Chapter 24 #2
I tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear, warmth flooding my chest. “Me too,” I admit. “It almost feels… normal.”
A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “Yeah, it does.”
He nods toward the living area. “Wanna just… chill for a bit? Maybe watch the fire?” The cabin came with an old stone fireplace, and even though it’s not particularly cold tonight, there’s something comforting about the crackle of flames.
I nod, grateful for the suggestion. “Sounds perfect.”
Within minutes, we’re on the couch, the soft glow of the fire flickering across the walls. Boone has one arm draped along the back of the couch, and I’m leaning into his side, my head resting near his shoulder. The wood pops and hisses, sending sparks dancing briefly in the air before they vanish.
For a while, we just talk—about the days we’ve spent here, the hikes around the lake, the silly card games we’ve invented to pass the time.
He teases me about how I always manage to lose in poker (he’s definitely got a better poker face than I do), and I remind him that I made up for it by teaching him how to cook a killer pasta dish.
Eventually, the conversation takes a softer turn. He asks about my childhood, and I tell him about how I used to rollerblade around my neighborhood, imagining I was an explorer charting unknown territory. He laughs, saying he could picture me as a little kid with boundless energy.
I watch the firelight dance in his eyes, and I realize just how comfortable I’ve become in his presence.
The worry that used to claw at my gut is still there, but it’s diminished by the confidence I have in him.
He’s not just my bodyguard or some hired muscle; he’s Boone.
A man who’s shown me compassion, strength, and gentleness all at once.
He shifts slightly, his free hand finding mine. The contact sends a pleasant jolt through my body. It’s such a simple thing—his fingers lacing with mine—but it sparks the memory of our kisses, of how he held me under the stars. My pulse quickens, and I look up to find him watching me intently.
“What?” I ask softly.
“Nothing,” he says, though the deep timbre of his voice gives him away. He slides his hand along my jaw, his thumb brushing the corner of my mouth. “Just thinking about how I’m going to miss this.”
“Miss what?” My voice catches, breath hitching in my throat.
He swallows, and I see the flicker of uncertainty in his gaze. “Miss us…like this. If, you know, we get pulled back into the real world soon.”
My heart clenches. I pull my legs under me and shift closer, resting my palm against his chest. His heartbeat thumps strong beneath my fingertips. “Maybe we don’t have to miss it,” I offer quietly, half-terrified of his answer. “Maybe we can keep it.”
He draws a shaky breath, leaning in so our foreheads nearly touch. “Aubree,” he murmurs, voice low and intimate. “I want that. But I just don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”
I lick my lips, reaching up to thread my fingers through his hair. “I’m not asking for promises,” I say gently, “just… let’s see what happens. Maybe we’ll surprise ourselves.”
For a moment, he just stares at me, his expression warring between wanting to protect me and wanting me.
Then, with a soft groan, he closes the distance, pressing his lips to mine.
The kiss is slow at first, exploratory, like we’re reminding ourselves how to move in sync. But it doesn’t stay gentle for long.
Warmth floods my limbs as he deepens the kiss, parting my lips with a quiet urgency.
I make a small sound of approval, sliding my hands up his arms, feeling the corded muscle beneath his shirt.
He angles me backward, carefully guiding me to recline against the cushions.
The firelight flickers across his face, gilding the sharp planes of his jaw.
His mouth moves to my neck, peppering my skin with soft, heated kisses that leave me trembling in their wake. My breath comes in short gasps, a mixture of anticipation and relief, like I’ve been waiting all day for this moment. I tangle my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, wanting more.
“Aubree,” he whispers against my skin, voice husky. My name on his lips sends a shiver down my spine. I arch into him, the press of his body a comforting weight.
He slips a hand under my shirt, skimming the bare skin of my waist. Every nerve ending feels like it’s sparking to life, and I let out a quiet whimper. The sound seems to embolden him, and he returns to my mouth, claiming it in a series of slow, deliberate kisses.
For a moment, I let the outside world fade—no threats, no stepfather with suspicious transactions, no timeline.
Just us, hidden away in a cabin, devouring each other’s taste like we can’t get enough.
His grip tightens slightly, and I feel the tension in his muscles.
I know he’s still holding back a little, concerned about hurting me or pushing too far, but I nudge him to let go.
“Boone,” I whisper, tugging the front of his shirt. “Don’t overthink. Just… be here with me.”
A soft chuckle escapes him, though his eyes are dark with desire. “Yes, ma’am,” he teases, leaning in again.
We lose ourselves in that kiss, in the gentle dance of tongues and lips, the sounds of our own breathing mingling with the crackle of the fire.
My heart pounds a frantic rhythm, and I find myself wishing this moment could stretch on forever, free of any looming threats or responsibilities.
Just two people, sharing something real.
Eventually, the need for air forces us apart. He presses his forehead to mine, his breath coming in ragged pulls. I brush a hand over his cheek, my chest heaving as I try to steady myself.
“That was…” I begin, but my voice trails off. I’m not sure I have the words to describe what it was.
“Yeah,” he agrees, swallowing hard. “Let’s see if I can do even better.”
I laugh as we tumble together, his mouth covering mine with another mind-numbing kiss. One that I’ll never be able to recover from.