Tinsel (Lark Cove #4)(85)

It took nearly an hour for his jaw to unclench and his hands to stop strangling the steering wheel.

“Did you mean it?”

“Mean what?” I turned away from the window where I’d been watching the rain streak across the glass.

“That you love me?”

“Yes. I love you.”

He nodded once and turned back to the road. His jaw still tense, his hands still iron clamps on the wheel. Dakota’s foot pressed harder on the gas pedal.

With each green mile marker, my heart sank lower.

The minutes on the clock ticked by. That urge to cry, the one I’d held back earlier, came back with a vengeance. I fought it but was close to giving in when Dakota slammed on the brakes.

My arms shot out to brace against the door, and my chest pressed hard into the seatbelt as he took a sharp turn.

The truck bounced down a dirt road fenced by barbed wire and tall trees. I had no idea where we were going, but Dakota seemed to know. He raced us down the road, the wheels exploding puddles along the way.

Dakota hit a hard bump, jostling me in the seat, and I couldn’t stay quiet. “Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer. He drove for another few seconds then pulled off the road and right up to the trees. Ahead of us, the road wound deeper into the forest. Behind us, the highway had long since been hidden by the trees.

“Dak—”

He reached over the console, unbuckled my seatbelt and took my face in his hands. Then he pulled me to the middle of the cab and slammed his mouth down on mine.

So caught off guard, I sat frozen for a second. Then I caught up. I scrambled for him, climbing over the console, banging my knees on the way. My back collided with the roof, but I didn’t stop.

With his help, I made it to the driver’s seat, but the steering wheel was in my way. So I sat on it. My knees were shoved into his sides, my feet at odd angles. But I clung to him, sinking close, somehow managing to fit my tiny frame into the cramped space.

Not once as I wiggled and shifted did he let me go. Not once did he break away from my lips. Not once did he open his eyes.

He held tight as I came to him.

Then he held me, letting his tongue explore my mouth as he tried to fuse us together. We kissed until the windows were coated in steam. Until one of my feet had fallen asleep. Until I broke away, panting as I held his dark gaze.

“Did you mean it?” I whispered.

“Mean what?”

“That I was in your heart forever?”

He brushed a fallen hair from my forehead. “Am I the kind of man who says things he doesn’t mean?”

“No.”

“No.” He grinned. “I’m not.”

“I love you.”

He kissed me on the temple. “Love you too.”

I wanted our future to be full of those words. I wanted our children and grandchildren to see him kiss me on the temple so often they’d know it was his spot.

That was the future I wanted.

Did he?





“Dakota,” Sofia gasped as I slid inside of her.

Those dark eyes opened lazily, still clouded with sleep. She blinked a couple of times, then let them drift closed again. The corner of her mouth turned up in a half smile as she shifted her hips, making more room for me.

My lady loved to be woken up with my cock.

I grinned, easing out before thrusting in again, this time going all the way to the root.

Sofia moaned, her head pressing back into the pillow as she offered up her neck.

I latched my mouth on to the side, sucking hard and biting down hard enough it was going to leave a mark.

My mark.

While Sofia was mine, I wanted the world to know.

I slid my hands up her hips as I moved in and out of her tight heat. I traced the line of her ribs all the way past her breasts and to her shoulders. Then I stretched her arms up, pulling them straight above her head. With my fingers laced through hers, I pinned her hands to the mattress, trapping her beneath me.

This was the place. This, right here, was the best place in the world. I didn’t need to travel to find it.

When we were connected, all of the shit we still had to figure out disappeared. I could block it out and pretend this might last forever.

“Love you,” I whispered into her neck.

Sofia hummed, turning her smile to my ear. “I love you too.”

We’d been saying those words for two weeks now. They came first thing in the morning, when I woke Sofia up by making love to her, saying those words to start the day. I angled my hips, sending my cock deeper and pressing the root into her clit.

She shivered, her breath hitching as I eased off and did it again. Making her come was easier in the morning. I had no idea why, but she’d go off like a rocket. She would at night too, but it always took a few more of my tricks.

But like this, relaxed and pliable, she let go.

In the morning, the things we’d been ignoring for two weeks weren’t hanging over us. Yet. That goddamn cloud would settle around breakfast and haunt us for the rest of the day.

I eased out, gliding inside again just as Sofia wrapped her long, toned legs around my hips. She was flexible enough to hook her ankles around my back. It allowed me just enough space to build up some momentum and it angled her pussy so I was hitting her in the right spot every time.

“Harder,” she begged.