Chapter Nineteen: Rosie

Terry!

What the hell was he thinking, turning up unannounced like that and expecting her to do what? Drop everything and go back to him?

What planet was the man from?

As she drove through the mountains, she sucked in a deep breath and let go of her anger toward Terry. It was pointless.

The man would never change. But at least he agreed to spend time with Elliott before he headed back to the city.

Agreed! He should want to spend time with his son.

Let it go,she told herself.

She steered around a winding bend, hoping she remembered the way to Levi’s cabin. The problem was that all these roads were beginning to look the same.

If only she had shifter senses, they would lead her right to him.

But she did have the mating bond. If that truly was a thing, why not trust in it to work like a GPS, guiding her to him?

She laughed and shook her head. That was one of the most ridiculous things she had ever heard. But a part of her wanted to know if it was real. If there was a hidden force that connected her to Levi that was so strong it drew them together with a kind of magnetic pull.

An irresistible pull.

“Well, I’ll be…” She turned the steering wheel and drove along a short trail that led to Levi’s cabin. The cabin itself was shielded by tall trees, and there was a chance she’d gotten this wrong and she would pull up outside a stranger’s house.

But a part of her knew she was right.

And then the trees thinned, and the cabin came into view. And there, standing in front of the cabin, was her mate.

“Levi.” She stopped the car and opened the door, getting out and going to him.

“Rosie?” He looked confused, concerned, but hopeful.

“I didn’t know if I’d find you here,” she said. “I half expected to find you outside the cabin at Bear Creek Lodge, ready to fight Terry for my hand.”

“Are you disappointed I didn’t?” Levi asked.

“I don’t know,” she replied with a sly smile. “I’ve never had anyone fight for me before.”

“If that’s what you want me to do, I’ll do it,” Levi teased.

Rosie chuckled and wrapped her arms around her body. “Honestly, Terry would be too scared you might damage his god looks to fight for me.”

Levi took a step closer to her. “The real reason I didn’t come and fight for you is that I think you are more than capable of handling yourself,” he said.

“You do?” She arched an eyebrow at him.

“Okay, honestly, Camille had to talk me down first. But what she said made sense, so when I got over myself and the primal need to come to rescue you, I decided to come here.” He inclined his head toward the workshop next to his cabin. “I worked off my frustration in there.”

“All your frustration?” she asked as she dropped her arms to her sides and stepped closer to him.

“Not all,” he said, his eyes lingering on her mouth. His voice deepened as he continued, “I still have a bit of that frustration left to deal with.”

The distance between them seemed to dissolve as Rosie took another step forward, closing the gap.

“Maybe I could help with the rest,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Levi reached out, his fingers trailing down her arm, sending a shiver through her body. “I’m willing if you are,” he murmured.

“I’m very willing,” Rosie said.

“Does this mean you are not going back to Terry?” Levi asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

She shook her head and smiled. “Do you really want to talk about my ex-husband at this moment in time?”

Levi slipped his hand into hers and held it, before locking eyes with her. “I want you to be happy, Rosie. You and Elliott, so if that means letting you go…”

“You mean that, don’t you?” she asked.

“I do.”

“Even though it would break your heart and leave you alone?” she asked, recalling the way he’d told her that she was the only one for him. Ever.

“Your happiness is more important than mine,” he said, and she believed him.

“That’s funny,” she began.

“It is?”

“Yeah, Terry came back because he needed us for his happiness,” she replied.

“I don’t understand,” Levi said. “I thought he’d got a nice shiny new record contract and a tour.”

“He has. Well, an offer of one. But the offer is from a studio who wants him to be seen as a family man. One who is dependable and grounded. And that’s where Elliott and I came in—a picture-perfect family to boost his image.”

Levi’s jaw tightened, and the muscles in his neck strained as he absorbed her words. “So, he’s using you…”

Rosie nodded and then shrugged. “I wasn’t surprised. When he said he wanted us to have a perfect life, all I could think of was how quickly he threw our lives away before. And how he would again if it suited him. I’m done with that.”

“Does that mean you’ll come here to Bear Creek and live in my quaint little cabin?” Levi held out his arm as if revealing his cabin like a magician revealing his grand finale.

Rosie laughed. “Your quaint little cabin, huh? Now, that might be an offer I cannot refuse.”

Levi’s eyes danced with humor. “And I know that Elliott will be sold on the place if I give him a kitten.”

“Oh, so you’re into bribery,” she teased.

“Yes, what will it take to make you mine?” Levi asked.

“I already am yours,” she said, pressing her body close to his. “But I guess a little bribery never hurt anyone.”

“What do you desire?” Levi asked as he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close.

“I think you know,” she purred in his ear.

Levi leaned down and scooped her up into his arms, effortlessly carrying her toward his cabin, the gravel scrunching under his feet. Then he mounted the porch steps two at a time and shouldered the door open.

“I have never been swept off my feet before,” she told him.

“There’s a first time for everything,” he told her as he headed for the stairs.

“Am I getting a tour of the house?” she said as she nuzzled into his neck.

“Yes, we’re going to start with the bedroom.” He took the stairs two at a time, heat radiating from his body as he reached the top and entered the first door on the left.

“That’s the bed, I presume.” Rosie curled her fingers through his hair. The cabin was simple and uncluttered, but it felt warm and welcoming, as if she were coming home. As if this was the place she was always meant to be, but somehow, she’d gotten lost along the way.

