Out of the Cold

Chapter Twelve

L ight filtered through the curtains the next morning as Lucy stretched herself awake. Which was strange, because normally Hilde woke her up by six-thirty to go to the bathroom. Then the aroma of coffee reached her, and it all made sense.

Rising up on an elbow, she tried her bedside lamp.

The electricity was still out. It was a huge pain, but she couldn’t help smiling at the knowledge that Gabriel would stay a little longer.

It had taken her ages to fall asleep. She was too aware of Gabriel in the house, and then, as the silence settled around her, she couldn’t stop thinking about Ricky dying under the snow, and Gabriel trying to save him in his dreams. It was all so awful. How did a person go on after such a loss?

She’d never been through anything like that. Losing someone you loved was hard enough without throwing guilt into the mix, and Gabriel hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d simply flown Ricky out to ski, knowing he’d love it. Ricky had made the fatal error.

Now here Gabriel was, secluding himself up on a mountain with no one around to comfort him, no one who loved him. He was punishing himself for no reason, and it broke her heart.

But at least now she understood him better. She could only hope he didn’t regret telling her about Ricky. They’d reached a turning point, but what came after she couldn’t guess.

When she opened the curtains, the snow was still blowing horizontally, possibly even harder than the night before. Giddy with nerves, she pulled on her robe and slippers and entered the living room. Light poured in, and the warmth of the stove enveloped her.

Gabriel stood behind the kitchen counter, a mug in his hand. “Morning. Can I interest you in some coffee?”

“Yes, please. It smells wonderful.”

“It’s the same coffee you’ve been using, but I found a French press.”

“It smells better when someone else makes it.”

His laugh was warm and crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Maybe it’ll taste better, too.” He poured it into her favorite mug and set it on the counter along with the sugar and cream.

“I don’t usually sleep this late. Did Hilde bother you this morning?”

“I was already up. She came with me to refuel the generators.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She sat down at the table, the mug warm and comforting in her hands.

This whole scene was so natural in a strange way. So domestic, when until now Gabriel had seemed like a slightly feral animal, always ready to bolt.

His hair was mussed, his flannel shirt open at the neck and showing his strong throat. But the biggest difference was in his eyes. They were warm instead of wary, and they rested on her like they appreciated what they saw.

“I could whip up some scrambled eggs if you like.”

“What? No.” She stood up. “You’re my guest. I’ll feed you.”

“I’ll do it,” he said, waving her back into her seat. “You enjoy your coffee.” He opened the fridge and pulled out eggs, milk, and bread.

She hesitated, not sure if she should allow it. But what was she going to do, push him aside and take over? That was silly.

She sat back down. The view was pretty nice from here.

He cracked the eggs into a bowl, added milk, and began whisking. “I’ll get out of your hair after we eat.”

“You’re not in my hair.”

“At the moment.” He smiled and ducked down to grab a pan from one of the lower cabinets. “I’ll come back tonight whenever you like.”

He poured the eggs into the pan and patiently stirred them while sipping his coffee.

“Come over around six for dinner,” she said.

“Deal.” Moving around the counter, he set a plate of fluffy yellow eggs and buttered toast in front of her, then sat down across from her with his own.

She snuck glances at him as they ate, wondering at this new, relaxed Gabriel. He seemed lighter, more at ease with himself and her. The only way to account for it was that he’d needed to unburden himself.

“What are your plans for the day?” he asked.

“I don’t keep to a schedule on Saturdays, but I’ll write for a bit.” She looked out the window at the driving snow. “A walk is out, so I’ll probably cook or bake. It’s a good thing I get so much exercise. I seem to be able to eat anything and get away with it.”

“Between the weight of all this snow and the wind, branches and trees are going to be coming down all over the place. It won’t be safe to walk in the woods for a good few days after the storm stops.”

“That’s depressing. I guess I’ll have to find another way to work off the calories.”

The second it was out of her mouth, she heard how it sounded. Her face hot, she grabbed his empty plate. “I’ll clean up,” she said, and headed to the sink to hide her face.

He disappeared into the bathroom, where she heard the water run, then came back out a few minutes later.

“I’ll see you tonight.” He bent down to give Hilde’s ear a rub, exactly the way she liked it, then headed out the door.

Lucy looked at Hilde in dismay. “We like him, don’t we?” she whispered.

Hilde thumped her tail.

She cleaned up, then sat down at the table and tried to focus on her characters, but thoughts of Gabriel kept intruding.

She wanted him here. She already missed him, and he’d only just left. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to fall hard for him. The only thing that had kept it from happening before now was the distance he’d put between them. With that gone...

Then again, he was mercurial, and his mood might be entirely different when she saw him tonight. God, she hoped not.

***

G abriel knocked on the mudroom’s inside door shortly before six o’clock. He was holding a lantern and had already discarded his winter coat and boots.

