To say that the skin on James’s neck prickled was an understatement. He felt a surge of adrenaline rush through him as he slowly and methodically turned back around to see what had captured the elk’s attention. In the snowy brush, nearly hidden, he spotted a mountain lion crouched and ready to strike.
Oh, shit! James thought with his heart slamming madly against his ribcage. He could scarcely get the frigid air into his lungs as he contemplated what to do. His hand instinctually reached to his waistband, where his gun was holstered beneath his heavy, lined parka. Moving the coat aside, he slowly withdrew his weapon as the bitterly cold wind nipped at the warm skin of his torso.
He turned to look at the elk, who seemed frozen in place as if he hoped the great wild cat had not detected him. I don’t really feel like seeing an episode of Wild Kingdom play out right about now, James thought, still trying to figure out a course of action. The elk was so magnificent; he certainly wanted to avoid seeing its blood spilled on the pure, white snow. And the mountain lion was equally impressive, its glowing green eyes already piercing the shaggy brown hide of its prey as it awaited the most opportune moment to pounce.
He was afraid if he shot toward the mountain ridge, the elk would be startled and run, and then the mountain lion would give chase, easily overtaking the elk when they came to the steep, rocky terrain over which James had just trekked. James was also at risk of being trampled in the process – or perhaps an even easier target than the elk. If he shot near the mountain lion, perhaps it would slink off deeper into the woods, and the elk would be spared.
He raised his gun toward the snow-covered brush, his blue eyes meeting the green ones of the beautiful cat. He was in awe of its thick, golden fur, the dark markings outlining its face, and the white beard underneath its pink nose. He’d never been this close to a big cat before, and the determination locked up in its eyes was fearsome in and of itself, without even considering its sharp fangs and claws. He held the gun steady, wondering if the cat had ever seen a weapon before, if it had ever gazed upon a human, its only real threat. Without hunters and other humans with guns, this magnificent creature sat atop the local food chain like a king, the king of the mountain.
He briefly turned just enough to check out of his peripheral vision if the elk remained in his position, and he had. Taking a deep breath, James aimed his gun just to the left of the mountain lion, on the side of the elk, hoping it would make the predator run in the other direction. Bracing his ears for the impact, he fired, the bullet spiraling toward the snow-covered thicket where the great cat perched.
Like lightning bolts, both creatures took off in opposite directions, the elk back up the rocky snow-laden ridge, and the mountain lion deep into the low-hanging boughs of pine. James watched the elk, who was naturally slower, until he disappeared from view.
“That’s the best I can do at saving a life right now,” he said aloud. In a split second, there was no evidence either animal had been there except for their tracks in the snow.
Sarah cleared the breakfast dishes after Zora announced she was going to lie down, complaining of a headache. Sarah offered her some ibuprofen, but Zora declined with her nose wrinkled up in apparent disgust. Whatever, Sarah thought, shaking her head as Zora disappeared into the bedroom with Charlie following her. She glanced over at her phone on the countertop. She was trying to limit herself to one check every thirty minutes. It was proving to be a struggle.
“Signal yet?” Charlie asked as he returned from the bedroom. Sarah assumed he was going to lie down with his wife, but guessed he changed his mind.
“Nope. Do you have one? I’m desperately trying to get ahold of my family. They’re expecting us back by 4 PM this afternoon to have our Christmas Eve meal. Both my family and James’s are waiting on us.”
Charlie’s face softened at the panic in Sarah’s voice, and he tried to soothe her with a reassuring smile. “No, I don’t have one yet either, but it’s nice and clear now. I’m sure we’ll get a signal soon. Did you have one up until the snowstorm hit?”
She nodded, frowning as she bit her bottom lip in dismay. “Your friends are supposed to come back to pick you guys up, right?”
“Yes, actually, we were supposed to stay at their cabin through Christmas. The four of us were going to…you know…’celebrate’ together. But I’m guessing they aren’t able to drive up here until the roads are more passable. I just hope we can get the heat back on in the cabin when they get here – otherwise we’re going to have to figure out other ways to stay warm.”
“I always chide myself for being too connected to Facebook and for watching too much news. I think I need a break from my devices most of the time, but being out here totally isolated with no social media, no phone, no internet is pretty maddening!” she admitted. “I sure see their value right now.”
“No doubt,” Charlie chuckled, his full lips spreading just enough for Sarah to catch a glimpse of his straight, white teeth. “So what can I do to help you relax?”
“Oh, I – I’m fine,” she stammered, searching his eyes for his intentions. When she saw a spark of lust ignite in them, she felt her body involuntarily shudder. Despite what James thought, she knew Charlie’s attraction to her was purely physical. They had a great deal of sexual chemistry, and she couldn’t deny that his suggestive grin was sending signals straight to her core. She could practically feel her panties dampening under his insistent gaze.
“You don’t look fine,” he argued. “You seem very tense. I know you’re worried about James, but he’ll be back soon. What can we do to take your mind off things?”
