Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Veronica
It’s so quiet on the mountain after the crowded pub and the lively festival. The air is cool and fresh with the gentle kind of cold that kisses your cheeks instead of biting them.
The bright, silvery full moon is lighting our way, stars glittering between the bare branches, as we walk through the untouched snow.
I’m heading to Boone’s place for the night.
It’s something I thought I’d never do. Something I never even considered doing before…
Spending the night with a man I just met.
I didn’t think I had it in me. I don’t really, not for anyone but Boone.
I can feel it vibrating deep in my bones, radiating out from my core, that feeling pounding in my heart… I’m his. And he’s mine.
We belong together. We want each other. So why fight it?
Leanne left with the lumberjack and I didn’t feel like going back to the hotel by myself. I couldn’t even picture leaving this man’s side. Not when curling up with him in a bed, feeling his big strong arms around me was an option.
We’re heading there now, walking up the mountain on foot, but to be honest, if he keeps looking at me like that, I’m not sure we’ll even make it to the cabin.
“Are you sure?” he asks for the tenth time. “I don’t mind carrying you.”
I smile as I put my hand on his arm. “I’m fine, Boone. I’m enjoying the hike.”
He’s so cute. Looking out for me already.
We follow a narrow path that winds up through the trees. It’s so peaceful up here. So quiet. No car horns. No sirens. No street lights.
We walk in silence for a moment, but it’s not awkward. It’s comfortable. The kind of silence that married couples have after decades of love.
The kind of comfortable silence a couple has to earn, but for some reason, it comes naturally to us.
I’m present in the moment, which doesn’t happen for me too often. My mind settles, and for once my thoughts aren’t racing ahead with work deadlines, news stories, and ratings.
They’re here.
In this moment.
With him.
I slide my gloved hand into his bare hand and he just holds it like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“So, do you let your bear wander around out here?”
I’m so curious about that grizzly bear. I want to know everything about him. I saw it in adorable mode eating that candy cane and in freak out mode charging at the officers, but what’s in between? What does it do? What is living with him like?
“This is his territory,” Boone says in that deep raspy voice I’m quickly getting addicted to. “I let him out and he wanders all over these mountains.”
“And you just… watch? From inside?”
He nods. “Yeah. I watch and experience the world through his eyes and nose and other senses.”
“What’s that like?”
He thinks about it for a moment, taking his time which I love.
There’s no rush with Boone. He doesn’t use a lot of words, so each one is carefully chosen and deliberate.
It’s so different from the men at the station with their pretty looks and their loose mouths that won’t stop running, spewing every thought that comes to their head, even though they should probably keep ninety-nine percent of those thoughts to themselves.
“I guess it’s like putting on a VR headset that lets you smell every scent in the forest.”
“Is he like… dangerous to me?”
The fierceness in his eyes as he looks at me makes my pulse race. “Never. He would die protecting you, Veronica. You’re his mate too. You now have a thousand pound grizzly bear who would kill anyone who threatens you.”
“Oh,” I say, taken aback. “I’m not sure if I need that, but good to know, I guess.”
He smiles at me. “You’ll see. You two will be good friends.”
I drop my eyes to the snow, thinking about that. I never thought I’d be friends with a grizzly bear. I don’t even know what that would look like. Although, I am pretty curious about it.
“He’s the one who never gave up hope that you’d show up,” he says with a heavy sigh. “He never stopped believing.”
“And you?” I whisper. “Did you stop believing?”
He takes a few deep breaths as we walk up the mountain. The only sound is our footsteps.
“I did,” he finally says. “I gave into cynicism and doubt. I guess I had convinced myself that I didn’t want you.”
“Oh,” I say.
He stops and turns to me, takes my hands in his. The loving look he gives me makes my knees wobble.
“I was wrong,” he says with an undeniable certainty in his tone. “My grizzly was right. I never should have doubted fate. Look how perfect you are, Veronica. I can’t believe you’re real.”
Our eyes are locked on one another. I can’t look away.
The air between us crackles, thick and hot despite the cold.
We move together, our bodies taking over. Our souls are on the same wavelength. Our hearts speak the same language. I melt into his big arms and drop my gaze to his sexy mouth. I love his lips. I love his beard. I love his eyes. I love his nose.
