I scan Harmony from her wet hair to her pink painted toes, feeling my cock jump when I see she’s got nothing on but one of my tees. My eyes focus on hers, searching. I know from just one look that she’s still worried, and that shit makes my anger come back almost full force. Last night when we were lying in bed, it took everything in me not to lose my mind when she started talking about searching for another job. That’s how much this shit is upsetting her. Since almost the moment we met, she’s talked about how happy she is to be working at the hospital, and then hopefully transferring to the emergency room. Every time she’s spoken about one of her goals, her eyes light up with hopeful excitement. That motherfucker took that from her. No I absolutely do not feel bad about putting my hands on him.
“It’s cold out,” she says, and I come out of my head, seeing goose bumps rising on her bare arms.
“You shouldn’t be standing in the open door with wet hair, baby,” I tell her, and her nose scrunches up, something it does whenever she thinks I’m bossing her around—something I think is adorable, which means half the time I boss her around just to see it.
“You shouldn’t be standing outside in a T-shirt and jeans without shoes,” she shoots back, and I grin, watching her eyes drop to my mouth. “Are you packed?”
“No.”
“Harlen, we’re leaving in an hour. You should pack.”
“It’ll take me two minutes to pack.”
“Two minutes?” Her eyes widen, and I take a sip of my coffee to hide my smile.
“I just gotta throw a couple tees and jeans into a bag, babe. So yeah, two minutes.”
“Where’s your bag?” she asks, resting her hands on her hips. “I’ll pack for you after I finish packing for myself.”
“You’re not packing for me. Go blow-dry your hair and finish getting ready. I’ll be in to pack in a few minutes.”
“Honey, we’re going away for three days,” she tells me, something I already know, since I’m the one who booked the cabin for those days.
“And?”
“And… the weather up in the mountains can change. You need more than just a couple T-shirts and jeans.”
“Baby, I’ll pack my shit when I come in. Just get yourself sorted.”
“What if you don’t pack enough stuff?” she questions, her eyes narrowing on mine.
“Angel, first, I don’t plan on us spending much time out of the bed while we’re there, so I don’t need to pack a ton of shit. And second, I’m pretty fucking sure they have stores. If I need something, I can pick it up.”
“Fine,” she huffs, crossing her arms under her breasts, causing her hard nipples to show through the material. “I’ll go finish getting ready, but only because I was going to do that anyway.”
“Right,” I mutter, fighting back a smile, and her eyes drop to my mouth before she lets out another huff then spins around, her hair flying behind her as she goes.
I watch, enjoying the view of her long legs, the back of her thighs, and my tee riding up to just under her ass until she’s out of sight. I then look down at Dizzy, pick up the ball, and throw it again a few more times before it’s time to go in and pack.
***
“Oh my God,” Harmony whispers. She sits forward in the passenger seat to look out the windshield at the cabin in front of us as I pull into the driveway and park. This isn’t the only cabin around. We must’ve passed at least a dozen if not more on the way up the mountain, but it’s the only one for a mile. It’s secluded and private, surrounded by full-grown trees and right on the edge of a cliff. “It’s beautiful.”
“It is,” I agree, scanning the large lower deck and huge picture windows. I know from the listing online that there is also a deck off the master bedroom with a hot tub on it.
“I can’t wait to see the inside. Is someone meeting us here to drop off a key?” she asks as I shut down the engine, and she unbuckles her belt.
“Door should be open. Owners said they’d leave the key on the counter in the kitchen,” I tell her, and she grins then leans in, touching her mouth to mine. Pulling away way too fucking quickly, she pushes open the door and gets out. I open my door and get out to meet her at the trunk, where I grab both my duffle and her large suitcase. I follow behind her up to the deck and into the house when she opens the door.
I drop our bags by the stairs that lead to the bedroom on the second floor, then take her hand and pull her into the house. Releasing her so she can keep going into the living room, I stop at the kitchen to grab the keys off the counter and read the note the owners left with rules for the garbage, since there are black bears around, and instructions on how to use the hot tub. Checking the fridge, I scan the items inside to make sure they got everything I asked for, including two bottles of champagne.
