Chapter 10: Her Word

Dalton parked outside the guest cabin at four in the morning, and neither of us got out.

The engine ticked as it cooled.

The twins were asleep in their own beds, and Milo's forehead was cool, and I had said I'd be back at the gate in the afternoon.

For three hours my hand had been on the seat between us, and he hadn't touched it.

"You broke the rule," I said.

"I know."

"I told you to wait at the gate."

"You did." He kept his eyes on the windshield. "And your son was burning, and I walked past it."

"I said you could come."

"After."

"Yes," I said. "After."

I turned in my seat.

"I'm going to break one too."

His breath caught.

"Della, you've had the worst week of your life."

"I know what kind of week I've had."

"I won't be a thing you do because of it."

"You're not," I said. "I've known what I wanted since the lake. Come inside."

He stayed absolutely still for three more seconds.

Then he got out of the truck and came around and opened my door.

The cabin was dark and cold and smelled of cedar.

He didn't turn on the light.

I put my back against the door and he stood in front of me with his hands at his sides, and I took hold of his coat and pulled him in.

He kissed me hungrily, and he had been holding it back for six years.

His mouth was hot, and my hands were in his hair and his were at my waist, gripping hard.

"Touch me," I said against his mouth. "You don't need to ask any more tonight."

His hands slid under my sweater.

His palms were rough on my bare ribs, and I gasped, and he swallowed it.

He pulled the sweater up and off and I fumbled at his shirt, and the buttons gave way under my fingers.

His chest was broad and scarred and warm.

I pressed my mouth to it, and he groaned low in his throat.

"Bed," he said.

He lifted me.

I wrapped my legs around his hips, and he carried me across the room and laid me down on the quilt.

I watched him kneel over me in the dark.

He unhooked my bra and drew it away, and for a second he only looked.

"Tell me what you like," he said hoarsely.

"This," I said. "Your mouth."

He bent and took my nipple between his lips, and I arched off the bed.

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