by Iris Abbott
Cole watched Faith leave. He glanced up and down the hallway several times just to make sure nothing looked out of place. Everything seemed to be as it should. He called Caroline, gave her the bad news, and asked her to pack Faith’s things. Then he called dispatch to let his assistant and deputies know that he was going to be out of the office indefinitely unless something major developed. When that was taken care of he paced the confines of the small room until Faith was returned safe and sound.
EIGHT
Faith stared hard into the darkness trying to make out her surroundings. The SUV she was riding in with Cole bounced its way down the short gravel road. Suddenly the vehicle came to a stop. Faith looked out of the windshield and squinted. She could just make out the edge of the lake about fifty feet from the back of Cole’s fishing cabin.
“Wow, when you said on the lake you really meant on the lake didn’t you?”
“Wait till you see this place in sunlight. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular out here. I’ve probably seen every color of the rainbow reflected in the sky here at one time or another.” He let out a wishful sigh. “I’d probably live here full time if it wasn’t so far from the sheriff’s department. It makes an awesome weekend and summertime retreat though.”
Faith got out of the SUV and stretched her arms and legs. This day felt like it had been forty hours long and it wasn’t over yet. She watched as Cole grabbed her suitcase from the backseat and then walked up a set of stairs to the front door of the log cabin.
Cole unlocked the door and ushered Faith inside. “This side of the lake is mostly undeveloped. The landowners use it for recreation and county ordinances help keep out developers. So it is a lot less populated than Abigail and Caroline’s side of the lake. It’s busiest during the summer and weekends. It’s only Monday. We might not see another person until Friday evening or Saturday morning.”
“That sounds very peaceful,” Faith admitted. “I bet the sound of crickets is deafening in the summertime.”
“They can get loud,” he chuckled, “but there’s nothing better than falling asleep to the sound of a chirping cricket on a hot summer night.” Unless of course it was falling asleep with a well sated woman held tight in your arms. Images of a sultry and fully satisfied Faith flashed through his mind. Cole didn’t need to go there at least not yet. He pushed open the door, turned on a light, and invited Faith inside.
Faith entered the log cabin and looked around in wide-eyed disbelief. “This place is gorgeous.” The cabin had high ceilings with interior log siding and a large stone fireplace that extended from the floor to the ceiling. The side of the cabin facing the lake had floor to ceiling windows and a welcoming deck. Faith could see a pair of rocking chairs that begged for her to go out there and rock away her worries.
Cole turned and walked to the right of the cabin. “The master bedroom which I use when I’m staying here is on the other side of the cabin. The guest bedroom is right over here. The bathroom is across the hall. There’s no tub I’m afraid, just a shower. I don’t think we’ll be here that long, but if you really want a bath let me know and you’re more than welcome to use the one in the master bathroom.”
“Umm, thanks I’ll let you know.” The thought of being stretched out naked in Cole’s bathtub was sending her mind places she didn’t want it to go, especially since they were going to be living in such close quarters until the man trying to harm her was caught.
“I’m going to leave you to settle in. Go ahead and take a shower if you like.” He brushed his fingers lightly across her face. “Your body has got to be sore after the beating it took in the crash.” He stepped away from temptation. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” He was hungry for a lot of things, but the hunger for food would be the easiest to appease. “I’m going to go back out to the SUV and bring in the bags from the grocery store.”
“Okay,” Faith agreed. She watched as Cole turned to walk away and on impulse called after him. “Cole, thank you so much for everything you’re doing for me.”
“You’re welcome. I remember throwing a couple of steaks into the shopping cart. I’ll go ahead and put them on the grill. It’s on the deck. Come outside when you’ve unpacked and finished your shower.”
Faith offered him a shy smile. “A shower sounds heavenly. I’ll see you in about twenty minutes.” Faith started to retreat to the guest bedroom.
“Wait!” Cole wanted to treat himself to her glorious presence for as long as possible.
