Wrapped in Hope: A Forbidden Romance (The Hope Series Book 1) Read online

  The outside is made up of a deep brown wood with dark, navy blue shutters. There is a small screened-in porch that runs the length of the cabin, and every inch of the property is lush grass and flowers that have grown wild between the massive trees. I can smell nothing but the big pine trees around us, the cedar cabin, fresh water from a stream that must be nearby, and the wet earth beneath my feet.

  This place is perfect.

  I rush around to the back of the truck where Dean is grabbing our bags, and throw my arms around his neck while my thighs hug his hips.

  “I’m guessing this means you like it,” he says as he wraps his arms around me, but it sounds more of a nervous question than anything.

  “It’s perfect. I love it.” I move my lips to his and kiss him deeply. “And I love you,” I add on when I break the kiss and pull away.

  He grins as his face reddens. “Let’s go check out the inside.” I can hear the excitement in his voice and it only makes my heart beat faster.

  He places me on my feet and grabs our bags with one hand, while taking mine with the other. Hand in hand, he leads me up the two steps onto the porch. Just as he gets to the door, he stops and turns toward me.

  “What’s the matter? Why’d you stop?” I ask him in confusion.

  “I have a better idea.” He drops the bags and picks me up, cradling me against his chest in one swift motion. “I have to carry you over the threshold, right?”

  I giggle like a school girl at his sweetness. “I think that only applies once we’re married.”

  He manages to twist the knob with the hand under my knees. “Better safe than sorry.” Using his foot, he kicks the door open.

  My eyes glance around greedily as he steps into the living room and places me on my feet. “So, what do you think?”

  I look at the dark hardwood floor and up the cedar walls. There is a brown leather couch in the center of the room with a warm looking orange and brown plaid blanket thrown over the back. Directly across from the couch is a wood-burning fireplace. There is a big cabinet in the corner of the room, probably home to a TV, and matching tables and lamps in their appropriate places. When I look at this room, all I can think about is cuddling up with Dean under that blanket while a raging fire burns, warming us as we drink hot cocoa.

  “This is beautiful, and so homey. I love it.” I spin around to face him.

  “Let’s check out the rest of the place.” He takes my hand and leads me through the living room and into a small kitchen.

  The deep woods theme seems to carry on into this room with the same hardwood floor and cedar walls. The cabinets are a matching deep, chocolate color while the counter tops are a dark marble. There is a small two person table directly in front of the large window so you can stare out over the property while having breakfast. It’s also stocked with top of the line appliances.

  I walk over to the fridge and open it, checking to see if we’ll need to go to the store. To my surprise, it’s full.

  “I admit, I didn’t have to work last night. I came here and stocked the place for the weekend,” Dean says from behind me.

  I grab a bottle of water and turn back to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I look deeply into his blue-green eyes. “This is perfect. How did you afford all this?”

  He offers up a lopsided grin. “All the money I’ve made this year has gone toward this weekend.”

  I’m speechless. He’s held almost a full-time job while going to school this year. He’s worked his ass off, and he saved it all up for this trip for me — a trip I thought he forgot about completely.

  My chest swells with love for him. This gesture, it’s everything to me. I don’t know what to say because words aren’t enough. So instead of saying anything, I move my lips to his.

  His taste and scent consume me entirely. I know now that he’s an addiction, something I long for. And right now, I need him more than ever.

  He softly places his hands on my hips, being as gentle as possible. I can tell he’s nervous and knows what’s about to happen. Back home, he wouldn’t hold back on kissing me because he knew that nothing could come of it. But here, there is nobody to stop us. This is it. It’s time.

  My fingers find his hair and I lace them through it, pulling him closer, desperately trying to make him understand that I want this. No, that I need this.

  His hold on my hips becomes stronger and he pulls me flush against him while his kiss grows urgent. Suddenly, something snaps. His hands are traveling my body, they’re in my hair and rubbing up and down my back. It’s quick, but not rushed: it’s necessary.

