by Ivy Jordan
“The heat helped my hip,” she proclaimed, squirming in her seat. “I think it’s just a bad bruise that’ll be just fine,” she added cheerfully.
I was glad to hear it wasn’t broken. I knew, even though I hadn’t told her, that a break like that could set up infection without proper treatment. “Good,” I smiled.
The front of my jeans was still tight, too tight to stand around here staring at Bailey. “I’m gonna chop more wood before it gets too late,” I mumbled, quickly grabbing my coat, gloves, and hat, and headed for the front door.
The snow blew in from every direction as I grabbed five logs from the stack under my deck. I pulled the radio from my pocket and turned it on. The weather man gave news of more storms, more snow, and more cold. I was certain Bailey was going to be disappointed. I could barely see to aim the axe, but managed to get three of the logs split into quarters before my hands started to go numb. The coldness ridded my crippling erection, and I knew it would take quite a bit for it to return anytime soon, so I headed back in with my load.
Inside, Bailey was already moved into the bed. She was snuggled up against the headboard, the blankets pulled to her neck. She held a book in her hand, one that I didn’t recognize. “What are you reading?” I asked.
She shrugged, turned the book over, and looked at the cover. “It’s a romance novel. I didn’t take you for that type of reader,” she teased.
“I’m not. Where did it come from?” I questioned.
“In that basket, under the last blanket I pulled out,” she pointed to the basket in the corner of the room.
“Okay. That was here when I moved in. A lot of the furnishings were left behind,” I explained, not wanting her to think I read romance novels.
“Sure,” she teased with a smile.
“Seriously, do I look like the kind of guy that reads romance novels?” I shook my head.
Bailey flipped the book over, showing me the cover. A long haired man with an open silk shirt and rippled chest held a small-waisted woman in his arms. Some imaginary wind blew his golden locks so they flowed from his shoulders, while the woman’s hair remained perfectly in place. “You look like the kind of man romance novels are written about,” she purred.
Fuck. It didn’t take long for my cock to thaw out and start to swell. “Wow,” I howled, unable to remove the frozen smile from my face. “I wanted to let you know, the weather is getting worse. May take longer than expected to get you outta here,” I warned, changing the subject before my dick exploded.
She didn’t react the way I’d thought. Her lips curled into a soft smile, and her eyes seemed indifferent to the news.
“I’m really sorry that you’re stuck all the way out here,” I apologized.
“Don’t be. I’m actually starting to enjoy it,” she chirped.
“Really? You like being away from everything, and everyone, eh?” I chuckled, amused by the fact she may be more like me than she realized, than either of us realized.
“I’m not away from everyone,” she flirted. Holy shit, was she really flirting?
“Oh yeah, stuck here with me, that’s a blast,” I coughed.
“There’s only one thing that could make it more enjoyable.” Bailey’s eyes batted as her lips curled into a crooked smile.
“What’s that?” I choked out, swallowing hard to rid the lump growing in my throat.
“You, snuggling up in this bed with me,” she cooed.
Wow!
Chapter Eight
Bailey
My cheeks instantly flushed with heat. What had I just said? I’d never been so bold before, had I? It didn’t feel like something I would say, but I did. Xander’s smile widened across his cheeks, and his own shade of pink swarmed his face. I wanted to duck under the blankets, to hide in the darkness until he walked away, leaving me with my embarrassment, but I couldn’t take my eyes from his.
“You don’t think I’ll hurt you?” he questioned, his voice filled with concern.
I shook my head slowly, the heat creating a pain in my cheeks as it grew. I lifted the blanket, inviting him to snuggle in beside me as I squirmed to give him room.
