by Kitty Jones
“You look like you just got amazing news,” he told her.
“I did. I got the best news of all.”
“It’s just checking up on a friend,” he said, warning her. This woman wasn’t someone he knew. Was he attracted to her? Absolutely. Would he bed her? In a heartbeat. But Brody didn’t fall in love quickly. At least, he never had before, and he wasn’t under the impression that anything could really happen between him and Luna.
Could it?
It was much too soon, really.
Much too quick.
He turned down the main street in town and then up to one of the mountain roads that led to his grandmother’s home. It was a short drive, and Grandma chatted happily along the way. She talked about her day and what a nice time she’d had. She expressed that she had really enjoyed her coffee and that Brody needed to let her drink it more.
“I think you have more than enough coffee, Grandma,” he said.
“Oh, you’re no fun,” Grandma waved her hand at him.
Brody shook his head, but finished driving Grandma to her house and dropped her off. He helped her out of the car and walked her inside. Her fat cat, Whiskers, came out to meow at him.
“Stop feeding him so much,” Brody frowned at the cat.
“Don’t you fat shame him,” Grandma said, shaking her finger at Brody. “All bodies are beautiful.”
“Grandma, he looks like he’s sick.”
“All bodies are beautiful,” she said, repeating herself.
Brody shook his head. He made a mental note to pick up diet cat food for obese cats the next time he was at the store. All cats might be lovely, but he couldn’t take a chance that Grandma’s cat might develop diabetes or other problems that could lead to an early demise. Grandma loved Whiskers almost more than she loved Brody. That wasn’t exactly a secret.
When he left her house, he swung by his own cabin. He went inside, lifted weights in his private weight room, and had dinner. He took a shower and hung out for a little while. Finally, he decided he’d loitered long enough, and he drove back into town to check on the little waif his grandmother had discovered.
There was only one motel in town, so it wasn’t hard to find where she was staying, and Brody was only a little surprised to see her standing in the parking lot staring at her car with her hands on her hips. It wouldn’t run. Was that the problem? Now she was stranded. He pulled into a space two down from her so she wouldn’t feel crowded, and he got out of the SUV and walked over.
Luna looked up at him. Instantly, recognition crossed her face. It was followed closely by embarrassment.
“It’s you,” she said, blushing. She looked away.
“It’s me,” he agreed. “What’s the problem?”
“Um, it won’t start.”
“Doesn’t matter. Roads are closed.”
“So I’ve been told,” she said quietly. She shook her head and stared at the car, as though looking at it would make something start working suddenly.
“What’s the problem?” He asked.
“I just told you.”
“I mean with your hotel. Can you stay here until the roads open back up?”
She shook her head.
“I…My checkout was at three,” she said. “I can’t afford to stay any longer.”
“Is that so?” He asked.
“Yeah. I just…I guess I could sleep in the car until I can figure out an alternate route home.”
“You can’t drive home right now,” he told her. She lived hours away on a good day, and even if the back roads were open, they weren’t going to be safe. Not for someone as beautiful and lovely as her. He found himself speaking before he’d had time to think it through. “I had a guest room. You can stay with me.”
“What?” She looked up at him with complete shock on her face.
“My grandmother was going to offer you her sofa, but her cat seems to think that’s his home. I’d hate to hear you died being clawed to death by a jealous fat cat.”
“Don’t body shame him,” she whispered, looking back at her car.
“That’s was Grandma said.”
Luna stifled a tiny laugh, but when she looked back at Brody, her eyes were filled with tears.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Your generosity is just really surprising to me. I don’t even know you, but you’re basically saving my ass.”
“Not a problem,” he said. “Let’s get your car started, and you can follow me home.”
Luna nodded, wiping away some tears, and Brody tried not to think too hard about what she’d look like naked on his bed with him kissing those tears away.
Chapter Three
So the lumberjack was going to save her.
Was that it?
He was strong and handsome and Luna had a feeling he knew it. Nobody looked that good and didn’t realize how attractive they were. He was hot as hell, and she was…
Well, it had been awhile for her. It had been a long time since she’d felt such a heat burning inside of her. It had practically been forever.
She had been humiliated when she’d talked with the hotel clerk. They’d offered to let her stay during the quarantine, but it was in or out, they’d told her. The virus that was sweeping the world was the kind of thing that wasn’t going to go away overnight, but most of the state was effectively shutting down. No one knew very much except that everyone needed to stay at home. If she was going to stay at the hotel, she was going to stay there.
That meant she’d have to pay for the full two weeks, and that was money she didn’t have.
She should have been scared to go with the big lumberjack. Warning bells were going off inside her head, but her vagina didn’t seem to get the memo. Fucking hormones. That was her problem. Hormones. If she had better control of them, she wouldn’t be so anxious right now and she certainly wouldn’t be getting ready to go home with a total stranger.
But she wasn’t naïve. She knew that this couldn’t possibly really be for free. He was going to want something from her, just as everyone did.
