Chapter 176
Ethan
The last piece of the stone falls away from my heart as it beats almost painfully in my chest.
I still love you.
I believe you.
“Say it again.” My demand is raw.
Tilda smiles through her tears.
And it’s nothing like the day we met.
Her smile is real.
Her hope. Her happiness. Her love.
It’s all fucking real.
“Husband.”
I reach out and wrap my arms around her, dragging her body into mine.
My cheek is against her stomach. And I hold her tight.
I hold my wife tight.
She lets out a laugh. And I can feel it travel through her body.
And that’s it.
I shift my hold on her, and I stand, Tilda slung over my shoulder.
She lets out a shriek of surprise and presses her hands into my lower back. “Ethan.”
I run my palm up the back of her thigh, loving the feel of her, needing the weight of her.
“Ethan Grant.” She tries to sound stern, but I nuzzle my cheek against her hip and hear her sigh.
I slide my hand farther up her thigh and find the tiny shorts she has on under her dress.
I grunt in approval as I carry her out of the gazebo.
No one else should be back here, but if someone catches a glimpse of us, they won’t see her bare ass.
I circle around to the backside of the structure, then follow an old footpath farther into the woods.
“Mr. Park Ranger, we cannot fuck in the park.”
I wedge my hand between her legs, pressing up against her core.
Her heat spears through me, and I lengthen my stride.
“Language, Mrs. Park Ranger.” I follow the path as it turns. “And we’re not fucking in the park. I’m taking you home.”