by Jane Charles
“Sounds lovely.”
I bite back a grin at her dry tone.
“If the fire goes out, the wood will be wet and we won’t be able to make coffee in the morning.”
She gasps. “I need coffee.”
“As do I.” I reach over and squeeze her hand. “But if we can’t cook, we’ll have to find berries and other edible plants. Can’t have you starving.” I squeeze her hand again.
“Sounds great.”
That is a forced grin if I ever saw one. I love that Jackie is trying to be a trooper about this.
“I figure in the day we can fish and hike. At night we’ll sit around the fire and snuggle.”
“Snuggling sounds nice.”
“Before we set up camp though, I’ll need to make sure there are no signs of black bears, bobcats or coyotes in the area. We don’t want them getting into our food while we sleep.”
“Or eating us.”
I just laugh. “They won’t bother us if we don’t bother them.”
“So, I’ve heard.”
“We could find beaver dams along the streams though. They are really something to see.”
“I don’t think I’m going to be going in the water.”
I look over at her. “We need to wash at some point.”
“You mean bathe outside?”
I laugh. “It isn’t so bad. Can be cold, but we’ll warm up once we put our clothing back on.”
“Can’t I just wash without getting in?”
“Where is the fun in that?” I ask her.
“What if someone see us?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. We will be so remote, nobody will be around.”
“So, if we are killed by wild animals, the bodies, what is left of them, won’t be found for weeks, if ever?”
I laugh. “I’m not so much worried about the bears as I am about the snakes.”
I swear Jackie just lost all color. Maybe I should stop.
“Snakes. What kind?”
I shrug. “Timber rattlers, which you will hear first, but don’t move once you do. Then there are copperheads. Those are really the only ones you need to worry about.”
“Only?”
“The rest are harmless. I promise.” Again I give her hand a squeeze.
“Well, if we make a lot of noise when setting up the camp and there is activity, the snakes should stay away.”
At least she’s being positive.
“And, I have long pants and sturdy boots for hiking, so I shouldn’t get bit,” she adds.
“See, it won’t be so bad.”
“No. Of course not.” Another forced smile.
I find the turn off a barely marked road, but I have an idea where I’m going. I’ve been in this area before, just not this particular spot.
We follow the winding dirt road then cross over an old wooden bridge before turning up a drive. If we do get rain, that thing will be underwater. Not that I’d mind being stuck here with Jackie.
“What is that?” she asks, looking out the windshield.
“A cabin.”
“Why are we stopping here?” There’s hope in her voice. “Do you need to let the owner know or something?”
I lean over and kiss her. “Do you really think our first camping trip would really involve camping? I wouldn’t do that to you.”
The cabin is rustic, doesn’t look like much, but does have a nice porch with rocking chairs. Compared to a tent, it’s heaven.
Brett finds the hidden key and unlocks the door. The outside may be rustic but the inside is not. A two story cabin, with a modern kitchen including stainless steel appliances and a granite counter top. The living area has an overstuffed, comfortable couch, huge fireplace, colorful woven rug and a television. Stairs lead up to a loft area that has a large, iron bed with a patchwork quilt over it. I open the first door beneath the loft and it’s another bedroom. Nothing fancy, just a bed and old dresser and not nearly as romantic as the loft.
“I promised your grandmother that there were separate rooms.” He kisses my neck. “I just didn’t tell her that we’d only be using one bed.”
Heat shoots through me, straight to my girly parts and I’m ready to drag him upstairs right now.
The next door leads to a basic bathroom with the necessary toilet shower and sink. Given I was expecting to take care of all personal business outside, I think it looks pretty wonderful.
“Let’s look out back.”
He grabs my hand and we step out the door off of the kitchen onto another porch. This one has rocking chairs. The yard isn’t that large, but it’s not like we need much. At the side is a bunch of stacked wood, some of it needing split, in the middle is a small area for a campfire, and beyond that, the stream. The water rushing over the rocks is soothing, but it also makes me want to pee.
“I’ll unload the car.” He goes back inside and I follow. After a pit stop, I head out to the car and help him haul in everything.
“Why do you have linens?”
“We are supposed to bring out own towels. I wasn’t sure if sheets and blankets were included or not.”
We leave them behind and take the boxes inside and I find he has everything to stock the kitchen for five days, including a can of coffee.
“I hope you aren’t real disappointed that we aren’t in tents,” she says.
I pretend to be and sigh deeply. “That’s okay. Maybe next time.”
Brett barks out laughter. “By next time I take it to mean never.”
“Hey, I was willing to give it a try this time.”
He snakes his arms around me and pulls be close. “I know and I do appreciate the sacrifice you were willing to make.” He kisses me quickly and then let’s go.
Crap. I could have kissed some more, been held longer, visited the loft upstairs, but I guess he’d rather get us situated. Which is okay, for now, but I don’t plan on spending five days in the kitchen.
Once the perishables are put into the fridge and he’s set other stuff aside, deciding what to do with it, I stretch and yawn. “You know, I think I could use a nap.”
