“It’s okay,” I whimper, as his arms wrap around me, cradling me. He rolls me over, onto his back. Gently filling me so as not to hurt me.
“My bride.”
Tears fill my eyes. “My fiancé.”
“When is your birthday?” he asks.
“November first.”
“Winter baby.”
I nod. “You?”
“April thirtieth.”
“Glad we got those details out of the way,” I say with a laugh as he moves his body against mine, our skin tingling and hot and alive.
“Coffee or tea?”
“Tea.”
He grimaces. “I’m a coffee guy.”
“We can work with that,” I say, panting as he fills me up.
“Night owl or early bird?” At the same time, we say, ‘early bird’ and we laugh.
“Books or movies?” I ask.
He brushes back my hair, tucking it behind my ear. “We’re both aspiring writers, how can you even ask such a thing?”
I giggle as his thickness sends a wave of pleasure through me. Between moans, I manage to eke out a reply. “This is insane.”
He nods, his cock deep inside me, making me whimper. “Fucking insane.”
We come, together, hard. My body revved up and his heart pounding. Both of us gasping for breath as we reach the height, the peak. The climax. God, he fills me up, makes my pussy hum. Makes my body come. Again. Again.
“Oh fuck, Faith,” he groans, his thick release inside of me. All of this is new and overwhelming in the most perfect way.
We finish, panting, wrapped up in one another. “I’m going to marry you, Faith.”
I look into his eyes. “Yes, Jonah, you are.”
“I guess I should introduce myself to your father?” I bite my lip and Jonah senses my worry. “We can wait, tell him later. But damn, Faith, I don’t like to pretend.”
I nod. “I love that. Your fearlessness, Jonah Rye.”
“Also, I need you to move in with me.”
“So soon?” I ask, loving the idea.
“Fuck yeah, you’re going to be my wife, Faith. We need to get to know one another.”
He kisses me then, our laughter and excitement filling the cabin. I savor this, our perfect moment.
I never want to forget. The day I fell in love.
Chapter Five
Jonah
We decide to drive separately to her father’s place. Faith had parked her car off the road where she found the trail and wanted to get it back.
Before she gets in her car, she kisses me again, and I tell her I’ll follow her to the farmhouse, that I have faith that everything will be okay.
“My dad appears rougher than he really is. And Virginia will be there, she helps soften his edges.”
I jump in my truck, hoping like hell she’s right, knowing that I need to be honest with her father. Even he thinks we’re a pair of fools, I can deal with that. What I can’t deal with is the idea of not being with Faith.
One afternoon, and I know. She is the one for me.
I follow her down the mountain, the afternoon turning to evening and I look to the horizon as I drive, praying to a God I don’t understand for guidance. For direction. For acceptance. If this is supposed to happen, it will. I can fight for what I believe in. I can fight for my love story. And I will.
When we get to the house, I reach for Faith’s hand, she looks up at me with eyes filled with hope. She wants this to go well too.
“Virginia and I… when she moved here, people tried to set us up,” I tell Faith as we climb the steps. “But nothing ever happened, alright?”
Faith nods. She has an unwavering belief in me. It fucking humbles me, makes me want to be the man she needs.
“When I first moved here, I almost died because I followed a boy to the woods. Virginia saved my life. She is a good woman, and I respect her, so if you had a history with her, I wouldn’t blame you.” Faith licks her lips. “But I do like knowing you don’t.”
I run my hand over Faith’s cheek, kiss it softly. “I’m going to marry you.”
She nods. “I know you are.” Her eyebrows dance and she pushes open the front door. “Dad, Ginny?”
Two younger girls bound down the stairs, and they immediately ask Faith who I am.
“It’s Jonah,” she says. “He’s home from Alaska.” She doesn’t give them any more details, or give them time to ask another question, she just takes my hand and leads me through the house to the kitchen.