“Come on in,” she said, stepping back and trying not to show how happy she was to see him.

Hilde had no such compunction. She rolled over onto her back, showing her belly to him, her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

Lucy laughed. “Now that is embarrassing.”

Gabriel bent over to rub Hilde's stomach. “You think? This is what most females do when I come around.”

She gave an involuntary snort of laughter.

He stood up with a smile. “Some females have more restraint than others.”

“No doubt.”

“I’m not too early?”

“Not at all.”

“Mind if I shower? I’ll be quick.”

“Go ahead. And feel free to use the hot tub, as well. I bet it would still be hot, right? You certainly earned it.”

His eyes heated, and for several long moments he didn’t respond. “Maybe another time,” he finally said.

As soon as he was out of sight, she sagged into a kitchen chair. The shower came on, and now she was picturing what he looked like with water streaming over all those muscles. Her entire body went soft with wanting.

She needed to get a grip before he came out.

Shaking her head at herself, she lit the candles on the table, then laid out bread along with some butter and olive oil. When she heard him get out of the shower, she spooned up soup for both of them and turned on the radio to fill in any awkward gaps in conversation.

A few minutes later he emerged in track pants and a flannel, his hair in thick wet curls against his head. “Whatever that is, it smells great.”

She turned her back to him, pretending to fuss with some dishes so she could collect herself. She took a couple of deep breaths, then joined him at the table.

He complimented her on the soup and on making her own bread.

“Len has all these gadgets and appliances. I thought I might as well use the fancy bread maker. What did you do today? After clearing a football field’s worth of snow, that is.”

He grimaced. “I had some year-end reports to work on.”

“That is so odd,” she said.

“What?”

“Hearing you say ‘year-end reports.’ You seem like the opposite of a business guy, and then you talk like that.”

“Well, it is my least favorite part of the job. It’s certainly not what drew me to starting my own business.”

“What did?”

He thought for a second. “I wanted to bring my love of the outdoors into my work life, and I liked the idea of being my own boss.” He tore some more bread and slathered butter on it.

“I guess I feel the same way, about being my own boss, anyway, but I didn’t intentionally plan my life around it. I graduated from the University of Florida with an English degree and sort of fell into editing for their press. I’ve been freelancing for them ever since, so that’s been a real lifesaver. It’s not going to make me rich, but I can do it and still have time to work on my own books.” She took a couple more bites, brooding over what she’d said. “God, that sounds so boring.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Oh please. You’d die of boredom if you lived my life.”

“Probably, but that’s because I can’t write beautiful books that change people’s lives.”

“My books don’t change people’s lives.”

“I heard that girl who told you she’d been too scared to tell her best friend that she was in love with her, but your book made her realize that love and happiness were worth taking risks for. So she did it, and now they’re dating.”

She could only stare at him. She’d never hoped for anything more than entertaining other people. But it was true. Colleen had told her that, and other girls had written to share similar things.

“I never thought of it that way,” was all she could manage.

His eyes were filled with tenderness, as if he knew how much it meant to her. “No, you wouldn’t.”

She blinked and looked down, grateful to him in a way she couldn’t express. Flustered, she stood and moved to take his empty bowl.

He was on his feet with both their bowls in hand before she could stop him. “You cooked, let me clean up,” he said, walking around the counter to set them in the sink.

“Leave it for the morning, when we can see better.”

“Okay, but I’ll get them in the morning.”

She laughed. “I’m not going to argue with you.”

Over the radio, Dusty Springfield started singing “Son of a Preacher Man.” She hummed along as she put the pot of soup in the fridge.

She closed the door and turned to find Gabriel standing inches away. A smiled curled the corners of his mouth.

He took her hand. “Dance with me?”

She froze, her mouth open but unable to form words.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never danced with a man before.” Her heart was racing, her whole body craving his body against hers.

“Never? How can that be?”

“I was too sick to go to school dances, even the prom. I tried to get Mark to dance at my friend’s wedding, but he said he had two left feet.”

He tugged until she was a hair’s breadth away from him. “There’s nothing to it,” he said, his voice warm in her ear. “We just stand close and move together.”

Her gaze traveled over his dark hair and gorgeous face, his slow, wicked smile. His breath stirred her hair as one hand engulfed her smaller one. The other settled in the small of her back.

“Good?” he asked, his voice low and rough.

And oh, she remembered that voice.

I know what you want , he’d said.

And he did know.

They started to move.

She felt him everywhere—her breasts and stomach, her thighs. He made a sound deep in his throat and pressed her closer. There was no space between them now. Her skin grew sensitized to an almost unbearable degree, her breath light and fast.

She pressed her nose into his neck and breathed deeply. He smelled of her soap, but beneath that was his own scent, which she couldn’t get enough of.

“Lucy.”

“Mmm?”

