31 Days of Winter (31 Days #1)

by C. J. Fallowfield

  ‘You cheated on your girlfriends?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I could. Because women threw themselves at me. Because I was young and naïve to think that I could do what I wanted with no consequences.’

  ‘What consequences?’

  ‘I obtained an IT degree, first class with honours. I worked for a firm in the City,’ he replied, bypassing my question. I wasn’t about to interrupt to ask why, not when he was on a roll.

  ‘London?’ I asked, surprised.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You wore a suit?’ I laughed.

  ‘I look good in a suit,’ he said firmly as he looked straight into my reflected eyes, as if he’d known I’d been watching him all along.

  ‘I can imagine you would,’ I nodded, knowing exactly what Dan fantasy scenario I’d be masturbating to later.

  ‘I’m not just some hillbilly, wood cutter, hired help.’

  ‘I never thought that was all you were.’

  ‘I’m more,’ he nodded. ‘I was more.’ He added the last part quietly, the sadness in his voice apparent. I uncurled myself, spun around and lay my cheek on the cool leather as I looked directly at him.

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘I think I’ve shared far too much tonight, given you were only getting one question and one answer a day,’ he replied and quickly slammed down a gear again and took a sharp bend to the left. I let out a startled gasp and he reached over and smoothed my hair. ‘Don’t be afraid, I’m here to take care of you,’ he advised gently. I gave him a half smile before he looked away again. Warm Dan was back, the Dan I really cared for, the Dan I wanted on top of me, between my legs so my hands could clutch that perfect bottom and pull him further into me as I screamed his name.

  ‘You don’t have to tell me more about you, just talk to me. I like hearing your voice.’

  ‘Talk about what?’

  ‘Tell me about the island and the loch, why you like it so much. About the village, the hotel and the pub and the locals.’

  ‘Ok,’ he replied and I closed my eyes as I listened to him. He still spoke in a really unusual way, very factual, as if he were in a meeting and had to get across his points in a succinct manner, but I didn’t care, his low and sexy tones were reassuring to my ears and I found myself drifting off.

  I woke up feeling groggy and shivered, suddenly cold, and as I half opened my eyes I realised why. We were parked on the shoreline and the back of the car was open. I groaned as I tried to stretch out and heard the back door shut and suddenly my passenger one was opened.

  ‘Are you ok? You passed out on me.’

  ‘I’m sorry, you lulled me to sleep,’ I mumbled as I looked up at his smiling face.

  ‘I’ve never “lulled” anyone before. You even slept over the cattle grid and potholes.’

  ‘Hmmm,’ I sighed as I felt my head flopping. I was ready to sleep again.

  ‘Come on, you’ll freeze in here overnight. We need to get you home.’ I felt him slide one arm under my knees and he spun me around and pulled me onto him. ‘Hold tight.’

  I clung to him like a monkey, my arms around his neck, legs around his waist and my head dropped to his shoulder as he lifted me out of the car and locked it. I heard the crunch of the snow under his feet as he carried me, then the creak of the wooden boards of the jetty and a slight wobble as he stepped into the boat and lowered himself down, me straddling his lap, lying on his broad chest with my arms still firmly wrapped around his neck. I nuzzled in, liking the close contact and the smell of his wood smoked jacket and the sound of the outboard powering up.

  I suddenly felt really hot and opened my eyes, surprised to find I was lying on his sofa, opposite his crackling log burner with a blanket on top of me. I quickly looked under the blanket relieved to find he’d only taken his jacket off me. No way would I have wanted him to have undressed me and seen me in my thermals. Not a sexy look. I sat up and rubbed my eyes then checked my watch, it was almost nine o’clock. I’d been out of it for ages. I heard the latch on a door open and my heart moved to my mouth as I looked towards the back of the boathouse and he appeared from what I assumed was the bathroom.

