Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Maybe we’re both scarred, both carrying things we can’t ever fully let go of. But maybe that’s okay. Maybe we don’t have to be perfect. Maybe we can heal each other, piece by piece, one step at a time.
And for now, sitting here with him in this quiet, peaceful moment, that’s enough.
Chapter Eleven
Barron
The forest around us is thick, the cool mountain air doing little to calm the heat that’s been building inside me. Tamlyn’s just a step behind, and every time I hear her footfalls crunch the leaves underfoot, my pulse picks up. I know I shouldn’t have brought her out here alone, know damn well that the moment we’re together, things spin out of control. But I can’t help it. I can’t resist the pull she has on me. Especially after I revealed my deepest heartache to her last night.
It’s like the forest itself is pushing us closer, the wildness of this place matching what’s been boiling inside of me since the first time I kissed her. Every inch of me wanted to take her last night, cover her with my body and never let her go, but I know once I make her mine, I’ll never let her go again, and I’m not sure if she’s ready for that.
I stop abruptly in a small clearing, the trees towering overhead, circling us like they’re protecting this moment. I turn to face her, and the look in her eyes is enough to knock the breath from my lungs. Her lips are parted slightly, her gaze locked on me, and I can see the fire that’s been burning between us mirrored in her eyes. That same hunger, that same need.
Before I can even think it through, my hand is already reaching out, my rough fingers grazing the smooth skin of her wrist. The connection sparks something inside me, something primal, something I’ve tried to bury under layers of control, but with Tamlyn, that control is slipping.
Her eyes flicker with a mix of emotions—desire, need, and maybe a bit of fear—but it’s the same look I’ve been carrying. Without a word, she steps closer, her body brushing against mine, and that tension that’s been hanging between us finally snaps.
“Thank you for telling me about your past yesterday,” she finally breathes.
I nod, unable to shift my gaze away from hers. I pull her to me, my mouth claiming hers in a kiss that’s all heat and need. It’s more than a kiss—it’s a demand, a release. The taste of her hits me like a rush, fresh and wild, like the forest around us. And for a moment, all I know is her heat, her breath, the way her hands fist the fabric of my shirt, like she’s trying to hold on to something solid, something real.
The forest fades away, the sounds of nature around us replaced by the pounding of my heart and the ragged pull of her breathing. I push her gently back against the nearest tree, my body pressing firmly against hers, my hands roaming down to the small of her back, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, tugging slightly, and the sensation sends a shiver down my spine. It’s like she knows exactly how to unravel me, knows exactly what buttons to push to make me forget everything but her. The feel of her body against mine, the way she arches into me, is enough to drive me wild.
I can feel the rough bark of the tree at her back, the solid earth beneath our feet, but none of it matters. The only thing that exists right now is the fire between us, the way every kiss, every touch, feels like it’s burning away the walls I’ve built to protect myself. With her, it’s not just about the desire—it’s about letting go. Letting go of the past, of the fear, of everything that’s been holding me back.
She gasps against my mouth as my hands roam over her body, exploring every curve, every inch of her skin. Her breath hitches when I lean in close, my lips trailing down the curve of her neck. The way she responds, the way her body moves against mine—it’s instinctive, wild, like we’ve both been waiting for this moment longer than we realize.
The need between us is frantic now, urgent, but it’s not just lust. It’s something deeper, something that scares me as much as it pulls me in. I’ve always been a man of control, of discipline, but with Tamlyn, that control is gone, replaced by the raw, primal need to be close to her, to feel her heat, her energy.
She arches against me, her hands gripping my shoulders as I press her harder against the tree, my lips finding hers again, demanding more. The forest around us is quiet now, as if the whole world has paused to witness this moment. And in the back of my mind, I know that something has shifted, that this is more than just a physical connection.