by J. L. Beck
“You can stay then, but you’ll be helping. We don’t often have visitors out here but on the off chance that we do there is a spare room in the house.” I hooked a thumb towards the wooden cabin behind me and her eyes followed the direction of it. It wasn’t much, just a two-story cabin with a working bathroom. I had inherited the place from my grandparents and loved the quietness that country living brought me. That coupled with the simplicity of it all and it was my dream home.
“I promise I will listen and help where I can. I just can’t go back.” She announced a bit shaken up at the thought. I was an asshole nearly everyday but I would never send a woman back to a man that didn’t want her to begin with. Plus the man had to be blind if he didn’t seem the beauty that was before him.
“Are you sure no one is going to come looking for you? Police? Boyfriend? Parent’s?” I questioned further arching an eyebrow at her. She didn’t seem to care that I was shirtless with sweat dripping down my bare chest. She just looked me straight in the eyes and spoke.
“I have no one. Everyone that’s ever mattered is gone now so please don’t make me leave when I don’t got no where else to be.” Tear swirled in her eyes and my heart thudded loudly against my rib cage as the sound of rushing blood pounded in my ears.
“I’m Jackson.” I extended my hand out, and she took it, my large burly hand engulfing hers.
“Lola.” She gave me her name. I had never had a true interaction with a woman before. Hell I had never even had sex before, yet the way I was feeling between my legs right now, it made me envious of those that had before because regardless of whether or not I wanted Lola to stay I knew I most definitely wanted to fuck her.
“Did you bring anything with you?” I questioned, my eyes flicking over her body. I didn’t have anything that was going to fit her. I was nearly six foot five, and she had to be close to five foot two.
“No….” She mumbled. “Just what I got on.” Her eyes darted to the grass nervously. Even if I didn’t want whatever drama she brought with her I couldn’t just let her go. There were bears, and people far worse than me out here. If something happened to her it would sit on my conscious and peck away at every shred of my sanity.
“Don’t look at the ground like you’re scared of something. I ain’t going to hurt you. I just wanted to know if you had any other clothing with ya?” For some reason the thought of someone hurting Lola didn’t sit well with me. It made my blood boil, and my hands itch for something other than the swing of my axe.
“I just… don’t want to be a burden. I know a man like you don’t have clothing for me and I’m okay with that. I just need some time out here away from it all. I promise when I’m ready I’ll leave.” That right there broke the camel’s back. I knew before hand that I wasn’t going to let her leave but her comment just now sealed her fate. She was stuck here with me in my little cabin by the river.
“You ain’t no burden, Lola. Now get on up to the house. I’ll be starting dinner here soon.” I ordered, needing to take a few more swings with the axe to get the thought of her sleazy ex-boyfriend hurting her out of my head.
She scurried up to the house, and I slammed the jug of water down no longer thirsty for water anymore. I promised myself then as I grabbed the axe from the tree, and lifted it above my head, feeling the handle light in my hands.
If he showed up here ever, I would do everything in my power to protect Lola from him. Just because I didn’t know her deep down in the pit of her soul didn’t mean she deserved to be treated like shit.
As the axe came down hard on the flimsy piece of wood slicing it straight down the middle I wondered what I was going to do with such a beautiful woman. I couldn’t keep her, not even if I wanted too but I couldn’t let her go.
Something about her rubbed me just the right way and enough that it made me want to explore her in more than one way.
Damnit. I squeezed the butt of the axe my palms digging into the hard wood. I was screwed and I hadn’t even taken my pants off yet. Yeah I might be a virgin but I’m sure that’s not how this worked.
Chapter Two
Lola
Jackson made me feel things I shouldn’t. Like butterflies and that strange clench between your legs that left you drenched. It was desire that he made me feel and I didn’t even know the man. I just knew he was strong enough to protect me from whatever evil was lurking out in the world.
Evil like my ex-boyfriend Roger. I knew running was my only option and that if I stopped I would be back in his clutches never to escape again. That’s why when I saw the driveway I jogged down it, thankful as hell when I noticed a large burly man outside splitting wood. The second our eyes connected I felt like I he was the one for me. Almost like an instant connection was there. He didn’t look at me like a piece of meat but like a woman, who was strong and capable.
I stood behind a tree closest to the cabin door where he told me to go watching as he put his entire body into splitting wood. His muscles were taunt and tight in all the right places stretching his flannel shirt out. My mouth watered just watching him.
This is a mistake Lola. My conscious tried to tell me as I looked at him with longing that I didn’t understand. I shouldn’t be so trusting of a man that was twice my size and clearly powerful enough to split wood by hand. Still any fear I had of the man went out the window when told me I could stay. I was naïve but even I knew a good man when I seen one and Jackson was a good man.
“Anyone ever tell you staring is rude sweetheart?” Jackson deep voice rumbled straight through and to my core. I was so busy inside my own head that I hadn’t noticed him heading towards the house until it was too late. I was discovered watching him when I should’ve been inside getting ready for dinner like he said.
