Follow Love (Diamond Creek, Alaska Novels Book 2)

by Croix, J. H.

  Luke ignored him and set the halibut on the counter. Just as he did, a knock came at the kitchen door.

  Susie’s voice burst into the room. Nathan took a long swallow of beer and turned to greet her only to see Tess standing at Susie’s side. He promptly choked on his beer.

  The shock at seeing Tess spun his world on its axis. The worry and uncertainty he’d been trying to push away dissolved into euphoria. Tess stood at Susie’s side, a tentative smile on her face. After wiping the beer off of his chin, Nathan walked straight to Tess and wrapped her in a bear hug.

  Susie started clapping. “Yippee! See Tess, I told you he’d love it.”

  Nathan pulled back, holding Tess by both arms and looking deep into her ginger eyes. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”

  Tess simply nodded, her eyes bright with tears. Nathan glanced around the room. Luke had a knowing smile on his face while Hannah and Jared seemed the only two in the room allowing the moment to unfold without their interference. Hannah just continued chopping vegetables, although she called out a greeting to Tess. Jared remained where he was on a stool by the counter. Beyond a quick grin, he remained quiet. Susie, on the other hand, bounced up and down and squealed.

  Nathan glanced Susie’s way quickly. “I hate admitting you’re right, but I will. Love this surprise. Whose plan was it?’ he asked.

  Susie pointed to Tess. Nathan looked back into Tess’s eyes. She shrugged and smiled. “It was. Since you surprised me, thought I’d surprise you. I had a little help though. Hannah and Luke agreed to host this dinner tonight and picked me up at the airport. I’ve been waiting at Susie’s until they called to tell me you were here.”

  Luke winked and nodded with satisfaction. “Had our bases covered.”

  Nathan brought his gaze back to Tess. Everyone else faded from his consciousness. Tess encompassed his awareness—the tilt of her eyes, her full pink mouth, and tousled honey curls. He tugged her close again, almost groaning at the feel of her lush breasts against his body. Breathing deeply, he inhaled the scent of wood smoke and crisp cool air under laid with the scent he’d come to know as Tess—a sharp hint of vanilla.

  He didn’t know how much time passed as he held Tess close, so relieved to have her physically here with him. The reality of where they were hit him when Susie remarked, “Oh dear god. You know it’s pretty boring for the rest of us to be polite while you all but tear Tess’s clothes off.”

  Nathan realized one of his hands had wandered its way down to caress Tess’s bottom while the other was headed down her shoulder about to curl around one of her luscious breasts. With a chuckle, he pulled back, turning to Tess’s side, keeping her tucked close.

  “Sorry ‘bout that,” he said, addressing the room. “Just damn glad to see Tess.”

  Nathan glanced down at Tess, seeing the blush staining her cheeks. He shrugged, this time his smile just for her. He lowered his voice. “Feel free to surprise me like this every day,” he said. Just looking into her eyes kicked his heart rate up a notch again.

  Luke cleared his throat, quite obviously, as he stepped up to Nathan’s side. “Thought you might appreciate a drink,” Luke said, handing Tess a glass of wine. “Susie seems to think your preference is red wine.”

  Tess took the proffered glass. “Thank you. Red wine is perfect,” she replied.

  “Well now that you’ve remembered where you are, why don’t you join us?” Susie asked slyly, waving from the kitchen table across the room.

  Hannah shook her head as she glanced in Susie’s direction and looked over towards Nathan and Tess. “Feel free to take a seat. We’re about ready to eat,” she said, lifting a bowl of salad with one hand. After delivering it to the table, Hannah and Luke bustled about getting plates out. Hannah went to check on John while Luke started serving the grilled halibut steaks.

  Dinner passed quickly, Nathan encompassed in a cloud of elation and lust—solely derived from the presence of Tess. After dinner was over, Luke brought a still sleepy John down while they dawdled over a dessert of strawberry rhubarb pie. Nathan took his turn holding John to give Luke and Hannah a chance to eat undisturbed by the sleepy bundle that John was. Nathan took a sip of coffee, shifting John from one arm to the other, savoring the moment. As he looked around the table surrounded those who mattered most to him, he hoped Tess would realize how natural it was for her to be here. If she weren’t here, her absence would be a glaring void for him.

