by Frankie Love
But he walks past me, and I know his leg isn’t the thing I’ve wounded. It’s his pride.
Only thing is, I never meant to hurt him.
And now I want to find a way to heal him. Even if it’s the last thing he wants from me.
Chapter Eleven
Ronan
I know money doesn’t solve everything, especially when I’m dealing with a woman as hot-headed as Bella.
But damn, I never meant to offend her.
And the fact that she assumed the worst of me, kills me.
I know I can’t solve everything by writing a check. And maybe that’s what Bella was trying to tell me, that this problem deserves more than a transaction. Only thing is, neither of us could hear one another. We are both so quick to act that we aren’t able to listen.
And hell, I do want to listen to her.
I want all of her.
I pick up my phone, she may think this is a complicated hurdle we can’t get over but she’s wrong.
I’ll do anything to have her.
But the thing I want most in this moment is to make her proud.
I’ll open a ski resort, but it won’t be a Lachlan-owned one. I will use my inheritance to build a place that will help this entire town’s economy—not just for Bella’s father—but for all of us. After all, I need something to work toward myself—to labor over, to love.
And there’s nothing more perfect than putting down roots on the mountain my mother loved.
The mountain my Bella calls home.
----
Several hours later, after showering and attempting to dress my own wounds, I go looking for Bella.
I know she wants to leave, so maybe she’s already packed and waiting at the door. Looking down the large staircase though, I see the foyer is empty.
Walking down the corridor, I stop in her chamber but see that room is empty too. Also, her bag is packed and at the foot of her bed. Not a good sign, even if it’s one I should expect.
Finally, though, I find her.
She’s in my mother’s library, under a fuzzy blanket with a book in hand. I stand in the doorway watching her for a moment, realizing she is enraptured with whatever it is she is reading.
Very enraptured.
One of her hands holds the book open, the other hand is under the blanket, moving quickly. She closes her eyes, the book falling into her lap, and her other hand moves below the blanket. Now her arm is moving faster, and I can just imagine her clit, throbbing as she rubs circles around her hood. She gasps, her thighs moving apart, and her hands create friction as she whimpers from her own touch.
It turns me on, so fucking badly, watching her touch herself like this. I don’t want to scare her, and any movement I make might interrupt her, but damn, my cock is hard watching her. She looks so beautiful with her eyes closed and her mouth barely parted, whimpering as she comes.
Finally, her hand stills and when she moves her hands out from under the blanket, they pick the book back up, sighing as she catches her breath.
Only then do I step in through the door, clearing my throat, loving that my little virgin is so filthy and able to pleasure herself whenever she so desires.
“Afternoon, Bella.”
“Oh, hi...” She fumbles with the book, flipping it right side up. Her cheeks are bright red, but I don’t mind. It’s cute to see her so flustered.
I raise an eye at the bare-chested man on the cover, already knowing the answer to my question. “You like romance?”
She bites back a smile. “I like the idea of getting swept off my feet.”
I nod, stepping toward her. “Can we talk?”
She sets the book aside and adjusts in the chair as I sit opposite her.
“I’m surprised you want to speak with me at all,” She bites her nail, not meeting my gaze.
“Look at me, Bella.”
She shakes her head.
“Please?”
She covers her face with her hand, refusing to meet my gaze.
“Listen,” I try. “We all make mistakes.”
“This wasn’t a mistake,” she says to her lap. “I don’t know why you’d even care about me after I ran like I did in the storm, acting so foolishly.”
“You thought I screwed over your father and you care about him, Bella, and how he might feel.”
She finally drops her hands and looks up at me. “But what about how you might feel, Ronan?” She blinks back tears. “I never considered that.”
“But now?” I ask, needing to know the truth. “Do you care how I might feel now?”
She nods. “I care. So much.” Then a tear spills across her cheek and it kills me to watch her in pain.
I reach for her tender hand, pulling her to my lap. “Shh, Bella, it’s alright.”
“Is it?” She cries into my shoulder. “I know you’re in pain, and I’m not just meaning your wounds from the wolves. I know you lost your mother. I figured it out, though it is obvious in a thousand ways. The library books and the delicate tea set and the stained-glass windows. Her touch is everywhere in this home. It’s beautiful.”
I stiffen—the memories still so raw— but with her in my arms, it’s impossible to stay ridged.
She makes me soft in all the right ways and hard in all the others.
“I did lose her. That’s why I moved here. She loved this house and left it to me, though I don’t deserve it.”
Bella cups my cheek in her small palm. “Why is that, Ronan?”
“Because she was dying, and I didn’t come see her in time. She died, and I was off in France, not at her bedside. My priorities...” I run a hand through my hair, ashamed of the man I’ve been. “My priorities were fucked up, and I never got to tell her how much I loved her.”
“She must have known, Ronan.”
I smirk, not believing her. “Why do you think that?”
“Because she left you this house. This gorgeous home that has her fingerprints all over it. She could have given it to her husband, but she gave it to you. She wanted you with her, even in death.”
