The marrying kind, p.8
The Marrying Kind, page 8
He planted a kiss on his grandmother’s cheek, and then it was Logan’s turn. He also opened a box that contained knit mittens, this time in forest green.
Noah’s gift was gray mittens. Austen’s was black mittens. My package had pale pink mittens. Natalie’s were beige.
Everyone acted surprised, and it had become a running joke by then.
The last person up was Rachel, and she tore into her box saying, “I wonder what on earth this could be.” The smile on her face turned to a look of shock as she pulled out the world’s tiniest set of yellow mittens. Baby-size.
“Very subtle, Nana,” Austen said with a laugh.
Natalie high-fived her mother while Rachel and Noah smiled at each other.
This family had a clear mission to grow, and that was just one more reason why I needed to make sure that I carefully pruned these feelings.
Natalie passed around gifts she’d gotten everyone next, and mine was the most incredible-smelling bottle of perfume that was made locally. “Now you can bring a bit of Kodiak Canyon with you wherever you go,” she said.
“Thank you so much. I love it.” And I really did.
As the gift-opening frenzy died down, Austen carried over a box for me. Inside was a cozy sweatshirt with fuzzy embroidery on the chest that read KODIAK CANYON.
There was some cosmic joke in there too . . . branding me with a permanent reminder of everything I’d found here . . . but I thanked him and hugged him all the same, lingering a little too long with my face in his warm, woodsy-smelling neck. If I didn’t keep myself in check, I would find myself stuck on the couch next to him for the next fifty years, sipping hot toddies by the fire.
Shit. That sounded pleasant.
But, no. I had a whole wide world waiting for me, and I needed to see it.
Noah and Austen disappeared outside to grab more firewood from the shed, and Rachel came over to sit down beside me.
“Dottie’s pretty clever.” I smiled.
Rachel shook her head, laughing. “She likes to think so. So . . . is Kodiak Canyon the kind of place you could see yourself settling down someday?”
Whoa. Talk about a question out of left field.
I shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know,” I said, stalling. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
Rachel’s mouth pressed into a line. “Gotcha. I must have misunderstood then. I overheard Austen and Noah talking.” She waved one hand in front of her face. “Never mind.”
Now I was curious. “What did they say?”
Her gaze met mine with an uncertain expression. Like she wasn’t sure she should be telling me this. “Austen was thinking maybe you’d consider putting down roots. But like I said, I must have misunderstood.”
An uneasy feeling settled inside me. I thought I’d been pretty clear with Austen. We were just having fun. Weren’t we? My chest felt tight—and not in a good way. In a I might be having a panic attack kind of way.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” I asked, trying to make polite conversation, even though my head was spinning with questions about what exactly she might have overheard.
Rachel filled me in on some of the details—they wanted a spring wedding and were writing their own vows—but I was completely distracted. I managed to nod and smile at the right times, though. I think.
Later, in the kitchen, I helped Natalie with the dishes as the night wound down.
“What’s on your adventure list tomorrow?” she asked as she swirled a sponge around a pan and then handed it to me.
I ran it under the warm water and watched all the soapy residue drip into the sink. “I’m thinking I’ll hoof it over to the Grand Canyon next. Everyone should at least see it once in their life, I figure. Plus, the warmer weather would be welcome. I need to invest in some gear like you have to tough it out next time I’m somewhere snowy.”
Natalie looked at me as I rambled, no longer scrubbing the pan in her hand. Her lips tugged down in the corners. “But you only just got here.”
“You’ve all been amazing hosts, and I’m so grateful. But I don’t want to wear out my welcome. And I have a lot more items to cross off my bucket list.”
Not that there weren’t still plenty I could do in this town, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. She didn’t need to know that the way her son kissed me and called me princess was giving me ideas that I couldn’t fulfill. Maybe if she knew that I could never give her grandbabies, she’d be packing me a to-go sandwich and waving me off with more gusto.
“At least keep my boots and jacket, in case you run into snow on your travels. I can get another.”
I shook my head. “No, I couldn’t.”
Plus, I was pretty sure that snow would just remind me of Austen, and then I might start longing for his kisses again.
“But thank you for everything, Natalie. Seriously. I didn’t know there were people like you in the world.”
“Are you sure you have to go?” she asked one more time.
“I’m sure,” I said with finality as I tightened my mouth into a little line to keep myself from getting emotional.
“Because you seem to fit in awfully well here. I feel like I’ve known you forever. Kodiak Canyon looks good on you, honey.”
I looked down at the sweatshirt Austen had gotten me. I’d changed into it right away at his insistence, and I chuckled. Swinging my arms to the sides, I twisted left and right to show it off.
“You’re too kind, and I do love it here.” I stopped my little dance and let my face go serious again. “But, yes, I’m sure I have to go.”
Just then, Austen came up behind me and tickled me under my armpits. I wasn’t expecting it, so I yelped and dropped a pan in the sink as I whirled around to fend him off.
Dammit. Why did he have to be so cute?
“Mom, you’re hogging Ella. Can I have her back now?” he asked, giving her his puppy-dog eyes.
