Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
If he asks me to choose between my duty and my heart, I’m not sure which one will win.
8
AURORA
The next morning, I wake up on fire. When I open my eyes, I realize I’m not actually burning up. It’s the warmth coming from Rafe’s big body.
Last night after we made love two more times, he climbed into my sleeping bag with me. I don’t know how the both of us managed to make it work, but we did. He’s a restless sleeper who kept snoring. I may have accidentally elbowed him in the ribs once or twice to stop him from doing that. But each time I woke him, he gave me a soft smile and hugged me close.
I lean over and brush a strand of hair from his forehead. He stirs and murmurs sleepily, “Good morning.”
Neither of us can hide the dopey grins on our faces. I’ve never felt like this before. I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with the grumpy mountain man, and I think it’s possible that he even loves me back.
My stomach growls, and he says, “I’ll get breakfast going while you wash up.”
I wash up and make a quick check-in call with Violet. I’m sure she hears the giddiness in my voice, but she doesn’t comment on it. In fact, she barely asks me any questions. She’s more distracted than usual and ends the conversation quickly.
After our call, I eat a quiet breakfast over the fire with Rafael. The entire time we’re sitting side by side, and he’s touching me in some small way. Whether it’s putting his hand on my back or pressing his thigh against mine, he can’t keep his hands off of me. I wonder if there was ever a point in my parents’ marriage where they were like this. But I can’t imagine Rafe is anything like my father.
“The lake here is so clear, so still,” I tell him after we’ve finished our breakfast. “It reminds me of the one behind Father’s castle.”
“Do you go swimming in it often?”
I shake my head. “Oh no, it’s not proper for a princess.”
“There’s no one here with us now.” He makes a big show of looking around then he stands. He reaches for his shirt and tugs it over his head, revealing his beautiful body again.
He gives me a grin as he reaches for his pants, unbuttoning them. “Skinny dipping is a rite of passage. Everyone needs to do it at least once.”
My cheeks grow warm. It doesn’t matter that he’s kissed every centimeter of my body and seen me naked in three different positions. I still can’t believe I’m considering this, but I like the challenge in his gaze.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I push to my feet and shed my clothes too. We walk to the lake’s banks, unashamed of our nakedness.
“On three.” He threads his fingers through mine, his rough hand making me feel safe.
He counts softly under his breath then we’re jumping into the clear blue lake together. The cold water is a shock to my system, and I break the surface with a grimace.
Rafe’s head bobs up a second after mine.
“You didn’t warn me it would be this cold.” My teeth are chattering, and my nipples are hard points in the water.
He laughs, a booming, musical sound. “If I told you, it would have taken you twice as long to get in.”
I flick water at him, and he flicks it back at me. Before I know it, we’re chasing each other around the lake, diving under the water’s cool surface and popping back up.
After a long morning of playing in the lake, I let him catch me. I grin, the arousal in his gaze makes me want him more. “You’ve caught me. Seems only right that you should get to plunder your treasure.”
He grips my ass, bouncing me up and down. His cock rubs against my clit. “You like making me chase you, naughty girl.”
I moan his name. “Please.”
He slips inside of me and fills me with his shaft. He’s so big and thick, and the way he grunts my name has my pussy clenching around him.
“I will always chase you,” he growls. “Always hunt you down and ram into your tight little pussy.”
I come at his filthy promises, feeling his release spurt into me. Slumping into his arms, I let him carry me onto the bank.
The afternoon sun is warm on my back as he sets me in the soft grass and pulls me close. We stay wrapped up in each other for long moments. It’s late when I reach for my clothes and braid my hair.
He watches me as I do. He’s wearing pants again, but they’re not even buttoned. Seems a shame to keep his beautiful cock covered. One day, I want to lick it and explore his taste.