  He was looking down as he walked barefoot, tucking in the corner of a small black towel wrapped around his waist. I felt my mouth drop just as the girl in the Christmas shops did, and I was sure I was just as red. He glistened with water, droplets running down from his broad shoulders to the edge of the towel. The zoom facility on my iPad hadn’t done him justice, the edges of his smooth pecs and six-pack were so clearly defined and in perfect symmetry and his skin had the sort of tan that came from going shirtless during a summer heatwave. That seriously sexy “v” shape at his lower pelvis just directed my eyes to what lay beneath that towel and I felt my mouth watering. I’d always thought of blow jobs as a chore, a duty I had to fulfil to get some oral back in return, but looking at the impressive swelling I could make out under there, suddenly I had a feeling that they could become my favourite past time. Zac suddenly looked like a scrawny teenager in comparison to Dan, this was the filled out gorgeous body of a real man. I tore my eyes away from his groin and looked at his firm arms, his biceps flexing as he reached up to smooth the wet hair from his face and he stopped and froze as his eyes locked with mine. He cocked his head as he read the look on my face and his lips curled upwards at the corners, it was obvious he was enjoying my reaction to him.

  ‘I … I’m not sure … I don’t know … I need … to go,’ I stammered as I stood and launched myself at his front door, flinging it open as I ran across the snow, the path ahead lit by the shaft of bright moonlight and the thousands of twinkling stars. My lungs were burning and not just from the freezing air invading my lungs. I wanted that man, more than I’d ever wanted anything, but what if he finally relented and we had sex? I had a feeling I’d fall for him really hard and in three weeks I’d be returning to my life in London, while he’d be up here, still holed up with whatever issues had driven him here in the first place. I had to stay strong, there were thousands of available men in London and I never had a problem attracting attention. I had to wait and just find myself someone who had physical proximity and no honesty or commitment issues. That preferably looked just like him.

  I reached down into my jeans and dug out my key and opened up the house, surprised to see that the table lamps were on and the lighting under the cupboards in the kitchen and there was a roaring fire in the lounge. I locked the door behind me and left the key in it, I couldn’t trust myself if he suddenly turned up. I ran upstairs and got out of my cold protective gear, the house was roasting in comparison to outside. I pulled on my denim shorts and a slouch top and pulled my hair back into a pony tail. I was starving, something to do with fresh clean air, constant sexual desire and the fact I’d only had two scones all day. I walked out to the top of the stairs and looked over at the pole, bit my lip and headed over to it. As I looked down it wasn’t that far, surely I could manage to stop myself before I hit the bottom? I grabbed it, wrapped my legs tightly around it and released my grip a little and immediately started the descent. I quickly clenched and slithered too slowly to a halt, my feet sliding across the oak floor as my bottom smacked the floor and I winced and laughed. I needed more practice. I noticed that all my day’s shopping bags were neatly lined up by the pool table and I hoped he hadn’t looked in them.

  He’d also unpacked the groceries and filled the fridge and freezer too while I’d been asleep down on his sofa. I decided to make a chilli con carne for tomorrow night, I always preferred it the day after, or reheated, it seemed to add to the intensity. I poured myself a glass of white wine and put on some music again as I microwaved my beef stroganoff ready meal and tipped some red wine and lots of chillies into the mince and sauce on the hob and put a load of rice on to cook. I left it to slowly bubble as I ate at the island and finished off with the lemon cheesecake slice and popped in a truffle as I spooned out the rice and chilli into the freezer b
oxes which I found he’d put in one of the empty cupboards. I also made a small plateful which I covered and put in the fridge for me tomorrow and a seriously large pile for him. I looked at the phone and hesitated, but as if he was reading my mind it rang.

  ‘Hi,’ I answered.

  ‘Hi.’

  ‘I was about to ring you.’

  ‘I’m sorry about earlier. I thought you were asleep. I was just coming out to grab my clothes.’

  ‘I’m not going to complain about the view, it was pretty spectacular, but I think it would be easier for both of us if you remain fully clothed in front of me from now on.’ I heard him chuckle. ‘Thanks for bringing up the shopping and lighting the fire. I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.’

  ‘No apology required. You obviously needed it.’

  ‘Obviously. Thanks for driving in such bad conditions as well, that can’t have been easy for you.’

  ‘I’m used to it. Your handbag’s down here and keeps vibrating.’

  ‘It’s my iPad,’ I said quickly, not sure why I even said that. Like he’d think I carried a vibrator around in my bag?

  ‘I’ll bring it up.’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘You don’t want your iPad?’ he asked, sounding confused.

  ‘I … I can’t see you yet,’ I whispered, embarrassed to admit how badly seeing him nearly naked had affected me.