“It’s only rude if you aren’t admiring the beauty of what you’re staring at…” I wrung my hands together and followed behind his large frame as he pushed open the large wooden door of the cabin. The place seemed small on the outside but once inside things were different.
High ceilings with large windows letting in the light from outside were placed against into the wooden ceiling. Everything was crisp, clean, and homey. A fireplace was in the center of the room against the wall and a kitchen was off to the left side of the house hidden under what looked to be a loft. I couldn’t stop my eyes from moving over all the items in the house, the homemade furniture that looked as if it cost a fortune to the roominess the cabin had.
“Stew is on the stove. I know it’s warm outside but I had some left overs and while that’s what were having.” Jackson shrugged. I didn’t care if I was having shit on a shingle as long as I had something warm in my belly.
“Thank you….” I paused for a moment, just as Jackson turned around to look at me. “For not sending back down the road and for giving me a chance to prove myself.” I thanked him our eyes meeting once more. I could see the curiousness linger in his dark brown ones and I wondered just how deeply he wanted to get to know me. Was it on a level we both would appreciate?
“I’m not a evil man. I don’t take pleasure it hurting people and if you don’t want to go back to wherever it is you came from then I ain’t going to push you to go back. There’s more than enough room here. Now follow me. I’ll show you to your room.” He gestured in the direction of the hall off the Kitchen and I followed behind him not wanting to miss a single thing. I couldn’t take my eyes off his strong back, or the way his cargo jean’s clung to his ass.
Before I realized it I was running smack dag into him, my chest colliding with his warm back. He turned on me in a flash, his hands gripping me by the arms gently as he moved me back a pace so that he could fully turn around.
“I’m so sorry I was looking down and not up and…” I started to mumble but stopped the moment he clasped me by the chin and brought his face to mine. I could see the tiny flakes of gold in his eyes and the smell of sweat mixed with woods clung to my senses.
“There’s something about you… something that make
s me want to know you… something that I can’t explain just yet, not even to myself.” I was mesmerized in place, his hand on my skin sending waves of pleasure through me. Yet his touch was gentle and kind, unlike any touch I had ever felt from a man before.
“I feel the same way…” I blew out a breath. The air between us grew hotter as we stood with our hands on one another for a second and then another. Then something seemed to snap inside Jackson and he was releasing me and brushing away whatever feelings he was just having. The moment between us was gone, and so was the fire that had sparked between us.
“Um… Here is your room the bathroom is down the hall. I need to go take a shower… I’ll umm...” Jackson moved around me, refusing to even brush up against me as he all but ran in the direction of his bedroom without even finishing his sentence. Apart of me was offended but another part of me knew that he was probably surprised by my reaction to him.
Silently I opened the bedroom door taking in the contents of the bedroom. A large queen sized bed was set up in the center of the room. To the right was a huge window letting in ample light and a tiny nightstand below it. I walked over to the closet and opened one of the doors revealing space to put my, belongs if I had any.
Everything about this place felt like home from the landscape outside to the inside. I left the bedroom and went back out into the living room exploring it alone while I had the chance. Bookshelves lined one side of the fireplace and on the other side were pictures, and small nick nacs. My fingers slid across a dusty photo of two elderly people. They were looking at each other instead of the camera. The love they felt for one another slammed into me making my knees weak.
I stared for a long time at that photo wondering who the couple was and how their story went. Placing the photo back on the shelf with wobbly hands I turned around coming face to face once again with Jackson.
Air rushed from my lungs at his presence. He was quiet for such a large man and I clutched at my chest with my hands when he reached out brushing away a few strands of hair in my vision. His clothes were changed and he smelt clean but very much still like the outdoors.
“This was there home, my grand-parent’s. When they died I inherited it and decided this is where I wanted to spend my life.” My heart came to life then beating furiously inside my chest.
“They look so happy, so in love…” I smiled up at him even though he looked at me as guarded as he possibly could.
“They were happy, and very in love. They died together right here in this house.” The sadness in his voice told me he missed them and I wondered then if he wanted a life like they had, or if he just planned to stay out here all, alone for the rest of his days?
“Do you wish you had what they did?” I blurted out the question not thinking of any repercussions that may take place until after I had already spoken. Surprisingly, Jackson didn’t lift his hand or sneer at me. He simply shrugged and walked in the direction of the kitchen.
“I think we all wish for a love like what they had. Whether we get it or not is entirely up to fate.” I was right on his heels listening to every gruff word that came from his mouth. He opened the cupboard and retrieved two bowls placing them on the counter while lifting the lid from the pot that must’ve contained the stew he was warming up for dinner.
“What my grandparents had wasn’t something that could be bought or even made up. It was true love at it’s finest. I choose to live the simple life, as did they regardless of having someone to share that life with. I live this life because I want too. “ He handed me a bowl of piping hot stew and my belly growled loudly to life.
“Thank you for all of this. I’m not sure I’ll be able to repay you ever.” I plucked the spoon from the side of the bowl staring at the contents inside it. The stew was hearty with vegetables and meat mixed throughout and it exploded with flavor against my tongue. I moaned loudly as I licked the spoon before digging back into the bowl.
