Read Online Christmas on the Last Frontier (Last Frontier Lodge #1) by J.H. Croix - Free Book Online
Authors: J.H. Croix
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felt suddenly self-conscious. She’d wanted this like she’d never wanted anything before. But she couldn’t have known she’d lose herself in it. She figured Gage was accustomed to making women fall apart in his arms. She braved a glance at him and found his gray eyes closed, his lashes dark against his cheeks. His chest rose and fell with his breath. As she looked at him, he opened his eyes. She flushed, but she managed not to look away. He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek before bringing his lips to hers briefly. Without a word, he shifted his hips away from hers and rolled to stand. He strode to the bathroom adjacent to her bedroom. She heard a rustle and the water running before he returned. She assumed he’d disposed of his condom.
Entirely unselfconscious about his body, he walked to the bed and lifted the covers, gesturing for her to move. Uncertain what he meant to do, she rolled out of the way. He climbed in bed beside her and tucked the quilt around them both, pulling her against his chest. His palm was warm on her back as he stroked in slow circles, the rough skin sending tiny shivers through her. She couldn’t help the sense of comfort that stole over her—unfamiliar and yet a feeling she craved.
Gage’s chest rumbled when he spoke. “Unless you tell me I can’t stay here, I wasn’t planning on leaving.”
Marley lifted her head. His eyes met hers, the tiniest glimmer of uncertainty flaring in their depths. She took a breath. “I wasn’t planning to ask you to leave,” she said softly.
“Well, that’s settled then.”
His voice was gruff, the corner of his mouth kicked up. She couldn’t help her smile. He reached behind her and switched off the lamp. Resting her head on his shoulder, she looked out the window that faced the forest. Stars were bright in the dark sky. A sliver of the moon sat above the mountains across the bay. She fell asleep, feeling sated, safe and warm. For the first time in months, it didn’t cross her mind to check the locks.
Chapter 7
Gage walked across the roof to the area where he’d left some extra shingles. He’d spent most of the morning replacing torn and missing shingles on the lodge’s interconnected rooftops. For the most part, the roof had held up well, but long winters, windstorms and ice had left a few damaged areas. He was finishing up the last repair. He grabbed the shingles and strode back to where he was working. He quickly pried up the torn shingle and replaced it with a new section. After applying sealant and nailing it in place, he hefted the backpack he’d used to carry his tools and tossed it over his shoulders. The roof had a slight slope to it, but it was easy enough to walk around. He paused by the chimney in the center of the main portion of the lodge and admired the view. Kachemak Bay sat quietly under the sun, the water calm today. The snowy mountains were bright against the blue sky. From here, he could see beyond the bay into Cook Inlet, Mount Augustine rising in the waters in the distance. The air was brisk, the scent of wood smoke drifting from someone’s woodstove.
He instantly wondered if it was Marley’s. It had been two days since she’d knocked the axis of his world sideways. Before he’d been skin to skin with her, he’d become quite familiar with the depth of his lust for her. But he couldn’t have known what it would feel like to be with her. He’d walked in thinking he could control the situation. Instead, he’d come out on the other side wondering how to catch hold of the reins again. Marley affected him like no woman had ever affected him. Her complete lack of artifice combined with her utter abandonment into the passion that burned like a brushfire between them was intoxicating. He turned and walked to the edge of the roof, quickly climbing down the ladder. The sun was still high in the sky, but it was early afternoon, which meant he only had a few hours of good daylight left to add another coat of paint on
Entirely unselfconscious about his body, he walked to the bed and lifted the covers, gesturing for her to move. Uncertain what he meant to do, she rolled out of the way. He climbed in bed beside her and tucked the quilt around them both, pulling her against his chest. His palm was warm on her back as he stroked in slow circles, the rough skin sending tiny shivers through her. She couldn’t help the sense of comfort that stole over her—unfamiliar and yet a feeling she craved.
Gage’s chest rumbled when he spoke. “Unless you tell me I can’t stay here, I wasn’t planning on leaving.”
Marley lifted her head. His eyes met hers, the tiniest glimmer of uncertainty flaring in their depths. She took a breath. “I wasn’t planning to ask you to leave,” she said softly.
“Well, that’s settled then.”
His voice was gruff, the corner of his mouth kicked up. She couldn’t help her smile. He reached behind her and switched off the lamp. Resting her head on his shoulder, she looked out the window that faced the forest. Stars were bright in the dark sky. A sliver of the moon sat above the mountains across the bay. She fell asleep, feeling sated, safe and warm. For the first time in months, it didn’t cross her mind to check the locks.
Chapter 7
Gage walked across the roof to the area where he’d left some extra shingles. He’d spent most of the morning replacing torn and missing shingles on the lodge’s interconnected rooftops. For the most part, the roof had held up well, but long winters, windstorms and ice had left a few damaged areas. He was finishing up the last repair. He grabbed the shingles and strode back to where he was working. He quickly pried up the torn shingle and replaced it with a new section. After applying sealant and nailing it in place, he hefted the backpack he’d used to carry his tools and tossed it over his shoulders. The roof had a slight slope to it, but it was easy enough to walk around. He paused by the chimney in the center of the main portion of the lodge and admired the view. Kachemak Bay sat quietly under the sun, the water calm today. The snowy mountains were bright against the blue sky. From here, he could see beyond the bay into Cook Inlet, Mount Augustine rising in the waters in the distance. The air was brisk, the scent of wood smoke drifting from someone’s woodstove.
He instantly wondered if it was Marley’s. It had been two days since she’d knocked the axis of his world sideways. Before he’d been skin to skin with her, he’d become quite familiar with the depth of his lust for her. But he couldn’t have known what it would feel like to be with her. He’d walked in thinking he could control the situation. Instead, he’d come out on the other side wondering how to catch hold of the reins again. Marley affected him like no woman had ever affected him. Her complete lack of artifice combined with her utter abandonment into the passion that burned like a brushfire between them was intoxicating. He turned and walked to the edge of the roof, quickly climbing down the ladder. The sun was still high in the sky, but it was early afternoon, which meant he only had a few hours of good daylight left to add another coat of paint on
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