Chapter 10
GUNNAR
I wake up late the next morning. Sunlight streams through my bedroom window, bathing everything in gold as I blink sleep from my eyes. Everly is curled up beside me, snoring softly, the bedsheets still messy and tangled beneath us.
We spent most of yesterday outside. I gave Everly everything she could take, claiming her perfect body over and over until the evening chill pushed us indoors.
But it didn’t stop us. I took her on the living room floor.
Bent over the kitchen table. In my bed. Everly’s voice was hoarse from screaming by the time she finally fell asleep, wrapped up in my arms.
My heart thumps as I watch her. She looks so damn innocent. So angelic. Her plump lips are parted slightly, dark lashes fluttering, and I reach out to trace the curve of her cheek. I can’t believe she’s really here in my bed—my perfect, precious Everly.
All I want to do is look after her. Protect her. I want to give her the whole damn world—show her that I’d do anything for her. Show her she’s mine.
Mine.
The word feels so right. It sends a fierce rush through my chest, sparking my nerves to life, like my body knows this woman is my purpose now. Nothing else matters.
The logical part of me says I should cool the intensity and go slow so I don’t scare her off.
But when it comes to Everly, logic never wins out.
It’s too late to hold back. Too late to pretend she’s not my whole world.
Hell, I meant what I said yesterday about our wedding—I’m putting a ring on her finger as soon as I get the chance. I’m making her mine forever.
Everly moans softly in her sleep, and my chest squeezes tight.
She’s still too young for me, too sweet, too perfect, and I’m still just a grumpy old man with a bad shoulder and a possessive streak.
I’ll never deserve her, but fuck, I’m keeping her anyway.
Everly makes me selfish, she makes me greedy, and being without her isn’t an option anymore.
Hell, it was never an option.
I was a goner the second I set eyes on her.
I watch her sleep for a few more minutes before I ease off the mattress and pad out of the bedroom.
It’s another bright morning, Sugar Creek glistening in the sunlight outside my window as I head for the kitchen to get started on breakfast. I don’t know what Everly wants, so I make her a bit of everything—waffles, pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages, and a bowl of fresh fruit.
It feels good to be making her food, knowing she’s safe and sound asleep in my bed.
I’m plating everything up when I hear the kitchen door creak. I turn to see Everly smiling at me, still wearing my shirt from yesterday. Her caramel hair is mussed from sleep, voice thick as she says, “Good morning.”
“Morning, beautiful.”
I cross the kitchen and pull her into my arms, pressing a kiss on her head. She smells sweet and warm, and my heart flips when she wraps her arms around my neck, nuzzling against me.
“How’d you sleep?” I ask.
“Better than ever.” She tilts her head to look at me, her lips stretching into a slow grin. “You tired me out.”
“You better get used to it, princess.”
My cock swells as I pull her closer. I already want her again. I’m craving her body—craving the sound of her moans, her tight heat around me. But first, my girl needs feeding.
We decide to eat outside, and it takes three trips to bring out all the food I’ve made.
Everly tucks into her waffles while I take a bite of pancakes, watching the rush of Sugar Creek, which is still running fast and high from the snowmelt.
The trees are bathed in morning light, leaves glowing bright green, rustling in the breeze.
It’s so peaceful. Not like yesterday, when the forest was echoing with our frantic moans—the smack of skin on skin.
“I love it here,” Everly says from beside me, resting her head on my good shoulder. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Then stay, princess.”
She beams at me, eyes sparkling. “I’d love to stay. A few more days out here would be magical.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I reach out to grab her hand, keeping my gaze fixed on hers. “I don’t want you going anywhere, Everly. I want you to stay forever. It’s not home without you.”
Her lips fall open, and she goes very still. I can tell what she must be thinking—that this is crazy, too fast, too risky. But I know this woman is it for me. I’ve lived forty-four years without her, and I don’t want to waste another second.
She doesn’t answer right away, and I’m suddenly convinced I’ve pushed her too far. Scared her with my intensity. But I refuse to pretend. Refuse to hide my feelings.
“I know it’s a lot,” I tell her. “I know I’m moving too fast…
but I need you, princess. I need you with me every day.
Fuck, I can’t live without you.” The weight of my words hangs between us, and I know I might be overwhelming her right now, pushing her away even more. But I need her to know how I feel.
“I’m in love with you, Everly.” The words spill out of me, straight from the heart, and I know I mean them more than I’ve ever meant anything. “Hell, I fell in love with you the minute I saw you. Never used to believe in all that love at first sight stuff, but I know better now.”
“Gunnar…”
My name is barely a whisper on her lips. There’s a sheen of tears in her eyes, and my gut lurches, convinced I’ve upset her. But then she smiles at me, her whole face lighting up, brighter than the sun burning overhead.
“I love you too,” she says, taking my hands in hers. “I knew you were the one as soon as I saw you. I felt it right away, and now I’m even more sure.”
My heart thumps as I stare at her, head racing to catch up.
I love you too.
That’s what she said. I’m sure of it. But I still can’t believe this is really happening.
“Say you’ll stay.” I squeeze her hands tight, my whole body taut as I wait for her answer. “Say you’ll live here with me, princess.”
This time, there’s no hesitation.
“I’ll stay, Gunnar,” she says. “I’m not going anywhere.”
My body slumps with relief, happiness flooding my veins as I take Everly’s face in my hands and kiss her plump lips. She makes a soft sound against me, her fingers curling into my back as our mouths move together in a long, languorous kiss. I savor every second.
I’ll never get tired of kissing this angel.
When we finally pull apart, I watch Everly’s big blue eyes flutter open, warm and twinkling with happiness, and I swear I’d burn down the whole damn forest just to keep her looking at me like that.
“You’re really staying,” I murmur, still trying to make myself believe it.
“I’m really staying.” She reaches up to touch my jaw, her fingers trailing down my beard. “You’re stuck with me now.”
I make a noise deep in my throat. Stuck. Like that’s a bad thing. Like I’m not the luckiest son-of-a-bitch alive.
I pull her back against me, tucking her under my arm, and she nestles against my good shoulder as if she was made to fit there.
Hell, maybe she was. I’m starting to think the mountain had something to do with it—bringing her back home, putting her on that trail, sending her stumbling out of those trees and straight into my life.
I think back to how I waited for her at Lover’s Lake—how she appeared on the shore, just like the old superstition said.
I always wondered why the mountain gave me a second chance after that day in the storm. Now I know. It was so I could find Everly. Call it fate. Luck. Hell, it doesn’t matter what it was. All that matters is that she’s mine now.
She’s my Everly. The love of my life. My future wife.
And as I hold her close, the sounds of the forest humming all around us, I know I’ve found my forever.