Chapter 11
ELEVEN
WYATT
I wake up with Junie curled against my chest, her breathing slow and even.
Her dark hair is spread across my shoulder, and one of her legs is thrown over mine.
She fits here. Perfectly. Like she was always meant to be in my bed, in my arms, in my life.
I have known her for such a short time, but it feels like she has been here forever.
I love her. I love her in a way I didn’t think I was capable of loving anyone.
Deep. Quiet. Certain. I want her to stay with me always.
I want to wake up to her every morning. I want to build a life with her on this mountain.
But first we need to find her brother. I won’t let her live with that shadow hanging over her.
I won’t let her carry that fear forever.
I lie still for a long time, just holding her.
My hand rests on her hip, thumb stroking slow circles on her skin.
She makes a soft sound in her sleep and snuggles closer.
I press a kiss to the top of her head. She’s healing well.
Her leg is stronger every day. She’s starting to smile more.
Laugh more. She trusts me. That trust means everything to me.
Eventually she stirs. Her eyes flutter open and find mine. She smiles, sleepy and sweet. “Morning.”
“Morning, baby girl,” I murmur. “Sleep well?”
She nods and stretches against me. “Yeah. I like waking up with you.”
I kiss her slowly, savoring the way she melts into me.
My hand slides under the hem of the shirt she’s wearing, stroking the soft skin of her waist. She sighs into the kiss, her fingers threading through my hair.
I could stay like this all day. Kissing her.
Touching her. Loving her. But we have plans.
We’re going bird watching this morning. She’s been looking forward to it.
I want to give her that. I want to give her everything.
We get up eventually. I make her huckleberry tea while she sits at the table, watching me.
She loves the tea. She tells me so every morning with that bright smile that makes my chest feel too tight.
I make pancakes again, adding extra huckleberries because I know she likes them.
We eat together, talking quietly about the birds we might see today.
She’s excited. Her eyes light up when she talks about it.
I love that about her. She finds joy in the small things.
Even after everything she’s been through.
After breakfast we head out. The mountain air is a bit warmer today.
The snow has melted in patches, revealing the green underneath.
I stay close to her as we walk the short trail behind the cabin.
Her leg’s still healing, so I keep my hand on her lower back, ready to catch her if she needs it.
She doesn’t complain. She never does. She’s tough. I admire that.
We reach a flat rock overlooking the valley.
I spread a blanket and help her sit down.
I sit behind her, pulling her back against my chest. I hand her the binoculars and wrap my arms around her waist. She leans into me, relaxing completely.
We watch the birds together. I point out a mountain bluebird, then a Clark’s nutcracker.
She asks questions, her voice bright with curiosity.
I answer every one, loving the way she listens like every word matters.
“You’re so patient with me,” she says after a while. “I love that about you.”
I press a kiss to the side of her neck. “I love teaching you. I love sharing this with you. I love you, Junie. I want you to stay here with me. Always.”
She turns her head and kisses me softly. “I want that too. More than anything.”
We stay there for hours. The sun warms our skin.
The birds sing around us. I hold her close, breathing her in, feeling grateful for every second.
I love her. I love her so much it sometimes scares me.
But it’s a good kind of scared. The kind that makes me want to build a life with her.
A real one. With Sunday dinners and children and quiet mornings like this. I want it all with her.
When we finally head back to the cabin, the sun is starting to set. We’re both tired but happy. I carry her the last part of the way when her leg starts to ache. She rests her head on my shoulder. I love that she lets me take care of her. I love being the one she turns to.
Inside the cabin I set her down and start making dinner.
Simple food. Steak and potatoes. She helps where she can, chopping vegetables at the table.
We talk while we cook. She tells me more about how she had once wanted to go to school to become a teacher.
How she loves helping children learn how to read.
I tell her how I think she’d make the perfect teacher.
After dinner we clean up together. She’s quiet now, thinking. I can see it in the way her brow furrows. I pull her into my arms when we’re done.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask.
She looks up at me. “I just want this to be over. I want to find Caleb. I want to stop looking over my shoulder. I want to live here with you without fear.”
I kiss her forehead. “We’ll find him. I promise. We will end this.”
We move to the bedroom after that. I help her undress slowly, kissing every inch of skin I reveal.
I lay her down on the bed and settle between her thighs.
I take my time with her. I lick her slowly, savoring her taste, bringing her to the edge again and again until she’s begging.
When she comes on my tongue, I keep going, drawing it out until she’s trembling.
I move up her body and slide inside her.
She’s wet and ready, tight and hot around me.
I thrust deep and slow, watching her face.
She moans my name, her hands clutching my shoulders.
I love the way she looks when I’m inside her.
The way her lips part. The way her eyes flutter.
The way she says my name like I’m the only man in the world.
“I love you,” I tell her as I thrust. “I love being inside you. I want you forever, Junie. I want you to stay with me always.”
She comes again with a cry, pulling me over the edge with her. I fill her deep. We stay locked together for a long time afterward, kissing softly, breathing each other in.
I hold her close as we fall asleep. She’s mine. I’m hers. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and happy.
Forever.