Their Rustic Retreat (The Men of Evergreen Mountain #5)

9. Serena

NINE

serena

It’s been months since I froze like a deer in headlights when I first saw him step out of that cattle truck.

And those months have been some of the most spectacular I could have ever imagined.

I attach the harness to Reuben as Tristian waits for me at the house’s front door. He’s dressed in jeans as usual, but now he has a pair of proper hiking boots.

Tristian has been doing well in becoming a typical Evergreen Valley citizen. He’s looking and dressing the part and has begun the process of building his own home, having finalized the purchase of a plot of land.

Turns out being a bouncer for the mob is a really well-paying job. And Tristian has never been one to spend a lot of money. So he saved a whole lot, and he’s been using that little stash of cash to establish himself beyond that tiny apartment he calls home.

He’s been working with my brother and his friend to set up something of his own. They’re thinking of growing an orchard of some sort, but Tristian has to do a whole lot more homework about it to figure out what he truly wants to do.

Speaking of homework, I’ve finally started the college courses I need. I’ve decided to take a more gradual approach, splitting my studies between online and attending classes. Veterinary medicine is a study that does need some physical presence since some of it is a skill that needs proper execution and procedure, but a lot of the more academic stuff can be done virtually.

I’ll do whatever it takes, but I love my family and I love Tristian dearly. It can be awfully troublesome balancing both, but I’m dedicated to making it all work.

The harness is properly secured on Reuben, and I take the leash in hand. “Are you ready to roll out?” I ask my boyfriend.

“I definitely am. Actually, I think I’m going to take the lead for this hike.”

I cock an eyebrow. “You sure about that, big boy?”

As the native of the town, I’d been leading all our hikes. I’d shown him everything I knew about the town, and even had grilled one of Lavender’s friends, Tabitha, on places to take him. If he was going to become a good and proper mountain man, I reckoned he needed to know every inch of this place like the back of his hand.

“I’m as sure as I am that you’re the most gorgeous girl on the planet.”

I giggle. “So if we get horribly lost, I’m going to retroactively take that as an insult, then.”

“That’s fine, because we’re not going to get lost.”

With our hiking pack over his shoulder, and our guard dog at the ready, we head out into the woods.

It’s interesting watching him go as he gains more confidence in his hiking. Not like he was ever scared of doing so or anything. I don’t think Tristian is a man you can scare off easily. More the swiftness of his stride, how he doesn’t need to watch his feet anymore. This is as natural to him as breathing.

It doesn’t take me long to realize which path he’s taking us along. It’s the same path as our first time out here together.

Which was the first time for a lot of things.

He traces the steps perfectly. We’d been down this track a few times in the intervening months, but it’s always special to us, and always seemed to end in the same way, which is in no way a complaint.

We reach the top of the hill, back to the plateau that overlooks Evergreen Valley. A sight which I have seen countless times, and know I’ll never grow tired of.

“Before I saw this view, my life was already in the process of changing,” Tristian says. He holds my hips as we take in the vast scenery. “I had come to this town, and it was completely unlike the only place I’ve ever known. I was getting used to hard work out in the sun, small towns, and the complete lack of Indian restaurants.”

I roll my eyes at his constant complaining. Reuben did his dog yawn before finding his favorite patch of grass to have his mid-hike nap.

“When I met you, though, I knew that it had changed for good. There’s no going back to my lonely, struggling self when I laid eyes on you, and then you opened my eyes to everything even more. The beauty of all the forests, the sweetness of family, and... well, much more lustful and carnal things that will only be between us.”

“I’m an adult; you can say it, you know.”

“I’m going somewhere with this. And besides, you know how I am. I rather show you such things than tell you.”

“And I can’t wait for you to do so.”

“Serena, I just know that everything is different for the two of us. We might not be the most natural of pairings, some tattooed bad boy from the city and some innocent small-town girl...”

“I’ve never been too innocent.”

“Innocent-ish?”

“I guess I’ll take that.”

“Whatever you want to call yourself, you’re mine. At least, I want to make you mine, officially.”

Officially? The words snap me out of my saccharine haze. He can’t be going for it, can he?

It feels too soon.

He fishes something out of his pocket and drops to one knee.

He is going for it. He presents me with a sleek golden ring, studded with a diamond and two emeralds on either side, my birthstone.

“Serena, marry me. I want no one else beside me for the rest of my days.”

It feels too soon. We’ve only known one another for half a year. Didn’t people wait two, three years? I know that my brother and his friends married quickly, but that was something exceptional. Unique.

And yet...

The passion we feel for one another burns hotter than I ever thought possible. I can’t imagine living life without him, not with how he’s such a reliable rock of support. This is just as unique as the romances I mentioned before.

It feels right. It is right. My heart knows it, and my brain can’t disagree.

“Yes. Yes, of course, I’ll marry you,” I exclaim, my internal deliberation taking less than a minute.

