16. Alexandra
Alexandra
I snuggle close to James, his cedar scent curling over me.
I’ve never felt this content. I feel so damn comfortable.
It’s like I finally woke up and came home.
That’s crazy, I know. I was just in a relationship, even if it turned out to be complete trash, but it feels like a lifetime ago when I’m with James.
It’s almost like it never happened because now I’m here.
I don’t want to be that stupid girl who falls for another guy right after a breakup, but…
I look up at his handsome face. I watch the shadows dance across, accentuating his jaw-line.
The logs crackling next to us echo in the silence.
I follow the shadows to his eyes, the gold within the green shining brighter in the firelight.
The way he’s looking at me as his lips slowly pull into a smile. Fuck.
“What are you thinking about?” His husky whisper sends shivers down my spine, like an aged bottle of whiskey.
I burrow my head back into his chest to hide from him. “Things I shouldn’t.”
I feel him shift away from me before he tilts my chin up to look at him, and I want to melt into a girly puddle.
“Don’t do that.” He looks at me like he can see through me to my hopes and dreams, making me want to pull away again.
“Don’t hide from me. I want to know everything about you.
All of your thoughts. I told you we are inevitable.
It doesn’t matter how it happened, or why.
You’re mine now.” James kisses my lips softly before standing and pulling me after him.
“Where are you taking me now?” I ask as I trip over the blankets, but before I can catch myself, he scoops me into his arms, making me yelp.
His muscular arms are wrapped around me, cradling me to his chest. “I’m making us a bath since we are both a bit dirty.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
When we enter the bathroom, it’s freezing from being so far from the fireplace with the power still off.
James sets me on my feet, so he can turn on the water to the claw tub.
When the temperature is to his liking he starts adding oils, salts, and bubbles to the water before waving me over to climb in.
I hiss at the heat, but I also love the burn as I slowly lower myself into the still-filling tub.
James steps in behind me, sliding his legs to either side and pulling me to his chest. I watch the muscles in his arms flex as he reaches over to the tray holding soaps and oils.
He grabs a loofa and lathers a lavender-scented soap on it before he slowly rubs it across each of my arms, to my chest. I close my eyes and lean my head against his hard chest letting him clean me. It feels so nice to be taken care of.
“Tell me your future plans,” he says as he starts on my legs.
“Hmm…well, this is embarrassing.” I laugh and roll towards him. I settle on the opposite side, so I can look at him.
He starts sliding the loofa up my leg again. “Why would your future be embarrassing?”
I want to hide my face, but I know he will scold me for it. He seems to dislike me hiding from him. “Because you’re obviously successful at such a young age, and I’m … well … not.”
I watch his mouth twitch into a frown. “Don’t compare yourself to me.
There are a lot of things in my life that didn’t go as planned.
Everyone’s path is different. We aren’t meant to succeed or fail at the same time.
Everything happens for a reason at the time it’s needed to.
” He looks down at the loofa. “Sometimes I have to remind myself of that too.”
I reach for his hand. “Hey, I’m sorry. I know you’ve been through a lot with your dad.
I hope you’ll tell me more about him someday.
” I huff out a breath, pulling on my invisible big-girl pants, so I can rip the whole Band-Aid of my life off.
“I recently quit my job without a plan. Well … I have a plan now. I t’s just not a sure thing.
I came here to paint, to create more work for my portfolio, so that I can hopefully get a job in design when I go back home,” I spit out as fast as possible.
His eyes light up, like a spark just ignited behind them, but he hides it as quickly as it appeared.
“Why is that embarrassing? You’re chasing your dreams.” He pulls on my hand.
“Get over here. I’m proud of you. You’ll find the place you’re meant to be.
I’m sure of it.” I slide across the tub back into his arms, and it’s the most perfect place I’ve ever been.
“If I fail, I will have to move in with my mom. And that will be the most embarrassing thing in my life.”
His chuckle shakes my entire body. “I won’t let that happen. You’re mine now. You can move in with me. I just got a new apartment near your building, remember?”
I smack his chest. “Yeah, yeah. I remember. Are you sure you’ll have enough room in your bachelor pad apartment?” I have no idea how big his place is, but I’m sure it’s bigger than my tiny apartment.
“Oh, I’ve got room. Trust me.” When I look at him with confusion, he just winks at me. “Now, get back in position, I need to wash your hair and finish cleaning this gorgeous body of yours.”
“Shit, okay.” I laugh and spin so my back is against his chest. His laugh ringing out with mine makes my heart feel light and fluffy.
“Sit forward so I can wash your hair first,” James instructs, so I do as I’m told and angle my head back.
He pours water over my head with careful precision before he pumps shampoo into his palm, rubs both hands together, then starts lathering my scalp, slowly massaging the soap through my strands.
It feels like heaven, and I almost let a moan slip.