  ‘Because you’d want me?’

  ‘Yes.’ I hung my head and sighed.

  ‘I please you, visually?’

  ‘Very much,’ I whispered on an intake of air as the visual of that wet muscular slab of perfection ignited my senses again and I heard him groan.

  ‘I thought about you while I showered.’

  ‘Did you … did you touch…’

  ‘Yes,’ he interrupted.

  ‘To the thought of me?’

  ‘Yes.’ He sounded as breathless as me.

  ‘Why haven’t you had sex in three years?’

  ‘One question a day, Ellie.’ He hung up before I had a chance to ask anymore, or even tell him that I’d made him dinner. I screamed in frustration, then went upstairs, grabbed my laptop and came down by the stairs, not the pole this time. I grabbed another glass of wine, tipped some truffles into a bowl and put my feet up on the sofa in front of the fire and logged into my emails to find another from Brooke.

  I’m seriously worried about your emotional state of health Ellie, you’ve got a crush on a gay guy. Has Zac really fucked you up that badly? I thought you were ok, hurt and shocked, but ok? And stop worrying about Maisie, she’s fine, more than fine. In fact, I think she loves her new adopted mummy better than her own ;-) We’ll talk properly tomorrow, but please let me know that you’re ok? LYMY xx

  Don’t be mad at me, I lied. He’s not gay, he’s so far from gay and I do have a serious crush. I didn’t want you to confuse me by asking me loads of questions that I don’t have answers to, but I’m already confused enough. Really looking forward to talking to you tomorrow and getting your advice. LYMY too xx

  I opened my manuscript, if anything Dan had inspired me to write a story about unrequited love. The feeling I had inside of wanting something that I couldn’t have, so badly, was more than enough to help me write. I was startled by a knock on the door and looked at the clock, it was nearly eleven p.m. What could he want? I set my laptop on the coffee table and headed over to the door and flicked on the outside light. He was standing there with just a t-shirt on his top half, holding my handbag which made me laugh internally, yet somehow he still managed to look masculine.

  ‘I brought your bag,’ he called as he waved it.

  ‘So I see.’

  ‘Do you want it?’

  ‘You promised to stop doing that. Option two, remember?’

  ‘I didn’t promise yet, you told me you’d get on a plane tomorrow if I didn’t stick to your rules. It’s not tomorrow yet.’

  ‘So what? You’ve just come to return my bag, which I told you I didn’t need, and wind me up again?’

  ‘No. I’m hungry.’

  ‘O, ok.’ I was disappointed. I was sort of hoping that after our flirting and banter earlier he wanted to talk and explain himself, but no, he was just after my cooking. I sighed, unlocked the door and opened it for him. He’d barely stepped inside when he dropped my bag, kicked the door shut behind him and grabbed me, yanking me against him.

  ‘What are you doing?’ I asked, my voice trembling along with my body. ‘I thought you were hungry?’

  ‘I am,’ he growled sensuously, the lust in his voice caressing my skin. ‘For you, Ellie.’

  ‘But you said … you made it clear, that you couldn’t,’ I gasped as he walked me backwards in his arms towards the island, with all the confidence of a man who was used to women submitting when he willed it.

  ‘We have an hour before your deadline where I have to stick to your request to be friends only. Do you want to keep questioning my motives or would you prefer I spend that hour making you come a hundred different ways?’

  ‘Option two,’ I whimpered, like I even had a choice, as his lips sealed over mine. I felt my feet leave the floor as one hand palmed my bottom and the other supported my back, his fingers firmly gripping the back of my neck. I returned his kiss with as much fervour as I could as I clasped his strong shoulder with one hand, and the other reached around to weave my fingers into his short hair at the base of his neck. He sat me on the island and suddenly the stars outside didn’t compare to the ones I was seeing in my eyes as his lips worked against mine, crushing, bruising, stimulating parts of me that he wasn’t even touching. ‘Dan,’ I groaned and he tensed up around me again.

  ‘Don’t, don’t say that name, anything but that.’ He took the moment to grasp the hem of my jumper and pull it over my head as I tried to fathom out what was happening. Did I actually care? It was his turn to groan as he ran the tip of his finger from one collarbone to another as my chest rose and fell and he lowered his mouth to run a trail of kisses along the echo of his finger. I sighed and fell backwards onto the cold granite and arched my back, pushing my breasts up towards him. ‘You have the most perfect skin,’ he murmured as he slid me closer to him, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist and I flexed my hips, pressing myself against the swelling in his jeans as I gripped his biceps.