“Does it work like that, you think? That my wrongs can be made right with simple words? By forgiving myself?”
“I think it works however you like, but beating yourself up for a past mistake isn’t going to help you move on. Forget the past. What sort of man do you want to be now?”
“Yesterday you called me a beast. Maybe I’m not a man at all.”
A flicker of a smile crosses her face. “Maybe you’re not. But you know, being a beast isn’t the worst thing in the world.”
“No?”
She shakes her head. “In fact, you are a beast, wild and untamed, and it makes you very appealing, if I do say so myself.”
“That’s not who I am, though, entirely,” I tell her, shaking my head.
“What do you mean?”
“You have tamed me, Bella.”
“Truly?” She looks at me with so much wonder, so much sincerity, it hurts. I could never lie to this woman and I would never want to.
“Heart and soul.”
“What is left then, to keep you as a beast? Surely something?” she asks with the most tender smile I’ve ever seen.
My smile is no longer tender. It is hungry.
I pull her closer, so she can straddle me properly. So, my rock-hard cock can grind against her cunt.
“You’re right, Bella. In the bedroom, my beauty, that is where I ravish my prey.”
“But we aren’t in the bedroom, beast. We’re in the library.”
“In that case, I will sweep you off your feet, just like it’s described in the books you read.”
“Good,” she says with sex-crazed eyes that may be both ready and willing. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Twelve
Bella
He has me in his arms, my legs on either side of him, and his hungry cock pushes against my entrance. I want this so badly, even though I feel like I hardly deserve this utter devotion.
/> But Ronan offers it and I take what is given.
“Oh yes,” I groan as his cock moves deeper inside me. The idea that a few days ago I was a virgin, never having felt the movement of a man inside of me is so hard to grasp because now it’s as if I’ve memorized Ronan in his entirety.
He smells like pine trees and sandalwood. It’s like he’s from the earth and I’m a new sapling he’s planted right by his side.
I am his.
“Bella, you’re everything I need,” he growls in my ear, pulling me closer. I’m nervous that I’m hurting him since his wounds are just beginning to heal, but he swears I am the best medicine. The perfect cure. The only antidote.
I choose to believe him.
“Don’t stop,” I beg as he thrusts himself deep inside me. My core awakens as if a thousand bursts of light have been turned on all at once.
I cling to him, my breasts pressed against his chest. He takes them in his hand, sucking them, then biting my neck and pushing back my hair as he licks my skin. He finds my mouth and our tongues entwine. Our bodies rocking as one as he comes hard against me.
I never want him to stop. The way his massive cock pushes inside me forces an orgasm to flood my body with more emotion than I ever expected to feel in my entire life.
“I love you, Ronan,” I moan, the words escaping without a filter.
“Oh, god,” he cries, coming hard. “I love you too, beauty, with all that I am.”
He steadies me against himself, and with my arms wrapped around his neck, our foreheads meet, and our eyes are transfixed on one another.
“I mean it,” he tells me. “I know it’s fast but—”
I cut him off. “But sometimes you just know.”
He nods. “And Bella, I know.”
“Me too,” I say, my heart hitching in my throat. This is more than getting swept-off-my-feet. This is the fairytale ending to a dream come true.
“Now,” he says with a smile. “You need to put on a dress. I have a party to take you too.”
I erupt in a fit of giggles and kiss him again.
There is so much to learn about one another but some things in life don’t need an explanation.
We are one of them.
-----
As I walk down the marble staircase, I feel overdressed. And I’m assuming Ronan—who I’ve only see in blue jeans and flannel shirts—won’t have dressed up for this party he wasn’t even properly invited too.
But once I see him at the foot of the stairs, in a suit and tie, my doubts fade. His long hair is pulled back, revealing his soulful eyes. The fabric of the suit stretches tightly over his broad shoulders and all I want is for him to scoop me up in his arms and hold me forever. And while the cut of the suit is fine, his rugged good looks still announce that he is wild at heart.
It’s like he really does know me.
“You look so beautiful,” he tells me, taking my hand as I reach the bottom of the staircase. He lifts my hand and twirls me around as if we truly are from a fairy tale, my yellow dress swishing as I move.
“You like it?” I ask, smoothing the fabric that reaches my knees. “My best friend Lacey made me buy it. But it might be a bit fancy.”
“It’s perfect.” He moves a hand from behind his back and reveals a red rose. “For your hair.”
I take it, smelling the richly scented blossom. “Where did you get a red rose in the dead of winter, during a snow storm?”
“There’s an indoor rose garden in the west wing.”
“I haven’t explored well enough, obviously.”
“There will be plenty of time for that.”
I smile, still unsure where all this will lead. Love in a snowstorm is one thing, but after? “I’ll be going back to school after the holidays to finish up my degree.”
“To be a teacher,” he says smiling. “See, I was listening.”
“So you were.” I tuck the rose into the bun on the top of my head.
