The Cure for Cabin Fever

by Beth Bennett

  James swooped down on her in mid-sentence. He picked her up in his arms and spun around once before taking her to the couch. Sitting down, he put her in his lap, and took off his hat.

  “Listen here, Miss Danner.” He crooned in her ear. “You don’t seem to understand. I want to take care of you. You need to let me. Why don’t you just relax and enjoy being spoiled?”

  To her shock, James promptly picked her up and turned her over his knee. He gave her bottom a light pat. Laurel squealed, unsure of what his intentions were. He drew his hand back and gave her a light spank.

  “Ow!” she squeaked as she looked over her shoulder at him. Laurel couldn’t tell if James was serious or not. A wicked smile crossed his face.

  “I’ve finally got you where I want you, Sassafras.”

  Laurel gave a yell. “You let me up, James Caulderfield.”

  “Will you let me spoil you, Sassafras?” His deep voice chuckled as he waited for her response. She was quiet too long. Spank! A smart little smack came down on her bottom.

  “Stop it, James. You’re going to make me mad.”

  “You haven’t answered me yet, Miss Sassafras.”

  James reached back to spank her again, when Laurel quickly agreed. “Yes, you can spoil me.”

  He clucked his tongue. “That doesn’t sound very convincing. How are you going to convince me, Sassafras?” James laid his hand on her bottom in a playful warning.

  “I will let you kiss me,” Laurel said from over his knee.

  James picked her up and set her on his lap. His lips brushed her cheek, and he proceeded to lightly bite her ear lobe and rub his face and lips down her neck.

  “That was a very good answer, Sassafras.” The deep way his voice rumbled across her ear made goose pimples stand up on her arm. Her toes curled with delight.

  He gave a low laugh in her ear, and growled. “I’ve been waiting for this a long time, Sassafras.”

  He was driving her crazy. She shuddered when he took his knuckles and grazed her collarbone, moving her hair to gain better access to her neck. Laurel turned her head up and gave herself over to his ministrations. One lone thumb found its way up her waist and caressed her nipple on the outside of her shirt. Startled, Laurel pushed his hand away. She pulled back and couldn’t help the look of fear that crossed her face. No one had ever touched her there before. She felt so confused, she wanted to cry. Seeing her distress, James dropped his hand away and tried to console her, but Laurel abruptly jumped up from his lap. Her face was as red as a tomato. She tried to cover her embarrassment by putting the groceries away.

  James watched her a few minutes, then began handing her things to put away. “Are you okay, Sassafras?” he questioned.

  “Fine, I am just fine. Um, thanks for bringing me all this stuff. How much was it?”

  James raised his eyebrow quizzically at her. “Don’t you worry about that, Sassafras. You can pay me back by coming over to my house tomorrow night for dinner and a movie.”

  Laurel stopped what she was doing. “Good grief. I was just at your house for nearly a week. Aren’t you sick of me yet?”

  “Never,” James murmured as he grabbed her hands and kissed them. “I’ll be over to get you at five. Be ready.” He gave her one of his winks again and thundered off in his big old truck.

  She could hardly wait for the next evening. She felt silly about the way she had behaved yesterday. She hoped she would get the chance to explain tonight. She didn’t know whether to tell him she had never had a boyfriend or not. It was embarrassing. What would he think?

  All through the day, her thoughts were on James. Organizing her own pantry made her think about how orderly he kept his. Doing the laundry reminded her of the pink sweats he had packed for her. The canned soup she heated for lunch reminded her of the delicious food he cooked. He was just so amazing.

  Still easily tired, Laurel curled up on her couch to rest before it was time to leave. Daydreams of strong, soft lips crossed her mind. Her heart skipped a beat when she imagined them working their way down her throat and over her breast. “Oh,” Laurel groaned, “I’ve really got it bad.”

