by Taylor Love
That steered them into one of their friendly debates, and away from talk about serious things like work and leaving their secluded cabin. When the main dishes came she asked to taste his shrimp and steak. And after chastising her on ordering the healthy option but wanting to eat real food, they ended up swapping half their meal with the other. Damond scowling the entire time, while she hummed happily eating slices of his beef. It was an enjoyable night and she was actually sad to leave their small romantic corner when they left.
Taking control of the radio she found some old school R&B and let it play as they rode home, mostly in silence. She had no clue what he was thinking, but her mind was wishing it didn’t have to end so soon. Looking up at the open sky helped quiet her unhappy thoughts. Here, there were no buildings or lights, to block or outshine the stars, and it was beautiful. Peaceful, simple and relaxing.
Janae still couldn’t see herself ever living out here permanently. But she had a renewed appreciation for nature and the serenity of it all. She knew life worked in cycles. That anything with a start had an end, but she was determined to enjoy every bit of it while she could.
Chapter Sixteen
AS THEY CAME DOWN THE lane to the large cabin, she was struck again by how quickly things change. The first time coming down this stretch of road Janae thought she might have lost her mind. Now, it had turned into her own little love shack. Janae hadn’t been looking for it, but it had been what she needed. Right now, she needed to get inside and warm up, by getting close and personal with one Damond Hall.
Inside Damond hung up their coats, while shuffling his feet like a school boy on his first date. In fact he felt exactly like that, and it made him feel ridiculous. He didn’t know if he should make the first move or wait for her. Thankfully, she turned around as he closed the closet door and slid into his arms, raising up on her toes to give him a gentle kiss.
“Thanks again for everything. I really enjoyed dinner and appreciate everything you did for me today.”
“It’s not a big dea-”
“Uh-uh.” Placing a finger against his lips she stopped his self-deprecation. “Just say, you’re welcome.”
“You’re welcome.” He obediently repeated. “How do you want to spend the rest of the night?”
“Why don’t you go make us a fire, we can sit on that horrid rug. I’ll go freshen up and be back in a little bit.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He watched her switch away and knew someone was feeling frisky. Fine by him, he was certainly up for playing with her kitty-cat. Hell, he was hoping to stroke it all night long. With that idea in mind he ran up to his own room to hit the can, before grabbing a few condoms. He didn’t want any interruptions once they got going, they had time to make up. Coming down Damond got the fire going in time to hear her door open. Peeking down the hall, he waved her forward as she veered for the kitchen.
“I was going to grab some wine.” Janae explained.
“I’ll take care of it. You just relax and get comfortable.”
“Well, you don’t have to tell me twice.” Looked like her night of pampering would continue.
Fully coming into the living room as he was leaving, she noticed the condoms on the table and the couple of pillows he’d placed on the floor so they could sit. Making a split decision as a giggle bubbled up, Janae went for it. When Damond came back, a glass of red wine in each hand, he almost spilled them at what he saw.
“Damnnnn. Doesn’t look like I needed to bother with the drinks, you already loose...”
“You said get comfortable, I took you to heart.”
Janae was laying on the couch propped up on her side, in just the new bra and panties. Damond didn’t say anything else, just set both wine glasses on the table and slowly backed away. His eyes traveling over her body.
“You stay right there. I’m going to need something stronger than wine.”
Janae felt keyed up as Damond went to the side cart stocked with premium liquor, kept in the corner. He took a decanter of bourbon and poured a glass before walking into the kitchen. Pausing on his way to stare at her again, all while shaking his head slowly in disbelief.
Janae used the time to drink half of her own wine, then went back to what she hoped was a casual yet sexy pose. She tried not to overthink why he hadn’t pounced on her yet and decided to let everything play out. Damond’s mind worked in mysterious ways. When he came back, he was slowly sipping as he strutted proudly out the kitchen completely naked.
“I felt overdressed for this party.” He explained at seeing her expression.
Yet he still didn’t come join her, lowering himself to the rug in front of the fire instead.
“Should I join you?” Janae offered.
“No baby, you’re perfect where you are. I’m trying to look my fill because when I touch you all that tantalizing material is coming off in a hurry.”
“So you like it?”
“Are you insane, of course I like it! Get up and show off for me.”
Janae finished off her wine, needing it as she stood up to model for him. Her thought process was; she would wear it, he would see it, then they would devour each other. Another reminder how different men and women thought, and this man in particular always seemed to confound her.
Standing slowly, she took a few steps until she cleared the table so he could see all of her, then decided to have fun with it. Twirling around and putting hands to hips as she posed for him. Stretching her arms overhead so that her stomach was taunt, both breasts lifting up and out. Then slowly trailed one hand down the other arm, moving her hips sensually side to side. After a moment or two she really got into it, even turning around, shaking her ass at him a little. The entire time his eyes were on her like a hot brand. Janae would swear she actually felt heat as his eyes roamed over her skin, and it made her feel more lightheaded then the wine.
