Chapter 6
Aspen
The wind continues to howl while the snow falls thick, making the world vanish completely.
Peering outside, I watch the flakes coat the ground, hiding every inch of grass from view, growing ever higher with each passing minute.
Amidst the storm, the interior of the cabin is peaceful and quiet, and I’m glad I’m alone in my now fully stocked-up cabin.
I return to my chair and sink into it, sipping from a steaming mug of coffee.
For the first time in days, all the Christmas hullabaloo fades away, and my muscles relax.
At first, the fire crackling in the hearth is the only sound in the cabin, but then a scream from the howling wind makes me jump.
Shaking my head, I write it off as my mind playing tricks on me and take a sip of the hot liquid.
Coffee, bitter and rich, bursts over my tongue, and I try to find my inner calm once more.
The silence is broken minutes later when a brisk knock lands on the door.
I freeze. Though my past training makes me quite sure of being able to handle any threat physically, the idea of having a visitor invading my sanctuary is downright terrifying. My cabin is so remote that only people who know where it is find their way here.
The knock sounds again, and I groan, placing the mug on my sturdy end-table and dragging myself off the chair filled with irritation. It had better not be Oliver or Jesse—I’ve made my feelings on Christmas dinner perfectly clear.
I open the door a crack, ready to give the men a piece of my mind, but the words get caught in my throat when my eyes fall to the hunched figure before me. At first, I have no idea who this poor wretch is, but then it hits me.
The woman from the grocery store looks like she’s been through hell.
Her once beautiful hair is now plastered to the side of her face, her clothes clinging to her body, and her cheeks red from the cold.
Her breath is rapid, panting in gasps through pale blue lips, and suddenly, when she sees me, she stumbles forward with a strangled cry.
The woman’s body pitches forward, and her legs nearly give out, spurring me to action.
I open the door wide and rush at her. “Jesus, lady! What are you doing out here?”
Her teeth chatter as she tries to speak. “I…I got lost. Please, help. I don’t know where else to go.”
Still reeling from the shock, I know better than to keep talking when she must be nearly hypothermic. I tug her inside, the freezing air nipping at our faces as I hurry to close the door behind us.
“What were you thinking coming out here? Haven’t you seen the storm reports?” I lash out at her, leading her to the couch by the fire. The woman’s teeth chatter, but she gives no reply. I want to thrash her. Protect her. Yell at her.
My emotions are a jumbled ball of complexity, and all I know is that my instincts are screaming that this stunning creature is mine.
I dash into the kitchen for a towel, then grab a blanket from my bedroom.
When I return, I wrap her in the blanket, my hands recoiling at the iciness of her skin.
It’s so chilled that my hands burn as I touch her.
Shit. I need to move faster or she’ll end up sick.
She looks up when I try to pat her hair, her eyes wide like she’s trying to differentiate dream from reality.
“Here,” I toss her the towel and walk to the fire to add a few more logs. The heat needs to become a roaring, toasty blaze. “Dry your hair.”
The raven-haired beauty nods shakily, then uses the towel to make one of those crazy hair wraps only women know how to create.
She’s still shivering, her hands rubbing her arms frantically trying to get warm.
I watch her silently. The pallor of her skin makes me wonder how long she’s been out there.
But now, it doesn’t matter. She’s safe and will soon be warm.
She needs food and dry clothes. Unsure of whether it will come off creepy to ask her to change, I decide to deal with sustenance first. I practically skip to the kitchen, then look through the pantry for something to fill her stomach.
There are plenty of options, but I settle on soup since I can make it quickly and it will warm her from the inside out.
With just a quick zap in the microwave, it’s ready; so I head back to her.
She’s sitting right where I left her, now clasping my coffee mug for warmth, staring into the fire.
“Oh, that…”
“I’m sorry, I needed a sip.”
“It’s alright.” I set the bowl down on the table, and that earns me a grateful smile—soft, genuine and luminous. For a moment it takes my breath away, and I sense that little tug in my chest once more.
“Thank you,” she says, and when I turn to leave, “I’m Nicolette.”
“Aspen,” I reply. “The grocery store…”
“I think we can forget about that.” She waves my attempt at apologizing away.
I don’t know what else to say, so I just grunt and sit far from her on the stool near my book collection.
Silence spreads out, heavy and uncomfortable, and so is her gaze.