  All through the afternoon Laurel eagerly watched the clock. She took a shower around two and sat waiting on the couch. The hands of the kitchen clock stubbornly refused to move at a tolerable rate. Finally, four o’clock rolled around. She couldn’t stand to wait another minute. That’s it, what difference would a few more minutes make anyway? Grabbing her keys, she left the house and jumped into the Jeep. It had four wheel drive. She should be fine for the short trip across the road.

  Approaching the closed gate to his driveway, Laurel was forced to stop. She tried to decide what to do. The gate was shut tight and there was no way she could go around it. An abrupt ditch ran on either side. In addition, the deep snow wasn’t helping matters. She started to look for her phone, then realized she had left it along with her purse at home.

  Getting out of the Jeep, Laurel approached the gate. This is so stupid. Why didn’t I think of this before I left the house in such a tizzy? A frustrated groan escaped her lips and she gave the hateful gate a kick with her small foot. Why does he have this stupid gate here anyway?

  “Halllooo…” Laurel called. She didn’t expect an answer. She really just wanted to hear the sound of her own voice make an echo. Her frosty breath floated in the air. Searching produced no button or keypad. The gate rungs remained a solid wall, despite her effort to shake them.

  Her destination now seemed further away than she originally thought. The little light left on in the window looked miles away. There would be no other way to get to his house except trudging step by step through the snow. She refused to go back home and wait. Laurel did not care that the last of the pneumonia still hung on. She just wanted to see James.

  Onward and upward, around the gate, down the ditch and back onto the road she trekked through the deep snow. She was already soaked. The wind howled and moaned but Laurel kept up the pace, trying to make it to James’s house before the sun went down. She was almost there when she saw the garage door go up. Bright headlights blinded her for a moment and the truck came to a quick stop.

  The driver’s side door squeaked open and James jumped down as he shouted in surprise. “Laurel, what in the world are you doing out here?”

  Laurel stopped where she was and tried to catch her breath. The effort it had taken to stomp through the snow combined with the freezing cold took the words right out of her mouth. Her breath was coming in short gasps, and she bent over and rested her hands on her knees. James walked up beside her and leaned over to look into her eyes.

  “Of all the ninny headed things. What the hell are you doing?”

  Laurel finally caught her breath enough to answer. “I got tired of waiting and decided to come early, but I couldn’t get your stupid gate open so I left my Jeep and decided to walk the rest of the way.” Laurel gave a cough and finished. “I didn’t think it was that far.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Damn it!” James was furious. He took her arm in one hand and popped her bottom with the other. Her smirk alerted him to the fact that she hardly felt a thing through her heavy coat and pants. He marched her back to the garage. Dragging her to the door, he opened it and pushed her inside.

  “Get in the house!” He jumped back in his truck and parked it in the garage slamming the door as he came inside. James was met with an agitated snarl from Laurel.

  “Don’t be such a jerk. It’s not that big of a deal.” Laurel flounced into the den.

  “Laurel Danner, if I didn’t know better, I would bet you lost any sense you had.” He crossed in front of her to stand before the fireplace. “Look at you! Your pants are soaked and you’re freezing cold.” He reached out to take her coat, but Laurel was having none of it.

  “Don’t touch me you asshole.” She tried to step away, but James grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a slight little shake.

  “You had no business out in this weather alone.�
�� Laurel gave him a bored look infuriating him further. “You’re going to get those wet clothes off if I have to take them off myself.” James pointed to the couch. “Sit your behind down while I get some warm blankets.” When Laurel made no move to comply, James felt the need for further comment. “Why your aunt ever thought you had enough sense to take care of her house I’ll never know.”

  Laurel reached her arm back to give James a good slap across the face but he caught her wrist in midair. She pulled away as hard as she could. In an effort not to hurt her, James was knocked off balance. They made an unwieldy descent to the floor.

  James determinedly pulled at her coat sleeves. Laurel tried equally hard to wiggle out of his grasp, but she was no match for him. She yelled and kicked as much as she could, but before she could make him let go, the coat lay in a rumpled heap. He grabbed her ankles and managed to pull her shoes and wet socks off as she tried to kick him in the teeth with her heels. Sensing victory, James lay on top of her legs with both arms wrapped around her knees. She had put up more of a fight than he imagined possible.