He lets out a deep moan as our mouths come together, him dipping down, me stepping up. When our lips touch, it’s like a flood of warmth bursting inside me.
His kiss is soft and gentle at first. Sweet and romantic for such a big powerful man. I can tell he’s being gentle with me, scared he’s going to be too rough and hurt me.
But I’m his mate, and I can take it. I want to feel him losing control.
I slide my tongue into his mouth with a hungry moan, grabbing his flannel sweater in my fists as I pull his body against mine.
My breasts press into his chest. My hard nipples tingle for more.
His grip on me tightens.
Yes. Yes...
He growls as he tastes me…
And then he kisses me harder, passionate, losing all control. I turn to jelly as I feel his strong arms wrapping around me, pulling me close. He claims my mouth with his. Making me certain that I belong to him. Forever.
I gasp as I cling to him, feeling his powerful hand moving to the back of my neck, grabbing my hair, tilting my head back to kiss me even deeper.
Every stroke of his tongue makes my legs weaker.
Every move of his lips makes me unravel a little more.
Like he’s kissing every defense I ever had right out of my body.
Any bit of doubt that I shouldn’t be here—evaporated.
Any shred of hesitation—obliterated. Any prudish thought—gone. I want him. All of him.
“Boone…” I whisper against his mouth, but it comes out like a plea. Like a confession. Like a request for more.
He answers with another growl, low and possessive. It rumbles through me, leaving me shaken. His chest is flush to mine, his breath hot on my cheek, his fingers tightening in my hair like he’s terrified I might float away from him.
“You have no idea,” he rasps, kissing down the corner of my mouth, “what you’re doing to me.”
I shiver, my hands sliding over the round curves of his shoulders, gripping them, needing him closer even though he’s already pinning me to his body.
The spot on my neck is tingling so hard, it’s aching. It’s desperate for his lips. For his mark.
His mouth descends back onto mine and I whimper into his mouth.
“I’ve waited my whole damn life for this,” he whispers, voice rough with awe and want. “For you.”
His thumb traces my lower lip as he watches my mouth with a hunger that sends a tremor straight to my core.
My breath catches. My heart feels too big for my chest.
He leans in, brushing his lips over mine, soft now, reverent. “Tell me you feel it too.”
I do. God, I do.
The bond.
The pull.
The certainty.
This wild, impossible knowing that I’m meant to be exactly here, on a snowy mountain in the middle of the night with a man who looks at me like I’m the only thing he’s ever wanted.
“I feel everything,” I whisper. “I feel so much it scares me.”
Boone exhales like I just saved him from drowning. His forehead presses to mine, his hands sliding down my sides, strong and shaking.
“Don’t be scared,” he growls softly. “This is exactly where you’re meant to be.”
Those big sexy arms scoop me up and he starts carrying me to his cabin, not taking no for an answer this time.
And this time I let him.
He moves up the mountain at an unnatural speed, dropping his eyes every few steps to make sure I’m okay, and to make sure I’m still here.
I just keep my eyes on him, memorizing every inch of his gorgeous face.
I only look away when his cabin comes into view. Curiosity gets the better of me and I turn my head. It’s an adorable log cabin tucked away between the trees, carefully maintained with a porch with only one chair. He’s going to have to build another one soon. I don’t plan on leaving.
The scent of smoke from the fire inside fills the air, giving the place a homey vibe as he carries me to the door.
He opens it and brings me inside, kicking the door closed and heading straight for the bed.
He doesn’t even stop to take off his boots.
I push mine off, but they land somewhere in the hallway.
As soon as he lowers me onto the mattress, I start yanking off mittens and my hat and my scarf and my jacket.
Boone steps back, his hungry eyes never leaving my body as he kicks off his boots and pulls off his flannel sweater.
It’s like being together is too painful, and we crash back into each other, our mouths kissing, our hands pulling and yanking off more clothing.
I grab his T-shirt and pull it over his head. He growls as he’s forced to take his lips off mine.
“Hold on,” I gasp, putting my hand on his bare chest as he comes lunging back in for another kiss.