Faith turned back with a questioning look in her eyes. “Yes?”
“Oh umm… How do you like your steaks?” He finally managed to ask.
“Medium rare to medium is good.” She watched as Cole nodded and then walked out the front door presumably to haul in the several bags of groceries that they’d stopped to buy on their way out of town.
Her eyes were glued to his backside. He sure could fill out a pair of pants. And the sight of that nice tight backside was doing nothing to calm her nerves. She made a hasty retreat to the relative safety of the guest bedroom. It didn’t help much. Cole might be out of sight, but he definitely was not out of mind. The more time she spent with him the more of him she craved.
Despite all the warnings she kept whispering to herself, Faith rushed through the shower and unpacking. She couldn’t wait to join Cole on the deck. Little warning bells were going off inside her head and her heart, but she chose to ignore them for now. Even though it wasn’t the date she’d envisioned, she and Cole were finally going to get to spend some time alone doing something ordinary like eating dinner.
******
The car veered off the road and ran down the steep bank. The steering wheel was wrenched out of Faith’s hands and she lost all control of the car. The car was speeding closer to the creek until it sideswiped a tree.
Even in her dream Faith knew that the car should come to a stop, but this time it rolled. Over and over it went until the car with Faith trapped inside landed upside down in the creek. Faith screamed and just kept screaming. She couldn’t stop.
She struggled with her seatbelt. It wouldn’t come loose. She was flailing her arms and kicking her feet, but she couldn’t get out of the car. She heard Cole’s voice in the distance. He was telling her to calm down, to stop fighting. What was wrong with him? Didn’t he know she was going to drown if she didn’t get out of there? Water was already streaming into the car.
Something was wrong. It felt like her whole body was being shaken, but the car wasn’t moving. She heard Cole call her name again. This time it seemed much louder, more real, not part of a nightmare.
Faith’s eyes flew open. It had all been a nightmare. She wasn’t really back in that car. She was in the guest bedroom of Cole’s fishing cabin and he was standing next to the bed lightly shaking her and calling her name.
Faith let out a strangled sob more from relief than anything else. She threw herself into Cole’s arms. She wrapped both arms around his neck and held him as close as she could. “Cole it was so horrible. I was back in the car, but this time it landed upside down in the creek and I was stuck. I couldn’t get out!”
Cole’s heart twisted at the fear in Faith’s voice. He sat down on the edge of the bed and settled Faith on his lap. He pressed her damp face into his chest and used the other hand to rub up and down her back. “Shh, it’s all right sweetheart. It was just a nightmare. You’re safe. I promise that. Nothing or no one will get to you here. They’d have to go through me first and that is not going to happen.”
“It seemed so real,” Faith admitted. She was in no hurry to leave Cole’s embrace. As a matter of fact she burrowed as close to him as she could get. There was a slight chill in the air, maybe a lingering effect from the nightmare, and Faith wasn’t ready to give up the warm comfort of Cole’s arms.
“Of course it did. That’s one of the things that make nightmares so frightening. You are not in that car though, you’re here with me. Whoever is after you doesn’t know we’re here and he’s not goi
ng to find us either.”
His hand was still rubbing comforting circles on her back. He could feel Faith’s body shivering. “You’re cold. Why don’t you get back in bed under the covers so you’ll be warm?” Cole gently placed her on the bed and stood up. His body was already reacting to her closeness. His penis was fully erect and jutted out from the pair of cotton pajama bottoms he’d thrown on when he’d heard Faith scream. There was no way she hadn’t noticed how much he wanted her.
“Cole,” Faith looked up at him with imploring eyes. “I don’t want to be alone. Stay with me tonight.”
He wanted her more than he’d wanted anyone in a long time. He’d wanted her since he’d first laid eyes on her. That didn’t give him the right to take advantage of her or the situation. That wasn’t why he’d brought her out here. “Sure. I’ll bring in a chair and sit over there in the corner facing the door. That way you’ll know I’m here with you keeping an eye on things and you can get a good night’s sleep.” She’d be the only one getting any sleep that night, Cole thought.