Tristian’s face lights up with absolute joy as I say the words. He slides the ring on to my finger.

I stare at it in amazement. I’m getting married. I’ve found my soul mate. I’ve known it for months now, and yet I still don’t believe it.

He holds me close, his hands cupping my ass as he lovingly looks into my eyes. “You’re going to be my woman. Beautiful and brilliant, kind and sweet, my everything.”

Tristian kisses me. His tongue pressing in. I welcome it, my tongue entangling with his. My entire form tingles with excitement and anticipation of what’s to come.

We really get into it. It gets sloppy. We’ve done this so much over the past few months, we know what the other wants.

He leans into me, running his hands down my thighs. Through the denim, he knows just how to touch me to get my fire going.

How to make me want so much more than that. He’s sliding his hands down my legs, once again building a lovely bed for ourselves. So determined in our lust, we’re peeling off clothes with surgical efficiency. His shorts, his shirt, shoes, socks, all of it falling off him and revealing his sexy buff, tattooed form beneath. My shirt, short shorts, bra, shoes, socks, exit my body before finally leaving my panties behind.

We wanted to be absolutely naked. For absolute indulgence in one another and enjoyment of what we have. He picks me up, and holds me so close, my tits pressing into the firmness of his chest, every little movement we have teasing me a little more. His cock throbs against my thighs, ready to push in and fuck me good and hard. My legs are wrapped around him, both of us breathless with absolute need for one another.

He guides me down to our makeshift bed, our constant exchange of kisses and lovely lust continuing. I grab his cock between us, and pull him toward where he needs to go. I’m already so wet for him, so ready for him.

He thrusts himself in, entering me intensely as I cry out in ecstasy. He knows just how to do it. He’s gained so much experience and knowledge about how I work, knowing just how to stroke my clit again and again, to make me shudder and squirm.

And the same is true of me. I know how he likes me to do a little grind on his cock as he impales me on him. He likes how I claw his back with each and every motion, how I murmur incoherently into his ear, my breath tickling him. How I arch back for him, letting him fuck me deeper and deeper as we keep embracing our lust for one another.

Feeling all of that beautiful naked body of his under my grasp, knowing it was for me to enjoy to the fullest. That I could draw in such a stud. It’s such an amazing feeling to enjoy.

We’re so perfectly in sync with one another. I remember the awkwardness of our first time. We still clicked so well, but no one is perfect on their first try. Now it’s simply a perfect symphony of lust.

The fires inside me stoke his. Desire spreads through my body with each and every penetration.

“The most beautiful woman on the planet, now my fiancée,” he whispers, his breath ragged. “And soon to be my wife.”

He thrusts deep within me, the sensation shooting through me and sending me screaming out with need. My arms wrap around him, and I hold him close, his embrace growing tighter by the moment. I can barely hang on, but I know the longer I do, the more intense the orgasm will be.

One more stroke. I’m crying out, damn near screaming at him so loud, they have to be hearing me from the town below.

It hits me so hard. I screech at the top of my lungs as my climax runs wild through my body, my heart beating against my rib cage as my vision blurs from the absolute intensity.

Tristian hits his peak, too, his cock throbbing deep within as my pussy squeezes him for all he’s worth, doing what nature intends for him to unleash all of his seed into me, greedy for its warmth and potency.

God, it feels too good. So pleasurable. Powerful. At that moment, we’re together, the closest to heaven that any person can possibly be on earth.

We ride out this thrill and soon are panting, sweat drenching our beautiful naked selves. His cock still throbs inside me, his hardness not wavering. It’s fading, but I’m in no rush to get off him. Instead I lay on top of him, purring with content, enjoying the serenity of our moment together.

I then notice a new tattoo, one over his heart. My name, stylistically written on a ribbon with the words “Property of” dangling above it.

“Marking yourself as mine, I see,” I say, running my finger over that part of his chest, of which I am sure is still tender.

The way Tristian winces slightly tells me my guess was correct. “Felt right. Closest I can get your name to my heart without getting surgery and tattooing it on one of my ribs.”

“You don’t have to go that far, lover boy. This is more than sweet enough.” I tease him a bit more. Maybe he’d grow to like it. “Although, I could have made you look damn foolish by turning you down.”

“You wouldn’t have. You don’t pop the question unless you’re certain what the answer is going to be.”

“So sure of that, eh, lover boy?”

“Didn’t we have this whole conversation of not worrying about things that aren’t going to happen? Or didn’t happen? You’re mine now, Serena, and that’s that.”

I chuckle as I kiss him again. “Maybe I should get one too. With your name.”

“A special bonus wedding-ringlike thing just for the two of us?”

“Yeah.”

“That’d be wonderful.”

God, marriage on top of everything else.

And I’m not even twenty yet.

I wonder what miracles I must have worked in my past life to have life turn out so damn good.