“But I don’t know how your finishing school matters, besides the fact that it’s important.”
“We’ll last the long distance?” I ask, already knowing we will.
Ronan laughs. “Oh, Bella, we’ll last. In fact, I think we’ll become a tale as old as time.”
Epilogue 1: One Year Later
Ronan
The light snowfall this morning left a perfect dusting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It has been a long year, full of hard work and dedication but I was determined to make the town proud and this resort will certainly put them on the map.
“It’s with great pride I present Hollow’s End Resort!” I hand the oversized scissors to Bella’s father, Jules, and cameras flash as he cuts the ribbon, marking the opening day of the resort.
The crowd erupts in cheers and skiers begin moving toward the ski lift ready to put this hard work to good use.
Bella squeezes my hand. “You did it, Ronan,” she says, beaming up at me. “Look what you did for so many people.”
I feel her pride in me, and I wrap an arm around her, kissing the top of her head. I’m waiting for the right moment to pop the question, but I also want to catch her off guard. I’m thinking once we finish our first official ski run down the mountain, I’ll ask.
“Should we get on the lift?” I ask, nodding toward the massive ski lift that was installed. This resort is massive in scope and there are jobs for everyone. Nearly more than we could handle. And since all the rooms are booked for this first season and more lift tickets have been bought then we expected, there is no reason to believe this won’t be better than planned.
“Um, I don’t want to ride the lift,” Bella says, which is unusual for her. She usually jumps in with two feet. You should have seen her this fall when she set up her classroom for her first year as a teacher. She was all in and it’s paid off. Her students love her, with good reason.
I frown. “We spent all last winter practicing when you had time off school, I know it’s a new season, but you’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Says the man who’s built ski resorts his entire life,” she laughs.
“Seriously though, I’ll be with you.”
She tugs on my arm, turning from the mostly dissipated crowd. “I mean I can’t go on the lift, or rather, I can’t ski down the mountain.”
“Why not?”
“Because...” She breaks out into a massive smile. “Because I’m pregnant.” She laughs, shaking her head. “I mean, because we’re pregnant. We’re having a baby, Ronan.”
“Holy hell,” I shout, shocked and in awe. “You always beat me to the punch, you know that right?”
“Are you always going to hold the fact I said I love you first, against me?” She puts a hand on her hip, and I can’t keep my eyes from her. She’s having my child. I’m going to be a father. “Besides,” she adds. “What’s the punch to beat here?”
I drop to one knee and then reach into my parka, pulling out a black box.
“The punch here is, will you marry me, Bella? Will you be my bride?”
She falls to her knees too, wrapping her arms around my neck, and kissing me squarely on the mouth. Spontaneous as hell, that’s my Bella, through and through.
“Of course, I will, beast, as long as being your wife doesn’t mean you’ll get tame in the bedroom.”
I pull her closer. In her ear, I growl, “Never, my beauty. I’ll always be wild for you.”
Epilogue 2: Five Years Later
Bella
“One more book, Mama, pretty please?” Alice asks, sleepy-eyed, and with a yawn on her lips.
“You are one tired bug,” I tell her, nestling her closer to me in the over-sized armchair of the library. I have Tucker in the crook of my other arm, and he’s out cold. Milk drool on his lips. Precious as pie. Clearly, it’s nearing bedtime for everyone.
“That’s better, loves,” Ronan says, standing up from the fireplace where he has just added kindling. “Now let me put Tucker in his bassinet so you’re more comfortable,” he says reach
ing for our newborn. When he takes our son from me, he gives me a gentle kiss.
I close my eyes, my body aches for him. It’s been weeks since we’ve been intimate and I’m ready for him to give me sweet dreams tonight.
“Thank you, Ronan,” I say. He looks at me, offering a wink. “On second thought,” he says, noticing the look in my eyes. “Why don’t we try putting him in his crib in his bedroom for a few hours?”
I bite the corner of my lip. “Perfect. And this little one will be in bed soon, too.”
Ronan kisses his daughter goodnight and takes Tucker with him. Having a newborn at Christmas is such a joy but as I cover a yawn to match Alice’s, I’m reminded that a newborn also makes for one sleepy Mama.
“You’re tired too, Mama,” Alice says, her words as soft as her heart. She’s such a gift, one that I will never tire of. “A story can wait.” She says it kindly, but I can see how badly she wants just one more story.
A girl after her Mama’s heart.
“I’m almost ready for bed,” I tell her thinking of Ronan waiting for me in our room. “But I’ll tell you one more.”
Alice looks up at me with her eyes bright; the beautiful fire behind us casting a glow to my favorite room in the estate.
“Which one?” she asks.
“My favorite one. The one where a young woman is caught in a snowstorm and she finds a beast behind the doors of a mountain mansion. But—”
Alice cuts me off. “But then they fall in love!” Alice lights up, more awake now. “This is my favorite fairytale, Mama.”
I kiss her forehead, my heart singing with pride. “It’s my favorite fairytale, too.”
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