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    CHAPTER TWELVE


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    Jenn slept solidly the rest of the night, a dreamless sleep of sated exhaustion, their bodies tangled together beneath the blankets.


    When the sun began to rise the next morning, she was sprawled nearly completely on top of Karl, legs tangled together, her cheek on the center of his chest, lips parted as she breathed softly in sleep.


    The early morning light filtered through the curtains, the first birds beginning their morning song.


    Karl stirred, his eyes fluttering open to find Jenn sprawled on top of him. He smiled softly, his hand instinctively reaching up to stroke her hair as he took in the sight of her peaceful, sleeping face.


    "Morning, beautiful," he whispered, his voice low and husky with sleep. He shifted slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.


    The room was quiet, save for the steady rhythm of Jenn''s breathing. Karl lay there for a moment, savoring the warmth of her body against his, the way she fit so perfectly in his arms.


    As much as he wanted to stay like this forever, he knew they had responsibilities to attend to. With a reluctant sigh, he began to gently extricate himself from Jenn''s embrace, careful not to disturb her too much.


    "Jenn," he whispered, his hand brushing against her cheek. "Time to wake up."


    He pressed another kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment before he pulled away. "Come on, sleepyhead," he said, his voice soft but insistent. "We''ve got a busy day ahead of us."


    Karl sat up, stretching his arms above his head as he glanced around the room. The mess from the night before was still evident, but he pushed the thought aside for now. There would be time for laundry later.


    "Jenn," he said again, his hand gently shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, baby. I''ll make us some breakfast."


    Jenn grumbled, swatting weakly in the general direction of his hand on her.


    "Mmmphhhh nooo..." she moaned, trying to bury her head under a pillow to escape the morning light.


    "Sleepyyyy..." she whined.


    She''d never been a morning person, and she was so completely exhausted from their late-night activities... but she was also so hungry, and his mention of breakfast was tempting...


    Peeking out from under the pillow, one eye open, she looked at him with bleary vision, contemplating.


    "Too sleepy... I need kisses first..." she mumbled, reaching out a hand and making a grabbing gesture towards him, trying to summon him closer petulantly.


    Karl chuckled softly at Jenn''s sleepy antics, his heart warming at the sight of her bleary-eyed, pillow-mussed state. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, tender kiss, his hand cupping her cheek as he deepened the connection.


    "Better?" he murmured against her lips, his voice low and husky. He pulled back slightly, his thumb brushing against her cheek as he gazed down at her with a soft smile.


    "Come on," he coaxed, his voice gentle but firm. "I''ll make you some coffee, too. How does that sound?"


    Karl stood, stretching his arms above his head and pulling on his pants before offering Jenn his hand.


    "Up you get," he said, his tone playful but insistent. "We''ve got a lot to do today, and I need you awake and ready to go."


    He gave her hand a gentle tug, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he waited for her to sit up. "And if you''re good," he added with a wink, "I might even let you have first dibs on the bacon."


    She sat up reluctantly, letting him draw her upright and yawning with a big stretch, feeling her right side pull and grunting.


    "Hmmm, you drive a hard bargain." she mused, stumbling up from the bed and padding barefoot to the dresser, naked body on full display as she bent to open a lower drawer and pull out a yellow flower-patterned sundress and a pair of thin black leggings to ward off the chill of the autumn air. She could always pull a sweater on later if she got cold, but right now she just wanted to be comfortable and a little bit cute for the big man standing behind her.


    She glanced over her shoulder at him, catching him staring at her ass as she dug through the drawer and she grinned, standing up and turning to face him while clutching her clothes to her chest, shielding her nakedness from his view.


    "You had me at bacon." she teased, heart full looking at him there, hair sleep-tousled and cheeks slightly pink in the sunlight.


    Karl stepped closer, his hands reaching out to gently grasp her hips as he pulled her against him.


    "Bacon, huh?" he murmured, his voice low and teasing as he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. "I''ll have to remember that for the future, in case I want to get you out of bed quickly again."


    He released her with a soft chuckle, stepping back to give her space to dress. "Go on, get dressed," he said, his tone playful but firm. "I''ll get started on breakfast."


    Karl turned and headed for her kitchen, his mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead. He knew they had a lot to do, but for now, he was content to focus on the simple pleasure of making breakfast for the woman who had quickly become the center of his world.


