Winter

by Michelle Love

  “Split the room?” He asked, as he walked towards me. “You have an extra month of rent to pay, Elisa. I’ve got this.”

  “Will you always?” I asked, as I stared at him.

  “Let’s take a bath and relax. I’ll start a fire,” Damon suggested, as pain crossed his face. He went to get some logs from the balcony and lit a crackling fire while I ran the hot water for the bath, adding a little of the lavender bubbles from the counter. I didn’t know how much he’d want, so I kept it light, enjoying the scent in the air. “I wish they made that in the scent that you wear. I’m addicted to it.” I turned to look at Damon as he smiled at me. “This isn’t a competition, Elisa. I like spoiling you.”

  “I just want to help, I think. I am not used to being taken care of.”

  “Let’s get you settled in your new apartment, and we’ll go from there,” Damon said gently, as he pulled the jacket from my shoulders. “For now, let’s relax in style.” He stripped me of my clothing, folding it, and placing it somewhere in the room before he walked back in naked. I blushed as he slid into the hot water, sighing happily. “Get in.”

  I stepped in and moved into the water, feeling his eyes rake over me. Once settled, I leaned back against him as Damon kissed my neck, telling me how beautiful I was. “Thank you,” I replied, as I closed my eyes and let my body relax. “What are we going to do Monday?” I asked him in the dim light of the candles that I’d lit before turning off the lights.

  “We are going to work and keep this between us. I can’t say that it will be easy, but for now, it’s the only choice. I want to keep seeing you, Elisa.” I smiled as the steam and scents filled my nose. “I want you to let me spoil you.”

  “I know. I’m trying,” I admitted as his hands slid down my body. “I have been on my own for so long, Damon. I’m scared to get too comfortable, and the fact that we work together…it scares me.”

  “I’ll keep this between us so nobody will know in the building. I prefer to keep my private life under wraps to begin with. We can stay at my apartment at night and just stay in. Perhaps I can get you a job at another location, or with a colleague, where we can be together out in the open. I know a lot of people.”

  A tear slid down my cheek. I had my dream job right now, earning it with my hard work. Damon had told me how he had tried to talk everyone out of hiring me, but they’d insisted. I didn’t want a job as a favor to Damon, and, at this moment, I didn’t even want the apartment. Love had never been an option for me, and, as much as I thought I was falling for Damon, I didn’t want to give up my dream for him. Not yet. “Maybe I can just work with my team from now on and keep my distance. We can say that you didn’t need me anymore, or something.”

  “Are you pulling away from me?” Damon asked.

  I shook my head slowly. “It’s a thought, Damon. It would draw less attention to us.”

  “I don’t want to not see you at the office. It’s the best part of my day,” Damon told me, as I smiled weakly.

  “We’ll have time to see each other after work. I just feel like I need some space from everyone’s prying eyes. I don’t know,” I babbled, as he pulled me close to him.

  “Stop this, Elisa. Relax,” I heard pain in his voice as he stroked my arms and tried to calm me down.

  I shut up and tried to let the hot water and lavender soak in and do what it was supposed to do. I knew that there was a fire in the other room with a big bed, and I wanted to use it. I wanted to feel Damon over me, inside of me, and every way possible, even as I felt myself trying to find a way to sabotage everything.

  I felt a little better when the bath was over, rising to dry myself off and drape the robe hanging on the hook on the door over my body. Damon was doing the same, and I walked into the main room to hear the crackle of firewood and see a big, cozy bed. Maybe I was being stupid with my thoughts. This was a wonderful life.

  Damon took my hand and led me to the bed slowly. “I don’t have a lot of experience in trying to keep a woman around, but I want you to know how much I want to make you happy. I want you to relax, smile, and give yourself to me.” He pushed me gently down on the bed and stared into my eyes before he kissed me. Damon pulled my hair down carefully, even as I cringed with the knowledge that it was salty from the ocean air and probably looked awful.

  I forgot all of that as he skillfully deepened the kiss, draping himself over me. We moved onto the pillows and made out slowly and sweetly for a long time, and I felt all my doubts slipping away as he pulled the robe away from my body. Damon worshiped me, kissing every inch of my skin as my body heated up for him. His robe was untied and I felt him hard against me as he sucked a nipple into his mouth. “Damon, I need you.” His hands slipped down between my legs, finally touching me where I needed it most as I cried out.

  Once he was naked and sheathed, Damon plunged inside of me as I gasped. “Let yourself go, Elisa. Don’t hold back…not tonight.” He drove his cock in deep and slow, and I got lost with the movement. I rocked against him, desperate to come around him as I reached around his body with my hands and legs to pull him closer. “Baby, you feel so good. I don’t want to lose you,” he murmured, as I felt him harden further inside of me, close to coming.

  We both cried out as we came seconds away from one another, and he dropped beside me as I stared into the fire. Nothing would ever feel this good. No man could ever make me feel so complete. I yawned, tired from the day, as he pushed the covers down and we settled under the blankets. “I feel like we should stay up or something,” I murmured, fighting the urge to close my eyes.

