Into The Storm

by Melanie Moreland

  She shook her head. “I know you were upset, Joshua. I know you only see the failure, but I see the victory. And these last few days, as hard as it was, you won.” Her quiet words of praise rolled through me and I gazed at her, feeling my own emotions suddenly shift.

  Groaning, I lifted her head out of the snow and crashed my lips to hers. My tongue pressed decisively onto her bottom lip, demanding entrance, and when her lips parted I delved inside impatiently, wanting her taste. I wound my hand into her hair and tilted her head, wanting more. Deeper. Wetter. Hotter. Over and over, I tasted her, my tongue stroking, dipping, and pressing. Hot, blistering need filled me. The need to feel her wrapped around me. Now.

  Her hands wrapped around my neck, keeping me tightly pressed to her face, while soft whimpers came from the back of her throat. My free hand found the zipper to the bulky parka she was wrapped in and pulled it down hastily, my hand diving inside and up under her shirt to the warm skin. It still wasn’t enough and, abruptly, I sat up pulling her with me. I leaned back, gasping. “Tell me to stop, Rabbit. Tell me to stop now, or I won’t be able to,” I pleaded, my body already trembling with the effort of staying back from her.

  She shook her head. “Don’t stop,” she whispered, her voice ragged with desire.

  Leaning forward, I pulled the parka off her, grinning when I saw she had my hoodie on underneath and I shrugged out of my coat. Both were tossed to the snow and I immediately lifted her on top of them. I hesitated, and then pulled off my heavy cable knit sweater leaving my skin bare to the sun.

  “Joshua, you’ll get cold!” she gasped

  I shook my head.

  “No. I won’t, Rabbit. Right now I’m so fucking hot for you, that would be impossible,” I growled.

  I pulled down the zipper of my hoodie she was wearing, exposing her to the cold and quickly laid her back, covering her skin with my own. I loved that there was nothing under the hoodie to stop me from feeling all of her skin. Again, I tilted her head and ravaged her mouth deeply. Every nerve ending in my body was screaming for her. I felt her arms wrap around me and her hands caressing my bare back in long slow strokes. Her legs wrapped around my hips and I pressed my throbbing erection into her warm centre.

  My hand roamed over her upper torso and arm and then down to the waistband of the sweats she was wearing. I pulled on the elastic and plunged my hand inside. I groaned when I felt her soft slick centre.

  “So wet, Rabbit … always so wet for me.” I moaned lowly, breaking away from her mouth.

  Her hips arched into my touch and I stroked and teased her, my lips never leaving her skin. I licked and nipped at her neck and ears, kissed my way across her collarbone and down to her chest, teasing her cold nipples with my tongue. I could feel her shivers and prayed it was from lust and not the cold. She shifted and then I felt her hand wrap around my rigid cock, stroking, gently at first, then more firmly. My hips thrust forward into her hand.

  “Rabbit … I need to be inside you.”

  Wordlessly, she lifted her hips and I pulled the sweats down over her feet and mine followed suit. We both gasped at the cold air, and then again when I plunged inside of her in one stroke. My head fell forward, the sensations of the heat of her engulfing me and the cold air that surrounded us creating an intense experience. I began to move and closed my eyes. “I’m not going to last long, Rabbit,” I gasped out.

  “More, Joshua … oh God … please …”

  Another long shiver rolled through her and this time I couldn’t ignore it. Leaning down, I gathered her up, parka and all, and pulled her up to straddle my lap. I leaned back on my knees, ignoring the pain, and we both moaned at the angle. I started thrusting deeply, holding her tightly against my chest to keep her warm. I couldn’t stop taking her now if I tried. Her arms were wrapped tightly around my neck, her face buried in my chest.

  “Oh … oh … oh … Joshua …”

  Her body stiffened as she came around me and I followed quickly.

  “Fuck … Rabbit …”

  I stilled and held her tightly. I could feel the cold penetrating me as the heat of my sweat rose off me, evaporating. I stood up, taking Rabbit with me. I set her on her feet and pulled up our sweats. I wrapped the parka around her and pulled on my jacket quickly. I grabbed my sweater, shoving it in her arms and scooped her up.

