Page 9

Callie

I wasn’t sure if Gabriel had slept after that nightmare.

I woke to find the space beside me empty. The air in the cabin held a chill, but not the kind that came from open windows or rainy weather. It was the kind that lingered after something heavy had been said—or left unsaid.

I heard the low murmur of Gabriel’s voice as he spoke to Max and the sound of the front door opening and closing.

My whole body ached in that warm, lazy way that came after being thoroughly, well, taken. Taken by my silent, wounded mountain warrior. I stretched under the blankets and smiled to myself, letting the memory of last night settle over me like a second skin.

I found one of his flannel shirts and put it on, holding the edge to my nose, inhaling his scent as I left the bedroom. I could smell the coffee he’d made, but I needed to see him more than anything this morning. I stepped out onto the porch to find him leaning against the railing with Max at his feet.

My two guys.

If only, I thought, pushing back the tears that threatened to form. I knew what today was. The day before… the ending.

Gabriel turned, his gaze sweeping over me in that way that made my heart stutter.

“Morning,” he said gruffly. It was music to my ears, and I grinned even though he stood on the porch, staring out into the distance like he was still trying to outrun the shadows in his head. I had hoped to replace them, but I knew only he could bring in the light.

“Morning,” I echoed. I knew he wasn’t ready to talk about what haunted him. He’d shared more with me last night than I’d expected—more than I thought he meant to. That, in itself, was a kind of trust.

Still, I hated the way he looked right now—like he was back there in that desert, not standing a few feet from a woman who wanted to wrap herself around every one of his wounds and kiss them whole.

We stood side by side in silence. I breathed in the clean air, the fresh scent of the earth after the rain. After the rain. I felt a stab of pain in my heart. I knew what that meant. My time with Gabriel was coming to an end swiftly.

“I want to check the creek,” he said after a few quiet minutes. “Make sure the road held out.”

I tried not to wince at the idea of leaving. “Can I come?”

He glanced at me. “You want to hike muddy trails?”

“Maybe I want to see it with you. Besides, I have boots.”

One dark eyebrow rose. “Those things you wore were not boots. You’re lucky I didn’t throw them out for a bear to play with.”

I stuck my tongue out. “They came highly recommended.”

He snorted. “For a walk in the park maybe. Lone Mountain is not a fucking park.”

Max let out a sharp bark in agreement.

“They will do quite nicely.”

“No, they won’t, but I don’t have any that will fit you. But you will dress for the weather.”

I grinned. “Oh, goody. I get to borrow more of your clothes.”

His gaze dipped, just for a second, and then he gave me that look. The one that started in his eyes and ended with a tightening in my core.

“Maybe,” he murmured, stepping closer, “I prefer you out of my clothes.”

Wetness pooled between my thighs. I clutched the flannel shirt tighter to my chest. “Does that mean you want to crawl back into bed with me?”

“Yes.” The word was low. Gruff. Honest.

I walked up to him, slowly unbuttoning the flannel shirt I wore. Once in front of him, I dropped it at our feet, standing naked before him. “See? That wasn’t so hard to admit, was it?”

“No,” he said, his voice darkening. “But it’s not happening.”

“Why not?” I pouted, reaching for him.

His eyebrow rose again, the corner of his mouth tugging up like he was amused and irritated all at once. “Do you really think you’re ready to go another round with me, Callie?”

I felt the answer before I could speak—his cock, hard and hot, pressing into my belly as he pulled me flush against him. Desire surged, curling like a flame inside me.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Liar,” he said, brushing his lips over mine.

One hand cupped my breast, his thumb circling, then pinching until I gasped. The other slipped between my thighs. “You’re still tender,” he said, the words vibrating against my mouth. “Even this is almost too much.”

I whimpered, knees going weak.

And then, with maddening control, he broke the kiss and sat me gently back on my feet.

“Go get dressed,” he ordered, low and rough. “Be a good girl, and I’ll take you for a walk.”

I bent to pick up the discarded flannel shirt, and the instant I straightened, his palm landed on my ass with a sharp smack.

I yelped. “Spoilsport.”

“Move,” he growled.

Chuckling, I headed back inside, heart thundering, skin flushed.

Ten minutes later, I emerged wearing another pair of sweatpants, a sweatshirt, a pair of his thick socks and my hiking shoes. Gabriel stood waiting on the porch, arms crossed, approval in his eyes even if his mouth didn’t say it.

“See?” I said. “Properly dressed. Sort of.”

He didn’t smile. “I still prefer you naked.”

“Noted.” I winked.

“Put this on.” He held out a waterproof jacket and I slipped into it. Before I could fasten it, he was there, doing it for me. I didn’t think it was an accident that his knuckles brushed the curve of my unbound breasts. I hid my smile, but my heart thumped happily.

As we started down the steps, Max got up, his tail wagging as he started to follow us. “Uh uh,” I told him, grabbing his collar and leading him back into the cabin. “Not this time, baby. You’re staying.”

He whined.

“I mean it.” I crouched and scratched him behind his ears. “You got scared last time, remember? I need you to guard the cabin. Okay?”

He gave me a look like he wanted to protest, but ultimately went inside.

“You broke his heart,” Gabriel observed.

“Better than having him get lost again. I don’t think I could stand that.”

Gabriel went silent. I looked at him, wondering what was going through his head.

“What?” I asked.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised how good you are with him.”

“I like silent and moody,” I said lightly. “They’re my specialty.”

His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

We headed into the woods, the trail muddy and uneven beneath our feet. Gabriel led the way, his hand steadying me when I slipped on a slick patch. Ferns brushed against my calves, and the cool air filled my lungs.

We didn’t talk much on the walk, but it didn’t feel like silence anymore. It felt like something shared. The sound of rushing water grew louder as we neared the creek, and when we reached it, I froze.

It wasn’t just a creek. It was a torrent—wild, churning, alive with sound and fury. The banks were swollen, water thrashing over rocks, surging with unstoppable energy.

It looked like him.

Untamed. Dangerous. Beautiful even.

Gabriel stood beside me, arms crossed, his gaze locked on the current.

“It’s incredible,” I breathed.

He nodded. “It gets like this after big storms but doesn’t stay that way long.”

“Still. Wow.” I tucked my hands into the too-long sleeves of his jacket. “Kind of reminds me of you.”

He glanced at me. “Yeah?”

“Fierce. Controlled. But when the storm hits, unstoppable.”

He didn’t reply, but his expression shifted—something raw flickering through it.

“It will still take me a few more days to get the shots I need,” I said after a long silence.

He didn’t react at first, then he looked at me like he wanted to say something. Before he stopped himself.

“I’m not asking for anything,” I said quietly.

He nodded once, jaw tight. “The water is still too high. I’ll need to check the bridge before I can drive over it.”

We stood there for a while longer, side by side, not touching but somehow more connected than ever.

And in that moment, watching the wild water crash against the rocks, I realized something I hadn’t wanted to admit.

I was in love with him.

Not the idea of him. Not the mountain man fantasy.

But Gabriel—the wounded warrior who had somehow, impossibly, stolen my heart.

I almost said it, the words burning at the back of my throat.

But I didn’t.

Not yet, I told myself. Don’t scare him. Not when he’s already looking at the horizon like he’s planning how far to run. Instead, I said, “Thanks for bringing me out here.”

He looked at me, startled. “It was your idea.”

“I know.” I smiled. “Thanks for not saying no.”

He hesitated, then offered a rare, crooked smile. “You don’t give me much choice, sweetheart.”

We turned back toward the trail, walking slowly, his fingers brushing mine but never quite holding on.

And I was starting to wonder if he ever would.