5. Declan
Chapter Five
DECLAN
Leaning on the bar at Peppermint Lodge, I wipe the sweat from my forehead. The air is hot enough to scald a lizard, but people are still dancing. Some genius thought it was a good idea to light hundreds of little candles. Romantic, but it adds to the heat. A couple of kids are already napping under the buffet table. Flower garlands are pinned up everywhere, their heady rose scent reminding me of Georgia.
I take a sip of my drink, ice-cubes already almost melted, then nearly spit it out. It’s some god awful cocktail made with honey. No wonder they’re giving it away for free. There’s been a big drive to make Snowflake sustainable and the beehives are part of that. One of my brother’s colleagues, Griff, is responsible for keeping the bees in line. There’s so much honey that it seems like everything in Snowflake now has the stuff in it.
Beams stretch across the ceiling of the main hall and the doors are open onto the paved part of the outside space. It still smells of fresh paint. Some crazy guy tried to burn this whole place down months ago. A rebuilding project, funded by a couple of the local billionaires, has transformed the burnt-out shell of the extension. I missed the re-opening party, but there are events here every weekend and during the week.
I don’t usually go along to all the parties. In Snowflake, especially during the holiday season, you could spend every day and night at some event or other. I like the peace of the mountain, the crack of my ax or the buzz of my chainsaw. My brother thinks I’m a nut for wanting to be outside most of the time, but he’s happiest tinkering with an engine or shooting the shit with his firehouse buddies.
A rumble of thunder in the distance makes the room quiet for a second. There’s a vigorous round of applause as people point at Carl, who takes a bow, white beard bobbing. His weather predictions get a lot of shit, but his forecasts have never let me down. Anyone that works outside knows to pay attention to him.
A flash of lightning makes me raise my head. Georgia is standing by the door, looking at me shyly. She’s wearing a red silky-looking dress that skims her curves. Long sleeves again, but with a hint of cleavage. My cock is hard, pressing against the seam of my pants at the sight of her. She’s like a modern-day Marilyn, her gold hair curled in tumbling waves and her plump lips red to match her dress.
I put my drink down on the bar and walk over to her. Her cheeks flush as I approach, a delicate shade of pink. She’s wearing earrings that sparkle in the candlelight. It takes everything I have not to scoop her up, throw her over one shoulder and carry her out of there. My cock is so damn hard it feels like it might explode.
“You are gorgeous, Peaches. You must get tired of people telling you that? You look like a damn film star in that dress.”
“Thank you. And no, people don’t tend to tell me I’m gorgeous.”
“They should. It’s one hundred percent true. Can I get you a drink?” Another deep rumble of thunder outside.
“Thanks.”
I lead her over to the bar.
“Don’t get the honey cocktail, that’s my advice. Ruins the taste of good whisky.” I stare down at her. I could never get tired of looking at that beautiful face.
She raises her hand to brush her hair back from her face. She’s painted her short, bitten nails the same red as her dress. A surge of protectiveness runs through me, the same one I had at the hardware store. I’d jump in front of a train to save this girl. There’s something vulnerable mixed into all the glamor.
“I’ll have a glass of wine. That rosé looks good. So, do you have your work on show?” She peers up at me, brushing her hair away from her face again. Lightning flashes outside, reflected in the crystals of her earrings.
“Magnus, the guy who owns this place, insisted on it. He’s keen on repurposing stuff people discard in the forest or wood that would normally go for scrap. That table over there is one of mine.” I nod my head to the left as I hand her the drink. Our fingers brush and my cock twitches.
“It’s huge. Beautiful work. Did it take you long?” Georgia takes a sip of her wine.
“Three months. Albert found that one. Big ol’ pine came down on the north side of the woods. Had to cut it up before I hauled it back. See that frame over there? Around the mirror above the fireplace?” I point it out and she nods. “That’s part of the tree, too. But with a different stain.”
“And those carvings over there? That one looks like a raccoon to me.” Georgia smiles.
I’m delighted she recognized my work. “Guilty as charged. Albert’s a great model when he’s snoozing. And he’s even sleepier in the winter.”
“Seems he likes his beauty sleep. And I can’t imagine what this place is like in the winter. We only visited Aunt Trish in the spring and summer.” She takes another sip of wine, then licks her lips. Visions of those plump red lips around my cock make it twitch again. I’m close enough to touch her, and there’s an electric charge vibrating between us.
“Well, you’re gonna need snow chains. Snow gets deep, especially on the mountain. And supplies. Power goes out, you’ll need a generator. I don’t mind my own company, but some folks go a little cabin crazy.”
“I guess I’ll get a lot of sewing done. I like sewing by hand.” She has to raise her voice over the approaching thunder.
“Did you make that dress?”
Georgia smiles. “Yes. I remade an old one just for tonight.”
“It’s beautiful. Is it silk?” I reach my hand out and gently stroke her arm. The contact zips down my spine to my cock, then up to my head, making my scalp crackle.
