End of Story(72)

But the fact remained that we were out in public. Even if we were hidden from the trail. He fucked me fast and furious. Shoving the thick length of his dick deep inside of me over and over again. Rubbing his pelvis against the top of my sex, stimulating my clit. My blood pumped harder and hotter and I hung on for dear life. Head to toe, I was electric. Blinded by the light when I came with a gasp. Who needed to see the Northern Lights? Lars lit me up with just his own sweet self. My whole body was wrapped around him, inner muscles clenched tight around his cock. I bit down where his neck met his shoulder to keep from making more noise. But the way he roared as his whole body shook and he pumped out his seed deep inside of me, anyone within fifty miles had to have heard. Bears would have run for cover he was so damn loud. Sheesh.

When all was quiet, I said, “I’m thinking you love the great outdoors.”

Nothing from Lars.

“Ouch. Slap my ass. Quick.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“A bug just bit me on the butt.”

He set me down and we sorted out our clothing. The condom was dealt with, and when everyone was decent, we walked hand in hand back toward the trail. Arriving just in time to see a family of three hike past. The looks the parents gave us...they’d definitely heard. Oops. Their small child, however, smiled and waved and skipped up the steep path that nearly broke my spirit.

“Show-off,” I grumbled.

Lars plucked a leaf out of my hair and let it drift to the ground. “It’s funny you should say that.”

“What? About the kid?”

“No. About me loving the great outdoors.” He gently cupped my cheek, leaned down and kissed me on the lips. Then he smiled. “Because I’d just been thinking that I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Yes,” he said, and headed back down the track toward the parking lot. “You coming?”

For a moment, all I could do was stare. As for breathing and thinking, I’d completely lost those abilities. Shock kept me immobile. It seemed the whole world stood still. Lars loved me. And with absolutely no nudging, he’d come right out and said as much. He didn’t even ask if I felt the same way. He simply handed over his heart to me.

“Susie?”

“Um. Yeah. Coming.”

“I think that’s the second time I’ve made you too stunned to speak.”

“You’re keeping count?” I asked.

“Damn right I am.”

And not another word was said until we got home. But the looks he gave me, the smiles...they were a lot.



Seventeen


To say I distrusted love would be an understatement. But I did trust Lars. Or I was actively learning how to trust him. If he was going to throw around the L-word, however, he needed to know exactly what he was getting into with me. And up until now, I’d been on my best behavior. Like when you had a house guest. You didn’t use up all of the hot water and make the dash from the shower to your bedroom in ugly old underwear. You did your best to be hospitable. But if this was going to be his forever home with me, there would definitely be times when I would have neither the time, energy, nor inclination to play at being perfect. Lars needed to know the truth.

When we returned home from our failed hike, he retired for an afternoon nap. Further proof that he was still recovering from the accident. This was the perfect time for me to prepare for the demonstration. It actually didn’t take long to unleash chaos. Aaron used to drop helpful hints if he felt my appearance wasn’t up to scratch. It stung coming from him. But if Lars ever did something similar, undermined me like that, it would devastate me. So it was best we sorted this out now.

“Hey,” he mumbled on a yawn upon rising.

This was it, the great reveal. I turned slowly, letting him take it all in. The lopsided messy bun my tangled hair had been pulled back into, the algae-green skin-purifying mask I’d packed onto my face, the stretched and faded Arctic Monkeys tee, and holey denim cutoffs that were in all likelihood a size too small.

And his reaction was...nothing. The man just scratched at his short beard and asked, “Did you want to do something tonight?”

“I thought we should have a little chat after your surprising statement earlier.”

“That came as a surprise?”

“Yes.”

“But I said it to you at the hospital.”

“When you were high.”

“Mmm.” He nodded. “High enough to let the truth slip out.”

“Take a seat, Lars.”

“Okay.” He deposited himself in an armchair. “I’m listening.”

“It occurred to me that you haven’t seen me at my worst.” I set my hands on my hips. “I dealt with you in the week after the accident when you were...what shall we call it...being especially special?”

He snorted. “I already apologized for that.”

“I know. Moving on,” I said. “The point is, I’ve been maintaining a certain image around you. Always with the perfect hair and makeup and the cute outfits.”

At this, he frowned.

“While this—” I ran a hand up and down myself “—is probably more me. Are you sure you want to live with and love this?”

He set his ankle on the opposite knee. “You mean the messy hair and face mask?”