“That right there was enough thanks…” Jackson snorted with laughter at my moan of pleasure towards his stew. He devoured his own bowl in seconds getting more before I could even finish half of my own.
“What do you do out here all by yourself. I mean if you don’t mind me asking that is?” I was curious what it was that he did for a living. I heard about mountain men, and people that lived out in the woods because they didn’t like no city folk but Jackson didn’t seem like that type.
“My grandpa’s had a long standing relationship with the people around these areas. I harvest and split wood for them and they pay me to do it. It’s a simple job really…” Jackson eyed me with the same curiosity I was giving him.
“Since you’ve been yacking at me question after question let me ask you something…” He leaned into my body, even though we were only a few feet from one another in the small confines of the kitchen and spoke. “Why are you running?” I blinked having realized he finally asked his question. His body sucked up all the air out of the room, and his size well it should’ve scared me but there was a part of me deep down inside my chest that clung to the need to be close to him because I knew if anyone could protect me from Roger it was Jackson.
“If I tell you, you can’t freak out okay?” Jackson lifted an eyebrow as if to say seriously?
“Roger my ex-boyfriend dropped me off out here on the side of the road, probably hoping to leave me for dead. I don’t want to chance him finding me, and honestly I feel safe here with you. So I’m not running, at least no really. I’m standing in place until I can figure out where to go from here.” I whispered the last part about feeling safe with him, my cheeks warming with heat and desire as I said the words.
Jackson seemed just as taken back by what I said as I was because he placed the bowl on the counter and was on me like a lion sinking it’s claw into it’s prey his large hands gripping me by the hips gently as he lifted me and placed my ass on the edge of the counter. My entire body was on fire, and the look in his eyes said he didn’t plan on doing anything but fan the flames more.
“This Roger guy is going to come back for you…?” He tipped my chin up at him, a darkness looming in his eyes as I nodded my head up and down. Roger would I knew it. If anything he would come back to ensure that I was dead.
I could see the strength in his jaw, and wanted to run my fingers along the edge to see if it was as sharp as it looked. His teeth ground together as contemplation took over his features. What could he be contemplating? Before I could even digest what was happening his lips were on mine and they were strong, and tight as he kissed like a man that was, tasting water for the first time.
My hands moved up his large arms and onto his shoulders where I pulled him tighter to my chest. I could feel his hard erection poking me in the leg as he moved my legs apart and I wanted more than anything to unleash the beast inside of his pants and see what he was made of.
“You taste like sunshine Lola.” He whispered nibbling on my bottom lip. He had no idea how good he himself tasted.
“While you taste like a man… A real man.” I placed my hand against his chest where right over his heart against the flannel button down he wore. I could feel the loud thud of his heart just beneath the surface. I knew my own would be beating the same way if I felt it right this second and it made me wonder if fate could bring two people that needed each other together. If fate had brought Jackson and I together?
“Do you believe in fate sweetheart?” Jackson asked his voice just above a whisper. I could feel his fingers running through my hair. The simple gesture making my body, melt into a mushy pile of nothing.
“I believe that there are mysterious things in this universe and that maybe whatever is happening between us is one of them. I know I should be afraid of you, of a man that I don’t know all that well but that I can’t be. Not when everything about you seems perfect, not when I know for some strange reason you won’t ever do anything to hurt me. I’ve known you all of five minutes Jackson and I trust you more than I have anyone ever in my life.” I snuggled my
head into his chest further, wishing I could burrow myself deep inside him.
I couldn’t explain the way he made me feel not accurately anyway but I needed him to understand that I knew what it was he was feeling and that he wasn’t alone in whatever emotions were running rampant in his mind.
“Strangely I feel the same way Lola and I think that is what makes all of this that much more magical. We don’t know each other but we still feel that connection. We still feel the tingle, the zap, and the sting of what could be….” I had never felt this way before, not even with Roger and the longer I stayed in that position against Jackson’s chest the more I could see myself with him. There would be no running, no fighting, no hate or shame it would just be Jackson and I.
And I wanted that. I longed for it and if I thought about it long enough I knew it could become a reality.
Chapter Three
Jackson
I was awake and splitting wood by sunrise even though my body begged me to stay in bed for another hour or two. I was up most of the night thinking about Lola and when I wasn’t thinking about her I was dreaming about all the things I wanted to do to her. A man like me knew better than that though. I wasn’t the type to let go of something once I found it and Lola while let’s just say I wanted to claim her in more way than one.
“Are there any berry bushes around here?” Lola’s sweet voice lingered into my ears as I brought the axe down on another large piece of wood. It was impossible to focus when she was nearby and now she wanted to ask me questions? I almost laughed when I turned around and seen what she was wearing. She’d taken one of my flannel shirts and turned it into a dress.
A-fuckin-dress. I should’ve been furious with her for ruining a perfectly good shirt but all I could think about was, her perfectly toned legs wrapping around my hips while I sunk deep inside of her. The way her nails would drag across my back, would she moan my name out loud?