When he rinses the soap out, he slowly trails his fingers down my back giving me goosebumps even in the scalding water.
James fills a palm with conditioner before threading it carefully through the ends of my hair. He’s ruining me for anyone else in the world with this treatment, and I think he knows it.
He gently pulls me back against him when he’s done with my hair.
He re-lathers the loofa and starts on my stomach, swirling in slow circles.
Every so often he dips lower, and I rub my legs together in anticipation.
James hooks his left leg over mine, pinning it in place while his hand travels between my legs.
The loofa glides against my center, making me whimper. It’s barely any friction, just a tease.
I bite my lip as I try to stay still. I can feel his heart beat speeding up against my back.
After a few more strokes with the fluffy material, he tosses it to the side and slides his fingers across me, circling my clit.
I throw my head back against him, arching my back, and pressing further into his hand.
“Needy. And all mine,” he whispers into my ear, making me break into a million pieces. He speeds up until I’m coming undone.
I push away from him, so I can turn around to face him, and place my knees on either side as I hover above him. He’s ready for me, and it’s all I want as I slowly ease myself onto him.
His answering hiss is all the encouragement I need before I start moving up and down. The soreness between my legs just makes the pleasure more intense. His rough palm slides up my body to my breast. I drop my head back in ecstasy when he rolls the nub between his fingers.
James makes me feel more alive than I have in years. It’s addicting.
After draining the tub and cleaning off again , we drag ourselves back into the warm living room.
I grab a loose T-shirt that hangs off one shoulder and navy lace panties before heading back to my stool.
My background with scattered trees is dry, so I squeeze the paint I need for the cabin and more layering for the trees onto my dish.
Opening my notebook, I take in the color combinations I wanted to try for this layer.
When I blend a new combination, I reach over and place a streak, scribbling the ratio, so I can recreate it later.
The oven beeps, and I glance up confused as James pulls up a chair next to me.
He holds a fork in front of my mouth. “I’m going to feed you while you paint, so this chicken parm doesn’t go to waste.”
I chuckle but open my mouth for him. He slowly slides it between my lips as I close around the fork. God damn, why is he good in the kitchen too? Is this a joke?
“Keep painting,” he says as he watches me and cuts another bite.
I smirk, and dip my brush in paint, then slide it across the canvas starting on the cabin. Every time I swallow, James is there with another bite until the plate is empty.
“Good girl,” he says, then kisses the top of my head. He takes the dishes to the sink, then makes his way to the bed. He’s propped up against pillows on the mattress, writing in a notebook.
“What are you doing down there?” I ask. I haven’t seen him writing in a notebook the entire time I’ve been here.
He glances up after he finishes what he’s doing. “Work. I have a lot of … new things happening with this location, so I wanted to get ahead for when I can get back to the office.”
I’d really love to dig more into his time with The Edward Corporation. It’s such a dream job, but it is obviously way out of my league. I’ll have to see if they’re hiring any entry-level positions for this new location. I bite my lip, thinking, as I dip my brush and keep painting.
I swipe my brush across the canvas, and the lights start to flicker then buzz to life. I glance up in shock then back to James.
He jumps off the mattress. “I’ll go check the radio in the shed to see what they have to say about the storm.” He slides his boots and jacket on before slipping out the front door.
I go back to adding all the details to my canvas while I wait.
I hear his steps outside the door and the telltale tapping of his boots before the door swings open.
“They’re working on the main roads, but it will take time before they can get to residential streets.
I think the power should stay on now.” He kicks off his boots before going to his briefcase and pulling out his phone and charger.
“I’m going to plug mine in. Do you want me to get yours while you work? ”
I’m almost stunned he asked, but then I remember he keeps telling me that he enjoys taking care of me.
“Yes, please. It should be on the nightstand in the bedroom.” I continue working as he moves through the cabin to plug in our phones, his laptop, and the other appliances.
I’m vaguely aware that our time in our little oasis is coming to an end, but I don’t want to think about it.
I know I told myself that maybe this could just be a fun weekend, but now after everything, I don’t think I’m capable of a just-for-fun relationship.
I feel James press his hard chest against my back before his arms wrap around my middle, pulling me close. His lips press to my neck.
“This is amazing. I can’t even fathom how you accomplished getting all the light to reflect off the snow from the cabin. My dad would have loved to see this.”
My heart melts hearing him speak of his dad as if he would have brought me home to meet him.
I look at the painting again. It’s just a rough concept right now with outlines and small amounts of lighting, but he said he grew up coming here so he can tell where my ideas are heading.
If he likes it this much at the beginning stage, I’m sure he will love it even more when it’s finished.
“I’m going to draft more while you paint.” I smile as I watch him start writing again.
It’s getting late, but I really want to finish as many layers as I can, so I can finish it completely tomorrow.