by Ivy Jordan
“Where was the best place you lived?” she queried.
“Hawaii,” I answered quickly.
“I’ve never been. I bet it’s beautiful,” she sighed, falling back onto the pillow with a full belly.
“It is indescribable,” I smiled, taking the last bite of my pound cake.
“Why did you leave?” she pushed.
I sighed and then leaned back onto the pillow next to her. I lifted the boxes we’d eaten from. sat them on the floor next to the bed, and then snuggled my arm under her to pull her close for warmth.
“It got too busy,” I explained.
“Did you have family there?” she asked.
I nodded. “My grandpa was there before he passed, but Elijah, one of my brothers from the SEALS, moved there before I left,” I replied.
She immediately asked about Elijah, what he was like, if he was married, and why I would leave if we were so close. I found myself struggling for answers that made sense. Bailey made me question my way of living, and that made me extremely uneasy.
“The tourists were taking over, and Elijah and Taylor had their own family, their own life,” I answered.
“But wasn’t it nice to be a part of that life?” she asked.
I smiled at the thought of Bailey, Elijah’s daughter that won over my heart.
“I miss Bailey,” I sighed.
“Bailey?” she lifted her head from my chest and stared into my eyes.
“Yes, Elijah’s daughter,” I explained.
“So, that’s where that name came from,” she giggled.
“I guess, but you seemed to connect to it,” I smirked.
“I do. I think I am Bailey,” she said proudly.
I wondered if she’d had any memories yet. I found it strange that she wasn’t worried about who was looking for her, the life she had before ending up here, or remembering who she even was. Maybe she did remember, and she just didn’t want to go back or was afraid to.
“Are you going to go back?” she asked.
I contemplated her question. Initially, when I left Molokai, I planned on going back, but now I wasn’t sure. The cabin was still there and was much nicer than this one, but being here with her, it just didn’t make my decision an easy one anymore.
“I might. It depends on what happens here I guess,” I sighed, pulling her into my side.
“Here, you mean with us?” she whispered sweetly.
My heart pounded. That wasn’t what I meant, was it? With the question staring me in the face, I wasn’t sure. I just squeezed her tightly and kissed her on the top of the head instead of answering.
Chapter Fourteen
Bailey
Lying in Xander’s arms, watching the fire ripple, and listening to his stories was making me realize I may be falling in love with the man. He was after all, my savior, my hero. I was just romanticizing the situation. It couldn’t be real, could it?
I nestled my cheek against his strong, bare chest and listened to his heart beat. It was wild just moments earlier when he’d told me he was waiting to see what happened here, but now it was calm and steady. Did he mean with us?
The name ‘Bailey’ repeated in my head, over and over again. Why had I connected with that name? Was it indeed mine? As it repeated, the voice inside my head changed from my own to a man’s, but I didn’t recognize whose.
“Bailey, you make me so proud,” the voice sounded inside my head.
Hearing the voice, even without certainty of who it belonged to, saddened me. My heart ached as it swelled inside my chest. Tears were on the verge of exploding from my eyes, and my breathing became rapid and wild.
Xander’s hand brushed across my hair, his finger wiping a strand from my cheek. I didn’t dare look up into his blue eyes. I knew if I did, I would fall apart for sure.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
I nodded, but didn’t try to speak. I swallowed hard, clearing my throat, and trying my best to shake off the feeling of sadness rolling through my veins. Was that my father? Was he looking for me? Why did hearing that voice make me so sad?
Xander continued to brush my hair with his fingers as I let out a soft sigh. Whatever was out there waiting for me, looking for me, I couldn’t let go of what was right here. I hated the thought of leaving Xander. It was like a story in one of the books I’d read while here. The handsome, strong man, rescuing the damsel in distress, and them falling in love, living happily ever after. Another sigh, this time deep and long.
As much as I wanted to believe that this could never end, I knew it would. I shrugged at the thought, causing Xander to cover my shoulders with the blanket.
“I better get more logs on the fire,” he said, quickly sliding from the bed.
I watched as he worked the flame, placing a log atop, and then stepped back to admire his accomplishment.
“What are you putting in there?” I asked as he poured a plastic container of something red into the bucket over the fire.
“Barbeque sauce,” he turned and smiled.
“Barbeque coyote, that’s a first for me,” I laughed.
“That you know of,” he teased with a wink.
“True,” I giggled.
“You have to add something to take the gaminess from the meat. The brine only does so much,” he explained.
I wasn’t looking forward to eating the coyote, but I knew that was Xander’s plan. It continued to boil over the fire, for how long, I had no idea. My stomach grumbled at the thought of chewing on the dog like flesh. Ugh!
We’d been in bed all day. The sun—what we’d seen of it—was gone, and darkness was filling the windows outside the cabin. The howling winds roared through the trees, making it sound as if wild creatures were ready to stampede the door. I was a little scared after Xander was attacked by the hungry coyote and feared there were more waiting for their turn at the meal.
“You’re not going out there tonight, are you?” I questioned, unable to hide the fear in my voice.
“We have enough wood for the night,” he smiled, reassuring me that he would remain safe.
I sighed, relieved that he wouldn’t go out there in the dark and risk being eaten.
