Wild Love (The Wilde Brothers #1)

Chapter 14

14

ELI

I had an early morning meeting with Mac to talk about the progress on the cabins. They were going up quickly, but I wanted to take my time with the interior. I wanted these cabins to be luxurious, a vacation away from home whether it was for a local or someone who'd traveled from far away.

At the same time, I wanted to give the feel of a rustic home with a lot of wood and stone elements. I'd chosen Colorado scenery and wildlife paintings for the walls.

I showered, hating that I had to leave Scarlett on the roof after our night together. She looked adorably rumpled after sleeping in the cabana, and it was nice to wake up to the sunrise together. I wished I had more time with her.

I didn't want to leave her to her thoughts where she could talk herself out of the idea of us.

I put on jeans, a long sleeve T, and boots to walk to the site. When I approached, Mac handed me a hard hat. "How was your morning?"

I ran a hand through my hair before placing the hat on my head. "I didn't work out this morning." I couldn't remember the last time I neglected my morning routine.

Mac smirked. "Got something to share with the class?"

I let out a breath. "I like this girl?—"

He smiled wider. "I knew it."

I sighed. "But she's a runner."

He nodded. "Ah. I think I know who you're talking about."

There was only one new girl in town, and it was the hometown girl with a knack for leaving. "Please don't say anything."

He made the sign of an X over his heart. "I don't want to tell Chance you're fucking his sister."

I shoved his shoulder. "Watch your mouth."

"Let me get this straight. You're sleeping with your best friend's younger sister, and you don't want to call it fucking?"

My throat tightened at his insinuation. "That's right."

Mac whistled. "You got it bad. I'm glad I was never in your position. I just had to deal with Natalie’s ex-husband.”

Mac renovated Natalie's inn when she moved home after her divorce. He quickly fell in love with her and her daughter. I remembered Natalie’s ex-husband wasn’t that involved with Delaney when they first moved here. But that Mac was happy to step in and be the father-figure she needed.

I rolled my shoulders back. "It wasn't the best decision."

Mac shrugged. "If she's the one, what can you do?"

That made me feel slightly better. To me, she felt like the one. I'd never been more interested in a woman before, and our chemistry was off the charts. "What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"She keeps it quiet, and you maintain your friendship with Chance."

I followed Mac into the first cabin that already had walls and a roof. The framing was done, and I could easily see which room was the kitchen versus the living room. "What if I want more? "

"I felt like that was how it was with Natalie at first. She wasn't quite ready to move on, and I was more than ready to move forward with the woman and daughter who'd be my family and my future."

"I can see her in my future, but if she doesn't want to live here?—"

He met my gaze. "There's nothing you can do. Just make sure you tell her how you feel first. You don't want her wondering and using that as an excuse to leave. You don't want any missed communication between you two. Be honest."

"I can do that." But what if it pushed her away sooner?

Mac focused on the blueprints. "Now, you want to talk build?"

"Yes." I shoved my hands in my pockets while Mac walked me through the progress. We always ended with the diagram of the property complete with the lodge, slopes, and cabins.

"I'm excited about the work you've done so far, and the timeline."

"It's your dream. Happy to make it come true."

Was the expansion of the ski resort my dream? For so long, I wanted to solidify my family's legacy, but now? I was starting to think there was more to life than that. Scarlett's expression this morning as she gazed at the sunrise came to mind.

She was beautiful and passionate about everything. And I think she ran for a far different reason than she thought. She was scared to develop true feelings for someone. She wanted to belong but didn't want roots at the same time. She was an intriguing combination, and I wanted her for myself.

I hoped that what I had to offer her was enough. Would she always run, or would she finally see everything she had to offer?

She was so much more than what the town gossips said about her. She wasn't different. She wasn't wrong for wanting to be creative. She could settle here and be happy. Or at least that was my wish for her. There was always the possibility that asking her to stay was stifling who she was at her core.

Mac braced his hands on the box. "Have you thought about building yourself a house on the property?"

I frowned. "Why would I do that?"

His brow furrowed. "You don't feel like you're going to outgrow that penthouse any time soon?"

"It suits my needs, and I can be close to my guests."

"Soon, you're going to have guests scattered across the property anyway. And you might want a family one day."

I had visions of kids with dirty blond hair learning to ski as soon as they could walk. I never thought about kids of my own, probably because I was the oldest of six siblings. But now that I'd met Scarlett, I saw it as a possibility. "You have a spot in mind?"

Mac grinned. "When I was casing the property for the cabins, I found this private area on top of the mountain. It would be perfect for your place. Far enough away from the resort to seem private, but you'd have your own slope to go down the mountain to the lodge."

"I think I'm going to need a road too."

Mac laughed. "It will have a road. I just thought you might like the idea of skiing from your house."

"I love it. Thanks for thinking of it." Mac was right to mention it because I wasn't getting any younger.

If Scarlett wanted something more permanent, I wanted to give it to her. I wanted to give her everything.

"I can draw up some plans for a house if you give me an idea of what you want."

I nodded. "Will do. But in the meantime, I need some hands for the sets."

Mac shook his head. "You got it bad."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "You keep saying that. But you owe me a favor. "

"I never thought I'd see you call in favors to please the woman in your life."

Instead of being insulted by his words, I felt good. I would do anything for Scarlett. If I didn't think it would make her run, I'd tell her myself.

"What's going to happen when she finds out you're the owner of the theater?"

