The Woodsman

by Blake North

  She didn't say anything but sat down on the edge of the bed. I couldn't look at her. The shame was too great.

  The cold air helped give me clarity. I fired up the snow blower and began the tedious task of making long sweeps back and forth to create a wide path to the driveway and the woodshed. The vibrating machine in my hands was soothing. It helped me think, even if I didn't want to think about the mess I’d created.

  My thoughts were on Madison the entire time. All I could think about was how much I loved being with her. It was cheesy, but I truly felt like she completed me. She made me feel whole. I had been an empty shell the past few months, going through the day to day but not really enjoying or living life. With her, I felt alive.

  It had been close to two hours since I had walked out of the cabin. I was cold and ready to face the music. The snow had steadily increased, making the path I had worked so hard to create almost non-existent. I knew when I was defeated and gave up.

  Before heading back in, I popped open the door to the small shed which acted as a root cellar of sorts. It was built into the side of a dirt hill, which kept everything cool but insulated. I had plenty of canned food for myself and Madison if the snow kept up. We would have plenty of soup, chili, and pasta if it came down to it.

  When I walked through the door, she was cleaning up the kitchen.

  “Hi,” I greeted her, hoping everything was over and we could just forget about it all.

  “Hi.”

  I walked to her, wrapped my arms around her, and inhaled her scent. She didn't exactly greet me warmly, but she didn't push me away. I held her, appreciating the feel of her body against mine. Trying to reconcile life without her in it.

  “I'm sorry,” I said. It was a blanket statement. I was sorry she was mad at me, sorry she didn't trust me, sorry the snow was trapping her in my home, and sorry we weren't screwing like rabbits. We didn't have much time left. I wanted to use every minute I could to love her body.

  She shrugged but didn't accept my apology.

  “It's really coming down out there. I have a feeling it's going to be snowing for a while. I've been so caught up with everything, I didn't bother to check the weather,” I told her, trying to make conversation.

  “Yeah, me too,” she replied in a monotone voice.

  She was giving me no quarter. This was a woman dead set on being pissed at me.

  “Did you want to talk?” I asked, hoping she would say no.

  She stepped back. “Did you want to tell me what you've been hiding from me?”

  I took a deep breath. “I can't, Madison. Will you please trust me on this? Give me some time?”

  Once again, she looked as if I had crushed her soul. Her normally bright blue eyes had lost some of their shine. I could see the strain on her face as she looked from me to the big window in the living room. She was upset she couldn't leave.

  “That's too bad, Chase. I guess I thought you would trust me enough to tell me. I was wrong. I should have known all of this was too good to be true,” she said in a low voice.

  “Madison, isn't what we have enough? You know how I feel about you, and I know how you feel about me. We’re great together. Please, don't let this one little thing destroy what we have,” I begged.

  My pleas fell on deaf ears. She didn't want to hear it.

  “I can't leave. I get that. I won't risk my life again trying to get out of here. But, I don't want to talk to you or see you. Please, leave me alone.”

  My mouth dropped open. Her words stung. I felt as if I had been shot with several arrows, right into my chest. My heart ached. She spun around on her foot, headed for my room, slammed the door, and I heard the lock click.

  Holy hell. What had just happened? Did she seriously lock herself in my room as if I was holding her as a prisoner? I didn't like that at all. I had pushed her too far. The whole idea of not telling her was to protect myself and preserve our relationship. That was clearly not working. I had successfully ended it with my silence. I could feel that. She was lost to me if I didn't tell her the truth and likely lost to me if I did.

  Only one option gave me a chance. She was a reasonable woman. I knew she cared for me. Maybe, just maybe, she would accept me for who I was today and not who I was seven years ago. She’d put up with Mark for a long time, so she was clearly a tolerant woman. I had not mistreated her, which was a point in my favor as far as I was concerned.