“You okay?” he asks in a strained voice. I can feel his heart pounding under my palm.
“I just want to see,” I say, taking a second to roam my ravenous eyes over his chiseled torso and hairy chest. His broad shoulders and muscular arms are so sexy. I can’t take it.
“Have enough of a look?” he asks, impatient to get back to it.
“No,” I say with a gasp. “Never.”
He grins and growls, swooping back in and cupping my cheeks as he claims my mouth with his hungry lips and delicious tongue.
He pulls off my shirt, making my hair a mess, as I work on his buckle, yanking out the leather strap.
I moan when I feel his strong hands squeezing my breasts. He pulls down my bra, setting them free, and then cups and massages them as he kisses me again, groaning hungrily into my mouth. I quickly reach behind my back, undo the clasp, and toss my bra across the room.
“You’re so sexy,” he growls as I get his belt open and yank down the zipper.
I reach into his underwear and my palm is immediately greeted by a long, hard, rock solid cock. His whole body quakes as I wrap my hand around his shaft and squeeze it.
He pulls away from my mouth, gritting his teeth as I slide my hand up his length.
“Fucking hell, Veronica,” he hisses. “It feels so good.”
He pulls his pants and underwear down, stepping out of them as I drop down to get a closer look.
He’s massive.
Big and hard and beautiful.
It’s a gorgeous cock.
“Lick your hand,” he demands in a growl while I stroke it.
I lick my palm and then start stroking him easier, moving my clenched hand up and down his big dick, loving the way his broad shoulders are shaking, the sharp breaths he’s taking.
I sink down slowly, never breaking eye contact, feeling the air thicken around us. He watches every movement like he’s memorizing me, like he’s starving for it.
“Fuck,” he growls, voice jagged. “Look at you. I can’t believe I didn’t want this.”
I bite my lip, my whole body shaking with want.
He drops his head back and moans as I take him in. I clench my lips around his thick shaft and start sucking his big beautiful cock.
“Yes,” he growls, sinking his hands into my hair. “Fuck, yes. My sexy little mate knows how to use her mouth.”
I squeeze his thick base and push him in until my jaw aches and my eyes fill with tears.
He’s so damn big.
“Veronica…” His voice breaks, raw and desperate. “Look at me.”
I take him out of my mouth, but continue stroking as I look up into his brown eyes. They’re glowing more golden then ever.
“You’re mine. You know that, don’t you?”
I nod, trembling. “Yes.”
“Say it,” he demands.
“I’m yours.”
“I want you to know,” he says as I run my clenched hand up and down his towering cock. “I’ve never had anybody else. Never wanted anybody else. Never even considered it. It’s you only. Then, now, and forever.”
I swallow hard as I look at the massive throbbing cock in my hand and realize I’m the only one to touch it, to see it like this, to feel it inside me.
“I’ve never been with anyone else either,” I whisper as I look up at him, trembling a little.
He nods like he already knows. His palm slides down my cheek and cups my jaw gently.
“Good girl,” he says.
It sparks something inside me. A fierce need to please him. To feel him unravel.
I put him back in my mouth and suck hard, loving the sound of his possessive growls and sharp breaths.
It’s not long before I make him lose control. Before I set him off. Before I shatter him to pieces.
His chest is rising and falling in hard, uneven shudders.
His free hand fists uselessly at his thigh, like he’s fighting a losing battle with himself.
Like he’s seconds from tearing apart.
“Oh, fuck,” he hisses as I suck him harder, deeper. “You’re going to make me—”
He breaks off with a groan that’s half warning, half surrender. His fingers tighten in my hair, not pulling me closer, just holding on—barely.
He looks down at me again, eyes wild, gold flaring through the brown.
“My mate,” he growls. “My perfect little mate—look at me.”
I do.
And it ruins him.
I hold him in deep as he releases with a carnal roar.
I moan, my pussy throbbing, as I feel his warm cum filling my mouth.
My chest warms as I swallow him down, stroking and sucking until he picks me up with those big demanding hands and lowers me onto my back.
“You’re mine now,” he growls, his eyes practically gold as he spreads my legs. “It’s my turn.”