8. Willow
Chapter Eight
WILLOW
We arrive at Heath’s cabin, arms loaded with grocery bags. After spending a few hours salvaging what we could from my waterlogged apartment, Heath insisted we stop for food on the way here.
We deposit the groceries in the kitchen, and I start putting things away, falling into an easy rhythm with Heath.
It feels so natural, as if we’ve done this a hundred times.
“Are you sure your brother won’t mind me crashing here? I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing.” Heath wraps his arms around me from behind, nuzzling my neck. “This is my penthouse, not Blake’s. He was just staying here while he looked for his own place.”
“Oh.” I relax into his embrace. “Did he find a place, then?”
“He closed on a house yesterday.” Heath turns me in his arms, gazing down at me with a smile that makes my heart skip. “It’s just you and me now, baby. Come one. I’ll give you the grand tour.”
He takes my hand and leads me through an open-concept living room and kitchen with sleek metal appliances and dark wood cabinets. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of the city skyline.
“The balcony wraps around the whole penthouse,” Heath says. “We’ll have to have breakfast out there one morning.”
“We will, huh?” I tease. Heath just grins and tugs me down a hallway.
“Office, gym, bathroom. And the master suite.” Heath pushes open a door to reveal a spacious room with the same minimalist style as the rest of the penthouse. One entire wall is glass, framing a vista of mountains that makes it feel like we’re not even in the city anymore.
“It’s gorgeous,” I breathe.
“Not as gorgeous as you.”
Heath pulls me close and kisses me again, slow and deep. I melt into him, desire building with every brush of his lips.
“The bed’s pretty comfortable too,” he murmurs. “Memory foam mattress, sixteen hundred thread count sheets. But I think it might be missing something.”
“Oh?” I ask innocently. “What’s that?”
Heath gives me a smoldering look. “You. Naked. Under me.”
Heat floods my veins, and I surge up to capture his mouth again. Heath groans, clutching me tight, and walks me backward toward the bed. We tumble onto the mattress, limbs tangling as clothes start coming off.
“Willow,” Heath breathes against my skin. “My Willow.”
His touch is reverent, worshipful, setting my whole body on fire. I’ve never felt so desired, so cherished. Like I’m the only thing in the world that matters to him.
Maybe this is too fast, but it feels so right. I don’t want to wait anymore. I just want Heath, now and forever.
I sink to my knees in front of him, running my hands up his muscular thighs. He’s already hard under his jeans, and I can’t wait to see him, to taste him.
“Baby, you sure about this?” Heath asks hoarsely. His eyes are heavy-lidded, pupils blown wide with lust. “I don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“I’m ready.” I pop the button on his jeans and slowly unzip his fly. “But are you?”
Heath sucks in a sharp breath as I reach into his jeans and curl my fingers around his thick length. I stroke him lightly, enjoying the way he hardens even more under my touch. The soft groan that escapes his lips makes me so wet I’m sure I’ve soaked through my panties.
“Butterfly,” he growls. “Keep that up and you’ll get more than you bargained for.”
“Promises, promises.”
I tug his jeans and boxers down, freeing his thick length. It’s big and heavy, jutting out from a thatch of dark hair. I lick my lips, aching to taste it, but I want to drive him crazy first.
Heath fists a hand in my hair. “Stop teasing me, baby. Open that pretty throat of yours and make me come.”
His words make me dizzy with desire. I’ve never done this before, but I want to make Heath feel good. I want to be the one who gives him pleasure, makes him lose control.
When I swirl my tongue around the tip, tasting salt and musk, Heath curses under his breath, hips jerking forward. I wrap my lips around him and slide down as far as I can, hollowing my cheeks on the way back up.
“Fuck, just like that,” Heath groans.
He guides my head up and down, setting a rhythm I try to match. I relax my throat and take him deeper, loving the sounds I’m pulling from him. The ache between my legs grows impossibly hotter with every thrust of his hips.
I can tell Heath is getting close, his muscles tensing as he fucks my mouth. I brace myself for his release, wanting nothing more than to give him everything. To be his, now and always.
Heath comes with a shout, flooding my mouth. I swallow greedily, not wanting to miss a drop.
When he’s finally spent, Heath pulls me to my feet and claims my mouth in a searing kiss. I can taste him on my tongue. “You’re amazing,” he murmurs against my lips.
Heath guides me onto the bed, arranging me on my back before settling between my thighs. I gasp as he slides a pillow under my hips, tilting my pelvis up to meet his gaze.
“I want to get so deep inside you.”
My whole body flushes with heat at his words.
“Look at me,” Heath commands.
I meet his eyes, drowning in the swirling depths of blue and gray. He holds my gaze as he slowly pushes inside me, inch by glorious inch, until I can feel him deep in my womb.
A broken moan escapes my lips. Nothing has ever felt this incredible, this right. Being joined with Heath completes me in a way I never thought possible.
“You were made for me,” Heath says fiercely. He draws back and slides home again, setting up a punishing rhythm. “No one else will ever have you. You’re mine.”
His words ignite something primal inside me. I am his, forever and always.
“Yours. Only yours.”
Our bodies move as one, building toward a shattering climax. Heath is everywhere—surrounding me, inside me, his scent and taste all I can sense. I come apart with a sob, clinging to him as wave after wave of ecstasy crashes over me.
“That’s it, baby,” Heath groans. He thrusts deep once more, finding his own release. I feel him pulsing inside me, prolonging the exquisite pleasure.
Afterward, we lie tangled together, sweaty and sated. I rest my head on Heath’s chest, listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart.
This is where I belong.
I tilt my head up to see his eyes are closed, a contented smile curving his lips. My heart swells at the thought of carrying Heath’s baby. I slide a hand down to rest on my stomach, imagining it rounding with his child.
When Heath opens his eyes, he glances down and sees where my hand is, understanding instantly. His smile widens.
“You like thinking of me putting a baby in here, don’t you?” Heath asks huskily. He covers my hand with his own, pressing down. “My seed taking root and growing inside you. Filling you up until you’re big and ripe with my child.”
Heat floods my cheeks, but I can’t deny his words affect me. I want that more than anything.
“We’re going to start a family together, Willow. I’m going to give you as many babies as you can handle. Watching your body change, knowing I did that to you... Fuck, it’s going to drive me crazy. I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
“I want that too,” I confess softly. “More than anything.”
“Good.” Heath kisses the top of my head. “Because you’re mine now, and I’m not letting you go. We have the rest of our lives to make this fantasy a reality.”
Heath gathers me close, his strong arms wrapping around me.
“I’m so happy you’re staying here with me,” Heath says. He tilts my chin up, gazing into my eyes. “I love you, Willow. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. You’re it for me, the missing piece that’s made me whole. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
My eyes widen. “What? How long have you been planning this?”
“Since the moment I saw you,” Heath admits with a sheepish grin. “I knew you were going to be my wife. I just had to convince you.”
Tears fill my eyes as emotion swells inside me. I never imagined I could be this happy. That I could find a love like this.
“Yes,” I say. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Joy lights up Heath’s face. He slides a ring onto my finger, the diamond glinting even in the dim light of the room.
“I love you,” I tell him. “This is fast, but it feels so right. I want to build a life with you. I want to have your children and grow old with you.”
“You will,” Heath promises. He kisses me tenderly, sealing our future together. “This is only the beginning, baby. The best is yet to come.”
I know he’s telling the truth. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters. Heath is my always, my forever.
And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
The End