Chapter 7 Silas
SILAS
The rest of the day was spent lounging in front of the fire, watching old adventure flicks.
I muted the volume during Cooper’s occasional work calls and FaceTime sessions with his kids.
I probably should have gathered my belongings and headed next door to give him some privacy, but he didn’t seem to mind my presence, and I was too curious about the many facets of Cooper: father, lumberjack boss man, lover.
He was all business with his employees, but he wasn’t an asshole.
More of a “no-nonsense, get shit done” kind of guy.
With his kids, he morphed into a gentle giant.
His sharp edges softened in the form of crinkled eyes, indulgent smiles, and infinite patience.
He joked with them, reeled them in if they pushed too far, but never raised his voice.
And with me…he was—well, it was safe to say I confused him. I shouldn’t have been here, but I was, and for reasons unknown, this felt so good and right…and real.
Obviously, it wasn’t real. I knew that. Just as I knew that avoiding social media and the world that existed beyond Wood Hollow wasn’t a long-term strategy. Those were tomorrow problems.
Or the next day.
I spent a second night in his bed and woke up to gray skies but no new snow.
According to Cooper, Wood Hollow would slowly return to normal.
He wasn’t in a hurry to get to the mill, but he planned to be there at noon.
That gave us time to fool around, eat breakfast, and at Cooper’s insistence… shovel Vally’s driveway.
No snowball fight today, but a chunk of snow at the bottom of the steps leading to Val’s porch made the perfect base for a snowman. We cleared the path, adding more bulk to the round figure until there was no denying I had the beginnings of an awesome Frosty lookalike.
Suddenly, I was a man on a mission. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d made a snowman.
I’d scanned the yard for sticks and stones to use for limbs and facial features, but the earth was buried in white stuff, so I poked holes where his eyes might be with my fingers and drew a wide smile while Cooper shoveled away.
“A little rustic, but not bad for my first effort in twenty-five years,” I said, brushing my gloved palms as I examined my creation.
“You haven’t made a snowman in twenty-five years?”
“At least. Tahoe is just a few hours away from Oakland, but I was busy with football and I got the impression the trip was too expensive. Money was tight when I was growing up.”
He propped his shovel against the railing. “Your folks must be proud of you.”
“I ’spose.” I shrugged noncommittedly, then hooked a thumb at the modern log cabin behind me. “Want to check out Val’s house? It’s pretty cool.”
Awkward segue, but Cooper wasn’t bothered. He followed me up the short set of steps leading to the grand entry.
Vally’s investment property was a modern marvel of glass, wood, and steel. I’d spent one night and a few collective waking hours here, so I couldn’t give much of a tour. Too bad, ’cause Cooper was interested.
He knocked on a beam and gestured to the ceiling. “We forested, treated, and prepared every piece of wood for this house.”
“No shit?”
“No shit.”
“So you know this place.”
“Sure. We’re the primary lumber source in the area.
” Cooper peered up at the wood-and-glass stairway.
“We work with the local contractor who’s built nearly all the custom homes in Wood Hollow and the new development on the next ridge.
I haven’t visited every single house, but since this one is in my backyard, I’m very familiar with it. C’mere. I’ll show you something.”
Cooper led the way through the kitchen to the garage. He opened a built-in cabinet, crouched low, and pointed at what looked like a few random letters and numbers.
“What’s that?”
“IM, CM, and the date.” He grinned, his eyes glinting with easy humor. “Ivy McMurry and Chase McMurry…July twelfth.”
I whistled. “Graffiti and vandalism. Wow. You’ve got a couple of outlaws on your hands. Have they left their signature on every property in town?”
Cooper barked a laugh. “No, just this one. The contractor broke ground here soon after I moved next door. We got to know the layout well enough to navigate the house in the dark without a flashlight.”
“That’s not weird at all,” I snarked. “If you know so much…where’s the bedroom?”
Not my smoothest line, but it worked.
He pulled me through the enormous fishbowl great room with its cathedral ceilings and walls made entirely of windows to the modern stairway. The house was larger and had more wow factor than Cooper’s—his was warm and cozy, and this one wasn’t.
But sure enough, Cooper knew his way around.
He waltzed into the primary suite, quickly surveying the jumbled duvet and the clothes cascading from the duffel I’d left on the chair in the corner. I put my hands in my pockets and realized I was still wearing my winter gear. It was as good an excuse as any to undress.
