by Goode, Ella
“Did you forget to pay a bill?” Faith’s cute nose wrinkles. “Because that sounds like a bill collector.”
I pull my legs out from under a disgruntled Bear and roll out of bed. On a nearby chair are a pair of sweatpants that I pick up with one hand. “It’s King,” I say as I dress. After she passed out I pulled my clothes off and crawled into bed with her. I wasn’t going to wake her so I could get my dick wet. As much as I wanted to. She was tired and needed her rest. I could wait. The taste of her in my mouth was enough to hold me over for now.
She sits up, clutching the comforter to her very nice chest. “What for? Do you owe him money? Because I can work it off.” She flexes a non-existent bicep muscle. “I’m very handy.”
“No and no.” She’s not going anywhere near King.
I pull a shirt over my head and snap my fingers at Bear. “Come.” To Faith, I say, “Stay here.”
Bear immediately hops off the bed. Unfortunately, so does Faith. “No, if it’s King, I should be there because he was expecting me.” She looks around. “Where are my clothes?”
I wish I’d burned them because then she’d have to stay in the bedroom under the comforter. Although, as she waddles around the room wrapped in the blanket, it strikes me that there’s a very real possibility that she would walk out into the living room clad only in the blanket with her just fucked looking hair and her very thoroughly kissed lips on full display. It should be acceptable to lock your woman up in a tower room. Not that I have a tower room, but I could build one. The fact that I have to share her with the rest of the world seems wrong. I live out in the woods far away from the rest of civilization for a reason and that’s because I don’t like people. Faith should also not like people. She should only like me, Bear, and Smittens. We are the only ones she needs. I haven’t put a lot of thought into what that means, but I feel like it’s true.
The minute that King sees her, he’s going to want her. I know she has that effect on people. In fact, by keeping her to myself I’m probably doing the rest of the world a favor.
“You should stay here. It could be dangerous out there,” I warn.
Her eyes widen. “Really? Then I don’t think you should go out there by yourself either. Do you have a baseball bat around here? I can’t believe King is dangerous. I should’ve known, though, because what decent guy offers you free room and board in exchange for a few biscuits?” she mutters under her breath as she searches the room for a weapon. Meanwhile, the pounding continues.
I grab some clothes off the top of the dresser and toss them onto the bed. “If you’re coming out, then get dressed. And forget the bat. King’s dangerous but not in this situation.”
I leave before she drops the blanket because I know if I see her nude, the man at my front door will try to ram his fist through it. He might succeed, too. Bear beats me to the entrance and starts barking. Between the knocking and the howling, it sounds like a whole damn circus in here. I jerk open the door.
“Took you long enough,” scowls my neighbor. He shoves me aside and drags a woman with him. They look a little alike.
“Who’s this?” I stare at the stranger.
“I’m the female cop,” the woman says with a smirk.
“She’s not a cop,” King interrupts.
“Right. I’m pretending to be one.”
I look from the woman to King and back. “Come again.”
She sighs, a deep, heavy put-upon sigh. “Can we skip the introductions and get down to business? It’s past my bedtime. I should be sleeping right now but instead I had to stand outside for ten hours while stubborn here tried to kick your door down. I told him it wasn’t happening and he should call you but he said you’d ignore it.”
“I would.”
The woman rolls her eyes. “Men. God, and you wonder why we all run away from you. Look, do you have a girl here or not?”
“He better not,” says Faith. “I’m the only female in this house. Well, except for Smittens.”
We whirl around to see my woman clutching my way too big sweatpants to her waist. The tiny cat is sitting at Faith’s feet, licking a paw. The sweatshirt that fits me just fine is falling off her shoulder. Bear growls and I do, too. The woman in front of me throws her hand up in front of King’s eyes. “Turn around,” she orders.
To my huge surprise, he does as she says. The woman rushes over to Faith. “I didn’t really believe you were here. Are you okay?” She pulls the sweatshirt up so that Faith’s bare shoulder is covered. “I’m here to get you out of here. King’s got a pickup and a shotgun. No lumberjack can keep you here.” The woman sends me an angry glare that has Bear whimpering.
Faith pulls out of the woman’s grasp. “I’m not going anywhere. I mean, if I owe something to King for holding a room for me, of course I’ll pay it. Not in food, though, because I can’t cook but I could come over--”
“No.” The word bursts out of me, causing King to spin around. Bear starts barking up a storm at my outburst.
“I’m staying anyway. You can’t make me leave.” Faith slides over to my side.
Smittens jumps onto Bear’s back and hisses at King.
“I think you’re outnumbered,” I tell him.
He blows out an exasperated breath. “I’m here to make sure that you’re okay,” he says to Faith. “If you would’ve answered your phone, I wouldn’t have had to interrupt.”
“I was busy,” Faith says with pink cheeks.
We all know what she was busy doing. All of us except the woman that King brought along, whose brows crash together. The more I look at the two of them I think they might be related. “Doing what?”
“I think we should go,” King says, reaching out to draw the woman away by her elbow.
“Why? You dragged me out of bed because you said you needed a woman to come with you to make sure that another girl was safe. You haven’t determined whether she’s safe yet. Are you safe?” she asks Faith.
