Gavin wanted to scream, “No,” as loud as he could. The last thing he wanted was to be any more alone with her. He was in no condition to argue, and she was right. It was getting colder by the second, and the snow was falling even harder to where he couldn’t see anything around them. They’d never make it back to Havenwood.
He cursed. “Follow me. There’s a hunting lodge near here where we can take shelter through the storm.”
Someone must really hate him. Depending on the storm, they’d be forced to remain in each other’s company for hours, possibly even days. He didn’t have a lot of faith in his self-control, and he feared this storm, Odessa’s recklessness, and his need for her would bring about their doom.
Chapter Two
Odessa followed Gavin to the hunting lodge. She could barely see him as they made their way there. The snowstorm had come upon her suddenly. Hamish had been correct in warning her. When would she learn to stop and listen when someone offered a piece of advice? Sadly, she probably would always leap first, consequences be damned.
“Are we almost there?” Odessa shouted against the wind. Gavin didn’t seem to react to her words, so she screamed louder. Either he couldn’t hear her or he was doing a fine job of ignoring her. He better hope it was the latter... She sighed and did her best to combat the cold. They had to be close; otherwise, he’d have led them directly to Havenwood instead.
Finally, after several more moments, a small wooden cabin came into view. It was completely dark, and snow battered against the door. It must have been a long time since someone had visited. The snow in front of the door would have to be cleared before they could even go inside. Gavin hopped off his horse and tied the reins to a post underneath a nearby tree, then stomped forward to help Odessa. He brought his large hands up and slid them around her waist, pulling her into his arms. Odessa’s breath hitched being so close to him, and for a brief moment, she basked in his warmth. He let her go as quickly as he’d held on to her. He reacted as if holding her burned him or something.
It stung a bit that he didn’t appear to want her, but she’d already set herself on this path and wouldn’t back down now. Maybe she was reading too much into things. The only way she would find out what Gavin felt for her was to have him admit it. His actions toward her were a little confusing, and she couldn’t use them to gauge anything. It might hurt to have him push her away, and the more he did it, the more she wanted to run and hide, but she couldn’t let them dictate her own decisions.
“Stand by the cabin while I see to your horse,” he ordered.
Odessa wanted to go back to the moment he held onto her, but realized she couldn’t. He’d always been so close, and at the same time, very far away from her. She didn’t understand why he’d kept her at a distance, but before the day was done, she’d find out. She would have to keep a cool head and do her best to overcome her need to bury herself in misery. Gavin meant the world to her and she would fight for him. Odessa glanced at him and reaffirmed her conviction. She would see this through to the end.
With a sigh, she headed to the door of the cabin and stared at the pile of snow blocking it. Maybe she could start removing it before Gavin returned. The sooner they were inside, the sooner they could find shelter from the storm. She prayed there was a way to light a fire in the hearth. The cold had already seeped into her bones. A broken branch lay near the steps. She picked it up and started to move the snow out of the way. It was a tedious process and sweat started to furrow on her brow. At least she was finding some warmth in it.
“Good job,” Gavin said. His husky voice filled her ear and made her shiver from the inside out. He stood directly behind her, his body encasing her in warmth and blocking her from the unforgiving wind. “Give me the branch and I’ll finish.”
She handed it over to him reluctantly and waited as he cleaned the rest of the snow from the entrance. He was a handsome sight to behold on any given day, but something about watching him work made her belly flutter. His arms bulged against his jacket and his breeches seemed to hug his thighs tighter. Maybe it was her imagination, but every inch of him appeared larger. She shook her head to clear the thoughts away.
Finally, he brushed the last bit of snow off the front step and yanked the door open. He gestured toward her to enter. “After you,” he said. She slowly entered the dark cabin, almost afraid to see what lay inside. Gavin came up directly behind her, closing the door behind him. His hot breath brushed across her ear. “You can go farther in.”
His heat enveloped her, and she had no desire to go any farther than where she was. She wanted to lean back against him and marvel in every inch of him. The need to beg him to kiss her almost overtook her. Her cheeks warmed at the idea of his lips pressed against hers. How had she gone this long without feeling that wonderful sensation again? The one moment she’d kissed him, it had been so chaste and over before the blink of an eye.
“I can’t see anything,” she said.
He exhaled. “Walk a little more inside so I can move past you. I need to start a fire or we’ll both freeze.”
She did as he told her to do, and he quickly moved past her. With his heat no longer warming her, shivers wracked her body. The sweat on her brow made her skin clammy and cold. The sooner that fire was started, the better off she’d be. She wanted to urge him to move faster, but it was futile. He couldn’t make the fire blaze any faster because she wanted it to. She’d have to wait even if it irritated her.
“Please hurry,” she couldn’t help the words. Her teeth chattered hard. “So co-cold.”
“Your clothes are probably soaked through,” he said. “You’re going to have to remove your dress and hang it up to dry.”
Surely he didn’t suggest... “That’s indecent,” she gasped the words out. “I can’t undress.”
“Would you rather get sick and die?”
His tone was completely dry without an ounce of humor to be found. Gavin actually wanted her to take off her riding habit. It was meant to help her and she shouldn’t take it as more than that. He was looking out for her well-being. Not once had he ever acted in an untoward fashion toward her.
