“What do people say about you, Emma?”
She picked up a knife and split the bell pepper in half. “Driven. And focused. Sometimes determined.”
“Then I think perhaps you and my sister could be good friends.”
“She told me she doesn’t have any friends. Maybe one. It wasn’t clear.”
“How could she possibly have time? She runs this ranch, and when my mother is away, she pretty much runs her brothers. All eleven of them.”
Emma’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Your mother had twelve children?”
“Yes. And unfortunately, Skylar is the only girl. She was born next after me.”
“I’ve never known anyone who had twelve children.”
“Yeah.” He took a pot out of the cabinet. “You’ll see them all around the lodge. But you probably won’t notice them. When they get out of line, my mother boxes their ears.”
Emma laughed. “And what about your father? What’s he like?”
“My father does whatever my mother tells him to do. And often that involves teaching his children how to do things around here. He started with me. He taught me to do everything from carpentry to plumbing to balancing the books to being a good host. Same with Skylar.”
“That’s a lot to keep up with.”
“For him it is. I took to carpentry. My sister took to management.”
“So you’re a carpenter?”
“Not really. I like carpentry work, but I’m an architect.”
“Yeah?” There were layers to this handsome man she hadn’t even imagined.
“Yeah. A few years ago.” He paused and a shadow crossed his face. “I had to make a choice whether to stay here and help out or to a take a job in the city.”
“You chose here.” She said quietly. Something had happened to Aiden. Something he didn’t like to talk about.
“Yeah.” He agreed. “But let’s talk about you.”
She went back to chopping. “There’s not a lot to tell. I’ve always been in school. But with any luck, this will be my last year.”
“Master’s degree?”
“Doctorate.”
“So after being in school your whole life, you’ll have to go out into the world, huh?” He said teasingly.
She shrugged. That wasn’t something she wanted to think about. A job implied far too much structure. And Emma preferred to do things on her own schedule. Fortunately, her own schedule usually involved getting things done. “I could teach.” But even to her own ears, she heard the lack of conviction.
“But that’s not your first choice.”
She sighed. “I like being outside. I love nature. Despite my current situation.” She nodded toward her foot. “I’m usually fairly sure-footed and outside.”
He laughed. “Present company included.”
His gaze grew more intense as he stared at her. They both stopped what they were doing. She set the knife on the cutting board, and he leaned against the counter.
Emma felt an almost-tangible connection pulling them together. She licked her lips.
Then in two steps, he closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms.
She sighed as his lips pressed against hers.
The old song, It’s in His Kiss, played in her head. She felt that Aiden wanted to eat her up, and she couldn’t get enough of him.
He growled and lifted her up to sit on the counter. Now they were face to face, and as his lips grazed against hers, he gently nudged one knee aside and nestled himself between her legs.
His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close against him. His fingers slipped beneath her shirt and caressed her bare skin in deep, massaging circles. She gripped the edge of the cabinet top and leaned her head back.
His lips traveled across to her ear lobes, his breath sending shivers through her. His soft lips slowly moved down to her neck, and she groaned.
He pulled her closer, holding her body against his. She felt his hardness pressed against the softness between her thighs.
She shuddered as his lips found that little hollow place at the bottom of her neck. Each press of his lips, each minute touch of his lips, set her body aflame.
His hands moved to cup her butt and scoot her to the edge of the counter. She spread her legs, shifting to rub against him.
His lips moved back to hers, his tongue mimicking the circling of his hips against her.
He hooked his arms under her knees, opening her legs wide, and her arms went around his neck. Then she was floating against him, no longer touching the cabinet top, supported only by his arms around her knees and her fingers tangled in his hair.
She was unraveling. Unraveling and coiling beneath him all at once. He cradled her butt with one hand, while his other hand slipped beneath the waistband of her sweatpants. His fingers slid between her legs, moving aside the wet cotton of her panties.
She writhed against him and caught her breath as he slipped a finger inside her. She was undone. She reached the tip of the spiral and came against his palm.
Her body shuddered as she wrapped her legs around him. She wanted him inside her. She wanted him more than she wanted the next breath.
He carried her to the bedroom and gently lay her on his bed, with the room in shadows.
His gaze locked against hers. He ran his fingers slowly through her hair, then brushed his thumb against her swollen lips. “I want you to be mine.”
“Yes.” She breathed, feeling the heat building again in her core.
He pressed his lips lightly against hers, then looked into her eyes again. “Just mine. And only mine.”
She nodded. “Okay.” Right now she would have agreed to anything. Anything to get his hands back on her.
“I don’t understand it,” he said, but he seemed to be talking to himself.
Something niggled at the back of her mind, but she was struggling to put two thoughts together.
Chapter Eighteen
Aiden had never claimed to be a saint. But he also wasn’t a one-night stand kind of guy. He’d had sex with Michelle early in the relationship – though certainly not two days quick. He’d also married her shortly thereafter.
But this girl, Emma, pulled at him. Aiden may not have believed in fated mates, but he did believe in love at first sight. And that was the only way he could explain this attraction to Emma.
