37. Evan
THIRTY-SEVEN
EVAN
Two painfully slow weeks later, I was standing in the Montana sunshine, staring at the huge wooden door of the lodge as Val finished her meeting with Ma.
I still couldn’t believe she was back in Montana, that it had all worked out.
When I’d entered the Witness Protection Program, I thought it would be a different kind of prison sentence.
What had started out a prison of my own making ended up being the exact thing that freed me—from my old life, from the limits I put on myself, from every regret I had about the choices I had made.
I knew I didn’t deserve a second chance. I sure as fuck didn’t deserve Val, but if she said I was the man to make her happy, I’d spend the rest of my life making sure I could live up to that. She would have zero regrets when we were through.
“Looks like you did it.” Scotty approached from behind, and I turned to shake his hand.
“Yeah.” I sighed a breath. “Still can’t believe I convinced her to come back. ”
“Nah. You deserve this.” His smile was slow and easy. “Val does too.”
“Thank you. For letting a piece of shit like me have a fresh start.”
He nodded. “You’re a good guy. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“Now you’ll be working with my girl. Don’t let her kick your ass.”
His face shadowed. “Unfortunately, I won’t have the pleasure. I’ve been reassigned.”
I turned to face him. “Oh?”
“Voluntary transfer.” His voice was thick and laced with something I didn’t know him well enough to recognize. When Gemma came bounding out the door arm in arm with Val, his face transformed into a painful scowl as he walked away.
Huh.
“Are you not dying that you’re home?” Gemma’s bubble of excitement overshadowed any questions I had about Scotty and why it seemed to pain him to look at Gemma.
Val laughed and hugged my little sister. “It’s unreal. I’m so happy.” Val dipped her head toward Gemma. “I’m sorry I was an asshole and didn’t call.”
She shrugged. “Hey, I get it. It’s all good. Hashtag Team Val.” She bumped her hip with Val, and my chest warmed.
My family .
Work, friendship, family, love. Everything I needed I had right here in the strange little town of Tipp, Montana. I couldn’t wait to bring Val to town and see Johnny and Al and everyone else that had been asking after her. They were going to lose their minds when they found out she’s back.
“Hey, that one’s mine.” The deep rumble of my voice had Val’s head whipping up and her pupils going wide.
Pleasure skittered over my skin. I fucking loved she reacted to me that way.
I stood, my arms crossed over my chest as her eyes soaked me up from bottom to top.
Fuck, she looked so good in faded jeans that hugged her muscular thighs and stretched across the curve of her ass.
She looked damn good. My mouth went dry, and a heaviness settled between my thighs.
“Hey, handsome.” She beamed at me. This was really happening.
“Sorry, Gem. I’m stealing her.”
Gemma stuck out her tongue like a brat and waved as she walked away.
“Come with me.” I bundled her up in the truck, and we headed toward my cabin.
Our cabin.
The short drive was full of tangled hands, neck kisses, and low groans.
She couldn’t keep her hands off me. Her hands slid over my thighs and squeezed.
Her fingertips grazed the slices of muscle across my abdomen.
My fingers flexed around the steering wheel, trying to keep the truck on the road as we made our way back.
I threw the truck in park and rounded the hood.
I dragged Val from the truck and hoisted her up over my shoulder like a caveman.
She squealed and pretended to fight it. With a smack to her ass and a squeeze, I carried her through the door of the cottage—our temporary home—with a hearty laugh.
The sound was foreign to me, deep and rumbling and genuine. Val lit me up from the inside.
Heat flooded across my chest and my cock thickened.
My hand rubbed and squeezed the back of her thigh as I stalked toward the bedroom.
Once inside, I flipped her on the bed. She bounced and laughed, but her giggle was silenced when I covered her body with mine.
Our mouths fused, and her hips bucked up to meet me.
I wanted to tear the clothes from her body. Rip them to shreds as I fucked her hard and deep. I needed to slow down. Savor every curve. My rough hands moved up her rib cage, taking her shirt with me. Val’s full breasts filled her lace bra, and my mouth when dry.
