Chapter 26
Piper
It was dark.
I opened my eyes, feeling deliciously relaxed. And more than a little tender in a few places. I was tucked up against Everett’s big body. He was curled around me on the bed, like even in his sleep he was protecting me.
Low light from the fire glimmered in the room. We must have slept for a few hours after round two. I’d discovered my mountain man was energetic, fun, and creative in bed. My guess was that morning was still a few hours away.
Gah, I did not want reality to land on me again. I sighed. I loved that Everett had brought me up to the cabin, yes, to keep me safe, but also to give me this.
Us here, together…it was simple, easy.
I didn’t have much simple in my life.
“Babe?” His sleep roughened voice in my ear. His lips nuzzled the side of my neck.
“I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.”
“You have a nightmare?”
“No. I feel…great actually.” I sighed. “I want to stay here forever.”
He was silent for a beat. “Not many reasons to wear your collection of designer shoes up here.” He gripped my arm, forcing me to roll over and face him.
His face was mostly in shadow. “When we head back down in the morning, you won’t be facing anything alone.
You have me, Ro, Caden, Enzo, Tessa, and the women. ”
“I know.” Without realizing, I was suddenly surrounded by people who cared. I wasn’t alone.
He cupped my cheek, calloused fingers rubbing along my cheekbone. “How about a little midnight dessert snack?” He slipped out of the bed, and I got glimpse of his naked body in the firelight. Then he flicked on the bedside lamp.
Hmm, he really was beautiful. As he pulled on a pair of long pajama pants—plaid ones, of course—I drank him in. The hard pecs, the flat stomach, the muscled forearms.
“You brought those pajama pants just to provoke me, didn’t you?”
He shot me a slow grin over his shoulder. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
With a snort, I reached over the side of the bed and found his flannel shirt. I sat up and pulled it on, leaving it unbuttoned. He was right, flannel was nice and warm.
He returned carrying a plate with a huge slice of chocolate cake and two forks. “Now who’s a tease.”
I shrugged a shoulder, letting the shirt slip down my shoulder. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He stuck his fork into the cake. “Babe, you know well and good how gorgeous and fuckable you look wearing my shirt.” He ate a forkful of cake.
I lifted my own fork and took a bite. Mouthwatering chocolate flavor hit my tastebuds. Damn, Chef Harden was talented. I bit back a moan. “That is so good.”
A memory hit. Baking chocolate cake with Chance and Gram when I was little. Chance begging to lick the spoon. All of us laughing.
I hated that we’d grown up and he’d gotten so lost.
“Hey.” Strong fingers brushed my jaw.
I looked into Everett’s concerned face. “Just thinking about Chance.”
“Don’t go there right now. Your troubles will be there in the morning, but they don’t have to be here with us right now.”
I nodded and ate some more cake. “Okay.”
“Good.”
We finished the rest of the cake, and he set the plate on the beside table. Then, before I knew it, he yanked me against him.
“Ever—” His mouth hit mine.
He tasted like chocolate and Everett—both addictive flavors. He was right. Here and now, there were no troubles. Just the two of us.
I cupped his head with both hands and kissed him back. I poured everything into the kiss.
With a growl that raised goosebumps on my skin, he wrestled me back on the bed. We kept kissing, hands roaming, fingers digging in.
I used my weight to push and roll him onto his back. I eagerly straddled him. “I want to be on top this time.”
“I see that.” His hands gripped my hips. “Damn, I want to fuck you while you’re wearing my shirt.”
I shook my head, leaning down to nip his lips. “I’m going to fuck you, Murray.”
Reaching over, I found a condom and tore it open. I took my time rolling it on, enjoying his deep groans. Then, I gripped his cock and lifted my hips.
His fingers dug into my hip. “Take me, Piper.”
I inched down, enjoying the stretch. I was still tender from earlier and I felt everything.
“Piper,” he groaned.
My gaze locked on his face. I saw a muscle tick in his jaw. “Mmm.”
“You’re so damn tight.”
“You’re so big.” I took a little more of him.
He uttered a curse, the muscles in his neck straining.
God, he was glorious. With one final thrust, I took him all.
“Piper,” he growled.
I started to ride. I pressed my palms to his chest for leverage, rocking hard and fast.
Right here, I wasn’t Piper Ellis. I wasn’t a COO or a city girl. I was just a woman who needed her man.
He shifted a hand, sliding down to where I was taking him. Then his thumb was on my clit.
I cried out, feeling myself riding that edge. I was going to come soon. A whimper escaped me.
Everett made a rough sound, then he sat up fast, and I cried out. He flipped us, my back hit the bed, then he was on me. His next thrust was hard, powerful.
My hands dug into his arms, holding tight as he slammed into me, again and again.
“Everett,” I breathed.
I felt my inner muscles clutching at him. He let out a curse, pushing my knees up to my chest.
“Piper. Babe…Jesus.” His mouth hit mine.
I was full of him—his cock, his taste. I couldn’t hold on anymore. My orgasm hit like a wave, overwhelming me, dragging me under.
He thrust faster, then with a low grunt, he started coming. I held on, enjoying the last of my own pleasure as I watched him ride through his own.
Then he slumped down, half on top of me, his breathing ragged. He pressed his face to the side of mine.
I held on, partly because I couldn’t do anything else, and partly because I didn’t want to do anything else. I let my hands drift lazily over his body. We were both slick with sweat, and heat poured off him.
“Okay?” I asked.
He grunted. “You need to ask?”
I let out a laugh. “No.”
“You know, you’re sexy all the time. All style and class at work with your tight skirts and high heels, but here, I like you sexy and sweaty.”
I turned my head and our lips brushed. “I like it too.”
Too much. I felt that warning pinch in my chest, but I ignored it. For now, he was mine. All mine.
“Think I want to fuck you in front of the fire next,” he said.
I blinked. “You can go again?”
He rolled me under him. “I don’t sit at a desk all day on the phone. I stay in shape, big city.”
“Well, I guess your fit mountain-man reputation is on the line, so you’ll need to show me that you aren’t all talk.”
When he moved, scooping me off the bed, I let out a gasp.
“Then I’d better get to work.”