  Tess was deep in conversation with Susie, their two sets of curls leaned towards each other. “Trust me, you’ll be able to keep busy here. I’m happy to make some introductions for you. As it stands, you can easily get some business from Anchorage…”

  “What’s that Susie?” Nathan asked, his interest piqued.

  Susie looked up past Tess and grinned. “We’re talking about Tess’s options to keep herself busy with work in Alaska. That’s what,” she said pointedly. With a grin, she continued, “We’ve named her business here—Meant to Be. Get it? Whatever Tess is raising money for is meant to be. What do you think?”

  Nathan’s chest swelled. He hoped that meant what he thought—that Tess was seriously considering a move to Diamond Creek. He’d meant it when he’d told her he’d move wherever she would be if she’d give them a chance. But that didn’t change the fact that he’d love to stay here in the place he knew was home. Susie cleared her throat. He belatedly realized he hadn’t answered her. “It’s perfect.”

  Tess turned to him. “We haven’t had a chance to talk, but I’m hoping to move here. For now, it’s a visit, but I need to figure out how to get my business started here. As you can see, Susie has all kinds of ideas,” Tess said, a smile in her eyes.

  Nathan shifted John again, curling his free arm around Tess’s shoulder and leaning over to drop a kiss on her cheek. He looked across Tess’s head to Susie. “Plan away,” he said. “For once, I’m completely in favor of your bossiness.”

  Jared chuckled. “Watch what you wish for. Next thing you know, Susie’ll be planning your daily schedule.”

  “I don’t see why that should be a problem. In fact, maybe you should let me plan your life. You might have more fun,” Susie said pointedly, sticking her tongue out at Jared.

  Jared flushed and rolled his eyes. As he stood and started gathering plates, carrying them to the dishwasher, Susie and Luke continued the banter about who was bossier – Susie or Jared.

  Tess nudged Nathan with her elbow. “Hope you don’t mind that I talked to everyone else about this before you,” she said, her voice low.

  “If what you’re talking about involves you moving here, feel free to tell the whole world before you tell me. Just promise me that you won’t back out. Didn’t know what to expect from your visit, but this is as good as it gets,” he said.

  Tess giggled, her cheeks flushed. “I figured you’d be okay with this surprise. How much longer will we be here?” she asked, her eyes filled with heat.

  Nathan glanced down at John who was sound asleep on his shoulder. “Just give me a chance to pass this little guy on and we’ll get going. Don’t think it’s right for me to think what I am with John right here,” he said ruefully.

  ***

  As much as Nathan wanted to make their exit quickly, that’s not how it happened. It was a good hour later before he was finally driving away, Tess seated beside him in the truck. Tess shivered. “Cold?” he asked, automatically reaching to turn up the heat.

  “Just a little. It gets cold fast here once the sun goes down,” she said.

  “Definitely colder than what you’re used to. Hope you brought some warmer clothes than what you had this summer.”

  Her curls bounced as she nodded. “When I talked to Hannah about surprising you, she reminded me it would be a bit colder than it was this summer. I would have guessed that, but I’ll have to get used to it.”

  Nathan smiled, thrilled beyond belief to realize that she planned to get used to it. He reached across the console betw
een the truck seats and rested his hand on her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. Now that they were finally alone, he could hardly think straight, his thoughts hazy with lust and love. He approached a stop sign where he would turn to head up the hill to the home he and Jared shared. Without a thought, he kept going straight after the stop, heading for the boat harbor in Otter Cove instead. He wanted Tess to himself for the rest of tonight.

  Tugging his cell phone out of his pocket, he called Jared. “Hey man, spending the night on Iris tonight.”

  Jared chuckled. “Good plan. See you two tomorrow.”

  Nathan glanced over at Tess as he slipped the phone back in his pocket. “I want some privacy with you. Iris is our big boat, in case you forgot.” At Tess’s nod. “No worry because we’ve got heat on her. We’ll have the cabin to ourselves.”

