“Wilder!” I squeal and wiggle around, but it’s useless. He’s got me.
“You’re always so damn soft and warm.” He sets me down on the island in the kitchen and presses his cold nose against my neck. I feel his lips kissing that tender place and close my eyes.
“If you would have stayed in bed with me you’d be warm too,” I point out as I slip my hands under his shirt because I want to feel his skin.
“You were too tempting. I knew if I didn’t get out of that bed that I was going to bury my face in your pussy, and you needed to rest.” He lifts his head. “How is your head feeling?” His forefinger and thumb grip my chin to tilt my head back and do an inspection.
“I actually feel fine. I think I’m remembering some things too. Not full memories but people and places.”
“That’s good,” he says, but his expression is wary.
“Don’t you think it’s better to tell me whatever it is you’re keeping from me than me just remembering on my own?” He drops his head. “Can it be that bad? You love me, and you’re not a cheater or whatever, so what is it?” I push. “None of my stuff is here. Did I move out?” I start to guess. He distracted me last night, but I’m on a mission now.
“No, you didn’t move out. We need to move you in.” I like the sound of that.
“Okay, so we’re newlyweds then?”
“No.” He lets out a long breath.
“Wilder.” I wrap my arms around his neck, and my legs keep him close.
“I loved you from the moment I saw you,” he says.
“I believe it,” I respond instantly, not doubting that for a second.
“Except I thought you belonged to someone else.” I raise my eyebrows in surprise.
“You thought?” I lean back a little and look at him. “I’m not married to someone else.” I think of my ring that’s still sitting on the dresser in the bedroom. My stomach turns, but I know that I can’t be. I’m Wilder’s. I know that bone deep. I belong to him and he belongs to me.
“You're not married to someone else.” He pauses for a long moment before he drops the bomb on me. “You’re not married to anyone.”
* * *
Chapter Twelve
WILDER
Her face falls, and I wish I could do something to take the words back or to make them make sense.
“We’re not married?” she asks slowly, as if speaking the words for the first time.
“No.” The truth is like dirt on my lips and I hate it.
“Why do I have the ring?” Her question is hollow, but I want to be honest with her. Especially when I haven’t been since all this started.
“It was your mother’s.”
“She’s dead.” Her eyes widen like she’s just realized it. “My dad?” When I don’t answer, she looks away and nods as if confirming her memories. “He’s dead too.”
“Listen, Bri, let me explain.”
“Explain what?” she snaps, and I can see the hurt in her eyes as she looks at me. “Why am I here, Wilder?”
“You hit a tree on the way up here, and I got you out of your grandmother's truck.”
“You left a box,” she whispers softly and blinks a few times. “You came into the general store to get an order. Oh god, I remember you.”
“Baby, listen.”
“Don’t.” She holds up her hand, and I don’t know what to do. “This is all hitting me at once.”
“Bri, I wasn’t lying when I said I knew I loved you the moment I saw you.” She shakes her head like she doesn't want to hear the words. “And I still mean it. I love you and you’re mine. The accident was just something that happened that brought you to me.”
“Is the road clear yet?” she asks, and I look outside, wishing the blizzard was still going strong.
“Mostly, but you shouldn’t leave yet.”
“I can’t stay here.” She tries to hop off the island, and I move in front of her.
“Bri, please, let’s talk this out.”
She shakes her head, and this time when she pushes past me, I let her. I don’t want her to hurt herself, and I’m afraid if she keeps trying to jump off the counter she will.
“I can’t do this, Wilder. I’m not sure I’ve got all my memories back yet, but I remember you and I know what I felt the first time we met.” There are tears in her eyes as she says it. “And I remember what happened to my parents and why I swore I wouldn’t fall in love.”
She turns on her heels and goes into our bedroom, but I’m moving with her and following her step for step.
“What?” I’m so stunned by what she’s saying that I don’t realize she’s putting on her clothes that she was wearing during the accident.
She tugs on her pants and then the socks that I’d cleaned and then placed on the dresser in our room. It’s funny how I’ve already started calling it our room in my head. I’ve got to stop her from spiraling out of control right now.
“Bri, let’s calm down and talk about this. You could still be confused from the accident.” When she won't look at me, I get in front of her and cup her face. “Please.”
“I want to go home,” she says, and her chin quivers.
My heart nearly breaks in half, and I swallow as I look into her eyes. “This is your home, Bri. This is our home.”
She shakes her head and then steps back. “If you won’t take me home, I’ll radio for Natalie.”
“Shit,” I hiss and rub my hand down my face. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go just yet.”
She’s got her sweater back on and leaves what she was wearing in a pile on the floor. “I need to see my grandparents. Do they even know I’m here?”
“I told your grandmother when it happened, but the line went dead.”
“She’s probably worried sick.” Seeing the fear in her eyes over her grandparents makes me want to take that away.
“What about if we call her?”
“You just said the line went dead. It takes forever to get phone service up here.” She pushes past me, and I snag her hand in mine. “Wilder, if you care for me at all, you’ll take me to them.”
There’s a long pause, and she’s right: I can’t keep her locked up here even if I want to. “Will you come back home with me after?”
She looks away as she nods, and I wonder if she’s telling me the truth this time. She won’t look at me, and every inch of my body is screaming at me to hold her and keep her safe.
“Let me grab my coat,” I say as I go by the door and pull on my boots and jacket. “Baby—” I begin, but she cuts me off.
“I don’t regret our time together here in this cabin,” she says as she looks up at me with those beautiful, soft brown eyes. “I don’t even regret the things that we did.” Her smile is watery and so sad. “But I can’t do this, Wilder. I can’t be the person you need me to be.”