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  I didn’t bother saying where I was taking her to, just lifted her into my arms and turned to stride into the bedroom. “I need you in my bed, surrounded by my scent.” Fuck, I’d just said that. Thankfully she didn’t freak out, and instead moaned, like she liked hearing me say that shit.

  Good, because I want to say more.

  I had my mouth on hers once more, my tongue fucking her in the way my cock would soon enough.

  Once in the room, I kicked the door closed, set her back on her feet, and moved back an inch so I could be as naked as she was. When I was naked I noticed the way Mia glanced down at my cock. I felt the fucker jerk at that, knowing she was staring at it. I could have been a crude bastard and gripped the thick length, stroking it in front of her, but hell, this was our first time together.

  But not our last.

  She came closer, lifted her arm, and placed her hand on my chest. My entire body went tight when she ran her hand slowly over my pecs, down my abdomen, and stopped right above my cock. We were both breathing so hard, so heavily.

  Her touch was light, but it did so much to me, made me feel so many things. I didn’t know if that should frighten me. There weren’t a lot of things in this world that did, but Mia’s touch could have sent me to my knees.

  Hell, I wanted to worship the ground she walked on. I wanted to let her know that she had woken me up from this deep sleep; one I hadn’t even known I’d been taking. She made me feel alive, and I wanted to keep that sensation, that feeling that made me realize I’d been far lonelier than I thought.

  “How ready are you for me?” I asked low, deep. I was desperate to make her feel good, to show her she was perfect for me.

  “I’m so ready for you,” she said on a breathless whisper.

  “Get on the bed, let me show you how good I can make you feel.” I seriously could come without even being inside of her, just by looking at her. As she moved backward I took in my fill of her body. Her breasts were large and round, the nipples a dusky pink. And her pussy—Hell, I groaned at where my thoughts were going.

  I reached for my dick, no longer able to help myself, no longer able to control the lewd side of myself. I started stroking the fucker as I stared at her. I’d just told her I wanted her on the bed, but fuck, I wanted her next to me. “Come here, baby,” I said low, needing her close. She came to me right away, her motions slow because of her ankle. I should have gone to her, should have held her in my arms. And then I did that, reaching out and pulling her in close. When our bodies touched, naked flesh to bare skin, I grunted in pleasure.

  I walked us toward the bed, and then we were both falling onto the mattress. I didn’t care about anything else but being with Mia. She was warm and soft...perfection. With my mouth on her neck I nudged her thighs open so I could wedge myself between them. My cock was so damn hard, and pre-come was a steady constant at the tip. I felt her slick folds surround my dick, hot wetness that had me gritting my teeth and praying for self-control. When she moaned softly I started moving back and forth, working myself between her legs without penetrating her. “Move with me, baby, rock yourself on me, get off on this alone.”

  And when she started doing just that, her lower half moving in tandem with what I was doing, I groaned, not able to hold my eyes open any longer.

  “How does that feel?” I managed to croak out.

  “It feels so good,” she moaned.

  Fuck, I’d never felt so possessive of a woman before. I added a little more pressure, slipping my finger down her cleft, teasing her clit and running the pad of my thumb along her pussy hole. “This is mine.” I seemed to do all of it in unison, making her writhe beneath me, begging for more. “Say it,” I whispered harshly.

  “It’s yours. I’m yours.”

  Her admission shocked me, but holy hell, it pleased me more.

  I moved down the length of her body, my face right by her pussy, my hands on her inner thighs, keeping her legs spread for me. The scent of her washed over me, claiming me. I lifted my head and looked at her. “Let me make you feel good.” I tried to practice self-control. Fuck, it was hard. “You want that, baby? You want me to make you feel good, Mia?”

  “Yes.” She licked her lips, and I kept my gaze locked on hers as I leaned in and dragged my tongue through her cleft. She cried out, her back bowing, her breasts thrust out. I placed my hand on her belly, holding her still as I ate her out.

  Her flavor exploded along my taste buds. She was sweet, musky, and all mine. I gripped her thighs tightly, my fingers digging into her flesh. The silky-smooth feeling of her pussy along my tongue could have been my undoing, could have had me coming right now. I started rocking my hips against the mattress, dry-humping the hell out of it to relieve the pressure.

  I was grunting, groaning. She was moaning, crying out in pleasure. Over and over I licked and sucked on her, knowing I’d never get enough. I wanted to have my face buried between her thighs until my tongue was numb. The pressure in my balls was increasing, and I started rolling my hips against the bed, desperately needing Mia’s tight, wet heat surrounding my cock.

  When I felt her let go, when she finally gave me what I wanted, I moved my tongue over her in one long lick. I dragged my tongue from her pussy hole to her clit, sucking the little bud into my mouth. Only after that did I move up her body, my dick finally settling right on her soaked pussy, right where I needed to be.

  “Kiss me,” she murmured, and I didn’t deny her, didn’t deny either of us.

  I took her mouth in another hard, deep kiss. I grunted in pleasure, my hips jerking against her on their own.

  “More,” she said.

  I gave her all of me. I plunged my tongue inside, fucking her there.