Gavin didn’t say another word for a long time. His silence was almost deafening, but Odessa didn’t dare disturb him. He had to get the fire started, and the quicker it happened, the warmer she’d be. Before long, a small light filled the room as a blaze grew in the hearth. “There,” he said. “It will be warm in here in a few moments or so. Let me see if I can find a candle or two to give us more light.”
She didn’t move an inch. He’d said she should undress once he had the fire lit, but she couldn’t. It wasn’t just fear, but it was impossible for her to do on her own. The laces on the back of her gown had been done up tight by her maid. She had to ask him for help and wasn’t entirely sure how he’d react to the request.
“Why are you still standing there?” he asked. He held a three-tier candelabra in his hand. It contained three slightly used tapers in each sconce with wax pooled in the drip pan below it.
“Are you going to light the candles?” she asked instead of answering. She wasn’t ready to talk about her wet gown and her inability to remove it on her own. Something tickled inside of her throat, causing her to cough.
“Damn it,” he said. “You have to remove that gown now.”
“I can’t,” she said, suppressing the urge to cough again.
Gavin sighed and set the candelabra down. He lit each one of the tapers and then turned his attention to her. “I found some blankets you can wrap yourself in until your gown dries. If you’re worried about propriety, we’re past the point of no return in that regard, but you can rest assured I won’t take advantage of the situation. Now, will you please take it off so you can dry and warm yourself?”
She wanted to protest a little bit. Was he not even tempted to seduce her? What was wrong with her? Earlier she balked at the idea of removing her gown, and now she was irritated he didn’t want to make love to her. She really should make up
her damn mind about what she wanted. One thing she was certain of: Gavin owned her heart, and if he wanted to be with her in any way, she’d cave. They belonged with each other, and honestly it didn’t matter to her when they came together. As long as in the end he’d be hers forever.
“I’m not being difficult,” she said. “I can’t take it off by myself. I need...” She bit her lip. “Can you untie the laces?” Odessa turned her back to him. He didn’t say a word, and she wasn’t sure if he’d help. She peeked over her shoulder and glanced at him. He stared for a long time and then moved over to her side. Gavin brought his hands up to the back of her dress and started to untie the laces at the back. After several moments, he pulled the dress apart and Odessa held the bodice against her chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He nodded and didn’t meet her gaze. “The blankets are on a cot in the far corner of the room. Once you’re wrapped in one, call for me and I’ll retrieve your dress. I’ll hang it up to dry near the fire.”
Odessa nodded and headed in the direction of the cot. Gavin was being the polite gentleman as much as possible. She wanted to shake the gentleman loose and find the rogue that lived beneath the surface. He wasn’t like this with all women. She’d seen him flirt upon occasion, and he had a naughty tongue. He’d not seen her observing him, of course. If he had, he’d never have behaved in that manner. She reached the bed and found a couple of wool blankets sitting on it. They were coarse but would be warm against her chilled skin. Odessa slid her dress off and let it pool to her ankles, then stepped out of it. She wrapped one of the blankets around her shoulders and sat on the bed.
“Gavin,” she called.
His footsteps echoed through the room. Soon, he was in front of her with the candlelight illuminating his features. If possible, he was even more handsome than before. She wasn’t sure how that could be, but something about her surroundings made him even more appealing. She wished she could figure out what it was so she could recreate it again.
“Where’s the dress,” he said hoarsely.
“On the floor,” she said and pointed where she’d left it. She probably should have picked it up, but the blanket’s warmth had felt too good to leave it. “Thank you.”
He lifted it and nodded at her. “Rest, we’re going to be here awhile.”
“Where will you be?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said a bit gruffly. “I’ll be fine.”
Why wouldn’t he be? She tilted her head and studied him. His clothing was as wet as hers and he’d not taken any of it off. How was he going to warm fully if he didn’t? “You are removing your outer garments to dry, aren’t you?”
He swallowed and shook his head. “That’s not a good idea.”
“But you said if I didn’t undress I could die from the wet and cold. That certainly applies to you as well.” She lifted the other wool blanket and held it out to him. “Take them off and wrap up in this.”
He cursed under his breath. As if she’d never heard foul language before. “You need the blanket. Keep them both and stay warm.”
“No,” she said defiantly. “Go hang up my dress and return for the blanket. I refuse to be the only one warm in this cabin. If I have to sit here nearly naked, you can do the same.”
“Darling,” he said with a slight hitch in his voice. “You’re not as naked as you can be. Don’t push me.”
She would do as she damn well pleased. That was the whole point of this little adventure. Now that she thought on it more, this was perhaps the best thing that could have happened. There was no one around to disturb them, and he couldn’t run from her. They were trapped until the storm passed. He was, in a sense, at her mercy.
“Is that what it would take?” She lifted a brow. “If I took all of my clothing off and stood before you with only my skin between us, would you want me then?”
Gavin took a step back at her words. “Don’t do it.”
“I won’t on one condition,” she said. Odessa wasn’t against blackmail when necessary. “Remove your wet clothes and use the other blanket. It’s only fair.”
