Page 80 of Love Is Ale You Need

She quirks an eyebrow at me.

“A little harpooning the salty longshoreman.” I thrust my hips up while bear hugging her to my chest. I nuzzle her neck with playful kisses.

She squirms and giggles as she gyrates against me. All thoughts about lost kids and terrible fathers are out the window and we’re only left with porn stars named Bunny.

TWENTY-EIGHT

BEG FOR IT

Rylee

After weeks of juggling work schedules and meetings, we finally carved out time for a weekend off together. After I picked up Abby from school, I dropped her off at Seth and Parisa’s house for the weekend. When I arrived back at my apartment I had approximately thirty minutes before Trey would be here.

Pulling open the small door of the community mailboxes at my apartment, I grab the small stack of letters and slam the door. While climbing the stairs, I thumb through the stack. Bill. Bill. Bill. Junk. Bill. My chest tightens and I come to a halt in the middle of the staircase. Maybe I should pick up an extra shift instead of going away for the weekend. Feed the bank account instead of a mini-vacation. My phone vibrates against my butt, distracting me from my thoughts. I pull it out and read the message.

Trey

Just left. Be there soon. Also, no need to pack clothes. I plan on keeping you naked and in bed all weekend.

Too late now. I shove the mail into my purse and climb the rest of the stairs.

During the hour drive north along the winding shore of Lake Superior, Trey and I talked about anything and everything. He shared with me the time when he was a kid and saw the northern lights for the first time, and he was convinced that aliens were coming to abduct him and his family. I told him about the time I ran away from home and hid out in my dad’s boat behind the house, but as soon as the sun went down, I got scared and hustled back inside. During those three hours, I sat by myself and read books. Later, I found out my dad spotted me and knew where I was the entire time but waited for me to return. Unbeknownst to me, that would be the last time I would see my dad before he left. Perhaps if he never left, my mother wouldn’t be so jaded about love and in turn, not have convinced me to marry Kyle for the stability.

Once we hit the scenic small town of Beaver Creek, Trey turns right and meanders down a gravel road through the forest. After a half a mile, it opens up to a giant log cabin with a sign hanging on the gable side that reads Three Moose Lodge.

Trey stops the SUV under the covered entrance. “I’ll be right back.” He shoves open the door and jumps out.

As he rounds the hood, I roll down the window. “Where are you going?”

“The best thing about this place is they have private cabins scattered throughout the woods. So, I’m going to check us in and collect our key.” His fingers curl around the open window as he leans in and presses his lips to mine. It’s a kiss that has me craving more. So much more. Like all night worth of more.

A couple minutes later, Trey strolls out, dangling a key in his hand. Once he’s seated, he shifts in to drive, and we snake down a one-way road flanked by luscious cedar, maple, and pine trees until we approach a small A-frame log cabin overlooking Lake Superior.

“This is so beautiful.” My face is practically glued to the window as we pull into the single car parking spot. “In all the years I’ve lived in the area, I never knew something like this existed. It’s like having your own lake cabin.”

“A friend told me about it.” He kills the ignition and turns to face me. “Originally, three brothers owned a single cabin. Over the years, it was passed down through the family and eventually expanded into several smaller cabins.” He reaches for my hand and intertwines our fingers. Slowly, he lifts our hands and presses a soft kiss to the back of mine. “What do you say? Should we check it out?”

“Yes!”

He releases my hand as we step out of the SUV. Trey collects our bags as I wait for him under the covered porch. He jogs up the two steps and sets our bags down. With a twist of the key, he unlocks the door. Pushing it open, he motions for me to enter first. The front door closes with a click and Trey’s standing next to me in the cramped entryway that leads directly into the only slightly larger kitchen that opens up into a spacious living room and deck.

I push open a door that’s nestled between the kitchen and living room and it opens into an enormous bathroom with a gorgeous claw-foot tub nestled in front of a bay window facing the lake. “I am taking advantage of that later.”

“You. Naked and wet. Count me in,” Trey whispers in my ear.

I twist my head to the side and from the corner of my eye I notice a seductive, dimpled smile spread over his lips. It’s the type of smile that sends a jolt of electricity right between my legs. In fact, it’s the same smile that got me pregnant in the first place.

“We can do that later.” I slide past him before I’m tempted to rip off his clothes and have my way with him. Pregnancy hormones have a mind of their own. In the living room, I spot a set of stairs that lead to a loft. “Is the bedroom up there?”

“Must be. Let’s check it out.” Trey hoists our bags over his shoulder and leads the way up the narrow staircase.

Once we reach the top, a king size bed rests against the wall in the middle of the room, flanked by two nightstands. A wingback chair and table sit in the corner next to the partial wall. The best part is the view. Straight ahead, a wall of windows sits at eye level as the waves of Lake Superior roll and crash into the rocky shoreline. “This is so beautiful. I never want to leave.”

Trey steps in front of me, changing my view of the lake to a gorgeous six-foot two man with the most hypnotizing steely gray eyes. His hands run up and down my arms, sending a shiver through my entire body. “Good thing we have the weekend.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and press into him as my fingers play with the short hairs on the back of his head. Rising to my tippy toes, I press my lips to his. His hands slide around my waist and hold me to him as he deepens the kiss. A groan sounds from his chest as he takes a step forward, forcing me backward. Then another. And another. Until my knees hit the edge of the mattress. Slowly, I slide down until my butt hits the comforter. Trey bends at the waist as I inch up the bed, resting on my elbows, all without his lips leaving mine.

Suddenly a rumble sounds from my belly. Trey breaks our kiss and rests his forehead against mine. “It sounds like someone wants lunch.”

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