  She panted against my mouth, spread her legs wider, and I pressed my hips farther into hers, my cock sliding right between her slit. I leaned back, bracing my hands beside her, and looked down at her. “I can’t handle how damn gorgeous you are,” I said. My voice was thick, deep. Her pussy was wet, pink and swollen. It was all for me. I needed to be inside of her now or I’d get off before this even really started. I grabbed my cock and finally placed the tip at her entrance.

  Staring at her face, I knew this wasn’t the end. This was the fucking beginning, no matter what.

  In one swift move, I buried my dick into her wet, tight pussy. She gasped. I groaned. She had her arms around my neck, her nails digging into my skin. I hissed, the feeling of pleasure and pain about to get me off.

  I started moving in and out of her slowly, trying to pace myself when all I wanted to do was pound the hell out of her. But then I felt her become even wetter, heard her breathing change, and saw her expression shift. I knew she was right here with me.

  And so I really started fucking her.

  Sweat started to coat my skin, my heart raced, and my balls were drawn up tight. I wanted to come so badly, but I didn’t want this to end. I pushed in deep.

  “Oh God,” she whispered.

  I couldn’t help but stare at her face, watching as pleasure covered her expression, morphing it into ecstasy. I pushed into her once more and stilled, feeling my muscles relax and contract, repeating over and over again. Shock and lust slammed into me as I felt the clench and release of her inner muscles around me.

  “I’m going to come,” I gritted, holding on so damn tight to my control, but failing miserably. I reached between us and started rubbing her clit.

  Back and forth. Easy.

  A slow burn.

  I felt her tense beneath me, and then she was tossing her head back, this low mewl leaving her as she got off for me once more.

  “Yeah, that’s it.” When she relaxed, her orgasm waning, only then did I pick up my speed.

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

  I had no intention of doing that.

  And then I was really fucking her, knowing I should have been sw
eet, gentle with her seeing as this was our first time, but not able to help myself. She brought out the primitive, feral side of me.

  “So. Damn. Good.”

  I wanted my come on her like some kind of dirty fucking bastard. I pulled out right before I exploded and grabbed my shaft. I pumped my hand over the thick length and stared at her pussy, her gasp of surprise, or maybe pleasure, ringing in my ears.

  “Spread those pink pussy lips for me, let me see all of you.” I didn’t know if she’d actually do it, but then she reached down, spread herself for me, and I groaned in ecstasy. I pumped my hand hard, faster over my dick and breathed out slowly as my orgasm washed through me. I couldn’t help but close my eyes, as the pleasure was so damn intense.

  Groaning deeply, I forced my eyes open as I came. I watched as my seed spilled from the tip of my cock and covered her belly. I was being such a filthy bastard right now, but judging by the way she was moaning and undulating underneath me, it was clear Mia was really fucking into it.

  When I was sated, I sagged and breathed out, staring at her body and what I’d done to her. I felt possessive as I stared at the way I’d marked her, at the fact she was covered in my come. I wanted to rub it in, make her smell like me, make every fucking man who looked at her know she was mine.

  God, what the fuck is going on with me?

  And because I was not acting like myself, because I didn’t want to let her go, because I wanted her in my life for more than just this one night, I said, “You’re mine, Mia.”

  And she didn’t scoff, didn’t deny it. Instead she moved closer to me and sighed in contentment.

  Yeah, she wasn’t sleeping in my fucking spare room.

  Chapter Nine

  Mia

  Two weeks later

  I sat at the table in Noah’s cabin and watched as he lightheartedly bickered with his brothers. I smiled when Liam, the youngest Ash brother, playfully punched Johnny in the arm. It was funny to see the sibling rivalry, but also the love that the three of them had for each other. I had never had this, never experienced it. And although it had only been a couple of weeks since Noah had come into my life, I felt like I was home, like I belonged here.

  When my wine glass was nearly empty I reached for the bottle and poured myself another glass of chardonnay. The sound of the fire crackling filled the air, making the atmosphere warm and inviting. I stared at the two younger Ash brothers and couldn’t help but smile. Even though I’d only met Liam and Johnny a couple of times in the last two weeks, I truly felt like I was welcome, like they accepted me.

  We sat around for the next hour just talking. I asked questions about their business, about how they came to be where they were.

  “It was left to us by our father and grandfather,” Johnny said, the big lumberjack intimidating because of his size, but a gentle giant I’d come to find out. “We’d always worked at the lumberyard growing up, so it just seemed fitting, like we’d always be there.” He shrugged his wide shoulders. All the brothers were large, muscular and showing years of hard manual labor. They had calluses on their hands, golden skin from the sun beating down on them. They were real men through and through, working with their hands and making sure the job got done.

  “It’s been in our family forever, has been a part of Rockbridge for longer than that,” Liam said and chuckled.

  It didn’t matter that they didn’t technically have to work with the lumber anymore because they had employees who did all of that. These men wanted to do what they did, wanted to be able to get dirty just like everyone else. They were grounded, and knew how hard it was to keep something afloat, to make an honest dollar.

  Hell, I think I loved all of them, but of course only Noah held my heart.