He nodded without saying a word and carried her dress away. Seconds ticked by and turned into minutes. She wasn’t sure how long he was gone but was afraid she’d have to hunt him down. As soon as she was preparing to do that, he returned. “Give me the blanket,” he ordered.
“Where are you going to rest?”
“I told you not to worry about me.”
When would he learn that she always worried about him. Whenever he was away, he wasn’t far from her thoughts. She wanted him with her forever so she’d know how he fared every moment of the day. It pained her to have any separation between them. Maybe that would ease a bit once they married and had a family. She refused to accept any other outcome.
“Come back here and keep me company,” she said. “Perhaps we can play a game.” They were going to be stuck together for hours, perhaps even days, in the cabin while the storm raged outside. She couldn’t have planned this predicament, but was quite grateful for the outcome. When she’d set after him, she had been determined to make him see what she always did. She would not waste the gift she’d been given. A game would give them the opportunity to talk and put him at ease. As much as she craved a kiss, or for him to pull her into his arms, she needed more than that from him. She wanted to know he loved and cared for her. Odessa had to hear the words from his lips at least once. Maybe, just maybe, if they did something innocent enough she could finagle a few of those precious sentiments from him.
He shook his head. “That’s not going to happen. Do as I said.”
Gavin spun on his heels and left her alone. Ohhhh. He was such a stubborn male. Fine. If he wanted to be a jerk, she’d find a way to make him pay for it. Things could have been nice between them. Odessa smiled to herself. Well, they still might be, but first she’d have to knock some sense into his thick skull.
Chapter Three
Gavin had avoided the removal of his own wet clothing for a reason. He didn’t think it wise both of them were in a state of undress. Especially when the idea of Odessa’s bare skin haunted his dreams, and he was so close to the reality of it. He itched to strip the rest of her garments off of her and touch her in every way he’d imagined over the years.
Helping her with her dress and not doing more than that had nearly killed him... The urge to press his lips to her back and trail kisses over her shoulder, neck, and then her mouth had been hard to ignore. His cock had hardened to a painful degree and frustration fueled his blood. He clenched his fists together at his side in an attempt to rein it in. His desire ebbed enough for him to function, but it didn’t fully go away.
He closed his eyes and reminded himself to breathe. He couldn’t do any of that with Odessa, and he damn well knew it. That didn’t negate the desire to though. She insisted he take off his wet clothing, and she was right. He could easily catch a chill, and there would be no one around to take care of her. As much as he hated the idea, it was the right thing to do. So he stripped off his breeches and shirt to hang before the fire to dry. Then he wrapped the wool blanket around his shoulders like a cape.
It covered most of his body but his legs remained bare. It was either that or have his chest partially exposed. He wasn’t entirely sure which was worse. He definitely couldn’t go near her dressed, or rather undressed, as he was. She could make all the demands she wanted, but he refused to join her at the back of the cabin—near something resembling a bed.
“Are you done?” Odessa called out.
God save him. “Yes,” he said. Her voice rolled over him, causing him to shudder. He wasn’t strong enough to resist her, and he’d do whatever she asked in the end. How would he stop himself from touching or kissing her? Odessa didn’t make it a secret she’d welcome his affections. Keeping her at a safe distance had prevented him from acting on it in the past. Now though—nothing stood between them. They were stuck in a cabin alone for an indeterminate length of time.
“Goo
d, now come in here. I need your help.”
Bloody hell... What could she possibly need? He’d made sure the cabin was warm and even lit candles. She should be fine until the storm receded. “Why aren’t you resting?”
“I’m not tired,” she said and coughed loudly. “My throat hurts.”
Worry furrowed deep inside of him. Had they been too late? Was she going to become ill regardless? He rushed over to her side and stopped short when he reached her. “What are you doing?”
Her blanket was wrapped around her waist and her long black hair fell in waves down her back. Her chemise kept her covered—mostly. He could still make the outline of the curve of her breasts and her nipples through the thin material. It took everything inside of him not to reach out and touch her hair to see if the locks were as silky as they appeared. He clenched his hands into fists underneath the blanket. She couldn’t know the reaction he was having to her.
“I’m hot,” she said. “Aren’t you?”
No, he wasn’t. His skin was a little chilled still, but he was starting to at least warm up now that he’d removed his wet clothing. Staring at her heated him in other ways though... He glanced at her and concern filled him. Something wasn’t quite right with Odessa. Her cheeks were flushed a bright pink and her eyes appeared glassy. Gavin stepped forward and touched his hand to her forehead. She was burning up. Damn it.
“You’re coming down with a fever,” he said. “Lay back and rest. I’ll see if there is anything here to help relieve it.”
He had no idea what to do for her. Her skin was so hot... He’d been trying to get her warm, and now he had to find a way to cool her back down. He could get some snow and melt it to wash her skin. He didn’t want to put freezing water anywhere near her yet. The water needed to warm a bit before he bathed her in it. Otherwise, it might hamper the progress he’d already made.
“Don’t be gone long.” She shivered. “I’m afraid.” Her voice wobbled a little bit.
Unwrapping a Rogue: A Christmas Regency Boxset Page 43