He was hard against her now, pressing into her belly. She slid a hand beneath his shirt, desperate for the feel of his skin.

All of it—against hers. ?

His hands came up to cup her face, and then his mouth was on hers, hungry and demanding. She responded with everything she had. Her hand curled around the back of his neck. Her nails scraping, her body pressing against him.

Needing to be closer.

“Sweet Jesus,” he groaned.

“A bed this time,” she said, panting.

His expression was fierce, his jaw rigid. She was doing that to him, driving him as crazy as he was her.

“Hell, yes,” he said, grabbing a lantern as he tugged her toward her bedroom.

Moments later, the lantern was on the nightstand, and she was climbing backwards on her bed, pulling him with her. His kiss was savage, deep and hungry. She arched into him, desperate for more, and opened her legs. He settled in the cradle of her hips, and she moaned aloud, pressing into him.

“The things I want to do to you,” he ground out.

“Do them,” she panted.

Shameless. She was shameless, and out of her mind for him.

His hands were at the hemline of her shirt, tugging and impatient. “I need you naked.”

She sat up, pulled her shirt over her head, and tossed it to the floor. She had nothing on under it. She was so small she hardly ever wore a bra.

“Lucy,” he said on a soft breath, his expression reverent. He pressed her back against the bed, his hands skimming up her body until his thumbs grazed the underside of her breasts.

His mouth closed over a tight peak, sucking and rolling until her nails were digging into his arms. Then his mouth was on hers again and they were devouring each other, rocking together until she was desperate to come. His hands were in her hair, on her skin, and she still hadn’t managed to get any of his clothes off.

“Gabriel, wait.”

He pulled back, breathing hard. “Am I going too fast?”

She ran her hands down his chest, grabbing the hem of his shirt. “Take this off. Take everything off.”

He didn’t argue. Standing up, he pulled his flannel over his head.

“Oh my God.” She could barely breathe.

He smiled at her, and then he was naked and climbing back into bed.

She rose up until she was kneeling and let her hands follow the light of the lantern where it shone on his skin, casting little shadows in the hollows of each muscle.

She kissed him with all the longing she’d held in her heart for the past two months.

Then she was on her back again, her pants and underwear off in one smooth motion. His hand slid into her curls. They both moaned when his finger found her wet folds.

“Lucy,” he whispered, her name like a prayer.

She bucked against him in a fury of need as he kissed her deep and rough, in rhythm with his strokes.

His voice was a low rasp in her ear. “Is this what you want?”

Her assent turned into a keening moan as she writhed against him, her nails digging into his back.

“Fuck, you’re so beautiful.”

She wrapped her arms around him as he buried his head in her neck. His finger slid over the little bundle of nerves again and again, sometimes dipping into her. He took his time even as he trembled with need.

She was desperate for him, aching and empty. The scent of him was in her hair, on her skin, but she needed more.

“Gabriel, please.”

He rose over her, his eyes wicked and bright. “What do you need? You need to come?”

“I need you inside me,” she gasped, writhing under him.

“Hell, yes.”

He pressed her thighs wider and lined himself up, his eyes on hers as he sank into her with agonizing slowness. He pulled out and slid back in again, still taking his time, his arms trembling with the effort. She rose up to meet him and pulled him tight against her.

With one hand he held her hips steady, and his thumb stroked over her, once, twice, in time with his thrusts. She came like a wild thing, pulsing around him as he reached his own release and shuddered in her arms.

***

G radually, Gabe’s heart slowed and blood flowed back into his brain. But he didn’t move. He might never move.

He let his hand slide through her hair and drew back to see her smile, those soulful eyes of hers warm on his. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

Lucy’s warm body was pliant beneath him, her breath soft on his neck. Finally getting up the strength, he rolled off her and lay on his side. He smoothed a hand down her arm to her hip, where he let it rest. It fit perfectly.

“Am I?” she asked, a smile both shy and flirty curling her mouth.

His pulse kicked up again. Slowly, watching her expressive face, he let his hand drift higher, the backs of his fingers lightly passing over one of her delectable little breasts. She was so small everywhere, but also stronger than he’d realized. He could see the evidence of her daily treks in the lean muscles of her thighs and calves. He was going to have to spend some time exploring those...

He skimmed a finger along her jaw where her skin looked red from his beard. Everywhere else shone pale gold in the light of the lantern. “Exquisite.”

“You already know what I think of your body. You’ve caught me staring.”

“I might have guessed that you liked my legs.”

“And your chest, your arms, your beautiful eyes....”

He smiled. “I’m the only man for miles around. You can’t afford to be choosy.”

“I could say the same.”

She smiled as she said it, but he couldn’t help thinking there was a question buried in there.

“I wasn’t the slightest bit tempted by anyone until you came along,” he told her.

He kissed her neck, trailed kisses along her delicate collarbone, then down to the silky skin beneath. In the dim light, he barely made out a thin scar, about two inches long.