Natalie’s face looked so sad as she looked between Austen and me. Like I had just told her that her house had burned down or something. On it was devastation that I didn’t completely understand.
She raised a brow at me, a subtle little question, and then I guessed what she was thinking. Does he know yet?
I shook my head, just once and ever so slightly. She dropped her shoulders and nodded.
“Go,” she said simply.
Austen grabbed my hand to drag me away before he tucked me into his side. The easy touch felt so good, it hurt my chest a little.
“Can we go home yet?” he murmured in my ear.
I wished my knees didn’t melt so easily at the feeling of his warm breath on my neck, but they did. Total jellification.
Shit.
14
* * *
EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS
Ella
Twenty minutes later, Austen and I had said our good-byes, and I’d thanked everyone approximately one hundred times for the gifts I wasn’t expecting but loved. And then Austen and I were stepping through the door to his cabin.
“It’s freezing out there,” I muttered while he kept a big strong arm around my shoulders, tucking me in close to his side. I closed and locked the front door.
“I’ll build you a fire.” He pressed a kiss to my temple and then made good on his promise.
I got cozy on the couch, pulling a throw blanket over myself, and watched him work. The memory of what happened on this very couch last night played through my head on a loop.
Austen and me lying together and sharing some very hot kisses.
Austen devouring me as I rode his face.
Austen groaning in pleasure while I returned the favor.
It had been so much more than I’d ever anticipated happening when I ventured down those stairs. But he’d made it perfect, and miraculously, I hadn’t felt at all self-conscious afterward. I’d just kissed him one last time and then gone back up to bed afterward.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t wanted to stay there in his arms—it was just that the couch was way too small for two people to sleep comfortably on, especially when one of those people was Austen-sized.
Well, that, and it wasn’t like he was my boyfriend. Hooking up was one thing, but cuddling after? I was fairly certain there were rules about that kind of thing.
Rules that I had no idea about because hookups had never been part of my repertoire.
But I liked the new Ella. She was bold and daring and all kinds of fun. Or maybe it was Austen who brought it out in me?
Before I could contemplate that thought further, Austen joined me on the couch, moving in close to press his lips to the side of my neck.
Heat raced through me at the contact, and of course my mind wandered—wondering if we’d have a repeat of last night. New Ella was all for it.
I turned my face until my lips found his, and Austen drew me into his arms.
My hands roamed, my fingertips skimming the rough stubble on his jaw before pushing into his hair. A rough groan escaped the back of his throat.
“Bedroom,” he grunted as his lips traveled along my neck, stopping at my collarbone.
Our cozy fire was soon forgotten, and I giggled as we made our way across the cabin to the stairs. Climbing them to the loft, Austen seemed incapable of keeping his hands to himself, but I wasn’t complaining.
Finally, at the top of the stairs, he spun me to face him and met my eyes. “You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispered.
I leaned in close, and my fingers brushed the front of his zipper. “I have some idea.”
He chuckled and then leaned in, lifting my chin toward his. His mouth met mine in a hot, urgent kiss, his tongue moving in confident strokes until I was practically squirming with need.
When Austen dropped to his knees on the floor in front of me, my lungs seized up. He tugged down my leggings and panties in one rough yank of the fabric, and then his mouth was all over me.
I guessed the blistering twelve-out-of-ten attraction I felt for him wasn’t one-sided. Austen seemed to need his mouth on me. Like he needed to touch and tease and taste me just to prove to himself that last night wasn’t a fluke. Needed to know that things really were this hot, this perfect between us.
“Haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he murmured with a groan, his mouth moving over my sensitive flesh.
My knees shook and trembled, and my fingers delved into his hair.
“Austen . . .”
I moaned, rocking my hips into the press of his talented tongue. His hands gripped my hips, his fingertips digging into my skin. The rough stubble on his jaw scraped pleasantly against my thighs, and I moaned again.
He seemed to have put some sort of magic spell over me, because for the second time in my life, I came apart faster than seemed possible. New Ella was seriously hot.
When Austen rose to his feet, his expression was pleased. And a whole lot aroused.
As we stumbled toward the bed, I worked on lowering his zipper. When I’d finally wrestled it down, I drew out his thick erection from his jeans.
He caressed my hair and gazed at me with an adoring expression as I stroked him.
Clothes were unbuttoned and pushed off. My sweatshirt landed on the floor, and my bra was flung to the far end of the room.
“Princess, fuck.” He groaned, enjoying the weight of my breasts in his hands.
Things were spiralling out of control fast, but I didn’t want to slow them down. “Condom?” I suggested helpfully.
“Top drawer.” His voice was rough, a little breathless sounding.
I reached into the drawer of the bedside table and located a box, handing him one of the foil packets, which Austen efficiently rolled on.
Once he was suited up, he moved on top of me, nuzzling my throat with hot kisses while his impressive erection pressed between my legs.
“You sure you want this?” he asked on a shaky exhale.
“Yes,” I murmured, my body already clenching with anticipation as he moved on top of me.