  He could have sworn she blushed, but it was impossible to tell in the dark. When they pulled up at the harbor, he practically dragged Tess down the docks onto Iris. Once they got inside the cabin, he moved quickly around, turning on a few lights and getting the small propane heater running. He stood from checking the heater to find Tess standing at the front of the cabin looking out over the harbor into the bay.

  Coming to her side, he followed her gaze. The harbor glittered with lights from the docks and a few occupied boats. An almost full moon hung low over the mountains, its reflection rippling in the water.

  “It’s so beautiful at night,” Tess said softly. She turned and looked up at him.

  Nathan reached a hand under her chin, lifting it slowly. Bringing his lips to hers, he felt like he was coming home. It had been a mere two weeks since he’d flown away from North Carolina and yet the feel of her lips against his was like water to a parched man. He stepped closer, bringing her flush against his body, his arousal straining against his jeans.

  In seconds, Nathan thought he might burst into flame. The heat between them was scalding. Their tongues stroked and tangled. Tess nipped at his lips, his neck and his ear. She tore his shirt open while he tugged her sweater over her head, her breasts spilling into his hands when he unhooked her bra, shoving it out of the way. He sucked his breath in sharply when she slid his zipper down and slipped a hand inside his boxers, curling around his cock. He was so close to the edge that he had to push her back.

  “Tess…” he gasped. “I’m so close. Don’t push me too fast.”

  Tess looked up at him, her ginger eyes bright in the dim light of the boat cabin. She stepped back, stroking a hand down his chest as she did, pushing him gently against the wall, his back to the windows they’d just been looking out. Holding his gaze, Tess used her other hand to free his swollen cock from his boxers. She knelt in front of him. Never breaking her gaze, she slowly licked her lips and leaned forward.

  Licking her lips, she spoke. “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do tonight. I missed you and we have all night.”

  Nathan attempted to catch his breath to reply. The only sound that came out was a long groan followed by, “Oh my god,” when Tess stroked her tongue up his shaft and then closed her warm, wet lips around him. His head fell back against the window as she took him fully into her mouth, sucking and stroking. She cupped his balls lightly in one hand, curling the other around his cock to follow the rhythm of her mouth which moved in an alternating pace, slow then fast, fast then slow. The heat, the moisture, the suction and Tess’s talented tongue pushed Nathan to the brink. Just as he thought he would burst, Tess pulled her mouth free. Nathan opened his eyes to meet hers, dazed out of his mind.

  She kept stroking his cock with her hand, the tip just above her breasts, her nipples taut. “How about now?” she said, leaning forward one more time, bringing him fully into her mouth with a deep suction. As she dragged her mouth back up the length of his cock, Nathan couldn’t hold back, liquid heat pouring into her warm mouth. Tess smiled, a wicked gleam in her eyes. With a last stroke, she stood and held her hand out. “Now you can tell me to pace myself,” she said, grasping one of his hands and tugging him away from the wall.

  Nathan turned her and pushed her back against the wall. “Now it’s my turn.” Pressing her against the wall, he laved one of her nipples, pinching the other and alternating between them. With his free hand, he slipped his hand inside her jeans, into her silk panties, past her curls and sank two fingers into her drenched channel. This time, it was Tess who gasped, her head falling back against the window.

  He stilled his hand, his thumb resting just above her clit, the barest pressure against it. He could feel her pulse around his fingers and against his thumb. She opened her eyes and met his. His lips quirked. “I might just make you beg,” he said.

  Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “Okay,” she replied softly.

  Nathan just looked at her for a long moment, taking in the cloudy passion in her eyes, her swollen lips, her lush breasts, nipples at attention and glistening from his kisses. Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead against hers. “So glad you’re here,” he said, his lips moving against hers.

  “Me too,” she said in a soft pant. He pushed away, pulling her with him to the small master bedroom in the boat. It was utilitarian, but the bed was spacious and comfortable. They tugged off what was left of their clothes. Tess crawled onto the bed in front of him. He turned from kicking his jeans out of the way to be greeted with a view of her delicious bottom, her hips curving in an almost perfect heart shape. “Don’t move.”