It’s all there, so I make my way to Harmony, who’s standing in front of the floor to ceiling windows in the living room. I walk up behind her, curling my arms around her middle and dropping my chin to the top of her head. Looking out at the view, I see nothing but serenity, nothing but forest, nothing but peace. I know this is the right place to ask her to spend the rest of her life with me.
“Did I see that you stocked the fridge?” she asks, turning in my arms and raising a brow.
I pull her impossibly closer, sliding my hands down to rest just above her ass. “Yep.”
“So we’re not going out to eat?”
“Told you I don’t plan on us spending much time out of bed while we’re here,” I answer, and she smiles, running her hands up my chest.
“Do you feel like giving me a tour of the bedroom now?” She drops her eyes to my mouth as I slide my hands down over her ass and pick her up, her legs wrapping around my hips and her mouth dropping to mine. After I carry her up the stairs to the bedroom, neither of us even bother looking around.
***
Hours later, feeling Harmony shift, I look down at her and see that her eyes are open, the moonlight shining into the room through the large windows, casting a soft glow on her naked skin. After we both came, her twice—once with my mouth, the other right before I came hard and deep inside of her—I made us dinner, steaks I cooked on the grill on the back deck, baked potatoes, and fresh green beans. We ate outside, laughed, drank—me beer, her wine—and then we came back upstairs, where I made love to her again.
I wasn’t lying when I told her I didn’t plan on us spending much time out of the bed. I don’t get her time as often as I want right now, not with her schedule of long days and the extra classes on her days off. I know in the end it will pay off for both of us, but right now, that shit sucks.
“There’s a hot tub.”
The quietly spoken words bring me out of my head, and I tip my head to look down at her, finding hers tilted back to look up at me.
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t tell me there would be a hot tub.”
“It was part of the surprise.”
“It would be an even better surprise if I had brought a suit so I could use it.”
“Angel.” I roll her to her back and look down at her. “You don’t need a suit.”
“I do,” she argues, and then gasps as I nip her bottom lip.
“You don’t.” I cover her mouth with mine, feeling her fingers slide through my hair. Deepening the kiss and taking everything she’s willing to give me, I take more. Fuck, I love her mouth. I love her body. I love her. Sliding one hand up her outer thigh then across her stomach and down between her legs, I groan when I find her already wet.
“Fuck, I need another taste of you already,” I say, tugging my mouth from hers and kissing down her neck to her breast. Stopping there, I pull her nipple into my mouth, sucking hard then flicking the tip with my tongue. Her back arches off the bed and she moans loudly. Rolling her clit with my thumb, my hips jerk when her warm, soft hand wraps around my cock. I groan, lean back, and slide my hands down her sides to her thighs, opening them up.
Pulling myself from her grasp, I toss her leg over my should
er then drop my face between her legs and lick, listening to her moan as her taste hits my tongue. Sweet, so fucking sweet. Her back arches and her hips surge off the bed, sending her deeper into my mouth. Thrusting two fingers into her wet, tight heat, I lift them, rubbing against her G-spot.
“Harlen!” she cries out as her pussy starts to convulse. Fuck but hearing her, smelling her, seeing her come is enough to send me close to the edge. Sitting back, I wrap my hand around my cock and slowly slide my fingers from her, watching her eyes flutter open and attempt to focus on mine. “I need you,” she whispers, lifting her hips.
“You’ll get me, baby,” I tell her, rubbing the head of my dick through her folds then I grit my teeth as I slowly sink into her. Her legs wrap around the back of my thighs and her hands wrap around my back and slide down to my ass, pulling me close. I drop forward, sliding my hand under her ass, pulling her hips up into mine as I drop my mouth to hers. “Perfect, so fucking perfect,” I breathe against her mouth, as I pull out and thrust in slow, over and over, her pussy pulling me right back in every time I slide out.
