Camp Hardwood by Alexa Riley

Chapter Ten

Van

Her thighs spread wider as I lap at her clit and hum against it. She wiggles her hips, but I’ve got her feet tied to the bed, so no matter how much she squirms she’s open for my pleasure.

Last night I was on my way to her cabin to tell her enough was enough and I saw Jack talking to her. My rage took over and I launched into him, knowing I’d protect her from any threat. And that’s what he was. But I knew in that moment that everything I felt for her needed to be said out loud, I just didn’t want the first time I told her I loved her to be on the back of that memory.

The sun is almost up and I’ve spent the night loving every inch of her body. She tastes like the two of us and she’s cum so many times I don’t know if she’s going to be able to walk. She deserves a day in bed and the counselors can fend for themselves if they’re hungry. I’ve already texted the guys at the stables and let them know I won’t be in today. I plan on being right here with my woman and enjoying every second of it.

“Tia,” I whisper against her pussy.

“You’re killing me slowly, aren’t you?” she cries out as I nibble on her clit and then smile against it.

“Never.” I flick my tongue over the hard bud and it’s enough to send her over the edge once again.

I taste the sweet release on my tongue and close my eyes to savor it. Each time is better than the last and I think I might be addicted to it.

When I’ve wrung all of her pleasure out of her, I move up her body and sheathe myself in her warm slippery heat. I grunt at the feel of her slick channel squeezing my shaft and I have to hold myself still so I don’t cum right then and there.

I look into her eyes and tuck a sweaty lock of hair behind her ears as I kiss her lips gently. “I love you,” I say and feel the weight of it lift off my chest. I’ve been dying to say it since the moment I saw her but I didn’t want to scare her away. She smiles up at me and I see the tears in her eyes as I begin to slowly move inside of her.

“I love you too, Van.”

“Marry me.”

Her eyes widen a little but she doesn’t look scared as she searches my face for any trace of a joke. “Are you serious?”

“I’ll never lie to you.” I slowly slide out and then make my way back inside, taking my time making love to her. “Marry me, Tia. This is forever for me and I won’t live without you.”

“Yes,” she blurts out and for a moment I think she’s shocked both of us.

I close my eyes and touch my forehead to hers, thanking my lucky stars that I found her and that she wants me.

“You’ve made me so happy,” I say as I move faster. “Tell me you love me again. I need to hear you say it a thousand times before I’ll know it’s real.”

She smiles up at me as I reach down and pull the rope at her ankles, setting her free.

“Wrap your legs around me. I need to feel you everywhere.”

“I love you, Van,” she moans, and I thrust harder and push us both to the edge.

When she cums again I finally give myself over to the need and finish with her. The heat of my release bathes her womb and I nearly black out from the intensity of it. Knowing she loves me and that she’s going to be my wife is almost too much for my heart to hold, but somehow I do.

It’s a while later as I’m lying on my back playing with her hair that I feel Tia’s stomach growl. I laugh and think about how little I have here in my cabin because I’m always in the main kitchen with her.

“I should feed you,” I say, and she sits up on top of me and looks down.

We both stare at the ring I slipped on her finger after the last time we made love. It’s a simple gold band with a round diamond in the middle. I got it the first day I saw her and I knew I wouldn’t stop until I made her mine.

“I think you want to go show this off to the camp.”

I try to hide my smug smile but it’s no use. “It would be an added bonus to feeding you. But we’re only going long enough to stock up on food and then we’re coming straight back to bed.”

“Deal,” she agrees as we jump up and quickly put on whatever clothes are nearby.

We hold hands as we walk out of the cabin and I can’t help but play with her ring. I love having it there and knowing that she’s mine. I can’t wait to get one of my own too. Do men wear engagement rings?

“You’ve got a few weeks before school starts,” Tia reminds me and I squeeze her hand. “What are we going to do until then?”

I look over at her and raise an eyebrow. “I think we can come up with something.”

She smacks my chest playfully as we reach the kitchen. “You know what I mean.”

“Luckily my first few classes are all online and then when I have to do my labs and clinicals I get to go into town. We could get an apartment there if you’d rather live away from the camp.”

I would hate to leave Camp Hardwood because it’s my home, but I’ll go anywhere as long as Tia is with me.

“Van.” She tugs my arm and I come up short. “We don’t have to leave here, do we?”

Dread fills her eyes and I step closer to her to cup her cheek.

“We don’t have to go anywhere, darling girl. I just wanted you to know we can if you ever want to.”

“I don’t,” she says firmly and I nod in agreement.

“Then this is home.”

“Home,” she repeats and I lean down to kiss her.

I hear a throat clearing nearby and I look up to see Piper standing on the porch of the kitchen. Tia blushes as she cuddles into my chest and I take her by the hand again and we make our way over to Piper.

“Good morning, you two love birds,” she says as we all enter the kitchen. “You’re late.”

“She’s off today.” I jump in before Tia can comment.

“I made you breakfast burritos yesterday, they’re in the fridge,” Tia says, walking over and grabbing the handle.

Just as her hand goes up, Piper lets out a squeal and rushes over next to her. “Tia, what the—” She turns to look at me with wide eyes and Tia’s face turns about ten shades of crimson. “Did you get engaged?”

“She did,” I confirm, and I can feel my smile stretching from ear to ear.

Piper whistles as she looks down at the ring. “I knew it.”

“You knew it?” Tia asks when her friend pulls her in for a hug.

“The way he looks at you? Are you kidding me? It was only a matter of days.” Piper looks over at me and beams. “Congratulations. Just make sure you take care of her.”

“I plan on it,” I agree.

“Good. Or I’ll have to kick your ass.”

I don’t mention that she couldn’t hurt a fly, and decide to just nod and bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“This is the best news. We should eat to celebrate,” she says, but as she turns to take a step I see a slash of pain in her eyes.

“Piper?” I call out, rushing forward just as she tries to make a grab for the chair next to her and nearly falls over.

I catch her just before she hits the ground and she clutches her stomach. Her face goes completely white and her eyes roll back.

“Call 911!” I yell as I pick Piper up and run to the emergency Jeep parked next to the office.

I feel Tia right behind me and when we get to the Jeep she jumps in the back seat with Piper.

“It’s going to be okay,” Tia says. I stomp on the gas and glance back to her in the rearview mirror.

“Tia?” I hear softly from the back, and I see Piper open her eyes and a bit of color reappears on her cheeks.

I breathe a quick sigh of relief but don’t slow down as I make my way to the hospital.

“I’m here. Just relax and we’ll be at the hospital in a second.”

“I had some spotting this morning. The baby book said it was normal.”

Baby book? Holy shit, Piper really was pregnant? Thoughts race through my mind and I don’t know what to do other than drive.

“Shh. Just relax and breathe. It’s all going to be okay.”

Tia looks up in the rearview mirror at the same time I do and our eyes lock in a question we’re both too afraid to ask.

Will it be okay?