Winter Love

by Kennedy Fox

  I stood in silence. I was amazed that a man I hadn’t seen since childhood could care about my well-being. I wasn’t used to it. I learned a long time ago, that there is only one person you could count on, only one person you could trust. That one person was yourself and only yourself. Yet, here was a strong man showing some interest in my welfare. It made me speechless.

  “Jade. Promise me.”

  I snapped out of my daze enough to whisper, “I promise.”

  “You’re just lucky you didn’t fall off on your ass or roll it,” Ethan grumbled.

  I smiled to myself. The alpha male was extremely sexy.

  Ethan placed his hand on the curve of my lower back and led me to the blanket by the creek. We sat in silence for a while just staring into the crystal waters that still ran between the icy banks, the frozen waterfall, and feeling the crisp breeze against our faces. The calm, the stillness, was exactly what I needed. Quieting my mind was something I had very little practice in doing, yet neither one of us felt the need to talk for quite some time. Ethan was the first to break the blissful silence.

  “So, tell me more about you.” Ethan leaned back onto his arms and turned his head to face me.

  “I feel like I talked your ear off over First Night Dinner. What else do you want to know?”

  Ethan continued to stare at me. “Tell me why you’re so shielded. You seem to want to be alone which isn’t really normal for most.”

  I looked at Ethan in shock. “What? Why would you say that? I’m not shielded. I talked openly and freely with you. And yes… I do like to be alone. I think it comes with my occupation. Writers are usually very isolated beings.”

  A very small smile crossed Ethan’s face. It was a look that said he knew a secret of which only he held the key. “Okay, then why don’t you tell me why you work so much.”

  I leaned back onto my arms and stared straight ahead, avoiding his stare. “I don’t know. I guess because I have to. I have to take care of myself, because who else will if I don’t? You have to work hard for what you want out of life.”

  “Nothing wrong with working hard.”

  I took pause at the simple way Ethan ended the conversation. I had already started prepping myself to defend my lifestyle and what I did for a living. I was ready to tell him to mind his own business. I was getting ready for battle if he even dared make it sound like writing wasn’t a real job like I’d been accused of in the past. Yet, Ethan just casually relaxed on his arms, with obviously no intent to continue. He didn’t push for anything more… he didn’t judge.

  “So, Ethan, let me ask you something. Do you like entertaining guests who come onto your land and use the resort?” I asked in order to get the conversation redirected.

  Ethan’s relaxed composure suddenly tensed. “No. I don’t like strangers being on my property pretty much nonstop. But it’s a means to pay the bills for this land.” He paused a moment to take a deep breath. “Not everyone is bad, but there are definitely a handful who make me bite my tongue. There can be a lot of self-entitled assholes. But at the same time, I can’t imagine doing any other job.” He pointed at the frozen waterfall. “Where else do I get to do things like this?”

  “You are pretty lucky.”

  He gave me a small nod. “Many would trade places with me in a second.”

  I took in the scenery. “It really is pretty here. It’s so quiet. I can see why you like it so much—especially in the winter.”

  “There’s also something special about keeping the family business alive.”

  “I envy that,” I said as I turned and smiled at him. “I’m really happy for you. I’m glad I chose to come out here and spend a majority of the winter here.”

  “I’m glad you came.” He paused for a moment then added, “I really like spending time with you.”

  “I enjoy spending time with you as well,” I confessed.

  Heat took over my entire body without warning. I quickly looked away and tried to regain my composure.

  Ethan smirked. “I like the way you blush so easily.”

  I slowly turned my head to look into Ethan’s smiling eyes. The soft wrinkles at the edges gave his boyish charm a sense of maturity. He kept my stare locked within his for what seemed like an eternity. I felt as if his gaze was single-handedly melting my heart. Ethan Davis had a power over my emotions that I was not used to allowing. His strength, his casual demeanor, his aura just screamed out, Man.

  Without looking away, Ethan slowly leaned in toward me until his lips were only inches from mine. “I’d really like to kiss you.”