I wondered what had changed his mind. He was the one who’d said we shouldn’t do this. Said he was done with one-night stands and . . . what words did he use? Playing for keeps.
Reaching between us, I positioned him as Austen thrust forward. He filled me completely and we exhaled at the same time—the sound drenched in pleasure and relief and pure satisfaction.
It was almost too much, but when he withdrew and moved again, deeper this time, a rough gasp pushed past his parted lips.
“Holy shit, Ella. Princess.” He rasped out the words like he was every bit as shocked as I was.
I’d never expected sex between us to be like this. I thought it would be like scratching an itch, like a fun, daring stunt I’d look back on fondly. But this was something else entirely. I was consumed by this man.
Austen found a rhythm that made us moan in unison. I gave myself over to the experience completely, clinging to his muscles as pleasure rocketed through me.
“Kiss me.” He groaned into my cheek, and my lips found his in a hungry kiss. He kissed my lips, my neck, my collarbone, and whispered how perfect I was.
Austen was unlike any man I’d ever been with before. I was pretty sure I was always going to remember this moment—long after I’d left—which was a dangerous thought. I’d vowed not to get attached to anyone or anything. I was supposed to be living life only for myself now.
But somehow I knew that even after I’d moved on, I’d picture his strong arms holding me close, his muscular chest rising with each shaky breath, his trim hips moving in a deep, steady rhythm.
And most of all, I’d remember the cherished way he made me feel. Like this wasn’t just sex. Like this moment meant the world to him.
Only after my second orgasm did Austen finally let go, finding his own release with a deep groan of satisfaction that he murmured into my throat. Afterward, he dealt with the condom, but he didn’t head downstairs like I expected he might.
Instead, he climbed back into bed and pulled me close, covering us with the blankets, and held me until I was sleepy.
15
* * *
SECRETS REVEALED
Austen
“Good grief!”
Ella gasped with a startle as she woke up to find me staring at her. I leaned into her and kissed her lightly.
“Sorry.” I chuckled. “You look cute when you sleep. Even that little wheezing sound from one nostril . . . adorable.”
“I do not make a nostril wheezing sound!” she promptly protested, which earned me a chuckle and more kisses.
“Don’t worry, it was cute,” I teased, and then rolled over to let her know just how eager I was this morning.
The feel of my excitement seemed to do the trick. She was quickly giving in to her own desire, and pretty soon I was buried inside her while she gripped tightly onto my shoulders.
Remember all my protests about not hooking up with Ella during her short visit here? Yeah, those were out the window.
Everything was going according to plan. I was sweeping this girl off her feet, and I knew it.
When we finally made it downstairs, though, my worries inflated as her face fell when she clocked the two feet of fresh snow piled atop her car. The flurries were still falling, fast, thick, and mockingly.
Why did she look so disappointed to have a snow day with me? I wanted to ask but couldn’t brave the question. The universe had sent me a snow day with Ella, and I was going to make the most of it.
“What do you want for breakfast, princess?”
“French toast?” she asked.
“As you wish.” I winked at her.
“Are you quoting The Princess Bride?” She cocked a curious eyebrow at me.
Busted. I totally was, which meant I’d just given myself away.
“Never heard of it,” I said, shrugging it off. I wanted to woo her, not scare her.
“Uh-huh.” She eyed me warily. “I’ll grab the eggs.”
“And I’ll get the bread. I do cinnamon and vanilla in the batter. Is that okay with you?”
She smirked at me in that easy way, and I couldn’t help but run my hands over her hips while we passed each other to gather more supplies. “That’s how I do it too.”
“Great minds think alike.” I sang the words as I beat a couple of eggs in a dish, adding a splash of milk along with the other ingredients. Ella already had a pile of bread on a plate and a pan heating on the stove.
It could be like this every morning, my hopeful heart felt the need to point out to me.
When I passed her the bowl of liquid, she started dipping the bread and placing slices into the pan. The bread hissed.
That bread and I had one thing in common . . . where Ella’s hands were involved, we sizzled.
I patted her butt again twice for good measure before finishing making us coffee. She took her cup from me with a sated smile and sipped.
“How is it possible that coffee here just tastes better?” She gazed at the cup as if it might answer her.
“That’s because I made it with love, obviously,” I said, braving the cheesy comment.
As she flipped the French toast in the pan, I switched from patting her butt to outright rubbing myself against it.
“Mmm.” I hummed involuntarily at the feeling. I could live here, pressed up against her soft body. Forward my mail.
When she rocked back into me, I took the invitation and tugged her pants down a little bit to reveal creamy skin. Tugging her hips into me, I inhaled against her neck.
“What about breakfast?” she reminded me as I lifted her shirt and began kissing her lower back, my hands rubbing up her thighs.
Her protest was weak, obviously, because she kept arching into me, enticing me. We’d only just finished upstairs fifteen minutes ago, but I was ready to go again.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough of Ella. I didn’t want to get enough of her. That was the point to finding a wife. She would be yours forever. I’d get to pat her perfect bottom over coffee until I keeled over. What a thought . . .
