Chapter Thirteen
Thirteen
E li returned home after completing his training rides and a quick dinner and stepped out of the steamy shower. The warmth had relaxed his muscles, but his mind was still filled with thoughts of Willow and the way her body felt pressed against his. He reached for a towel and dried off, his mind replaying every touch, every sweet moan, every kiss.
As he wrapped the towel around his waist, his hand brushed his hard cock, but he was saving himself for her. Right then, his phone buzzed on the counter. He scooped it up when he saw Willow’s name illuminate the screen.
Meet me outside in 10. I’ve got a surprise for you.—W
A smile crept across his face. Surprise? He moved back to the bedroom, and quickly dressed. He pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a soft gray sweater. He barely glanced at his reflection, running a hand through his damp hair. On his way out the door, he grabbed his worn leather winter coat and slid on his nicer black cowboy hat.
As he opened his door, he spotted her car parked outside—a small black vehicle that he assumed had significantly better gas mileage than his truck. He couldn’t help but smile as he squeezed himself into the compact passenger seat. It was a snug fit but being in close proximity with Willow was fine by him.
“Thank goodness you’re not any taller,” she joked, a playful smirk forming on her face. “Otherwise, we’d have to tie you to the roof.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve ridden out under the stars,” he shot back.
“Let’s stick to the car for tonight though. Safer for everyone involved.” She laughed, and he laughed along with her.
Damn that felt good. Just laughing.
He fastened his seatbelt. “Going to tell me where you’re taking me?”
“Nope,” she replied.
The road unfurled before them as Willow drove right at the speed limit. He smiled at that, not expecting any different. His gaze shifted from the passing scenery to her, trying to read clues in the set of her jaw or the occasional glint of her eyes when they caught the flash of a streetlight. But only her smile was telling that she had something up her sleeve.
“Are we going line dancing?” he ventured, watching for any telltale sign in her expression.
“Keep guessing,” she said with a playful lilt to her voice that made him chuckle despite himself.
“Karaoke?”
A smiled danced on her lips. “No, not karaoke.”
He leaned forward slightly, watching as she took the turn that headed west. “I’m running out of guesses here.”
“Good,” she said. “You’ll see soon enough.”
As they drove on, he spotted the Deer Point sign. The buildings rose higher, the streets became busier.
“Deer Point, huh?” he asked.
“Look at you, playing detective.” She glanced over, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Yes, Deer Point. But where in Deer Point, that’s the question.”
“Can’t blame a guy for being curious.” He settled back, allowing the city’s energy to wash over him. It was a stark contrast to the quiet comfort of Timber Falls, yet it held a familiar allure.
“Curiosity is good,” she agreed. “Keeps things interesting.”
As they neared the heart of the city, his anticipation sharpened. The buildings towered above them, their windows reflecting the stars peeking through the evening sky. People bustled about, and the air was charged with the electric hum of city nightlife.
Willow soon parked in the public parking lot.
Eli stepped from the warmth of Willow’s car into the crisp night air, his breath forming a ghostly mist before him. The chill in the air faded away at the warmth radiating from her hand as it enveloped his. They moved in silence, each step taking them further into the secluded pockets of Deer Point’s quaint town square.
The city’s energy enveloped him like a living thing as he followed Willow’s lead toward the town hall, its grand facade glowing with the golden light of countless bulbs that spilled onto the cobblestone square.
“Surprise,” Willow said.
A massive, majestic Christmas tree loomed before them, commanding the space with its towering presence. Its branches were heavy with ornaments, each one glinting under the soft radiance of strung white lights. These were not mere decorations; they were symbols of hope, lovingly crafted to honor others. Eli’s gaze traced the silvery garlands, the ribbons that fluttered in the wind.
“Tree of Hope,” he murmured, reading the sign set next to the tree.
“Yeah,” Willow said softly beside him. “Every ornament tells a story.”
“It’s beautiful,” he said.
“It is, but I think this one is even more so,” Willow said, pointing to one ornament. “I hope you don’t mind, but I made a donation to the Tree of Hope,” she began, her gaze unwavering. “In your mother’s and sister’s names.”
