Chapter 18

Sigurd

I told her I loved watching her come, but what I meant was something else entirely.

Something deeper, heavier, richer than sex.

The truth is, I may love her. I adore Stasi for who she is—every maddening inch of her.

My only problem is I don't know if it's true love or simply the best sex of my life.

The way I smile as I putter around the cabin tells a different story.

She makes me happy.

Listening to Stasi in the bath—laughing with a podcast in her earbuds—makes me smile.

Tidying up while she's having a moment to care for herself makes my heart feel light.

I grin like an idiot as I ponder what might be on tomorrow's agenda. I have some ideas, and I have to pause to make a mental note that I'm actually looking forward to spending time with another person. With her. Nobody else has held my interest for this long.

Sure, I have a great friendship with Callum Black. We live together and go hunting and fishing, but I don't think about it. My stomach doesn't flip-flop. We don't make plans. We rarely ever even talk about what we're having for dinner. We simply move around the same shared living space and do our best to pick up after ourselves.

With Stasi, I think about what I'll cook for dinner and hope she likes my idea.

I secretly hope she makes more desserts because her baking is fucking awesome. If not, that's fine, too. I'm more than willing to make a dessert out of her.

The kettle whistles on the stove, bringing me out of my swirling thoughts.

"More hot water?"

I stand over the tub at her feet, holding the kettle.

Stasi gives me a queer look. "You know this cabin has running hot and cold water."

Shrugging, I say, "Force of habit. Didn't used to."

She gives me a thousand-watt smile then. "Sorry. I'd love a warm-up, thank you."

I sit on the tub's edge and carefully dispense the hot water, careful not to scald her adorable feet.

When I finish, I lean over to give her a peck on the cheek, but she grabs the front of my shirt and pulls me back down for a thorough, wet kiss.

"Want to get in the tub with me?"

"I would love to, but it's not quite big enough for two."

She pouts up at me, and it's all I can do not to fall into the water with her, completely dressed.

"I'll go catch something for dinner," I say, laughing and covering her hands with mine. I bring her sweet knuckles to my lips, kissing each one.

"We have enough fish."

"Lake perch. Bluegill. I want to do something more than that for you."

"Well, I can assure you that I do not want you to go and kill Bambi or Thumper to feed me."

I look her over. If she doesn't eat venison, then this could be a dealbreaker. Half my meals are composed of meat from the hunt.

And then I look down at her and mentally kick myself. What am I saying? I'd give up Stasi for something so petty as food preferences? I'll make her a separate meal daily if that makes her happy.

"I'll fetch some steaks."

"No need to go to any trouble over me," she says. "Plus, I brought plenty of food."

I've seen what she has stocked in the cabinets. "You brought snack foods."

"Yes, and?"

"I want to make something special tonight."

"What, no kielbasa? No bratwurst?"

I shake my head.

"Well, whatever it is, we can order it online."

"I don't know how to do that."

"I'll show you as soon as I'm done."

"I can just go to the store." Even though the thought of being spotted in public makes my pits sweat.

Stasi scoffs. "Someone will recognize you. If you're serious about it, I can go to the store."

"No."

She blinks up at me. "No?"

"I don't want you out alone by yourself."

"Sigurd, I can do things independently without falling into the lake."

"It's not that. I just…I don't want to share you with the world yet."