Chapter 17

Claire fell asleep quickly, but I lay awake with her body nestled against mine, wondering how I'd ever gotten this lucky. This woman trusted me with her body and her emotions. It felt like too much.

Any moment, she'd wake up and tell me this was a mistake or merely a fun time, and we'd go back to being just friends.

Why couldn't I have it all? Something like what Cole and Daphne, and Aiden and Fiona, had experienced. A love that could last a lifetime.

The words of my brothers over the years filtered through my head: I was too immature, I didn't know what I wanted, and I was afraid of commitment. Was any of what they'd said to me over the years true?

I wanted to protect the community and make a difference. We were motivated by the same desires, we just took a different path when it came to careers. Maybe it took me a little while longer to get there, but I was here, living out my dream.

I must have drifted off at some point because the next thing I knew, there was light streaming through the window. But the sheets next to me were cool. Then the scent of bacon cooking reached me.

Not wanting to waste a second of this time with Claire, I quickly pulled on my sweats and brushed my teeth, then headed toward the kitchen where I knew she'd be.

A smile spread over Claire's face when she saw me. "Morning, sleepyhead."

She turned toward me as I approached, my hand diving into her hair as I leaned down to kiss her softly. "I was supposed to cook you breakfast."

When I pulled back, Claire shrugged. "I was up early. Force of habit."

The bacon was sizzling on one pan and eggs cooking in another. I turned Claire so that she was facing the stove and kneaded the tension in her shoulders. "You aren't freaking out, are you?"

"Me? Of course not." She turned slightly so she could see my face.

"Uh-huh." I wasn't sure I believed her. "What are you worried about?"

Her expression was concerned. "What this means."

"It means whatever you want it to mean," I said lightly, even as I held my breath. I'd follow her lead on this.

Claire turned in my arms, wrapping hers around my neck. "I like being here with you."

I couldn't resist pulling her against me and holding her there with an arm around her back. "I want more mornings like this too. How about we go with the flow and see what happens?"

That's what anyone would have expected me to say. It was on the tip of my tongue to say this felt deeper and more meaningful than anything I'd ever experienced. But seemed too big and scary to admit out loud.

Especially when I didn't know how she felt.

Claire sighed, her expression filled with happiness. "How much time do you think we have?"

I glanced out the window to see the landscape frozen in ice, the branches of the trees weighed down with it. "I don't think anyone's going to venture out until the temperature rises."

Claire grinned. "Enough time to eat and go back to bed?"

"I like how you think," I patted her butt as she checked the eggs. Then I took a seat at the island. Is this how mornings would be if we were together? Contentment settled in my chest at the idea of cooking breakfast alone and Owen joining us later.

She plated the eggs and bacon, sliding the dish in front of me. "I found some coffee beans in one of the cupboards. Would you like coffee?"

"You don't have to serve me. I'm capable of getting it myself." I started to rise, but she stopped me with a hand on my arm.

"I want coffee too."

I waited until she'd brewed the coffee and sat next to me to dive into the food. "I'm glad I thought to bring food with me last night."

"The way you packed, I would have thought you had all of this planned," Claire said with an amused smile.

"The thought might have crossed my mind when I was driving Sutton home."

Claire sobered. "You think she'll be okay?"

"She might have a headache and some whiplash from the impact, but otherwise, she'll be fine. Have you heard from Owen?"

"He texted me back late last night when they were going to bed."

"You don't mind that my brothers kept him up?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "He doesn't have school today. This is a fun adventure for him."

I wanted it to be more than that. I wanted this to be something lasting. But it was too soon for talk like that. "Will he need you this morning?"

She let out a laugh. "He'll probably sleep until noon."

That was perfect for what I had planned. We finished eating, and I cleared the dishes while she jumped into the shower. I hurried so I could join her. It only took a second to push off the sweats and slide behind her in the steaming water.

I ran my hands over her hips, pulling her against me, my dick nestled against her ass. I kissed her shoulder. "This feels like a dream."

Claire turned in my arms, pressing her breasts against my chest. "One I never want to wake up from."

I kissed her, needing to be inside her. She widened her stance when my fingers moved between her folds, sliding over the slickness, diving into her wet heat. I ducked my head to suck on her nipple. When her hand gripped my cock, I groaned. I let her pump me for a few seconds, and when I couldn't take it anymore, I lifted her against the tiles.

Then I dropped my head against hers. "I don't have a condom in here. I can wait or run and get it."

Her hand tangled in my hair. "I'm on birth control, and I'm clean."

