Page 26 of The Miner's Miracle
"I'll never let you go," I breathe against her skin, “I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you.” Unfamiliar emotions bubble up inside me, and in this moment, the only thing that exists is her and I. "Love the smell of you on me." I growl against her neck. “Love being buried deep inside of you and hearing you beg for me.”
“You’re such a romantic,” she giggles, pulling me closer.
“Only with you, baby. Mm...if only you knew what you do to me." An orgasm rips through me, hot jets of cum filling her sweet body full.
I pull out of her with slow movements, enjoying the soft sighs of pleasure that fall from her lips as the fire casts flickering shadows across our skin. She rests her head on my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns over my biceps. It’s the most peaceful I’ve felt in years, maybe ever.
“You’re quiet,” she murmurs, her voice laced with curiosity.
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
I hesitate, then decide to tell her the truth. “About how I’ve spent so much of my life running. From my past, from myself... from this feeling.”
She props herself up on her elbow, her eyes searching mine. “And now?”
I reach up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Now I think I’ve finally stopped.”
Her smile is soft, but it carries the weight of something deeper. “You’re not as tough as you pretend to be, you know.”
“Don’t let that get around,” I tease, but there’s no bite to it. Only gratitude—for her, for this moment, for whatever comes next.
She settles back against me, her warmth chasing away the last of the cold lingering in my heart. She is exactly where I’m meant to be.
Chapter Seventeen
Tessa
One month into this beautiful, maddening, wild ride with Finn–my sexy, neighbor-from-hell who maybe isn’t all wrong for me after all–I sit on the edge of the bathtub, staring at the little stick in my hand as if it’s personally betrayed me. The two pink lines are as bold and unrelenting as Finn himself, and my heart pounds like a drum in my chest.
Pregnant.
The word slams into me again, heavier than it should be. My head spins, and I press my palm to my stomach. A life is growing there, a miracle born from all those nights by the fire, tangled in Finn’s arms, and the way he’s unraveled every wall I’ve ever built.
But fear claws at me, sharp and cold. Finn is a man who thrives on routine and simplicity. He doesn’t do messy, unpredictable...life-altering. Will this push him away? Will he see it as a burden he never asked for?
Shep’s nails click against the hardwood as he trots into the bathroom, his big, fluffy tail wagging like everything’s just fine. I envy him, his oblivious joy. He nudges my knee with his nose, and I scratch behind his ears absentmindedly.
“What am I going to do, boy?” I whisper. He just tilts his head, as if waiting for me to figure it out.
The sound of Finn’s boots on the porch sends my heart into overdrive. He’s home. I shove the stick back into its box, bury it under the sink, and splash cold water on my face. As I walk out of the bathroom, Finn’s already shrugged off his jacket and is filling Shep’s water bowl.
“Hey,” he greets, his voice as rough and steady as ever. His eyes soften when they meet mine. “You okay? You look... pale.”
I force a smile, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. “Yeah, just tired.”
He steps closer, his hands settling on my hips. “Long day?”
I nod, but my throat feels too tight to say more. His brow furrows, and I know he sees right through me. Finn has a way of peeling back my defenses with a single look, and I hate how vulnerable I feel under his gaze.
“Talk to me, Tessa,” he says, his voice gentler now. “What’s going on?”
I pull back, needing space to breathe, but his hand catches mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Finn, I... I need to tell you something.”
His expression shifts, a mix of concern and curiosity. “All right. I’m listening.”
The words stick in my throat, but I force them out. “I’m pregnant.”
