by Ann Yost
“Extend your arms,” he barked at her. She didn’t move. Too cold, probably. Even Lucy wasn’t crazy enough to defy him under these conditions. He took her hands and pulled them away from her body, and then he loaded her up with his emergency kit, blanket, coffee and doughnuts.
“I can’t feel my arms,” she said. “Or my legs.”
“I know.” He scooped her into his arms again and made his way through the snow that had already drifted as high as his crotch. When he reached the door he turned the knob and breathed a sigh of relief. As Molly had predicted, it was unlocked.
“Sh-shouldn’t we knock?”
He glanced down at her, a frozen Popsicle, her blue eyes darkened from fear and cold. Shards of ice stuck to her dark curls. Warmth flooded his heart along with a queer tenderness he’d only ever experienced in connection with his kids. He’d been damned lucky to find her at all.
“No need,” he said, his voice hoarse.
The cabin was dark, of course, with only a small window. There were a couple of wooden chairs but no electricity and no wood for the fireplace. He figured he could break up the chairs and there were matches in his kit.
“I hope you’re up for a campfire.”
He set her on her feet and took the supplies out of her arms.
“I can’t seem to move. I’m sorry, Jake.”
He glanced at her face then started to work on the frozen zipper of her parka. She was either too cold to talk much or she sensed, correctly, that he didn’t want to answer a bunch of questions. It was strangely pleasant to be with Lucy without a cavalcade of questions and chaos. Naturally that situation did not last long.
“Where are the Littlejohns?”
“In their winter home in Sarasota.”
“Really?”
He tugged at the zipper. “No. Not really. They’re gone. Moved. Dead. I have no idea.”
“They don’t live here anymore?”
“Right.”
“So we’re staying here alone tonight?”
Irritation built in his chest.
“Beggars can’t be choosers. We’re damn lucky to be alive.”
She blinked and a small shower of snow flaked off her lashes.
“I know this is my fault, Jake. I screwed up.”
There was no point in arguing with her. She was one thousand percent right.
“And I’m not complaining.”
Not now. She might very well complain once she figured out exactly what was going to happen to her tonight. As far as Jake was concerned, the battle he’d been fighting was over and they’d both lost. She’d gotten herself into this situation and she could just damn well take the consequences. He’d known as soon as he’d gotten Molly’s call that he wouldn’t get out of this without making love to Lucy. He’d accepted his fate. It was time she accepted hers.
He got her jacket and boots off then pulled the red sweater over her head. It knocked some of the ice crystals out of her hair. He paused to rub her head with his hands before the ice melted and made her even colder.
“Thank you for rescuing me,” she said. The words came out unevenly, as if she were too cold to speak normally.
“Don’t talk.”
She wrinkled her nose, a characteristic Lucy gesture, but this time it was in slow motion which didn’t make it any less compelling. He brushed his knuckles against the soft, cold skin of her cheek and wished he had access to hot water. Then he remembered the coffee. Quickly, he finished undressing her down to the underwear then he wrapped her in the woolen blanket, poured her some coffee in the Thermos lid and handed it to her. Naturally, she couldn’t hold it. He held it at her lips while she took a few sips then he got to work breaking up the chairs until he had a nice pile of arms and legs in the grate.
“What about you? Aren’t you cold?”
Blood pulsed through his body making it swell. He wouldn’t be cold if he jumped naked into a snow bank at this point.
“Not really.”
“Lucky you.”
Lucky him. He was about to violate his oath, take advantage of a much-too-young woman, seal his marital fate dooming his children to the likelihood of being abandoned by another mother figure. He should be frozen deep in Dante’s ninth circle of Hell but, dammit, he felt lucky.
“Yeah.”
****
The sense of guilt was so heavy it almost knocked out the cold. Almost.
She’d screwed up royally, making a decision that had scared Molly and risked Jake’s life and her own. She knew he was furious with her. She knew, too, he was going easy on her because she’d almost turned into the abominable snow woman and she was scared. She couldn’t bear to think of him searching for her frozen corpse until he’d become one himself even though that’s exactly what he would have done.
She let out a little moan.
“What?” He was kneeling before the fireplace trying to coax a blaze. He still wore his leather jacket but he’d removed his hat and the blond hair gleamed in the weak light of the flames. She admired the powerful muscles in his long legs and the long fingers on his square hands. Strong fingers but surprisingly graceful for a man. Artist’s hands.
“I was thinking about what a close call that was. You might not have found me.”
He turned to look at her. “I’d have found you, Lucy.”
The intensity in the emerald eyes shook her to the soul. She wished she could convince him that she could be exactly what he was looking for but it was impossible when she kept screwing up. She knew he wanted her. She knew, too, that it was just for tonight.
She held his gaze even as her heart jerked with anticipation. She’d take what she could get.
She wished, suddenly, she’d worn the slinky black bikini panties and matching lacy bra instead of her old cotton standbys.
Jake took off his jacket and boots but he remained dressed. He spread their wet garments out on the wooden floor with quick, efficient movements. The fire blazed suddenly and quickly took the bitter edge off the chill in the small room.