I’ve never been good at conversations, and small talk puts me in a rage.
But the sheer awkwardness of this encounter has me trying.
“So, uh…” I begin, hoping she’ll just read my mind and answer. “What happened? Did you get lost in the storm?”
She takes a slurping spoonful of soup and looks up at me.
Her eyes get a faraway look, as though she’s measuring how much she wants to tell me.
“It’s horribly embarrassing. Honestly. But I, well, I went on a date.
It was supposed to be fun on this moonlit trail next to the lodge until he suggested we go off the path to explore…
then he heard something in the woods and took off without me.
” A shrill laugh follows, like she’s uncomfortable talking about it.
“He left me behind to find my way back alone.”
Upon hearing her explanation, the desire to punch a wall fills me. My face contorts into a frown. “What kind of men do you date?”
She meets my gaze again, this time startled by my bluntness, but then she laughs, and it lightens the tension in the room. The tinkling sound gladdens even my walled-off heart, and I find my lips quirking up. “Yeah, I’m not good at reading people.”
“Well,” I lean on the wall behind me. “Fuck that guy. I hope he ended up as a bear’s dinner.”
“Don’t bears hibernate in the winter, Mr. Mountain Man?” she teases, pulling a chuckle from deep within my chest. It’s a sound I haven’t made in such a long time that it’s more a rusty crack than a genuine laugh.
“Not the hungry ones,” I joke, once again surprised by how natural it feels to be in her presence.
She nods in agreement and continues to eat. Her mouth has pinkened, and watching her spoon soup between those lips has my cock hardening painfully. Nicolette makes these sweet little moans, and I wonder how sweet she would sound as I make her come over and over on my tongue.
Get it together. You don’t even know her.
I force myself to sit there and watch politely, despite the urge to devour her in my bed. Silence grows between us, except for the occasional crack of wood in the hearth.
“So, what now?” I break the tension, wanting to know my next line of action. “Do you plan on heading back to your lodge tonight? It’s getting pretty bad out, but I might be able to call someone.”
She’s chews her lip thoughtfully. “No! It’s a blizzard outside. I don’t want to impose but, I don’t want anyone to get hurt on my account.”
“Good call.”
Silence again.
“You can stay here, Nicolette.” Her eyes dart around the space, and I can sense her nerves. “I promise it’s safe.”
She looks surprised but doesn’t show it for long.
I mean, what other choice is there? I hold up a hand against her protest. “Look, I know this won’t end anytime soon.
So you should stay here and ride it out.
We both know I have more than enough groceries for two.
I know it’s small, and likely not what you’re used to, but there’s plenty of room for both of us. ”
“It’s lovely, Aspen. Very cozy. Anyway, that’s not what I was going to say.”
“What then?”
“Can I have more soup? This is delicious.”
I nod, standing up to refill her bowl. When I return, I make her another offer. “You can have the bedroom. I’ll make the bed for you.”
“Oh dear, no need,” she argues quickly. “I’ve already imposed on you enough. I’ll just stay here on the couch.”
“Are you sure?” Deep down, I pray she says yes. Sleeping on my tiny couch is going to be next to impossible. My bulky body stands no chance of being able to curl up on it.
She nibbles on her sexy lips again, and I have the strongest urge to take her mouth with mine. “Yeah. You’ve offered me a roof and nourishment. I don’t want to be a burden. You’ve done more than enough, thanks.”
Unwilling to argue with the lady, I give her a curt nod.
Truth be told, I’m happy to keep the bed; my only preference would be if she’d like to join me.
I’m not used to having people around, much less a woman.
But she’s exhausted and cold, and I’m not a predator.
Though my body yearns to slide between Nicolette’s thighs, I won’t make a move.
Of course, if she comes to me…
“Sounds like a plan. Let me know if you change your mind,” I say, turning toward the bedroom, ready for a bit of solitude. My overactive brain wants to know everything about the curvy woman, but for now, it’s best to just leave well enough alone.
Before retreating for the night, my eyes fall on the dirty dishes, and all of my years of military training won’t allow me to leave the mess for the morning.
I step back out to the living room to clear the table.
I can’t explain it, but something shifts in the air, like it’s a subtle electricity that arcs between us.
Nicolette releases a quiet gasp, her eyes following me. Do I see a hint of lust in her dark gaze?