Damond considered they may have been abducted by aliens on that dark ride home from eating. It was a good explanation for what was happening now. They were probably in holding pods, while the aliens put them in a combined dream state. He couldn’t figure out another way to explain her being dressed to bring a man to his knees. Now he was lucky enough to get this sexy as fuck show. He knew the moment she really let go, having to grip the rug beneath him, so he didn’t do the same to his cock. Taking another big swallow from his glass he finally set it down before shifting.
“Thanks. You’ve just given me quite an education on ‘how to drive a man wild without even touching him’. I’m impressed with your teaching style.”
“Good, there might be a test later, so you should study hard.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to pass.” Damond smirked. “I have an inappropriate relationship with the teacher. Now take that off and come over here.”
She pouted a little. “You’re not going to do it for me?”
“Since this is the first time I’m seeing that set I have a feeling you bought it recently. I’d hate to rip it to shreds in my impatience to get to every inch of your skin.”
When he lifted his shuttered eyelids, the raw desire she saw there almost made her take a step back. It unquestionably had her nerves tingling with all kinds of awareness. Before her was a predator of a man and it both thrilled her and made her feel in danger. Swallowing she unhooked the back of the bra, and as she pushed her panties down both pieces fell off her body.
Kneeling in front of him, their eyes locked as he leaned forward for a kiss. Janae’s heart just about leapt from her chest, even though he pressed softly at first, the knowledge of what was to come still shot through her body. Damond was palming her nape, pulling her in, moving the kiss by degrees into something deeper.
Jesus, he hadn’t felt this close to blowing his stack prematurely since he was fifteen. He’d seen many women in sexy lingerie and appreciated them all, but it was something about seeing Janae so sexually carefree and playful, that turned him on a hundred times more. Part of him wanted to languish in this mome
nt, while the beast inside him wanted to take everything she offered—immediately and repeatedly. Pulling back he sat up, brushing the hair from her face.
“You’ve been hot to trot since we got back. I think you need to be cooled down.”
“Is that really what you think Damond?” Janae caressed his thigh.
“Yeah it is, now close your eyes.”
She let her eyes fall shut before sensing him move. Heard clinking before he shifted again, sliding his skin against hers as he laid next to her. Eagerly waiting in anticipation of whatever he was going to do.
Damond slid the ice cube from the bourbon on the underside of her breast first and watched her eyes pop open as she squealed.
“Keep those eyes closed, you’re horrible at following directions.”
An incredulous giggle rose out of her, as she did what she was told. “That’s because you’re crazy.”
“You still sound too heated. We’ll have to do something about that.”
Damond ran the quickly melting ice over her warm brown areola, bringing her nipple to a point. Putting what was left of the icicle in his mouth, he drew her in next. Stopping the laughter in its tracks as she moaned. Damond suckled her as if he hadn’t eaten a full meal less than an hour before, only to start again with a new ice cube on her other breast.
He had one more piece of ice left and he used that to run it down her stomach, circling her navel before lightly slipping it between her curls. He didn’t stop as she cried out, continuing to graze her already firm bud of nerves. The ice melted, running down into her plump folds, making her shake and groan.
The next thing Damond was reaching for was a condom, struggling to put it on as she was all over him, licking his neck and grabbing his ass. Somehow he got the task done, pulling her up on her knees, he gave her a kiss that neither would soon forget. He didn’t want to pry himself away but finally the need to be inside her won out.
Directing Janae to all fours he penetrated her wet sheath, the flames from the fire assaulting his back with heat as he pounded into her. Her hips eagerly meeting his, and still it wasn’t enough. It never seemed to be when it came to her, and tonight was no different.
Grabbing a fist full of her fluffy hair, Damond took her until they were both slick with sweat. When at last he came, slamming into her one last time and yelling out into the silent house—he felt spent. Feeling an unfamiliar peace as his eyes rolled back in his head a bit, before they both slumped to the rug—exhausted but entirely satisfied.
Chapter Seventeen
THE LAST WEEK WENT by in a blur as they both hammered out work like crazy. Damond was extra moody those first few days as he fought his way to the end of book one. She’d patiently let his testier than normal attitude slide, and tried to cater to him until he finished. Like dropping food off in his office, so he wouldn’t skip eating, and needling him to take a few much needed breaks. Whenever normal measures didn’t work she lured him away with sex. Once he’d typed the metaphoric “the end” they celebrated by taking that evening off after dinner. Playing downstairs, catching a movie before making love all night long.
They were doing that more often in fact, making love that is. As he started book two at a less frenzied pace, she finalized her work and their intimate time changed. Sex for them turned into long caresses, light touching, teasing kisses, giggles and sighs as hips met each other like they could spend all day at the activity. She loved it! But it also felt bittersweet.
But time didn’t hold still, and even though they were both working less and spending more time together, her day to leave arrived. She woke to breakfast in bed and ate it to please him even though she wasn’t hungry. For Damond’s part, he tried to joke as a distraction, but she didn’t even feel like doing their verbal sparring either. After a while he started getting just as distant as she was and left to “take care of a few things”.
