Crushing on Love (The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor, Book Four) (25 page)

When the last of her climax pulsed through her, he wrapped both arms around her. She was trembling, her body damp with perspiration despite the chilly evening air. He turned her in his arms, stroking her back as he kissed her mouth, her jaw, her cheek.

“More,” she said shakily.

“Not like this.” He motioned to the fort and helped her settle on the sleeping bags, coming down over her. “I want to love you, baby, to look into your eyes and see what you’re feeling.”

He brushed her hair from her forehead and kissed her there. “I want to cherish you now. No more roughness, baby. Not right now.”

He lowered his mouth to hers, basking in the soft press of her lips, how willingly she opened for him as he entered her. He pushed in slowly, savoring the moment and the pleasure swimming in her hazel eyes. He touched his forehead to hers, cradling her body against him, and breathed her in.

“I love you, Butterfly,” he whispered. “I will always love you.”

She sucked in a breath, and her eyes dampened.

“I
love
you with every ounce of my soul. I’m so full of you I’m not sure where I end and you begin.”

She smiled, and tears escaped down her cheeks. “We’ll be okay, right?”

She was so strong and so vulnerable. He wanted to protect her from the world, but he knew he had to protect her from his begging her to stay, too, because beyond the love, beyond this unstoppable connection, was a woman who needed more than the mountain.

He kissed her salty tears and then he kissed her beautiful mouth.

“We will.” He kissed her again. He knew what the future held, knew it would drag him under when she left and leave him wrecked, but he didn’t care, couldn’t care. They had
now—
and she
loved
him. God, she
loved
him. He could barely wrap his mind around this beautiful, vivacious, smart woman
loving
him. A man who didn’t dance, a man who was as gray and brown as she was pink and yellow.

As cool air whispered over his skin and he gazed into her gorgeous, trusting eyes, things in his head shifted. He didn’t know how, didn’t know if it was possible, but he’d damn well try to find a way for her to have it all—the world she loved and him.

He swallowed past his thickening throat as the first raindrops fell, and whispered, “I want to kiss you like the sun rises: slow and soft, then wild and tantalizing. And just when you think you’ve experienced all there is, I’ll take it deeper, until you feel it in your bones. Until our love is inescapable.” He kissed her softly and said, “And then I’m going to start all over again.”

He sealed his promise with a kiss as thunder rolled in, and loved her through the storm.

THE TWO WEEKS leading up to the rally passed too quickly as schedules were rearranged and last-minute preparations were put into place. Steve got called into town for so many spur-of-the-moment meetings with business owners to pitch the project, she thought he might get sick of it before the rally even took place. But not only had he come back rejuvenated after each meeting, but on several occasions she caught him humming.
That
was a side of Steve she’d never expected.

Shannon’s family was arriving later tonight and staying at Hal, Rex, and Treat’s houses. She was excited to share this time with them and for them to finally see her and Steve as a couple. She wondered if they’d see how happy she was, and she was nervous about how her brothers would act. But Cole assured her they weren’t going to embarrass her, which was good, because she’d hate to have to embarrass them right back by putting them in their places. They were as excited about attending the rally and the barn dance tomorrow night as she was. She tried to focus on that instead of the fact that the following afternoon she would join her family on a flight back to Maryland.

How could the time have passed so quickly?

She’d managed to complete her data collection and bring the campaign and rally to fruition, all while falling desperately in love. She still needed to decipher the data and write the paper on her findings, which she’d take care of back in Peaceful Harbor, but the finalization of the project signified the beginning of the end of her time with Steve.

She sat on the edge of Steve’s bed remembering the first time he’d carried her into his cabin and how nervous she’d been. The way he’d fought his feelings for her so vehemently those first couple of days, how he’d tried to convince her to fight hers, too. They were no match for their connection, and now she almost wished they had been stronger. How could she leave a man she loved with her whole being? How would she sleep in a bed that didn’t smell like Steve? How could she sleep without his strong arms wrapped around her? Without his sweet murmurs whispering into her ears?