  “Nonsense. We had a big day, and we’re both tired. All I need is you here beside me to make me happy.” The fire crackled again, and I snuggled close to Damon, feeling his warmth envelop me as I took a slow breath.

  I woke up, frightened at first, not knowing where I was. I looked around and felt Damon pressed against me as I stroked his hair and remembered the night before. I looked toward the closed curtain and got out of bed, walking softly across the carpeted floor to pull open the fabric. The ocean was choppy, and I looked at the horizon where the sun was just starting to come up, in colors of pink and orange. My breath caught in my throat as I heard my name across the room.

  “Come look. It’s beautiful.” Damon yawned and walked over to join me, pulling me into his arms as we watched the sky brighten together. “This is amazing.”

  Damon pulled me back to bed once the sun had risen completely and we kissed under the covers as he ran his hands over my body. “I loved that with you. I want to taste you and feel you again, doze off, and check out at the last possible minute.”

  “I like that idea,” I murmured as he slipped down over my breasts and stomach before ending up between my legs. I learned how incredible an orgasm was first thing in the morning when the room was dim with the morning light. I learned what it felt like to have someone inside of me when I was newly awake and cried out his name both times that Damon made love to me.

  We fell asleep, tangled together, for another couple of hours before we made love again. I never wanted to leave this room, since everything was frozen in time here. We didn’t have to go to work, or even go back to Boston if we stayed here. I reluctantly showered in the huge tiled space as he joined me, washing my hair carefully so I could do something with it today. I left it down in curls and kept a band around my wrist as I smoothed some moisturizer on my face. I took the clothes from the dresser, pulling them on as I watched Damon dress. He seemed quiet and we looked around the room before we made our way down to the lobby. I helped myself to some coffee while he dealt with the bill before joining me. “Want to eat in the restaurant or find something in town?”

  “What’s better?” I asked, as I looked out of the windows and let my eyes rest on the ocean waves.

  “There’s a nice place on the corner. Good food and an amazing view of the water. Sound good?” I nodded as he took my hand and led me to the car, opening the door so I could settle in.

  Damon was
right. The cafe was small but offered everything he promised, and I added some cream to my coffee as I looked out of the windows. We were both on the quiet side today, eating and wandering around for a bit in town afterward. Damon started back towards the city just after noon, and I leaned back on the comfortable leather seat. I fell asleep as we drove, with the radio playing softly in the background.

  We arrived in Boston too soon, and I felt his eyes on me. “Home or my place?”

  “I should deal with the roomies,” I said slowly, as he beamed at me.

  “You’re taking the apartment?”

  “I am, but we’re going to be discussing a rent payment,” I warned him, as he headed to my side of town.

  “When do you think that you’ll be moving in?” Damon asked, as I shrugged. I thought my roommates might be eager to fill the space once I broke the news, though I wasn’t sure. He drove to the curb as I looked at the run-down building, already missing everything about the weekend.

  “Thank you for everything,” I told him, as I turned to look at him. I had paid for our breakfast today, after gave up the fight, but compared to everything he had done, it seemed like nothing to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “It’s your day with me. I’ll try to keep my hands off you,” he promised me, before leaning in for a kiss. Just being in his car was risky, but the brush of his lips against mine could start a lot of rumors.

  “See you tomorrow. Thank you,” I told him again, as I slipped out of the car with my small bag of belongings. I walked through the complex as I imagined the new place, clean and beautiful.

  Mine.

  I walked through the door to see the front room empty. I walked back to the tiny shoebox of a bedroom and found Melody studying. “Hi,” I greeted her softly as she glanced up with tired eyes. “Where is everyone?”

  “You know that I hide in here all of the time. I have no idea. Why?” Melody asked, with curious green eyes.

  “I found another apartment. I’ll have it all to myself. I wanted to tell everyone together.” Melody looked jealous as she pushed a hand through her hair. I could write a check and leave with the few things that I had tonight, running to Damon. I settled for putting my things down and sitting on the bed as I looked around.

  “I’m jealous. I’d love to live alone. How did you find it?” Melody asked.

  “A friend from work,” I told her, as I slipped off the Henley, leaving the thermal on. We talked about school for a bit before I put on my headphones to sleep, covering my eyes. I slipped the jeans off but left the shirt, wishing that it smelled like Damon.

  I had an early class, and I got up and put the jeans on with a smile, changing into a sweater from my closet before I headed to the campus. I got coffee and sipped it as I took my seat. I had three classes today before I needed to change for work. I was hoping that I could talk to everyone in the apartment tonight at dinner.

  When I came out of my apartment that night, I noticed a familiar car on the curb. Mark smiled at me. “He wanted me to bring you to the office.”

  “Oh. Thanks.” I let him open the door, blushing as I slipped inside and licked my lips. “Is he like this with a lot of people?”