Faith folded back the bedding and then touched the bed next to her. “No Cole. I actually want you to sleep with me.” She patted the empty space on the bed next to her. “Right here in the same bed.”
She wasn’t going to make this easy on him was she? “Faith, you’ve been through more than one traumatic experience the past few days. I don’t want to take advantage of you when you are so vulnerable.”
Faith wasn’t listening. Being held by Cole had fanned the flames of her body. After the past few horrible days, she deserved something good in her life, and she wanted Cole. She wanted to lose herself in his arms and she wanted the pleasure she knew he could give her.
“Please, Cole.” She looked at him from beneath lowered lashes. “I really need you tonight.”
Cole unconsciously took a step toward the bed.
Faith knew he wanted her just as much as she wanted him, so she didn’t feel guilty about taking things into her own hands and rushing things along.
She rose onto her knees so that she was about eyelevel with Cole. She snared him with her gaze and while they were looking into each other’s eyes, Faith lifted her nightshirt above her head and casually let it fall to the floor.
Cole stared mesmerized as the shirt was lifted. The first thing he caught a glimpse of was a lightly tanned belly. The shirt was pulled higher to expose a pair of creamy breasts with swollen nipples just begging for his attention. He took another step toward the bed and before he knew it he was standing at the very edge and Faith was within touching distance.
He couldn’t deny himself. He lowered his head and drew one pebbled nipple into his mouth and sucked. He caressed the nipple with his tongue and then gently teased it with his teeth.
Sensations shot through Faith’s body and she could hardly control herself. She ran her hands through Cole’s wavy dark brown hair and then pushed his face closer to her breast. He pulled away and Faith let out a groan of disappointment. “No don’t stop,” she pleaded.
Cole chuckled. “Not stopping,” he promised. Then his mouth closed over her other aching nipple. Finally he lifted his head. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Faith stared at him with eyes large from desire and slowly nodded.
“I’ll be right back honey. I need to get a condom.”
Faith watched him disappear. This gave her the opportunity to change her mind, but she wouldn’t. She and Cole had been working their way to this point for two months now. The ache inside her had finally gotten so bad, she couldn’t ignore it. She needed this man and tonight she was going to have him.
Cole returned to the room. Faith hadn’t moved and for a second he was afraid she’d changed her mind. But then she smiled at him and beckoned him near. He placed the condom on the nightstand and stared down at Faith. Cole had always found her pretty, but with the light of desire shinning in her eyes she was stunning.
Faith inched closer to Cole and shyly put a hand on the waist of his pajama bottoms. She tugged on them until Cole impatiently swatted at her hands and quickly removed the pants himself. She moved toward the middle of the bed and waited for a now naked Cole to join her. Her eyes roamed his body and it was as magnificent as she’d dreamed it would be. She was giddy and her body shook in anticipation.
She opened her arms and invited Cole to come closer. She let out a little sigh of contentment when she felt his muscled body pressing into her much softer curvier figure. Their lips met in a heated kiss that caused Faith’s toes to curl into the mattress.
Cole had been burning for Faith for what seemed like forever. He was afraid that finesse was out of the question. His fingers trailed down her body caressing smooth skin as they went. He found her nether lips and parted them to test her readiness. He was greeted by warm moistness that told him she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
One finger slipped inside the velvety core. He felt her vaginal muscles close around his finger and gently added one more.
Sensation took over Faith’s mind and body and a tortured moan escaped her parted lips. “More Cole, I need more. Please!”
Cole did too. His hands fumbled for the discarded foil package. He grabbed it and quickly ripped it open. Then he rolled the condom onto his straining erection.
Faith watched in wide-eyed amazement as he prepared to enter her. Then he leaned closer and she felt his knee nudge her legs apart. She complied and with one quick thrust she felt the hardness of Cole’s erection slip inside caressing her core as he went. She arched her back and hips to meet him and bring him closer.