  Would she tolerate my past? I flopped down on the couch and allowed myself to wallow in my misery for a bit. If only I could go back to that day. Would I do anything differently if it meant I could have Madison? I didn't know.

  My heart ached at the thought of her leaving. I would tell her. My mind was made up, but I wasn't about to do it right now. That would be like stepping into the den of a very hungry, angry lion. I needed to give her some time to chill. When she was calm, I would explain everything. If she still wanted to leave, I would find a way to get her to town, so she could get to the airport. No way was I going to add kidnapping to my rap sheet.

  I stretched out on the couch and closed my eyes for a bit. I didn't want to be awake and thinking about my life. I could hear her murmuring in my bedroom. She must be on the phone. Probably arranging for a way out of Colorado and far away from me.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Madison

  My heart hurt. I couldn't believe Chase was willing to let me go to hide a secret. It must be a pretty bad one. My mind raced with the various possibilities. Had he killed someone? Was he married? Maybe he killed his wife? He clearly wasn't serving a life sentence, so maybe the wife disappeared, and her body was never found.

  Stop!

  I didn't know all his secrets, but I knew the man was not capable of murder. He was kind, gentle, and very caring. He had shown me how much he cared for me in many ways. I had a feeling I would forgive him or not care about his secret, but I had to know first. I couldn't live with a man or get into a serious relationship with someone who had that kind of major baggage. I needed to inspect the baggage and then things would be okay.

  I needed to talk to Emily. She could help me sort all of this out.

  “Hi,” I greeted when she picked up the phone.

  “Hey. What's wrong?” she asked immediately.

  “What do you mean?” I feigned innocence.

  “You are not fooling anyone. I know something's wrong. I can hear it in your voice, and you’re calling me in the middle of the day when you should be having hot monkey sex with your Colorado dreamboat.”

  I laughed. “I don't think it's healthy or safe to have sex all day and all night every day.”

  She giggled. “Well, why don't you try and let me know. Seriously, what's up?”

  I sighed. “It's snowing again. A lot of snow.”

  “Yeah, you're in the mountains in Colorado. Isn't that to be expected?”

  “Yes, but it's snowing, and I can't leave,” I whined.

  “Why would you want to leave? Where is your Colorado man?”

  “In the living room.”

  “And you are?”

  “In his bedroom. With the door closed. And locked.”

  Emily sighed. “What happened? Did you two have your first fight? I can't wait to hear about the makeup sex.”

  “I don't think there will be makeup sex. Basically, I know there’s something in his past he doesn't want me to know, and he won't tell me. It's something big. His family knows. Hell, the whole town knows, but he doesn't want me to know. What if he’s a criminal or a bad man?”

  She laughed. “I think you would know by now. I've always thought you were a very good judge of character. Except with Mark. You failed in a big way there.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Seriously, this guy doesn't sound deranged. Do you like him?”

  I sighed. “I think I'm falling in love with him,” I admitted.

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh. I am falling in love with a man who can't be honest with me. That is not a good way to star
t a relationship.”

  “No, it isn't, but if you're falling in love with him, you owe it to yourself and him to try and sort through this. He could be your man. Your soulmate. The man who was put on this earth specifically for you,” she said in a light, airy voice. “I'm a little jealous that you found him, but I’m so happy you did.”

  “What if we are one of those tragic love stories? Like I found him, but I can't keep him because of some horrible twist of fate?” I asked.

  She laughed. “First of all, Shakespeare was a cruel man. Second of all, this is the twenty-first century, and you are an adult who can make her own choices. If you want him, you choose to keep him, no matter what the secret is. If you can't live with the secret, you choose to leave him and admit he wasn't your soulmate.”

  She was right. I knew that.

  “But he won't tell me the secret. How can I choose when he won't tell me?”

  “He will,” she said with confidence. “Stop pressuring him. I know you, and you can be relentless. Let him come to you because he wants to, not because you’re forcing him.”

  “You're right. I have been asking—a lot.”

