Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Kate gasped as Marley scooped an ice cold dollop of ice cream onto her nipple. A moment later she felt the warmth of his lips wrapping around her, his tongue swirling, scooping up the ice cream, his mouth sucking at her peak until her back was arching against the bed.
She was so pleased he’d booked a cabin in the middle of nowhere, because she couldn’t keep her voice down. Not when he was doing this to her. And of course it had been his idea to bring the pint of ice cream back here with them.
“Vanilla.” He’d smirked, looking at the box. “Let’s try to prove it wrong.”
He pulled her legs open, his mouth kissing his way down her body. Then he dropped a mound of ice cream right there, and the shock made her eyes widen. “Holy hell!”
“I was hoping it was heavenly.” His eyes were hooded as he looked at her from between her thighs. He looked drunk.
Inebriated by her.
She could understand that. Because she felt the same way.
He’d been so sweet all afternoon. Distracting her with ice cream. Then putting on a playlist with all her favorite songs – she still needed to ask him how he knew them all – as they drove to the cabin. And when they’d walked inside there were flowers and chocolates on the bed, along with a bottle of champagne.
And the ice cream they’d picked up, of course.
He dipped his head back between her thighs, and her head dropped back because the intensity of his tongue against the ice cream was too much. Her chest was heaving, her body felt like it was caught in one of those electric cages.
“Where did you learn how to do this?” she asked him, her breath ragged.
“Ice cream school.”
She started to laugh, but the mirth dissolved from her lips as he pulled her clit between his lips, sucking hard as he slid two fingers inside her. Dear God, the man was schooled well. He’d reduced her into a puddle of need within minutes of them walking into the cabin.
“I need you inside me,” she whispered, pulling at his hair.
“Just one more minute.”
“No, now.”
She tugged insistently and he climbed over her, his warm lips capturing hers. She could taste vanilla and her.
For some reason it made every muscle inside her clench.
He slid his tip against her, teasing her. She let out a groan.
“Please, Marley.”
“That’s what I like to hear. A little begging.” He grinned.
“Shut up and get inside me.”
He kissed her again. “Your wish is my command.”
And then he was there. Just where she needed him, filling her up, making her feel whole. Everything about this was so good. The way he angled himself against her, the thickness of him inside her body. The way he kissed her soft then hard, his breath warm against her lips.
She could feel the pleasure starting to rise.
“I need to tell you something,” she whispered.
He blinked, his eyes focusing on her. “What?”
“I love you,” she whispered. “So much.” She kissed him softly, her hands on his muscled ass, encouraging his movements. Needing the friction. “I love feeling you inside me. I love the way you take care of me.” She moved her lips to his jaw, his throat, the dip where it met his chest. “I don’t ever want you to stop.”
“I won’t ever stop,” he told her, sliding his hand beneath her, angling her body until every stroke felt like he was setting her on fire. His mouth caught hers again, his kisses needy, demanding. His movements were getting faster, more erratic as he took them both to the edge.
And then she was coming, hard and fast, Marley following only a moment behind her. His body stilled as she tightened around him. Then he was spilling inside her, calling out her name.
Telling her he loved her.
She could feel the thump of his heart against her chest as they slowly came down from their high together. He cupped her face with his hand, his eyes full of emotion as he gazed at her.
“I fucking love sex camp,” he said. “And I love you.”
“Sex camp?” She grinned. “Is that what we’re calling this?”
“We’re in a cabin.” He kissed the corner of her lip. “And we’re having sex. So I’d call it sex camp.”
“I can’t wait to hear our camp song,” she told him.
“ Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears?” he said, making her crack up. “Or pretty much anything by Vanilla Ice.”
“Old school.” She glanced over at the half-empty tub of ice cream, melting by the side of the bed.
“By the way,” she told him. “I’m calling shotgun on the left side of the bed.”
“Why’s that?” He frowned, pulling her against him. “I thought you slept on the right.”
“I do usually. But you made such a mess of this side of the bed so I figured you’d want to lie in it.”
He rolled dramatically over, pulling her with him so she was lying on his stomach. “It was worth it, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.” She kissed him softly. “It was.”
“Is everything okay?” Marley asked as Kate walked over to the hot tub, one of the complimentary bath robes from the cabin wrapped around her. He’d opened up the tub while she called home to talk with Shana and the kids.
“Yes. Surprisingly, Addy and Ethan haven’t killed each other yet. And Shana hasn’t tied either of them to their beds like she threatened. It almost sounds… peaceful.”
“That’s dangerous.” He reached for her, pulling her toward the hot tub by the belt wrapped around her waist. “But good news.”
“Very good news.” She shucked off the robe she was wearing, revealing a black swimsuit. “Is it warm?”
“Pretty hot, yeah.” He took her hand and helped her in. “But beautiful. Look at that.” He inclined his head toward the mountains. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow across the peaks. Kate nestled into his arms and melted against him.
For a moment neither of them spoke. He was hyper aware of how soft her body felt against his. Of how her breasts were rising and falling with the cadence of her breath. Not in a sexual way – not yet, because they’d barely survived the two rounds in bed this afternoon – but in a way that made it feel like everything about them was in sync.
They fit together perfectly. That’s what it was. And it gave him the kind of peace he hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
She loved him. The memory of her whispering it when he was inside her made his chest feel tight.
