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“Leg straps.” I attempt to focus, tapping her calf. “Spread.”
“Buy a girl dinner first,”
“Oh, I see you’re enjoying Clem’s muffin again,” a voice cuts in. “Hi, Gran,” Clementine sighs. Margaret tips her sunglasses down. “Ever heard of BDSM?”
My hands shouldn’t be sweating. I’ve belayed kids, rookies, clients who couldn’t tell a carabiner from a keychain. I’ve held strangers on walls twice this size. Never flinched. Never once doubted the system. But this is Clementine, and my body hasn’t gotten the memo that she’s just another climber on a rope. My throat is sandpaper.
“You did good today, Clem,” I call out to her.
“I like ‘Fox,’ especially when it’s coming from you.”
“No...
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But if I let him, my debt wouldn’t just be gone. It would belong to him. And then so would I. And if I’m ever going to belong to Alec Hastings, I really don’t want it to be like this. I want it to be real. Not because of a solution.
“Thank you for not judging me.”
“Never.”
“Hey, Clem.”
“You wanna come by to try out the new fire pit this Saturday?”
“To talk strategy for the qualifier?”
“No.”
“To practice ...
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“...
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“To celebrate the lodge renovations being ahe...
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“...
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“To just han...
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“Y...
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“Like—”
“I swear to God, Clementine, if you say camp buddies—” His fake annoyance only makes me grin harder.
“What? Camp bud—” He unkink...
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My heart is still racing, body still tilted toward where he sat. I try to remind myself to think about the debt. About the qualifier. About anything else. But I can’t. Because I want him.
This isn’t origami anymore. She’s the sun, and I’m caught in her orbit, powerless to pull away.
“Like this,” I grind out, hand covering hers. I’m not teaching her a damn thing. I’m carving myself into her, line by line.
Like it matters. Like I matter. Her fingertips graze my skin, barely there, but it’s one of those gentle touches that make me feel like I’m worthy of something so
Because if it’s Clementine who undoes me, maybe I don’t care what it costs. Maybe I don’t want the control back. Maybe I’d give it all to her. Gladly.
Equal. The word rings through my brain. She’s spent weeks trying to prove herself worthy of being my partner, but I should have been on my knees for her.
Oranges in every hue, like her hair. My new favorite color.
“You are gonna be such a good daddy.” That fucking word again. “Clem.”
“We are not keeping the dog.”
We’re absolutely keeping the dog.
“This explains the entire human race,” I shout. “Cavewomen saw this and went, ‘Yep. Him. Forever.’” “Just doing my evolutionary duty.”
Even after only a month, I can’t see Alec as someone you just move on from.
“Relationships should feel like flying beside someone,” I blurt before slapping my hand over my mouth. “God, that was cheesy. Sorry.” “Not cheesy. It’s sweet.”
“last question before we head in. What’s your most memorable part of our training?”
“It was you,” he says, no hesitation. “You’ve been my favorite part of this.” My breath stumbles. “Me too.”
“I’ve wanted to kiss you every damn day. You think I’ve been patient? I’ve been drowning.”
“You know you scare me, right?” His lips drag over mine. “I scare you?” “You don’t back down. You don’t bite your tongue. You’re too much for men who want easy.”
There is a steadiness in his arms. I realize, briskly, that there’s a difference between being held and being handled.
I’ve never let anyone this close. Never needed anyone this bad. She’s turned me inside out, and I don’t even care.
I’ve stared down storms, avalanches, nights when the mountain tried to break me. None of it ever touched me like this woman did just now. Nothing ever will.
“Who would’ve thought? You’re a certified cuddler. Your gruff mountain man reputation’s ruined.”
then she reaches for my hand like it’s the easiest thing in the world, and I feel the ground shift under me.
“Are you gonna miss me?” “Every second.” “Stop being cute.”
My chest is full of something I don’t have a name for yet. But I know it’s hers.
“Alec. You were my best friend when we were five. You’ll be my best friend when we’re eighty.
I’ve been learning that Finn’s got the eager vibe of a golden retriever. Alec is more of a hound, steady and watchful.
“He likes you, Clem. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.