  ‘O God, please,’ I groaned. I felt his hands reach under me to undo my bra, slowly running the straps down my arms. I could feel the urgency in him, yet he seemed to be deliberately taking his time, as if he were worshipping my body, taking mental pictures to see him through the days that he said he’d never touch me again. I, on the other hand, wanted him to get there faster, I felt a longing that I’d never felt, my body just seemed to know instinctively that he was my perfect match. My breasts swelled as he palmed them, my nipples, swollen to the point of pain, shot jets of fire running through me as his thumbs swept over them, gently flicking, then circling around them. ‘Let me touch you,’ I begged as he loomed over me, still in his t-shirt and jeans.

  He straightened up and ripped his t-shirt off and I sat up and quivered as I looked at his delicious torso, running my palms over him, delighting in the feel of the hardness of his muscles, yet the satin soft texture of his skin. I licked up between his pecs and kissed the hollow of his throat, thrilled to hear his guttural groan as his hands ran up and down my arms. I pulled his face back down to mine again and kissed him again and again as I reached around and gripped his shoulder blades, my nails denting the surface of his flesh which made him groan even harder. He pushed me back down onto the island and gently swept his tongue over my nipple and I cried out with the exquisite agony of it. Three more sweeps and he closed his lips around it and sucked, and I completely shattered as my back arched and a tidal wave of arousal dampened my shorts. I clutched his head to me as he continued to suck while I trembled from my first ever orgasm from nipple stimulation alone.

  ‘You came,’ he purred, with pride, as he moved up to kiss my neck, one ha
nd cupping my cheek as a thumb wiped away the tears of joy rolling down my face.

  ‘Yes,’ I whimpered, still stunned.

  ‘Undo your shorts. Now.’

  ‘It’s your turn, let me touch…’

  ‘No. I want as many orgasms from you as I can,’ he snapped back quickly.

  ‘But I…’ I was forced to stop as he cupped my face tenderly and kissed me again, plunging his tongue into the depths of my willing mouth. I rolled mine around his as he shuddered and pulled back and his fingers deftly undid the button on my shorts and pulled down the zip. He looked back down at me, rings of fire flashing around his jet black pupils, his breathing out of control as his magnificent chest contracted and expanded. He held my gaze as he slid his hand into my shorts, sandwiched between the denim and my knickers. He groaned and closed his eyes for a second before looking back at me as I squirmed while his fingers caressed my clit through the lace.

  ‘So wet. For me.’

  ‘All for you,’ I moaned. I loved his sexual confidence, stating facts, never questioning whether it was him rendering my body to the boneless fluidity of an amoeba. I couldn’t take my eyes off his, the need in them was consuming me. I’d always been embarrassed to maintain eye contact in the past, but I wanted every second of the desire that he had for me and I hoped that he saw that mine was reflected back. I squealed and gripped the edges of the granite as I came again, tremors rolling up and down my body and he smiled, not a smile of arrogance, but a smile of contentment to see me so utterly blissed out. He slid his hand out and slowly sucked each of his fingers as I tightened my grip around his waist, grinding hard against him.

  ‘Better than champagne, Ellie.’

  ‘But good champagne’s dry,’ I smiled with a wink.

  ‘Not this one. Take off your shorts and knickers. I want to drink you.’

  ‘O, God,’ I groaned and quickly lifted my hips and hooked my thumbs inside my garments and slid them down to my thighs. He made quick work off pulling both of them all the way off and tossing them on the floor, leaving me naked on the island. I thanked God that I’d been to the beauticians last week and had my wax, leaving my small short neat strip of hair. Months of it not seeing daylight and suddenly I had the sexiest man I’d ever seen looking at it in awe, ready to lick away the cobwebs. He grabbed me and slid me towards him until my shoulders and head were the only things still touching the island, and instead of bending down, he lifted me, hoisting my thighs over his shoulders, opening me up like an oyster as his mouth went in search of the pearl. When he made contact, I felt, as well as heard, the grunt of pleasure at the same time as I sobbed one of my own.