Levi gently set Rosie down on the soft, quilt-covered bed, a tender smile playing on his lips. Then he straightened up and tugged his T-shirt over his head, revealing the chiseled muscles that made Rosie’s breath catch. His eyes never left hers as he tossed the shirt to the side. “I hope you like what you see,” he said softly.

Rosie smiled as she moved to kneel in the bed and reached up to trace the outline of his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin under her fingertips. “More than you know,” she whispered.

Levi’s hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb gently brushing across her skin. The room seemed to hum with the tension between them. Then he lowered his head and kissed her lips with a tenderness that made her sigh. It was as if he were trying to communicate all the things he couldn’t yet put into words, the depth of his feelings, the promise of everything to come.

Rosie’s hands slid around his waist, pulling him closer. He came, his hands undoing the straps of her sundress before he pushed it down to reveal her bra. With an expert flick of his hand, he unclasped it, and as it fell away, then he cupped her breast in his large hand and brushed his thumb across her nipple, sending a shiver through her. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured against her lips.

“So are you,” she said and traced her finger around his nipple, before leaning forward and closing her mouth around it.

A low groan escaped Levi’s lips as Rosie’s mouth worked its magic. He tilted his head back, savoring the sensation.

Rosie’s hand traveled south, over the ripples of his abdomen, and came to rest on the bulge in his pants. She smiled as she pressed her palm to it, feeling his desire for her.

Levi’s hands went to her hips, sliding her underwear down her legs as she unbuttoned his pants and pulled them down his thighs. He kicked them off, and then lifted her up and laid her back down on the bed.

She was now completely naked beneath him, her eyes inviting him to explore. His eyes roamed over her body, taking in every curve, every freckle and blemish. “I am a lucky man,” he murmured.

Rosie opened her arms and brought her hands to his face. “Make love to me, Levi.”

“You don’t have to ask twice,” he replied and positioned himself between her thighs. Looking down at her, he trailed his finger from her belly button to her mound and dipped it into her folds, testing her wetness.

Rosie arched her back and moaned softly, her nails digging into his shoulders. She wanted him. She needed him. But he didn’t seem to be in a hurry, and that drove her crazy.

His fingers explored her depths, dipping inside her, his thumb pressing against her mound, making her gasp. He truly was good with his hands. And then he lowered himself down and flicked his tongue out to taste her.

Her toes curled, her body shuddering with pleasure as he teased and tantalized her, his mouth doing things to her she never knew possible. She bucked and writhed beneath him as he licked, sucked, and drove her wild. She squirmed as he hooked his fingers, brushing them against her inner walls, bringing her to a climax that rocked her to her core. Wave after wave of bliss washed over her, and she cried out as it hit her.

But Levi didn’t stop there. Instead, he continued to suck and lick as she trembled with satisfaction. It was almost too much for her to handle, and she gasped for breath, her mind racing with lust and need. A need for more.

As if reading her thoughts, Levi raised himself above her, and with his knee, spread her legs apart. She gazed up at him, his eyes locking onto hers as he eased himself inside her, stretching her as he filled her with his hard length.

She ran her fingers over his taut stomach, memorizing the feel of him as he rocked back and forth, his movements slow and gentle. Instinctively, she tightened around him, his shaft throbbing inside her as they moved together.

He watched her as he moved, his gaze never leaving her as he increased the pace, his hips pushing her toward the edge once more. Then he angled his body, resting his weight on one arm as he moved in and out of her. With his free hand, he brushed his palm over her nipple, his touch featherlight and teasing.

Rosie could hardly contain herself, her body trembling with anticipation. Levi leaned down and took her nipple in his mouth, his tongue swirling around it, his teeth grazing it as he sucked and nibbled. She grabbed his butt, digging her nails into his skin as she thrust her hips up to meet him. She was close.

Levi’s hand slipped between her thighs, his fingers finding her most sensitive spot. He rubbed it, his body moving in a steady rhythm as he took her higher and higher. She tensed, trembling, her back arching as she finally gave in to the ecstasy, her walls clamping around him, pulsing with pleasure.

Rosie closed her eyes as she came, her whole body tensing as wave after wave of pleasure flowed through her. And when she finally opened them, Levi’s head was thrown back, his body wracked with spasms as he found his own release. His seed spurted deep within her, filling her with the promise of a child of their own.

Just as this man between her thighs had promised her a life filled with love and loyalty.

“How is your frustration level now?” she whispered against his ear.

“Oh, I might have a little more I need to work off,” he said as he kissed her neck, his breath warm against her skin.

She smiled and then cupped his face in her hands. “I love you.”

His eyes darkened with desire as he locked his gaze on hers. “And I love you. And always will.”

“Now, about that frustration.” She slipped her hand down between their bodies and he hardened under her touch. Rosie let out a soft giggle, her fingertips dancing over his skin. “Looks like we have some more work to do,” she murmured playfully, pressing her lips to the corner of his mouth.

Levi’s arm snaked around her waist, pulling her closer. “I’m a very hard worker.”

She guided him inside her and gasped as he thrust into her, stretching her inner walls as he filled her completely. “Promises, promises.”

And with that, he made love to her, while the trees rustled in the breeze outside the window of the cabin she would call home for the rest of her life.