“How’d you get this?” he asked, gently tracing it.

She tensed underneath him. “That’s where my port was,” she said, her gaze directed over his shoulder.

“For your treatments?”

She nodded, her eyes focusing back on him. “That way, they don’t have to stick you over and over for an IV.”

He kissed her there, wanting to banish any painful thoughts, and worked his way back across her collarbone and up the smooth skin of her throat. She was already moving restlessly against him. When he finally took her mouth, he kissed her soft and slow, taking all the time he couldn’t manage the first time around.

Then she gave a little shiver.

“We ought to move closer to the fire. It’s too cold in here.”

She stretched her arms above her head, distracting him all over again. He cupped his hand over one of her breasts, teasing the nipple until it was tight and hard. “I can’t seem to stay away from these,” he murmured.

She was breathing fast, her eyelids growing heavy. “They’re so small.”

“They’re perfect.” He’d spent hours thinking about her teacup breasts with their delicate curves. He dipped his head and showed her what they did to him.

Soon she was writhing and panting his name, and his control was slipping. He wanted her again, as fiercely as he had the first time.

Before he could make his own move, she was pushing him back on the bed, her eyes fierce. She swung a leg over his hips until she was straddling him and then slowly, slowly lowered herself onto him.

The breath hissed out of his lungs and he grabbed her hips, needing more, but she only shook her head and rose up on her knees.

“My turn,” she said, coming down once again. She rose and lowered, gasping as she took him completely.

He was breathing like a bellows, and despite his recent climax, his need was so great he raised his hips, hoping to take control of the rhythm.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Grabbing his hands, she pressed them back to the bed. “Let me feel you,” she said, and opened her mouth over his.

Her hair spilled over her shoulders onto his chest, her scent—musk and flowers and green tea—engulfed him. He gave himself over. She was the earth, the air, everything he needed. She kissed his neck, bit his shoulder, riding him until he thought his head would explode.

Soon her movements turned more urgent. She let go of his wrists and raked her hands down his chest.

“Gabriel,” she said, her voice cracking.

He grazed his thumb into her folds and felt her clench around him. She was sopping wet and so gorgeous, he had to close his eyes. He was holding on for dear life, but no way in hell was he going before her.

He didn’t have long to wait.

She came on a low moan, shaking and pulsing around him as she took him deep and threw her head back. Holding her hips, he thrust into her as far as he could go, his release coming as her own aftershocks died.

She collapsed onto his chest. “Oh my God.”

He smoothed her damp hair from her forehead. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What exactly are you apologizing for?”

“I’m not sure. I feel like maybe that wasn’t very polite.”

He stared at her, and then he couldn’t help it. He started laughing, and he couldn’t stop.

“Okay,” she said, swatting him on the arm. “It isn’t that funny.”

“But it is. It’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I have never in my life had sex that good.”

“It’s because of you. You feel so good, and you smell so good. And when you’re inside me, I want to die, but not until we’ve both come a thousand times.”

He stared at her, his chest tight and full, then kissed her until she knew he felt the same way. Sometime later, she shifted off him and curled tightly against his side.

“It’s getting cold in here,” he said. “Let’s get you back to the fire.”

“You’re right. Now that we’re not heaving and thrusting, it is kind of chilly.” She sat up. “I need to find my—”

“Oh no, no one’s putting their clothes back on,” he said, scooping her up in his arms, blanket and all.

“What are you doing?” she squealed.

“Carrying you. Grab the light so I don’t kill us both.”

She really did seem to like his chest. Instead of putting up more of a fuss, she rested the light on her stomach and ran a hand over his pecs, looking dreamy.

“You do realize I can walk on my own,” she said.

“But this is so much more fun.”

“It definitely is.”

In the living room, he laid her gently on the sofa.

“You wait here while I make us a nice bed on the floor by the fire,” he said, tucking the blanket around her. His hands stilled at a sudden thought. “Unless you’d rather sleep alone,” he added. “I can stay in my room like we planned.”

“Are you kidding? I’m not done with you, and I really hope you’re not done with me either.”

He planted a kiss on her mouth. “Good.”

Within a few minutes, he’d set up a couple of sleeping pads normally used for camping and topped them with blankets and pillows from the two guest rooms. Hilde watched him from her spot near the fire, probably hoping he was creating the world’s biggest doggie bed.

He stood up from his task with a grin to see Lucy smiling with shy pleasure. Holding the blanket wrapped around her, she came over and sat on the pallet, looking like a girl who’d arrived at the best slumber party ever.

He let her pull him down with her, gratefully sinking into her scent and her softness, kissing her now with the patience of a sated man. He wanted it never to end. They were their own little world, Lucy and him.

She made a sound deep in her throat as he kissed her, and already it was a sound he’d do anything to hear again.

?