Because he was so damn into this woman it wasn’t funny. She was clever, gorgeous, a wonderful mother. And she made him laugh and smile like nobody else ever could.
“Want me to put some music on?” he asked her, kissing the top of her head.
“No, I like the silence.” She tipped her head back to look at him. “By the way, how do you know all my favorite songs?”
“My Kate playlist?”
“Yeah.”
“I just pay attention. And I might have asked Shana. I knew today was gonna be a tough one for you.”
“You’ve made it surprisingly easy.”
“Me and ice cream.” He kissed the tip of her nose, wrapping his arms around her stomach.
“I want to tell Addy and Ethan next week,” Kate said, tracing his hand with her fingertips.
“About us?”
“Yes.”
His chest tightened in the best of ways. Because winning this woman’s heart hadn’t been easy. Not for either of them.
He smiled. “Okay. Want me to be there?”
“No, but I’d like you to come over afterward. Addy’s six. She doesn’t really get concepts without seeing them in action.” She shook her head. “Before we left she asked James if he was going to die at camp because firefighters die.”
Marley winced. “Ouch.”
“She just… she’s kind of fascinated by things but doesn’t understand them. And I’d like her to understand that you’re going to be around a lot more.”
A smile pulled at his lips. “I’m all for that. I’m happy to come over. Or I can take you all out. Whatever you want.”
“You’re sure about this?” Kate asked him, turning his hand over to trace his palm.
“About what? Us? Yes, I’m sure. I’ve been sure about this for a long time, sweetheart.” Probably longer than he should have been, truth be told. All those runs past her house, all those attempts to make her life easier.
The way he’d told himself it was just about protecting her and the kids. But it had felt like so much more.
She lifted his palm to her lips, kissing it. “James said he’s fine with it, too.”
Weird how much that made him relax.
“And I think Ethan and Addy will be as well. They both like you a lot.”
“That’s good. Because they’re gonna be seeing a lot of me.” He leaned over to kiss her lips. “I like them a lot, too.” Heck, he loved them, and not just because they were part of her. But because of who they were. He would do whatever it took to make sure they were safe and happy.
He cupped her face with his hands, kissing her softly. “How the hell did I get this lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one.” She was smiling softly at him. And damn if he didn’t feel it down to the tips of his toes. This woman was everything he dreamed he’d ever get. Strong yet soft. Determined and caring.
He’d move mountains for her. All she had to do was say the word.
Kate couldn’t stop smiling. There was a warmth in her heart that hadn’t been there for the longest time. Maybe it came from watching Marley cook dinner on the grill for them both, handling a huge ass steak like he was a caveman searing a mammoth leg for his woman.
Every time she tried to help him – she could make a salad, for goodness’ sake – he’d insisted on her sitting back down. She’d spent the last thirteen years cooking and cleaning and taking care of her kids. A night off felt like a gift.
“I can’t believe how quiet it is out here,” she said, sitting on the porch swing, watching Marley plate the steaks. “Do you think there are bears?”
“Here? No.” He grinned at her. “Do you think I’d be cooking meat with all this gorgeous aroma outside if there were bears?”
“Don’t you fancy your chances against them?” she teased.
He gave her a ‘what the hell do you think?’ kind of look. “There’s a saying; if there are two of you, you don’t need to be faster than the bear. You just need to be faster than the other person. And I’m pretty sure I could outrun you.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” She was laughing because she knew he’d be the first person to throw himself at the bear. Especially if it meant protecting her.
“Well, there are no bears here, so we’ll never find out.” He winked at her.
“You saved me from a snake,” she pointed out. “Even if it wasn’t poisonous.”
“It was poisonous.” Suddenly, he looked awkward. “Damn, forget I said that.”
“The snake you found was poisonous?” Her mouth dropped open. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want to scare you.” He carried the plates over, putting one on the table in front of her.
“But I’m scared now,” she pointed out.
“No you’re not. The snake’s long gone. And your house is snake proof, remember?”
“I mean, I checked it but…”
“So did I.” He passed her the bowl of salad he’d made.
She tipped her head to the side, looking right at him. “You checked the house after I told you everything was fine.”
“I needed some peace of mind, that’s all. You did a good job.”
“Thanks, I think. But I could handle it, you know.”
“I know.” His gaze was soft. “I know you can, Kate. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in you. I just sleep better knowing you’re all okay.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Being independent had been a hard fought battle. She’d gone from living with her parents to college, then only a few years later she was a wife and mom. These last few years had been difficult but maybe she’d needed them to prove something to herself.
That she could take care of her family alone.
But maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to. Or need to anymore.
Before she could say anything else, her phone started to ring, the shrill tones cutting through the silence of the country air.
Shana’s name lit up the screen, a picture of her sticking her tongue out at Kate beneath it.
“Sorry.” Kate grimaced. “She’s probably having trouble getting the kids to bed.”
“Take it. It’s fine.”
“Hi Shana,” she said, answering the call. “Is everything okay?”
For a second there was no sound at all. As though the call hadn’t connected properly. And then she heard a sob.
From her friend who never cried about anything.
“I’m so sorry,” Shana cried. “Kate, I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
An ice cold shiver wracked through Kate’s spine.
“What happened?” she asked, the blood draining from her face.
“It’s Ethan. He’s hurt. We’re on our way to the hospital in the ambulance right now.”
Kate’s eyes met Marley’s as panic overwhelmed her.