He loved everything about her. The way her long hair spilled across the pillow. The way her lips were swollen from his kisses. Kisses from Heaven that he couldn’t get enough of.
He moved his lips to hers with a long, slow, deep kiss.
His lips traveled down her neck, slowly, ever so slowly, down to the top of her bra. Then his lips were back on hers. If he could freeze time with his lips against hers, he would do so without blinking.
He lifted his head and gazed at her.
He loved her beautiful green eyes that pulled at him like a siren’s song. He loved the way they clouded over when he touched her in places he wanted to claim as his own.
This need to stake his claim was a new one. He wanted her and didn’t want to share her with anyone else. A rather odd sensation regarding someone he’d only met yesterday.
There was so much to figure out. But right now, with the way she was looking at him, her eyes hooded beneath her thick lashes, all logical thought was going to have to wait.
Chapter Nineteen
Emma’s body was on fire. She wondered fleetingly if she were dreaming. She’d only been with one other guy this way and they’d dated for months before going all the way. She’d met Aiden only yesterday, yet she wanted him. Every bit of him. She ran her fingers under his shirt and along his bare skin. His smooth, firm skin.
His lips were so soft. His kisses slow and deep.
He slid her shirt back and used his lips to lower a bra strap down her shoulder. She closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sensations. His tongue dipped under the top of her bra, then moved to the center of her chest and traveled to her other breas
t, dipping under the fabric to bare skin.
Then his lips were back on hers. He sucked on her bottom lip, then swirled his tongue against hers. She tugged her fingers through his hair, pressing him closer until his teeth grazed hers.
His lips still on hers, he moved his hands to her hips and cupped her butt. He massaged her there, stoking the fire that burned at her core.
He kissed her with tiny kisses on her lips, then she felt the mattress shift as he moved away. She opened her eyes to look for him. He was tugging his jeans off. He drew his shirt off over his head, then his lips were back on hers and his arms around her.
She gasped as he pushed against her then slowly pushed inside. She wrapped her legs around him, taking the full length of him.
She could feel him all through her. She held onto him as he moved his hips in little circles.
He put his hands beneath her and shifted her up. She moaned as she started the climb toward an orgasm.
She whimpered against his ear as she came against him, every nerve ending exploding. Then he came inside her, whispering her name as he lost control.
They held tightly onto each other, shock waves pulsing through her. He pulled out slowly, carefully, and gathered her against him.
“I love you.” He murmured against her ear. “You’re mine now.”
Mine. She echoed silently. And there was nothing else she wanted more than to be his.
Chapter Twenty
“What is this?” Emma asked, wrinkling her nose.
Skylar chuckled. “It’s a mimosa. It has champagne and orange juice.”
“Champagne.” Realization dawned. Emma had known this wasn’t just orange juice. “For breakfast.”
“It’s our Sunday brunch specialty.”
As Emma and Aiden had walked through the lodge lobby at sunrise, she’d noticed that the restaurant was packed. Aiden had led her through the lobby to the stairs that led to the Hunter’s private residence. He’d keyed in a code and held the door for her to walk through. He’d pointed out the deadbolt that they typically used at night in addition to the code.
Skylar sipped. “We offer a complimentary champagne sunrise breakfast every Sunday.”
“It seems to be quite popular.”
“I like it,” Skylar said. “It’s also something we provide for honeymooners every morning.”
“Nice touch.” Emma felt her cheeks flush as the image of honeymooners reminded her of the night she’d spent in Aiden’s arms.
Skylar smiled knowingly, and Emma flushed even more. Emma didn’t have any siblings, so she wasn’t sure just how much one sibling might share with another, without even having to say a word. “Where are your parents?” Emma asked, in an impulsive attempt to distract Skylar’s attention away from herself.
“Paris… I think.” Skylar shrugged. “Or on their way to Germany. I lost track.”
“They’re on vacation?”
“I guess you could call it that.” Skylar gestured toward the large table covered with a white table cloth set for five. “Let’s go ahead and sit at the table.” They sat, and Skylar continued. “A few years ago, they started traveling. A little at first. Then after they saw that the kids could take care of everything here at the lodge, they started traveling more and more.”
“Aiden said there are what? Twelve of you?”
Skylar chuckled. “There are a lot of us.”
“None of you are married?”
Skylar looked at her glass, ran a finger along the rim of the glass. “Not at the moment.”
Emma was about to ask her what she meant by that, when a gorgeous brunette walked in with a handsome man. The man wore a Saint Louis Cardinals wool jacket, and the girl wore an emerald green sheath dress with spiky heels.
Emma forced a smile on her face, but inwardly she was feeling suddenly out of place. Both women wore dresses while Emma wore blue jeans and a sweatshirt.
Skylar jumped up and hugged the woman. “Riley, meet Emma. Emma this is Riley and her fiancé Tyler.”
Riley immediately set Emma at ease. Her smile was warm as she bent to hug Emma. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Emma glanced at Skylar who wore an innocent expression. “I might have mentioned you.”
Riley smiled. “Aiden’s been needing a good woman.”
