by Linzi Basset
“I might be a surgeon but I’m not in the operating room and you’re not a patient. A man is a man, baby, and there’s nothing as seductively beautiful as a woman’s breasts,” he said through the snickers.
It was a sound that engrained itself so deep into Riley’s heart that she would wait a thousand years to hear it again.
Trent leaned close. Riley’s eyes flickered as she felt their breaths mingling in the minuscule space between their lips. He kissed her. A hard, quick possession of her mouth that broke through her annoyance. It doused her with the passion and desire she swore she could see in his eyes.
It left her breathless, trembling, and shattered.
Aw, shit, Riley. Now you’ve dunnit. You’re fucked, woman. Short and sweet. You have fallen off the railway.
She listened to the wail in her mind but her heart settled in a steady rhythm of acceptance. She had fallen in love with Trent Reeves. Head over heels. The one thing she always scoffed at that was possible in real life. How the devil could it have happened to her of all people? Love at first sight, or in her case insta-love. She was truly, truly fucked.
“You have fifteen minutes to shower, dress, and be downstairs for breakfast. If not, I’ll be back with that suit and the clover clamps,” Trent taunted her as he sauntered out of the room with Storm on his heels.
Sheila sat on her haunches, smiling widely at Riley. She looked so happy and sweet, Riley could do no more than laugh and pat the bed invitingly.
“Warf!” She was on the bed in a flash and licked at Riley’s face in an enthusiastic show of affection.
“Eeuww! Stop that!” She laughed as Sheila sat back to watch her. “You do know where that tongue of yours licks, right? No lapping at my face, is that clear, young lady?”
Sheila mewled a shamed reply and lowered onto her stomach, covering her nose.
“Oh, you’re such a manipulator but it’s not gonna work. It’s a no-no.” She rubbed Sheila’s ears and threw off the covers. “I better hustle. That beastly master of yours probably has the suit and clamps at the ready. Gmphf, making me fly a kite with my tits. In your dreams, Doctor Reeves.”
She marched into the bathroom, not surprised to find Sheila following her. She laid down on the thick bathmat, her soulful eyes watching Riley’s every move.
“It’s only been three days—or is it four already—and I already know I’m going to miss you so much when I leave here.”
And him. I’m going to miss him even more.
How it had happened, Riley would never know. She didn’t even try to understand the logic of it. As impossible as it might sound, Trent had entrenched himself into the chambers of her heart and filled her soul with his essence—size twelve boots and all. It was the weirdest feeling but also the most intense emotion she’d ever experienced.
She stood in the shower under the hot water cascading over her as she pondered her confused emotions. For the first time, she knew what it felt like to be completely invested in a man.
“So, this is what it feels like to be in love. To love with a passion that equals the desire I feel for him.”
The moment the words echoed back to her, she embraced it to cherish it deep within her, with the hope that maybe one day Trent would come to love her too.
“This doesn’t seem like two blizzard’s worth of snow,” Riley remarked as they got into Trent’s truck.
“It’s not. The blizzard predicted for last night moved south and completely missed Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.” The engine roared to life. “As you can see, I already cleared the road from the cabin to the mountain road. There are five neighbors in the area who also have snowplows. With all of us working on it, we might get you to your aunt in two to three days.” He looked around as he eased the powerful truck around the curve and onto the slippery tarred road. “That’s if it doesn’t snow again, of course.”
He flipped a switch on the dash. Riley started as the truck shuddered before it started moving forward at a snail’s pace.
“It’s my first time in a snowplow. Just look at all the snow! It’s rising above the truck hood,” she said with her hand over her mouth while she clasped at the seat with the other.
“Relax, Riley. I’ve been doing this for the past six years. Once it reaches a certain height, it topples over to the side, then I reverse and repeat the process until a section of the road is completely clear of snow. My plow isn’t as wide as the ones they use in town but it’s powerful and gets the job done. It just takes a little more time and effort.”
“That’s a relief,” she puffed and pried her eyes away from the snow barring their way to look over the landscape. “It’s so beautiful out here. So different than living in the city. I kind of miss the silence and camaraderie such a small community offers.”
“Where is home?” Trent kept his eyes on the small screen on the dash that supplied him a view from the top of the truck to see where he was going.
“Nashville. I’ve been living there for the past eight years.”
“You said you’re a journalist. Freelance?”
“No. It’s a sad story really. I moved from one big magazine and newspaper to the next, hoping for someone to give me my own column. It never happened until I covered the live performance of an up and coming country western singer. Rolling Stone Magazine noticed the article and approached me for a job. It’s not the kind of reporting I wanted to do when I studied, but it’s more rewarding than the dismal topics I covered up to that point.”
“Rewarding and fulfilling or are you settling for second best?”
Riley contemplated her response. She had asked herself that question many times. She still didn’t know what the answer was.
“I guess it’s a natural assumption to make and, honestly, I’m not sure I can answer that.” She stared over the rolling mountains, covered in all their glory with a white blanket of snow that gave it a fairytale look. “I’m good at what I do, brilliant I’ve been told, and I do enjoy it. I travel a lot. I meet so many wonderful performers … it’s a different vibe than investigative journalism.” She flashed a brief smile at Trent. “That’s where my passion lies, what I always wanted to pursue.”