I shook my head. "She's not going to like it."

"Or she might love it," Mac said, boosting the hope in my chest. "You won't know until you talk to her. I'd suggest telling her yourself, because if someone else talks to her first?—"

"It won't go over well." She'll think I interfered in her life. That I pressured her like everyone else. I wanted her to stay, but I wouldn't clip her wings for my benefit. She should stay because it was her choice. But that seemed unlikely.

"I'm going to get back to work."

"Always nice doing business with you, Mac." I shook his hand.

Mac pulled me in for a hug. "I'm your friend first."

"I'll remember that."

"Natalie, Delaney, and my son, George are the best things that ever happened to me. We're building a future together, and nothing has ever felt so good."

It was hard to feel anything but good after the night I'd had. I hadn't planned on sleeping with Scarlett last night. I wanted to help her with the production.

So far, she'd let me in, but if she found out I bought the theater for her? She wouldn't be happy about it.

The other interested buyer was an out-of-towner wanting to open a restaurant. We had enough of those in town. Thankfully, I convinced the owners I'd preserve the theater. I couldn't let anyone tear down the old theater. Especially when it might just be the thing to keep Scarlett in town.

T hat night, I knocked on Scarlett's door. She opened it and tugged me inside, slamming the door shut behind me. "I thought you'd never get here."

She ran her fingers through my hair as she kissed me.

Who knew that sleeping together once would release this vixen. "You want me?"

"So much." Her hands were everywhere. Tugging on my jeans, then giving up, and sliding her hands around the back to cup my ass.

I toed off my shoes while she unbuttoned my shirt. She growled when she encountered an undershirt. "How many layers are you wearing?"

"Too many," I said as I pulled her sweater over her head.

When my shirt was finally off, she kissed my chest, her hair tickling my skin, and my fingers faltered on her leggings. She took over shoving them down and off, then unzipped my jeans. She was moving swiftly, whereas I was stuck on the site of her naked breasts as she lowered to her knees.

She cupped my dick, and I groaned. "Quite a way to be greeted at the door."

She grinned up at me as if she was pleased by my reaction. "I aim to please."

I loved this side of Scarlett. She was wild and carefree, just like me. She wasn't worried about what anyone would think. I knew it was too good to be true. But for now, this was ours. Our secret was safe.

She licked the tip like an ice cream cone, then sucked me into her mouth. My heart was pounding, and the air had left my lungs.

I let my hand rest lightly in her hair, but my hips pumped into her mouth. I wanted to feel the back of her throat .

She hummed around my dick, and I wanted to shoot right then and there. I thought about anything but the feel of her mouth and hands. She worked me over good. The harder she gripped and sucked, the harder it was to hold back.

"I'm going to—" I broke off as the wave broke through me, faster than I anticipated.

She hummed but sucked harder.

"Fuck." I let my head fall back as I let go, streams of cum shooting into her mouth. I looked down as she swallowed, then licked her lips. "You're gorgeous on your knees for me."

She stood, naked before me. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair mussed from my hands.

I lifted her, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carried her to her bedroom. The last one at the end of the hall. I dumped her unceremoniously on the king-size bed. I was familiar with the layout of this condo, similar to my own.

I moved over her, kissing her, tasting my essence on her tongue. Then I moved down her body, her legs naturally widening for my shoulders.

Her hands curled into my hair.

"You're wet for me." It wasn't a question. It was a fact. This woman got off on sucking me off.

"So wet," she purred.

"You need me to take care of you?" I asked as I blew air across her pussy.

"Please, Eli. I need you." Her voice was sugary sweet like candy. I couldn't resist her.

"Fuck, yes." I dove in, licking her from entrance to clit, then circled that bud of nerves. I added one finger, then two, driving her as wild as she'd done to me.

"I love your mouth on me."

"Back at you," I said as I concentrated on making her feel good. No one would make her feel as good as me .

"You make me want things," Scarlett said as she arched into my mouth.

I wasn't sure if she was talking about sex or something bigger. I wanted to find out, but I was fully focused on her, giving her the pleasure she desired.

This woman was extraordinary, and I was determined to show her how much she deserved. So much more than she allowed herself.

When she arched off the bed, I held her down and sucked her clit hard. When the trembling eased, Scarlett threw an arm over her forehead, her voice breathless. "You're good at that."

I wiped my mouth as I climbed up the bed and dropped next to her, my arm draped over her hips. "I wanted it to feel good."

She smiled softly. "You succeeded."

I could stay here forever, but it was too early to fall asleep. Eventually, I propped myself up on one elbow.

"I ordered the costumes and set pieces you needed."

"You're too good to me."

"It's nothing you don't deserve." I didn't tell her I'd expedited shipping, so we'd have them in time. "And I secured the Fletcher boys to help with set design."

"You don't think it's overkill to hire contractors for a kid's play?"

"I didn't hire them. I called in a favor."

"We could build them ourselves." Her tone was filled with exasperation.

"The point of the town play is that the community comes together and helps out. Everyone wants to be a part of the theater reopening, and they want to help the kids."

"Well, when you put it like that?—"

"You can't say no," I said as I kissed her softly on the lips.

"I'm just used to the theater always struggling for funding. I've never had this much support from the community before. "

"You've never worked in Telluride. We're different here." We came together and help each other. And it had nothing to do with getting one Scarlett St. Claire to stay forever. That was up to me. I just hoped I was up for the task.