“Aren’t you going to take off your pants?”
The green eyes found her before he answered.
“Eventually.”
Lucy swallowed hard.
He spread a second blanket on the floor then sat down cross-legged with her. He poured some coffee into the Thermos cup, offered it to her, and then slugged it down. He handed her a doughnut.
“Bavarian cream! My favorite!”
His sudden grin blinded her.
“I know.”
She nibbled at it.
“Not hungry?”
Not for food. But she could hardly explain that.
“Still a little cold,” she hedged.
“We can fix that.” He moved so fast she didn’t see it coming. Suddenly she was between his legs with her back against his chest and his powerful body virtually surrounding her.
“This should help.”
The gruff words came out on hot little breaths that puffed against her bare neck. Lucy’s temperature soared and she felt a queer achiness in her lower body that she had never felt with anyone but Jake Langley.
“It does help,” she whispered.
She nibbled at the doughnut until an enormous wave of lethargy overcame her. She let her head drop back against his shoulder and the next thing she knew the fire had burned down to embers and she was still cradled in Jake’s arms.
Lucy twisted to look at him. “I fell asleep?”
“Yup.”
“For how long?” It must have been awhile. She felt amazingly well-rested.
“I have no idea.”
“Oh, Jake. I’m so sorry. You must be paralyzed from the weight.” She scrambled to get off him, a movement that triggered a sharp gasp.
“Oh, dang,” she said, stricken. “I hurt you.”
“Just stop moving around.” The words seemed to be wrenched out of his mouth. He seemed to realize he had been too harsh because his voice softened. “Give me a second and I’ll help you up.”<
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“Up?”
“The fire’s done. We’re going to have to figure out a sleeping arrangement that will keep us warm and once we do, we’re not getting up again until morning. I figured you’d like a pit stop.”
She grinned at him. “Spoken like the parent of small children.”
He shrugged but didn’t return the smile.
“That’s exactly what I am, Lucy. The parent of small children.”
She understood. He was telling her, again, that he was more mature than she was, that he wanted a woman on his own level.
“Is there a bathroom?”
“There’s a latrine but no running water. You can deal with that or take your chances outside near the backdoor.”
“Backdoor,” she decided, instantly. The experience should have been ghastly but it wasn’t. She just kept thinking about bundling up next to Jake for the entire night.
When she returned he’d arranged the blankets in a pallet on the floor. For an instant, she wondered if it would be awkward but he held his hand out to her and she took it without a word. Then he drew her down onto the blanket and pulled her against him.
“We have to share body heat,” he murmured. One of his legs was between hers and even though he was still wearing his khakis, she could feel his instant erection. “We don’t have to share anything more than that.” His voice was firm, if a little raspy. Heat flared in her belly. This was it. Fate had deprived her of this that last night in Jake’s home but she’d been given a second chance. She didn’t intend to blow it.
Tonight, for the first and last time, Jake Langley would make love to her. And she would make love to him.
Lucy spent a few seconds regretting that she hadn’t gathered more experience during her twenty-two years. She’d just have to trust her instincts. What if she screwed up the screwing? And then he spread his fingers against her collarbone and the sensation nearly sent her through the roof.
She arched up into his touch and she felt his fingers on her breast. Good grief! What had happened to her bra?
“You’re a magician,” she murmured.
“Then we’re even,” he whispered. “Because you’re a witch and I’m under your spell. Tell me what you want, baby.”
Baby? This was seriously gonna happen, apparently. Too bad she didn’t know what she wanted.
“I like what you just did.”
“I removed your bra.”
“Yeah. That. I liked that.”
He choked back a laugh. “How about this?” He rubbed her nipples gently.
“Uh-huh.”
“What about this?” He bent down and touched her breast again only this time he used his tongue. The sensation was wet, warm and mind-blowing. Her whole body shuddered and she couldn’t seem to speak.
Not that he needed any coaching. Lucy was a little relieved that he’d stopped asking her what she liked especially because she seemed to have lost her ability to form words. He suckled each of her breasts then traveled down her body leaving soft, wet, seductive kisses. His hair, that golden hair that was so much softer than it looked, tickled her stomach. Her laugh ended in a sharp gasp as his right hand slipped inside her panties and shaped her buttocks and his left hand slid into, shoot-a-mile! His fingers slid inside her. Heat flared in her belly and her body clenched around him. He used his thumb to stroke her over and over again until she was coiled so tightly she thought she’d burst and she began to whimper.
“Let yourself go, sweetheart.”
“Go?” She couldn’t seem to focus.
“Let yourself come.”
“Come? Go?” What on earth was he doing to her? She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.
“That’s it, baby.” He rubbed harder, faster and she twisted against his fingers, searching for something, wanting something and then his tongue darted into her mouth and his thumb found just the right amount of pressure and he muttered, “Come for me, Lucy” and she did.