  “Laurel,” James panted, spent from his wrestling match, but simply not done with her. “You need to take your pants off, they’re wet.”

  “Get off me, you big oaf,” Laurel growled. Laurel blinked back the tears, but a few managed to escape despite her efforts.

  She spoke in a small broken voice. “I was only trying to get here early because I was so excited to see you.” Her tears continued to fall. “I’m a smart, responsible person… usually.” Laurel let out a little cry and James relaxed his grip around her legs. She was excited to see him? She turned her face to the floor, her shoulders shaking as she quietly sobbed. James gently moved to lay beside her. When she made no response to him, he placed a hand on her shoulder and rolled her to her back.

  “Don’t cry, Laurel.” He ran his hand lightly over her brow as he leaned on an elbow. “Sassafras, what am I going to do with you?” Taking his thumb, he caressed her bottom lip. “You scared me, I thought something was wrong.”

  Laurel sniffed and turned to look into his deep blue eyes. “You hurt my feelings.”

  James rubbed his nose against her cheek.

  “I’m sorry, Sassafras. Will you forgive me?”

  He pulled back and sat up as he waited for her answer. Laurel nodded and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater.

  “Now, you promise me you’ll wait for me to come get you next the time.” Laurel nodded again. “You’re still really cold,” he murmured. “Would you like for me to warm you up?” James caressed her face and held her near as Laurel cuddled close against him. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled the throw from the couch to cover her icy toes. Neither one spoke a word. They lay together on the rug and watched the embers glow in the fireplace.

  He loved the feel of her lying in his arms. She was so small next to him. He caressed her back and lay close. Slowly he turned her face toward him and covered her mouth with his own. Laurel gave a little sigh and James pressed harder, touching her teeth with his tongue. His hands deftly undid the buttons of her shirt. His tongue explored and coaxed as he made tender sweet love to her lips.

  Laurel opened her mouth to him and shyly touched her tongue to his.

  Smoothly James shifted and Laurel found herself underneath him. He continued his assault on her senses. His body urged him on. He was so attracted to her and she was so lovely. She fit just right in his arms. He placed his hand on her back and pressed her close. Looking up, James gazed into Laurel’s eyes. When her eyes met his, her face flushed light pink. She looked a little frightened. It was the same look that has crossed her face the day before. She began to push at him in an effort to wiggle away. Something was definitely wrong. One moment she was putty in his hands, the next she looked scared to death. He was going to get to the bottom of this.

  “Laurel, Laurel, what is it, honey? What’s wrong?”

  A tear made its way down her cheek and Laurel sniffed but she wouldn’t answer him. She looked away, but he gently turned her face to his. “Baby, what’s wrong? Tell me.” Laurel’s lip quivered and she whispered so low he could barely hear her.

  “I’m afraid.”

  James immediately sat up. He wrapped the blanket around her and sat her on the couch. “You’re afraid, Sassafras? Are you afraid of me?” Laurel shook her head and then stopped and looked up at him, slowly nodding. James put his arm around her. “But why, honey, did I do something wrong? Is it because I yelled at you earlier?” James reached over and wiped away the tear that had managed to make its way down her face. He was worried.

  Laurel spoke quietly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that I’m… Well...I’m embarrassed.”

  “Embarrassed? Why are you embarrassed, Sassafras? There’s nothing wrong with what we’ve been doing.”

  “I don’t want to tell you.”

  He felt more concerned by the minute. She seemed attracted to him. He had no idea what was the matter. He patiently waited her out. He just sat next to her with his arm around her waiting for her to gain the courage to talk to him. The antique clock over the mantle sounded out a loud rhythmic tick tock.