“I do have to get out of bed though,” he chuckled, reaching for a pair of grey jogging pants folded under the night stand table.
As much as I dreaded Xander leaving the warm bed, I was ready to get out of it myself.
“I’m gonna take a bath,” I announced, pushing back the blankets and exposing my bare flesh to the cool room.
Xander’s eyes lingered on my hard nipples, the smirk on his face deliciously mischievous.
“You need help?” he offered.
I shook my head and headed towards the sink. I knew it would take a while to warm the water over the fire, so I wrapped up in a large flannel and slipped on wool socks before filling the large tub.
“Here, let me,” Xander insisted, carrying the tub towards the fire.
I sat down on the bed, watching his magnificent body as he covered it with a t-shirt. The ripples in his abs, the soft round muscles of his arms, they were all etched in my memory, something I knew I’d never forget.
“When is the coyote going to be ready?” I asked, feeling hunger pains start to poke at my belly.
“Probably not until morning,” he claimed.
I was grateful.
“I want to make dinner tonight,” I chimed in proudly.
“Can you cook?” he asked, his tone serious, but his eyes playful and teasing.
“I don’t know,” I laughed.
“Well, I’m game. No one’s cooked for me for a while,” he smiled.
“I’m in the mood for fried chicken,” I beamed, sending my stomach into a whirlwind of chaos at the thought of the salty, tender meat.
My mind paused on the memory of the taste, and suddenly flashes of a kitchen adorned with yellow wall paper and a woman in a green dress appeared. Her hair was bright red, flowing down her back in a tight braid, and her hips wiggled a
s she turned the pieces of chicken in an iron skillet. “Bailey, can you grab me a plate,” she said, turning to showcase beautiful green eyes with long lashes and perfectly painted red lips. Mom.
I knew who she was, there was no doubt in my mind. She called me Bailey, just as the male voice had in my mind. I was Bailey.
There was no sadness at the memory of my mother, which made me wonder if my dad had passed. Maybe that’s why it was so sad to hear his voice, to remember him. Maybe it was recent, and that’s why I was out in the woods alone.
“No chicken, but a couple squirrels in the ice chest buried in the snow,” Xander responded with a chuckle.
I guess it was funny to ask if he had chicken. We’d been living on fish, quail, and bear. Now we were down to coyote, yuck! I was okay with squirrel.
“Where did you go?” he questioned, his blue eyes penetrating into my soul.
I wasn’t sure if my memories were accurate or not, so I wasn’t ready to share. What if I remembered something that would tear us apart, like a lover?
“I just zoned out,” I giggled.
“Can you handle squirrel?” he asked.
I nodded. “As long as you have oil, salt, and flour.”
“You’re in luck. Now, let’s just hope you can cook, and I’ll be in luck too,” he teased.
I knew I could. That memory of my mother in the kitchen flooded a few more into my head. I helped her fry chicken on Sundays after church. For some reason, a couple memories of me at the stove didn’t include her, but it was the same yellow wallpapered kitchen.
“Get your bath, and I’ll get the squirrel ready,” Xander instructed.
I went into the bathroom and filled the tub with about four inches of the icy cold water. Xander brought in the first tub of boiling water and dumped it in, creating a steam that immediately fogged over the mirror.
“I think that’s enough,” I assured him, running my hand through the water to mix the cold and hot.
“Okay. If you want more, just ask. I’m gonna put on another tub,” he asserted.
He leaned in, kissing me softly on the cheek before leaving me alone in the room. I slipped out of the socks and the flannel and lowered myself into the warm water. As I leaned back against the cold porcelain tub, my mind raced with curiosity, hopefulness, and fear.
If there was someone else, a lover, wouldn’t I have remembered him first?
I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something or someone that needed me back home, wherever that was. I didn’t want to leave here, to leave Xander, but something was gnawing at me, telling me there was a real reason I would have to soon, a real reason that I should’ve never stayed.
Chapter Fifteen
Xander
I woke Monday morning realizing that it was yet another peaceful night with Bailey in my arms. Maybe she was right about the nightmares. Holding her at night seemed to keep them away. Waking up with her nuzzled against my chest was another reason that I didn’t want her to leave. The warmth of her body pressed against mine was so much nicer than waking to the chill of the cold room as the fire died down over the night hours.
Bailey started to squirm against me, instantly sending blood to my cock and thoughts of making love to her to my mind. I pushed her hair away from her neck and leaned in, leaving a soft kiss at her nape. I moved my lips slowly to her shoulder, gently kissing the small freckles that rested on her skin.
Her back arched as she stretched in my arms, pushing her ass cheeks into my erection. My hands reached around her body, cupping her breasts delicately, and pulled her back into my chest.
“Good morning,” she mumbled sleepily.
I growled in her ear, playfully biting at her earlobe. “Good morning,” I whispered.
My fingers rolled her nipples as they hardened from her full breasts, and my hot breath rolled freely down her neck and shoulder as she continued to stir awake.
I knew I was growing too attached to this woman, but it was out of my control. I wanted her. I needed her.
