I flip us carefully so she’s on top, straddling me, my hands on her hips guiding her. “Ride me, Hannah. Take what you need.” She braces her palms on my chest and starts to move, tentative at first, then bolder when she finds the angle that makes her eyes roll back. I watch her, mesmerized by the way her breasts bounce, the flush spreading down her chest. “That’s my girl. Look at you. So beautiful taking every inch.”
I sit up, wrapping one arm around her back, the other hand still on her hip. I meet her thrusts, driving up into her, mouth on her neck, her breasts, anywhere I can reach. “Come again. I want to feel it while I’m buried inside you.”
She does, crying out, body shaking in my arms. That’s all I can take. I roll us back over, pinning her gently to the mattress, and let go. My thrusts turn harder, deeper, but never rough enough to hurt. “Mine,” I growl. “You’re mine now. Fuck. No one else touches you. No one else scares you. I protect what’s mine.”
I come hard, buried to the hilt, groaning her name into her hair. I stay inside her while the aftershocks roll through both of us, kissing her slow and sweet, whispering how perfect she is, how proud I am of her. When I finally pull out I take care of the condom, then pull her into my arms, tucking her against my chest.
She curls into me, one leg thrown over mine, fingers tracing lazy circles on my stomach. “That was… I didn’t know it could feel like that.”
I kiss the top of her head. “It will always feel like that with me. I’ll always take care of you. Always.” I pull the quilt over us and hold her tighter. “Sleep now, baby girl. I’ve got you. Nothing is getting past me.”
She sighs, already drifting, safe in my arms. I stay awake a little longer, listening to her breathe, feeling the steady beat of her heart against mine. The mountain is quiet outside. The cabin is warm. And the woman I just claimed is wrapped around me like she was always meant to be here.
This is where she belongs. In my bed. In my protection. And I will burn the world down before I let anyone take her away.
CHAPTER 11
Hannah
I wake up slowly, sunlight slipping through the curtains in soft golden stripes across the quilt. Silas’s arm is heavy around my waist, his chest warm against my back. His breathing is deep and even, but I feel the moment he stirs. His fingers flex against my stomach, then slide up to cup my breast like it’s the most natural thing in the world. A sleepy hum rumbles in his throat.
“Morning, baby girl,” he murmurs, voice gravelly from sleep. He presses a slow kiss to the side of my neck.
I turn in his arms until I’m facing him. His eyes are half-lidded, dark hair mussed, stubble thicker than yesterday. He looks like every fantasy I never let myself have. I lean in and kiss him softly. He kisses me back, lazy and deep, tongue brushing mine in a way that makes my toes curl under the sheets.
When we finally pull apart I rest my forehead against his. “You’re gonna make it hard to get out of this bed.”
“That’s the plan.” He grins, quick and wicked, then kisses the tip of my nose. “But we’ve got people waiting. Shower first?”
I nod. We untangle ourselves reluctantly. He lets me use the bathroom first. I brush my teeth, splash water on my face, and pull on jeans and one of his flannel shirts because it smells like him and hangs past my thighs. When I step out he’s already in the shower. I hear the water shut off, then he appears in the doorway with a towel slung low on his hips. Water droplets cling to his chest hair and trail down the defined lines of his abs. My mouth goes dry.
He catches me staring and smirks. “Like what you see?”
“Very much.” I step closer and trace a finger down the center of his chest. “You’re distracting.”
“Good.” He catches my wrist, bringing my hand to his mouth, and kisses my palm. “Keep looking at me like that and we’re not making it to the lodge.”
I laugh and push him toward the bedroom. “Go get dressed. I’m starving.”
He dresses in dark jeans and a black Henley that clings to his shoulders. I watch him lace his boots, feeling something warm and settled bloom in my chest. This feels easy. Right. Like we’ve been doing it forever.
We walk hand in hand to the lodge. The morning air is crisp, pine-scented, and the compound is already alive. Smoke curls from the chimney. Voices drift from the open porch. Silas squeezes my fingers once before we step inside.
The main room smells like fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls. Rafe nods from the kitchen where he’s pouring mugs. Gavin sits atthe long table with a laptop open. Eli and Harlan are deep in conversation by the fireplace. The women are in the corner near the big windows. Harper bounces Poppi on her hip while Emma spreads toys across a thick blanket. Fiona kneels beside Aidan, helping him stack colorful blocks. Kayley sits cross-legged, reading a picture book to both kids even though Aidan is more interested in the blocks.
Silas kisses the top of my head. “Go join them. I’ll grab us plates.”
I cross the room and sink onto the blanket beside Kayley. Poppi spots me and reaches out chubby arms. I take her from Harper and settle her in my lap. She grabs a fistful of my shirt and babbles happily.
“Hey, little one,” I say, bouncing her gently. “You’re getting big.”
Harper smiles. “She’s a tank. Eats like her uncle Rafe.”
I laugh and look around at the other women. They’re all watching me with easy warmth. No judgment. No questions about yesterday. Just acceptance.
“So,” I start, keeping my voice light, “how do you like living up here? I mean… really like it?”
Fiona leans back on her hands. “Honestly? When I first showed up I had zero plans to stay. I was running from my own mess, thought I’d crash for a week or two and move on. But this place…” She glances toward Chase, who’s talking low with Silas across the room. “It grows on you. The quiet. The people. Before I knew it I didn’t want to leave.”