“One thing I learned over the years, Riley, is that you should always live life with passion. Never settle for second best, no matter how good others say you are. If that’s what you want to do, that’s what you should fight to achieve.”
“And you? What made you leave your passion as a trauma surgeon to do … what exactly? Alone up here in the mountains.”
Trent’s lips flattened. The truck shuddered to a stop as he shifted the gears into reverse and slowly eased backward. He didn’t respond until he lowered the snowplow again and inched forward.
“Who says surgery is my passion?”
“The internet. Don’t glare at me like that. I was curious, so I did some investigative journalism about your trauma career,” she defended herself with raised hands. “You were one of the best, Trent. You received so many accolades, it’s mind blowing. No one achieves such heights in their career if it’s not something they do with drive and passion.”
He didn’t answer immediately but the tight lines around his mouth relaxed. He inhaled deeply, the sound filled the cab of the truck with such desolation, Riley wished she’d never asked.
“My wife and daughter died in an accident. One I’m responsible for.”
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize …” She placed a consoling hand on his thigh and squeezed gently. “Forget I asked.”
“No, maybe it’s time I speak about it. God knows it’s been milling inside my mind for years.”
Riley stared at him perplexed. “Are you saying you never spoke about their death ... for what? Five, six years?”
“I never spoke about the emotional guilt I feel to anyone.” Another heavy sigh sounded through the truck. “I worked too hard. I spent too much time at the hospital. Always willing to take on every trauma patient that landed there. Apart from many other reasons that
our marriage was falling apart, that took its toll too. I was supposed to be the one driving us to a function that night. It had been snowing and the roads were icy and slippery but a patient came in with multiple injuries.” He shrugged. “I told her to drive and that I’d meet them there.” His hands gripped the steering wheel so hard, his knuckles turned white. “They never made it. She spun out …”
“Trent, you can’t blame yourself. It was an accident and it could’ve happened even if you drove the car.”
“Maybe so, but she had told me earlier that day it was the last function we’d attend as a couple; that she’d filed for divorce.” His eyes drifted over the snow-covered mountains. Pain sat shallow in his deep blue eyes. “The thing I can’t forgive myself for, to this day, is that in the process I neglected my daughter. I knew Adrienne was having an affair; that’s why I was never home. I was angry at my wife that night for the blunt way in which she threw away our marriage without putting in any effort to try and save what was left. I chose to do that operation. That’s the guilt I live with, Riley. I should’ve been the one driving. The accident could’ve been prevented.” His voice turned thick and cracked as he whispered, “My daughter could still have been alive.”
“Trent, you’ll forever have her in your heart. I’m sure she knew how much you loved her.”
He shook his head as he shifted the truck into reverse and made a U-turn at a wide stretch of the road and drove back to the cabin.
“Does she? Somehow, I don’t believe that. I made her a promise on the day she was born. I fall asleep with those words mocking me every night. I said to her that every summer we would play in the forest and listen to our laughter dancing with the daisies in the grass. I told her that no matter what, in a time when her life felt like winter, when the ice froze her heart, I would be there for her. I hear my own voice, Riley … I am your shelter, your guardian, your forever home, my darling daughter. My heart ... always an open door, the key safe in your pocket, and a love that will forever be yours.” He swallowed hard on the lump that formed in his throat. “I failed her. I wasn’t there for her … not enough. Not nearly enough.”
The truck rocked to a stop in front of the cabin. He glanced at her. She sighed within herself. Gone was the man who showed his emotions, the grief and pain he lived with. In its place was the stoic, impassable mask she wished he would shed forever.
“I have work to do and I don’t want to be disturbed. I’m sure you’ll find something to keep you busy.”
“Trent, I’m—”
“There’s more than enough food in the kitchen. Help yourself to lunch. I’ll make dinner later.”
With that, he pushed open the door and got out.
“Storm, Sheila … come.”
Storm bounded after him in the snow but Sheila hesitated, looking between him and Riley who hadn’t moved.
“Sheila, come!”
This time she didn’t dare disobey the harsh order and with an apologetic yowl in Riley’s direction, she followed the two males into the cabin.
It was a long while before Riley moved and stumbled through the snow toward the cabin. She felt defeated. She had an abundance of hope earlier— that maybe she had found her forever after prince. Only to have that dream shattered. He might not have uttered the words, but the underlying message had been clear. There was no space in his life for another woman … or for love.
The joy she had felt at discovering her feelings that morning, crumbled inside her heart. She felt a stab of pain scorch through her.
Up until that moment, Riley hadn’t realized to what extent she had opened her heart to Trent. How fast, hard, and deep he’d wormed his way into the deepest chambers of her heart.
Or was it infatuation? Maybe she was being stupid and naive to believe what she felt for him was love.
“Yeah, maybe that’s it. No person falls into such debilitating love this quickly. It’s not possible.”
