Page 77 of Against the Autumn Pines
Wyatt placed his hand back on the nape of my neck, lightly giving me a squeeze as he gave me that slightly dimpled smile of his.
“Stop it,” I whispered.
“Stop what?”
“Stop looking at me like I fit right in and belong here or something.”
His smile grew as he leaned in, pulling me with him, and pressed a soft kiss against my lips. “You’re exactly where you’re meant to be, little flame,” he whispered.
And as I leaned my head over onto his shoulder, I started to believe he was right.
35
DON’T HOLD BACK
Wyatt
“Did you do what I asked?”I asked from the driver’s seat.
“Uh, yeah, but I’m baffled as to why I did what you asked,” she replied.
I felt her staring at me, trying to decipher what was going on in my mind right now, but from the sigh that just slipped from her mouth, I assumed she came up with absolutely nothing.
“Are you kidnapping us?” she asked with a breathy giggle. I glanced over to see her pulling her feet up off the floor, sitting with her legs crossed on the seat next to me, her hand sporadically petting CC as he purred across her lap.
We’d left dinner about an hour ago, and I’d taken her home, told her to pack an overnight bag, and get in the car. She did, probably thinking we were going out to run aroundin the woods like I’d promised earlier, but on the way out, I’d picked up CC and put him in her lap after she’d buckled herself in.
She’d clearly been stunned seeing the orange fur ball brought along, but she hadn’t really questioned what was going on until now. We’d been driving for ten minutes, but it was dark, and at first, she was more focused on keeping CC calm. By the time she’d started looking back up and out the window, it was an endless dark forest around us.
“Is it truly kidnapping if you willingly got in the car with me?” I threw back.
“Um, I’d have to look that one up, Batman, I’m not sure.”
I said nothing, but I was biting back a laugh at the nickname.
We continued driving, the radio playing softly in the background, a comfortable silence ensuing between us. The only other noise was CC purring in her lap as he kneaded her thigh.
I was anxious earlier about her meeting my family, but this was another ball game entirely. Taking her home was a big step for the both of us, and as we pulled up to the house, I tried my best to see it through her eyes.
Thankfully, I’d thought ahead and turned on the lights, leaving it lit up like a beacon in the middle of the dark mountains. It was all hard, modern angles. A stone fireplace sat towards the front door, while massive windows in various rectangles and triangles framed the rest of the space. A stone path led to the front door, the stones being massive slabs of rectangular concrete. But my favorite park? The siding on the house was a dark, forest green, and the inside was composed of more dark stone.
It matched her apartment almost perfectly, so I hoped she’d love it.
“What do you think?” I asked after a few moments of silence.
She glanced over towards me, finally. Her eyes hadn’t left the home once since we’d pulled up.
“Honestly?”
“Preferably.”
“It’s easily one of the most incredible homes I’ve ever seen. It fits in in a way you wouldn’t expect. You think every house should look like Rowan and Aspen’s place when you’re in the Rockies here, but this…it’s perfect.”
I let out a sigh of relief and smiled. All of my plans felt as if they were coming together perfectly, and I couldn’t help how giddy I felt right now.
“Good, so when I start slowly moving your belongings in, you won’t be as opposed.”
I didn’t give her time to tell me to stop being such a weirdo. Instead, I jumped out of the car and came over to open her door for her.