A low chuckle rolled from his throat, escaping through his full lips. I watched eagerly as he slid in beside me. His body was warm, his scent musky and masculine, and his arms strong as they pulled me into his chest. He didn’t wait for another invitation, kissing me quickly, almost nervously before either of us could speak. I was grateful, feeling the urge to ramble, to giggle, to say something, anything. His lips pressed against mine, whiskey flavored his tongue as it slid into my mouth, skillfully stroking against mine. A tingle released between my legs, exploded through my breasts, and caused me to let out a moan into his mouth. His hands were searching my body, slowly sliding against my curves, squeezing the muscles of my upper thigh, my buttocks, and then working back to my waist. My back arched, pushing my breasts towards his hard chest. The friction of my nipples against the roughness of his shirt stirred another moan. This time, he stopped. His mouth pulled from mine, his eyes pressed heavily onto me as his face filled with concern. “Did I hurt you?” he asked.
I giggled. “No,” I replied softly. The bath helped ease most of my pain, and the passion rolling through my body eased the rest. “It feels good,” I mumbled.
Concern left his eyes, leaving them filled with only desire as they stared down onto me. Xander fumbled in the drawer next to the bed, pulling out a foil package that he quickly opened. As he worked to place the condom onto his hard cock, I lifted my mouth to his, pressing our lips together, searching for the flavor of aged whiskey on his tongue once again.
Xander’s hands roamed freely along my body, this time with more aggression. His palms cupped my buttocks, squeezing gently as he pulled me into his erection. The sensation of his hard member against my thigh caused me to let out a sigh, letting my head fall back against my shoulders, and our mouths separated.
The jogging pants that Xander was so kind to allow me to wear were now being pulled from my body, the chill of the room licking at my heated flesh. His mouth pressed into my neck, his lips sucking my sensitive skin into his lips as the cool cabin air nipped at my legs. I hadn’t put on any panties after my bath, leaving my pink flesh exposed as the fleece pants fell to the floor beside the bed. His hand was warm and inviting as it ran up my leg. My body squirmed against his, pushing my throbbing cunt towards his hand. The roughness of his fingers against my soft flesh made me groan with excitement. Slowly, one finger slid between my pussy lips, gliding through the juices that freely flowed, slippery, effortlessly and creating a friction that drove me wild. I wanted this man, whoever he was. This kind man, my hero, the scruffy loner that lived on top of the mountain with no neighbors, I wanted him badly.
My hand reached between us, gripping his hard cock through the thick denim he wore. He let out a sigh and slowly inserted the finger he teased me with into my warm cunt. I worked feverishly to unfasten his button and zipper, freeing the large member that pushed against the denim into my petite hand. My fingers stretched to reach around his erection, barely clasping. I couldn’t remember ever feeling such a large cock in my hand, but then again, there was little I did remember.
Xander’s finger pushed into me, slowly at first, and then with a quick pace as I stroked him. My fingers slid to the tip of his cock, playfully gliding through the slippery pre cum. I wondered how long it had been since he was with a woman, or for that matter, how long it had been since I’d been with a man. I was sure I’d never been with a man like Xander, scruff, rough, and so masculine.
His eyes, piercing blue, stared into my soul in silence as our hands continued to pleasure one another. Any thoughts that ran through my mind were gone instantly, leaving me with only his image. Long shaggy brownish blonde hair fell from the sides of his scruffy face. His goatee dangled from his chin, and his mustache curled at each end. His skin was rough and tanned from spending so much time outdoors I presumed, and his eyes had tiny lines on the side
like crow’s feet that made him look older, even though I knew he couldn’t be much older than me.
My heartbeat sped up, my breathing became irregular and labored, and my body tingled with desire as his finger slid from between my legs. His hand pushed my shirt up and over my head, exposing my full breasts to his hungry eyes. He lowered his mouth, sucking my left nipple between his lips, tugging gently, but hard enough to make me squeal out into the quiet room. My hand released from his cock, quickly copying his move and pushing his t-shirt from his body. His chest was smooth, his abs rippled into a delicious six-pack, and a small patch of hair, just as muddy colored as what was on his head, laid perfectly centered on his chest.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked softly.
His eyes were so blue they made me feel as though I was lost in the clouds. “Yes,” I whispered, reaching back down between us to warm my hand with his cock once again.