“I love you,” she pants, and I lace our fingers together, pulling them up above her head and giving her my weight, which she takes without complaint, holding me closer and tighter. We work in perfect sync, my hips thrusting into hers, her hips circling until it starts to build.
“Jesus.” I speed up and lean back to look down at her beautiful face then slide my hand out from under her. I place my thumb to her clit, circling, listening to her whimper and moan as her pussy starts to contract. Her already drenched heat gets hotter and wetter. Feeling her start to come again, I lean forward and take her mouth as my hips start to jerk and my spine starts to tingle. Coming hard, I plant myself deep inside of her, and her limbs tighten around me, her hands moving over my back and up through my hair. “I love you too.” I kiss her collarbone then lean back to look into her eyes. “What do you say we shower then get in the hot tub?”
“Really?” she whispers, and I grin.
“Yeah, really, come on.” I pull out of her, kiss her stomach, and then get off the bed, dragging her with me toward the bathroom. Walking into the shower that has just a short glass wall separating it from the rest of the bathroom, I turn on the water and pull her in with me, making quick work of cleaning us both up.
Once we’re done, I shut off the water and wrap a towel around her. “I’ll uncover the hot tub. Be right back.” I kiss her, leaving her where she is while walking out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my hips. Sliding open the door in the bedroom, the cold air hits my skin. I push past the shock of it and walk the three feet across the deck to pull off the cover on the hot tub, turning on the lights and the jets. I go back into the bedroom, dig through my bag for what I need, and then go into the bathroom, seeing it’s empty. I start to go in search of her, but just as I hit the stairs, I see her climbing them, carrying a bottle of champagne.
“I didn’t bring glasses.” She waves the bottle at me. “I figured we could drink right out of the bottle.” She grins, and I smile, taking the bottle from her, and then I twist off the metal and pop the cork.
“Fair warning: it’s fucking cold out, baby,” I tell her, as I open the door and step out onto the deck with her at my back.
“Oh my God.” She laughs, running past me, climbing the steps quickly, and then ripping off her towel at the last second before taking a seat in the hot, steaming water.
Chuckling, I hand her the bottle of champagne, strip off my towel, and then get in with her, watching her eyes roam up my thighs, cock, and chest. Once I’m seated, I pull her across the space between us to straddle my lap.
“Hold on a sec.” I steal the bottle of champagne from her before she can take a drink, and set it on the side of the hot tub. Taking her hips in my hands, I look up at her. “Do you love me?”
“Yes,” she whispers, smiling as her eyes search mine, her hands coming up to rest on either side of my neck.
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?”
“Yes,” she repeats on another whisper, her body melting deeper into mine.
“Will you marry me?” I ask, taking her left hand in mine and sliding the ring on her finger, feeling her body tighten.
“Harlen.” Her voice shakes, and I look up at her, finding her eyes on the ring. The perfect ring for her, a five-carat cushion-cut diamond with a halo of smaller diamonds around it, set in platinum. My mom’s diamond. Big, but not too big, low enough profile that she should have no problem wearing it at work while taking off gloves and putting them on.
“Will you marry me, baby?”
“Oh my God.” She lifts her right hand, covering her mouth as her eyes, still on her ring, fill with tears.
“Baby.” I squeeze her hips, and her eyes finally come to me. “Will you?”
“Yes!” She leans in, pressing her mouth to mine. “God, yes, yes,” she says as the tears spill over. Taking my face between her hands, she rests her forehead to mine. “I love you, Harlen, so, so, so much.”
“I love you too, Angel.” I touch my lips to hers and pull her against my chest when she suddenly sobs. “I don’t really like hearing you cry.” I slide my hand up and down her back, and she laughs through her tears, tucking her face deeper against my throat.
“Sorry, I… I… I’ll stop in a second,” she says, and I close my eyes, feeling her tears wet the skin of my neck. Fuck, I wish my mom and dad were alive to meet her, to see I did good, that I found an amazing woman to share my life with, to build a family with.