    Jenn pulled on her dress and shimmied into her leggings, foregoing panties with a secret smile to herself, hoping that he''d make that discovery a little later today and feeling a thrill at the thought of his reaction.


    When she heard him in the kitchen she froze for a moment, then rushed out behind him, trying to catch him before he started digging around and discovered just how little food she actually had in the house.


    "Oh, you haven''t been home since early yesterday, maybe we should have breakfast at your place so you can check on things and make sure everything''s okay?" she tried, biting her lip as she scooted around him to quickly fill Kylie''s food dish, the cat watching from her perch on the table.


    Ugh, that had been pathetic.


    Karl paused, glancing over his shoulder at Jenn. He raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips as he took in her slightly nervous expression.


    "Alright," he said, drawing out the word as he crossed his arms over his chest. "But only if you promise to tell me why you''re trying so hard to avoid eating here."


    He stepped closer, his gaze intent on hers as he waited for her response. Part of him knew he was likely pushing her boundaries, but another part couldn''t help but be intrigued by the mystery surrounding Jenn. There were layers to her, and Karl found himself eager to peel each one back and discover what lay beneath.


    "So," he continued his tone light and teasing despite the serious undertone. "What''s the real reason? I don''t mind having breakfast at my place if you don''t mind that it''ll be cold for a bit until I get the fire going."


    She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. His comments to her the first day she''d arrived, the way he''d seemed to judge her and find her lacking, like she couldn''t make it here on her own had fed into her insecurities, and the thought of explaining to him...


    "Just um... not a lot of food here, is all," she said simply, face flushing as she hoped not to have to go into any more detail, that he''d take that as an answer enough.


    She knew if he opened the fridge, and the cupboards, he''d find little more than a few cans of soup, cat food, and an empty refrigerator. She hadn''t gone into town yet, afraid that her car wouldn''t make it the hour''s drive given how loud it had been singing the song of its people when she arrived. She was already so dependent on Karl emotionally, and needed him to protect her up here from danger... she didn''t want him to know she hardly had any food in the place, and didn''t want him to feel like he had to help her with that too. Didn''t need him to pity her any more than he probably already did.


    Karl studied Jenn for a moment, his sharp eyes catching the way she avoided his gaze and the flush that spread across her cheeks. He could sense there was more to her story, but he also knew when to push and when to let things be.


    "Alright," he said softly, his tone gentle as he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "We''ll have breakfast at my place.”


    He didn''t wait for her response, instead turning towards the door and grabbing his jacket from the hook.


    "Come on, let''s get you that bacon," he said, his voice light and teasing as he opened the door and gestured for her to follow.


    She wound her fingers around his as they walked over to his cabin and felt her stomach growl at the thought of food, the lack of anything to eat the day before taking its toll, making her a little lightheaded, and when the cabin came into sight she smiled up at him as she realized how excited she was to see the inside.


    "Is your bachelor pad visitor ready?" she teased, imagining a frat house and trying not to giggle. She was sure Karl kept things more tidy than that, but the mental image of him living it up like a college freshman in a dorm room was comical enough to keep a grin on her face.


    Karl chuckled, shaking his head at Jenn''s teasing. "Bachelor pad, huh?" he said, his tone dry but amused. "You''ll have to let me know if it lives up to your expectations."


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    He led her up the steps to his cabin, the sturdy stone structure blending almost seamlessly with the surrounding forest, ivy growing up much of the roughly hewn gray blocks. As he opened the door, he stepped aside to let her enter first, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back.


    Inside, the cabin was warm and inviting, the scent of pine and wood smoke lingering in the air. The main room was open and spacious, with a large stone fireplace dominating one wall. A comfortable-looking leather couch sat in front of the fire, flanked by a pair of well-worn upholstered armchairs, fabric a complimentary dark chocolate brown. Several mismatched throw blankets adorned the furniture.


    A small, rustic wooden table and chairs with seating for two occupied one corner, while a small kitchen area took up the other. A hallway opened up just past the fireplace, and she presumed it led to his bedroom and the bathroom.


    A huge, well-worn knit rug adorned the old, dark hardwood floor that showed its age in scuffs and dings throughout.


    "Make yourself at home," Karl said, gesturing towards the couch as he knelt down in front of the fireplace. Grabbing some wood and kindling and pulling a lighter from his pocket, he soon had a fire crackling away. He stood, dusting off his hands before heading into the kitchen.


