Page 7 of Swooned By the Lumberjack
“Thank you, Wade,” she murmurs instead.
Chapter 7 - Eleanor
Maybe it’s possible to go at least partially insane over a man. I never would have believed it, but here I am, perpetually drooling and pining for Wade. Anything he does astounds me. The man is a machine in the best way. He respects the hell out of Clair too, which just makes him even more ... lovable.
He never tells her no, just how to do something better. My dad nudges me while I’m staring at my lunch. “Is everything okay?”
“Great.”
“The internship is all set?”
“Yep.”
He goes over a few more things and I feel shakier each time I answer. When he asks what’s bothering me, I tell him I’m restless and need to go for a walk. He agrees, reminds me he’s going to an early dinner with Clair, then leaves me to walk.
I wander for an hour, lost in the aimlessness of my life. I always thought I’d get a career, and everything else would fall into place and instead my future seems to be stuck on one path—becoming a counselor. And as if that wasn't enough, I’m distracted by thoughts of a man who may or may not wantme and it’s driving me insane. It looks like I keep waiting for opportunities, but...
The thought stops me.Why the hell am I waiting?I’m an adult and I know what I want. Wade’s more than my father’s friend. The last two and a half weeks have proved it. He’s the kind of man I’ve always wanted. Not a prince charming but a knight. He doesn’t back down from challenges. He fixes things for other people, protects them, takes care of them, and does it all as if it’s nothing.
But in those moments when he smiles ... god, my heart tries to gallop away. Why am I waiting around, hoping he picks up on what I want instead of making myself clear? With a surge of determination, I turn and walk quickly, finding myself standing right in front of Wade.
He steadies me when I nearly trip over one of his garden tools.
“Ellie? Why are you out of breath? Are you okay? Are the foxes back or something?”
“They wouldn’t dare come back with you around,” I say as I stare up at him. “You can intimidate them with one look.”
He blinks at me. “I think you’ve spent too much time in the sun.”
He puts his hand against my forehead, then my cheek. I lean into his touch before I can stop myself. His eyes meet mine and I see that conflict – the mix of hunger and restraint. I swallow. “You’re better at control than I am. Can you teach me?”
“Teach you what?” He asks, his voice growing thick.
“How to behave? How to be confident? To be anything close to as ... as amazing as you seem to be?” I breathe.
Wade’s hand molds to my cheek and his thumb strokes close to my lips. He hesitates. I swallow and meet his eyes. He shakes his head. “You already are.”
“Well, you make it look effortless and ...”and sexy as hell. “Aren’t you tired of control? Isn’t it exhausting constantly?”
His jaw tenses as he studies my face. His blue eyes stroke over my face and everywhere his skin brushes mine buzzes with anticipation until he curses softly. “Fuck it.”
And then, it happens. He kisses me hungrily, his hand sliding into my hair and pulling me to my toes as his mouth fits to mine. His lips part as a sigh slips between mine. I press myself against him eagerly, but his arm wraps around my waist and pulls me up and onto his shoes so it’s easier for both of us. I curl my fingers in his shirt until my hands hurt, but at least I know it’s real.
I was sure he didn’t want me. He can be so hard to read, but now ...
This isn’t a dream. His tongue is slipping across mine, his groan fills the space between our mouths and my entire existence is turning to ash so I can come to life all over again – like a phoenix. Wade pulls me closer to him, one big hand spreading over my back, sliding further down to brand my lower back while the other kneads my scalp.
I want more, more of him, more of the way his body fits to mine, the way he kisses me with total domination. I suck his tongue and he bends down further, picking me up. He nips my bottom lip.
“Do you get tired of ruining my sanity anytime you speak to me?” He demands, kissing me again as he carries me somewhere. “Do you get tired of wrapping me around your finger?”
I shake my head, drawing out every kiss as my belly melts and my thighs squeeze around his hips. I thread my fingers through his hair and grind against his erection. “That’s what you do to me with every look.”
“You belong right here,” he growls as he presses me against something hard and grinds against me harder. I pant against his lips. “In my arms, teasing me and only me.”
“Yes,” I answer immediately. “Yes, Wade. Please.”
“We’ll see how well you can take orders,” he decides.