“So fucking perfect.” I bent to tease her nipple through the black lace. She sucked in a breath, and I clamped down harder. Her hands threaded through my hair on a moan. I ground my hips into hers as her legs wound around my waist.
My breath left my lungs as I look down at this gorgeous woman.
My woman.
I wanted to worship her. Fill her and pour every ounce of my love into her. I framed her face in my palms. “I love you.”
Before she could speak, I laid a gentle kiss on her, trailing my mouth down her throat. My hand cupped the back of her neck and kneaded the muscles there. I wanted her ready, pliant, and aching.
I was hungry for her, but I forced myself to draw out the kiss.
Slowly I peeled the clothes from her body.
I reached behind my head to rip off my shirt and get rid of my pants and boxer briefs.
On her back, Val parted her knees, revealing the glistening slick of her pussy.
I dipped my head low, pressing the flat of my tongue against her from bottom to top.
Val gasped, raking her nails against my scalp, and hot tingles crawled down my torso.
I could feel her getting close. I needed to bury myself inside her.
I leaned back, one hand holding my cock and giving it a long stroke.
Val sat up, leaned in, and took my cock in her mouth.
The center of my chest was hot and heavy.
The soft skin of the back of her throat flexed around the head of my cock, and I moaned.
Her satisfied giggle vibrated through me, and I nearly came.
“Baby.” I held her hair, and she looked up at me, her plump lips stretched around my cock.
Oh fuck.
It was brutal, keeping myself from surging forward. I leaned back and shifted her hips so she was settled on top of me. My cock teased the center of her heat.
“Yes, Evan. I want to feel you.” She was breathless, waiting.
Val’s mouth met mine as I angled my hips and pulled her over my cock.
Her pussy was hot and tight, and my cock pulsed at how perfectly we fit together.
Val’s legs wrapped around me. I held her torso flush with mine as we sat, wrapped in each other.
She began to rock her hips, and I matched her rhythm.
She moaned as she used my cock to chase her release.
“That’s it, baby. Grind that clit against the base of my cock.”
Val’s head lolled to the side, and I used the opportunity to kiss and suck the thin skin of her neck. Her pulse beat wildly out of control. I used my strength to pull her hips farther down my cock. Slow and hard and deep, I fucked the woman I love.
Val’s arms wrapped around my head, and we both panted hard as we got closer and closer. The familiar pulse of her pussy sent a hot ball of pleasure racing down my spine. “You’re close, baby. I can feel you. Come on this cock.”
At my words, Val’s heat exploded around me, and I couldn’t hold back. My cock pumped, hard and rhythmic as I released into her. We rode the waves of our orgasms together. We were a hot, sweaty, sticky mess, but I held on to her. I couldn’t let go.
Val shifted but I held her tighter. “Stay here. Stay here with me.”
She leaned back to look at me. Her deep-brown eyes, heavy with pleasure, were the most gorgeous sight I’d ever witnessed. “I’m here.”
The glow of the clock illuminated the small bedroom. Nothing about the cottage was enough for what Val deserved. We’d spent hours making love, sleeping, rolling over to make love again. I was gentle, sure she would be sore, if she wasn’t already.
The soft red glow illuminated her skin as I trailed my fingertips down her back. With my head propped on my hand, I memorized every curve of her body. Val was sleepy, her eyelids heavy, and a soft smile played at her lips.
“Tired?”
“Mmm.” She was nearly asleep.
“This is everything. I want to give you everything you deserve. Thank you for coming home.”
Val looked at me and smiled. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
My chest tightened. I would fight for this woman for the rest of my life. “Marry me.”
Her eyes searched mine, her sleepy smile growing wide. “Really?”
“Be my wife. I’ll make you coffee, tell you bad jokes, whatever it takes. I will be the man that gives you the life you deserve.”
Val shifted, pushing me on my back. A curtain of her hair cocooned us.
“Yes.” She planted a kiss on my lips. “Yes.” Another kiss.
“Yes.” An elated giggle erupted from her as I wrapped my arms around her and tickled her side.
We laughed and rolled around the bed. I felt brighter than I ever had, the darkness inside me dulled to a small, faded shadow.
My light .