Cole slowly withdrew. He delighted in prolonging the intense pleasure. When he could stand it no longer he plunged back inside the warm cavern of tissue waiting to surround him. “You feel so good. Hold on tight, Faith.”
Faith’s only response was to tangle one hand in his hair and pull his mouth down to hers. The other arm she wrapped securely around his waist holding him tight. She felt Cole wrap his hands around her hips to hold her still, and then his thrusts increased. The ache inside Faith had only intensified. Her muscles tightened almost to the point of pain. Suddenly it felt like her whole body exploded and was going to shake until it flew apart into a thousand different pieces.
She let out a strangled scream of fulfillment. Then she felt Cole freeze above her. He threw back his head, and she could feel his erection pulse inside her letting her know he had found his release too. They both collapsed in a pile of tangled limbs.
NINE
Faith woke up alone in the guest bedroom. She could hear the faint sound of running water and figured Cole was taking a shower in his own bathroom. The smell of fresh brewed coffee teased her nose and called her to the kitchen. She went to the bathroom and freshened up. Then she pulled on a tank top and a pair of cotton shorts before she finally made her way to the kitchen. She rummaged through a couple of cabinets before she found Cole’s stash of mugs. She poured a cup of steaming coffee and inhaled the fragrance. Coffee just smelt so good, especially first thing in the morning.
She looked outside the wall of windows onto the deck. The sun was rising and its golden rays reflected nicely off the calm surface of the lake. It looked peaceful and was so at odds with everything happening in Faith’s life at the moment. She had a stalker breathing down her neck, who may or may not be a murderer, but either way he meant business. Running her off the road and leaving her for dead proved that.
Most people might think right now was not the best time to indulge in the start of a new relationship, but she was falling for Cole and falling hard. There was no turning back after last night, at least as far as she was concerned. Of course Cole had a say in the matter too, and she had no idea how he felt about their budding relationship. But she’d find out soon enough. His shower wouldn’t last forever. He’d have to join her sometime soon.
The calm and beauty of the early morning beckoned her outside. She opened the door that led out to the large wooden deck. It would be a rare treat to act
ually be able to sit down and enjoy the first cup of coffee of the day instead of gulping it down on her way out the door. Faith walked over to one of the rocking chairs facing the lake. She sat down and gently rocked while she slowly sipped from the mug of steaming coffee. A calm feeling of peace settled over her. One that she didn’t think she’d ever find again after the past few harrowing days. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
That was how Cole found her when he went into the kitchen to pour his own coffee. He filled a travel mug to the brim with the steaming dark liquid. Then he opened the door just far enough to poke his head outside.
Faith heard the door open behind her and turned toward Cole with a ready smile on her face. Unfortunately her smile was met by a grim frown and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t get Cole to look her in the eye. Butterflies swirled around her stomach. This did not bode well for their fledging romance and Faith felt her heart twist inside her chest.
“Don’t stay out here too long,” Cole warned. “I don’t want to run the risk of someone spotting you. Something unexpected has come up and I need to go into the sheriff’s department for at least a couple of hours.” He turned on his heels and strode away without even a goodbye.
The sound of an engine starting finally dragged Faith out of her stupor. She slowly stood and walked back inside. She was careful to lock the door behind her. Dread and regret seeped into her very bones. Cole’s cool and impersonal greeting had managed to totally ruin her lighthearted mood. It had popped all the tiny imaginary bubbles that had been fizzing in her blood at the thought of their lovemaking from the night before.
She let out a heart-wrenching sigh. “Well so much for the start of a wonderful romance,” she verbally berated herself. She should have followed her mind instead of her heart and body. Then she wouldn’t be in this predicament. And really all the blame was hers. After all she’d practically begged Cole to make love to her last night even after he’d expressed his reservations. It seemed she would never learn. She sighed again and went to the bathroom. She needed a long hot shower to clear her mind and figure out where to go from here.