23. Red
23
RED
As much as I loved the glacier tour, for obvious reasons, I’m more than a little eager to get back to the cabin.
We hold hands the entire drive back, the slow sounds of Eric Clapton playing on the radio. The air in the cabin is content, contemplative, and with an undeniable buzz of anticipation.
The sky has darkened by the time we arrive back at the cabin, the expected storm beginning to roll in just as forecast.
Shutting the engine off, I turn toward Mags. “I want to gather some more firewood inside to tide us over and while I’m at it, I’ll check around the outside to make sure everythin’ is battened down. Is that OK?”
More than anything I want to go inside and lose myself in Mags, but I also want to make sure we’re going to be safe from the storm because once we get started, there ain’t nothing and no one that’s going to stop me from being with her.
She smiles. “Of course. I’ll go inside and make sure we’re set in case the power goes out and we end up stranded for a while.”
My lips tip up. "Can't say I'd be disappointed to be shut away from the world with you.”
"Sweet talker," she murmurs, leaning toward me. I meet her halfway, gently caressing her cheek before bringing our lips together in a soft and slow kiss, making sure to take my time to trace her lips before sliding my tongue inside. I lap at her mouth, seeking and getting a gratifying breathy moan in response. Knowing I have to stop this before I forget all about firewood and supplies and the impending storm, I pull back and just look at her.
“See you inside, beautiful,” I murmur, stealing one last kiss.
“That you will,” she replies roughly before we both get out of the truck and go our separate ways.
The wind outside has picked up, the first few droplets of rain peppering my face as I quickly gather more firewood. The storm is coming in fast and it’s as if someone has pulled a thick curtain over the world.
After dealing with the firewood, I move around to the front porch to make sure everything is secure. The wind has picked up a lot now, making the trees rock back and forth as the sound of thunder rumbles in the distance. Even that’s not enough to drown out the thoughts of being back inside with Mags and what the night ahead of us may hold.
I’m torn between being in no rush at all and wanting to cement the change in our relationship immediately.
There hasn't been another woman that's come close to my bed since Anna passed. I’ve poured everything I have into the rodeo, raising Wyatt, the ranch and now the bull stud too. There’s been zero interest in dating.
The mountain activating the Call and opening my eyes to the fact that my One has been right in front of me for years now has flicked a switch in me.
I want everything with Mags. I want to touch, kiss, explore, and discover every part of her. I want to claim her as mine, knowing that she's the woman who is destined to be by my side for the rest of our lives together.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been with someone, so I know I’m a bit rusty in the art of seduction. All I can hope is that it’s like riding a horse—it’s something you don’t forget.
Finally making my way back into the cabin, the smell of delicious food fills the air. Mags stands in the kitchenette stirring a pot on the hotplate while humming softly to herself, the sound and sight of her like a siren’s call to my soul. And it’s one I don’t want to resist.
I set some firewood down next to the fireplace, smiling back at her when she looks my way. Her eyes soft, her perfect pink lips curving up as she makes no secret that she’s checking me out.
“You OK there, darlin’?” I ask, my lips twitching. She can look me over anytime she likes.
“Oh yeah. I’m peachy. I’ve got a handsome cowboy takin’ care of me. Just hopin’ he’ll let me return the favor after dinner.” Well now I know the answer to that question.
“Hmm. Guess it depends on what’s on the menu,” I tease.
I’m no longer overthinking everything. I don’t have to because it’s written all over her face. She’s an open book just like she’s always been, and I can’t wait to dive between the pages and discover this new dimension of our decades-long relationship.
She blushes and my smile widens. “Get that fire goin’, Red. Dinner’ll be done in about thirty minutes.”
I shoot her a mock salute and turn my attention to the task at hand, knowing that soon, I won’t be thinking about anything else but her.
Once I’m done, I stand in front of the fireplace, warming my back while watching her move around the small kitchen, her movements graceful and familiar.
As if sensing my gaze, she looks up, happiness filling her features. Suddenly I feel ten feet tall and capable of anything. Any nerves I still have about whatever tonight will bring have vanished now that I can see her, leaving no doubt in my mind that she wants this just as much as I do.
Never did I think I’d be as happy to be stuck inside a remote cabin in the mountains. It’s like it’s just the two of us locked away in our own little bubble, the perfect situation for what I hope will be a perfect night ahead for my One.
As if I’m a puppet on a string being pulled toward her, I cross the room and move behind her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, Mags leans back, fitting perfectly against me as if we’re two pieces of a puzzle. Dipping my head, I press a gentle kiss to the silky skin at the nape of her neck, her scent filling my senses and shooting a thrill right through me.
“Red…” she breathes, her voice soft and reverent as her hands come up to cover mine on her stomach, fingers intertwining as if to anchor herself.
Knowing that if I start anything now we’ll never want to stop, I shift to stand next to her and lean a hip against the counter. “Everythin’ OK outside?” she asks.
“Yep. Got wood piled by the back door, and I moved the truck under the carport. The cabin’s well-built considerin’ so we’ll be safe even if the storm gets worse.”
“My hero,” she says, batting her lashes at me.
“Goin’ by the smell of that supper, I think you’ve got the superpower. How the hell did you manage to make Corned Beef Hash?"
She winks. “A woman never tells her secrets, Red. Don’t you know that?”
Lifting my hand, I cup her cheek and draw her in for a slow but gentle kiss before pulling back, loving the way she whimpers and chases my lips afterward.
Mags narrows her eyes. “Never would’ve taken you for a tease, Red Grayson.”
I wink. “A man never tells his secrets, darlin’,” I reply, giving her own words back to her.
“Hmm. Suddenly rethinkin’ my plan to feed you your favorite dinner to butter you up,” she murmurs, stirring the pot again.
I bring my mouth to her ear, loving the way she trembles as my warm breath tickles her skin. “What, pray tell, are you butterin’ me up for ?”
She ever-so-slowly turns her head so our lips are only a whisper’s breath apart. “To spend the night with you. I want to touch…” Her fingers stroke my arm. “I want you to take me to bed.” Our eyes lock together as she closes the distance between us, her body melting into mine. “I want to show you how I feel now that I can kiss you…” She touches her mouth to mine. “And you can kiss me…” She kisses me again. “And we can keep each other warm…” Then, she’s not touching me at all and it’s like a bucket of cold water has been splashed on me.
My face must say it all because amusement fills her features, her pouty lips curving up in satisfaction. I tilt my head and run my gaze over her.
“I’ll have to pull down those extra blankets from the closet. That’ll keep you warm …”
"Hmm. It would…," she says plainly as if she's not driving me insane with lust. "But I'm sure you can think of other ways…"
“Damn right I can,” I mutter, earning a snicker from the object of my desires. I jerk my head in the direction of the bathroom. “I’m just goin’ to clean up now.”
She laughs and the sound makes my heart swell. “I bet you will.”
I get two steps away from her before she tugs on my arm, turning me around and crushing her lips to mine.
Grabbing her around the waist, I hold her to me, kissing her deeply and pouring everything I’m feeling, everything I want into it.
“I like this,” I whisper against her lips as we come up for air.
“Believe me, Red. I do too.”
“It feels right, doesn’t it?” I say.
The way her face gentles is another one of my new favorite looks. She reaches out and grabs my hand, lifting it to rest over her racing heart. "It does, you do. I think I gave up lookin’ because the universe knew I was meant to see you. ”
“Damn, darlin’. You can’t say things like that when I can’t do anythin’ about it right now.”
“Soon, Redmond,” she says with a wicked grin. “Soon.”