  “So, other than you hounding the man, how's the sex?”

  I started laughing. “Good. Very good. Like so good, I don't think I’ll ever be able to be with another man. He has ruined me for life.”

  “Ohhh,” she said in a shrill voice. “That sounds amazing. I don't know. How could you ever give that up?”

  I shook my head, knowing she couldn't see, and wondered the same thing. Even thinking about sex with Chase was making me horny. I was mad as hell, but I wanted him something fierce.

  “I should go,” I mumbled. I wanted to be alone, completely alone.

  My free hand ran over my breast, and I imagined Chase doing that same thing on numerous occasions.

  “Okay, let me know how it goes. Don't run away, not yet, Madison. Give him a chance.”

  “I will,” I said in a strained voice.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Yes, fine,” I said a little too short with her. I needed off the phone. My body was fired up, and I needed to release some tension.

  “Bye, Madison.”

  “Bye.”

  I ended the call and dropped the phone on the small table by the bed. I felt hot and flushed. I wanted Chase. I wanted him to take the edge off the arousal I had managed to build up simply by thinking about sex with him. I couldn't. I was still very pissed at him.

  After sex with Chase, I was very in tune with my body. I was addicted to orgasms. I wanted ten a day. Last night had left me aching with need. I should have let him fuck me, but I was too pissed and had rolled over and gone straight to bed. Now, I was left craving a release.

  My hand moved under my shirt, pushed my bra out of the way, and I began to knead and squeeze my breasts. Tweaking the hard nipples and then pinching them. The pain shot through my stomach and straight to my core. I could feel myself growing wetter.

  He was just beyond the door. I could call his name, and he would fuck me. I knew he would. He would work my body with his magical fingers and talented dick, and I would have instant relief. I imagined him pulling my hair as he pushed inside me. My pussy tingled, reminding me it was empty and devoid of Chase's beautiful dick.

  My yoga pants gave me easy access. I would take care of myself. How I wished I had a dildo or a vibrator at that moment, but I could use my fingers. Chase had taught me a lot about myself and what I liked. I knew where to touch and where to rub to bring myself to orgasm.

  I trailed my fingers down my belly, circling my navel before sliding under the waistband of my pants. I didn't waste any time and went straight for home, directly to my wet pussy. I was amazed at how aroused I could get simply thinking about the man. I debated how far to take my self-pleasure and then threw caution to the wind. If Chase somehow got into the room and found me naked on his bed, finger fucking myself, I knew it would please him. He would watch. Hell, he would tell me just how to do it.

  The thought of him watching me caused more juices to erupt. My fingers were wet, and I hadn't even pushed inside myself. Not able to wait another second, I quickly shimmied out of my pants and panties, leaving myself bare from the waist down. I considered getting under the covers but scrapped the idea. The risk of Chase walking in and seeing exactly what I was doing made me extremely horny.

  He had shown me a whole new world when it came to sex, one that pushed boundaries and made me feel bold. I wasn't embarrassed or ashamed of my body. I loved that I could come multiple times under his very thorough attention to every part of my body.

  I lay on the bed and opened my legs, creating a butterfly with my knees bent, flat on the bed and pulled up. I was completely exposed. The cold air washed over my wet pussy. The feeling sent a shiver through my body.

  With one finger, I slowly danced around my entrance, rubbing and feeling and learning more about what I felt like. What Chase felt when he touched me like that. I found that little nub and jerked. It was so sensitive. One touch and I was ready to come. I wanted to come, but I also wanted to prolong my agony. I slid my finger inside, loving the feel of wet softness. It was double arousing, feeling my pussy clamp around my finger and my pussy tingling with the invasion.

  I ran my finger in and out and then circled my entrance. I fingered my clit and then back to the hard nub. Then, it was two fingers in. I could feel my pussy contract around my fingers. It was an unbelievable sensation. The arousal was building fast, and I knew I wouldn't be able to stop myself from coming.