  I looked down at his mouth and then back into his eyes and softly whispered, “I’d like that.”

  Ethan sat up straight and placed a hand on each side of my head and softly pressed his lips to mine. The touch sent tingles through my entire body. Never had a simple kiss given me such a powerful, intense reaction. His lips moved slowly along mine until I could feel his tongue lightly press past my lips to touch my own. The warmth, and the wetness, increased the desire building inside of me. His fingers caressed my hair softly as his tongue continued to explore. A kiss while being surrounded in a snowy paradise was more than I could imagine. I wanted more. I wanted the kiss to last forever. Never wanted his lips to leave mine. Never wanted to leave this frozen paradise.

  “Mmm... you feel so right,” Ethan murmured between our lips.

  The sound of his voice, muffled by the kiss, made me gasp. Never would I have thought I would feel so much power from a simple kiss. At that moment, the only thing I wanted was for Ethan to never end this connection. Ethan’s hands moved down my back, and he pulled me closer. My breasts pressed firmly to his rock-hard chest. As our bodies merged, our kiss became more frenzied, my lips opening wider, my tongue dancing with his. My breath mixed with his, my gasps swallowed by the kiss. The all-consuming, most mind-blowing kiss. A kiss that I never knew could exist. With one single kiss, Ethan had captured my heart.

  He slowly pulled away and looked deep into my eyes. His blue eyes were glazed over and desire coursed across his face. He ran a single finger along my jawline and traced it along the edge of my lips. A small seductive smile formed as he leaned forward and kissed the tip of my nose.

  “I didn’t expect that to happen when I woke up this morning,” he said.

  “I didn’t either. I—”

  “Shh, don’t overthink this right now,” he said, barely above a whisper.

  I had so much I wanted to say. I had so much I wanted to get out, but the kiss had stolen all words from my mouth. I could only stare into his eyes and smile.

  “You have the prettiest smile,” Ethan complimented as he brought his lips to mine again to give them a light brush, reminding me of the epic kiss only moments before. “It’s getting cold, and I think more snow is coming soon. I think we should head back.”

  I didn’t know what to do, or what to say. We kissed and now we were heading back as if nothing had happened. The only thing I did know was I wasn’t prepared to have this discussion. I couldn’t until I wrapped my head around what was happening. So, for now… I had no choice but to follow Ethan back to the cabin.

  Could a kiss just be a kiss?

  Chapter Four

  Mountain living was no joke. It was hard work, but I was so grateful that Ethan allowed me to have a taste of it during my writing breaks. I took every opportunity I could to leave my cabin and get outdoors, especially when I saw Ethan outside working and milling about. When I saw him splitting and stacking wood again, I was quick to run outside and offer a hand. He of course had tried to refuse, told me I was the guest, but I was insistent and won.

  But as I said… mountain living was no joke.

  Ethan wrapped an arm around my body, leading me out of the woodshed. “Come on. Let’s get you back to the cabin so you can get warmed up and get some rest.”

  When we reached the cabin, Ethan opened the door for me and followed me in. He walked over to the woodstove and added another log to the fire, and t
hen walked to the bed and pulled down the blankets. I stood in shock not sure what to make of what he was doing.

  Ethan turned and smiled warmly and patted the bed. “Okay, come lie down. Take a nap, and I’ll be back later to get you for dinner.”

  I shook my head and laughed. “I don’t take naps. But it’s all right. I need to check in with emails and catch up on a few things, so—”

  “No work,” Ethan interrupted. “It’s Sunday. You are due a day off from that screen.”

  “I wish it were as simple as that. I’m one of those people who have to stay busy. Why else do you think I offered to help you stack wood?”

  Yes, the real reason was that I wanted to be in his presence, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “Mill Creek Resort is about relaxation too.” Ethan’s face grew stern.

  He walked over and grabbed my hand softly and led me to the bed. He sat me down and took off my boots without ever saying another word. He then took off his own and stretched out onto the bed, pulling me into his arms.