    "I''ll get started on breakfast, you just relax and enjoy the ambiance.” his eyes twinkled as he looked at her taking everything in.


    As he moved about the kitchen, pulling out ingredients and prepping the stove, Karl couldn''t help but continue to glance over at Jenn, curious to see her reaction to his home. It wasn''t much, but it was his, and he found himself oddly eager for her approval.


    Jenn had intended to offer to help with breakfast, but she was enchanted, and she stood in the middle of the space, looking around with a soft smile.


    Even without the fire roaring away, the room was well-lit by the sunlight coming in the large windows, and the walls were paneled in dark wood, rich and warm-looking.


    The fireplace mantle held random items; a large rock, one side covered in sparkling iron pyrite, a framed photo of a dog sitting in front of a lake, tongue lolling out of his mouth lazily, a toy truck that looked just like the one parked outside, and three medium-sized seashells, the kind you can hear the ocean in.


    She ran her fingers along the mantelpiece, smelling the scent of past wood smoke still faintly in the air, mixing with that warm, spicy smell she knew as Karl''s own scent, flooding her senses. She''d never been so sensitive to things like someone''s scent, their pheromones, but Karl''s were as plain to her as if she could see them in the air, and she found him intoxicating.


    Gliding to the couch, she sat down and gave a happy sigh as she sunk deep into the soft, well-worn cushions, so cozy she could almost go right back to sleep if the scent of breakfast cooking wasn''t so alluring.


    Curling up, she wondered if this was where he sat at night, looking into the flames in the fireplace. She wondered what it would be like to sit here with him in the evening, head in his lap, letting him play with her hair while snow fell and Kylie slept in front of the fire...


    She looked toward the kitchen, seeing Karl standing at the stove, and smiled.


    Karl glanced over his shoulder as he heard Jenn''s soft sigh, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He watched her for a moment, taking in the way she seemed to melt into the couch, her expression one of pure contentment.


    He flipped the eggs in the pan, frying away next to the bacon, the grease easing their passage and providing extra flavor, and sizzling sounds were soon filling the cozy cabin. As he worked, Karl couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction at having Jenn in his home. It was a strange feeling, one he wasn''t entirely used to, but he found he didn''t mind it.


    "I''d say ''make yourself comfortable'', but," he teased, his voice warm. "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."


    Jenn laughed, not moving from her position, and stuck her tongue out at him, earning her a snort.


    As he finished making the toast, Karl couldn''t help but glance over at Jenn again, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. What was it that drew him in and made him want to protect her, to keep her safe and happy?


    And as he set the table and prepared to serve breakfast, Karl found himself wondering if maybe, just maybe, he could let someone into his life after all.


    Jenn stood as he set the table, making her way to stand just outside the kitchen area and peek around, not wanting to get in the way.


    Watching Karl move around, preparing their food was so domestic, she allowed herself a few moments to continue the fantasy, imagining this as their life together, here in this adorable cabin, having breakfast, walking in the woods hand in hand, sleeping together in his bed - their bed - every night, bodies wound around each other, the way he''d hold her as she slept, kiss her awake in the mornings...


    Karl turned back to the stove, finishing up the last of the preparations.


    "Alright, breakfast is ready," he announced, carrying the plates over to the table. "Come and get it."


    As Jenn joined him at the table, Karl couldn''t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. It was a simple moment, but one that felt strangely significant. When was the last time he''d shared a meal with someone?


    He couldn''t remember.


    "Thank you, Karl," Jenn said, smiling sweetly at him. "This looks so good, maybe you should have been a chef!"


    His lips twitched, and Jenn could swear she saw a slight blush on his cheeks.


    The first taste of the bacon was mouthwatering, and she reminded herself to take small bites and eat like a lady, not a ravenous animal.


    Her eyes caught movement out the window, and she watched as a stout breeze blew a torrent of colorful leaves from the trees, sending them tumbling through the air. Autumn was coming to an end soon, November nearly over... while she knew it wasn''t likely to be quite as cold here as it was back home, the snowfall in the mountains could end up quite extreme, depending on several factors and it was a daunting thought. Winter in the wilderness was going to be much different than winter in the town she was from, that was for sure.


