33. Wyatt

Chapter 33

Wyatt

As I lower Fern onto the couch, our bodies intertwined, I can hardly believe this is real. After all the heartache and uncertainty, she's here in my arms, telling me she loves me. I've been so consumed by my own nightmare that I never stopped to believe or even hope I could have something like this.

My hands roam her body, reacquainting myself with every curve and contour. Her skin is just as soft as I remember, her scent just as intoxicating. I trail kisses down her neck, savoring the little gasps and moans that escape her lips.

"Wyatt," she breathes, her fingers tangling in my hair. "I need you."

Those three words set me on fire. "Yeah, you do, gorgeous." I sit up just long enough to tug my shirt over my head before diving back in, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. Her hands explore my chest and my abs, leaving trails of heat in their wake.

I remember how she has trusted me for this kind of intimacy, how I'm the one who made her feel safe enough to let her guard down when all she's ever done is build a fortress to protect her on a path to a different sort of life. I slow down, savoring the feel of her, physically and emotionally.

We undress each other slowly, reverently, as if we're unwrapping the most precious gifts. When we're finally skin to skin, I have to take a moment just to look at her, to memorize every detail of this perfect woman beneath me.

My eyes drink in the sight of her luscious curves, the soft swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the tantalizing flare of her hips. I run my hands along her sides, marveling at how her body yields to my touch, supple and pliant, but I know she has a core of steel inside.

This gorgeous body covers an unshakable strength and resilience. Fern has become my favorite story, one I want to read over and over again, even as it's still being written. She's faced so many challenges and overcome so much, and she's never lost her warmth, compassion, and incredible capacity for love. Or is that just for me?

As I lower my mouth to her breast, taking a nipple between my lips, she arches beneath me, a breathless moan falling from her lips. Her nipples harden so fast. I pinch them, loving the way they respond to my touch. Her eagerness lights me on fire and sets off a primal need to pleasure her, to worship every inch of her. Fern has become as vital to me as my family, familiar and comforting … but meeting very, very different needs.

I swing my attention on her breasts, licking, suckling, teasing, until she's writhing beneath me, her nails digging into my shoulders. The contrast of her soft flesh against my hard muscles is intoxicating, a heady reminder of how perfectly we fit together in every way.

"You're so beautiful," I whisper, trailing kisses down her stomach, memorizing the way her muscles quiver under my touch. "I love you so much, Fern."

Her eyes, dark with desire, shine with unshed tears. "I love you, too. More than anything."

I pour all my emotion into the next kiss, letting my actions speak louder than words ever could. As I settle between her thighs, the heat of her drawing me in, I'm once again struck by the incredible gift of her love, her trust, her surrender.

"I'm on the pill," she whispers, breath hot on my ear. "And there's never been anyone but you …"

I draw back. "What are you saying?"

She shrugs. "I want to feel you inside me with nothing between us, Wyatt. Nothing but us."

I swallow, trying not to explode. "I get checked all the time. I'm healthy, Fern. And there hasn't been anyone since you." I blink away moisture and smile at her. "You're it for me, baby."

She smiles and licks her lips, reaching for me. I hiss when she wraps a palm around my length and moan as she guides me between her thighs. I lock eyes with her and sink inside, the sensation so overwhelming I collapse on top of her, giving her my full weight.

"I like how heavy you feel on top of me," she says, wrapping her legs around me. I kiss her throat and settle onto my forearms so I can see her, wanting to see her face while we do this.

We move together like a symphony, our bodies perfectly in sync. Each touch, each caress, each thrust is a declaration of love, a promise of forever. The way she embraces me, her soft curves molding to my hardness…it feels like an unbreakable connection.

When we finally come apart in each other's arms, spent and sated, I hold her close, marveling at the way she fits so perfectly against me. Her body, so soft and yielding, is like a safe haven in a world that's been so harsh and merciless.

This is where I belong. She is home.

I pace the arrivals gate at Heathrow, my heart racing with anticipation. I tried bringing a book, but there's no way I can concentrate on reading it, so I shove it in my back pocket and stare at the arrivals board again. Fern's plane landed twenty minutes ago, and I know it's only a matter of time before she clears customs and makes her way to me.

The past month has been a whirlwind. Between settling into my new team, finding a flat, and starting sessions with the psychologist, I've barely had a moment to catch my breath. I've literally been counting down the days until Fern gets here. She sent me 30 images from the art class she took with Grand and told me to put one up on the wall every day until we could be together. Sort of sappy, but I like having someone to be that way with.

I call her every day, even if the time zones are hard with my training schedule. Fern doesn't seem to sleep anymore, so it worked out. She's been wrapping up her finals and packing up her life in Pittsburgh while I've been scoping out all the places I want to show her in London. I offered to fly her mom out here with her, but Ms. Montgomery doesn't have a passport yet. She and Fern are making plans and soaking in their time together, and I hope they'll let me help out when they're ready. What else am I going to do with this sort of paycheck?

Finally, I see her emerge from the sliding doors, her face lighting up when our eyes meet. I rush forward, sweeping her into my arms and spinning her around, for once not caring about people staring. "You're here," I murmur against her hair, breathing in the scent of her. "You're really here."

I'm vaguely aware of a few people snapping photos of us. One of the first things I talked about in therapy was my aversion to the press, and how important it is for me to make a good impression with fans. I have all sorts of mental exercises I work through to remind myself that it's okay for the world to see me successful and happy and that my father can't take that from me.

So now, I let it happen. Thankfully, nobody tries to interrupt us. Until my phone emits a quacking sound. "What the hell?" I glance down to see a group text from my cousins.

Young Stag Group Chat

Odin

Did you know I can manipulate your notifications from afar? You're still on the family plan!

Stellen

Epic.

Gunnar

We're going to video call you during family dinner this weekend. Tell Fern she has to tune in.

Odin

Can you put her on the family plan so I can fuck with her phone notifications, too?

Reading over the exchange, Fern laughs, a joyful sound that sends my blood buzzing. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."

I cup her face in my hands. "Welcome to London, love. Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?"

Her smile is brighter than the sun. "With you? Always."

Hand in hand, we make our way out of the airport, ready to take on the world together. It's not going to be easy. She's in an intense academic program. She's gonna be a hot doctor. And my life is intense. But I know we can handle anything as long as we have each other.

Fern is my rock, my guiding light, my forever home. And as we step out into the bustling streets of London, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. This is exactly where we're meant to be, side by side, chasing our dreams and building a life together.

She and I are forging a new legacy, one that's entirely our own—one that recognizes the power of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds we share. It's a legacy I'm proud to call mine…ours.