The house is loud. Kids argue in the living room as we pass it, there is a baby in a pack n play in the kitchen, and Virginia is standing at the kitchen island, a pregnant belly covered by a red apron, chopping potatoes.
“Hey Fai—” She stops as her jaw drops. “Jonah!” She sets down the knife and wraps me in a big hug. “Josie said you were home, but oh my gosh, what are you doing here? This is the best surprise.”
A man walks in, tall and built, same as me, a beard and eyes that match Faith’s. He takes us in smiling as Virginia introduces us. “Tanner, this is Jonah. Remember Josie talking about her bestie up in Alaska? This is him.”
“Good to meet you,” Tanner says, offering me his hand. “I’ve heard good things about you from James. He says the two of you are like brothers.”
“Yeah, we go back pretty far.”
“What brings you to the house?” Virginia asks, picking up her baby from the portable crib. “You haven’t even met Ava. She’s a little over a year old.”
“She’s adorable,” I tell her. “I’m so happy for you. It’s crazy how this mountain brings people together, isn’t it?”
“Speaking of,” Faith interjects fearlessly. “Jonah and I need to talk with you both.”
Tanner frowns. “Everything okay?”
“More than okay. It’s wonderful.”
“Wow, okay,” Virginia says, setting Ava in a high chair and offering her a sippy cup, which she promptly throws on the floor. “What’s up?”
I run a hand over my neck and look at Faith. She nods, a soft smile on her face. She gives me confidence that surpasses understanding. “Faith and I want to get married, and we wanted to talk to you about it before we —”
“What the hell?” Tanner scoffs, his friendly expression gone. “You want to marry this guy?” he asks Faith.
She nods. “I love him.”
Virginia’s eyes meet mine and I know she is thinking what the actual fuck? but she holds her tongue.
“You just got into town, didn’t you? Tanner asks me.
“Yeah, I did.”
“We met today,” Faith says. “And I know it seems extreme, but we don’t actually care. We want to be together.”
“She’s a child,” Tanner says to me.
“No, she isn’t,” I say. “She’s an adult who can make up her own mind.”
“She’s nineteen, she doesn’t know what she wants. And you just met.”
“You met Mom when you were young,” Faith says. “And you and Virginia were in love after one night. Weren’t you?” She shrugs, crossing her arms. “But that’s irrelevant. I’m not you.”
Virginia takes in a sharp breath. Tanner turns to her. “What was that about?”
“Tanner,” she says gently. “Maybe we should sit down and talk.”
“I’m not talking about this. Faith, you’re too young to get married, not to mention you just met this guy. What, you think you can fall in love after—” His face goes white as his eyes bore into me. “Did you sleep with my little girl?”
Virginia drops her head into her hands and tears fill Faith’s eyes.
“Dad, that is so not your business.”
“Did you?” he asks me. And I see the anger in his eyes. It’s not because he is opposed to love, or opposed to marriage, or opposed to his daughter’s happiness. It’s because he is protective of the little girl he raised. It makes me respect him all the more. His family is his life, his soul—but that doesn’t mean I’m backing down.
/>
“It happened, Tanner. Faith and I, we’re knit together in ways we never expected. I’m sorry to hurt you, but it’s the truth. I love you daughter and I’m going to marry her.”
“Get the hell out of my house,” he shouts. Faith is crying, holding on to my arm.
“Daddy, stop it,” she begs. “Just listen, believe me.”
“You don’t understand love, Faith. You haven’t seen enough—”
“Enough what, Daddy? Heartbreak? Loss? What? What am I missing?” she cries. “Because from where I’m standing, I’ve seen enough to know what I want. Enough to know when you find something special you don’t let go. You hold on tight.”
“You’re a child,” Tanner tells her again, and Virginia picks up the now crying Ava from the highchair. The poor baby has probably never heard arguing like this.
“What’s going on?” Several kids ask, coming into the kitchen. They are Tanner’s children. Faith’s siblings. I hate for them to meet me like this.
