Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
VIRGIL
N ever felt this kind of longing in my life.
My hands are in her hair, tongue tasting her. Need building at the base of my spine until it threatens to break me.
She inches back, cheeks flushed, eyes simmering. Her hands go to her jeans, tugging the button. I take over, shivers running the length of my spine at the sound of the zipper whirring.
Jeans. Panties. God, I can’t breathe, noticing the dark wet swatch pressed into the red silk and lace.
“Festive,” I manage, bringing them to my nose, smelling deep before my tongue darts out tasting them. “My flavor,” I groan.
God, I’m a goner.
Her hand comes up, rubbing over the hard ridge in my pants. I close my eyes, letting my head fall back, taking in the sensation for one long moment. But then I still her hand, dropping to my knees between her legs.
“You first,” I grunt, sliding my hands up her impossibly soft inner thighs, parting her legs, one over each shoulder. Then I kiss my way slow and tender up to her heat.
My forefinger and thumb splay her open, tongue sliding across her. She gasps, hips inching up, breath catching in her throat. My beard tickles her inner thighs.
She giggles and writhes beneath me, bucking toward me again with each slide of my tongue. Then, a slow circle. Dangerously slow before I lap and suck her with a deep draw.
Her cheeks flush, breath coming fast. Too fast, like she’ll hyperventilate. Or come undone too soon.
“Wait,” I say firmly, head tipping up to catch the ecstasy written all over her face. My ecstasy.
I slide one thick finger inside. She moans, eyes rolling back, head lolling. So damn slick. So ready she already flutters and tightens around me.
“That’s it, wild thing,” I praise. “You’re doing so good. Relaxing for me so well. Need to feel you come on me. All over my face.”
She whimpers.
“But not yet. Not until I tell you.”
That has her spasming around me. Legs shaking, holding back.
I smile wickedly, diving back in. Two fingers this time. She moans and screams. Makes sounds I’ve never heard before. God, I love it. I love her. Her flavor. Her movements. The way she comes a little more undone with each stroke, each lick.
So damn responsive. I’ll never get enough.
Her breath quickens, racing now. Body spasming and slick around me. Hips pressing into my face. Hand greedy and tangled in my hair. Keeping me right where she needs me.
She comes hard. So damn hard.
It shudders through me, nearly takes me with her.
I keep working, keep talking. Keep kissing and worshipping until she lies jointless on the bed, cheeks rosy and face relaxed and sated.
“Fuck, wild thing,” I whisper, running my hand over my drenched beard. “You’re damn well perfect.”
My vision blurs for a second.
Damn emotions.
After a moment, she giggles. “Wild thing?”
I chuckle low in my throat. “Can’t really bring bear wrangler into the bedroom, now can I?”
“You could,” she says, eyes darkening.
“Hmm, gonna have to think about that.”
Her arms reach up, drawing me to her. “Think later. You’re not done,” she whispers, lower lashes moist.
The clothes come off until there’s nothing between us but air. Her flesh against mine is hypnotic, addictive.
“You still sure about this?” I ask as she wraps her legs around my waist, and I hover over her, so close I can feel her desire.
“Never been so sure.”
That tightens my chest. Because I can see she means it, down to the depths of her soul, eyes locked with mine.
My eyes sting. Her hands come up, palming my cheeks. “Virgil, are you okay?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I strain, voice raw. “Just always thought I’d be second. The Plan B. That’s all.”
She shakes her head. “Never. I’m not settling for you. I want a life with you. A family with you.”
I take her slow then, our movements somehow merging with our breaths, our heartbeats. She’s slick against me. Wet velvet. All I need.
“You’re a lot,” she whispers, fighting for a breath as I angle my hips, running my head over the spot where she needs me.
“And you’re taking me so good.” I close my eyes, concentrating to hold it together despite the pulse encircling me, unraveling me thoroughly. “Could stay like this forever,” I grunt, eyes opening, locking with hers.
Shared breath. Shared pulse. Shared bodies.
For one breathless moment before we tip over the same cliff.
Together.
She screams, fingers digging into the blankets, gripping them as she urges me on. “Yes, Virgil. Yes. Please don’t stop.”
My fingers dig into her hips, riding hard and deep, unravelling on the same breaths, the same strangled sounds.
Surrendering to her.
To this.
Afterward, we lie together, just feeling each other. Savoring the moment. We’re one thing in a way I used to think was impossible.
Now I know better. Now I know there’s room for second chances. And the kind of love that I’d wait a lifetime for. The kind that snuck up on me and won’t let go.
Ever.
“What are you thinking about?” she asks, voice soft and warm, her body still tangled with mine. Jointless and sated.
I lift my head, straining to say it. The words come out raw, fought for. “How much you and the kids mean to me. This family.”
Her fingers find mine, sliding between them. “ Our family.”
I nod, fighting the sting in my throat. “Wish this hadn’t had to come at the cost of Bryson. He was a good man.”
Her indigo eyes meet mine, swirling with tears. "Bryson loved this mountain…”
Her voice breaks, and she goes quiet, fighting for the words.
“He loved us." She swipes at her cheeks, then at mine. I can’t believe she’s seeing me cry. And still here with me anyway. Sticking with me. Comforting me when she has every right to be the one needing comfort.
God.
“And somehow,” she says with a soft, sad smile, “he made sure we weren't alone."
Silence settles. Outside, snow whispers against the window pane. Inside, the hearth crackles with glowing flames.
Golden. Like the candles.
"I wish he could see them now,” she says, mind where mine is.
"Bryson?"
She nods.
I kiss the top of her head. "I think he can."
We still for a long, silent moment. Too many thoughts. Too many feelings.
Finally, she says, “Luke's going to be impossible."
I groan. "Helen may be worse."
She laughs. "You're right."
"I know I'm right."
"They're going to figure this out in five minutes."
"Pretty sure they figured it out awhile ago,” I say.
She nods, laughing softly. “You and me. The last to know.”
I turn, combing through her silky locks with my hand. I don't have enough words.
Not for this. Not for her.
“Luke wasn’t the only one lost, you know,” she sniffles, running her thumb over my bottom lip, fingers gliding through my beard. “I was lost, too… completely. Until you started showing up and helping me find a way back… to this… to home… to family.”
I lean in, taking her lips, moving slow and steady. When I pull back, only three words will do.
“I love you.”
She presses her lips together, fat tears gliding over her lower lashes. She doesn't need to say the words.
I already know.
"Go to sleep," I murmur.
"What about you?"
I glance toward the window where snow still drifts across the dark.
"I'll be here."
Her fingers tighten around mine.
"I know."
And for the first time in months, she closes her eyes without fighting it.