Bailey stretched to the edge of the bed and reached into the nightstand drawer. She pulled out a condom, handing it to me over her shoulder, and then turned her body towards me. Her eyes, so green, so fucking innocent, fuck, what was I doing?
My mouth lowered to hers, kissing her with a passion I’d never felt before. I knew it was wrong—it had to be—but I couldn’t stop it.
Bang, Bang, Bang!
Three loud knocks on the front door jolted me away from her and to my feet. Each knock got louder than the last, and it was obvious whoever was outside was determined to get in.
Bailey slid up, pulling her knees to her chest, and the blankets up over them as her eyes stared into mine. They were filled with fear, but she didn’t speak; she only looked towards me for protection.
I grabbed my jogging pants from the floor and quickly slid them on. My erection was still at full mass, even with the startling knock. I shoved my dick downward towards my legs, pushing some of the stiffness out of it, and then tossed Bailey my heavy flannel and pair of small jogging pants.
As she quickly got dressed, I stared out the window. It was still covered in snow and frost, impossible to see out of, but I knew it was still a messy storm outside.
“Don’t answer it,” Bailey shrieked as I headed towards the door.
Bang, bang, bang!
“I don’t think I have a choice,” I shrugged.
There was a heavy lock on the door, one that folded across it, but I knew it would come off easily from the frame if someone wanted inside bad enough. There wasn’t any use hiding from whoever braved the storm to make it up the mountain side.
My thoughts instantly turned to Bailey and her rescuers. Maybe it was the man who loved her, one that had been pining for her all this time, determined to rescue her and bring her home safely. Fuck.
I tried to peer through the frosted glass to get a peek at the brave soul at my door, but it was useless. I reached for the lock, lifted it from the door, and pulled it open.
“Holy fuck!” I yelled in surprise, wrapping my arms around Liam.
“Brother, you don’t make it easy to make house calls,” he chuckled, pulling the fur-lined hat from his shaven head.
I patted him on the back, quickly ushering him through the door so I could close it.
“How in the hell did you get here?” I questioned.
“Oh, it wasn’t fuckin’ easy,” he stated.
Bailey was staring at me with a bewildered look in her eyes as Liam smiled in her direction.
“This is Bailey. Bailey, this is Liam,” I introduced her to the strange man standing in the cabin.
“Nice to meet you,” she muttered in a weak voice.
Liam nodded in her direction, and then turned to me.
“I tried to call, but I never could get you,” Liam explained.
“I never did get another signal after we talked,” I responded, still amazed that he was actually there,
His eyes drifted to my jogging pants, a half erection still very visible, and then shook his head.
“Good to see you two haven’t killed each other yet,” he chuckled.
Bailey moved from the bed to the fireplace where she grabbed a metal cup and filled it with the warm pot of coffee.
“Coffee?” she offered Liam.
“Yes, thank you,” he winked.
He took the cup from Bailey, and I watched his eyes scanning her, lingering on her curves.
“We’ve actually gotten along quite well,” I smiled.
“It sure looks like it,” he chuckled, moving to the couch.
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
Liam’s eyes lit up. He rubbed his belly as he pulled off his gloves, and then wiggled from the heavy insulated coat.
“Yes, starved,” he groaned.
“I’ll get it,” Bailey offered, quickly moving from the room towards the cooler near the sink.
Liam’s eyes followed her as she pulled the left-over squirrel from the coo
ler and placed it in a small iron skillet.
“So, what’s the deal here?” Liam asked, his eyes shifting over my shoulder to Bailey as he spoke.
“What deal?” I snorted.
His eyes rolled and his grin grew.
“You two, looks like you’re playing house,” he noted.
“Why don’t you get warmed up, something in your belly, and then we’ll talk,” I diverted.
Bailey placed the skillet over the fire, close to the flame, and then sat down on the chair by the couch. Liam rubbed his hands together to warm them as his eyes shifted back and forth between myself and Bailey. I knew he had a ton of questions, but I was more hoping he’d brought some answers.
Liam sipped his coffee, not offering up any information, and neither Bailey nor myself pushed. I knew why I wasn’t eager to learn of who was looking for her, but I found it odd that she wasn’t chomping at the bit to ask Liam what he knew.
“How are you feeling?” Liam asked Bailey as she brought over the warmed fried squirrel.
I noticed him eyeing her ankle as she walked.
“I’m a lot better, but still not a hundred percent,” she responded quickly.
“This smells amazing,” he smiled, taking a leg and thigh from the pan Bailey sat in front of him.
“It is. She is a great cook,” I winked in her direction.
I could tell she was nervous, uneasy, and maybe even a little irritated, but I wasn’t exactly certain why.
Liam took a large bite, ripping the tender meat from the bone with his teeth. He let out a hoot, and then smiled at Bailey.
“Now I see why you don’t want to let her leave,” he laughed.
He had no idea. There were so many reasons I didn’t want her to leave.
“So how did you find me?” I questioned.
“Luckily, you’re the only introvert in these parts, and being a small town, everyone’s been talking about the man in the woods since ya got here,” Liam chuckled.
“No one knows about this cabin, at least not where it sits,” I defended.
“Relax, no one could tell me where you were exactly, just a standard direction,” Liam assured me.