“Would you rather us sneak around and lie? Pretend what we have isn’t real until the time is right for you? God, Dad, how stupid would that be? Pretending that Jonah and I aren’t in love to make other people comfortable. You raised me to be better than that.”
“I raised you to think things through, Faith.”
You can feel the anger in Faith’s eyes. Her emotions are ragged and raw, and she doesn’t back away from them. “I love him.” She holds my hand tightly, and I am both in awe and mesmerized. She is magic, this woman of mine. Strength like hers could move mountains.
“I don’t care what you call this, Faith, but it isn’t changing things. You’re not getting married while you’re living under my roof.”
“Fine,” she shouts. “Then I’ll move into Jonah’s.”
Virginia raises her hands. “Kids, go outside and play, please, give us a moment.” She hands Ava to the oldest girl. “Tanner, you need to calm down, and Faith, give your father a break, okay?” Then she turns to me. “And dammit, Jonah, you can’t fall in love in a day. Are you freaking out of your mind? Do you realize the drama you’re causing?”
“How long did it take you to know?” I ask her, knowing enough from Josie to know it was a matter of weeks before she was knocked up with Tanner’s baby, a ring on her finger.
“I think you should go,” Virginia says. “Go see Josie or something, go calm down. I’ll call you when things have settled, okay?”
I look at Faith. Her eyes are so full of anger at her father. I take her hands and lead her to the hallways, her father pacing in the kitchen, unable to meet my eyes.
“I don’t want our love story to cause other people pain—” She tries to cut me off, but I continue. “Listen, Faith, your father loves you so damn much. Listen to him without trying to prove your point. He’ll come around, he has too. Because I sure as hell am not going anywhere.”
“I want you to stay here,” she says, her cheek against my chest. I breathe her in, we are far from the ocean, but she smells like salt water and crashing waves.
“I know, golden girl, but your father is about to punch me if I don’t leave his property. And I might be cute, but I don’t look good with black eyes.”
“He wouldn’t hit you,” she says, pouting.
“He might try.”
She sighs, her shoulders falling, and I wrap my arms around her. “Listen, call me when things have calmed down in a few hours. I’m gonna drive over to Beau and Josie’s and try and calm down, okay? I’ll be with you again before the day is done, I promise you that.”
“You’ll come back for me?” she asks.
I kiss her softly. “I promise you, I’ll be by your side to kiss you goodnight.”
Chapter Six
Faith
As Jonah leaves the house, my chest tightens. I want to be in control — I don’t want to fight with my dad. I want him to see me as I really am. A woman who knows what she wants.
“Dad,” I say, walking back into the kitchen. “I’m sorry for yelling.”
He runs a hand over his beard. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Faith. I thought I raised you better than this.”
“What do you mean?” I press my lips together, the sting of his words hitting me hard. “You raised a daughter who owns what she wants. Isn’t that the hope?”
“My hope was that I’d taught you some sense.”
“You and mom got married when you were eighteen.”
“It was a different time. And hell, Faith, we had a shit ton of hurdles because of our age. We were poor, and it was hard, and—”
“Happy. You were happy, weren’t you?”
Dad looks over at Virginia, tears are in her eyes. I know they must have been talking while I walked Jonah out, and I wish I knew what they’d discussed.
“Happiness isn’t everything, Faith.”
“I love him, Dad.”
“It’s been a day,” he says, disbelief in his tone. “It’s laughable.”
“Tanner,” Virginia says. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” he asks.
“Don’t push your daughter away. Faith needs you.”
“That man is way too old for her.”
“Can’t I decide who is right for me and when?”
Virginia wipes the tears from her cheeks, and I step back. Away. Not wanting to be around my father anymore. “I thought you would understand, Dad, after how fast you and mom, and then you and Virginia, fell in love. But it’s like you are the only one who gets what they want. Apparently, me having that same happiness doesn’t matter to you.”
