Page 71 of Freeing the Wild
I hear her suck in a breath as she tries to steady herself.I pull her wrist up out of the water to kiss it, then lace my fingers through hers, kissing her cheek, her shoulders, as she talks.
“I couldn’t help her even though her eyes were begging for help.”
I don’t have to look at Cassie’s face to know she’s started to cry.I turn it up toward me anyway and wipe away the tear that escapes her eye with my thumb.
“My therapist says I shouldn’t assume that she knew she was dying.She says that part could be a delusion of my own imagination.The investigators were saying it was quick for her.But Iknow.Isaw.She knew and I can’t forget, Haden.I can’t forget it no matter how hard I try.”
A small sob escapes her throat, and I can feel her physically trying to hold back a wall of tears from spilling over.Trying to hold back all her pain, all her trauma.Because that’s what she’s used to doing.A hot sort of rage builds in me at the idea of anyone trying to push down these feelings in her.I use my thumb to stroke her face softly and then I kiss her lips.If there’s one thing I can give her, it’s this.For one night I can be her safe space to land.I tighten my hold around her.
“I’ve got you, Cass,” I tell her, cradling her close, gently rocking her.“You can let it all out with me.”
I only need to tell her once.Cassie cries, nestled against me in the tub.I’m not sure how long we stay there for, but I don’t move.I don’t try to stop her.I just let her cry and tell her that I’m here.I hold her and tell her she’s safe, until all her tears arespent.When the bath runs cool and we make our way back out in front of the fire, I keep holding her close until she falls asleep in my arms.As she sleeps, I think about the many ways in which we’re alike even though we live two completely different lives.How we’ve both carried other people’s dreams on our shoulders.Dreams that were never really our own.
I watch the way the firelight dances on her cheekbones, and the soft curls of her hair as it dries.I breathe her in—she still smells a little peachy, but she also smells like me.
I like it way too much, and something about my scent mixed with hers is just downright satisfying.Fuck, I’m in way too deep with this woman—this woman who will never really be mine.
Outside, the snow blankets the ranch and I find myself wishing it would continue to snow forever so we could stay here together.Just like this.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Cassie
I’m sweating.Where I was cold last night, now I’m goddamn hot.I push one strong muscular arm off me and give myself a little space from the six-foot-three cowboy blanket I’m wearing.
My vision adjusts to the impending daylight and I take a deep breath.My eyes feel puffy in the way they do after you’ve spent the night crying.It’s still dark in here but I hear the furnace running, which means the power must be back on.I look up to the clock on the stove.It’s flashing.
I rub my eyes and remember the way I cried with Haden last night.I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such a vast spectrum of emotions in such a short period of time.The intense connection, the lust, the immaculate way we connected.The exhausting, endless stretch of time I cried for.
Oh God.It seemed natural last night.But now?I don’t know what came over me.I can’t even blame the bourbon because we didn’t drink enough for that.Can I blame the snow?The storm?The magical way it felt in his cabin with the fire and the candles?Haden must think I’m a freak.I definitely earned my princess nickname last night—
“Where do you think you’re going?”he asks gruffly, flipping me over so I’m facing him.
My breath catches.I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how gorgeous he is.Especially like this, wrapped up in a white duvet, lying on his thick living room carpet in front of the now completely dwindled fire.I have no idea how, since it’s only March, but he’s tanned and smooth and fucking delicious-looking in the morning.Haden pulls me close and kisses my lips.
“It’s still night,” he says, sliding a hand down my waist, over the curve of my naked hip.
I look out the living room window.
“It’s definitely sunrise.You’re reaching on it still being night, buddy.”
Haden looks over his shoulder, “It isn’t morning until that sun is fully up.I’d say I have at least twenty minutes.”He grips the backs of my thighs and pulls me toward him.My naked top half meets his and I feel him hardening, pressing into my panties and my abdomen.He kisses me as he slides his hands up into my hair.His warm palms roam over me hungrily and he plucks at my nipple.I moan into his lips as I feel him smirk.
“So what you’re saying is, you agree it’s still night?”he asks as he skims the pads of his fingers down my center.
“I mean, I’m not going to argue with your logic.”
The comfort of waking up with him rocks me to my core.The raw, unspoken emotion hums between us as he slides his free hand up my thigh.
“I know I have to get up.I have to go handle the day and assess the snow,” he whispers.“But all I want to do is spend more time with my cock buried deep in your cunt.”
Haden pushes me over onto my back and I laugh as he nuzzles his face into my neck.The moment is only broken as a phone starts ringing on the kitchen counter.
“Nowit’s morning.”I tell him, taking my bottom lip between my teeth.
“What?”he asks.“I can’t hear you.”
He’s fully hard when his phone rings again.