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go,” King repeats and tugs again. “Sorry about the interruption. Maybe next time don’t hang up on me. The number of unwanted guests on your doorstep will decrease.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“But you won’t answer the phone, will you?”
“I will, though,” chirps Faith.
“If you need me, call,” the woman shouts while King leads her away. “I can drive over and get you.”
“With what wheels?” King grouses.
“Yours, of course.”
The door slams shut and Bear finally stops barking. Faith turns to me with bright eyes. “I like her. I can definitely see we’ll be friends. Since we’re up, how about round two?”
Chapter Ten
Faith
Conn licks his lips. I know I passed out on him but we have all the time in the world. He doesn't seem to be too busy. I guess being a lumberjack you can jack whenever you want. Though he still hasn't confirmed what he does. He’s got some fancy stuff around here. I didn't think lumberjacking paid so well but what do I know about chopping wood? This outdoorsy thing isn’t really my thing but after seeing Conn, I may have to get into it more. Maybe he’ll take me glamping. That would be so much fun. We’ll probably have to wait for warmer weather. Even though with Conn’s size, I’m pretty sure that he’d have no problem keeping me warm.
My body heats thinking about how he’d looked eating me again and again. How his broad shoulders had my legs spread open wide to make room for him. Since the moment I woke up, the only thing that I could think about was how his body would feel on top of mine as he settled over me and took me. If he is half as good with his wood as he is with his tongue then I’m in for a treat. Hopefully this time I won’t pass out. Smittens circles my legs, letting out a small meow and I know she’s hungry. I push my lust-filled thoughts to the back burner.
“Let me feed her and we’ll have round two.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “Maybe we can go all the way this time.” My cherry is very much still intact. We als
o need to take pictures and have that pie that he promised. I’ve given him my pie and now it’s his turn. Conn clears his throat, breaking me out of all of my all-over-the-place thoughts. When I look up, he licks those lips that brought me so much pleasure and at that moment, I decide to forget the pie again. Who the hell needs pie when Conn tastes so much better? I look around to see where the bag is that I packed Smittens’ food in.
“Oh God.” I throw my hands over my face. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Why?” Conn barks. I part two fingers so I can look at him with one eye. He’s doing that folded arms over his chest thing again. “King knows you’re staying here. Pretty sure he knows I’m fucking you.” I drop my hand from my face.
“You don’t have to call it”—I purse my lips—“fucking,” I finally say.
“I didn't fuck you,” he points out.
“Stop calling it that!” I half shout.
“Stop being embarrassed that people think we slept together.” His jaw clenches so hard I worry that he might chip a tooth or something.
“That’s not why I’m embarrassed, you big grumpy jerkface.” I stomp over to one of my bags that he’d dropped when he brought all of my stuff inside. “I already said we’re making cute pictures to post so my ex gets the message. I think that implies we’re sleeping together.” I unzip the bag that weighs more than me and start pulling stuff out.
“Then what is the problem?” He drops his arms from over his chest. “I hate when you talk about your ex.” His hands clench into a fist.
“Other than you saying you just want to fuck me.” I stand, turning to look at him putting my hands on my hips. Bear plops down next to me, clearly on my side. Smittens is trying to attack Bear’s swaying tail, ignoring us all. I don’t know why but I don’t like him calling it that. I guess it could be hot if we were like in a relationship or something but right now with my virginity still intact, it feels wrong.
“I don’t just want to fuck you.” His eyes roam over me. I know I still look a hot mess. I have looked this way since I landed myself in his driveway. Yet, every time Conn looks at me he makes me feel like some super sexy pinup girl or something. “I want to own you. For you to never want anyone else besides me.”
“I don’t know if that’s even legal.” I shrug. I’m not so sure I’d be against him owning me.
“Yeah, not sure I care about it being legal.”
“You wanna keep me? Like forever?” I try and clarify, needing to know that I’m understanding him right. This should send me running but it doesn’t. It should also make me madder than the fucking comments but it doesn’t. No, it has the opposite effect. It lights up something deeper inside of me, making me realize that I want that too. Which is crazy, because I don’t know this man. Well, I know a few things. One being that he’s handsome. Actually, he’s extra handsome, more so when he’s grumpy. He can cook a mean steak and has a mouth that could easily keep me in his bed forever.
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re embarrassed?”
“Changing the subject, I see.”
“You did it first.” Touché. The corner of his mouth turns up in a small smile. I really do love that mouth of his.
“I’m embarrassed because we had guests over and look at this place.” I motion to all of my stuff lying everywhere and then to the rest of his house, which is spotless. “None of the Christmas stuff is out. I bet they think we hate Christmas. Who hates Christmas?”
“Me.”
“Conn, you take that back right this instant,” I demand. He throws back his head and full on laughs. I can’t help but smile because he’s beyond handsome when he laughs.
“I do enjoy your light-up Christmas sweater.”
“There’s more where that came from.” I turn, going back to my bags. I’d planned to decorate the place that King was going to let me stay in but now I think I’ll do it here. Conn already brought all of my stuff in. I think that’s invitation enough.