She wouldn’t have minded another dip in the hot tub or a romp in front of the fireplace, but with James so angry, she couldn’t possibly do anything sexual with Charlie. She just wished she could prove to James that Charlie wasn’t any type of threat. I mean, even if he did want to steal me away, it’s not like I would go anywhere, Sarah thought. The obviously sexist notion she was some object to be bandied about between competing men really infuriated her. Unless it’s a good threesome, she reasoned. Then I can be bandied about by two men to their hearts’ content. When it comes to choosing whom I am going to be with, well, that is solely MY decision.
“I’d give anything to know what’s going on in that big, beautiful brain of yours,” Charlie said smoothly, moving toward her until he was close enough to stroke a finger down her cheek.
She instantly froze under his touch, not wanting to react sexually, but the combination of his dark eyes and sexy accent were wreaking havoc with her self-control.
“Why are you tensing up even more, darling? Here, let me give your shoulders a nice rub,” he offered, turning her around.
A massage is okay, right? My clothes are still on, she rationalized as his fingers began to dig into the tightly knotted muscles on either side of her neck. His hands were full of magic as they kneaded away her tension, each twisted fiber relenting under his skillful touch.
“Here, come sit in the living room with me,” he suggested, guiding her into the next room.
He had started the fire back up again before breakfast, having somehow been able to find dry wood on the porch that wasn’t buried in a snowdrift. He stoked it momentarily while Sarah settled herself on the thick rug. She watched the orange embers fly as he rammed the metal rod between the burning logs. The flames shot up, renewed, in intertwining tendrils of crimson and royal blue. The sexual metaphor of it was not lost on Sarah as she tried to ignore the growing heat between her legs.
It’s not wrong for me to want him, she told herself. It’s only wrong to act on it when James isn’t here to give consent.
Charlie swept his leg over her body as he settled himself on the sofa behind her. Once she was secure between his knees, he returned his long, nimble fingers to her neck. “You know, it might be more helpful if this fabric wasn’t in the way,” he suggested, pinching a bit of her cotton shirt between his fingers.
“I really think I should leave it on,” she answered be
fore she could change her mind. He didn’t say anything in response, just dug his fingertips back into her muscles, which had reasserted themselves just in the short time they’d lacked his touch.
“Relax, Sarah!” he instructed, grabbing the thick, corded muscles between her shoulders. “Everything is going to be okay; you know that, right?”
“No, I don’t know that,” she fired back, not able to stop the tears from welling up with the words. She felt her throat begin to sting with the emotion she was so desperately trying to conceal. “I can’t handle not spending Christmas with my baby girl,” she sobbed. “All I want is my beautiful baby girl…”
As her body began to violently shudder with the despair she’d pushed down so deep inside her, Charlie lifted her by her arms like she weighed nothing more than a sack of feathers. He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped her in his strong arms, breathing soothing whispers into her ear. “It’s okay, darling; it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay!” Sarah shouted, unable to control her volume now that the tears had clogged her throat. “It’s only her second Christmas, and it will be the first one where she’ll have an idea what’s going on. I don’t want to miss that. I need to be there with her.”
Charlie cupped her face in his hands until she was forced to lock eyes with him. “Sweetheart, she’s still a baby. She’s not going to remember whether or not you were there. She is going to be just fine. And so will you!”
“Really?” Sarah seethed, launching herself off his lap. In a split second, her despair was replaced with fury. “You know what? Fuck you! You don’t even have kids, so don’t even think about telling me how to feel about missing Christmas with mine. You have no idea what it’s like to have a baby you went through utter hell to bring into this world. I not only had to do in vitro to get pregnant, but I had to go through it twice, the second time after losing twin boys. Plus I almost lost my husband in the whole ordeal!”
“What do you mean, you almost lost your husband?” he asked, as if that was the only part of her speech he heard.
“What fucking difference does it make? The point is, you don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about,” Sarah yelled from the window as her eyes scanned the vast white landscape for any signs of James. Oh, how she wished he hadn’t left. How she wished he hadn’t gotten angry, that he’d given her a chance to make it right.
“I’m sorry you’re so upset,” he offered in a soft voice, as if he wanted to counteract her sharp, angry tone. “I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
“Then don’t tell me how to feel!” she volleyed back.
“I’m not; I’m not,” he answered, his voice like satin. He made his way to the window, where he stroked his hand down her arm. “I just wondered what you meant about almost losing James. Was he deployed?”
Sarah shook her head.
“Oh, I thought maybe he was overseas while you were pregnant or something.”
“No,” she responded.
“Then what happened?” he pressed.
She didn’t want to tell him. She didn’t want to give him any ammunition to use against James, who had, in the days leading up to Lynnea’s birth and in the year since, more than made up for treating her poorly. He had been the perfect husband. If there were awards handed out for best husband, James McAllister would be a serious contender. He’d helped Sarah pack up and move to her home state, and he’d insisted she take a whole year or more off from teaching so she could be home with their daughter. He’d been completely dedicated to helping with Lynnea as well. He gave baths, changed diapers, got up in the middle of the night. The only thing he didn’t do with regards to their daughter’s care was nurse her, and that was only because he lacked the necessary equipment. In addition, he’d helped Sarah’s mother get resettled in Colorado, and he’d shuttled her son to and from school functions as if he was his personal Uber. And Owen would have never made it through Algebra 2 without James tutoring him.
