Bonus Chapter Climb My Pole Lindsey
BONUS CHAPTER
Climb My Pole
LINDSEY
THIS TIME LAST YEAR, I was exhausted and horny, and my life was a mess.
Now, I may be tired—because what mom and woman in her thirties isn’t—but I’m not dead on my feet.
More importantly, my life is no longer a mess.
My finances are in order, my ex is paying child support, and I’m working less at the ER.
That means I get time to not only spend time with my daughter, Kas, and my family, but to rest.
I look through the crowd of people at this year’s annual Logger Games, recently renamed from the Lumberjack Games due to my amazing daughter having a discussion with Morgan about making it inclusive for all, and find the man responsible for the changes in my life.
Dane’s in his speed pole climbing gear standing next to his friend and fellow logger Levi.
He’s been coaching the younger man the last few months so he doesn’t break his leg again like he did last year.
I trail my gaze down his tall and well-muscled body, licking my lips at how good he looks.
I didn’t think seeing him in long shorts and a tank top with high socks and climbing boots would do it for me, but my god, does he look like a snack.
I’m glad he changed when he got here, or I don’t think I would have let him out of the house—competition be damned.
“Stop drooling, you’re grossing me out.”
I huff a laugh and turn to glare at my brother Nathan. “This is payback for all the times you’ve drooled over Fox and Morgan in front of me.”
He rubs his thumb and pointer finger over his beard, brown eyes that match mine amused. “Okay, fair. But I don’t have my lumbersnacks to drool over right now, so it feels slightly unfair.”
I laugh again. “You’ll see them soon enough.”
“Hopefully, they’ll be back soon; I know they wanted to watch.”
Fox and Morgan’s company, Starlight Lumber it looks good on you.”
“Thanks.” I blush. Nathan opens his mouth to speak again but then his eyes catch something, and it’s his turn to blush. I know before I’ve even looked who he’s spotted.
Fox and Morgan make their way through the competition area. They’re easy to spot, given their tall stature and tattoos. I smile when I see their gazes locked on Nathan and elbow my brother in the arm.
“Now who’s being gross?”
He laughs. “We’re being sweet.”
“Yeah, right.” I look back to Fox, who’s licking his lips, and Morgan, who’s smirking.
I swear, the three of them have some sort of telepathy—a throuple connection.
They say dirty things to each other with just their eyes.
But according to Nathan, Dane and I are no different.
Yet, I don’t think we’re as bad as these three.
The two approach, greeting me before standing on the other side of Nathan.
“Glad you were able to make it in time,” I say.
“Us, too. There was a mini fire at the funnel cake stand,” Morgan laughs.
“What?!” Nathan and I both exclaim.
“It was small; all good now,” Fox assures us.
“Nobody was hurt?” Nathan asks, looking his partners over.
Fox and Morgan shake their heads, amusement sparkling in their eyes.
“We’re good, Wolfie. Don’t worry.” Morgan pecks his cheek.
I turn back to the poles, ignoring all the competitors except for Dane.
The announcer gives a ninety-second warning, and my heart thuds in my ears with excitement.
I’ve seen Dane train for this, but this is the first time I’ve watched him compete.
I won’t lie and say I’m not nervous, since Levi broke his leg last year, but I trust Dane, and he’s done this many times before.
I have no doubt he’ll win again; it’s just who he is.
Nathan bounces next to me. “Oh, this is so cool. It’s fun knowing someone who is competing.”
The announcer begins to count down from ten, and I grip the ring of my collar.
Dane is fully focused on this task. He’s already rechecked his harness, and I can see his muscles flex even at this distance.
I swallow hard, my gaze traveling up his arms to his strong hands gripping the rope he uses to climb the pole.
I’d be a liar if I said I’m not imagining those hands gripping my hips as he pounds into me.
I blink and bite my lip. Now is not the time to think about that. With Kas out of town until tomorrow, we’ll have plenty of time for that tonight—but not right now.
“Competitors ready?” the announcer calls out. “Three—”
I hold my breath as they count down and grip my necklace tighter.
“Two—”
Nathan grips my elbow, and I think my heart stops beating.
“One—go!”
Dane explodes from the ground, and cheers around us erupt. I scream his name before I even tell my brain to do it, yelling at him to go as hard and as fast as he can. Nathan and Morgan join in while Fox makes a loud wolf whistle.
“Come on, baby, come on!” I yell louder as he gets halfway up the pole. I have no idea how the other competitors are doing or if anyone is even close to catching him, because I can’t take my eyes off him.
I know his body is strong and powerful—he works hard for it—but to see him in action, climbing up a ninety-foot pole using a rope, climbing spurs, and his body is incredibly impressive.
His muscles work, calves and biceps flexing, and with each foot he places on the wood, he climbs higher and higher.
“He’s doing it!” Nathan shakes me while holding his phone in his other hand. “He’s going to win again!”
“Of course he is,” is all I say.
The moment he hits the finish line at the top of the pole, my heart bursts with joy, and I cry out in happiness with the people around me.
“He won!” Morgan cheers.
“Beat himself again by a fraction of a second,” Fox adds.
Dane drops down the pole at lightning speed, and the moment his feet hit the pad around the bottom, my feet are moving.
“Linds!” Nathan calls. But I don’t stop. I don’t care if I look like a lunatic or if I’m breaking rules. Fox and Morgan sponsor this whole event, so people can kiss my ass.
I lift up the rope barricade and ignore someone asking me where I’m going.
Dane is already unclipping all his gear when he turns and makes eye contact with me.
He drops his rope and takes off his harness before he jumps down off the mat to the ground.
He keeps his eyes up as he bends down, taking off his spurs.
I can feel people watching me as I run to him, but I don’t care.
I’m a woman possessed, and the desire to jump into his arms and kiss the hell out of him like a main character in a rom-com is too strong to ignore.
He stands to his full height and opens his arms right as I jump up, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. He catches me with no hesitation, lips sealing over mine as his hands grip my bottom, plastering our bodies together.
A year ago, I would have never done this.
Never felt comfortable enough to participate in such a public display of affection that I initiated, but with Dane—it feels right.
Perfect, even. Everyone in town may know he’s already mine, but now I’ve claimed him for all to see.
Cheers and wolf whistles reach my ears, and I know it’s because of our kiss, but I’m too focused on the way my man’s lips feel against mine, and how he smells of woods and the saltiness of sweat, to care.