The words landed heavily, reverberating through Eli’s chest. He swallowed hard, the impact of her gesture reaching deep into places he rarely let see the light. The ornament was a photograph of his mother and Miranda hugging. “How did you get the photograph?” he managed.
“Jaxon gave it to me,” she said.
He could barely breathe, move...anything. “Willow, I...” His voice trailed off, lost amidst the swirl of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.
Her smile was tender, laced with an understanding that went beyond words. “They’re part of you, Eli. And seeing how much they mean to you... I wanted to honor that.”
The gravity of her kindness anchored him in the moment, rooting him to the spot beside her. A swell of something he couldn’t quite name—gratitude, affection, reverence—washed over him. It was as if she’d woven a thread between their two souls, stitching together something he thought irrevocably broken.
“Thank you,” he managed to say, the simplicity of the words inadequate for the weight of his gratitude.
Their eyes locked, and in that instant, Eli felt the walls he had meticulously built around himself begin to crumble. The need to be close to her—to share in the solace she offered so freely—pulled at him with an urgency he hadn’t realized he was capable of feeling.
“Come with me,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion, as he scooped up her hand, leading her away.
They wove through the throngs of people. The city hall loomed ahead, its stately columns promising the privacy they needed. He pushed open the heavy door, and they slipped inside, the echo of their footsteps mingling with the hallowed silence of the grand hallway.
His pulse quickened as he searched for an unlocked door. A janitor’s closet, perhaps, or an unused office—it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the space behind it.
When he finally found one unlocked, he opened it, and tugged her inside.
Willow’s breath hitched. Her eyes widened. “We can’t just go into a room here,” she gasped, the words barely above a whisper.
“Can’t we?” he challenged.
Before she could protest further, he shut the door behind them. The room was steeped in shadows, the faint glimmer of streetlights filtering through a crack in the blinds.
“Trust me,” he breathed against her ear. He gathered her in his arms, hot and hard now. As he pressed against her, his restraint shattered, and with a growl that rumbled from deep within, he pushed Willow against the closed door. He crashed his mouth against hers in a fiery kiss that spoke more to any words he could say. His lips moved against hers with a fervency that left no room for doubt of his gratitude toward her, his tongue tangling with hers in a dance that was both primal and achingly intimate.
The world outside the walls seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them. Here, in this moment, he allowed himself to feel everything—every minute of his wanting her—as their lips crashed together.
The urgency of his kiss gave way to a frenzied undressing, hands grappling with the stubborn denim that encased her legs. With a swift tug, her pants were discarded and so were his. Without pause, he sheathed himself in a condom.
She panted against the door, and he stepped forward, hooking her leg onto his arm, pressing the tip of his cock against her entrance. The air was thick with desire as he gripped her hip. Her breath hitched, and it was the only invitation he needed, he surged forward in one swift stroke.
She moaned loudly, and he ate the sound with his hungry kiss.
His world narrowed to the rhythm of their breaths, the squeeze of her sweet, slick heat against him, clenching tighter. Every moan that escaped her lips was a call he answered with a deeper thrust.
She clung to him, nails digging into his shoulders, urging him closer, deeper. He grabbed her other leg, and she wrapped both around his waist, heels digging into his lower back. There was no space for thoughts—only the electric slide of skin on skin, the sweet friction that built a wicked fire.
As the pleasure rose, time seemed to warp. Seconds stretched into eternity; each moment filled with sensation that burned hotter with every touch. And when the heat spiraled down his spine moving toward completion, he thrust forward hard, bucking against her, as her cry of release soared over him.
When his mind returned to him, Willow shifted, lowering her legs, her movement drawing Eli’s gaze to hers.
Her eyes sparkled, her lips curling into a smile that reached deep into his core.
“Your gentle side has its charm,” Willow teased, breathless. “But whatever side that was of you—I really, really like it.”
He chuckled. “Good, because apparently, I have no control around you.” He took her chin, sealing that truth with a kiss.