When she didn’t answer, Charlie’s lips curled up in a knowing smirk. “Let me guess, he cheated on you while you were pregnant. That’s why you haven’t gotten back into the lifestyle, am I right?”
She glared at him. First, James didn’t cheat, she wanted to fire back. He was guilty of not putting Sarah first in her rightful spot as his primary partner. He had behaved selfishly, with no consideration for her feelings, especially when she was still mourning the death of their twin sons. But that was none of Charlie’s business. Absolutely none. She wasn’t going to dignify his accusation with a response.
“Oh, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah,” he said, stepping toward her again. She felt herself bristle as he once again stroked his hand down her face.
“Don’t touch me,” she snarled, and he backed away with a confused look on his face.
“I don’t understand why you’re mad at me when he is the one who mistreated you. And he is the one who got his knickers in a twist and left this morning, putting his life – and by virtue, his whole family, including you – in danger!”
“I don’t want to talk about James,” Sarah said, the words spitting from her mouth as she aimed for a neutral tone but failed miserably. “You don’t know what kind of person James is. You have no idea about our marriage or what we have been through.”
“No, but I have some educated guesses,” he replied calmly. “Look at you with your hackles all raised like a bloody cat. Sarah, I’m not the enemy here. It doesn’t take someone with a PhD in sociology to see what’s going on in your marriage. James is a spoiled brat who never learnt how to treat women. I bet he doesn’t treat his mom too well either – ”
“That’s enough!” Sarah screamed. “I would throw you out right now if it weren’t so fucking cold. You have no right to talk that way about my husband!” She hated the sound of the venom dripping off her words, but it was there, and she was not sorry for it.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her so close to him, she could feel his breath on her cheek. “I’m sorry, Sarah; I’m so sorry,” he whispered, pressing her to his body and wrapping his arms around her waist. “You’re right; I shouldn’t say anything bad about your husband. After all, you’ve both been kind and gracious to Zora and me, and I’m not acting like a very grateful houseguest at all.”
“Can you please let me go?” Sarah balked against him, trying to break free, but he continued to hold her closely to his body.
Finally, after burying his face in her hair and taking a long, deep whiff, he pulled back so he could look into her eyes. “Sarah, I’m so sorry. I know I’m behaving irrationally. I just –”
She managed to break free, stepping back a foot or two so they were no longer touching. She instantly felt relieved, even though just moments earlier she was enjoying his touch and wishing for more. Funny how quickly the tide can change.
“You just what?” she asked, her furrowed brows demanding an honest answer.
“God, Sarah, you’re just so amazing. You’re killing me!” he responded. “I…I know this is going to sound completely outrageous, but…I…I’m afraid I’m falling in love with you!”
Sarah took another step back as her heart began to thump so violently against her rib cage, she thought she might pass out. But she managed to scrounge up a few words: “Charlie, we just met. Like literally – we met yesterday!”
He laughed, a deep bellowing chuckle that boomed out around the tiny cabin, bouncing off the thick log walls. “I know! I’m as flabbergasted as you are!”
She didn’t see the humor behind his admission. Not in the slightest. “I don’t understand why you’re telling me this.”
“Because you get it,” he fired back. “You’re poly. You understand what it’s like to fall in love, even when you’re already in love. I love my wife, of course I do. But I’ve just never met anyone so positively radiant, so breathtaking as you are, love.”
Sarah’s heart sank. James was right, she realized. He was right about Charlie.
When she didn’t respond, Charlie pulled her close to
him again, hugging her tightly with his lips pressed against her ear. “I know you feel it too, Sarah… Say something.”
She forced herself out of his embrace again. “I really don’t have anything to say. I enjoyed our time together – physically – but I don’t see there being any more between us.”
She watched Charlie’s smile melt off his face like butter in a hot saucepan. It was a mixture of sadness and disbelief, with a touch of bewilderment that she had not responded as he’d expected.
“Don’t be afraid,” he finally said. “I know things in your marriage might not be totally secure, but don’t let that stop you from missing out on something extraordinary…”
“What the hell are you talking about?” she scoffed. “The security of my marriage is just fine, not that it’s any of your business anyway. Do you have any idea how out of line you are? How presumptuous?”
“When I see something I want, I go after it,” he fired back. “Most women are drawn to that. Women love an alpha man who takes what he wants.”
“Well, I’m not most women. And taking what you want doesn’t make you an alpha male,” Sarah sneered at him. “It makes you an asshole.”
Nine: Sunset
James couldn’t believe how different the landscape looked with the foot or more of snow that blanketed it. It was difficult to know exactly how much had fallen, in fact, because it had blown around and drifted so much in the brutal winds. He only had a vague idea of where the road was, and he had to be very careful not to trip into a massive pile of snow filling a craggy ravine. He had stumbled a few times, or skidded on a bit of ice, but for the most part, he was pleased with his progress. I’ve probably covered at least two miles now, he thought, surveying the way the sun had shifted farther to the west since the inception of his hike.
Christmas in the Mountains (Mountains Series Book 4) Page 8