“I didn’t say that, Faith,” Dad says.
“Then you’re okay with me accepting Jonah’s proposal?”
Virginia’s eyes widen. “He really proposed?”
I nod. “And I said yes. Because I love him.”
“You will never marry that fool,” Dad says.
My whole body goes numb, my heart falling, falling, falling.
My car keys are still in my pocket. I can’t stay here. I need Jonah.
“Don’t go like this, Faith,” Virginia pleads. But I don’t listen. I just push open the front door and run to my car. Clover tries to stop me, asking me where I’m going.
“I love you, sis, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Don’t worry about me,” I tell her.
“Love you, Faith,” she calls as I shut the car door, as I turn on the ignition, Dad on the porch, his hands fists.
“Love you more, Clover,” I say. Then I pull out, and drive to the highway, toward Josie and Beau’s place. I need to be with Jonah — he is the only thing that makes sense.
My lights are on, the sky is dark. I try to breathe, focus on the road. I never speed and I won’t start now, even though I want to press the gas and accelerate, to leave that fight with my dad in the dust.
Instead, I roll down the window, let the mountain breeze run through my hair.
I may be upset right now, but nothing lasts forever. Dad and I will come to an understanding; we have to. I love him too much to fight with him. When I get to Josie’s, I’ll send him a text, make sure he knows I am safe, even if I’m not sleeping under his roof tonight.
My shoulders fall and I turn on the radio. Serendipitously, one of my father’s songs comes on the radio.
And I found her.
Oh, God, I found her.
I found her now.
And I won’t let her go.
The lyrics feel like a gut punch. I know Dad wrote this song for Virginia when they fell in love. Tears fall down my cheeks. I know in theory the day has been too much, but in my heart, it feels right.
I’m not some stupid girl who is blinded by sex, by a man’s body against my own, by promises that couldn’t be kept — no. Jonah is real, my feelings for him are real. And now that I found him, I won’t let him go.
As I wipe my face, turning on my blinker, a car comes out of nowhere, barreling down the highway, coming straight at me.
I try to swerve, to get out of the way.
But there isn’t time.
In the blink of an eye, my world changes.
I learned a long time ago that life isn’t black and white… but it isn’t grey either.
A reckless driver, the car coming out of left field, crashes into me.
And all I see is bright white.
Chapter Seven
Jonah
When I get to Josie’s place, her son Forrest runs out to me, giving my legs a big hug. He’s a cutie, and a good big brother to his twin sisters, Lily and Iris.
“Hey there, buddy,” I say, swinging him in the air. “You staying out of trouble?”
He gives me a sheepish grin that means he’s been giving his mama a run for her money. Beau walks over from the garage and claps my back. “Go tell your mother Jonah’s here,” he says before offering me a beer.
“I’m good,” I say, declining the drink. I want to keep a clear head right now, and most importantly want to be able to drive safely the moment I get word that Faith is ready for me to come to get her.
“Hey Jonah,” Josie says from the front door. “Wasn’t expecting you.”
I climb the steps and give her a hug. “Can you guys talk?” I ask her and Beau. “It’s really important.”
Josie turns and asks Forrest to go put on a movie for him and his sisters. We walk into the house and Josie tells me to sit at the kitchen table. She’s clearly been making dinner, but she ignores it and instead sits across from me, Beau next to her.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
I run a hand over my jaw. “I met someone.”
Josie’s eyes light up. “That’s wonderful, isn’t it?”
“The thing is, we just met, like, today. And we know. Like, we know we’re supposed to be together.”
She looks at Beau, and they share a small smile. There isn’t a couple on this mountain that can judge Faith and me for falling so fast.
“We decided to get married.”
Beau practically spits out his beer. “Holy shit, that escalated quickly.”
I shrug. “It wasn’t our plan, but hell, there was no denying that it was real. We’re both adults and—”
FAITHFUL: The Mountain Man’s Babies Page 3