Chapter 10
After Maddox left, I wondered where and how we’d manage to be alone for some sexy times because the moment I walked back in the trailer, Abaddon harangued me, “Why were you gone so long? I’ve been waiting forever.”
But even his bitching couldn’t ruin my good mood. The lightness lasted throughout the next morning and increased as I got closer and closer to seeing Maddox again.
Leo remarked on my eagerness to leave work. “What’s gotten into you? I’ve never seen you in such a rush to get home before.”
Since I wasn’t ready to divulge my plans, or my burgeoning relationship with Maddox, I lied. “I’ve got a handyman coming to look at the damage to my trailer from the volcano.”
“I thought it emerged unscathed.”
“It did, but there’s a huge dent on the roof that I’m worried about with winter coming.”
“When are you going to build that house?” Leo knew of my plans.
“Soon. I’ll be shopping designs and contractors before the fall most likely, so we can start in the spring.” Assuming I hadn’t relocated by then.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Bye-a.” I fled and drove a little too fast to get home, arriving well before my planned meeting time with Maddox.
Since our tryst the day before, I’d had time to not only relive it—to my panty’s detriment—I’d also decided no matter what, I was paying back the favor either with my mouth on his cock, or his dick in my pussy. It didn’t seem fair I’d gotten pleasure and he went home blue balled.
Not today.
By the time Maddox arrived—early, I should add—I’d fed Abaddon, found an old knapsack to stuff him into until we at least got into the forest, changed into some hiking gear—old worn jeans, shit-kicker boots, and a henley—and changed my underwear into something sexy—and dry.
Maddox looked yummy as always in his snug denim and a red plaid shirt. He exited his truck, carrying a loaded backpack and a grin.
“Hey, sexy. Ready to go on a nature walk?”
“Hell yeah I am. Give me a second to grab my bag.” I entered the trailer to find Abaddon sulking.
“I don’t see why I have to be stuffed away,” he complained.
“Because we don’t know if anyone’s watching.
” I’d not seen signs of spying but I remained leery since the visit of the RCMP.
“Best we don’t take chances. I’ll let you out soon as we’re in the forest. Just so you know, we’ll be going east of the trailer and entering the woods by that really big pine. ”
“Whatever,” he moped, crawling into the bag.
I exited with my heavy—and grumbly—bag and joined Maddox.
“Ready?”
I nodded. We set off at a brisk pace, just two people going for a hike. Although, I did wonder what anyone watching would think when we returned with his bulging pack empty. Here was hoping I didn’t have spying eyes on my property.
The forest in early fall always delighted. From the crisp scents to the colors, it dazzled the senses. It also reminded me how long it had been since I’d taken the time to literally smell and touch nature. I’d been so caught up in work that I’d forgotten how relaxing it could be.
Until a shrill voice interrupted. “I smell wood. Can I get out now?”
I glanced at Maddox. “What do you think?” The forest surrounded us and I heard and saw nothing out of place.
“Probably safe enough.”
I knelt and placed the knapsack on the ground, freeing Abaddon who emerged with a grumpy mien.
“Toted around like a baby. The shame.”
“For your safety. So suck it up, dragoncup.”
“And she calls me bossy,” he muttered, scampering ahead.
Maddox and I kept him in sight as we followed. “How far do we have to go, do you think?”
“I looked at some 3D maps of the area. If we keep heading west, we should hit some mountainous terrain within an hour so long as we keep this pace.”
“That’s not too bad.” I glanced at him with his heavier load. “Need me to carry some of that stuff?”
He snorted. “Yeah, no. That’s man’s work.”
“Ah, misogyny alive and well,” I stated.
“More like my mom raised me with the understanding that as long as my arms and legs work, no woman should ever have to carry anything other than her purse.”
“Your mom taught you that?” I squeaked. “My granny was the opposite. She always insisted I do everything myself. Claimed I couldn’t count on a man to do it. In her defense, my granddad was a lazy drunk.”
“I’m surprised your grandmother kept him around, seeing as how very strong-willed and independent, based on the stories you’ve told of her.”
“She was, but only because of what he put her through. She grew up being told she had to marry and depend on a man. Given her own father abused her, she latched on to the first fellow that gave her a way out. Only he turned out to be a dick. At least she benefited in the end. Turned out the logging company he worked for had life insurance for all their workers. She used that money to buy the land and trailer. She raised my mom there, and later on me. She said when he died, she’d never felt so relieved. Or free.”