  I can feel his heart pounding against my chest, and his quick breathing is hot as it blows across my heated cheek, lighting every nerve ending, awakening something deep inside of me that I didn’t know existed: my overwhelming need for him.

  Then somehow, I’m in his arms with my legs wrapped around his hips while he carries me up the stairs. He pushes through a door, and we fall softly onto a bed. He pulls away only long enough to remove his shirt before his lips are back against mine.

  I expected to be nervous, but I’m not. I’m everything but nervous. I’m filled with love for him. I’m consumed with excitement, anticipation, and maybe even a little fear. I tell myself it’s silly to be afraid. I know he would never hurt me, and this will only bring us closer. Even if only for a short time, we will be welded together as one.

  By the time both of us have shed our clothing, I’m practically panting and dripping with need for him. His hard erection slides between my slick folds. His velvety soft tip stroking my clit is almost enough to send me over the edge. He’s touching me in ways I’ve never been touched before. It feels like my whole body is vibrating as every tiny hair stands on end.

  He breaks the kiss and pulls away slightly. “Are you sure about this? We can stop if you want to,” he says breathless, chest rising and falling with his quick, uneven breaths.

  I meet his eyes, completely sure of what we’re doing. “I couldn’t stop now even if I wanted to,” I all but whisper.

  I see his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as he swallows down his fear. He reaches over and quickly pulls a condom out of the top drawer of the bedside table. He positions himself on his knees between my parted legs, and I see his hands tremble as he tears the foil package open and slides on the condom.

  He looks at me, completely unsure of himself. His jet black hair is a mess from my hands running through it. His angular jaw is flexed with tension, and his blue-green eyes are on fire as he rakes them over my body.

  Slowly, he lowers himself to me, and his cock finds my opening on its own.

  “Last chance to change your mind.” His voice is shaking as much as he is.

  I place my hand on his cheek, hoping to calm him the way he calms me. “I’m not changing my mind. I want you in every way possible for the rest of my life. I know it. I feel it.”

  His lips find mine just as he pushes forward into me. I take a shuddering breath from the sudden fullness and pain, but he doesn’t move as he tries to let me adjust to the size of him. I never would have guessed that he was this big or that it would hurt this much.

  I feel a hot tear slip from my eye, but he wipes it away. “Are you okay?” he whispers, voice still riddled with nerves.

  I squeeze my eyes shut and nod.

  “Open your eyes. Let me see you.” His hands are cupping my face, and even with the burning pain that’s consuming me right now, I can feel all the love he has for me in this simple touch.

  I take a deep breath and open my eyes to see his shining with love.

  “There you are.” Slowly, he pulls out and pushes back in.

  I can feel myself loosening for him as the pain starts to subside. All the while, his lips never leave mine. His hands cups my cheek, hold my sides, and grazes my breast, but every touch isn’t one out of desire of the act we’re doing, it’s out of love. We’re not having sex. We’re making long, overdue love.

  He continues to move in and ou
t of me. I can feel myself building. A tingle starts to form low in my belly. A tingle that starts in one little spot, but grows and swirls around inside of me like a tornado, wrecking everything in its path.

  As the tingle grows, I begin to tighten around him, and he lets a soft moan slip from his parted lips. That sound lights a fire that can’t be stopped. I have no choice but to let it go, let it claim me entirely. My orgasm breaks the surface and washes over me, causing me to call out and grind against him for more. His gasps fill the room along with mine, and before I know it, I’m falling, completely shattering to pieces.

  The louder I call out, the harder he pumps into me, and the harder he pumps into me, the louder I call out — not from pain, but from the pleasure that’s engulfing me. Our breathing is quick and loud, our movements are completely free, letting our bodies take over as we both find our release together. He shudders and thrusts into me one last time before falling silent, relaxing against me.

  All I can hear is my heart pounding, causing my blood to rush around my body that has somehow gone numb.

