Not Mine to Love

by Skylar Moore

  Why is she here? Despite his hurt and confusion, compassion for her made him gently pick her up and carry her in. When the cold of her body drained his warmth, he realized the dangerous condition she was in.

  “Matt?” she kept asking with closed eyes. She was conscious, but just barely.

  “Yes, it’s me. You’re going to be okay.” He sat her down in front of the fireplace, but she couldn’t sit upright and kept dozing off. So, he took off her jacket and sat her on his lap and embraced her, his warm front against her cold back, and wrapped a blanket around them.

  He rubbed her arms, thighs, and legs. “You’re safe now. I’m going to get you warm again, but you can’t sleep now. Stay with me.”

  She laid her head on his chest. Her hair was frozen stiff, and her face was as white as the snow that still covered her boots. “I’m so tired.”

  He warmed her cheek with his hand and scooted closer to the fire. “Tell me about Belle.”

  “Belle,” she murmured.

  “Is she still chubby?”

  Jane chuckled weakly.

  “We’ll go visit her again soon, but you have to warm up first, okay?” He kissed the top of Jane’s head.

  “I’d love that.” She snuggled closer to him.

  After half an hour of talking, a few sips of tea, and some chocolate, she seemed stable enough that he could carefully take off her gloves and boots. “I’m sorry—it’s going to hurt like hell when they warm up.”

  It did. She squirmed and cried as the circulation was restored to her limbs. He gave her his warmest socks and rubbed her hands and feet vigorously until they stopped hurting.

  Her pullover and jeans were still wet. Apart from the bathroom, the cottage only had one room, so he waited in the bathroom until she had changed into his spare sweater and sweatpants. She looked incredibly cute in his clothes. When exhaustion took over her body, he made them a bed on the floor in front of the fireplace. He wanted to monitor her breathing all night to know she would be safe.

  He held her and caressed her dry, tousled hair. She was so delicate and beautiful. He didn’t know why she had come or what this meant, but as she fell asleep in his arms, and her body molded into his, he knew that he would love her forever.

  Chapter 10

  Jane woke up with her back against a firm torso and strong hands folded around her stomach. The fire had died down, but it was still comfortably warm in their improvised bed. “Did you sleep at all?” she asked, knowing Matt didn’t.

  “No,” he said with a raspy morning voice.

  “Alec and I broke up.” She didn’t know why she said it, it just came out.

  His body stiffened in surprise. She turned in his arms to face him, and his widened eyes met hers. Before she could elaborate, he got up and made a fire. The cords of his throat were tense, and a smooth sheen of sweat covered his neck. He tended to the fire on his knees, and she stood up and massaged his neck from behind.

  “Jane,” he growled, “Don’t play with fire.”

  She kissed the place where his hair met his neck and tasted the salt on his skin.

  He winced as if she had caused him physical pain, stood up, and turned around. He lifted her chin with his thumb and studied her eyes. “Are you leaving afterward like always?”

  “No.” Her heart raced.

  No meant yes to him, yes to them, and he understood. He rested his forehead against hers and ran his fingers softly through her hair. “You’re very precious to me.” His voice wavered like the flames.

  She closed her eyes and inhaled his rich, masculine scent—musk, wood smoke, and something distinctly Matt. His soft lips grazed hers, a whisper across her mouth. Warmth spread through her body as she pressed her lips fully to his. His hot mouth parted, and his tongue explored hers thirstily. She moaned and wound her fingers through his thick hair. Her nails scraped along his scalp and made him shiver.

  He slowly kissed her behind her ear and down her neck, and her knees went weak. To keep her from falling, he hugged her tightly, but never stopped tasting her skin.

  “Oh, Matt,” she moaned.

  “When you told me about your favorite spot to be kissed, did you imagine my mouth on you?”

  “Yes.” She breathed heavily. “Please don’t stop.”

  He ran his teeth along the column of her neck and nipped and sucked her pulse point. She had always imagined that one day they would collide like two attracting magnets. That their sexual tension would get the better of them and they would rip their clothes off, kiss each other like it was the only thing keeping them alive, and have rough and messy sex.

  With each light caress, she realized that he didn’t want to fuck her, he wanted to make love to her. The way he savored each kiss and touch made her mad with desire, but she needed this. She wanted to fall—fall with him—but she was afraid of feeling vulnerable.

  She tensed up, and he stopped his ministrations. They sat down on their soft makeshift bed, and Matt reassuringly caressed her hand with his thumb. “Don’t worry. We can take it slow.”

  She buried her head in his chest. “Slow is what I’m afraid of. I’m not used to it.”

  The logs crackled away merrily as he caressed her back. “I love you, Jane, and I hope I have a lifetime ahead to show you how much.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. Somehow, she had always known or hoped that he loved her, but her heart throbbed with happiness at his words. She kissed him deeply. “Make love to me.”

  His pupils dilated, and his fingers played with the hem of her sweater. Her breath caught as he snuck underneath her camisole to her bare waist. As he massaged the base of her spine, her entire body pulsed. She had never felt more alive.

