Chapter 7
seven
Ethan
O ne minute I’m following the captivating sway of Tessa’s ass as she carefully makes her way toward the house. The next I’m flat on my back, blinking away the sting of an unexpected fall.
“Hey, Crunch.” There’s laughter in her voice.
I’d probably find this funny too, if I didn’t recognize how my body’s going to feel later. I had no warning and no time to prepare for this unexpected fall so the slight muscle relaxation I’ve learned to partially cushion a fall had no time to kick in. “What?”
“I thought you said you were good on ice.”
“Ha ha.” I sit and rub a growing ache in one shoulder. Must have landed on it.
Tessa crouches beside me and touches my shoulder. “I shouldn’t laugh. Are you hurt?”
“Landed funny. I’m going to need some ice for this shoulder.” A lengthy dunk in an ice bath would be even better, but not something most people have around their homes.
Her eyes go wide and even though she bites her full lower lip, a giggle escapes. My confusion clears when I realize what I’d said. “Preferably just on my shoulder. My frozen ass isn’t helping at all. Help me up?”
Nodding she stands and holds out her hand. “First we need to get warm and dry.”
I indicate where my duffle landed. It’s further away than I expect. “Got clothes in there.” When she gives me an odd, considering glare, I explain. “I haven’t checked in to the motel yet.”
“I see. You should probably call them to cancel. There might be someone still out on the roads who needs a place to stop.”
I remember how she’d always looked out for everyone in high school. While some laughed at her and others took advantage of her good nature, I always thought she was remarkable and longed to be on the receiving end of her care.
A twinge jerks my shoulder. Feels like I’m finally getting my chance. “Can you grab my bag. I am good at standing again after a fall.”
“Sure. Once we get you settled, I’ll check on the ladies?—”
“You really do have chickens?” I thought she made them up as an easy excuse not to stay at the motel with me.
“Seven of them. I’ll introduce you tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll be kind and lay enough eggs for breakfast.”
While she grabs my duffle, I scramble awkwardly to my feet. Rink ice I manage easily. The slick sheet covering the concrete is nearly impossible to navigate. Finally I’m standing and follow Tessa through the snow covered grass, blinking the flurries from my eyes. When did the snow get so heavy?
Once we navigate the slick steps she leads me into the blessed warmth of a cozy kitchen. Other than the stainless steel appliances the room doesn’t appear to have been remodeled in a long time. Maybe ever. I glance through a wide opening. The living room has a similar feel. Old. Comfortable. Home.
The apartment I share with Bruiser isn’t the fanciest and there’s definitely age related issues like creaky floors. Never cared much, knowing I hopefully wouldn’t be staying there long. It’s not home. Just a place to hang my skates. Tessa’s house invites me to linger. To stay. This space really does make me feel at home.
Is it the house—or because of Tessa?
“If you want,” she starts then hesitates. “Why don’t you take a shower to help warm up? While I take care of the chickens.”
“What about you getting warm? What if—” Fuck. I almost ask her if she wants to shower with me.
She’s got her back to me so she can’t see the effect of the heat filling my face. Or how my dick is more than willing to get warmed up with her. She answers without turning. “I haven’t been out in the weather as long as you were. Once your truck heater kicked in, I was nice and toasty. And dry. I didn’t stand in the sleet scraping windows.” Glancing over her shoulder, she continues. “And I didn’t spend any time sprawled on the cold ground.”
The heavy, waterlogged state of my coat and jeans registers and I shiver as I shed the jacket. “Where can I hang this?”
She points to a row of hooks by the door. “I’ll throw your clothes in the dryer.”
A bright pink flushes up her neck. She’s not unaffected by our situation. Imagining how more of her skin might heat and flush I move closer. I need to explore her. Us.
“It’ll take me a few minutes to get the ladies settled. Bath is down the hall, middle door on the right. If you, uh, put your wet clothes in this…” She whirls and holds out a plastic grocery bag. “And set it outside the door, I’ll get the dryer started.”
Now her cheeks are bright red. It would be so easy to take her in my arms and finally get that kiss I wanted earlier. And more. Except I hesitate. She’s different from the puck bunnies who are usually unabashed about going after what they want. They take care of any seduction—even though that usually isn’t needed.
The need to seduce Tessa rises sharp and strong from my desire for her. Filled with confusion, I pause. Throughout the day she’s erected barriers between us, then let them fall only to create another. It’s like she doesn’t really know what she wants or how to get it.
There’s no need for her to worry. She’s already got me.
Silent, I take the bag and my duffle and head down the short hall.
