Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 142214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 711(@200wpm)___ 569(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 711(@200wpm)___ 569(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
The moment she came, her back arching off the bed as pleasure exploded through every nerve ending, his head jerked back and a sound of pure masculine ecstasy escaped him. His release pulsed deep, as he held himself buried inside of her, a gravelly roar escaping his throat. Not a whisper of light could slip between them.
The world silenced with dizzying speed. She shivered but wasn’t cold. Breath shaky, she met his stare and laughed, her body humming with aftershocks.
“I’m not sure laughter’s the reaction I envisioned.”
“Sorry.” She laughed harder, and he drew back his hips with a hiss.
“What’s so funny?”
“I think we both might be limping tomorrow.”
He chuckled and pressed a tender kiss to her temple. “Worth every ache.” His voice turned soft, vulnerable. “Are you okay? Really okay?”
She smiled up at him, her heart so full it might burst. “I’m perfect. We’re perfect.”
He gathered her close, rolling to his side and pulling her against his chest. The moonlight stretched across the walls. His strength cocooned her in warmth as the intimacy of his hold healed something lonesome and longing inside of her. His fingers traced lazy patterns on her bare shoulder as their breathing slowly returned to normal.
“No regrets?” he whispered against her hair.
“Only that we waited so long.” She pressed a kiss to his chest, tasting salt and satisfaction. “This was worth every year of wondering what if.”
“Every day of wanting you and thinking I couldn’t have you.” His arms tightened around her possessively. “You’re mine now, Wren. Completely mine.”
“I always was,” she whispered.
CHAPTER 24
“Everyone Knows The Christmas Lobster”
“Here, see if these fit.” Greyson handed Wren a pair of ski pants that buckled at the chest. “They belonged to Logan.”
Pulling the water-resistant material to her nose, she breathed in the scent of cedar and old fabric softener. “How old are they?”
“Probably twenty years. You might want to shake them out to make sure there aren’t any mice living in the legs.”
She dropped the pants immediately and jumped back. “Greyson!”
He laughed and kissed her head, his lips lingering against her hair. After last night, everything had changed. Even the smallest touches now carried new meaning.
“Just kidding. If anything, there would be spiders.”
Snatching the snow pants, she marched down the hall and threw them in the dryer. “There. The high heat will kill any stowaways.”
Greyson gasped dramatically. “What would Bodhi say?”
She playfully gave him the finger and disappeared into the bedroom to finish dressing.
Today brought the official Larry the Lobstah lobster trap tree lighting ceremony, one that the Hawthornes had participated in for decades. This would be Wren’s first time seeing it from his perspective on the water, and the first time he’d have someone who mattered beside him.
He recalled all the times he’d pulled that old boat into harbor with his dad, each time his eyes searching the wharf for any sign of her. Now, she’d be right by his side.
“Will Mayor Locke be there?” She hopped awkwardly out of his room into a pair of his hunting socks, the thick wool bunching around her ankles.
“Of course. He’s Santa.”
She stood and chewed her lip the way she often did when nervous. “He’ll wonder why I’m with you.”
“Let him.”
He saw no point in pussy footing around the truth now. But Wren had been conditioned to keep her private life private in order to protect herself and Bodhi.
“Maybe I should stay back with everyone else at the wharf.”
Disappointment crashed through his good mood like a rogue wave. “Why?”
Fidgeting, she avoided his eyes. “I don’t know. People will talk. They’ll wonder why I’m on the boat with you.”
“You’re not a kid anymore, Wren. We aren’t doing anything wrong.”
“I know. I just can’t escape this feeling like something bad might happen if I let too many outsiders in.”
That fear came from years of protecting her father. For too long, she’d been forced to be the adult, shielding him from scrutiny to keep their family intact and avoid the foster care system that threatened to tear them apart.
Greyson closed the distance and hugged her tight, his arms wrapping around her like a fortress. “Hey.” He pressed a kiss to her head. “What did I tell you? I’ll always protect you. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
She sighed against his chest. “Even from Lady Lovewatch? Do you know she wrote about me last week? I despise being the center of town gossip.”
“I don’t know why you read that drivel. Lady Lovewatch is a lonely spinster with nothing better to do.”
“If she even is a lady. I always thought that pseudonym served as a cover. She’s probably some big burly dude hiding in a shed, eating cheese puffs and extracting his revenge for all the parties he didn’t get invited to.”
“Whoever it is, they’re no concern of ours. Besides, we’ve got nothing to hide.”
Going to check on the snow pants, she pulled them out of the dryer, the fabric warm and charged with crackling static electricity. He didn’t understand her sudden tension.