Bonus Scene MistleFoe After Dark
MISTLEFOE AFTER DARK
A SPICY BONUS SCENE
Toby
A man didn’t need to check the Weather Channel to know that a winter storm was brewing.
Thick, layered clouds hung low over the entire town of Winterbury, all of them uniformly deep gray in color, which effectively blocked out the sun.
The effect was somewhat oppressive and slightly eerie as there was decreased visibility outside and a stillness to the cold air.
With the holidays over, winter took over the landscape, stripping it down to its bare bones and swallowing everything with its icy presence.
Even time seemed to move more slowly, though the days were short.
For me, this time of year hit hardest. The days felt endless as people hunkered down to endure the harshest part of the season before a new one was born.
This year felt different, though, even with the promise of heavy snow and ice hanging overhead. The day had felt long, but for a different reason. Anticipation.
The second my workday ended and the clinic was closed for the night, the incoming weather was a mere afterthought as I climbed into my Outback and headed for the farm. To Archer.
It was hard to peel myself away from him, especially after it had taken so long for us to find our way back to each other. But as much as we wanted, we couldn’t spend every minute glued to each other’s side. He had an entire farm to oversee, and I had patients who needed looking after.
Not only that, but planning to move my entire life from Boston back to Winterbury was no easy task. I’d already given my notice to my employer and would soon be heading back to finish up my time there and pack my apartment.
I thought I might be anxious about it—expected it even. But all I could think about was the next time I’d see Archer. The feel of his hand in mine. The way his lips brushed over mine while his beard tickled my skin. How enveloped I felt when he wrapped his arms around me.
I was addicted. Well and truly addicted to Archer Hodge.
Not even a twelve-step program would be able to cure me of the affliction.
As if I’d ever want to be “cured.” I’d willingly—no—enthusiastically fall victim to the way he made me feel.
Which was exactly why I was driving toward the farm despite the risk of sliding into a ditch and getting stuck. If necessary, I’d just get out and walk.
He’d meet me halfway.
Yeah, yeah, it was tooth-rotting sweet. Didn’t make it any less true.
By the time I passed through the Hodge Farm gate, heavy snow was falling in the form of flakes so small a man wondered how they would ever amount to anything. But even as I wondered, I knew. I’d seen it happen a thousand times.
Soon, everything would be buried in white, icicles the size of swords would hang from every surface, and the trees would be crystallized against the sky. I’d probably be stuck here for a few days until the world thawed out enough to have a pulse.
Good. I might not be able to put everything on pause, but I was grateful for what I could.
Even though it was still early evening, my headlights illuminated the gray day and cast a spotlight on the man stepping out of the barn as I passed.
Heart knowing him immediately, it skipped a beat as my foot pressed the brake.
Archer turned from closing the oversized wooden door, a smile filling the entire lower half of his face.
His square jaw, broad shoulders, and dirty-blond hair would forever be the standard to which no one else could measure up.
He waved and jogged forward, his thick-soled boots leaving footsteps through the quickly accumulating snow.
Snow swirled in the second he pulled open the passenger door, his body following, bringing with him the scent of pine and sweat.
“You’re still working?” I asked.
“Just finishing up a few things,” he said, leaning over the center console to lay his cold lips against mine.
“Mmm,” he hummed against me. “You’re warm.”
Pulling my hands from the wheel, I captured his cold cheeks to share my warmth as we sank a little deeper into the kiss. The contrast of our temperatures was exciting as we kissed, my heat thawing his ice as we both melted into a temperature somewhere in between.
“Are you finished for the day?” I asked when we finally pulled apart.
“With work? Yes. With you, never.”
My stomach fluttered as I turned back to the steering wheel. Archer chuckled, and I knew I was probably blushing, something he found charming. Linking our hands, he pulled mine across the seat and into his lap, and we rode in comfortable silence the short distance to the main house.
“Is your mom still visiting her sister?” I asked, gazing up at the house.
Archer nodded. “She extended her trip because of the incoming storm.”
“Does that mean I get you all to myself for a few days?”
“You can have me all to yourself whenever you want.”
“Kinda hard to do with meddling mothers and two full-time jobs,” I murmured.
Archer reached across the car, somehow making the interior feel small with how easily he found my chin and pulled my face around. “Do you feel neglected, baby?”
My stomach swooped. It did every single time he called me that.
“Not neglected.” I confirmed. “Just greedy.”