  “That was amazing,” he pants out, his hot breath blowing against my heated, sticky flesh.

  Chapter 3

  I don’t want to leave the warmth of his embrace. We’re cuddled up in bed, holding on to one another like it’s the end of the world. What we just did touched me in more ways than one. It touched my heart and soul. His touch, our bond, is enteral now. I’ll forever feel it, like it’s seared into my memory, into my heart.

  He presses a kiss to my forehead while I’m trailing my fingertips up and down his bare chest and stomach. I watch as the ripples in his abs make my fingertips dip down before skimming over another defined muscle. “What do you say to some dinner?”

  I lift my head to look up at him. “What do you have in mind?”

  He shrugs. “I’m not the best at cooking, but I did have my mom show me how to make spaghetti.”

  I perk up. “Spaghetti is my favorite. Are you going to make meatballs?”

  His brow wrinkles. “I’m not that good. But I bought some from the frozen food section. They can’t be that bad.”

  “Sounds like a plan!” I sit up, causing the blanket to fall from my naked chest. I temporally forget that he’s seen all I have to offer and cover it back up.

  “What are you doing?” He tugs the blanket back down as he covers my body with his. “No use in being shy now. I’m pretty sure my mouth was just right here a few minutes ago,” he says moving down to press a kiss to the swell of my breast, the soft touch causes goosebumps to break out across my skin.

  I wiggle against him. “I’m not quite ready for round two just yet so you better stop that,” I tease him as I slide out of bed, quickly walking to the closest door in hopes that it’s a bathroom.

  It is. Thank God. I know I shouldn’t be shy now, but I’m not used to letting anyone see me walking around naked. I sit on the toilet, holding my head in my hands. I can’t believe we just did that. I can’t believe it felt so wonderful.

  I have heard the horror stories about girls losing their virginity. My experience was nothing like that. Maybe it’s because Dean and I have a bond of trust and love built up.

  I expected to feel different afterwards, but I didn’t expect to feel such strong emotions pumping through my body. I’m nearly in shock. My hands are shaking from excitement, my body is sore, and my head is swimming. But more than anything, I feel the love I have for him grow to be more than I ever thought possible. It feels like there is an unbreakable bond between us now. We’ve shared a part of ourselves that we haven’t shared with anyone else. My love for him has sunk past my heart. It now resides in my soul.

  I do my business and clean up quickly. When I walk back into the room, ready to no longer hide myself from him, he’s gone. I feel my shoulders slump. I really wanted him to see how put together I am now that I’ve had a few minutes to reflect.

  I turn and study my naked body in the dresser mirror. My already plump lips are swollen from our passionate kisses. My auburn hair is disheveled, creating this wild woman look on me. My round breasts seem fuller, making my waist appear even smaller. I’ve always thought of myself as too skinny. I felt like I had chicken legs with knobby knees. But looking at myself now, with the just fucked look on my face, I finally see the woman I was meant to become.

  I smile to myself before quickly pulling on a pair of shorts and one of Dean’s t-shirts he loaned me long ago. I run a brush through my hair quickly and go in search of him.

  When I make my way down stairs, I find him standing at the stove in nothing but a pair of jeans. His muscular back flexes as he moves about, stirring a pot. His loose jeans hang low on his hips, showcasing those two dimples on either side of his spine just before his firm ass – a part of him I’ve always found irresistible. I love running my hands over those dimples.

  He doesn’t see me come in, so I walk quietly up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist.

  He looks at me over his shoulder before tapping the wooden spoon on the edge of the pot and setting it down on the stovetop. He spins in my arms, wrapping me up tight against him. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “I am. That was some workout,” I joke as I pull away to grab my bottle of water that was long forgotten. I take the cap off and drink deeply from the bottle, not realizing how thirsty I really am from all the strenuous activity.

  “I have something better.” He holds up a finger as he moves to the fridge. He turns around with a bottle of wine.

  I giggle. “How’d you get that?”