As if he could feel her thinking about him, Steve sauntered into the bedroom with an easy smile. “Hey, Butterfly.”

How could she face a single morning without seeing his handsome face? Without hearing his sexy, love-filled voice?

He eyed her open suitcase lying empty on the floor by the dresser. She thought she’d start packing, but she hadn’t been able to muster the courage to begin deconstructing their lives in a way that felt so final.

“Maybe you should leave a few things here for when you visit,” he suggested.

They’d decided to try a long-distance relationship, but hearing him refer to her
visiting
brought tears to her eyes.

He crouched before her and brushed away her tears. “Hey, baby. We’ll get through this. We’ll Skype, and—”

“You hate the Internet,” she said with a pout.

“But I
love
you.”

He sat beside her and draped his arm around her, pulling her in close. His scent invaded her senses, drawing a stream of fresh tears. He kissed them away, but more came. Is this how she’d be for the next million days? Crying a river of tears? That wasn’t fair to him. She sniffled, drawing her shoulders back a little. It didn’t help. Like a needy girlfriend, she curled against him.

“I’m going to miss you so much. Who will buy me cupcakes?” It was a stupid, selfish question, but she was too brokenhearted to think straight.

“I’ll have them delivered fresh to your apartment door,” he promised. “Jazzy Joe’s delivers.”

She wiped her tears. “How do you know about Jazzy Joe’s?”

“My girlfriend forced me to become Google friendly.”

She smiled at that. He put up with the Internet; he did not embrace it. “But why were you looking up Jazzy Joe’s?”

“I wasn’t. I was looking at the Peaceful Harbor Pinterest board, another thing my wonderful girlfriend introduced me to. I wanted to see the place I was losing you to.” He pressed his lips to hers, and his sweet words brought even more tears.

“You’re not losing me.”

He framed her face with his rough hands. She loved his rough hands. She was going to miss them. God, was there anything about him she wouldn’t miss?

“I know, baby. I didn’t mean it. The truth is, I only started on the Pinterest board to see the area and what it had to offer. Then I moved on to the local help wanted ads. I contacted the park service, and I even called your brother Sam and asked him about finding jobs outside of the park service. I figured if anyone knew about jobs in my field, it would be him.”

“You called Sam? You looked for a job there?” Tears burned in her eyes.

“I tried. But it’s a small beach town. A really cute town, too. A town where I can see you frolicking in the sand and swimming in a sexy little bikini that makes guys go wild.”

She laughed, and a tear slid down her cheek. “Grizz…”

He brushed her tear away. “I’m sorry, baby, but unless I grow fins, I have no chance of finding a job in my field there.”

“I can’t believe you did that for me.”

“I did it for us, baby. And I’ll be counting down the days for the next three weeks until you come back.” He kissed her again. “Come on, I want to take you someplace special.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and looked at her evil suitcase. The darn thing was just waiting to be filled up like a ravenous stomach. “But I have to pack.”

“I’ll help you later. You’ve done enough already.” A playful grin spread across his face. “Besides, I’m still hoping you’ll leave a few things for the next time you come.”

“Well, I don’t wear underwear very often, so I know you’re not referring to that.” She swiped at her tears with the back of her hand.

“Your pink shoelaces. Your yellow hoodie. That light pink shirt you wear to bed sometimes. You know, the one that I take off the minute you hit the mattress.”

She felt her cheeks flush. “You want my shoelaces?”

“No.” Rising to his feet, he took her hand and brought her up, hugging her to him. “I want you, but since you have responsibilities elsewhere, I’ll make do. I’ll tie one of them here.” He touched the wooden spoke on the headboard. “And I’ll put one in my wallet. That way you’re always with me.”

A sob escaped her lungs, and she covered her mouth. “And my hoodie?” she asked through her tears.

“It’s what you wore the first night we stayed in the wilderness together.” He shrugged. “I know I can’t have you here all the time, but I need pieces of you.”

She touched her hands and her forehead to his chest. “How can I leave you?”

“I wonder that myself.” He lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes.