She’s about to reply when a woman with tightly curled white hair walks up and interrupts. “Isn’t it cute? My niece has such a talent. But she’s always so covered up.”
Georgia’s cheeks get a brighter shade of pink. “It’s vintage, Aunt Trish.”
Her aunt rolls her eyes. “You have a stunning figure. You could wear what those pop stars wear, no problem. Isn’t that what men like?”
She stares at me, raising her eyebrows.
“I like old-fashioned glamor. Georgia, shall we have that dance?” I hold out my hand.
Georgia looks at me gratefully. We walk onto the dancefloor. Many of the dancers are now gathered at the big doors, watching the progress of the incoming storm. A cool breeze blows in, followed by another flash of lightning.
I wrap my arms around Georgia, pulling her close.
“Thank you. My aunt is great, but she thinks I’m old-fashioned. She’s always trying to get me to wear revealing tops and mini-skirts. She gave me some of those booty shorts for Christmas.” She shakes her head.
“Not your thing?”
She’s silent for a moment. “I’m not very confident about my body.”
I open my mouth to tell her how stunning she is, but she shakes her head. “I don’t usually tell guys this. Well, I don’t tell anyone this. But you’ve been so kind. It’s not just being plus size, it’s that I have scars.”
“That doesn’t bother me, Peaches.”
“Big scars. I had a congenital defect - a diaphragmatic hernia - which meant an operation when I was younger. They did another surgery to help the scarring, but they got infected. I ended up getting a negligence payout, I used part of it to help my parents buy their house and to support myself.”
“And then you bought the cabin?” I stroke her soft hair away from her face.
She bites her lip. “Yes. There’s not much money left now, so I’m hoping my business works out.”
Rain starts to fall outside, pattering against the glass. The room is starting to empty as people dash for their cars before the storm hits. One of them is Georgia’s aunt.
She starts giggling. “My aunt’s scared of thunder. I think she’s forgotten I’m here.”
A cool gust of wind blows the heavy curtains by the doors back into the room. Georgia and I are still swaying to the music. Her tits are pressed against me, nipples poking at the silky material of her dress.
I lean my head down, cradling the back of her head as I stroke her velvet-soft cheek. I’m enveloped in that spicy rose perfume she wears. She blinks a couple of times, her long eyelashes brushing against her skin as I press my lips on hers.
Fuck, she’s so soft . I keep my other hand palmed on her lower back, her curves against the hard lines of my body as my tongue explores her mouth. She tastes of wine and sweetness, her scent washing around me. It’s like time has stopped and it’s only the two of us here.
Lightning flashes bright and we both come up for air, breathing hard. A couple of people are stacking chairs in the corner and the barman is putting bottles into cupboards.
“I think you might have to take me back to my aunt’s place,” Georgia looks up at me and wraps her hands around the back of my neck.
“My pleasure.”
I hold tight to her hand as we run for my truck. The rain is harder now, the air pleasantly cool. Thunder rumbles as the lightning flashes almost overhead. The radio comes on as I start the engine.
“...We’ve just had a report that the Snowflake mountain road is impassable, due to an overturned logging vehicle. The sheriff says they’ll start the clean-up once the storm has passed. Folks, avoid going into town if you’re on the mountain.” The announcer’s voice is serious.
“I hope my aunt made it back okay?” Georgia turns to me.
“She left early enough. And there were no reports of an accident.”
“I’m sorry, Declan. Could you take me home?”
“Your cabin isn’t fixed yet. You’re coming with me.” I turn the truck around and head back up the mountain.
“I am?”
“Yes. Even if I have to kidnap you. I have a guest bedroom, you know.”
Her eyes are playful as she glances over. “Maybe we won’t need it.”
My cock jumps in my pants again. I’m driving a little faster than I should, but I can’t wait to get back. I park in front of my house and turn off the engine.
Getting out, the rain slicks my hair down in seconds as I walk around to her side. Opening the door, I’m hit by her scent again. I put out my hands to help her down and she looks at me, then wraps her legs around my waist. I pick her up, kissing her, as her hands thread through my hair.
Groaning, I lean against the truck so her back is pressed against the side. Her dress is wet, the silk sticking to her soft thighs. I palm her breasts through the dress and she gasps. I can’t wait, despite the rain and I put my hands on her hips, propping her up as I kneel down in the mud.
“You’re so beautiful. I want to taste you. Now.”
Pushing her skirt up, I kiss her thighs as she holds onto my head, the rain streaking across her exposed skin. Pulling her panties to one side, I lick up her thighs and then tongue her clit. Wrapping one of her legs so it’s resting on my shoulder, I lick her over and over again. She’s moaning as I taste her, reveling in her salty-sweet juices. I finger her clit as my tongue moves to her pussy, darting in and out as her moans get louder.
Her thighs are shaking and she calls my name as she comes hard, her dress soaked and sticking to her body. Cold air whips around us as the thunder rolls across the mountain and her trembling turns to shivers.
I stand and pick her up, cradling her body against mine. Despite the temperature I’m hot, my cock still rock hard.
“Let’s get you inside, Peaches.”