  “Put me down, Joshua,” she mumbled against my chest. “You’re not carrying me to the house.”

  I kissed the top of her forehead. ”Yes, I am, Rabbit.”

  She fidgeted a little and I pulled her closer as I walked toward the house. “Hush. I like carrying you.”

  Bear was waiting on the steps and went ahead of us, disappearing to the living room. No doubt he wasn’t any more impressed with our outdoor activities than he had been with the indoor ones the past few days.

  Inside, I went straight to the basement … and the hot tub. Tenderly, we helped each other discard our clothes. We both sighed when we sank into the heat of the water and I pulled her against me, relaxing as the water bubbled around us.

  “I’m sorry,” I said regretfully after a while. “I was an asshole.”

  Her arms tightened over mine in silent acceptance.

  “How did you know I would come find you?” I asked. “Or were you planning on lying in wait all afternoon?”

  Her head tilted up and she smiled at me.

  “No. I knew you would think about it and come find me fairly quickly. I knew you wouldn’t be able to stand it if you thought I was upset.”

  I lifted my hand and stroked her soft cheek. “No, I couldn’t.” I grinned down at her. “So, you were ready to forgive me, but you thought you’d show off your mad snowballer skills first? Teach me a little lesson?” I teased.

  She giggled in response. “I thought it would make you laugh. I, ah … didn’t realize it would bring out other … reactions in you. Not that I’m complaining.”

  I nuzzled the top of her head. “Good to know.” I paused. “You bring out reactions in me I have never experienced before, Rabbit. You make me laugh when I least expect it, feel things I have never felt before and, God help me, fill me with a need to make love to you at the most inopportune times.” I bent forward and nipped her earlobe. “Not that I’m complaining either.”

  She looked up and kissed me warmly.

  “Good to know.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Joshua

  I sat back, running my hand through my hair. I leaned back in my seat and looked over toward Rabbit who was curled up in the chair behind me. She looked up, smiling softly at me. “How’re the edits going?” she asked. Now that the clearing was done, I had been working on edits for my latest book. Rabbit had been a great help, looking over my notes and making suggestions. We worked together quietly, but I found having her close very soothing.

  I shrugged. “They go. It’s been a couple weeks and I have a lot of notes to discuss with my editor. Once we have contact with the outside world, I can get going properly.”

  A shadow passed over her face, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she leaned down and stroked Bear’s head. As usual, he gazed up at her adoringly.

  “The world is going to show up, Rabbit. We can’t avoid it forever,” I said gently.

  “I know.” Her reply was muffled as she continued to stroke Bear.

  I hesitated then decided to try and broach the subject, albeit carefully. There was so much we needed to talk about, so many things we had to figure out, but it had to be done the right way.

  “How’s the headache?”

  “Better.”

  “You keep having headaches—you’ve had one every day for the last four days.”

  She looked up, her brow furrowed. “I know, Joshua.”

  “You’ve also had nightmares. Every night.”

  She sighed. “Your point is?”

  I leaned forward, resting my arm on my knees as I regarded her. “You are trying to push yourself to remember, Rabbit. I see it. I’ve seen you studying the
contents of the bag from your car and concentrating. And I think the headaches are your body’s way of trying to protect your mind. It’s not ready yet.”

  “The nightmares scare me, and I can’t remember much of them,” she admitted quietly. “What I can remember doesn’t make sense.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I don’t understand them. It’s like glimpses. A hand coming towards me. Loud noises. Bright lights. Feelings.”

  “What kind of feelings?” I prompted.

  “Fear. Pain. Confusion. Running. Struggling.”

  I looked at her. “Maybe you’re actually remembering bits of what happened that night.”

  She looked away but I saw the glint of tears in her eyes. I got up and went over to her, scooping her up and sitting down in the chair, cradling her on my lap. Bear stretched out on the rug in front of us with a sigh, knowing his attention had just ended.

