Chapter 17

It's hard to know which is making my head spin and belly flutter more – the fact that Jace has said he loves me, or knowing what we"re about to do.

Our first time together in that hot steamy shower was pure lust, fueled by adrenaline and fire. As we drop our towels and slip under the sheets together, I can already tell that this is going to be so much more.

Jace slides his huge muscular frame right in beside me, his hand grazing up and down my body as he stares at me. Then he meets my eyes and smiles. "You"re going to hear people talking in town about me being a grouch. A quiet loner. The guy who bitches about unprepared people out on the trails."

I giggle. "I was at least somewhat prepared, right?"

He pokes my nose. "You were about to camp illegally, missy. Let"s not get into that." He looks at me very seriously. "I"m…lighter…with you. I like the version of myself that comes out when you"re around."

"That"s the sweetest thing anyone"s ever said to me," I whisper.

His lips brush tenderly against mine. "I love you. And our first time was hot, but now… It"s going to be hot and mean even more, yeah?"

My fingers reach around his shoulder to grab the back of his neck, pulling his mouth to mine as I nod. His palm meanders around my hip, then slides down my inner thigh, pushing my legs apart. I reach down to stroke him, his cock a hot bar of lead in my hand.

"I can"t believe this thing actually fits inside me," I moan as he stretches out over me.

His deep eyes are soft as he nods. "All of the heat and humidity of the shower probably helped you stretch. I never want to hurt you, baby."

My inhalation is sharp and quick as the tip of his shaft glides up and down through my inner folds. He"s so achingly gentle, even though I can"t miss the tension in the tops of his shoulders. His left hand scoops under me, cradling my body as he notches his cock at my entrance. Instead of pressing in, he simply stays there, teasing me, twitching as I stare up at him.

"Do you like it when I tease you like this?" he murmurs.

"No, as a matter of fact. Get in there." Using my knee, I try to shove his butt to move him closer.

Jace chuckles. "I secretly love it when you boss me around."

Fisting the back of his hair, I stare deeply into his eyes. "At the moment, I"m the queen of this bedroom. So… Take me."

That mischievous grin lights up his eyes. "As you wish, your majesty."

His hips tilt, entering me so slowly that it still feels like a tease. I"m still warm and wet from the shower, so even though he presses deep, it"s not too difficult to stretch open for him. He kisses across my cheekbone and my forehead as he finally thrusts all the way in. The feeling of being filled by the man I love makes my heart expand.

"So gorgeous," he whispers, shifting gently to pull back before sinking in again, letting me feel every single thick inch of him.

I will never get tired of admiring Jace"s incredible body. My eyes wander over his torso as each sculpted part of him shifts and moves over me. My legs wrap around his hips, crossing my ankles so that I can pull him closer as I grind against him.

He changes the angle so that he"s careful to brush against my clit with every stroke. All of my breath disappears, and I"m left blinking, shaking, as every single thrust brings me closer and closer to the edge.

"So fucking sexy," he growls against my ear. "Can"t believe I found the girl of my dreams right there in the forest."

My entire body begins to seize up. I feel both fragile and strong as I tighten around him, the force of his thrusts increasing. Time seems to stop as our brains zone out and our bodies take over.

"I love that you were waiting for me, Kara. Love that I"m the only cock you"re ever going to have."

I nod eagerly, trying not to pull his hair as I clutch the back of his neck with one hand and his shoulder with the other. Every long, deep stroke brings us closer.

"I can feel your hot little pussy tightening around me," he growls, his voice ragged. "Feel how much you need me. Feel how hard you"re going to come for me."

Something about the thought of coming for him instead of with him, feels…possessive? Obsessed? I"m not sure, but either way, it"s so freaking hot. "More," I manage to whisper. "Jace… I"m so close…"

"I know. I can feel it. Feel this tight little pussy quivering all around me. God, I love the way you squeeze my cock, baby."

I"m too breathless to respond with words, so instead I just tighten my pussy around him, squeezing him even harder. Somehow, it pulls my energy inward, triggering my climax. A weak, thready scream escapes my lips as I stare wild-eyed up at him.

Jace"s eyes are half-lidded with lust as his jaw tightens, shoulders clenching, hips flexing as he plunges deeper and harder. "That"s it, baby…"

The sensation of his liquid heat flooding my twitching pussy flings me right into a second orgasm. "Yeah, give it to me," he growls darkly, still thrusting deep as I listen to my own rasping cries.

After a few moments of stillness, he flops down beside me, clutching me to him. We"re both sweaty, breathless and flushed. As our heartbeats slowly return to normal, our fingers entwine.

He chuckles. "I can"t believe you"re mine. I"m the luckiest man on the mountain."

Lifting his hand, I kiss his knuckles. "And I"m completely free, thanks to you."

"We"re going to be free together, baby." His eyebrow arches. "Except of course, for my forest duties."

"Maybe you"ll teach me how to help?"

"Sure, if you like. When the weather is nice. We"ll go hiking, and I"ll teach you everything."

"I"d like that."

Snuggling into his chest, I feel like I"m home. Not only do I belong with Jace, I truly feel like I belong up here on the mountain, in the forest.

And, of course, now I"m the queen of the kitchen, the shower, and the bedroom.