Chapter 83
Tilda
With Ethan’s taste on my tongue and his heaving body standing at the foot of the bed, I smile.
His body twitches as he releases his cock. His super pretty cock.
“That was… wow.” I try to catch my breath, wishing I could take a photo of this moment.
Ethan shirtless, jeans open and shoved down his hips, still-hard cock exposed.
He really is something.
Ethan blinks. Slowly. And I snicker.
“You okay, Ranger?”
He nods and swallows.
I snicker again.
Then a shiver dances across my skin, reminding me I’m even more naked. And no longer clean.
“One second.” Ethan turns toward the door, his shoulders shifting as he adjusts himself back into his jeans.
And before I can stop him, he’s opening the door and walking outside.
“Ethan!” I squeak and scramble up from the bed. “The mountain lion!”
I catch myself on the doorway, not wanting to go outside.
“Stay there,” he calls back as he picks up the second washcloth and pumps clean water onto it.
Clean, freezing water.
Ethan squeezes the cloth, then turns and strides back toward me.
His eyes are locked on my body, not showing any concern for the woods around us.
Then I remember my pajamas are still sitting on a stump.
I hold my hand out for the cloth as he approaches. “Can you grab my clothes too?”
I feel like a giant chicken. I know I’ll have to go outside to get to the outhouse. But I’m not ready yet.
And I won’t do it alone.
I look around at the trees and bite my lip as I use the cloth to clean up the mess Ethan left all over me.
The trees look like the same ones that are on my property. Same ones in the state park.
Same habitat. Same climate.
“Um.” I’m afraid I already know the answer, but I decide to confirm. “Are there mountain lions where we live too?”
Ethan picks up my clothes and shakes them out as he walks back. “Yes. But it’s rare to see them.”
I step back so Ethan can enter the cabin. “Yes? Like for sure?”
He shuts the door behind him, then drops my pajamas onto the bed. “It’s estimated that there are three to five thousand mountain lions in the state of Colorado.”
My mouth drops open. “What?”
“But.” He turns the lantern on, filling the cabin with a warm glow. “They generally avoid humans. So even though they’re around, they’re rarely spotted.”
With Ethan’s back to me, I use a clean spot of the washcloth and quickly drag it between my legs.
Wrappers crinkle as Ethan grabs a pair of granola bars.
“So what’s with this one, then?” I pick up my pants and pull them on. “It doesn’t seem to be avoiding humans.”
Ethan grunts. “Hopefully he will now.”
“He?” I tug my shirt on.
Ethan lifts a shoulder. “I think that’s the same one from the river. His actions make him seem young, but he’s on the bigger side, so I’m guessing male.”
“But you think you scared him away?”
Ethan hands me one of the bars. “His behavior wasn’t aggressive. I think he just wanted to see what we were up to. But now he knows we’re noisy and scary, so I don’t think we’ll see him again.”
I take the bar and bite into it as Ethan changes his jeans for pajama pants.
“Ethan?”
He grabs the lamp and carries it to the bed. “Yeah?”
I lower the wrapper to my side. “Uncle Jack left me two million dollars.”
Ethan lifts a brow.
“I, um, I had no idea. I thought the twenty thousand he left me was all of his savings. And even that amount… It felt unreal. But two…” I blow out a breath.
“That’s why we—I—had to get married. He put it in the will.
That I only got the money if I was married by my thirtieth birthday.
And if I didn’t… He said if I didn’t get married, it would all go to them.
Which is bonkers. Because he hates them.
I hate them. And the money would just go to, I don’t know, a random stranger.
Or disappear altogether. I never would’ve asked.
Or pretended like that wasn’t the plan already.
I just… I know Uncle Jack would roll in his grave if they got his money.
” I shift on my feet, feeling so uncomfortable and wishing I’d already told him about all of this.
“Tilda.”
“I’m not greedy.” I rush the words out. “I’ll share the money with you. Whatever’s fair. And I’m going to get a job. I’ve started looking. I just… I—”
“Matilda.” I stop fidgeting and meet Ethan’s gaze. “I get it.” I open my mouth, but he lifts his brow again, so I stay quiet. “I get it, okay. I wouldn’t give those people a nickel if I found one on the floor.”
My shoulder sag. “They’re the worst.”
Ethan nods. “And I don’t need your money.”
“But—”
“I won’t take any of your money, Tilda.”
I lift my hands, then let them drop back to my sides, the empty wrapper crinkling with the motion.
I’ll find a way to give Ethan some of the money later.
“I just don’t understand why? Like, why did Uncle Jack do this?
” I take a breath and finally admit what we both must know by now.
The hired pilot and driver. The will. The nearest wedding chapel expecting us… “Why would he force me to marry you?”