  “I hate hearing you cry at night and not being able to help you. But you’re so far under I can’t get you to wake up. All I can do is hold you and try to reassure you that you are safe,” I acknowledged. I felt her nod against my chest. “And then you have a headache the next day. I think it’s related.”

  I held her tighter. “I know it’s hard, Rabbit, but you just have to let it happen. You can’t try and force it just because we want to know the answers. And whether you remember or not …we’ll figure it out.”

  There was so much more to say. I wanted to comfort her more, but how could I when I was dreading the same thing she was? Instead of talking, I slowly stroked her hair, enjoying the softness as my fingers ran through it.

  I felt her relax and drift into sleep and I settled deeper in the chair, holding her close. Neither of us had been getting a lot of sleep with the nightmares plaguing her, and I wanted her to rest. Her head was tucked up under my chin and her hands, even in sleep, clutched my shirt as if afraid I would disappear.

  My fear was I would have to let her go.

  But for now, she was here. With me.

  I shut my eyes and relaxed; the quiet of the afternoon restful.

  At some point later, my eyes flew open. I looked at the desk and watched as my phone vibrated again.

  I sighed. If I was getting a phone signal that meant the power was back.

  The world was about to show up.

  Looking down, I saw Rabbit’s eyes were open and looking at the desk as well.

  “I think the power is back,” I said quietly, stroking her cheek.

  “What happens now?”

  “I’ll go to the barn and turn off the generators and get things going. Turn on the furnace. That sort of thing.”

  “And then?”

  I sighed. “We’ll take it one step at a time, Rabbit. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  I nuzzled her forehead in comfort. “Make me some of your delicious coffee while I go get things done in the barn?” I mumbled against her soft skin.

  She nodded silently, and I tightened my arms around her before we got up from the chair. I went and pulled on my parka, walking slowly out to the barn, painfully aware of the fact that things were about to change.

  How exactly, I didn’t know. But something was telling me it wouldn’t be in a good way.

  I came in and went to the kitchen, Bear pushing ahead of me to get to his Rabbit first. She was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and, wordlessly, she got up and brought one to me. I nuzzled her forehead and took a sip.

  “All done?”

  I nodded. “I turned off the generators and refilled them in case another storm blows through. I’ve got everything switched over. The furnace will warm the whole house fairly quickly.”

  She nodded. “What’s next?”

  I watched her hands twisting in her lap. I captured them in mine and lifted them to my lips. “I’ll sign-in on the computer and check emails and contact a few people. When you’re ready, and not before, we’ll do some checking. Not until you’re ready, Rabbit.”

  She let out a shaky breath, nodding.

  I stood up, holding out my hand. “Come upstairs with me.”

  Once upstairs, I handed her a notepad and asked her to make lists of things that were needed and I would contact my usual local merchants, making sure they were capable of making deliveries again. She immediately started writing and I returned to the desk and turned on the computer. It took a long time to download all the messages waiting for me. I went through them all, quickly sent some replies, deleted any junk and prioritized the rest. I kept checking on Rabbit behind me and noticed the fearful looks as she would glance toward the computer; like it was going to suddenly jump up and grab her. I stood up and went over to her, kneeling by the chair. Wordlessly, I cupped her face, my thumbs drawing light circles on her skin as I drew her mouth to mine. I kissed her softly, running my tongue over her bottom lip. She sighed and returned my caresses and I tilted her head, deepening the kiss. She flung her arms around my neck, holding me close, and I continued kissing her until we were both breathless. Pulling back I rested my forehead against hers. “Not until you’re ready, Rabbit,” I insisted quietly.

  We both jumped when a shocked voice came from behind me.

  “Joshua, what the hell?”

  I turned and looked at the stunned face on my computer screen.

  Fuck.

  I had opened up my Skype window and forgotten to close it after making sure it was operational and now the world just showed up. And her name was Cecilia.

  I sat back with a sigh as Rabbit jumped up and ran down the stairs, obviously startled. I looked towards the computer, rolling my eyes.