He laughed, the puff of air making it feel even warmer. “I know it’s been kinda hard with everyone always around. It will be easier when we get our place built.”
“Isn’t that going to take like a year?”
“I think we can have it done by end of summer.”
“Seriously?” I said, completely surprised.
He smirked. “I’m motivated.”
“No need to rush. You’re worth the wait.” I knew because I’d waited an entire decade to get here.
“So are you. But I’m tired of waiting.”
I laughed.
“Until then, we have the house to ourselves at least until the storm clears.”
“First time in my adult life I’m actually looking forward to a storm,” I said.
Archer smiled. “Same.” He reached into the back seat for the duffle I’d packed. “Come on. Inside before we freeze.”
We ran through the snow, which felt like tiny needles stabbing my cheeks, and I realized it was sleet. Inside was warm and quiet, a lamp illuminating the family room and another small light glowing from the kitchen.
Archer took off his boots and then went over to the fireplace to get a fire going. Once it was lit, he turned back with soot-covered fingers.
“I’m going to grab a shower. It’s been a long day.”
“Okay.”
“You want to join?” he asked.
Interest and desire unfurled in my lower belly, creating a flush beneath my skin. I nodded enthusiastically, and his smile turned wolfish.
“Of course I want to,” I said but then dashed his dirty desires. “But I showered just before I drove over.”
“Well, what did you do that for?” he demanded.
“Because I assumed you were doing the same?” I asked.
He made a rude noise. “No harm in showering twice.”
I laughed. “Or I could make us some dinner.”
“I’m beginning to think you don’t want to see me naked.”
I arched a brow. “You can say that after last night?”
His lips twisted into a self-satisfied smirk. “I guess not.”
It might have taken us ten years to admit our feelings, but now that we had, it took no time at all to succumb to the chemistry between us.
Just thinking about the things he did to my body last night had my blood heating and resolve wavering. “Forget dinner. I’ll just eat you,” I said, closing the distance between us and reaching for his jeans.
His laughter was throaty and deep and had me flicking open the button with gusto.
Too soon, his hand settled over mine, stopping me from lowering his fly. “Actually, wait.”
“What?” I asked, disbelief making my voice high.
“You should heat up some dinner. There’s pizza in there from last night.”
I blinked. “You want me to heat up pizza instead of showering with you?”
“It was your idea,” he pointed out.
“I changed my mind,” I murmured, letting my hand stroke over the cock still hidden behind his fly.
He moaned quietly, and I stroked a little deeper. Just before I could slide my hand into his jeans, he caught my wrist.
“Heat the pizza. Pack it to go. We’ll take it with us.”
Confused, I pulled back. “Take it with us?”
He nodded.
“There’s a snowstorm bearing down on the entire East Coast.” I reminded him.
“We aren’t going far.”
Squinting suspiciously, I asked, “What’s far?”
“It’s a surprise.”
I must not have seemed convinced because he cupped my face between his palms, stroking his thumbs over my cheeks. “It’ll be worth it, baby.”
I sniffed. “You’ve convinced me.”
He laughed. “I’ll be right back,” he said, pecking a too-quick kiss to my lips and then rushing upstairs where he would get naked. Without me.
Sighing, I went into the kitchen to reheat some of the pizza I’d picked up on the way here last night and threw together a quick salad in a large bowl for us to share.
There wasn’t much in the way of groceries in the fridge since his mom was out of town, and neither of us could be bothered to cook much because it took too much time away from other activities.
I was just pulling the pizza out of the oven when Archer appeared in the kitchen, wearing a deep-green pullover hoodie, a pair of worn jeans, and nothing on his stocking-covered feet.
His hair was freshly washed and dried, which made me wonder if we were going outside because, usually, he left it wet.
Forgetting the food, I went directly to him to shove my hands beneath his hoodie and lay them directly against his skin. Pushing my face into his neck, I inhaled, letting his soap and pine scent fill my lungs. “You always smell so good,” I murmured against his neck.
His hand slid up and down my back, lulling me into a hypnotic state.
After a few moments, he walked a few steps, bringing me with him to sit on a stool at the counter, and pulled me into his lap. Leaning over, he slid the heated pizza toward us and snagged a slice, putting it to my lips.
“I thought we were taking that to go.”
“Might as well eat it while it’s hot.”
“I thought you had a surprise,” I prompted.