Why am I overthinking this? She’ll just stay the night and in the morning, leave. Everything will be back to normal in no time. For now, though, we just need to get through the night.
Plates collected, I turn to leave, and she places a hand on my arm, stopping me. Her touch is a livewire, warm and sensual, inexplicably drawing me closer. “Aspen?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you have a bath I can use?” Her voice is soft and feminine, calling to my very soul. All I want is to protect her, keep her happy and with me. Suddenly, solitude isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. “A warm one?”
I blink a few times, letting her request make it through the murky haze of lust rioting through my body. This is going to be a long night. “A bath?”
She looks at me sheepishly, a pretty pink bloom covering her cheeks. “Sorry, but I’m still chilly. I also feel gross, so I thought a warm bath would help. But if it’s too much trouble, please forget I asked. I’ll bathe when I get back to the lodge tomorrow.”
I sigh after studying her for a moment. “There’s a small tub at the back. It’s not much, but it’ll help. I’ll run you hot water.”
She smiles at me as if I’ve gifted her the rarest treasure, and the tug in my chest intensifies.
“Thank you,” she says, then trails behind me as I lead her to the back of the cabin, where my small tub sits.
I’m more of a shower guy, but occasionally, I use this space for anything that needs a quick soak.
“It’s rustic, but it works.” She smiles at me. “Hold on, let me grab you some soap and shampoo.” I twist the knobs, making sure the tub has begun to fill before quickly heading through my room to the larger bathroom inside it.
“That would be wonderful.”
I return and pass them to her. She runs her hand through the warm water with a sensual coo before shrugging off the blanket and handing it to me shyly.
Nicolette waits for me to leave before getting undressed, her back turned but offering me an alluring glimpse of toned muscles and curves when I can’t help but look back at her.
My breath catches, and I avert my eyes immediately, though I could look all day. “Take your time,” I yell over my shoulder, then head to my room where I won’t be tempted.
Yes, walls between us are a good idea right now.
She doesn’t respond, but the soft splash of her dropping into the tub makes my cock throb with need. Barely able to walk, I drop a sweatshirt and sweatpants outside my bedroom door for her to find, and then quickly shut it.
In an instant, my clothes fly off, and I grab for the lotion on my side table before getting comfortable on the bed. Nothing but a thin wall separates us, so I need to be quick and quiet.
Reaching down, I grab my aching shaft in my fist and give it a good squeeze. It takes all my effort not to moan and give myself away. Nicolette’s pretty pink lips come to mind, and I let the fantasy fill my head.
“Thank you for letting me stay,” her husky voice makes my cock twitch as the brunette beauty saunters toward the bed, hips swaying hypnotically.
“Not a problem, beautiful.” My hand moves faster on my cock as she gets closer, the slapping sound filling the room.
Nicolette’s eyes fall to where I’m pleasuring myself, widening as she takes in the size.
Her tongue pops out to wet her lips, while her hands move to deftly flick all the buttons on her white shirt open to reveal the smooth skin. “Like what you see?”
“Yes,” her voice is husky, eyes molten with desire. She shrugs off her top, baring her heavy breasts to my eager gaze. The bed dips as she kneels on it, reaching for me as if mesmerized. “Can I taste you?”
“Beautiful, you can do anything you want to me.” I relinquish my dick into her capable hands, letting my head fall back with a groan as she runs her thumb over my angry red tip. Nicolette coats her finger in my pre-cum then brings it to her lips with a hum of appreciation.
Her eyes find mine, our gazes lock, and she opens her sexy pink lips, keeping eye contact as she takes me in her mouth. I can’t look away as she swallows as much of me as she can take. Warm heat engulfs my cock, and it twitches, already ready to blow.
Pleasure coils at the base of my spine, and Nicolette begins to bob rhythmically, sucking me all the way to the back of her throat.
My hands slip into her silky hair, loving the way it wraps around my fingers.
It’s the hottest fucking sight I’ve ever seen, and when she moans, the vibrations take me to nirvana.
She moves faster and faster. Slurping around my cock with lusty vigor and I can’t hold back for another second. Rope after rope of sticky cum slides down her throat, and she swallows every last drop.
My eyes open, and sadly, I’m still in my room alone. Just feet away from the object of my desire.
And I want a taste.