His lips curled into a grin, his eyes gleamed, and a sigh, one I assumed was of relief, fell from his lips. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he added.
I shook my head slightly, my own grin growing on my face. “You won’t,” I replied, not entirely certain I believed that statement.
My hand stretched around his cock, feeling the girth of his manhood as he rolled towards me, and then atop of me. His weight, even though only slightly resting on me, caved my chest, warmed my entire body, and sent wild tingles of excitement through my breasts.
I stroked him, watching his eyes close, and his lips part with each movement, a delicious image. “You’re beautiful,” he gasped, opening his eyes to mine. My hand released, sliding up his side. His muscles were tight, toned, and felt like ripples beneath my fingers as they strummed upward on his body.
His cock rested between my legs, my pussy throbbing in anticipation. Our eyes locked, and with a smooth, skillful motion, he was inside of me, deep inside. My body melted against the mattress as his body pinned me beneath him. Moans of excitement rolled from my throat as his hard cock widened my pussy, stretching it to accommodate his large member. My fingers dug into the flesh of his back, pushing into the muscles that flexed with each thrust.
Xander’s mouth lowered to my neck, sucking my sensitive flesh as he buried his large cock between my legs. I let out a moan, loud and hungry into the room. My fingers dug deeper into his back, penetrating his hard flesh with my short, manicured nails. His thrusts became harder, deeper, and with each one I exhaled hard, only a slight moan able to escape my throat from the shattering pleasure. My fingers rolled down his back, stopping on the hard muscles of his buttocks. They flexed with each push into me, raising up just high enough to allow me the enjoyment of his total length.
I couldn’t believe I was doing this, fucking this mountain man that I didn’t even know. His body pressed against mine made me feel safe, and his masculine scent kept me hungry for more. I wasn’t sure if this was something I would’ve done before my accident, before I forgot everything about myself.
Deeper, harder, and with more aggression, he plunged into my tight cunt. My body shook with excitement as sweat dripped from his forehead onto my shoulder. I had an urge to turn my head and lick up the salty substance, but his eyes on me delayed my response. My pussy started to throb, the friction of his penetration becoming too pleasurable to deny. Moans grew louder as they pushed past my lips, and muscles tightened in my body that I didn’t even know I had.
Xander’s arms flexed as they worked to hold his weight from me, and suddenly his cock began to throb in the same rhythm as my pussy. Our orgasms exploded together, unstoppable, wild and delicious as our eyes locked. Something about this man brought this out in me. I knew this wasn’t who I was, who I’d been. It all felt too new.
His weight fell onto me, crushing me into the mattress. I didn’t mind. I actually enjoyed it. My arms wrapped around him, squeezing him into me as his lips delivered delicate kisses to my chest.
The rough exterior, the hard core shell that kept this man away from civilization, crumbled away like melting ice from a glass. My heart filled with an array of powerful emotions as I felt grateful, lucky, that this man had found me.
Chapter Nine
Xander
I couldn’t believe what just happened, how bold she’d been. Even still, there was innocence about her, something so sweet I could taste it on my tongue. I rolled to my side, lifting my weight from her petite body, suddenly worried I’d hurt her. “Are you okay?” I sighed, scanning her expression for any signs of pain.
“I’m great,” she smiled.
Damn, that smile. She was beautiful, too beautiful to be stuck in the woods with the likes of me. Someone had to be looking for her, desperate to know she was safe. “Do you need anything?” I asked, starting to work my way out of the bed. Her thin arms reached around me, pulling me back to her, by her side. I didn’t fight it, even though I wasn’t certain how I felt about lying next to her, to anyone. I hadn’t slept with a woman in years, and even then, it felt odd.
“Stay with me,” she whispered in my ear.
My body relaxed back onto the mattress, my arm curled under the warmth of her body to hold her into my chest, and suddenly, I was content right where I was.