“I’m… I’m uh… just staying there because of the snow storm. I actually have to get back to Pittsburgh soon.”
“Of course.” Riley smiled and, taking her fiancé’s hand, sat at the table across from them. “Well, we’re happy you’re here now.”
Emma sighed. “Thank you.”
Listening to the easy banter among the three of them, Emma felt a tug at her heart. They belonged here. It must be nice to have a place to belong, where friends were comfortable with each other, and knew what to expect. Riley had known that Sunday brunch at her friend’s place was a special occasion. An occasion to wear a dress.
Emma rarely went anywhere that required anything dressier than blue jeans and a sweater – the uniform of a student and wildlife biologist.
But this. This was nice.
It was while she was in this envious emotional state that Aiden walked into the room. Tall, dark, and handsome were the words that immediately came to mind. He hadn’t shaved today, giving him a slightly rugged look.
Her breath hitched when his gaze immediately fell on her, and he smiled. Without even looking at anyone else in the room, he went to the chair next to Emma’s and sat down. He took her hand and bent to kiss her lightly on the cheek. Even though it had been less than an hour since she’d seen him, she felt whole with him back at her side.
She was in trouble. She was falling hard and fast for this man.
Aiden turned and grinned at everyone else. “Good morning.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Skylar looked at Riley. “When’s the wedding?”
Riley rolled her eyes. “There has to be a proposal before there’s a wedding.”
Skylar pinned her gaze on Tyler. “Seriously? What are you waiting for?”
Tyler seemed unaffected by Skylar’s scolding. “I have to make sure she doesn’t change her mind and dart back to New York City.”
Skylar scoffed. “Like that would happen. You’ve been through this before. You know you’re fated mates. You can’t run from it forever.”
Fated mates. There was that phrase again.
“Who’s running?” Riley said, turning to Tyler, who kissed her on the nose.
“Well, I think it’s high time somebody got married around here. Or at least engaged.”
“It’ll happen. You can’t rush perfection.” Tyler nodded at Aiden for confirmation.
“Tyler’s right.” Aiden said. “Everything has to be in good time.”
“You’re from New York City?” Emma asked.
Riley smiled. “Well, I’m actually from here. Tyler and I were high school sweethearts, but after high school, yes, I eventually moved to New York and had a good career there.”
“You have a good career here.” Tyler pointed out.
Riley turned to Skylar. “Men.” They said at the same time.
Their attention was diverted when a teenager rolled a cart laden with covered plates into the dining room. “Blake’s here.” Skylar pointed out.
Blake was greeted warmly and introduced to Emma.
“Blake is our little brother.” Aiden whispered to Emma, and at her questioning expression said. “I’ll explain later.”
Aiden deftly set a plate in front of each of them. Sunrise Sunday breakfast at the Hunter table consisted of quiche, bacon, and hash browns, along with fresh, bite-size fruit and a little chocolate-coated pastry.
“This is wonderful,” Emma said.
“Welcome to our Sunday tradition. We take turns,” she explained. “I have to check the schedule, but next week, Blake might be sitting at the table.”
“Yeah.” Aiden teased. “Funny how Skylar’s always sitting here.”
“Not alway
s,” Skylar said quickly. “At least once a year, I help out in the dining room.” She winked at Emma.
Emma smiled as she bit into a bite of deliciously melted egg and cheese.
Chapter Twenty-Two
After breakfast, Aiden and Tyler excused themselves, leaving the three women alone. Emma watched him walk away. Each step he took pulled at her heart. She would rather go with him than stay behind. “Where are they going?” She asked, more to herself than to anyone else.
“They have to change clothes and check on the livestock.” Riley told her.
“Besides, I asked for some girl time.”
Emma sighed. She wanted time to think. Time to replay last night in her head. To figure out what it was she was feeling. No matter that she now felt welcome here, she wasn’t in a place to enjoy it right now or to particularly appreciate girl time.
“Tell us about you and Aiden.” Skylar said.
Emma glanced at Riley. Her panic must have shown in her face. “It’s too soon, Skylar.” She said. “She doesn’t want to talk about it yet.”
“But,” Skylar insisted. “When it’s your fated mate, you know, right?”
“No,” Riley said. “Not necessarily. Look how long it took for me and Tyler to get back together.”
“But still…” Skylar said. “You knew.” She pinned her gaze on Riley. “Right?”
Riley took a deep breath. “Yes. I did. I knew.”
“See.” Skylar’s face lit up.
Riley held up a hand. “Just because I can look back and say that I knew doesn’t mean that I knew then.”
Skylar sat back in her chair. “You’re saying she doesn’t know.”
“Yes. I’m saying she doesn’t know.”
Emma sat back in her own chair, watching the exchange between the two friends. One engaged to her soul mate or whatever they were calling him, and the other, as far as Emma knew, was single. It was surreal that they were talking about her. Talking about her as though she weren’t even in the room. Where Emma came from, that was considered rude. But then Emma’s mother was from Alabama and half the things normal people did were considered rude. Rubbing her temples with both hands, she realized they had stopped talking and were watching her.
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