Cooper’s intense gaze almost had me thinking I’d mastered the art of seduction via striptease.
He waited till I was in nothing but boxer briefs and socks to lunge for me.
And though it shouldn’t have been sexy, the contrast of my near naked state and his fully clothed one turned me the fuck on.
I ravaged him with openmouthed kisses as I unzipped and tugged at the fabric between us till we were both naked.
We rutted like animals, grinding our cocks as we feasted, twisting our tongues and nipping at swollen lips. I was ridiculously close to the edge in no time at all, and Cooper must have sensed it.
He licked my jaw and nibbled my ear. “Are you sore?”
“Yeah, but I don’t care.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I need to see you. Touch you.”
“Yes. Touch me,” I agreed, still breathless and hard as a post.
“On your knees,” he commanded, kicking the duvet aside.
I didn’t hesitate. I faced the headboard, my thighs parted and my dick dripping precum on the pillow beneath me. “Like this?”
“Just like that,” Cooper hummed.
He tapped his rigid cock on my ass, then pressed it against my crease and rocked his hips intently. I ignited in a flash. Every nerve ending in my body zinged to life. He must have changed his mind, and I was more than okay with that.
Cooper’s big hands roved my body, gripping my hips and spreading me wide.
I closed my eyes at the feel of his tongue flicking my hole. “Oh, fuck.”
“Not today,” he said with a low rumbly chuckle. “But I gotta taste you.”
He laved my opening, flattening his tongue as he reached between my legs to fondle my balls and stroke me. I was in sensory overload in no time and the moment he eased a finger inside, I had no hope of lasting. Two fingers? I was a goner.
I grasped hold of the headboard, roaring as I came. Just as I thought it couldn’t have been hotter, I felt Cooper’s warm release hit my lower back.
We collapsed in a heap, breathing heavily in the aftermath. We were sticky and gross, and yet…I didn’t want him to move. I loved the feel of being wrapped in his arms. Weird, right? I wasn’t used to being held and as we’d established, I wasn’t exactly a small guy. But damn, this was nice.
“I was ready. You could have just…stuck it in,” I mumbled into the pillow.
Cooper snort-laughed and moved, propping himself on his elbow, his head resting in his hand. “There’s a little more finesse involved.”
I studied him. “You’ve done it a few times. Fucked men?”
His lips twisted in what might have been a sheepish expression. “Yeah.”
“C’mon, don’t leave me hangin’. I’m a newbie. I have questions.”
“Like what?” He brushed a fingertip across my brow.
“Have you been with a lot of guys? Do you only…top? Bottom?” I wrinkled my nose, unsure of my verbiage. “How do you know who’s going to want to do what?”
Cooper didn’t laugh. He didn’t reply at all, but I was used to his thoughtful pauses now.
I wondered if I’d gotten a little too personal.
Not something I would have done in normal circumstances, but this was different.
The clock was ticking, and by tomorrow, this would be gone.
If I wanted to know anything, I had to ask.
“I’ve had some experience.”
“So you’ve said. I’m looking for the nitty-gritty.”
“Nosy.” Cooper rubbed a hand over his bearded jaw, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“I’m terrible. The worst.”
He chuckled lightly. “I’ve had a few male partners. No one serious. I can’t recall having a conversation about whose dick was going where because I have a strong preference to be…on top. And I’m usually able to deliver the message without a written statement.”
I smirked. “Really? Two guys meet, size each other up, and one just knows he’ll be taking it up the butt?”
Cooper rolled his eyes. “It’s always a good idea to know what your partner wants before you get to it. If in doubt, ask.”
“You’ve never had to.”
He shrugged. “Not recently, no.”
“So you top exclusively.”
“Not exclusively.”
I arched a brow. “So you’ve…”
“Bottomed,” he supplied. “Yes.”
“And?”
Cooper pursed his lips as he stared up at the ceiling. “I’m not good at it. I’m too tense, too impatient. Not that I wouldn’t do it again, but it’s not something I look for. Any other questions?”
“Yeah. When can we do it again? ’Cause I’m gonna want to…before I leave.”
He traced a path along my jawline with the tip of his forefinger and cupped my chin. “Me too.”
Cooper went to the mill for a few hours in the afternoon. I spent that time working out, playing video games, and eventually sucked up the nerve to check my email and texts.