“Love is what this season is all about. Where miracles happen and love and joy rule the world. Believe, Riley Miller … believe.”
“What the flying fiddlesticks!?” Riley spun around and searched for the man with the deep voice, but there was no one. “Holy shitty snowballs, this is too creepy.” She looked around as she ran the rest of the way to the front door. She slammed it closed and locked it behind her.
“See, Riley, there you have it. You’re going cuckoos, that’s why you think you’ve fallen for him … hook, line, and sinker. Ugh! Stop it. It’s not love.”
“Believe, Riley Miller … believe!”
“Go away! Jeez Louise! I’m losing it. Talking to myself and a crackhead voice in my mind!”
Chapter Nine
Balancing the lunch tray against the wall, Riley rapped briefly on the study door, pushed it open and slipped inside. Sheila immediately rushed to her side. Storm, on the other hand, growled at her.
“What are you doing here? I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed.”
Riley froze as Trent’s dark voice timbered through her. She glanced at him and retreated a step. A shudder thrilled down her frame at the glacial look in his eyes.
“Well? Did you lose your tongue?”
“I brought you lunch.” She cursed as she listened to how timid she sounded but she couldn't help but be taken aback by the man glaring at her from across the desk. This was the man Aunt Sophie had been worried about. The one who shut off his emotions and became a dark and lonely recluse.
“If I wanted lunch, I would’ve asked for it, or better yet, made it myself.”
Riley squared her shoulders and marched toward the desk. She was tempted to slam the tray down to visualize her ire but curbed the childish inclination at its birth. Trent had revisited a very painful time in his life and it clearly affected him in ways he never expected.
“Well, I made it and it’s here now, so you might as well enjoy it.” She patted Sheila between her ears as she headed back to the door. “Just so you know, Trent Reeves, you don’t scare me,” she snipped over her shoulder as she opened the door.
How he got to her so fast, she had no idea but her shriek of surprise seared through the room as he slapped the door closed in front of her nose. She spun around and slapped him on the chest, trembling from head to foot.
“Was that really necessary? You scared the shit out of me!”
“Really? Wasn’t it you who just claimed the opposite?”
“Tsk, you know what I mean,” she clicked her tongue irritably. She pressed her back surreptitiously against the door in an effort to get away from the threatening man he’d become.
It didn’t help, he followed, crowding her against the hard surface behind her and his equally strong body in the front. His hands were placed against the door next to her face. She was effectively locked in a cage of Trent Reeves.
“You should be scared, Riley. At this point, very scared.”
“Trent, I—”
“Quiet! I warned you yesterday what would happen if you bothered me in here, didn’t I?” His eyes shimmered with flashes of silver that made the ink blue of his eyes glimmer like black diamonds in the sun.
“I thought you’d be hungry. What—”
He pressed harder against her. She stopped breathing as the hard ridge of his … holy crap! … huge cock dug into the softness of her stomach.
“You don’t pay attention, do you, sub?”
The dark ripple in his tone warned her that she was staring at the powerful Dom. One whose anger seemed to be tenaciously hanging onto a thin thread, ready to snap at any moment.
“Trent, I just …” Her voice drifted off as his eyes narrowed. His hand curled around her throat and he applied pressure. Not too much but enough for her to panic and rise on her toes. “Sir!” She remembered and sighed softly as the pressure relaxed. “I thought I was doing you a favor. I didn’t mean to—”
“But you did, my pet. I have been waiting for hours for you to walk through this door. I could feel your curiosity eating away at you.
How you desired to walk in here to see what I’m doing.”
“No,” she breathed in desperately. “I only brought you lunch.”
“You’ll be happy to know that your curiosity paid off, Snowflake,” he said in a much more controlled voice. The metamorphosis was enlightening to say the least. The anger seemed to slip in waves from his face and in its stead, she stared at the man who had completely rocked her world the night before.
There was a slight measure of amusement in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by a dark warning that the Dom was now in full power.
Riley didn’t stand a chance. Whatever he intended for her; she’d already submitted without hesitation. She could feel the excitement lodge itself in the throbbing of her loins, the pulsing of her clit and the hardening of her nipples that poked against his chest.
“Raise your hands above your head. Good girl.” He smiled as she obeyed instantly. “Keep them there, sub, no matter what. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her voice hitched high as he unzipped her jeans and yanked them and her panties to her knees. A low grumble from behind Trent caused her body to freeze. “The dogs,” she whimpered as he removed her shoes and every piece of clothing from her body so fast, she became disoriented.
“What about them?”
“They’re watching,” she said in a whisper.
Trent smirked as he pushed her arms back into position. “They’re not strangers to this kind of scene, my pet, so you can relax.”
Riley glared at him. It was the last thing she wanted to hear at this very moment. That he copulated everywhere in the cabin in full view of his dogs!
“I don’t care! I’m not one of your … subs who likes an audience. I want them out.”
“Well, well, the little snowflake has some fire in her after all.” A broad smile split his face in two. “Or do I detect a sliver of jealousy, hmm?”