  Finally, Laurel spoke. “James, I really like you. I mean really, like. Well, more than like you, I keep thinking about you. Even though you make me mad sometimes, I feel like I want to be with you, but not just once in a while, I want to be with you all the time. When I look at you, I feel like I want to faint or something. It’s just so weird…”

  James looked down at her and grinned. “I love you too, Laurel.” Laurel’s quick intake of breath and startled look made him chuckle. James took her hand in his. “Isn’t that what you’re talking about? That’s the way love makes me feel, and that’s the way I feel about you.”

  Laurel wrapped her arms around James’s neck and squeezed him for all she was worth. “I love you, James Caulderfield,” she whispered in his ear. James gave her a good squeeze right back and she snuggled close.

  He caressed her back as he ran his fingers through her hair. “Love can be scary, is that why you were afraid, Sassafras?”

  Laurel licked her lips and then replied, “Yes…and…well, no. It’s just that I’ve never, well, I’ve never really done this before.”

  James nodded his head and tried to listen with all his heart. “I’ve never felt like this before either, Laurel.”

  “I’m not talking about that, I mean this.”

  “This, what?” James felt lost. He really had no idea what she was talking about.

  “This. This, you know, kissing and stuff.” The light slowly began to dawn as James considered her meaning.

  His hands dropped to his side. “You mean, you’ve never… You mean you’re a virgin?” He was absolutely dumbfounded. The thought had never crossed his mind. She was beautiful, she was a grown woman. He had just assumed that she had at least some experience.

  “Yes, that’s what I mean.”

  James stood up and paced in front of the fireplace. Running his hands through his hair, he was at a loss.

  “Laurel, I just had no idea. No wonder you were scared. I came at you like a freight train. Good grief, I’m sorry, sweetheart. Now I feel like an absolute idiot. Why didn’t I talk to you about this before? You’ve been so shy, and now I know why.” James knelt in front of her and took her hands. “You’re so sassy, it’s easy to assume you’re more experienced than you are. Oh, honey, are you okay?”

  Laurel’s face was three shades of red, but she nodded and managed to speak in a small voice. “Are you mad at me? Are you going to dump me?”

  Her face was so innocent and her question asked with such earnestness James couldn’t help but sweep her up in his arms.

  She was still wrapped in the blanket throw, and he gave her a little toss as he crowed, “Dump you? I’m going to marry you!”

  ***

  James and Laurel set the date for the wedding on Valentine’s Day. He wanted Laurel to have whatever she chose, but she told him
she only wanted a small wedding in town. The ceremony was held at the little white Presbyterian Church on Main Street. All of their friends were there and it was a sweet and simple ceremony. Laurel and James decided on a winter white wedding theme since Mother Nature had provided lots of free decoration outside.

  Laurel bought her gown of heavy winter satin in Denver. Instead of going away for a honeymoon, they opted to stay at a fancy hotel in Aspen for a week and then come home. Laurel still caught her breath when she thought of how tender James had been. They drove from Buena Vista over the one pass that was still open that time of the year and arrived in the winter play land of the rich and famous. Laurel was treated like a queen. James had gone all out. They ordered a fancy dinner in their room that evening. His happiness was contagious and Laurel giggled with joy.

  “It was a beautiful ceremony, James. Thank you for the honeymoon. This is a lovely hotel.” James had ordered filet mignon with champagne for dinner of course. It was the most delicious food they had ever eaten.

  “You are more than welcome, Mrs. Caulderfield. Absolutely my pleasure, and you were the most beautiful thing about the day, Sassafras.”

  Laurel giggled again. They talked about the day and about their plans for the future and enjoyed each other’s company through the evening. Laurel gave a little yawn when dinner was finished. “Oh my, the excitement has worn me out. I think I’ll turn in.” She got up from the table and crossed to the bathroom.

  James’s disappointment was written all over his face. He was looking forward to the wedding night, and he didn’t think he could stand to wait another minute. Breathing out a big sigh, he decided he didn’t want to push her. They had their whole lives to be together, he could wait another night. Cleaning up the meal and setting the dirty dishes on the cart, he pushed it out into the hall and left it by the door of their room. When he closed the door behind him, his breath caught in his throat.