Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
One Year Later
The last year has been one hell of a rollercoaster.
After Luke ran out the back door, the cops kept incessantly knocking on the door.
I tried screaming through the tape, and I’m not sure if it was the screams or not answering the door that did it, but Officer Hilton kicked down the door, followed by Officer Jefferson, guns drawn.
When they saw me tied to the chair, their eyes visibly widened in shock.
Officer Hilton rushed to help me while Officer Jefferson checked the house.
Turns out, they were worried, and both came out to check on me after my prior complaint.
I explained what happened, telling them everything just as Luke had told me to.
I told them how Liam showed up shortly after they left and how Luke killed him for trying to rape me.
I told them that Luke tied me up to prevent me from calling the police and that he ran out the back door when he heard them coming.
The regret written on their faces for not taking the situation more seriously was palpable.
They called out every officer they had, including others from surrounding counties, to help search for Luke.
I gave them a description, but told them I wasn’t sure what direction he went.
The search lasted for weeks before they gave up, but the case never closed.
At one point, they looked at me as a suspect.
I had a motive to kill Liam, after all, not only with the attempted rape but with him sleeping with my best friend.
They found DNA in the cabin belonging to an unknown male, so I was ultimately cleared.
When I got home, I immediately packed up the apartment and moved into another, removing myself from any negative aura and vibes.
I couldn’t stay in the apartment I shared with the man I killed, the man who I caught fucking my best friend.
Speaking of which, Kaci tried to reconcile things.
Practically begged me to be friends with her again, but I told her to fuck off.
It wasn’t until after I rejected her that she tried running a smear campaign against me online, trying to convince people that I was involved in Liam’s murder.
Oddly enough, her posts were only up for three hours before all traces of them from the internet disappeared.
I decided to dive headfirst into some online graphic design courses, finally choosing to do something I love.
The bookstore was a great job, but design has always been my passion.
To put a little piece of me onto the books and bring stories to life for authors.
Now, I design covers and graphics for authors, and I love it.
I’m finally happy, but I’ve been feeling like I’ve been missing something.
Throughout the year, I would get random gifts.
I’d get deliveries of flowers and treats, coffee from my favorite coffee shop, and books by my favorite authors.
Then, the gifts grew to clothes and jewelry to electronics like AirPods and iPads.
With each gift, I’d get a note. The note would have the number of days written until Christmas, and then it would always have the same message.
Thinking of you. I miss you, little dove.
The cabin comes into view as I make my way down the gravel drive. Snow falls lightly on the ground, nowhere near as heavy as it was this time last year. The lights are off, and my heart starts beating in anticipation for what’s to come.
I bring the car to a stop, shutting the engine off, and getting out.
I look around, seeing no other car in the drive.
I grab my suitcase from the back seat before heading up the creaky wooden stairs.
The front door swings open, the hinges on the door creaking just as much as the steps I just walked up.
The place is empty, everything the same as it was when I left.
The Christmas decor still fills the room, the tree practically twigs, the dead foliage littering the floor.
I basically packed up and ran after the events of last year.
The cabin was beginning to feel suffocating.
My family heard about what happened, but their sympathies were short-lived.
I think they had their suspicions about me, too, which I would say hurts, but I did kill him, so I can’t blame them for thinking it.
None of them desire to visit this cabin anymore, though.
Not after hearing of what transpired here.
I look around some more as I flip on the lights, and the chair Liam sat in still sits in its original place.
Flashes flood back of a bound Liam, unmoving and slumped in the chair.
My eyes roam to the dining room table, and flashes of Luke fucking me into oblivion play out in front of me like a movie.
I clench my thighs, remembering the way he felt. I’ve missed him.
I head upstairs to the bedroom so I can unpack my bag, but when I get to the room, I pause. There’s a black box on the bed with a red card sitting on top. Dropping my bag on the floor, I slowly move to the box, picking up the card and opening it.
Hello, little dove.
Oh, how I’ve missed you. In the box, you’ll find a gift.
I want you to put it on and come find me in the place where we first met.
I hope you’re ready for me. See you soon, baby.
I place the card down on the pillow and open the box.
Folded inside is a red dress with fluffy trim.
Confused, I pull it out and hold it up. The sound that escapes me is almost embarrassing as I look at the long-sleeve Santa dress.
It’s mid-length, and white fuzzy trim decorates the bottom, sleeves, and neckline.
There’s a black belt around the waist, and he even included a matching Santa hat.
There’s also a pair of black boots with white fuzzy trim along the tops.
He can’t be fucking serious. I sit on the edge of the bed, looking out the window.
What am I getting myself into? I still hardly know this man, yet I waited an entire year for him.
Life before him was mundane. He made me feel alive.
Suddenly, movement catches my eye, and I see someone standing in the tree line wearing a red Santa outfit before he bolts back into the woods. I smile. Fine, let’s play.
I throw the outfit on as quickly as I can, admiring how warm it actually is.
I slip into my boots and put on the hat before heading outside.
Then, I take off into a sprint toward the tree line.
For a moment, I feel free, and I laugh a big, boisterous laugh at how utterly silly this is, yet I love it.
Passing through the tree line, I head toward the spot Luke found me when I was running from the wolves.
It’s lightly snowing, but with the thick canopy up top, there’s not much on the ground.
It’s cold, but the dress is doing a great job of keeping me somewhat warm; my legs are the only part of me that really feel the chill.
I push, forcing my legs to keep moving until I come to the spot I recognize from the year before.
It’s empty. Not a soul in sight. I walk a little further, peering around the trees, but still, it remains empty.