The wind blew wildly outside the window, bringing more white snow to barricade us inside the warm cabin. The fire was strong, several logs still situated near the fireplace, and I knew it would be a couple hours before I needed to tend to it. I didn’t want to move, to leave my spot snuggled up beside Bailey, if that was her real name. I worried about who was out there looking for her, but worried more about them finding her as I drift into a calm sleep.
The wind took me back to the ship, and the darkness filling my mind turned into the violent sea. Aboard the ship, along with my men, we guarded pirates taken hostage from their ship. At first, the dream was soothing, watching the smiling faces of the brothers I loved. Liam, short and stocky, but made of steel, grunted as he lifted the heavy lock from the main door to the deck. A couple stayed behind, but not Elijah, not Isaac, and not Tommy. My heart raced at the realization of my dream, and suddenly it was no longer soothing. I watched helplessly, knowing I was unable to alter the nightmare I’d relived time and time again, as the men climbed the small metal staircase to the upper deck where I waited. A wave blasted over the deck just before Liam could close the heavy door, letting the bitterly cold salt water run down the steps to the hostages and the men who stayed to guard them.
Sirens shook me, calling me to duty as an approaching ship was spotted up ahead. I ran the stairs, spiraling around and around until reaching the top where I quickly loaded the cannon, pushing a young SEAL from his position. My hands were shaking as the first blast rocked our massive ship. The men below scrambled to their positions, none of them concerned for their own safety, only the safety of their brothers, their ship. I sent the blast towards the coordinates yelled in my ear by the younger boy to my right. I knew what the next blast would bring, and I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. It was like I was being punished, forced to watch the painful memory over and over again. My eyes watched Elijah and Tommy, red lights flashing around them, then a fiery blast surrounding them, tearing through the metal of the deck. That scream, I’ll never forget that scream. “Nooooo!” Elijah yelled to the night, holding Tommy in his arms while Isaac rushed to their side. I wanted to scream out, but nothing, just silence and an ache in my throat. The darkness swallowed me, like an angry wave of the sea pulling me in as I thrashed around to pull from its grasp.
“Xander?” a sweet voice woke me, but it didn’t shake the feeling of being back there on that ship, on that dreadful night.
My eyes stared into Bailey’s. She looked frightened, and I wasn’t sure what I’d said in my sleep, what I’d done. “I’m okay,” I assured her, even though I wasn’t. But I would be. I’d been through this before, many times, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. This was part of my punishment for not saving the men, for not saving Tommy.
Bailey’s
hand slid up my arm, causing me to jerk away. I wasn’t ready for condolences, not yet, maybe not ever.
My hands were shaking. I quickly shoved them behind my back, not willing to show Bailey any vulnerability. I was supposed to be the strong one, the hero, the one who would look after her and keep her safe. I pulled from the bed with her hand clasping at my arm. She pulled me back towards her, her eyes filled with confusion, concern, and maybe pity.
“Stay with me,” she whispered, tightening her grip on my arm.
A part of me wanted to, but I pulled away anyhow, hard, and without concern for her feelings.
I grabbed a log, shoved it on the fire and poked around while I felt her eyes piercing into my back. I didn’t even look back as I moved to the couch. I pulled the blanket over me that was neatly folded on the arm, and stared up at the ceiling until my eyes grew heavy enough to close once again.
When I woke in the morning, Bailey was still sound asleep. I placed another log on the fire, and then started the coffee. I felt like a piece of shit for jerking away from her last night. I knew she wouldn’t understand, and I really didn’t feel like explaining it to her. Hell, I didn’t truly understand it all myself.
Bailey squirmed under her blankets, turning towards me with open eyes. She watched me silently while I lifted the coffee pot over the fire. “Coffee?” I asked.
She nodded with a slight smile growing on her face. Her eyes were bright and cheerful, especially for such an early morning hour. “How’d ya sleep?” I asked, hoping to kill some of the awkwardness I felt from the night before with small talk. How could’ve I just left her like that, after making love?
