Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

Autumn

T he moonlight reflects off of Lake Tahoe, casting beams across the water. I stand at the oversized windows, taking it all in. It’s still and quiet, other than the crickets.

“You own this place too?” I ask. Every single one of his homes has the best views.

“ We do.” He moves toward me, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close. I crave his warm mouth and take what I want, but I take it slow.

His lips are on my neck and he peppers kisses upward. He traces the shell of my ear with his lips, inhaling me. “You smell good.”

I grab his shirt with my fist and pull him closer to me. “You do, too. I need you.”

He smiles, takes my hand, and we dance by the light of the moon.

“Did you know I didn’t want a reception?” I ask.

“I did,” he says, spinning me around.

“Thank you for marrying me,” I whisper.

“Pleasure is mine.”

“Am I awake?” It still feels like a dream, a fairy tale that I’ll be ripped away from. Every day, I’m worried I’ll wake up in my loft, dreaming of a life I wanted to live. I want to keep these precious memories with him for a lifetime.

“Yes,” he says, kissing me. We break apart, and it’s easy to imagine what the outside looks like covered in snow. I’ve only ever seen photos of this place online. Now I’m here.

Zane grabs my hand, leading me up the wide, log stairs, lifting me into his arms, and carrying me up them. We say nothing, not even when he kicks open the door.

He sets me on the edge of the bed, dropping to his knees, then disappears under the silk and tulle.

“Mm,” he hums and rubs his scruff against my bare pussy.

“That feels amazing,” I say breathlessly as his tongue darts out. My eyes slam shut as he lifts my thigh over his shoulder, allowing himself better access. I want him, need him closer.

“More. Please,” I say, building up too fast, greedily racing to the end even though he’s barely touched me. It’s always been like this for us since the beginning. I can’t get enough and never will. This man is my fantasy, my dream, and I’m insatiable for him as he devours me like I’m his sustenance. Like I’m the only thing that can keep him alive.

My back arches and the orgasm threatens and builds like a summer storm in the mountains. Two fingers slide deep inside me and a groan releases as heat swirls. I need this bad.

He smiles against my pussy as if he can read my thoughts. “You’re so fucking close.”

“Yes.” I’m not sure I even spoke. It's hushed as he rolls his tongue across my clit.

“Enjoy it.”

Zane Alexander is my ecstasy, the man of my dreams; now he’s my husband.

“My husband ,” I whisper. My body trembles, the thread snaps, blinding me. As I say his name, I fall into the abyss, completely lost with this man. He continues teasing my bundle of nerves as my pussy pulses.

“Fuck, Autie.” He moves my dress, sucking his fingers before licking his perfect lips. “I need you so damn bad.”

He leans forward, and I taste my release on his mouth, loving how eager he always is to please me.

“Please always want me like this,” I say, and he pulls away.

“Pumpkin, this is the ground floor. We’re only going up from here,” he growls, pressing himself between my thighs, slowly kissing me like we have eternity. The ring on my finger and the love in my heart tell me we do.

We’re the real deal. I sigh, relieved that he’s mine.

“I finally found you,” he says, sounding like Mr. Dreamy. “I’m not ever letting you go now. That’s a fucking promise. One I’ll keep until my last breath,” he says, nuzzling against my neck.

He looks at me like I’m the stars in his night sky. I smile, clasping my hands on his cheeks, moving his face closer for one more kiss.

“I love you. Every inch of you inside and out,” I say, grateful and overwhelmed by the emotions swimming through me. No more crash landings, not with Zane.

When he smiles, my heart flutters. “I love you, Autie. Today, tomorrow, and forever.”

He stands to his feet and pulls me up to him. He takes a step back, admiring me. No one has ever looked at me the way he does.

“Love you too.” I lick my lips, turning my back. “Unzip me halfway.”

Zane sucks and nibbles on my neck as his fingers trail up my arm to the zipper. I turn to him, reaching forward to remove his tie as he watches me. I throw it on the bed and he lifts a brow.

Carefully, I untuck and unbutton his shirt and push it off his shoulders. Stepping forward, I kiss down his body, licking the carves of his muscles. I unbuckle his belt, then toss it on the mattress.

“Tonight, no boundaries.”

