouldn’t ever see him again, but here he was.

“I’m actually on my way out,” I replied quietly, no longer able to meet his eyes. If he wanted to say it was over in person, that was fine. I would take it.

I just couldn’t look at him as he did.

“It’s important.”

Even now, I couldn’t say no to him. I swung the door open and gestured for him to come in. His large body passed me, and I caught a whiff of that clean, earthy smell he always had.

He sat on the bed, his legs stretched out in front of him and his hooves crossed at the ankles. “These rooms are nice,” he commented.

“They are.”

The room plunged into an uncomfortable silence. I stood there, my arms crossed, just waiting for the rejection I knew was coming.

“The farm passed,” he finally said.

I knew it would, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this fast. They hadn’t even requested the remaining samples, but maybe they didn’t need them all.

“That’s good.”

Brooks stood, and I watched everything around me darken as he towered over me. “You submitted the correct results. The ones that would get us approved.”

“And?” I asked.

His hand came under my chin and tilted it up so I would meet his eyes. Just looking at him almost caused tears to begin flowing.

“And you didn’t think to tell me that last night?”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “I just didn’t think it was relevant. I had still thought about betraying you. Ruining the life you built for your entire family.”

“But you didn’t,” he replied easily. “You didn’t even when you knew what he could do to you. That is so incredibly brave, and I don’t know if I would have made the same decision in your shoes.”

I scoffed. “Of course you would. You wouldn’t have entertained him in the first place.”

“I’m not as good as you think I am. But it doesn’t matter; you did the right thing. And even if you hadn’t, it wouldn’t have mattered, because you have become everything to me. Fuck the certification. You’re the one thing I can’t live without.”

My expression turned shocked. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I don’t care. I don’t give a shit about any of it. I care about you . Sydney Jacobs, I think I’ve been in love with you since the day I saw you on the side of the road, and I’d love nothing more than to make you mine.”

I felt tears run freely down my face. “Really?”

He brought me forward, kissing the top of my forehead. My eyes fluttered closed, savoring the touch. “Really. I love you, and there’s nothing that’s going to change that. And we’ll fight Preston together. Whatever he throws at you, he throws at us .”

I smiled through the tears. “He won’t be bothering me again. Or you. Or the farm. Turns out keeping old photos comes in handy.” He gave me an inquisitive look, but I just shook my head. I’d tell him eventually. “All that matters is that I love you too,” I managed. “I don’t know when it happened or how, but you and this town have changed something in me, and I couldn’t see myself going back to who I was before. I want more out of life, so much more, and I want it with you.”

He pulled me close, kissing me hard, as if we’d been apart for years. I wrapped my hands around his neck, and he put his around my thighs, lifting me easily as I tightened my thighs around his middle, needing to feel close to him.

I never wanted to be far from him again.

His other hand found my hair, running his fingers through it and tugging it just the smallest bit. He began kissing down my neck, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. I moaned loudly, just glad to be back in his arms.

“Gods, you’re divine,” he mumbled between kisses. “I have no idea how I got so lucky.”

He took us to the bed and laid us down, draping himself over me. I pulled him in, needing to feel him fully. “I’m the one who got lucky. You’re the one for me.”

We all but tore each other’s clothes off. There was no room for gentle or slow; there was only need, one that had been filling the room since he entered and had finally exploded, leaving only us.

“I need to be inside this pussy so bad,” he said. “But I need to taste you first.”

He sank down to his knees and kissed my clit once before fully tongue-fucking me. Brooks consumed me like he needed me to live, and I relished every second.

My entire body shivered, and I grabbed his horns to steady myself. He moaned as I did. I used them to shift him slightly up, where I was the most sensitive, and he knew exactly what I needed. His tongue was slightly rougher than a human’s, so when he circled my clit, it felt that much better.

“I love when you’re like this,” he said, his words vibrating against my already sensitive clit. “So needy for me. Soaked because I know how to make you feel good.”

“Yes,” I cried. “You’re so good! Don’t stop! I’m gonna come.”

He continued until I found my release, and when I did, he shoved his fingers inside me, filling me in a way I wasn’t expecting and fucking me hard.

It felt like one orgasm rolled into another as his fingers curved slightly to hit the perfect spot inside.

“Brooks, I think I’m…” I couldn’t even finish. I came harder than I ever had and watched as a gush of liquid squirted from me and drenched his face, but he never stopped. He simply continued to lap up my juices until I was sated.

I was boneless when he pulled away and crawled up my body, kissing up my stomach, over each boob, before landing face to face in front of me.

“That was really hot,” he said. “I almost came.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t. I’m not done with you.”

I grabbed his cock and lined it up with my entrance. As soon as he was there, he pushed in. He tried to start slow, but I wasn’t having that today. I couldn’t. I needed him too much.

“Fuck me the way you want to.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he replied, though I could tell he was just a moment away from snapping.

“You won’t. I need to feel you.”

“Whatever you need.”

He gave me a final sweet kiss before readjusting us so my hips were tilted up and he leaned back on his calves a bit. Brooks sank into me in one swift, fluid motion and didn’t give me any time to adjust before pulling out and pushing back in, just like I asked.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head as he fucked me with abandon, chasing his own pleasure. It was so intense, I could feel my orgasm build once again.

“I’m so full.” I was almost babbling at this point.

“I know,” he pushed on my lower stomach, and everything became more sensitive. “I can see where my cock is right here, and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I glanced down and realized he was right. At this angle, I could see exactly where it was, and it was really fucking hot.

His fingers worked down against my clit, circling it at just the perfect pace, in sync with me as always.

“Brooks, I love you,” I cried as I fell into oblivion.

“Fuck, I—” he stuttered as I felt his knot fill me and his cum start flowing. He kept thrusting into me with small, jerky movements until he was finished.

When he collapsed, he was careful not to fall on me and turned me sideways. I curled against him, loving the feel of us still connected. There was something so intimate about being knotted that I found hard to describe but was so pleasurable.

He dropped a kiss on my forehead as his breathing returned to normal. “I meant to say I love you too, but hearing those words from you just sent me into the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had.”

I smirked. “Good to know. I’ll be sure to use that when I’m making you hold back.”

He laughed and kissed me hard. “I look forward to that.” Brooks looked around. “What time is checkout?”

“Not for a couple more hours.”

His smile was devious then. “Good, because we’re far from done.”