  “If you aren’t going to rest by yourself, you’re going to lie here in my arms and sleep.” Ethan kissed my forehead and wrapped his arms tightly around me. “Now close your eyes, quiet your mind, and just lie down with me.”

  He said the few words I needed to hear. It was as if he knew me so well. In such a short time, he understood how difficult it was for me to just stop. He understood that unless he was to lie with me, force me, make me do what was needed, I wouldn’t be able to just shut it down. He understood me.

  I pressed my cheek to his chest and could hear his heartbeat beneath my ear. His arms were wrapped around me, and his steady breathing was like a balm that washed over my soul. For that very second, I could just be relaxed. I could just be calm and be soothed. This was a sensation that I was not comfortable feeling, but before I could really process the emotions going through me, I fell asleep in Ethan’s strong arms.

  I don’t know how long it had been but, my eyes fluttered open to find shadows cast against the walls of the cabin. Outside the window I could see the sun was setting. I tried to stretch awake and was restricted by strong arms wrapped around me. I was on Ethan’s chest as it softly rose with his steady breathing. The smell of his manliness invaded my senses, and the desire to move my hand that rested on his chest to his lower region was almost unbearable. This man had a power over me that I had never experienced before.

  I was still sleepy, but my body was very awake.

  His arms tightened around me and pulled me a little closer to his body. “Did you sleep well?”

  His simple question sent fire through my body. It was the way his voice sounded husky but caring. “Yes… I did. Thank you. I guess I was more tired than I thought.”

  “A nap once in a while isn’t a bad thing. Mill Creek Resort was built on the concept that relaxation is needed.”

  I adjusted my head so I could look into Ethan’s eyes. “Which is why I came here. So, thank you for reminding me of that.”

  We both stared at each other for a few moments, scanning each other’s face, searching for a peek into our souls.

  “I don’t usually lie in bed with a man like this. I don’t usually kiss… well this is just not like me.”

  “This isn’t me, either. I actually have a very strict rule of no guests allowed.”

  I took a deep breath before speaking. “So, if this isn’t the way we are. Then why are we lying here? Why did we kiss? Why do I want… more?”

  Ethan lowered his mouth to mine. He kissed with more passion, and more excitement than before. He rolled me over onto my back and pressed his body on top of mine. His mouth continued to claim as I could feel his desire building. I gasped at the sudden change in our energy but pulled him closer.

  “I can’t explain this. I can’t explain why I want you so badly, so quickly. Tell me to stop and I will. Tell me no, and I’ll get up this second.” Ethan paused from his onslaught of kisses to examine my face. “I should follow my no guests allowed rule, but I can’t. I don’t want to.”

  I smiled at the look of concern mixed with passion on his face. “I want this, too. Don’t stop.”

  He moved his mouth to my neck and started to place soft kisses, while his hand slowly worked its way under my shirt. His palm cupped my breast, and I arched my back to meet his touch. His lips moved to my ear, and he lightly nipped. I could hear his ragged breathing and feel his body tense with pent up passion.

  I lowered my hand to his bulging erection pressing against his jeans. When my fingers made contact, Ethan moaned in desire.

  I undid his belt buckle, unbuttoned, and unzipped in one fluid motion and wrapped my hand around his throbbing cock. If there was any question in his mind on what I wanted, I hoped to have clarified it now.

  A growl worked its way past Ethan’s lips as he began to rip off my clothing in a fire of fever and excitement. I met his crazed desire by stripping him bare as well. Within seconds, our bodies were nude and entangled together.

  There was no turning back now.

  The snow fell outside, the fire smoldered beside us, but the real heat was between our bodies.

  Ethan reached for his pants, his wallet, and then pulled out a condom from it. I had never been more grateful for his planning ahead as I was right then. He grabbed me by the hips and in one hard thrust, drove himself deep within the warmth of my body.