    Jenn ate eagerly, each bite delicious, and the feeling of being full was a welcome one. She couldn''t remember the last time she hadn''t been at least a little bit hungry, if not downright ravenous. Her ex had always insisted she ate very little, enforcing regular weigh-ins with harsh punishments if the number on the scale was higher than he felt it should be. And she''d gone from that life to the hospital to her two-day drive here. Even now, she had to fight not to count each bite she took, just eating until she was satisfied instead.


    Karl watched as Jenn ate. He couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride at the fact that he had cooked this meal for her, and she was truly enjoying it. Providing for her needs felt natural to him, contrary to everything he''d known about himself before meeting her.


    As he ate his own meal, he couldn''t help but notice the way her gaze drifted to the window, her brow furrowing slightly as she watched the leaves blow by. "Thinking about winter?" he asked, his voice gentle.


    He knew that winter in the mountains was a relative unknown for most people, and he couldn''t blame Jenn for worrying. It was a tough season, with harsh weather and long nights, but it was also a beautiful time of year.


    "I''ve lived through plenty of winters up here," he continued, his tone reassuring. "It''s not as bad as you might think. Sure, the rough winds up here mean the snow drifts get deep, and the higher elevations mean that the cold affects you more, but we have everything we need to make it through."


    He smiled at her, his eyes warm and comforting. "Besides, we''ll be in this together. You and me, against the world." His words were light, but there was a seriousness to them, a promise of protection and support.


    She smiled at him, setting her fork down as she finished the last of her meal.


    "I''m curious to see how it compares to back home. Maybe I should have picked up some snowshoes," she grinned.


    "Cold''s okay with me though. Like I said the other day, can''t imagine it''s going to feel as cold as I''m used to. Which is a good thing, honestly. Might have been born and raised in Wisconsin but I never really got used to how absolutely freezing cold it is in the winter, below zero more often than not - and winter seems to last from October to May most years," she grumbled. "Then you get what feels like two weeks of spring, four weeks of summer, another two weeks of autumn, and right back to it again." she laughed at her exaggeration, but really that was how it seemed so often - a brief reprieve from the cold and snow, and then right back to it again.


    "Betting there isn''t anyone to plow the mountain roads either, can''t imagine the county comes all the way out here to do it. Do you ever get stuck up here in the winter?"


    Karl leaned back in his chair, pushing his empty plate back. "You''re right about the county not coming all the way out here to plow," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "They stick to the main roads, which means once we get hit with a heavy snowfall, it''s just us on this mountain, and we aren''t likely to go anywhere."


    He reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand over Jenn''s. "But don''t worry," he said, his voice steady and comforting. "I''ve got a snowmobile to get around when the roads are impassable, and I make sure to stock up on supplies well before winter sets in."


    His gaze moved to the window once again, watching as the leaves continued to dance in the wind. "We do get some rough storms every now and then, the kind that could potentially leave us stranded for a while." His eyes met hers, a determined glint in his otherwise calm demeanor.


    "But like I said, we''ll handle whatever winter throws at us - together."


    Jenn turned her hand under his, locking their fingers together.


    "I like the sound of that," she said softly, squeezing her grip a little. Cautiously, she met his eyes.


    "Scared me a little yesterday... felt like you didn''t like the whole together idea as much when we were coming back. I don''t want to push myself on you, make you feel like you have to take care of me, you know?"


    She bit her lip, not sure how to talk about what was growing between them without scaring him off, the way he''d become so distant when talking about her dream the day before making her nervous that she could at any moment say the wrong thing without even realizing and send him withdrawing from her again. But she wanted to talk about it so badly, tell him how much he was beginning to mean to her, how this all felt so right, somehow familiar and brand new all at once.


    The fear of scaring him away held her back, and she contented herself with keeping their fingers intertwined, the solid connection reassuring.


    Karl''s gaze flicked down to their intertwined fingers, his expression unreadable as he processed Jenn''s words. He could hear the uncertainty in her voice, the hesitation that tinged her every word.


    Slowly, deliberately, he squeezed her hand, his calloused palm warm against hers. "I''m not going anywhere," he said, his voice low and steady. "What happened yesterday... that was on me, not you."


    He exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting to the window once more as he collected his thoughts. "I''ve been on my own for a long time, Jenn. I''m used to handling things solo, to keeping people at arm''s length."


    His eyes met hers again, a flicker of emotion in their depths. "But that doesn''t mean I don''t want this."