  “Always such good timing, Cecilia,” I remarked dryly as I walked over and sat down in front of the screen.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Never mind that. You had better start talking, Joshua. Who on earth was that?”

  I leaned forward, my voice quiet and began to talk.

  “So you’re telling me she’s been there this whole time? And she has no memory of who she is?”

  “Yes, Cecilia, that’s exactly what I’m saying,” I said again, trying to remain patient. I was pretty sure we had already gone through this enough. I’d given her a brief overview of what had transpired since the storm hit.

  “I am so getting you a fucking satellite phone.”

  I smiled grimly. We’d argued about this before. I gave in.

  “Okay.”

  “I think I’m speechless, Joshua.”

  “Now that I never thought I’d see,” I chuckled. I heard Rabbit coming back up the stairs and turned to see her walk over and silently place a cup of coffee on the desk, turning immediately to leave. She had literally run away when I got up to address Cecilia’s rather blunt greeting earlier. Reaching out, I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my lap.

  “Cecilia, this is Rabbit,” I said into the webcam, holding Rabbit close.

  “Hey, Rabbit! This is a … surprise, but nice to meet you.” Cecilia’s voice was filled with unasked questions.

  “Um, hello, Cecilia,” Rabbit said quietly. I could feel how tense she was, her body vibrating with nerves.

  “It’s okay, Rabbit. I trust Cecilia completely,” I murmured into her ear. I kissed her cheek softly. “You’re perfectly safe, pretty girl.”

  I heard Cecilia’s gasp of shock, seeing me interact with another person in such an intimate manner. Especially someone I had only known for a short time.

  Cecilia cleared her throat. “I’ll be up day after tomorrow. Send me a list tonight of anything you want me to bring. Rabbit, I, um, assume there are some items you need?”

  Rabbit shook her head. “No, really, I’m okay but thank you.” She squirmed away from me. “I’m making dinner. I’ll leave you to your … call.”

  I watched her quickly walk back down the stairs. I turned back to the computer to see Cecilia eyeing me warily.

  “We’ll talk when you get here, Cecilia,” I said wearily. It was far too complex to do via a webcam.

  “What have you
done, Joshua?”

  I looked at her silently for a minute, and then shrugged. “I fell in love.”

  She just stared at me.

  “Send me that list,” she said quietly.

  I nodded. ”Rabbit needs conditioner. Some good stuff; she gets tangles in her hair. You could find that, yes? At a salon or something? I don’t want just some cheap stuff off the shelves here.”

  Her eyes went wide. “I’ll get that and anything else you want.” She paused. “Joshua?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You won’t be able to avoid my questions when I get there.”

  Closing my eyes, I nodded. “I know.”

  After I shut down the webcam and checked with the local merchants to find out what I could or could not expect in the next couple of days, I went downstairs.

  Rabbit was in the kitchen, once again by the stove, stirring something that smelled delicious. She looked up, smiling timidly, as I approached. Once again, it struck me how right she looked here.

  I stood behind her and wrapped my arms around her, drawing her back against me. Leaning down, I nuzzled her neck. “Smells good.”

  She laughed. “It’s stew, Joshua. Just stew. I was trying to use up the last of the veggies and some of the meat you insist on cooking in such vast quantities, so really … it’s just leftovers.” She held up the spoon and I leaned over and tasted it.

  “How is it that your leftovers taste about a thousand times better than what I usually eat?”

  Rabbit laughed, sounding pleased at my compliment.

  “Did you finish your list?” I asked

  “Yes, I finished your list, Joshua. It’s on the table.”

  I planted one more soft kiss behind her ear, grinning when I felt her subtle shudder, and went over to the table. I was surprised to see a bottle of wine open and a glass partially full. An empty glass stood beside it.

  “Drinking early, Rabbit?”

  “I thought we could use it,” she said not turning around.

  I sighed and filled my glass, topping hers up, and handing it to her. It had been a rather emotional day so far. I scanned the list, adding a few things. I made a separate one for Cecilia.