  Chase's face popped into my mind. I closed my eyes, pushed my fingers in a little deeper and used my other hand to pinch one of my nipples. Chase would have his mouth on me. He would push a third finger inside, readying me for his massive cock. The thought of his hard dick sliding in and out of me brought me to the edge. I spread my legs a little wider and pushed a third finger in while using my thumb to tweak the most sensitive part of me.

  I started to come. My juices spurted over my fingers as my body rocked and jerked. I couldn't fight back the moan that escaped my lips. It had been too good. The orgasm was desperately needed. I rode out the final spasms before pulling my fingers out and throwing my arms out beside me, my legs still wide.

  My God. Chase had turned me into a sex addict. I had to have him, repeatedly. Coming once was not enough for me. I lay there, knowing if he were in the bed with me, he would bring me to another orgasm. My fantasy wouldn't be complete if I didn't come again.

  I imagined Chase there beside me, his fingers slowly trailing over my body. I put my fingers into motion, mimicking what Chase had done to me so many times before. The climax took the edge off, but my body was still wanting. Without the fullness that only Chase could bring, I was still aching with need.

  I started the slow circling again before rolling to my stomach, my hand still firmly planted between my legs. I imagined Chase on top of me, his body stretched out over mine. His weight pushing me into the bed. I rose a little, giving my hand room to work and began a fast and furious rubbing motion on the outside of my pussy. The climax slammed into me. I buried my face in the bed, muffling my moans and falling flat on my belly.

  I lay there, panting and letting my heart slow down. It had been good, but it would never be as good as what Chase could do. Dammit! I wanted him so badly, but I was so pissed at him. I didn't know if I could walk away from him. That's the part that pissed me off the most. He had made me fall in love with him without giving me all of him.

  I wanted all of him, baggage included.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Chase

  Her self-imprisonment had gone too far. She’d only left the room twice yesterday to use the bathroom and get some water. It was ridiculous. She didn't eat dinner, and when I had called her to breakfast, she told me to get lost. The woman was stubborn.

  “Madison, you have to eat something. This is not doing you any good. I've made toast. Eat it, or I am going to break down the damn do
or!”

  “No, you won't.”

  “Dammit, Madison, eat the fucking toast!” I shouted, not wanting to lose my cool, but she was making me crazy.

  The door swung open. I stood there staring at it in complete disbelief. I had expected her to fight more.

  I thrust the plate with two pieces of toast at her. She grabbed it, glared at me, and stomped back in the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

  I stood staring at the closed door. That had been progress—I hoped. I wasn't entirely sure. At least I got to see her and knew she was still alive, stubborn and obstinate but alive and well.

  I laced up my boots, put on my coat, and headed outside. I had to expend some of the energy that had been building up. I wanted to fuck her, scream at her, and hold her close all at the same time. My balls felt heavy, and I was sure they were a little blue. I had gone years without sex and been fine, but she had deprived me of a day, well, technically almost two days, without sex and I was in a bad way. Knowing she was in my bed, and I couldn't fuck her had messed with my head.

  I started stacking the wood rounds, ready to work my frustration out with the help of an ax. It was a very effective method of exercise and stress relief. I stood one log up and slammed the ax into it. It cracked but didn't split. I repeated the action over and over, feeling the tension leave my body through the handle of the ax.

  I loved her. Not just loved. I was fucking crazy about her. Madly, deeply in love with a woman who wouldn't speak to me. I didn't know why I was acting so ridiculously. Hiding who I was and my past from her was stupid. It was pointless. She would find out eventually. I couldn't possibly have a real relationship with her without her knowing.

  The days were slipping away. I had two days to convince her to stay. There was only one way that was going to happen. I put away the wood and the ax and headed inside. I was determined. I had worked it all out in my head, and now I was on a mission to save what I hoped was the start of a very good thing with the woman who had stolen my heart.