    He gestured between them with his free hand, his meaning clear. "What we have... it''s unexpected, but


    it''s not unwelcome." His tone was gruff, but there was a softness to his words, a vulnerability that he rarely showed.


    "I can''t promise that I won''t screw up, that I won''t push you away at times." His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. "But I can promise that I''ll always come back, that I''ll always be here when you need me."


    He squeezed her hand once more, his grip firm and reassuring. "We''ll figure this out together, okay?


    One day at a time."


    She nodded, standing shyly to step in front of him, fingers still squeezing him tightly. Lifting her free hand, she ran it through his hair, smoothing it out a bit and fussing over him affectionately. Her chest felt so full of warmth and emotion that she wasn''t sure she could speak.


    Instead, she leaned down to press a soft kiss to his forehead, then another against his cheek, one more on his nose with a soft huffing laugh, then finding his lips with her own for a sweet, adoring kiss, hand still in his hair.


    She drew back a moment later, lips an inch or so away from his, looking into his eyes and hoping he could see what she couldn''t find the words to say. This, between them, was everything to her.


    Karl''s breath hitched, the softness of her kiss and the intensity of her gaze sending a jolt of electricity through him. His hand tightened around hers, his other hand instinctively reaching up to cup her cheek.


    He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers, his eyes closing as he took a deep breath. "I see you, Jenn," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "And I feel it too."


    His hand moved from her cheek to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair as he pulled her closer. "This... us. It''s..."


    He kissed her again, this time with more urgency, his lips moving against hers with a hunger that he couldn''t suppress. He poured all of his emotions into that kiss, all of the love and fear and longing that he had been holding back.


    When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers once more, his breathing ragged. "I don''t know what the future holds," he admitted, his voice hoarse. "But I know that I want you in it."


    "I want that too," she whispered, moving forward to perch on his lap and curl into him, nestling her face into his neck."It''s crazy, right? We just met, but it feels like... I don''t know, like we''ve been together for years. Forever, even. Just feels so... hmmm..." she struggled to find a fitting word, before shrugging with a resigned sigh. "Feels so right. Just... exactly right."


    ''Destined. Meant to be.'' the words were too powerful, she kept them to herself, heart picking up its pace at his proximity. Sitting on his lap she was surrounded by his larger body, big arms around her, chin above her head, solid thighs beneath. She was caged in by his warmth, his scent invading her nostrils, heady and intoxicating, infinitely arousing.


    ''I''m never going to get enough of him, am I?'' she thought wryly as she felt herself growing restless, shifting her thighs together in his lap as she ran her fingers over his chest and closed her eyes, trying to commit this moment to memory.


    Karl''s arms tightened around her. "Yes," he murmured, his voice thick and husky. "It does feel right."


    He shifted her gently, adjusting her position until she was nestled more securely in his embrace.


    "It''s crazy," he agreed, his words echoing hers. "Crazy, but undeniable."


    His fingers moved to caress her hair, his touch feather-light and reverent. "I don''t have the words to explain it," he confessed, his tone raw and honest. "But I know that I can''t let you go. Not now. Not ever."


    He tilted her head upwards, his eyes meeting hers with a fierce intensity. "You''re mine, Jenn," he declared, his voice firm and unwavering. The words felt heavy in his mouth, meaningful.


    "Good," she said simply, pressing her lips to his in another kiss, this one less sweet and more passionate, tongue brushing his bottom lip in a question.


    Karl''s breath caught as Jenn''s lips met his, and he responded in kind, deepening the kiss with a hunger that matched her own.


    He''d said exactly the right thing, reassuring her and banishing her lingering fears that she was falling more for him than he was for her. It seemed they were on the same page, as unbelievable as it may be.


    After just a few days together, they were devoted to one another. It made her head spin – somehow, everything had just fallen into place. And it truly moved her that this strong, independent man would let her in, would be vulnerable with her, would trust her.


    "Karl," she breathed against his lips, color high on her cheeks and eyes bright when she let them flutter open to meet his. "You never did get a chance to show me your bedroom..."


    Her words sent a jolt of desire through him. Karl''s eyes darkened, his gaze locking with hers as he processed her request.


    “My bedroom,” he repeated, his voice low and husky. He hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. But then he saw the look in her eyes, the trust and affection shining through, and his resolve crumbled.


    “Alright,” he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper. He stood, lifting her effortlessly in his arms as he did so. “Let me show you.”