  Maybe one day I’d get the nerve to admit how I felt, that I already loved him, already saw my life with him in it.

  When everyone had finished eating I helped clean up. The mood was lighthearted, with a comforting ambiance surrounding us. It made my heart warm. Although I had a loving family, my mother and father always there for me, I’d never had this.

  This bond. This connection.

  I’d always felt alone in a way, but since Noah came into my life that loneliness had disappeared. He truly did make me feel whole, like what I’d been missing my entire life was standing right in front of me. And if I felt like this after only two weeks, I was excited to see what the future held.

  I glanced at Noah. I had already fallen for him. Yes, after only fourteen days, I truly did love him. I’d never been in love before, but I’d also never felt the emotions he brought up in me. Time didn’t really matter where emotions were involved. I was old enough to know what I wanted in my life, and how to achieve it.

  And I knew without a doubt that what I felt was real.

  It wasn’t infatuation. It was caring so deeply for another person that you don’t know what you’d do without them in your life. I wasn’t a fool in not realizing others might see our relationship as slightly insane. Everything we had done together had been at warp speed.

  For another hour everyone sat around and talked, but then Liam and Johnny said good night and left us alone. Noah pulled me in close and just held me, and it felt like we’d never been apart, like I’d always been in his life.

  We moved over to the couch and sat down, staring at the fire, the seconds turning into minutes as the silence around us grew. But it was comfortable, calming.

  “Stay the night?” Noah asked, his warm breath teasing the hair at the top of my head.

  I shifted so I could look into his face. “How crazy does all of this seem?” I didn’t have to elaborate on what I meant. I knew he’d understand.

  He lifted his hand and cupped my cheek. “When something feels as right as this does, as you in my arms does, who cares if it’s insane?”

  I felt my heart melt even more, and smiled at him. When I leaned in to kiss him he met me halfway, holding the back of my head, holding me close. For the rest of the night we sat there, holding each other, just basking in the fact that we’d found one another.

  Life can be pretty crazy, bleak and empty at times, but then something or someone comes along and it all falls into place. It didn’t matter what anyone said because I knew that where I belonged was in Noah’s arms.

  Epilogue

  Noah

  Two weeks later

  It was crazy to think that in just one month since meeting Mia, since knowing she would be mine, my entire life had changed. I was still me, still had the same goals, the same idea of what I wanted in my life, but I wanted that all with Mia.

  I wanted her by my side, wanted her to experience life with me. It was fucking insane to think of all of that in just the four short weeks we’d been together, but the feelings were real and true. That was for damn sure.

  Anticipation slammed through my veins. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, the leather worn from the years of my hands being wrapped around it. I was currently parked, waiting for Mia to get off work so I could take her home...so I could take her in general. I was already hard, wanting her like a damn animal.

  My celibacy had never been an issue before. I focused on work, on myself. It had been good for me. But then Mia walked into my life and all that changed. I wanted her like a fiend, like I’d never had a woman before, and she was the only one who could sate me.

  Hell, she is the only one who can, who ever will.

  I felt like I’d been sitting here for hours, and in all honesty I probably could have been. She was all I thought about. My obsession for her was real, but I liked to think it wasn’t in a creepy way. I grunted at that thought.

  And then she came out, the tight skirt and blouse she had on a staple for what she wore to work, and an outfit that put “Naughty Librarian” in my head. The jacket she had on didn’t hide her figure, or the roundness of her ass. She turned and started speaking wi
th someone momentarily. I focused on the way her skirt molded over her ass. I swear I could smell her hair, and it made my balls draw up, had my heart racing.

  I made this low growl in the back of my throat. She’d spent the night yesterday, and this morning I’d eaten her out, feasted on her like I was starving, and didn’t stop until she’d gotten off all over my face. Then I’d fucked her until she’d walked funny out the front door, male pride filling me.

  Truth was I wanted her to live with me permanently, but after only a month of her being mine I sure as hell didn’t want to scare the shit out of her. I felt my cock thickening, lengthening at the image slamming in my head, the memories of what we’d done...of what I did to my woman.

  It might only be four weeks into my life with Mia, but I knew she was the one. I’d known the moment I saw her walk into the café, the way I’d gone territorial, possessive of a woman I knew nothing about.

  That’s how I’d known it was real, because up until then, until her, I’d never felt so alive.

  For the last month my life had revolved around Mia, about how happy she made me, about how much more I wanted with her. But I wanted to take my time, do this right. I had a business here, family, and I wanted her to be part of all of that. I loved her; even after this short time, I fucking loved her.

  I’d shout it at the top of my lungs if it meant she knew without doubt this was real. And I knew it was. I can’t say that I hadn’t loved Amelia, because I had, but it had been different. It hadn’t been bone deep, soul searing. She’d been a part of my life, but that was my past and had been for a long time now. What I felt for Mia clenched my heart painfully, made me thankful to be alive, that I’d finally found her.

  Before she could make it to the truck I was out of the driver’s side and striding around the front. She smiled up at me, and that was all it took to stop my heart. God, this woman didn’t know what she did to me. She didn’t realize the impact she had on my life in this short amount of time.