Sex.
Was he going to want sex?
If he did, it would basically make her a prostitute: exchanging her body for a place to stay. She didn’t really care, though, and that thought worried her more than it should have.
“Are you okay?” He asked carefully. He was in her car now. He’d gotten it started and he’d been speaking to her, but she wasn’t listening. She’d been too busy thinking about his cock and wondering what it looked like.
“Yes,” she squeaked out.
He cocked his head, trying to figure out what she was talking about, but finally, he shrugged.
“Okay, just follow me, then.”
“Should I give you my phone number?” She asked.
“What?”
“You know, in case we get separated and I need to call you for directions?”
He laughed, shaking his head.
“Sweetheart, I’ll give you my phone number in an instant, but I’m not about to lose you. Let’s get home and then you can have my number for as long as you want it.”
He walked over and got into his SUV, and her heart was pounding.
He’d called her sweetheart.
Her feminist studies had taught her that this kind of language was totally demeaning and wrong, but when he said it, it just did something to her. Something she couldn’t quite relinquish.
Sweetheart.
What would it be like to have him between her legs calling her that?
Sweetheart.
He looked at her through the window of his SUV and waved for her to get into the car. She climbed into her Saturn, closed the door, and waited for him to pull out.
Then she followed him all the way home.
It wasn’t a long drive, and that surprised her a little bit. She wasn’t used to having everything be so close even when it was far away. In the city, if someone lived a mile away, it could take you twenty minutes to get there. Not here.
A mile went by so very quickly. It basically flew by, actually. They drove up into the mountains. The road was windy and narrow and there were steep stone walls on either side. She tried not to stare, and instead focused her energy on driving safely.
Damn, it was hard.
As they made their way deeper into the mountains, she saw creeks and forests and all sorts of things. At one point, Luna thought she might have seen a bear, but that could have just been wishful thinking. She’d always loved animals.
When the SUV turned into a private drive, she found herself holding her breath. She followed the vehicle down a private, winding road and up to what had to be the biggest and loveliest log cabin she’d ever seen.
Dear Caroline hadn’t been lying when she’d said that her grandson had built a cabin. What she’d left out was that this place was damn lovely. It was two stories, for starters, and it had a huge wraparound deck with a couple of chairs and a swing.
Luna pulled in next to the lumberjack’s vehicle and sat for a second before she got out of the car. She knew that this was it. This was her chance to turn and run away or to stay exactly where she was. Quarantine wasn’t something she had been expecting, but it was something that was happening whether she liked it or not. Her phone had been blowing up with texts and emails all afternoon. The entire school had shut down. A couple of students had been infected and come to class, so anyone who had been on campus recently was at risk.
While Luna hadn’t been exposed personally, she understood why the school had to be shut down. Still, it was frustrating to be caught far away during a time when she wanted to be working on her project. Maybe she’d have time to work on it here.
Then again, maybe it would be hard to focus up here in the wilderness with Lumberjack Man.
Brody had gotten out of his SUV and was walking toward her. Her stomach flip-flopped as he made his way to her door. He reached for the handle and tugged, opening it.
“Welcome to my home,” he said, and he offered her his hand. She stared at it for so long that he laughed. “It’s not poisonous,” he said with a chuckle.
Finally, she forced a smile and took his hand. She did not want this guy to know how this interaction was affecting her. It was totally wrong how she was feeling. She didn’t like feeling this way: aroused, excited. She didn’t like feeling totally terrified that she was going to fall hard for the guy who was offering her a safe shelter during a tumultuous time.
Most importantly, she didn’t want him to know just how long it had been since she’d been with someone.
That was embarrassing.
The reality was that Luna had been very busy for a very long time, and romance had fallen strictly on the back burner.
She wasn’t opposed to romance. Not at all. In fact, she felt quite the opposite. The idea of finding someone to love and be loved by was wonderful to her. Amazing, even. She wanted to fall in love. She wanted to be attracted to someone. Perhaps most of all, she wanted to feel like she belonged with someone, and now…
Now Mr. Tall, Dark, and Dangerous was standing at her door.
Was she willing to take a chance?
She got out of the car, but she didn’t release his hand at once. She worried that he’d be able to see through her. Could he see all of her secrets? Could he tell just how long it had been since she’d been with someone? Could he tell what she was holding back?
“Are you okay?” He asked slowly.
“I’m fine.”
“Do you want to bring anything inside right now?” He asked her carefully.
Luna looked at her car. Basically everything she owned was in her car. Not that she had planned it that way. It was just that she didn’t have very much. She rented a little studio apartment that had a bed and a table and that was it. She didn’t have a couch and she didn’t have a washing machine. She didn’t even have a dresser.
Her life was simple and chaotic, and that was fine for her. She kept telling herself that eventually, once she was finished with graduate school, everything would be different.
Now she wasn’t quite so sure.