“Be careful what you ask for,” he growls, threading his fingers through my hair. Our tongues greedily massage each other.

“I want you to unravel me.”

He tugs my long strands, forcing me to look up at him. “I will have you begging.”

“I can start now if you’d like. Fucking please,” I say more desperately, removing the dress from my body.

“Damn.” His eyes move down my breasts to the crotchless lace panties I’m wearing. “How are you mine?”

“Because you chose me,” I say.

“Because you chose me ,” he counters, sliding his hand down to my ass cheek, grabbing a handful.

“I would a million times over.” I pull him toward me. “Is this where I start begging?”

His laughter is light as I kiss him. Seconds later, he has my wrists, twisting me around like he did in his library. Hot breath brushes against my skin as he trails kisses up my neck. “Is that what you want?”

“Since the first time,” I hiss out as he tightens his grip, restraining me more.

“I saw you first in the library. I watched you from the corner of the room for at least five minutes. I’d been thinking about you before you appeared like a figment of my imagination.”

“You manifested me,” I whisper.

Zane spins me around, capturing my lips. “I think it’s the other way around, Pumpkin.”

He glances at my throat, then at my mouth. “Tonight, I want to make love to you.”

“I’ll take an IOU then. One where you don't hold back,” I say as he steps forward, gently guiding me on the bed.

“It's a deal.” Our mouths slam together. He gives my body time to adjust to him before picking up his pace, and it doesn’t take long before I’m floating like a feather with him. High on his touch, the taste of his skin, and everything he has to offer.

I wake up to Zane’s cock pressed into my back, and I arch against him. We make love to the early morning sunlight peeking over the horizon. Afterward, we stand on the balcony, watching the fog drift over the water.

“How is it here in the winter?”

“Beautiful. You’d love it,” he tells me.

I imagine it covered in a soft white powder as snowshoe hikers take the trails.

“We’ll come back,” he promises with a yawn. “Coffee?”

“That’s the magic word.”

The chill in the air creeps along my exposed legs and I shiver slightly.

Zane grabs his phone, shoves it into his pocket, and leads me downstairs. He places logs in the fireplace and lights them. “Oh, the real deal.”

He grins. “It’s nostalgic.”

I smile because it reminds me of scribbling down stories about ponies and cute boys.

“What?” Zane asks.

“I remembered a childhood memory of writing by the fire.”

“I can imagine that.” He moves into the kitchen and begins his search for an espresso machine. He opens a cabinet and pulls out a French press.

“Do you have grounds?”

“Hm.” Zane moves to the pantry with his joggers sitting haphazardly on his waist. I admire every inch of him, knowing my lips were pressed against his skin. “Right here.”

I move toward him.

“Have a seat. I’m making you a cup this morning.”

“Great. I’ll sit here and enjoy the view.”

Zane shoots me a wink and fills a kettle with water, placing it on the stove. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“You choose.”

Our lips touch, softly, but communicating all the desire still burning between us. “You?”

“I think we can make that happen.”

A yawn escapes me.

“After coffee and breakfast. I need you nourished for the rest of our day.”

“I fucking love the sound of that.”

Almost on cue, his phone dings. He unlocks it and reads the screen.

“My father has decided to cancel his island wedding,” Zane says.

“Oh no. Are he and Silvia okay?”

“They’re great.” He smiles. “Silvia wants to get married at the resort in Cozy Creek. They’re loving it there.” Zane laughs.

“Really? When?”

“Tomorrow.”

I take a few steps forward. “So that means I get you to myself for the rest of the day without interruptions?”

He nods. “That’s a fucking promise.”

I pull the Moleskine notebook from my travel bag and sit at the bar top as Zane pulls eggs and bacon from the fridge, then makes me a perfect cup of coffee.

I start by adding the date to the corner of the page, then I write.

How did this happen?

I married Mr. Dreamy.

I’m so damn lucky.

Smiling, I shut the book and set the pen on top. I haven’t missed a day of writing poems about Zane and never plan to. Not for the rest of my life.

“Can I read them one day?” he asks, handing me a cup of French pressed coffee.

“I’ll trade you. One haiku in exchange for reading one of mine.”

He laughs. “You should’ve never told me that. How many do I need to write to catch up with you?”

“A lot.”

“Guess I better get started then.”