As I pull off my boots, Brett’s watching me as if he isn’t sure if I do need a nap to sleep or it’s an excuse to get in bed.
I leave them by the front door and wiggle my ass in his direction and then stand. As I’m walking to the stairs I pull my shirt over my head and toss it in his direction. “It’s so uncomfortable sleeping in clothing, don’t you think?” He’s got to know I want to have sex, like right now, but I’ve never been one to come out and say fuck me to anyone. He’s got to get the hint, right?
At the top of the stairs I undo my jeans and slide them off before folding them over the loft railing. “Do come get me if you need anything.” I wink and then crawl into the middle of the bed
The entire time he’s just stood in the middle of the kitchen and watched intently. His eyes darkening with each step I took.
“Wouldn’t a bra be just as uncomfortable to sleep in?”
I frown. “You’re right.” Reaching behind me I unhook it then toss it down.
Brett catches it and grins. “I better bring this to you.” He heads for the stairs, fingering the lace on the bra. “But, if you want to leave it off the entire time we are here, I’d be good with that.” His steps are slow and steady as he stalks up to the loft. I can’t think of a better word, but that’s what he’s doing. Like a wild animal studying his prey, waiting to pounce. My clit begins to throb and before he’s reached the top of the stairs, my nipples are already hard and boobs swollen.
He lays the bra over the railing then pulls his t-shirt over his head. My mouth goes dry. We’ve had sex, but I’ve not seen him stand like this in the middle of a room in broad daylight. He’s got more muscles than I remember, but they aren’t bulky kind of muscles. He’s tight. Lean and making me wet.
“Panties.”
I slide them off and toss them to Brett and he puts them next to the bra before he takes his jeans off. His boxers going
with them, only to stop and mutter a curse. I can’t imagine what the problem is. In fact, there is no problem, especially with his hard and ready cock. I start to ache. I don’t care if there is foreplay or not. I just want him in me now.
Brett puts a hand on the railing and balances himself as he kicks of one boot and then the other. The entire time his pants are around his ankles and his cock, jutting out, waiting. The sight of it makes me ache all the more, and giggle because I expect him to fall on his ass any minute.
He kicks everything aside and stands to face me. “God you are gorgeous.”
I look him over from head to toe and back up again. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”
He walks toward the bed. “Guys can’t be gorgeous.”
“The hell they can’t.” I open my arms and legs and he comes over me.
“Shit! The condoms are downstairs in one of the boxes.”
“I don’t have anything. They tested me when I got the IUD, and I haven’t been doing anything with anyone else, and hadn’t for months before you.”
He nudges against my pussy. “I’m good, and have been. I haven’t been with anyone else since my last test.”
I lift my hips and he teases me with the tip of his cock. “Then we are good.”
“Yes we are.” And with that he thrusts forward, filling me. I cry out with relief and clench around him.
Brett is over me, balanced on his hands, arms out straight. He pulls back and thrusts again, his muscles tensing. The power of him nearly sends me over the edge. My eyes meet his. The intensity is almost too much and his thrusts over and over and I lift and meet him, taking him as deep as physically possible as I coil tighter and tighter. I grasp his upper arms, holding on. Brett tilts, brushing against my clit and I’m hit with the strongest release in memory. I arch against him, crying out and he goes deeper, his head thrown back, cords tightening in his neck as he lets out a nearly primitive groan.
This was supposed to be done right. Romance, wooing and seduction. I brought chocolate and wine! It was supposed to be all about Jackie and to make up for being gone for so long. But, when she wiggled that perfect ass in my direction, I almost had her against the wall. I had to take deep breaths to remain control, but when her clothes came off, I knew it would be impossible to seduce her slowly, heightening her pleasure and making her come at least three times before anything else.
Hell, I was barely able to make her come once before I lost all semblance of control. It had been too long or her walls clamping around my cock felt too good, or both, but I could barely hold off before she finally orgasmed.
I was no better than an animal the way I pounced on her. Taking her. Claiming as men have done since the beginning of time. Hell, I was no better than a caveman. There was certainly no finesse and I’d be surprised if she didn’t get dressed and asked to be taken home.
Jackie sighs and rolls over on her side, snuggling against me. “That was nice.”
Nice?
“Exactly what I needed.” She tilts her head and grins up at me. “Now, maybe I can concentrate on other things than just your body.”
I chuckle and pull her close, relieved that she’s not disappointed.
Well, a good fuck does go a long way in releasing tension and clearing the mind. And, it was a damn good fuck. One we both apparently needed. However, tonight will be different. At least I hope. I don’t want her to think I brought her up here simply to fuck her brains out, though I had planned on spending a lot of time in bed, but there is more to this trip than that. We need time alone, to get to know each other better, without all the craziness in our lives.
She stretches and rolls away from me. “Well, I guess we should finish putting everything away. I just couldn’t concentrate on what needed to be done with you standing there.”
“Me either.” Though it was really hard to remember that eggs and milk needed to go into the fridge when all I could think about was how soon we could go to bed.
“What’s behind that door?” She points to the one behind the loft.
“Closet and another bathroom.”