Fireworks flashed and exploded around her, her head whirled and she could feel her heart pounding out a triple-time tattoo. She clung to Jake’s solid frame as she struggled to breathe. Finally she collapsed in a sweaty little heap on his chest.
“What are you thinking,” he murmured into her ear sometime later.
She was thinking it hadn’t mattered about the cotton underpants. She was thinking that she’d had no idea at all what was meant by a female orgasm. She was thinking about how much she had wanted to be with Jake Langley and how grateful she was that she’d gotten lost in the snow.
Naturally, she couldn’t say any of those things.
“I’m thinking,” she said, as inspiration struck, “how much I’d like to touch you.”
“Be my guest.” His voice sounded deeper than usual and a little hoarse. She was lying on top of him so it didn’t take long to figure out where he wanted her to touch but she was suddenly painfully aware of her lack of experience.
“How? How do you want me to touch you?”
She held her breath, fairly certain he wouldn’t make fun of her, but even more certain that he’d stop the whole business if he found out this was her first time.
He unbuttoned his shirt.
“Start up here,” he said, pressing her fingers into the nest of curly light brown hair on his chest. He brushed her thumb over one flat, copper-colored nipple and she heard a sudden, sharp intake of breath. So she did it again. And then she did the same thing to the other nipple. And then she licked it and sucked it, gently.
“Jesus, Lucy.”
His chest was rising and falling rapidly and he was making no move to detach her so she figured he liked it. The thought made her bold and, still using her tongue, she worked her way down his torso. When she reached the waistband of his slacks she hesitated. Again he helped her out, this time by unbuckling his belt and releasing the button at the top of his pants. She slipped one hand into his waistband and slid her tongue into his belly button. A moan worked its way up his chest and she wasn’t sure whether she’d caused it with her mouth or the hand that bumped against his straining fly.
She cupped him gently. He arched up against her hand and she heard another one of those ragged moans.
“Jake?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want me to touch you here?”
“Yes. Jesus, Lucy. Yes.”
A strong emotion rippled through her. She loved making him react like this. It was even better than, well, maybe it wasn’t necessary to compare. Sorta like apples and oranges.
“Lucy?”
He sounded desperate. “Of course, of course.” She tugged at his zipper.
“Take it easy, sweetheart.” He half-laughed, half-groaned. She smiled up at him then slipped her hand inside his briefs and wrapped her fingers around him. He was enormous, thick and hot and pulsing.
“God, that’s good.” It was almost a prayer. “So damn good. You have magic in your fingers.”
She was glad to hear the praise. Finally, she thought, in the back of her mind, she’d found something she was good at. But she wasn’t certain exactly how to proceed. She tightened her grip and he cursed and thrust upward. Maybe she should stroke him. Or maybe…She lowered her head and sucked, gently, on the velvety tip.
“Christ!”
Suddenly the world turned upside down and she was underneath him. He ripped her panties off in one smooth motion and then he was there, between her thighs. His shoulders looked a mile wide in the shadows and she could feel that absolutely enormous part of him pressing against her.
“Last chance, Lucy.”
“I want this,” she said, bracing herself just a little. “I want you, Jake.” I love you.
He thrust powerfully into her and slid his tongue into her mouth which, if it didn’t soothe her, at least turned her shriek into something closer to a moan.
But Jake wasn’t fooled. He went perfectly still, except for the pulsing erection.
“Goddammit, Lucy! Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
; She felt tears prick the backs of her eyeballs which was ridiculous because she knew this was all her own fault. Still, it hurt and she didn’t appreciate being yelled at.
“I was afraid you’d stop.”
“You’re goddam right I would’ve stopped. Christ! Does this mean you’re unprotected, too?”
“I’ve got condoms in my purse.”
“Christ!”
The pain was starting to fade. Mostly she felt suffocated. He was much too big.
“Could you just get off of me?” She wriggled her hips.
“Stop. Stop moving, Lucy.”
She felt his big hands grasping her hips as if to hold her still.
“You’re too big.” She wriggled her hips again trying to dislodge him, but his grip tightened and he groaned as he pulled back. Almost immediately he thrust forward again. It was a funny sensation, too tight but somehow, tantalizing. His fingers were digging into her hips now and he lowered his head so that it was jammed against the inside of her shoulder. He plunged into her over and over again, faster and faster.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he gasped, “I’m sorry.”
Lucy barely heard him. She arched up to bring him closer, deeper and deeper still. It wasn’t the same sensation he’d created with his fingers but it was exciting. More than exciting. She felt his sweat and heard his short, harsh gasps and she knew he felt the same coiled tension she’d experienced. She wanted to give him the release that she’d felt. She put her arms around his back and when he surged into her she deliberately tightened her inner muscles and she whispered to him.
“Come for me, Jake.”
His face twisted in anguish and a groan ripped out of his throat. An instant later he collapsed on her, panting and shaking. She held him tightly and stroked his back.
She didn’t think about how mad he was going to be when this was over or how much it would hurt her. She just threaded her fingers through his hair and luxuriated in the feel of his weight against her.