Suddenly, the sound of sticks crunching behind me startles me, and a hand wraps around my mouth, pulling me into a hard chest. My heart is pounding in my chest, my breathing rapidly increasing. Leaning down into my neck, I hear a sharp inhale before he speaks.
“Mmm, your fear smells just as divine as I remember, little dove.”
I relax a little, turning in his grip to see Luke standing before me.
He wears a full-body Santa jumpsuit that buttons down the front and a black belt secured around his waist. A Santa hat sits on top of his head, and black boots adorn his feet, much like the ones I am wearing. He’s just as handsome as I remember.
“Luke,” I breathe out, lifting my hand up to touch his face, but he grabs it and spins me back around before whispering in my ear.
“Run, little dove. Run as fast as you can. Because when I catch you, I’m going to fuck you so hard the wolves will be envious of your screams.”
My breath hitches, and he releases me. I hesitate, but a smack to my ass makes me jump, and I take off, running farther away from the cabin.
I’m dodging tree branches, roots, and holes, sprinting through the forest. I decide to change it up a bit, and I pivot to the left before making a complete turn, running back toward the cabin.
Maybe he’ll think I just kept running straight, and I’ll lose him.
My muscles are burning. I think the last time I ran this hard was when I was running from the wolves.
At least this time, my ankle isn’t twisted.
I turn back, looking behind me and seeing it empty.
I let out a loud laugh, feeling triumphant, but the second I turn back to face in front of me, I run into a hard chest, falling back on my ass.
I’m suddenly having deja vu. I look up to see Luke standing above me, grinning wickedly.
I scoot back, trying to evade him, but it’s no use.
He picks me up, throws my legs around his waist, and pushes me up against a tree.
The soft material of his Santa suit doesn’t do a great job of hiding the rock-hard member in his pants, and it brushes along my core.
I let out a soft moan as he takes my mouth in his, kissing me for the first time in a year.
It’s a deep, longing kiss, like if he stops, he’ll never get to kiss me again.
My pussy immediately floods, the bulge in his pants hitting my clit through my underwear just right.
I press my hips further into him, trying to get as close as possible.
He doesn’t even waste time, desperate to have more of me, as he unbuttons the front of his Santa suit while never breaking our connection.
He pulls his cock out of his suit, finding my panties and moving them aside.
He lines himself up with my entrance and slams home.
I cry out, my screams echoing off the trees as I adjust to him.
I haven’t been with anyone since, so there’s a slight burn with the stretch that quickly gives way to pleasure.
He lets me adjust for only a few seconds before he picks up the pace, making up for lost time.
I feel utterly full as my pussy grips his cock tightly, seeking release.
I lean my head back and moan, “Fuck, Luke. I’ve missed this cock.”
He looks up at me before pistoning his hips to pin me against the tree. He pulls my arms out of my sleeves, bringing the dress down to expose my breasts, and he pauses, admiring the new jewelry.
He laughs. A full boisterous belly laugh when he sees the two hoops hanging from my nipples, sporting a little charm of an ornament hanging down from each one.
I got them done a few weeks after what happened, changing the jewelry the second I was able to.
He takes each one into his mouth, sucking and pulling on each nipple.
The piercings make each bud even more sensitive, eliciting another moan from me as I smile at him.
“What a naughty little dove,” he taunts.
“I’m glad you like them. I wanted a permanent reminder of you, in case you didn’t show tonight,” I respond.
“You thought there was even a chance I wouldn’t show tonight?
” he questions, and I nod. “Then you’ve underestimated me, little dove.
Unfortunately for you, there is no escaping me now.
You’re mine,” he growls, and my pussy grips his cock.
He begins fucking me into the tree again, hard, fast, and my orgasm is building quickly.
I run my hand through his hair and grip it in my hands, pulling on it tightly.
He hisses, responding with a hand around my throat and applying pressure.
The pleasure builds even quicker as my vision begins to blur.
“I’m gonna come, Luke. Please don’t stop,” I beg, choking out the words.
“Give it to me, baby. Tell the creatures of the forest just exactly who you belong to. Scream my name.”
I shatter as he releases his grip, oxygen flowing back into my lungs as my pussy spasms around him, and the quiet forest lights up with my voice as I scream, “Luuukkkeeeeeee, ffuucckkkkk!” Liquid flows down my legs, and he fucks me through every blissful moment.
Luke’s moans fill the small space between us as he fucks me deeper, chasing his own release.
“Fuck, baby. I’m gonna come,” he growls. “This pussy is just too good. Made for me. My fucking pussy,” he growls out.
“Come inside me. Give it to me. I need it, please, Luke,” I whisper in response.
He pumps inside me a few more times and then explodes, thick, hot spurts of cum filling the inside of my pussy. His thrusts slow as I milk him for every last drop, squeezing him dry. He pulls out of me, but quickly takes his fingers and scoops up any escaped cum and shoves it back inside.
“This is where it belongs from now on,” he growls. I blush, but I’m sure it’s unnoticeable from the pink tones the cold is creating on my cheeks. He lets me down, fixing my dress for me, and he situates himself.
“Let’s head back to the cabin, little dove. It’s only going to get colder.” Then, he lifts me, carrying me bridal style just as he did a year ago when we first met.
Once we’ve made it back to the cabin, we shower, the hot water a welcome feeling.
We fuck again under the water before moving to the bed, and then on the table, where we recreated the scene that feels like forever ago at this point.
When the night is over, we both crawl into bed, and for the first time, I fall asleep in his arms, happy, satiated, and thankful for the wicked winter night we spent together that led us here.