“Great!” She grabs a blanket and wraps it around her body. “I didn’t want to go all the way downstairs.”
I still can’t move, but she certainly has no problem hoping out of bed. She disappears into the other room and I wait for her reaction. I looked at all the photos for this cabin and picked it on purpose with Jackie in mind.
Then I hear the gasp. “Do you know what’s back here?”
I grin. “A bathroom.”
“Come see!”
I haul my ass out of the bed, not bothering to cover myself like she did and go through the door, past a walk-in closet and to the large bathroom at the end of the cabin. A deep claw foot tub sits beneath windows overlooking the stream and woods. A separate shower is beside it, two sinks and the required toilet. The bathroom could have been a cover photo for any decorating magazine, but I know that Jackie really only cares about the tub.
“It’s gorgeous in here.”
“Yep.” It’s also as nice as the pictures on the website. Pulling her close, I kiss the side of her neck. “I’ll get everything put away and dinner started while you enjoy that tub.” I nibble on her ear lobe. “I know you want to.”
She turns and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m not going to laze about in the tub while you do the work.”
“I think it’s best that you do.” After kissing the tip of her nose I step back. “I’ll probably burn something if you are with me because I’ll be thinking about taking you back to the bed. We need the sustenance to keep up our strength for the next few days.”
Jackie grins at me and her green eyes darken.
I know that look and if I don’t leave now, I’ll be tossing her back on that bed. “Like hiking,” I blurt out.
Her smile slips and then she rolls her eyes. “Sure thing, Boy Scout.”
I swat her on the ass before I leave, closing the door behind me. I don’t want to think about Jackie, in that deep tub and naked. I’ll never get anything done that needs to be.
Chapter Thirty
The temperature dropped as the sun went down and I’m curled up at one end of the couch and Brett at the other. The fire is burning bright, we just finished dinner, and a there’s a quilt covering us. Only our feet are touching. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this content.
While I was in the tub Brett grilled steaks, made baked potatoes and threw a salad together. A basic meal, but it was delicious, as is the red wine he opened. I should probably get up and do the dishes, but I can’t bring myself to move. It’s not like they are going to go anywhere anyway.
We’ve drank half the bottle of wine and have been talking since I got out of my bath over two hours ago.
“You’ve met my family, but I know almost nothing about yours.”
Brett shrugs. “There’s nothing much more to know.”
Whenever someone answers like that, it’s clear there is a hell of a lot more to know.
“First, tell me about your sisters.”
“Two are married. The oldest, Paige, lives in Oregon and has a son. She and her husband run a renovated B&B near Canon Beach. The next oldest, Veronica, or Roni, lives in San Antonio.” He laughs. “She married my former sergeant. They live at Fort Sam Houston and she’s a nurse at Brooke Army Medical Center. They have a little girl.”
Wow, both places are far from New York. My brother, Tyler, is in Iraq, and far, but that is temporary. It doesn’t sound like his siblings will be moving home any time soon. Hell, all of my relatives, with exception of Tyler, are within driving distance. If they don’t live on Baxter Lane, they live in New York City. I can’t imagine what it would be like if either Tyler or Theo permanently lived on the other side of the country.
“The next one, Abigail, or Abby, is in Florida working at Disney World.”
I hitch an eyebrow. “A princess?”
This time he chuckles. “She assists the characters
. I’m not sure exactly what she does, but loves the place and her job. I doubt she’ll ever leave.”
“It would be an awesome place to work.” I’ve only been to Disney once. It was the last place my parents took the family before they were killed. It was truly a magical place and I’ve always wanted to go back.
His smile slips. “It’s about making people happy. What better job is there than making people happy, she told me.”
“Why does that bother you?” I’m missing something. Unless, maybe just thinking about how far away his siblings are and it’s making Brett gloomy.
“I think she’s trying to make up for not being able to make everyone happy. Working at Disney isn’t going to fix that and she’ll have to come to realize nobody is responsible for another person’s happiness.”
There are deeper issues here, but do I pry?
Brett leans forward and refills our wine glasses and leans back. “Then there’s the baby of the family, Claire, who is off finding herself.” He shakes his head.
“Finding herself?”
“Yep. Graduated from college a year ago this past May and hasn’t really worked in her field.”
“Which is…?”
“Archeology.” He’s shaking his head again. “Claire wanted to travel the world, dig up relics, work at the Smithsonian or maybe at a museum in New York, but since she graduated, all she’s done is travel. First living with Paige, then Roni, then Abigail and now she’s with Dad.”
“In Buffalo?”
“New Orleans.” His jaw tightens as his eyes harden. “Dad retired and moved there last year.”
Brett has said nothing about his mom so I’m afraid to ask. He’d mention her if she was alive, wouldn’t he? Besides, discussion of his family is making him tense and I’m not sure if I should ask anymore. Maybe he’s pissed because none of his family stayed around.
“I’m just waiting for her to show up here. I’m the only one she hasn’t lived with since college, not that I had a place for her to stay.” He laughs. “I still don’t have a place, which I intend to rectify next week. I’ve got to get out of my uncle’s basement.”