“Are you going to help me?” I look over at him. His eyes are on my ass.
“Whatever gets you back in my bed faster.” He walks over to me. “If that means putting your stuff out, then fine.” His hand rubs along my bottom. I swat it away because there will be no funny business until we finish.
“We’ll never get done if you do stuff like that.”
“Not sure I can help myself.”
I stand, turning to face him. I lean into him, tilting my head back. He meets me halfway, giving me a kiss that leaves me breathless.
“I think I should handle this while you go and use your lumberjack skills to get us a Christmas tree,” I suggest. I’ll get nothing done with him looking at me the way he is and rubbing on me.
“You do know I’m not a lumberjack?”
“You do know I’m not giving you my virginity until I get my tree.” I tilt my chin up in defiance.
“Not only after your virginity.” He kisses me again. “But I’ll go get your tree.” He heads over to the door, pulling on his boots and then coat. “Watch my girls, Bear,” he tells the dog. Bear barks, letting him know he’s on the job. “I’m getting the tree because I know it will make you happy,” he says before he exits the front door. I smile, thinking I’m already there.
Chapter Eleven
Conn
It’s too damn cold to stay out long. It’s a good thing I live in a forest. I find the perfect tree about twenty feet in from the tree line. Pines have small trunks and in no time, the chopped end is gripped over my shoulder and I’m heading back to the house.
“I have the tree,” I announce. Bear yips a few times for emphasis.
Faith comes running down the hallway, strands of her hair sticking up. Flustered by my appearance, she pats her head and asks, “Already?”
I set the tree inside the door and toe off my boots. “Find any dead bodies?”
“Nooo, do you have any?” Her eyes dart to the corners of the large living room. I heft the tree back on to my shoulder.
“Nah. Got rid of the last one a couple days before you arrived. He was starting to stink up the place.”
Faith runs after me. “What’d you kill him for? Talking during dinner? Burning your pancakes? Touching your ax? The last one definitely seems like a murderable offense. I bet your ax fits you perfectly because you’ve handled it for so long.”
I drop the tree in the middle of the room so I can search her face. Does she not know how damn sexy that sounds? “Do you want to decorate a tree or do you want to fuck?”
Her nose does the wrinkling thing again. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t use the f-word.”
I hesitate and try to think of a different word. “Do you want to decorate the tree or do you want me to own you?”
Her tongue darts out again, wetting the bottom of her lip. Ah, fuck me, she wants it. I know she does, but for some reason she’s not ready so the tree it is.
“Where do you want the tree?”
“Maybe to the left of the fireplace so that we can sit by the fire and look out onto your deck.” She points to the corner.
I haul it over there and lean it against the wall. “Wait here,” I tell her. Out in the garage, I grab some rope, a few trash bags and a sack full of sand.
She eyes me with great curiosity. “Is that your dead man stuff?”
With it all spread out on the floor, I can see why she has the suspicions. “Nah. I use acid to get rid of the bodies. More effective that way. The sand’s for traction on the snow and you can never have too many ropes out here.” I arch an eyebrow toward her wrists. “They’re handy in a lot of situations.”
She tucks her hands behind her back. “I have very delicate skin.”
This time it’s me licking my lips. “I know,” I say with a smirk.
“Well,” she says and busies herself with the supplies I’ve brought. “What’s this for if not for body disposal?”
“I don’t have a Christmas tree stand, although I suspect you figured that out looking for ornaments and suc
h so I’ll put sand in four bags and we’ll prop the tree up that way.”
“Why don’t you have ornaments? I did look everywhere--including under your bed, but you only have a shotgun there which you should have taken when you were confronting King.”
“Why?” I ask as I pour sand into the bags that she holds open. “You want me to shoot him or something?”
“No, but what if it wasn’t King but like an actual bear?”
“I don’t think he’d knock on the door.” I tie up the bags and attach them to the rope.
“He could be looking for food and sound like he was knocking.”
“This is true. Can you hold the tree up near the top? I need to wrap the rope around the base. Don’t hurt yourself,” I caution.
“I think you need a special sweater,” she says as I crawl underneath the base branches. “It would help raise your Christmas spirit.”
“Looking at you raises all my spirits just fine,” I tell her. I whip the rope around the base a few times and then pull on the makeshift supports until the tree is stable. I give the base one last tug before getting to my feet. “Let go, but slow.”
I keep a hand braced in case this doesn’t work, but thankfully it stands upright--no expensive commercial base needed.
“Can I use this?” she asks, holding up a plaid blanket tossed over the back of my couch.
“Sure.” She kneels down and places it around the base of the tree, covering up the ugly contraption. She rises, dusts off her knees and returns to my side. The tree is big enough to fill the space but not so large that it overwhelms the room. The smell of pine needles and the charred wood in the fireplace fills our lungs.
The tree looks good. Damn good, I think to myself. I wonder why I haven’t put a tree up before. A soft body snuggles up against me and gives me the answer. Because I didn’t have Faith. She lets me hold her for about two seconds before she wriggles free.
“Let’s go pop some popcorn,” she sings, tugging me toward the kitchen.