  He shrugs as he grabs a corkscrew. “I may have bribed a drunk guy at the liquor store to go in and buy it for me.”

  I laugh. “You bribed a drunk guy to buy you a bottle of wine?”

  The cork being pulled from the bottle causes a popping sound to fill the room. “Yeah, he thought it was weird too. He was expecting me to ask for beer or a bottle of liquor, not wine.”

  “I’ve never had wine before. Have you?” I ask, taking the glass he’s offering me.

  “Nope.” He picks up his glass and smells it, wrinkling his face from the scent. “First time for everything.”

  We both take a sip of the dark, red wine. It’s sweet and fruity with a hint of bitterness. “I like it. What kind is this?”

  He quickly chugs his glass and shivers with disgust. “Concord. I thought the juice was good and figured this would be too.”

  We both laugh at our inexperience in adulting.

  I set my glass on the table. “Is there anything I can help with?”

  He goes back to the stove, stirring the pasta and sauce. “I’m making dinner for you. I want this whole weekend to be special.”

  I sit down at the table and stare at him, completely amazed that I have such a sweet guy. “I don’t deserve you,” I think out loud.

  The spoon in his hand clatters to the stove as he turns to me. “Why would you say that?” he asks, walking closer.

  I’m frozen. I didn’t mean to say it out loud. I only meant to think it. Is he mad that I said it? I’m confused. What do I do?

  He falls to his knees beside me. “You are beautiful, and smart, and kind. I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.” His lips land on mine forcefully, and my body comes to life again.

  What has happened to me? A week ago we could kiss without having these overwhelming feelings to take things further. Has sex changed me that much? Is it always going to be like this? Will every little touch from him have me busting at the seams? Will a simple kiss leave me panting for air? Will a look at his intense blue-green eyes send tingles throughout my body?

  God, I hope so.

  With his lips on mine, I turn in my seat so my body is facing his. His hands land on my hips with a soft squeeze of assurance. The way my body buzzes for him is addicting. I take the kiss deeper.

  His hands pull me from the chair onto his lap. My weight pressing his knees onto the hard-wood floor has to be killing him, but he doesn’t let it show. Instead,
he’s consumed with the same burning desire.

  Clothes are pulled off at record speed before he lays me back. The cold floor on my overheated skin shocks me and I inhale deeply, causing my chest to rise. He catches my already sensitive nipple in his mouth, swirling his hot tongue around it. I whimper and wiggle against him, needing him inside me. I need to feel him, to be one with him.

  Using his right hand, he places his hard cock at my entrance and thrusts forward, filling me to the brim.

  Feeling him with nothing between us has me wanting to fall apart already. I know we’re young and should be using a condom, but things like this can’t be planned. We are simply overcome with intense feelings of love for each other, need, and wanting.

  Our lips glide together in the perfect rhythm with his thrusts. This time is harder and rushed. It’s love in its rawest form. It’s a claiming of one another. It’s ownership. He’s mine, and I’m his. That’s how it’s always going to be.

  It doesn’t take long before we’re both crying out with our release. When our hearts and breathing have settled, he rolls away, joining me on the floor, staring up at the white ceiling tiles.

  I look over at him to see a small grin. “Why are you smiling?”

  He looks back at me. “Why wouldn’t I be smiling? I have you in every way possible. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  It feels like my heart melts with his words, but suddenly, his attention is no longer on me. It’s on the stove. I turn quickly to see what he’s looking at: the pots on the burners now have smoke billowing out of them, quickly filling the room.

  Dean jumps up quickly and turns off the flame. He grabs a pot holder and picks up the pan, setting it in the sink and turning the water on. The cold water washing over the hot pot sizzles like its angry.

  When the small flames have been extinguished, he takes his place on the floor next to me again. “I can’t believe I fucked up dinner. So much for our perfect weekend.”

  I roll to his side. “This is the perfect weekend. Burnt dinner didn’t ruin anything.”