Chapter 3
three
LENA
The wind howls outside, rattling the windows of the cabin with a force that makes me nervous. It’s been building up all afternoon, dark clouds rolling in and turning the sky an angry shade of gray. I glance at the stove, where I’m heating up a can of coup – wanting something warm and comforting.
The cabin feels colder than ever, the wind seeping through the old wood and sending shivers down my spine. I stir the soup on the stove, but my thoughts keep drifting to Cade. He’s been on my mind constantly since last night, since he helped me with my fire. My body still feels the echo of him so close to me, and I can’t stop imagining what it would be like to really let go with him, to let him take control the way he wants to.
A sudden gust of wind shakes the cabin so hard that I jump mid-stir-of-the-soup, spilling the broth all over the stove. “Shit!” I hiss, grabbing a towel to mop up the mess. But before I can do anything, there’s a loud crack outside, followed by an earth-shaking crash. The whole cabin shudders, and I whip around just in time to see the ceiling above me give way.
“Lena!” Cade’s voice echoes through the chaos, but it’s too late. A massive tree branch crashes through the roof, sending debris and rainwater pouring into the cabin. I scream, ducking instinctively, and feel the cold splash of rain on my skin.
The next thing I know, Cade is there, bursting through the door like a force of nature himself. His eyes are wild, his shirt soaked through, clinging to his broad chest as he takes in the scene. “Are you hurt?” he demands, grabbing me by the shoulders and looking me over with a frantic intensity.
“I’m—I’m fine,” I stammer, still in shock. “The roof?—”
“Forget the roof,” he growls, sweeping me into his arms as if I weigh nothing. “We’re getting out of here.”
I don’t even have time to argue as he carries me outside, cradling me against his chest. The rain is coming down in sheets now, the wind howling through the trees like a banshee. I clutch at Cade’s shirt, feeling the hard muscles beneath, my heart pounding with more than just fear.
He strides through the storm with a determined set to his jaw, his body shielding me from the worst of the rain. I can barely see where we’re going, but I trust him completely, my mind still reeling from the sudden chaos.
Finally, we reach his cabin, and he kicks the door open, carrying me inside before slamming it shut against the storm. The warmth hits me immediately, a stark contrast to the cold, wet misery outside. Cade sets me down gently, but his hands linger on my arms, his eyes searching mine for any sign of injury.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks, his voice rough with concern.
I nod, swallowing hard as I take in my surroundings. Cade’s cabin is nothing like mine. It’s warm, cozy, and exudes everything manly and rugged, like stepping into a sanctuary designed for a man who knows exactly what he wants. The walls are lined with rough-hewn wood, with a warm glow of the fire crackling in the stone hearth. The scent of cedar and pine fills the air, mixed with the faint aroma of leather and something distinctly him.
There’s a large, plush rug in front of the fireplace, and a worn but comfortable-looking leather couch that practically invites you to sink into it. On the walls, there are a few mounted pieces of driftwood and antlers, the kind of rustic decor that screams Pacific Northwest. Everything about this place is raw, masculine, and sexy as hell. It’s like stepping into the pages of a magazine, only better because it’s real, and Cade is standing right in front of me, looking at me like he’s barely holding himself back.
“You’re soaked,” he murmurs, his gaze dropping to where my wet clothes cling to my body, leaving little to the imagination. His jaw tightens, and I can see the struggle in his eyes, the way he’s fighting to keep his distance when all I want is for him to close it.
“I need to get you out of those clothes,” he says, and his voice is thick, low, almost a growl. There’s no mistaking the heat in his eyes now, the way they darken as they roam over my body.
My breath hitches, and I know this is the moment. There’s no going back after this. “Cade...” I whisper, not even sure what I’m asking, but knowing that I want him to take control, to make me forget about everything except him.
Without another word, he reaches for the hem of my shirt, his fingers brushing against my skin as he pulls it over my head. I shiver, but not from the cold. The intensity in his gaze is enough to set me on fire, and I can feel the heat of his body radiating toward me, drawing me in.
He strips my shirt off and then reaches for my jeans, his knuckles grazing my hips as he undoes the button and slides them down my legs. Every touch is electric, sending jolts of desire through me that leave me breathless and aching for more. When I’m standing there in nothing but my bra and panties, he steps back for just a moment, his eyes raking over me with a hunger that makes me weak at the knees.
Why I am not telling him to stop? Why don’t I feel insecure about being naked for the first time with a man? Why am I just going with? It is beyond me.
But it’s as if I’m drawn to Cade in an inexplicable way.
Like he is already mine.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, almost to himself, before closing the distance between us again. His hands are on me, warm and sure as they slide up my sides, pulling me against him. The feel of his bare chest against mine is almost too much, and I let out a soft gasp, my fingers curling into his shoulders.
And then he’s kissing me, hard and demanding, like he’s been waiting for this moment as long as I have. His mouth is hot and insistent against mine, his hands tangling in my hair as he pulls me even closer. I can feel the tension in his body, the way he’s holding back, but I don’t want him to. I want him to let go, to take me anywhere he desires.
“Cade,” I gasp against his mouth, my hands roaming over his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath. “I need you...”
“Lena,” he groans, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Yes, I do,” I whisper, my voice trembling with need. “Please, Cade...”
His control snaps, and in the next moment, we’re on the rug in front of the fire, our bodies entwined as the storm rages outside. But here, in Cade’s arms, I’ve never felt safer, warmer, or more alive.