Page 30

Adrian

I had never thought much about happiness.

Sure, I had moments of satisfaction—getting high marks in my classes, winning a game of chess, and the occasional rush of victory in a competition.

But happiness? Real, soul-deep happiness?

I didn’t think I had ever truly felt it until her.

Elena.

She had become the center of everything.

Before the crash, I had spent years ignoring her, pushing her aside like she was nothing but a shadow in my life. A disease I couldn’t fucking shake. I told myself she didn’t matter. That she was just another reminder of the changes I never asked for.

But I had been wrong because now, as I sat beside her while she slept, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest and the gentle flutter of her eyelashes, I realized something that shook me to my core.

She was it for me.

The only thing that mattered anymore.

I didn’t just want her.

I wanted a future with her. I wanted to get out of these godforsaken mountains, take her home, and give her everything I had denied her for so long.

I wanted to make up for every cruel word, every cold glance, every moment I wasted pretending she didn’t matter and didn’t exist to me.

She deserved the world, and I wanted to be the one to give it to her.

But first, we had to survive this.

I glanced toward the door, my stomach twisting as I thought about Troy.

He’d been gone for a few hours already, and even though he swore he wouldn’t be as long as last time, I couldn’t shake the unease that settled in my gut.

I hated letting him go alone, but I had to stay. I had to be here for her.

Elena stirred beside me, letting out a soft, sleepy sigh, her body shifting beneath the blankets.

I immediately set the food beside me, reaching out to brush her hair from her face.

“Good morning, butterfly,” I murmured.

She blinked up at me, groggy but beautiful, her lips parting in a gentle smile that did something to my insides.

I picked up the plate, showing her the crackers and apple slices I had set aside.

“Breakfast,” I said.

Her smile grew, but then her brows knitted together, and I knew exactly what she was about to ask.

“Troy?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

“He went out again,” I admitted. “Just like last time. He promised he wouldn’t be gone as long.”

She swallowed, her hands twisting in the blanket, and I could see the fear settling in her eyes .

I immediately reached for her, pulling her close and pressing my forehead against hers.

“He’ll be OK,” I murmured. “It’ll be just like last time. He promised.”

Her breath hitched, but she nodded slowly.

I kissed her, soft and slow, coaxing her away from her fears, from the spiraling thoughts I could already see forming behind her eyes.

“Eat,” I whispered. “I’ll take care of everything else.”

After eating, I helped her to the bathroom, ensuring she had everything she needed before stepping out to wait.

The sound of water running filled the cabin, and I let out a slow breath, forcing myself to push my worries aside.

Troy would be fine. He had to be.

I wouldn’t allow any other possibility.

When the door finally creaked open, Elena stepped out, her skin still flushed from the heat of the water, her damp hair hanging down in soft waves.

My chest tightened at the sight of her.

She was breathtaking.

Even after everything—the crash, the hunger, the exhaustion—she still looked so damn beautiful.

I took her hand and gently guided her back to the bed, kneeling before her.

“Let me see,” I murmured, carefully lifting her leg.

She didn’t fight me, trusting me completely, and the thought sent a warm ache through my chest.

Her ankle was still swollen but nowhere near as bad as before. The bruising had faded, but I could tell it still bothered her.

She exhaled softly. “What if I can’t dance again?” Her voice was so small and uncertain, breaking something inside me.

I immediately gripped her face, forcing her gaze to mine .

“You will,” I said, my voice firm, unwavering.

She let out a sad smile, but I wasn’t done.

“If I have to carry you through your routines, I swear to God, Elena, you will be on that stage again.”

Her lips parted, her blue eyes widened, and then, just as quickly, her expression softened into something so sweet, so pure, it made my heart ache.

“You’d do that for me?” she whispered.

I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling softly.

“I’d do anything for you.”

Her breath hitched, and then she leaned in, pressing her lips to mine, slow and sweet and filled with something I was too scared to name.

I kissed her back, deepening it, letting my fingers trace up her thigh, over her waist, pulling her closer, needing more of her.

She let out a soft gasp against my mouth, her fingers curling into my shirt.

And just like that, everything shifted.

The warmth turned into fire.

The slow, gentle kisses became urgent, desperate. Our clothes landed in a pile on the floor.

I guided her back onto the bed, covering her with my body, losing myself in her completely.

Her soft whimper against my lips as I pushed deep inside her body filled me with satisfaction I never knew possible. Her pussy was my new fucking home, so warm and tight that I’d die a happy man at her side if I knew I got to keep her forever.

She moaned softly against my lips as I thrust into her body. I wasn’t just fucking her. I was making love to her, cherishing her, and worshipping every dip and curve she had.

“Adrian,” she rasped.

“Fuck, I love when you say my name,” I said thickly, still moving inside her. We’d made her bleed the first time we’d fucked into her tight body. I wanted to say I felt terrible we’d done that to her, but the truth of the matter was I felt only joy. Being the first men to make her come, to carve her pussy out just for our cocks, well, it fucking meant something to me. And to Troy, too, although I was sure he’d only smirk about it.

I kissed her deeply, moving slowly inside her. I wanted to savor the moment with her. I didn’t know how many more we had, and that terrified the shit out of me. Losing her… fuck.

I forced myself to focus. I stared down at her, mesmerized by her beauty. Her face slowly began to contort as her lips parted.

I knew that face.

I fucking loved that face.

She was going to come for me.

Within moments, she arched against me as I drilled deep into her body, her release dampening my thighs. I could have pulled out and watched her gush and shake, but there was something about riding it out inside her that did something to me.

Breathing heavily, she slowed her shaking, her body so soft and pliable beneath mine.

“Fuck, I love when you come for me, butterfly. You’re so fucking beautiful, baby.”

She gave me a tired smile.

“Now you have to come for me,” she whispered.

“Yeah? You want me to come inside you?”

She nodded, visibly swallowing.

“Tell me, butterfly. Tell me you want me to come in your pussy,” I husked out, moving faster.

She moaned softly before she breathlessly said the words that were my undoing.

“Adrian. Please. Please fucking come in my pussy.”

I let out a feral groan, filling her with my come, my body on fire from the pleasure. No woman had ever made me come like she did. Maybe it was how tight and tiny her pussy was or the fact it was her, my Elena, or even the taboo, forbidden part of her being my little sister, but fuck, was it good.

I slowed and kissed her gently, our bodies fused.

“I’m going to marry you someday, Elena,” I whispered against her lips.

She stared up at me with her big blue eyes .

“Put my babies inside your belly. Give you the life you deserve. I swear I will.”

Tears glistened in her eyes, and I carefully wiped them away before kissing her again. Finally, I knew she needed to sleep, so I pulled free from her body. She whimpered at my distance, but I was quick to run my fingers up her wet slit and push my come back into her body.

Gently, I took her into my arms and held her tightly.

Nothing else mattered.

Not the cold.

Not the hunger.

Not even the fear of whether or not we’d make it out of this place alive.

Right now, there was only her with me.

And I wasn’t letting go for anything. I’d do what I needed to do to help Troy get us out of here, even if it meant fucking eating Dean.