  She paused where she was and glanced over her shoulder. Nathan reached forward and tugged her hips back, lining her up with the tip of his cock. Without further delay, he parted her and sank into her heat.

  Tess gasped and pressed her hips back into him. “Oh Nathan…Oh god.”

  He began to move, slowly plunging into her and sliding out, her warm, tight channel clenching around him. He was relieved he’d already had his first release because he had a semblance of control now, though barely. He reached a hand around, dipping into her curls to bring his thumb to her clit. With the barest of touches, she cried out, her orgasm rippling around him. Pulling out, he turned her and pushed her back onto the bed. In another second, he’d plunged into her again. As he leaned over her, the feel of her nipples against his chest almost made him lose himself again. He fought for control.

  Tess lifted her knees and curled her feet around his back. Nathan grasped her hands and tugged them up beyond her head, holding each of her hands in his. “Tess…look at me.”

  She opened her eyes, meeting his. Her chest rose and fell, her breath coming in uneven gasps. “Missed you…so much…” she said.

  Nathan leaned closer, bringing his lips to hers. “Me too…” he said, pulling back to plunge deeply into her. Between her drenched heat and the lingering pulses from her orgasm, he thought he might explode, but this time he wanted her with him. He leaned over and nipped one of her nipples, sucking sharply for a moment. Tess arced against him, crying out as she tumbled over the edge again. He followed in a burst, falling against her as his orgasm reverberated through him.

  Shifting to her side to keep his weight off of her, Nathan lay still, trying to catch his breath. When he opened his eyes, he saw a lone tear slide down Tess’s cheek. He wiped it away. “Hey, you okay?”

  She opened her eyes and turned to him, nodding. “That was a happy tear.”

  He chuckled. “Just checking.”

  Her eyes sobered. “We haven’t had much of a chance to talk, but let me just say this now. I’m here to be with you. I just want to make sure you know that’s exactly why I’m here.” She took a shaky breath. “I wasn’t expecting this…” she gestured between them “…but I love you. So I decided to follow that feeling.”

  “I’ll follow you if you’ll follow me,” Nathan replied. “Damn glad you’re here to be with me because I love you too. Just wasn’t sure how long I’d have to wait.”

  Epilogue

  Tess walked up the steps to the house and fumbled with the kitchen door, losing hold of one of the too many
grocery bags she held. “Dammit,” she said when several oranges tumbled out of the bag, bouncing down the steps into the grass. As she leaned over trying to collect what was left of the broken bag of groceries, the door opened.

  “Nice to see you too,” Nathan said.

  Tess turned to look up over her shoulder from where she knelt on the steps to find herself being greeted with Nathan’s dangerous dimples and those navy blue eyes filled with laughter. She shifted from kneeling to sit on the steps, laughing as she did.

  “Overestimated how much I could carry,” she said with a sigh and a shake of her head. Brushing her curls out of her eyes, she watched as Nathan stepped past her, quickly gathering the escaped oranges. In another few moments, he’d carried all of the groceries inside. Tess followed him in and helped get the groceries put away. When Nathan took a phone call, she stepped onto the back deck, which faced the bay. It was late May—her first spring in Alaska. In the past few weeks, she had been startled to see how the barren ground after winter exploded with growth. The days were already long and the extra sunlight gave anything green a burst of power growth. The yard was covered in thick grass with wildflowers already in bloom in some parts of the field beyond the grass.

  The air was cool, much cooler than it would be in North Carolina this time of year. Shivering, she scanned the view, boats dotting the bay, some moving in and out of Otter Cove Harbor. The mountains were still snow-tipped, but their lower flanks were rich green now. Tess glanced over her shoulder when she heard the door open. Nathan came to her side, slipping an arm over her shoulders.

  “That was Simon,” he said. “They’re about to board the plane from Anchorage. We should head to the airport in Homer to pick them up in about an hour. You ready?”