What the …
Before I can register what has happened, Gunnar’s powerful body crowds mine in a way it never has before.
I inhale sharply, my breath stolen by the fierce determination on his face. My eyes are wide as I peer up at him, drawn into the depths of his intensity.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about this, Elle,” his voice is low and hypnotic, dancing along my senses. “What it would be like … feel like …”
I swallow hard, wanting to deny it but can’t. Not just because of my inability to form words at the moment, but the desire coursing through me is undeniable.
An arrogant smirk forms on his lips, as if he sees my every thought.
He leans down even closer, his breath warm against my skin as he brings his mouth to my ear. “I want to do this with you, Elle,” he murmurs, his words a gentle caress. “I want to have this baby with you, but only if we do it my way. So, think about it. Really think about it. I’ll return tomorrow night with dinner, and I expect an answer by then.”
That demand jolts me back to reality, yanking me from the spell he had me under.
Sensing the shift in me, he draws back, meeting my gaze squarely. “After all, Friday is fast approaching,” he adds, a hint of smugness entering his tone.
I’m rendered immobile by his sheer audacity and something else, something too powerful to name.
Before leaving he places his hat on my head. “Keep it. Suits you better, anyway.” Without further discussion, he strides confidently toward the door, whistling for Bear. “Let’s go, boy.”
Bear gives my leg a few affectionate licks, then obediently follows Gunnar out of the house, leaving me in a state of shock. I’m unable to move or breathe, my mind and heart in chaos as I try to make sense of what just happened.
Gunnar
As promised, I pull up to Ellie’s house the following evening, armed with dinner. I’m hoping her favorite Italian dish will help smooth over some of the tension I caused last night because she was good and pissed when I left, no doubt about it.
She was also hot and needy, her desire unmistakable. It raged in the depths of her eyes that have the ability to stop time. In the sound of her heated breaths as my lips grazed her ear. In the way her body trembled in response to the closeness of mine.
Every reaction only fueled what I’ve had burning inside of me since acknowledging what I should have a long time ago. What everyone else always seemed to know except the two of us.
What I now realize was inevitable all along.
What Linc and Dawson said last night was true. I could only keep Ellie to myself for so long before a decision like this would need to be made, and it would seem that time is now.
How will it all play out? I’m still not sure, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about that. It’s unknown territory, and quite frankly, I don’t like the unknown. It’s dangerous, leaves you vulnerable, and can blindside you when you least expect it.
What I do know for sure? Is no matter what happens tonight or where we go from here, Ellie will always be my best friend. It’s a pact we made long ago, an unbreakable one, and that’s enough for me.
My gaze shifts to Bear who stares at me from the passenger seat. “Remember what we talked about,” I remind him, pointing my finger at him. “You’re on my side for this. Work your magic and stick to the plan.”
Woof.
Some days I think Ellie is right and he really does understand every word we say.
Shaking my head at the thought, I climb out of the truck and walk over to let him out.
He leaps from the front seat and races up the concrete steps of the small, white and yellow house. A quaint two-story that represents Ellie perfectly, right down to the meticulously crafted flower beds bursting in every shade of pink. They line the weathered cement walkway, along with the lattice framing her front porch. It’s soft and feminine … just like Ellie. It also faces Heart Mountain, which I have no doubt was a huge deciding factor for her.
Bear lets out a bark at the front door and then waits patiently for her to open it. Once she does, he jumps up, his hind legs bringing him to his full height that towers over hers.
Ellie expects it and even braces herself for it. His front paws rest on her shoulders as he licks her face in greeting, layering it with slobber.
Most women would be disgusted by it, but not Ellie. She soaks it all in with a laugh and kisses him right back. “How’s my sweet boy today?”
Bear is just as much her dog as he is mine. She even helped pick him out, something that was difficult to do since she wanted me to buy the whole damn litter. I won’t lie, it was tempting.
“All right, Bear. That’s enough,” I call him off as I climb the front steps, knowing he’s a heavy bastard, especially for her small frame.
He jumps down, allowing me to get my first full look at her. She wears her usual attire of relaxed fitted jeans, the faded, ripped denim stopping at her ankles, showing off her bare feet and pink painted toenails. A simple white tank top is tucked loosely into the front of her waistband, the stark color a startling contrast against her sun-kissed skin. Add in the pale green scarf that ties back pieces of her long, golden blonde hair, and she looks every bit of the Ellie that she’s always been, except now … it hits differently.
A lot differently.
“Hey, Elle,” I greet, trying to gauge just how pissed she still is.
“Hey,” she returns softly, avoiding eye contact.
It’s not the warmest reception, but it’s not the coldest either, so I’ll take it.
She takes in the brown paper bag in my hand and steps aside, allowing me to enter.
Another small victory, considering she wasn’t even going to let me into the house last night.
We make our way into the kitchen, with Bear leading the way. When he spots the smoked bone and bowl of water waiting for him in his usual spot, he runs to lie down and begins gnawing away.
Spoiled ass dog.
