Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“But you could have anyone…why would you choose someone broken like me?” I whisper my doubts into the air.
Hunter’s eyes soften, and he releases a shaky breath. “Because you’re not just someone I saved, Lark,” he says quietly. “You’re the woman who saved me.”
I blink, confusion mingling with the rush of emotion. “What are you talking about?”
He swallows hard, his jaw tight. “You made me feel something I didn’t think I could feel again,” he admits. “I was lost before I met you—just going through the motions, doing what I thought I had to after I got out of the military. But you changed that. You made me want more.”
The vulnerability in his voice makes my heart ache. I search his eyes, looking for the truth, and all I see is sincerity. “Hunter…”
He doesn’t let me finish. “And there’s something else you need to know,” he says, his voice low but steady. “About Cyrus.”
A cold shiver runs through me at the mention of his name. “What about him?”
“I didn’t just hurt him, Lark,” Hunter confesses, his voice rough. “I went back to his cabin last night and I beat him him within an inch of his life. I stopped just short of fucking killing him. I paralyzed him. He’s in the hospital, he’ll probably be in a wheelchair for life. I also called law enforcement. He won’t be able to hurt you—or anyone else—ever again.”
The weight of his words hits me like a punch. “You… what?”
“I did what I had to,” he says simply. “I know it’s not what you wanted, but I couldn’t risk him coming after you again.”
Shock, fear, and a strange sense of relief war inside me. “You did that for me?”
“I’d do it again,” he says, his voice fierce. “I’d do anything to keep you safe.”
Tears blur my vision, and I feel a mix of gratitude and guilt.
“You could’ve gone to prison,” I whisper, the realization hitting me hard.
He reaches for my hand, his grip strong and steady. “I would’ve risked it,” he says, his voice unwavering. “Because you’re worth it. I like being the one who fights for you.”
I bury my face in his chest, the warmth of his embrace melting away the last of my resistance.
His mouth captures mine in a kiss that’s both tender and demanding, filled with all the unspoken promises and unfulfilled desires. It’s not rushed—it’s a slow, sensual claiming, as if he’s savoring every moment, every breath. I respond with equal intensity, my body pressed against his, my fingers tangling in his hair.
“Lark,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice a mix of relief and hunger. “You’re mine.”
The possessiveness in his words should scare me, but instead, it sends a thrill through my veins. This strong, protective man wants me. Wants to keep me safe in a way I’ve never felt before.
“I’m yours,” I whisper back, the words filled with acceptance.
He pulls back slightly, his forehead resting against mine, his breath hot against my skin.
“Being with you makes me so nervous. I’ve never felt like this before, happy and…terrified,” I admit.
He laughs, his arms tightening around me. “Well, it could be worse, I guess.”
And as the river rushes beside us, I know that this is where I belong—right here, in his arms, ready to face whatever comes next.
“You like me being nervous around you?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He grins, slow and wicked. “I like anything to do with you, Little Bird. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
He holds me tighter, the heat of his body seeping into mine. His thumb drops to the dip of my neck, tracing it slowly. His touch is deliberate, each stroke lingering a beat longer than necessary. This man commands me without even trying—one look and I’m putty, one touch and I’m fire.
His lips trailing soft kisses down my neck, each one making me melt a little more. His dark eyes crinkle at the corners, full of a confidence that’s both reassuring and maddening.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he says, his thumb tracing the arch of my eyebrow before tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. “If that’s alright with you.”
I bite down on my bottom lip and nod, words failing me as my heart thunders in my chest. In the next moment, his lips claim mine, and I’m lost. I’m falling, my body’s reaction to him a certainty, my resistance crumbling like sand. As long as his lips are on mine, I’m his.
His hands slide between my thighs then, his fingertips finding my soaked core. He slides beneath my panties and growls against my lips as his fingers trace my clit and work in soft, reverent strokes. My limbs begin to tremble but he holds me tighter, the smile playing on his face and the way his warm eyes hold mine is enough to send me over the edge. I gasp as he works his hand in feverish circles, edging me closer and closer to my orgasm right here by the river. From afar it probably only looks like we’re hugging, but up close this man is lighting my world on fire, and the last of my fears right along with it. I love him, I love him so much it feels like a slow ache in my chest.