“There’s extra towels in the cabinet,” she calls after me.
With the door securely shut behind me I lean on the vanity and stare at myself in the large mirror. I don’t look any different than I did this morning. But something has changed. On some deep, cellular level. This morning life was spread wide open before me, opportunities and success within reach.
Now the only thing I imagine is Tessa spread wide open before me. Her soft, lush body cushioning and surrounding mine. I lick my lips. How sweet will she taste when she comes on my tongue? What kinds of things will we talk about afterward?
Fucking hell, I even love how much she cares about her damned chickens.
I didn’t’ just fall on her front walk. I fell for her. Hard. Again. Back in high school when I was crushing on her, I had no clue what love really felt like. Shit, I didn’t even know that this morning when I drove into town. I can’t find words to describe what I’m feeling this exact moment. Not lust, not totally. It’s more. So much more.
It's her.
Years ago I wanted to date her and tell her I loved her but couldn’t figure out how to make it happen. Couldn’t even say those words to myself.
I can now. And after tonight she’s going to know, too.
Tessa is mine.
After bagging my jeans, socks and shirt and setting them outside the door, I look around the bathroom. This space has been remodeled and probably expanded to include both a large, glass wall shower and a deep clawfoot tub. The juxtaposition of old and new is a perfect reflection of my woman. There’s so many possibilities in this room making my dick hard, I enter the shower and turn on the cold water. Not that I think it’s going to help so I increase the temperature to a comfortable warmth.
There’s something intimate about using another person’s shower, even when they’re not sharing the space. A deep niche holds a collection of soaps and hair products. I touch the curved, girly razor and wonder if she only uses it on her legs. Does she shave her pussy, too? I have a preference, but what a woman chooses to do to her body is her business, not mine.
Knowing I shouldn’t stay in here for a lengthy shower—telling myself it’s because I don’t know how long her hot water might last—I fist my cock. It doesn’t take long. Keeping from groaning her name as I come is the hard part.
Once the evidence is washed down the drain and I can actually feel all my toes again, I dry off and decide since we won’t be going anywhere tonight I’ll ignore the jeans and go for the sweats I normally wear around the house. Commando. Before I tug a Lynx tee over my damp hair I rub some analgesic cream into my shoulder. Finally I pull on a pair of thick socks. Comfort over fashion.
When I open the bathroom door I come face to face with a huge, long-haired fluffy white cat perched on a shelf across the hall. Wide amber eyes study me with what I figure is the usual cat distain. It’s difficult to tell. I don’t speak cat. “Oh hey, kitty.”
Tessa peeks around the entrance to the hall. “His name is Sam. He’s pretty standoffish. So don’t get your feelings hurt if he ignores you. I’ve got soup heating. Drop your stuff in the bedroom to your left and come watch the pan while I shower.”
There’s a lot to unpack in those few sentences. Being ignored by a cat doesn’t bother me. I’d prefer it. She’s telling me I’ll have my own bedroom tonight. Alone. And she trusts me with more than just soup. I can work with that. I won’t like it, but if I have to sleep alone in order to show her the truth of my feelings, then I will.
“Guess I’ve got my orders, huh, kitty. I mean Sam.”
The cat blinks slowly then stands, stretches with his back arched and stares expectantly at me. I feel his eyes as I toss my bag toward the bed in a small, wood-paneled room. Definitely a guest room. Sam is still staring so I stop to tentatively scratch behind his ears.
With a loud purr, the creature practically leaps into my arms. Only my fast reflexes prevent him from falling. Sam snuggles against my chest with his head on my shoulder. The rumble of his continued purring is oddly comforting as I carry him to the kitchen and wait until Tessa notices.
“Oh my. Sam hasn’t been so friendly since Granddad died. He doesn’t even let me hold him like that.”
“Maybe it’s a guy thing.” Maybe it’s another way for me to endear myself. I bounce lightly on the balls of my feet, almost like I was holding a baby. Sam reaches out one paw to pat my chin then settles in. His purr continues.
“I’ve got the pan on low, but if you could stir the soup occasionally to help it heat through, I’d appreciate it.”
“Anything you want, honey.” I mean the words with all my heart. I will do anything for the woman I love.
She doesn’t reply. Her gaze scans my body and her eyes go wide. When she doesn’t look up at my face again, I glance down. Oh. I’ve heard women talking about grey sweatpants on social media but never came across anything on any of the platforms I’m active on. Obviously I wasn’t as successful at taming my dick as I thought.
My gentle bouncing of the heavy cat is putting on quite a show.