  I wrapped my legs tighter around his back and thrust my hips to meet his sensual assault. Moaning, I felt like a sex-crazed vixen beneath this man as he pumped in and out with a force and speed demanding my completion.

  He took a handful of my hair and pulled my mouth to his. Dominating me with the pull, with the thrust of his hips, and with the power he had over my impending orgasm.

  “Come for me. I want to hear you, feel you,” Ethan demanded with a deep sensual voice.

  As if knowing I should never go against one of Ethan’s commands, I let the climax take over. The electricity worked its way from my pussy all the way to every nerve ending in my body. My moan became louder, louder until it became a mewl of absolute pleasure released.

  With the sound of my cries mastering the room, Ethan pumped hard one last time, filling me with his seed.

  After several minutes of heavy breathing, he lightly kissed my lips. “Jesus Christ, that was… Jesus Christ.”

  I suddenly tensed up and began to maneuver my body from underneath his. I sat up, grabbed the sheet to wrap around me and glanced over my shoulder to look at Ethan who was watching me closely. The body had been satisfied, but my mind… my mind went into a dark, lonely place. There was a reason I didn’t have a man in my life… my body may say yes, but my mind screamed no.

  “That was definitely a nice perk of coming to Mill Creek Resort. Thank you,” I said with a shaky voice as I bent down to start picking up the clothes that were scattered around.

  Ethan sat up, and his relaxed face slowly changed. One eyebrow raised and his jaw clinched. “What are you doing?”

  I tossed his clothes on to the bed. “What do you mean?”

  “We just had sex and you hop out of bed like it was just a fuck or something.”

  I suddenly stopped and turned in his direction. My eyes widened at the disbelief painted on his face. “Sex? Fucking? Isn’t it really just the same? I mean, it was a casual good time.” Yeah I was an asshole, but assholes didn’t get hurt.

  Ethan stood up and put on his jeans in a fluid motion, never taking his eyes off of me. Leaving his chest bare, he walked over to where I stood and placed a hand on each side of my arms. He softly kissed my forehead.

  “You aren’t fooling anyone, Jade.”

  Okay, so maybe I wasn’t an asshole… even though it would have been a lot easier if I were.

  I pulled away and took a couple of steps back. I tightened my grip on the white sheet covering my body. “We don’t need to make this awkward or anything.” I shrugged my shoulders, trying to seem casual.

  “Stop,” Ethan sof
tly ordered.

  I knew I was pushing him away. Spiraling out of control because I didn’t know how to handle emotions. I knew I was doing what I always did. It was easier this way. Easier to keep up the wall and keep him at bay. Soft kisses, whispers of love were dangerous and just wasn’t the way I did things. And for Christ’s sake, I still had weeks of being snowed in here. I couldn’t let this get weird.

  “You should go.” Is it what I wanted? No. But I didn’t know what to say or to do.

  “I said, stop.” Ethan’s voice was growing stern.

  He closed the distance between us and lifted my chin so I was looking into his eyes. Very slowly and very softly, Ethan kissed me. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to feel the kiss. I allowed the familiar feelings his touch gave me, to chip away at my wall.

  With my eyes still closed, and my lips still near his, I whispered, “What do you want from me?”

  Ethan kissed me lightly again. “I want you to stop.”

  I didn’t know how to feel. I had no idea what to make of the most stunning man before me. He was so strong, so masculine and yet so soft and sensual. Ethan made me want to open up… to be free. But as quickly as I wanted to be open, I realized that staying closed was safer. Nothing could become of this. Nothing at all. We lived in two different worlds. He represented these mountains, and I was simply the guest.

  “Okay, I’ll stop,” I replied while putting on my classic smile.

  The smile that I had mastered.

  A smile that could conceal all the real emotion.

  A smile that could hide everything.

  Ethan traced his finger along my lips. “No. Not with me, Jade. The only time I want to see this smile, is when I see the smile in your eyes, too.”

  The artificial smile melted away under his touch. “No guests allowed, remember?” I looked at him to see if I could read his true thoughts, but he gave nothing away.