“I don’t have very much,” she looked at the car.
“Computer? Change of clothes?”
“Yeah, I’ll grab them.”
She got what she thought she might need. She realized just how packed her car looked, and she hoped he wasn’t silently judging her. What kind of person lived out of her car like this? But she’d been traveling for a very long time, and she couldn’t be bothered to care too much.
They went inside his house. He led the way, and even though she tried to stay cool and play it off, she was wildly impressed by his home. She gasped when she stepped inside, and he heard her. He laughed a little.
“I’m guessing you like the place.”
“That’s an understatement. It’s beautiful.”
They walked into the living room, which was open. There was a big staircase leading to an open second level. She could see there were closed doors up there – probably leading to bedrooms – but there was an open sitting space, too.
The first floor had a kitchen and a giant living room. Her apartment would fit neatly in one corner of it. It was actually quite amazing just how much space he had. She tried not to gawk, but it was nearly impossible.
“How did you even do this?” She asked.
“One tree at a time,” he said.
“Wait, what?” She looked at him sharply. “One tree at a time? What does that mean? Did you…did you cut the lumber yourself?”
“I did.”
He didn’t look like he was bragging. To be honest, he didn’t even really look that proud about this incredible accomplishment. If anything, he seemed far too modest for any ordinary man, and that bothered her just a little.
“You’re incredible.”
“What makes you say that?” He raised an eyebrow, and Luna had the distinct impression that no one had ever given this man a real, proper compliment before. He simply didn’t seem to know how to handle receiving one.
“It’s just really pretty. I don’t know anyone else who could do something like this.”
She looked around for a minute more, but then he finally made a weird harrumph sort of noise, and gestured to her.
“Come on. I’ll show you your bedroom.”
“My room?”
“Unless you want to sleep with me,” he said. He raised an eyebrow, challenging her, and she bit her damn lip.
Was he fucking serious right now?
Shit.
Yes, she absolutely did want to sleep with him. It was a terrible idea, and it was a horrible plan, but yes, she absolutely did want to sleep with him.
Should she take a chance?
She wasn’t going to see him again. Not once this was all over.
Was she?
The truth was that Luna was only going to be young once. Someday, she’d be married, or busy with a job. Someday she’d have kids to worry about or pets or something. Anything. Today, though, it was only her, and she really had nowhere to be and nothing to do for awhile: two whole weeks, at least.
“Yeah,” she said bravely, jutting her chin out. “I think I do.”
Chapter Four
So the little student was brave, was she?
Fearless.
She was quite wild compared to what he had expected of her. He’d thrown out the sleeping with me comment, but hadn’t expected her to actually bite.
He wasn’t going to hold back, though. Not if she actually wanted him.
Brody’s grandmother had taught him a lot of things. She’d taught him to bake cookies and how to clean a kitchen sink, but most importantly, she’d taught him never to pass up a good opportunity, and this? This was a pretty damn good opportunity.
He looked at Luna. The girl was damn near quivering. How long had it been since she’d been well-fucked? A long time, he’d imagine. She looked wound up tight and if it were up to him, he’d toss her on his bed and never let her go. That’s exactly what he would do
. He’d tie her up, kiss her, play with her. He’d make her come over and over again until it was time for the quarantine to be lifted.
It was a bad idea, though. He knew it even as he walked across the room to her. He knew when he lifted her chin with his fingers that it was a horrible plan. He wasn’t going to want to let her go, was he?
That was going to be a problem.
Luna had plans for her life. She had big, wonderful plans and maybe she even had a big, wonderful boyfriend back home. He didn’t know, and he didn’t care. As soon as he brought his lips to hers, he knew was going to be a total goner.
She groaned, leaning up into him as he deepened the kiss. She was sweetness and perfection. He knew it was wrong to want her. He didn’t even know her, and she was younger than him. It didn’t matter, though. In that moment, all of his rational thoughts seemed to flee his mind, and he focused solely on her.
Worshipping her.
Loving her.
Adoring her.
He kissed her over and over. He reached for her bottom and gripped it, pulling her tightly against himself. He knew she could feel his hardness, his length. Good. He wanted her to know exactly how much this kiss was affecting him. He wasn’t about to shy away from his feelings in this moment.
He growled, fisting her hair, tugging it back. Her eyes popped open and she looked up at him.
“Until this ends,” he murmured. “You’re mine. No backing out.”
“No backing out,” she agreed.
He didn’t have to explain what he meant. She knew. She could feel it, too. This thing between them that was bubbling up, threatening to overwhelm them both: it wasn’t going anywhere. It wasn’t going to stop tomorrow, and they weren’t going to make this awkward.
It was all in or all out.
There was no in-between.
He kissed her again and this time, he lifted her easily into his arms. She wrapped her legs around him, gripping him with her thighs, and he carried her to his bedroom. It was on the first floor, and right next to the living room, which was convenient at a time like this. It was nice that they didn’t have to go very far.