  Before he pulled up her sweater and camisole, he searched her eyes. Go ahead, they told him as she lifted her arms. Her lacy black bra did little to cover her breasts, and his gaze hungrily devoured the sight of her pink, taut nipples.

  He laid her down, and his gorgeous mouth made his way along her collarbone, leaving a hot trail of kisses. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Goose bumps swept over her skin at his tenderness. Her trembling hands found the hem of the undershirt he had slept in and pulled it upward and over his head. She ran her fingers over his hard biceps and sculpted, naked chest, which was bathed in the firelight. “You’re not so bad, either.” She giggled.

  On a mission to worship every inch of her body, he took off her sweatpants and gently ran his hands all over her legs down to her feet. He lay on his back and pulled her on top of him. His erection pressed into her thigh—he was as aroused as she was. His mouth captured hers, and he kissed her with great hunger until she was drunk on the taste of him.

  He cupped her breasts over her bra, and she moaned into his mouth. Hungry for his touch, she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. Upon seeing her breasts free from restraint, his eyes shone with lust and admiration. His thumbs lightly brushed over her stiff nipples, which sent a jolt straight to her core. As she arched into his touch, it dawned on her that she liked this vulnerability and submission to him.

  He laid her down next to him so that they were facing each other. He nuzzled her hair and caressed the side of her breast. “Jane . . . I’ve never done this before.”

  She caressed his cheek and kissed him. “I know.”

  “Oh yeah?” He grinned and placed kisses down her stomach so lightly that it tickled.

  She squirmed and giggled. “Call it female intuition.” She stroked the stubble along his jaw. “Why did you wait?”

  “I think I was waiting for you even before I knew you.” He grazed his lips against hers.

  Her heart pulsed with happiness, and she smiled.

  “It feels so good to finally be with you,” he said with his hot mouth against her temple.

  He slowly pulled at her black panties so she could stop him if she felt uncomfortable. Even though she wanted to be exposed to him, she still flushed from head to toe as he pulled her panties down over her hips, knees, and ankles.


  His gaze heated as it feasted on her exposed skin like a starved creature. “Your body is amazing.”

  To equal things out, she pulled down his shorts and boxers. He was fully erect and released an unsteady breath when she touched him.

  “Wow,” she said and grinned.

  He smirked, climbed on top of her and playfully nibbled on her earlobe. “Are you just telling me what I want to hear?”

  She giggled and stroked his abs. As always, he had miraculously made her feel at ease—she had gone from a nervous wreck to totally relaxed. His eyes smoldered in the low light as he straddled her.

  He massaged her breasts while he dragged his smooth lips over her nipples, and she whimpered in need and pleasure. If he could work her into a maddened state by just playing with her breasts, she needed to brace herself for what was coming.

  Through half-closed eyes, he watched her stroke his length. “That feels incredible.” He shivered, and his voice came out in a raspy groan.

  He settled over her and reclaimed her mouth. When he finally touched her throbbing core, she cried out, and her body jerked in response. He teased her with his fingers until she grew wet and trembled in delight.

  “Mhhhh. Matt.”

  He kept stroking her, and his mouth latched onto her nipple. This made her lose the small bit of control she had left, and she felt dizzy. “I want to feel you inside me.” She wrapped her legs around him and guided his hard, thick length inside her.

  Once she had adjusted to his fullness, he started moving inside her at a slow pace, savoring each thrust. They moved together, and his kisses became stronger and sloppier. Her hips arched upward to increase the pressure. He thrusted faster until they both moaned into each other’s mouths. His moans sent hot sparks to her core.

  She hadn’t orgasmed in the presence of a man in years, but her body grew hot and tingly, and she was getting very close. Her body ached, and desperate pants escaped her lips. She grew lightheaded and badly needed release, but she was still fighting it.

  He skillfully circled her clit with his thumb and thrusted harder into her. “Just let go,” he whispered into her ear.

  And then she did. She shuddered and cried out his name as she exploded into light and sound, and her orgasm washed over her. While she rode it out, she dug her nails into his back. He moaned her name and shook with his own release. The aftershocks of her orgasm made her tremble, and he kissed her gently. It had been so much more than sex—their bodies and souls had united.

  They cuddled, basked in postcoital bliss, and watched the snow fall outside. For months, she had fought this vulnerability, but now in his arms, she reveled in it. She touched his face and searched his eyes. “Matt . . . I love you.”

  His eyes sparkled, and he radiated with joy. “I love you so much.” He drew her even closer and kissed her again. “Being out here made me realize how sick I am of living in a trailer. I want to buy a house in the countryside outside Glasgow. Will you come live with me? We could have a garden so Belle could stay with us.”

  She felt drunk with happiness, and her eyes filled with tears. “That’d be wonderful.”

  No man had ever made her feel so loved. Curled up in his arms was where she belonged.

  She was home.

  The End

  Thank you for taking the time to read Not Mine to Love. I truly hope you enjoyed it.

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