She had to go home. That’s where her family was, her life. Well, her
other
life. She couldn’t just pick up and move. What would happen after the research assignment and the campaign ended? When she didn’t have projects to keep her busy?

“We can do this, Shan. We’ll Skype. We’ll talk on the phone. And we’ll make the best out of the time we have together.” He kissed her again. “Now come on. No more tears. Let’s get out of here. No more packing, no more talk about donations or campaigns or rallies—not for the next few hours, at least.”

“But we should check the campaign page before we go.”

The crowdfunding campaign gained donations by the thousands every day, evidence of social media and a giving society in action. Every so often Steve still lost it over a nasty post, but Shannon waylaid his anger with patience and love. She didn’t expect him to ever fully embrace social media, or the idea of completely trusting people he’d never met, even after he was beginning to realize how much good it did in the world.

He led her out of the bedroom. “I already did.”

“You checked the campaign?” She couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Yes. We’re at four
hundred
and thirty-five
thousand
. Now it’s time to let your boyfriend take you someplace you can’t go through an Internet connection.”

“Holy crap! Four hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars? Grizz!” She leapt into his arms, and they laughed and kissed.

As her feet touched the ground, he said, “Now can I kidnap my girlfriend for something not-campaign, not-Internet, and not-dollar-sign-related?”

“Absolutely.” She went up on her toes and kissed him again, loving the value he placed on enjoying their natural surroundings. More often than not, they cooked dinners over the open fire. They’d begun setting aside
couple time
, taking nightly walks, stargazing, and making private wishes. Steve’s love of the outdoors made her realize how much of it she took for granted. Shannon didn’t miss her overly plugged in lifestyle. She’d been so busy with the rally preparations and the campaign that by the time she’d settle in for the evening, all she wanted was Steve.

They drove a long way out of town. Steve followed a web of narrow, winding roads. The truck rocked and rumbled over the change from pavement to dirt. Unlike the woodsy, mountainous area where Steve lived, this area was low-lying and arid-looking, with few trees and an abundance of verdant, prickly looking bushes.

“This looks spooky,” Shannon said as the truck ascended a steep hill, then careened around a sharp turn and followed a grassy path down another hill. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He continued driving, slowing as a ravine and large jagged rock faces appeared in the distance.

Layers of coarse-grained rock spanned as far as she could see. The setting sun cast an orange glow over the rock face, giving it an otherworldly appearance. Tufts of sparse trees and bushes capped the rock formation like a toupee, and two dark enclaves appeared like villainous eyes not far from the ground.

“Fifers Canyon,” Steve said. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

“Incredibly. It’s so different from where you live. It’s a little mind-boggling.”

He squeezed her thigh. “That’s nature, baby. Let’s go inside.”

Her pulse quickened. “Inside? We’re going
in
there?”

“Sure.” He pushed open the door and reached for her hand.

“Um…” She gulped down her fear. “I don’t know.”

He unhooked her seat belt and shifted her legs so she was sitting on the edge of the driver’s seat, then cupped her cheek. “Trust me?”

“Always,” she said honestly.

“This will be one of the most spectacular things you’ve ever seen.” He lifted her under her arms and set her on the ground. Then he dug around behind his seat and came out with a lantern.

“What if the cave collapses?”

He draped an arm over her shoulder and began walking. “Then we’ll die together.”

She gasped.

“What happened to my fearless girl?”

“She’s back in the truck, where we should be.” She slowed her pace, hoping to dissuade him, but he was having no part of it. He laughed, kissed her again, and continued walking, tugging her along with him.

She slid her hand into his back pocket. “How about we make out for a while?”

“Nice try.” He stopped walking and kissed her. When she moaned, he took the kiss deeper. She felt the tension leaving her limbs; her breathing shallowed, and she dissolved against him.

“Feel better, baby?” he asked with a satisfied look in his gorgeous eyes. “Just like Valium.”

Holy smokes
. “Yeah, if Valium made girls wet.”

He stilled. His jaw clenched repeatedly, and his fingers tightened around her shoulder. He adjusted his very eager erection and shook his head before continuing toward the cave. She couldn’t help but giggle.