“I wish my parents could have met you,” I whisper aloud, and her arms tighten around me and her body bucks on a loud sob that’s painful to hear. “They would have loved you baby, fucking loved you for me.”
“I wish… I… I wish I could have met them.” She hiccups, and I kiss her hair, running my hand down her back. “They made you the way you are, so they had to be amazing, so amazing. I know I would have loved them.”
Killing me. Fucking killing me.
“Baby,” I whisper against her ear, holding her tighter.
“I love you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for making it easy for me to trust you, to fall in love with you.”
Yes, totally fucking killing me.
“I gotta tell you something,” I say, and her head comes out of my neck, her eyes searching mine.
“What is it?” she asks, worry filling her voice.
“My last name’s MacCabe.”
“Yeah, I know,” She smiles, leaning in to touch her mouth to mine, but I pull back, keeping her where she is.
“You ever hear that name before?”
“Aside from you, no.” She shakes her head then shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe in a romance novel or something. Why?”
“My parents owned MacCabe Lumber in California. When they passed, they left the company to me.”
“Okay,” she drawls, sounding confused, and I give her waist a squeeze.
“What I’m trying to say is I’ve got money, a lot of it.”
“You have money?” she repeats, her brows drawing together.
“Yeah.”
“A lot of it,” she adds, and I nod. “What do you mean ‘a lot of it’?”
“I mean I’ve got enough money to take care of you, any kids we have, buy a mansion, this place, a beach house, take trips, and live large, still never making a dent in that money.”
“Holy shit,” she breathes, eyes wide with shock and her lips parting as she stares at me.
“We won’t be doing any of those things,” I tell her, and she blinks. “We’ll go on trips, yes, buy a bigger place when we need to, again yes, but the rest, no.” I shake my head, feeling her fingers dig into my shoulders.
“I don’t care about your money,” she whispers, and I slide my hand up into her hair and pull her closer.
“I know you don’t, since until a second ago you didn’t even know I had any. I’m telling you, because I needed you to know. It’s part of who I
am, but not who I am.”
“All I want is you.”
“And you got me, all of me. Always.”
Her eyes close, and when they open, her hands slide from my shoulders to my neck then up into my hair. “Then I don’t care about anything else.”
“Love you, Angel.”
“I don’t love you, Harlen. Whatever this is, it isn’t love. I don’t think there’s a word in the English language to describe how I feel for you,” she confesses, and my arms tighten around her as I shove my face between her neck and shoulder and I hold onto her, doing it tightly, knowing I’ll have this for the rest of my life. This contentment, this peace, and this happiness, as long as I have her.
***
“It’s beautiful, perfect Mom more than that it’s special, he made it using his mom’s diamond… I know but just wait until you see it,” I hear Harmony say, as I step out onto the front deck of the cabin the next morning. Seeing her curled up in one of the chairs with the phone to her ear and her hand out in front of her, moving her finger and watching the light catch on her ring, I smile. “No, I’m not upset I didn’t get to ask him to marry me.” She laughs then her head lifts, her eyes meeting mine, as her smile gets brighter.
Grinning back, I hand her a cup of coffee, and she tips her head farther back for a kiss. Bending at the waist, I softly place my mouth to hers then take a seat next to her in the empty chair. “Yeah, we come home tomorrow.” She sighs, then continues, “I’m not ready. I wish I could live here forever.” She might think she could live here, but she couldn’t. It’s too quiet, and she’d miss her family after a few weeks. I don’t mind solitude, and I still couldn’t live here forever. “I’ll tell him. Tell Dad I love him. Yeah, we’ll be there. I’ll let you know when. Love you too, Mom.” She whispers the last four words then pulls the phone from her ear and drops it to her side.
“Everything okay?”
“Mom’s ecstatic. She said to give you a hug and to tell you she’s happy for us and expects us at dinner when we get back and I have a day off.”
Until Harmony (Until Her/ Him Book 6) Page 17