The blood drained from my head. "If you're sure."

"I want to feel all of you inside of me."

That was the only invitation I needed to slide home. Her walls surrounded me, and I was lost in her. I kissed her, swallowing her moans and cries.

It was quick, probably too quick, but I couldn't control myself around her. I felt desperate with need.

Anchoring her body against mine, I moved my hand to her clit, circling it as I pounded inside of her. I'd never been bare with anyone before. I'd never wanted to take that risk, and it felt more intense, not just physically but emotionally too.

I felt vulnerable in a way I hadn't before with anyone else. I shoved those thoughts to the side as her thighs trembled around me. She let go. I thrust harder, needing to come with her, to share this experience.

When we were sated, I let her down to her feet. I reached for the body wash and soaped her flushed skin.

But this wasn't sexual for me. I wanted to take care of her, knowing that no one else did this for her. I guessed that her ex was a selfish lover, only caring about his needs. I'd show Claire that there was a different way to live. One where someone took care of her needs and ensured that she had everything she desired.

Claire smiled. "I could get used to this."

"That's the idea." I smiled, then turned her so I could lather her hair with the shampoo that had been left in the shower. I rinsed it, then massaged her scalp with the conditioner. When she was done, I patted her butt. "Get out and dry off. I'll be out in a second."

She pouted. "I want to take care of you."

"Next time. Today's all about you."

She smiled and stepped outside the shower, grabbing a towel I'd placed there this morning. "You're going to spoil me."

I chuckled. "Not possible. You should be treated like a queen all the time."

The expression on Claire's face was soft as I tipped my head back into the stream of water, washing out the shampoo. Then I quickly soaped off my body. The water had grown cold, and I wanted to spend as much time as I could with Claire.

I wasn't sure when we'd get the opportunity to be alone again. I was going to take advantage of every second I had.

Once we were dressed in sweats, I built up the fire again and checked my messages. "Dad said that everything is quiet at the house."

"Everyone must still be sleeping."

"He said he'd take care of Owen once he wakes up. Get him breakfast. So we don't have anything to worry about."

"Do you think we could cut a tree down? We've never done that before. It was just always easier to put up an artificial tree when Owen was younger." Claire's tone was hopeful.

I grinned. "You'll get the pick of the trees since we were only open on Wednesday so far, and we're obviously getting a late start today."

"I've never been happier about winter weather. It's so beautiful outside. The ice makes everything seem like it's been frozen in time. That there's no one else out here but us."

"I have you to myself for a few hours." I wished it could be longer, but we both had duties and responsibilities. She had Owen, and I had the tree farm to worry about. We only had these few hours before reality would creep back in, and I was worried what conclusions she would draw. Would she retreat and insist it didn't mean anything?

My heart couldn't even take those possibilities.

"What are you thinking about?" Claire asked.

"I don't even want to say it out loud," I admitted.

"Then don't. Let's enjoy what this is with no expectations." She pressed her lips into a straight line.

I didn't like the sound of that, but I also didn't want to talk about how I was feeling. I wasn't sure it would be received well, and I wasn't ready for her to walk away from me. I'd always been told I could be too much at times, and I didn't want that to be the case with Claire. I wanted to be exactly what she needed.

I drew her into the space between my legs so that she was cradled against my chest, and we watched the flames in the fireplace.

"I never want to move," Claire said after a while.

I kissed her temple. "I feel the same way."

She turned so that she straddled me. Then she kissed me as her hands traveled over my bare chest. She moved down my body as her hands played with the waistband of my sweats, pulling them down and off. She knelt between my legs and gripped my cock.

I was naked while she was still fully dressed, working over my dick with her hands. "I'm not going to last."

"We can't have that," Claire said as she took me into her mouth.

This has to be heaven.I couldn't think of anything better than this. But I wanted more; I wanted her spread out beneath me while I drove her crazy.

I got lost in her mouth and her hands for a few minutes before I pulled her off. "I want to be inside you."

Heat flashed in her eyes as we shifted positions. She pulled off her shirt as I tugged down her sweats.

I kissed her clit, feeling grateful to be in this position with this incredible woman. She'd let me into her body and her life, and I wouldn't take any of it for granted.

I'd treasure her. I'd worship her.

She arched into my mouth, and I circled her clit with my tongue, keeping my touch featherlight.

"You're torturing me." She groaned in frustration.

I chuckled. "But what a way to go." I added a finger inside her, searching for that bundle of nerves that would drive her wild. I wanted Claire to feel good and remember this day as the one where I made her feel things and took her to heights she'd never reached.