“That sucks. I don’t remember my dad much, but from what Mom said, he did good by us.”
“No need to feel sorry for me. I had Granny and she made sure I had everything I needed, including ensuring I wouldn’t grow up thinking I had to cater to anyone. She encouraged me to be my own person.”
“I wish I could have met her.”
“Me too. She’d have liked you.”
The conversation remained steady as we walked, me learning how he sucked at math in school and then ironically ended up owning a business.
“Good thing for the QuickBooks program or my taxes would be a nightmare.” I told him about my first tattoo given to a friend in high school in their kitchen using less than hygienic methods.
Luckily that friend didn’t get any kind of blood poisoning and years later when I ran into him and saw the faded shit still staining his arm, I redid his tattoo into something epic for free.
It should be known, while I’d dated and been in a few relationships, I’d never really had deep conversations with those men.
We met—usually while drinking in a bar—fucked, partied, but most weren’t interested in me as a person, just a hole to stick their dick in.
The difference with Maddox proved staggering.
He actually listened to me. Didn’t turn everything I said into some kind of sexual innuendo yet made his interest in me clear.
Lacing his fingers through mine as we walked.
Occasionally bumping his hip into mine and giving me a small smile.
I liked it.
A lot.
We had to stop handholding when we reached the foothills of the mountain.
We’d been hiking for just over an hour and while I did worry about us getting lost since we followed no trail, Maddox didn’t seem concerned.
Then again, Mr. Boy Scout had brought a compass and every so often he stopped and held out his phone to mark a pin.
Smart. I’d not even thought to bring breadcrumbs to drop.
It was Abaddon who found the cave, and a good thing because we’d have never spotted it. With his small and nimble size, along with his claws, he could climb and cling to the rocks and go places we couldn’t.
He disappeared from sight. I paused, one foot on a boulder, eyeing the terrain.
“Did you see where he went?” I asked Maddox.
“Somewhere over in that rocky overhang. I’m sure he’s fine.”
Make that triumphant. He suddenly reappeared, clambering down quickly and chortled. “I found a place. Bigger than our current home.”
“Where?”
He pointed to the overhang. “There’s a ledge and a crack. You won’t fit”—said to Maddox—“but Pip could. Inside is a cave, a big one, and two tunnels. I smell water in one of them.”
It sounded ideal but for one thing. “How will we get these supplies up there?”
Maddox had a solution for that. He knelt and put his pack on the ground and pulled out a coil of rope.
“I’m going to need you to find a spot to loop this rope around so that I can pull one end while the other is tied around your stuff.
Something like this.” He draped the rope over his arm and mimed tugging it.
Abaddon rolled his eyes. “Why not say you want to create a simple pulley system?”
“Uh, because I keep forgetting you’re smart.”
“Understandable. Greatness like me isn’t common. I think I know where to loop it. Give me a moment.”
Abaddon grabbed his end of the rope and went scurrying off, holding it with his tail, of all things. This time I could track his progress as he climbed, not easily since his dark scales blended with the rocks. The rope unspooled, Maddox ensuring it remained slack to make it easier for the dragon.
When he disappeared from sight, and the rope kept unravelling, I worried if there’d be enough.
“Hold on, I’m coming down,” Abaddon hollered before suddenly appearing at the edge of the overhang, rope in hand.
And dived.
My heart stopped but Maddox understood what Abaddon was doing.
Maddox held his end of the rope and released it bit by bit, slowly lowering the dragon who grinned at us.
For the unknowing, dragon smiles don’t give you a warm fuzzy feeling, more like that chill you get when a lion shows its teeth and licks his chops because he’d like you for dinner.
“I think I shall want to keep this rope when we’re done transporting the goods,” Abaddon stated.
“Was already planning to leave it here,” Maddox stated. “Give me a second to tie up the stuff and then I’ll send you up with it.”
Maddox unpacked his bulging knapsack which I’d assumed mostly contained the sleeping bag, only it turned out to be a lot of nonperishable food: trail bars, bags of nuts, and beef jerky.
The sleeping bag was the compact kind still in its vacuum sealed package.
Mad pulled out a tarp as well and used it to bundle the items before tying it to the rope.
Then he glanced at Abaddon. “Okay. Ready to go back up?”