Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
When Jake died our senior year of high school, all that came to an abrupt halt and Brayden stopped coming here. Their father was the embodiment of this property, and there were too many painful memories lurking around every corner. It’s been four years since I’ve stepped foot on this land. Even though my feelings are tinged with sadness around the edges, it feels very much like coming home.
Once we drive over a small hill, the lake and log cabin come into view. The sun shines brightly from the sky, and the water is calm and glassy, reflecting the pine and poplar trees that flank the other side of the bank like a scenic photograph. Everything is so much more overgrown than I remember. It’s yet another marker as to how much time has passed.
Cutting the engine, I glance at Elle and smile. She returns the expression before giving my hand a gentle squeeze. While Brayden has avoided the place, Elle and her mother spend the weekend here every couple of months. She’s made her peace with the past, no longer wanting it to overshadow her future.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
She nods and we both exit the vehicle. As soon as I step out of the truck, I suck in a deep breath. There’s something invigorating about the air. It’s fresh, crisp, and full of pine. If I squeezed my eyes shut, I would be propelled back to my childhood.
It’s a comforting feeling.
Popping the hatch, I grab our duffels from the back. Since we only plan to stay for one night, we didn’t pack much in the way of clothing. On the way out of town, we stopped at the store and picked up a few bags of supplies to get us through. Elle grabs the grocery bags as we haul everything to the front porch. She slips the key from her purse before sliding it into the lock and pushing open the front door.
As we step inside, my gaze travels around the spacious interior. It looks exactly like I remember. At the far end of the room is a massive fireplace made up of gray and blue fieldstones that take up the entire wall. A chandelier created from antlers hangs suspended from the two-story ceiling while a white, oversized sectional curves around the far wall, creating an inviting space to sit and take in the long stretch of windows that overlook the lake. It would be a challenge to not find a gorgeous view from anywhere in this house.
Elle takes the duffels upstairs to her bedroom on the second floor as I put the groceries away in the kitchen. This place is more like a home than a cabin. The Kendricks spared no expense when they built it decades ago. Everything is stainless steel, granite, and an ocean of shiny hardwoods that stretches throughout the open spaces. Across from the kitchen is a dining room with views of the forest and a massive table that can seat twelve people.
By the time I’m done putting away all the food, Elle is back. She’s changed into yoga pants and an oversized Wildcats sweatshirt. When I open my arms, she immediately steps into them before being engulfed by my embrace. A soft sigh falls from her lips as she lays her cheek against my chest.
A deep sense of rightness washes over me.
I suck in a lungful of air, holding it inside before releasing it back into the atmosphere. Only now do I realize that I’m finally able to breathe again. For the past few weeks, I’ve been holding my breath, unable to relax or lower my guard. Now that she’s in my arms, my airways no longer feel constricted the way they do on campus. If I had any doubts about pulling Brayden aside and divulging our relationship, they’re laid to rest. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t continue to sneak around behind his back. I need everything to be out in the open.
No matter what happens.
Unaware of the thoughts rampaging through my brain, she tilts her head back to meet my gaze. The softness filling her eyes is like a punch to the gut. Maybe we haven’t been together long, but these feelings have been in the making for years.
“I’m glad we decided to do this,” she says.
“Me, too.”
Unable to hold back any longer, my lips descend, slanting over hers. Unlike most of the frenzied kisses we’ve been forced to steal when no one is around, this caress is more of a lazy exploration. It unfolds gently as our tongues dance and mingle. I move my head one way before tilting it the other, trying to find the perfect angle. Her arms wrap around my neck before pulling me closer until every slender curve is aligned against my harder ones. My hands skim along her sides before dropping to her ass until they’re able to palm her cheeks. A groan rumbles up from my chest as my erection digs into the softness of her belly.