Chapter 11
Hannah
I wake up slowly, sunlight slipping through the curtains in soft golden stripes across the quilt.
Silas’s arm is heavy around my waist, his chest warm against my back.
His breathing is deep and even, but I feel the moment he stirs.
His fingers flex against my stomach, then slide up to cup my breast like it’s the most natural thing in the world. A sleepy hum rumbles in his throat.
“Morning, baby girl,” he murmurs, voice gravelly from sleep. He presses a slow kiss to the side of my neck.
I turn in his arms until I’m facing him.
His eyes are half-lidded, dark hair mussed, stubble thicker than yesterday.
He looks like every fantasy I never let myself have.
I lean in and kiss him softly. He kisses me back, lazy and deep, tongue brushing mine in a way that makes my toes curl under the sheets.
When we finally pull apart I rest my forehead against his. “You’re gonna make it hard to get out of this bed.”
“That’s the plan.” He grins, quick and wicked, then kisses the tip of my nose. “But we’ve got people waiting. Shower first?”
I nod. We untangle ourselves reluctantly.
He lets me use the bathroom first. I brush my teeth, splash water on my face, and pull on jeans and one of his flannel shirts because it smells like him and hangs past my thighs.
When I step out he’s already in the shower.
I hear the water shut off, then he appears in the doorway with a towel slung low on his hips.
Water droplets cling to his chest hair and trail down the defined lines of his abs. My mouth goes dry.
He catches me staring and smirks. “Like what you see?”
“Very much.” I step closer and trace a finger down the center of his chest. “You’re distracting.”
“Good.” He catches my wrist, bringing my hand to his mouth, and kisses my palm. “Keep looking at me like that and we’re not making it to the lodge.”
I laugh and push him toward the bedroom. “Go get dressed. I’m starving.”
He dresses in dark jeans and a black Henley that clings to his shoulders. I watch him lace his boots, feeling something warm and settled bloom in my chest. This feels easy. Right. Like we’ve been doing it forever.
We walk hand in hand to the lodge. The morning air is crisp, pine-scented, and the compound is already alive. Smoke curls from the chimney. Voices drift from the open porch. Silas squeezes my fingers once before we step inside.
The main room smells like fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls.
Rafe nods from the kitchen where he’s pouring mugs.
Gavin sits at the long table with a laptop open.
Eli and Harlan are deep in conversation by the fireplace.
The women are in the corner near the big windows.
Harper bounces Poppi on her hip while Emma spreads toys across a thick blanket.
Fiona kneels beside Aidan, helping him stack colorful blocks.
Kayley sits cross-legged, reading a picture book to both kids even though Aidan is more interested in the blocks.
Silas kisses the top of my head. “Go join them. I’ll grab us plates.”
I cross the room and sink onto the blanket beside Kayley. Poppi spots me and reaches out chubby arms. I take her from Harper and settle her in my lap. She grabs a fistful of my shirt and babbles happily.
“Hey, little one,” I say, bouncing her gently. “You’re getting big.”
Harper smiles. “She’s a tank. Eats like her uncle Rafe.”
I laugh and look around at the other women. They’re all watching me with easy warmth. No judgment. No questions about yesterday. Just acceptance.
“So,” I start, keeping my voice light, “how do you like living up here? I mean… really like it?”
Fiona leans back on her hands. “Honestly? When I first showed up I had zero plans to stay. I was running from my own mess, thought I’d crash for a week or two and move on.
But this place…” She glances toward Chase, who’s talking low with Silas across the room.
“It grows on you. The quiet. The people. Before I knew it I didn’t want to leave. ”
Emma nods. “Same. I came for only a little bit. That was supposed to be it. Then Rhett happened.” She smiles softly. “Now I can’t picture being anywhere else. It’s family. Real family. They don’t let you go once you’re in.”
Kayley closes the book and sets it aside. “I didn’t even plan to come here. Gavin brought me up after some bad stuff went down in town. I was scared out of my mind. Thought I’d be a burden. But everyone just… took me in. Aidan too. Now this mountain is home. I wouldn’t trade it.”
Harper reaches over and squeezes my knee. “And you? How are you feeling about it?”
I look down at Poppi, who’s tugging on my hair. “It’s… a lot. In the best way. I never thought I’d find somewhere that felt safe like this.”
Harper’s smile turns knowing. “Silas is smitten with you. Never seen him like this. He’s always protective, but with you? It’s next level. Possessive in the sweetest way. The man looks at you like you hung the moon.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “He’s… intense.”
“He’s in love,” Fiona says plainly. “Give it time. You’ll see.”
Kayley grins. “We’re all rooting for you two. You fit here, Hannah. You fit with him.”
Poppi chooses that moment to pat my cheek with a sticky hand. I kiss her palm and feel something loosen in my chest. These women aren’t just being kind. They’re letting me in. No strings. No conditions.
Silas appears with two plates piled with cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, and bacon.
He sets mine in front of me and drops a quick kiss on my lips before sitting on the blanket beside me.
The kids swarm him immediately. Aidan climbs into his lap and demands to be bounced. Silas obliges, grinning wide.
Breakfast passes in easy chatter. The men drift over in waves, refilling coffee, teasing the kids, checking in. When the plates are cleared Silas stands and offers me his hand.
“Walk with me?”
I take it. We say goodbye to the group and head back to the cabin. The path is shaded, needles crunching under our boots. His thumb strokes the back of my hand in slow circles.
Inside he locks the door and turns to me. No words. Just heat in his eyes. He backs me against the wall, hands framing my face, and kisses me like he’s been starving for it. I melt into him, fingers digging into his shoulders.
He lifts me without breaking the kiss. My legs wrap around his waist. He carries me to the couch and sits with me straddling him. His hands slide under the flannel, palms hot on my bare skin. I rock against him, feeling how hard he already is through his jeans.
“God, I want you again,” he mutters against my throat. “Can’t get enough.”
I tug his shirt up. He helps me pull it off. My hands roam his chest, tracing scars and muscle. He groans when I scrape my nails lightly down his abs.
He flips us so I’m under him on the couch.
The flannel falls open. He stares at my breasts like they’re a gift.
“You’re so beautiful.” He lowers his head and takes one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard enough to make me arch.
His hand slips between us, cupping me through my jeans. “Already wet for me?”
“Yes,” I gasp. “Always.”
He rubs slow circles over the denim. “Gonna take my time with you later. Right now I just need to taste you.”
He kisses his way down my body, unbuttoning my jeans, tugging them off along with my panties. I’m bare under him. He spreads my thighs and looks up at me with pure hunger.
“Mine,” he says, voice rough. Then his mouth is on me.
I cry out at the first swipe of his tongue. He licks me slow and thorough, savoring every sound I make. One finger slides inside me, then two, curling just right. I thread my fingers through his hair and hold on. He groans against me like he’s the one being pleasured.
When I come it’s fast and bright. He works me through it, licking gently until I’m trembling and oversensitive.
He climbs back up my body and kisses me deep. I taste myself on his tongue. His erection presses against my thigh, insistent.
“Your turn?” I whisper, reaching for his belt.
He catches my wrist. “Later. Right now I just want to hold you.”
He pulls me on top of him, arms wrapping around me tight. I rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. His fingers stroke through my hair in long, soothing pulls.
“You okay?” he asks quietly.
“Better than okay.” I press a kiss to his collarbone. “I think I could get used to this.”
He tightens his hold. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go.”
We stay like that for a long time, tangled together on the couch, the cabin quiet around us.
For the first time in forever I let myself believe it might stay that way.