I slowly worked her up, curling my hand over her G-spot as I sucked on her clit. When she was close, I moved up her body, pressing kisses to her stomach and her breasts, then slid inside of her. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. I never wanted to be anywhere else except inside of her. "You feel incredible."

Her cheeks were flushed as her hand came up to palm my cheek. "You do too."

I moved to kiss her palm, reveling in the emotions rolling around inside my chest: tenderness, protectiveness, and maybe even love for this woman.

I'd never felt this connection with anyone else, and maybe it was because she was meant for me. If Cole could love Daphne despite our family's rivalry, then we could overcome any perceived barriers to make this work.

I moved slowly inside her, relishing the sensations of her walls surrounding my dick. The room around me seemed hazy. The whole morning had a dreamlike quality to it. One I didn't want to end.

This time when we crested the wave, we did it together, and we sat in each other's arms for a while. Finally, the light brightened, and I sat up. "We should get cleaned up and dressed just in case."

Claire nodded. "That's smart."

Then my stomach rumbled. "I'm ready for lunch."

We took a second shower, quicker this time, then dressed.

We had bread but no lunch meat so we couldn't make sandwiches. Instead, I whipped up some French toast.

While we ate, Owen texted. He'd heard about the tree and wanted to go now.

"Are you ready to get a tree?"

Claire nodded eagerly. "Do you think it will be icy outside?"

"It says it's warming up. It should be fine. That field gets the sun." Which was out now. We waited for the rest of the family to join us at the cottage. Then we rode with them, grabbing the spare set of shoes for Claire.

It seemed like everyone thought it was a good idea to cut down their tree before the farm opened later today and it was overrun with customers wanting to get a head start on the holiday.

When we got to the field, we separated from the others. Owen staying with us. I grabbed a saw and gloves from the bed of Cole's truck, intending to have Owen help me cut it down.

Claire was concerned that he didn't have a male role model to show him things, and I intended to be that person for him.

We stood back while Owen examined the trees, finally deciding on a tall and fat one that he claimed would look good in the living room.

"You're going to help me cut it down," I said to Owen. I knew he was cautious after the fire, but it was important for him to move past that trauma. Otherwise, he'd always be fearful. I didn't want that for him. There was a difference between being cautious and smart, and fearful and holding yourself back. Owen was doing the latter.

"Lay on the ground on your side so you can get close to the trunk." I squatted down next to him. "You're going to want to cut here."

"Claire. Can you hold the top so it doesn't fall over?"

"You got it," Claire said with a smile, moving to find the stem through the branches.

I could feel their excitement. How had her ex never done these things with them? He was lucky to have a family. Why would he spend his time holed up in an office when he could be spending time with them?

I handed Owen the gloves, then the saw. "Just put the blade here, dig in, and slide it back and forth."

Owen bit his lip as he complied with my instructions. When he pulled away frustrated not to see any progress, I said, "You're not using enough pressure. Don't worry. You can't get hurt. I promise. I'm right here."

"Okay." This time he pressed harder, and the blade slid through the bark.

"That's it. You've got it."

Owen's face became more determined as he continued to saw through the trunk. He responded well to praise, but it also told me that he didn't get much of it from his father.

That was going to change when it came to me. Owen would come to expect praise, encouragement, and guidance when he needed it. He'd never need to wonder where he stood. I vowed to always make time for him. I wasn't just in a relationship with Claire. Owen was just as big a part of the equation as she was.

"Timber," Owen cried when he sawed through the trunk.

I jumped up to grab the tree from Claire, who was struggling with the weight. "I got it."

I dragged the tree behind me toward the truck."

"Do you need help?" Claire asked.

I flashed her a grin. "I've got it. I've been carrying trees since I was a teenager."

"Now that I can cut down the trees, can I help out more on the farm?" Owen asked.

"Let's keep doing what you're doing. I don't think your mom wants you cutting down trees unsupervised yet."

Claire smiled at me. "Let's not grow up too fast."

Owen rolled his eyes. "I'm going to grow up at some point."

"Just give me time to get used to it."

Owen sighed. "Fine."

"Besides, that's the prime job around here. You have to put your time in at the other positions before you can move up." That's what my father had told us. We usually didn't allow volunteers to do this part, but Owen felt like he was becoming part of our family.

I could see him growing up and taking on more responsibilities. But that was dependent on my relationship with Claire, and I didn't want to think too much about that.