At noon, she did a full sweep of the house, trying to make sure she hadn’t left anything. Only to almost end up crying at the memories in each space. She didn’t though. Reality was back standing on her doorstep and Professor Janae Williams Ph.D. didn’t have time for tears, there was more work to be done.
Dragging her bags into the hall after putting on her coat, she ran upstairs to run her eyes over her office one more time and to avoid the inevitable. Damond knew she wanted to hit the road at 12:30 and it was almost that time. Finally coming back down Janae saw him waiting at the bottom. Standing with his legs apart, hands stuffed in his sweatpants pockets, not much different than the first time she’d seen him fully dressed.
“Did you find anything up there?”
“No. I’m pretty sure I have everything.”
“And if you don’t, I’ll make sure Amanda gets it back to you.” Damond thought he was reassuring her. But the way her mouth dropped open before quickly shutting told him he’d made some kind of misstep.
“Okay...thanks, I guess. I should be going, it’s supposed to start snowing around six and I want to make sure I beat it. It could come early.”
“Yeah, it might. You shouldn’t have to stop, I mean gas wise.”
“Thanks again for doing that.” He’d gone into town and brought back enough gas to fill her tank yesterday morning.
“Don’t let me hold you up Professor, drive safe.” Damond nodded at her bags then looked at the door.
Janae’s head snapped back at his blasé tone. Gripping her keys so tight they hurt. “You're not even going to take my bags out to the car?”
“Why should I? You got them in here on your own, I figure you can get them out.”
Was she out of her social science loving mind? Damond didn’t plan to lift another finger to help her leave here—or him.
“Asshole,” Janae muttered.
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re an ass-hole.” Janae fairly shouted in his face, her voice ripe with anger. “Was that clear enough for you?”
“Yeah, that I heard.” He put his hands on his hips, just as pissed. “You ever wonder why?”
“I’ve concluded it’s part of your DNA. I’m not sure I could figure it out, if I had all the time in the world Damond, and right now I have to go.”
Janae turned away hurt. She hadn’t expected some romantic movie of the week goodbye, but he could at least pretended he might miss her a little. Given her a damn hug.
“Or...” Damond broke into her thoughts. “You could stay another week.”
Whipping around so fast she tipped over one of her bags, she gaped at him. “You know I can’t do that!”
Damond only crossed his arms. “You can.”
“My book-”
“Is in the editing stage. You can do that from here.”
“True...but why should I?” Janae probed, even as her heart lifted.
“Because I want you to.”
“Why should I care what you want?” Janae asked coolly.
“Because you want the same thing, to give us a little more time. One week, then we’ll cut the strings and make a clean break.”
Bundled in her thick winter coat she searched his face for answers. “Ask me to stay nicely?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Janae, please stay...give us one more week.”
“Okay, I’ll do it...just one more week.” An unrestrained smile split her face as she embraced him. “But you’re putting my luggage back in my room.”
“You mean our room.”
OVER THE NEXT WEEK they worked every day, but only five or six hours tops. The rest of the day they spent sleeping in, watching TV or movies. At one point she even let him try teaching her pool. Crazy as it sounded they took walks outside, had another snowball fight. Even competed to see who could make the best snowman in fifteen minutes. Janae won only because her decorations were better.
But just like the week before, it went by quicker than either of them wanted. She had gotten a call in the middle of the week from her parents who she had totally forgotten to inform about the extra time away. The
n her cousin was leaving dire messages to give her a call “asap” when she returned. It looked like she was missed and needed back in her real life. The morning of her departure they woke to make love then repeated the act in the shower. Janae had so much sex in the last 48 hours, she was sure to be sore long after leaving.
Oddly, she was looking forward to that reminder of her time with Damond. But deja vu was starting to set in when she passed the suitcases in the hall this time around. As breakfast came to an end, Janae looked across the table at the handsome, complicated grumpy man sitting across from her.
“So I’ve been thinking, and maybe I want a few strings.”
When he didn’t say anything, she threw a strawberry at him.
“Damond, did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah, I heard you.” He pushed back from the table only to stare. “You want to know the problem with strings Professor?”
“No I don’t, but tell me anyway.”
“Strings are unwieldly and eventually get tangles. I don’t like tangles.”
“No one likes tangles.” She gave him a perceptive look. “But if you handle the strings with care...you don’t get pesky knots.”
“See! Even you know it goes from tangles to knots, a downward spiral is what it’ll be.”
“As much as I find this allegorical tennis match we’re doing fun. I want to be clear. I don’t want our relationship to completely end when I leave here. Now you tell me what you think about that.”
Damond rubbed his jaw. “I think...things get hectic and complicated outside these cabin walls for two people like us.”
“I agree. Complicated but not impossible...right?” Hope dripping in her voice.
He gave her a long searching look, and let out an even longer sigh. “I write fiction for a living. So no, nothing is impossible.”
“So what do you want to do?”
“I’m willing to keep a few strings going between us. Let’s keep in contact, we can start there.”
