Left for Wild - Harloe Rae Page 0,72
make me an advocate for his overly protective attitude? Perhaps. That behavior has come in handy during several occasions. Along with that thought comes the craziest realization. My lack of concern in general should be jolting me upright to survey the destruction of my sanity.
But I remain still without a single twitch.
The truth of the matter is I don’t mind being stranded with Halder. More than that, I can see us spending weeks traipsing across the lands in search of rescue while wearing matching smiles. Good grief, I’m a mess of emotions. A near-death experience followed by the best sex known to womankind will do that to a girl.
A gentle tap to my bare butt is a fresh reminder of our current position. The palm on my ass almost spans across both cheeks. Halder gives one side a squeeze, gaining a purr from me. He chuckles and repeats the gestures. “Morning, Lee.”
“A good one at that.” I walk my fingers up his chest. “Not a bad way to wake up, huh?”
The rumble beneath my ear is pure contentment. “Not gonna lie. I’m feeling like a king.”
I smile against his warm skin. “Yet I’m the one upon a throne.”
His hand drifts up my back. “Exactly where you belong. That was one helluva way to end a dry spell.”
“I hope it lived up to expectations.” The pressure of being his first after so long nearly choked me yesterday. It only took seconds for those doubts to disappear as he worshiped every inch of me.
Halder pampers my bum with another widespread caress. “Fuck, Lee. Last night was better than fantasy.”
He’d been missing out on so much. I was all too happy to oblige him with this mutually beneficial activity. That generous dose of endorphins is potent. My body is thoroughly sated and lulled into a comatose state. I absently wonder if walking will be a chore. A scoff chases that notion away easily enough.
“I think you would’ve been happy with just about anything after five years.”
His grunt is a sharp jab of disapproval. “Not true, Blakely. There’s basic sex that gets the job done and then there’s what we share. No comparison.”
A gooey sound climbs up my throat. “How romantic.”
He wags his brows. “Based on our chemistry so far, I bet today will be even hotter.”
I peel myself off the broad expanse of his upper body. “Whoa, buddy. Don’t get started on the sweet nothings. You’re well aware that I can’t resist that charm. I’ll be done for if that dirty mouth of yours continues.”
“What if I was referring to the temperature?”
I glance outside to the snowy landscape. Seems highly suspicious. “Were you?”
His chuckle is downright filthy. “Obviously not. But I wasn’t trying to instigate another round before breakfast.”
“No?” I fold myself into the comfort of his nook when he beckons me with a lopsided smirk. Those dimples will always bring an end to my resistance.
“Food first. I’m not a savage.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” I place a soft kiss on his bearded jaw. “Your facial hair is sexy.”
He scratches at the thick scruff. “I’ve never let it grow beyond a few days.”
“It’s a great look for you, especially when there aren’t other women around to notice.” I can guarantee he’d attract all the hussies. There’s no shame admitting I’d be first in line.
Halder tries to comb his fingers through a snarl in my hair. Getting a brush through these knots will be a fun challenge. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Because we’re surrounded by nothing but trees and mountains?”
“Are you digging for reassurance?”
“Maybe?”
“Lee, look at me.” He grips my chin between his thumb and pointer finger, tilting until I’m raised to the desired angle. Our lips meet for a brief kiss that’s more tease than anything else. My lashes dust against his when he pulls away to stare at me. “You’re the only one I see, Blakely. It’s been that way since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
There’s a solid chance my brain short-circuits. All I can do is blink at him and mutter unintelligible gibberish. “Uh, um…ah.”
“Too much?” Blatant insecurity bleeds from his words.
I could love this man. The smack of internal honesty stings my cheek. The reflexive flinch is more for the churning in my gut than the bite of proverbial pain. I already do, or at the very least am well submerged in the stages of falling. With a quick shake of my head, I offer him a wobbling grin. “No, it’s perfect.”
“Seems to be a theme for this