  “Damon is selective on who he chooses to help, so I’d say no. I haven’t seen him the way that he is with you before, to be honest. I worry that…someone will end up hurt.” Mark spoke carefully, as I stared into the front of the car, where he’d left the window down.

  “Him or me?”

  “Both,” Mark replied, as he kept driving towards the office, letting me out at the curb as I told him I’d get out on my own. The car was enough, without the grandiose display of a driver. I smiled at him and walked up the curb in my favorite heels and a simple black skirt and white shirt as I heard someone call my name. I turned my head to see Autumn as she ran over to me with a bag in her hand.

  “Nice ride. Do you have a driver or something?” She asked, as I blushed and forced a laugh.

  “No, of course not. That’s just a friend who saw me leaving and offered a ride. It beats the bus,” I laughed, as she nodded and we walked in together.

  “How was your weekend?” She asked in a friendly tone, and I realized I could say nothing about it.

  “Nothing special. Just hung out around the city,” I replied, as she told me about how she had seen a band at a club and loved them. I nodded and smiled at all the right places as we took the elevator upstairs. I decided to hang out with the team for a bit, since I was too nervous to see Damon just yet. We walked in together and Autumn handed out some sandwiches to everybody, offering to split hers with me. “I ate at school, but thank you.”

  Damon

  I glanced at the clock, knowing that Elisa would be arriving soon. I had missed her last night, and I sighed as I heard my cell ring. Glancing at the screen, I saw that it was my attorney, and I answered with a frown. “James. Is everything okay?”

  “There are some pictures of you with a woman popping up on some of the gossip sites. Do you want me to prepare something?” He asked as heat flooded my face.

  “Fuck. How close are they?” I asked, as I pulled up my computer to do a search. I found them quickly, relieved to see that they were taken at the beach and quite grainy. That was the point when Elisa was all bundled up and wearing her hood as well, so nobody could clearly see her. Of course, the story talked about the inn and my romantic weekend with the mystery woman. I groaned. I didn’t understand how we escaped further photos, but I thought I was in the clear. “If anyone asks, it’s nothing serious.”

  “Of course,” James agreed, as we ended the call. There had been bits and pieces about me in the gossip columns before and even pictures with women along, with a lot of speculation. That didn’t matter before now, since it was never an employee. I didn’t want Elisa to suffer the backlash that would come with the publicity. There was a good chance that I’d escape without any damage, but she was just starting her career.

  It was a couple of hours later that she tapped on the door and walked inside when I told her it was open. “Good afternoon,” Elisa greeted me as she sat down and licked her plum stained lips. She looked stunning in a simple outfit that showed her curves, parts of her that I was very familiar with after this weekend. “How are you?”

  “I need to talk to you,” I started to say, as her face paled. “There were some pictures this weekend that showed up online. You’re not recognizable in them at all, but I wanted you to know in case anyone said anything.” All the color drained from her face as I reached out to take her hands.

  “Mark drove me in today. You sent him.” I nodded, not realizing then what it could do to this situation. “Autumn saw me, and I passed it off as him just being a friend. What if she sees the pictures and someone knows who he is? This wasn’t supposed to happen like this, Damon. It has been so brief.”

  “I have a plan. I will get someone to pose with me in a few convenient places. A friend. That will make everyone think it was her with me at the inn and the beach, and all of this will go away,” I told her, as Elisa narrowed her eyes.

  “Who?” Her voice was small, and I stroked her hands with my thumb.

  “Nobody that I’m involved with, Elisa. She’ll only be a prop,” I promised her, knowing that I’d slept with Brooke a few times during some drunken nights. She was a friend of the family, and it was never meaningful in the least, but it would get people talking. She just made the most sense in the moment for me. “That is the quickest way to deal with this, before people start digging.”

  “Fine. Do what you need to.” I saw something cross her face before she took a deep breath. “What can I help you with today, assuming we’re done with that?”

  “I haven’t gotten any work done at all today. I’ve been thinking of you,” I told her, as I looked at the door. “Go lock that.”

  “No. There’s enough chance for chatter as it is, Damon. We need to work.” I saw her pulling away again as I turned to my computer. I emailed James and told him to make
a reservation at a trendy place in town and get Brooke there so we could get that started.

  “How did it go last night? Did you tell them?” I asked her. She shook her head. “Why not?”

  “We’re rarely home at the same time. That’s going to be hard, but I was going to try tonight. Should I?” She asked me, as I stared at her silently.

  “Of course. The apartment is yours.” I cleared my throat. “I can meet you at my place later tonight. I’ll send Mark to get you.”

  “Bad idea. I think that we should just keep our distance for now, so you can…do what it is you’re going to do with your prop,” Elisa said, as she ran a hand through her hair. “I am going back to the team. We’re not going to get anything done today.” Elisa stood and walked out, leaving me alone and in shock as I watched her close the door. A part of me wanted to tell her to get back here, and to do everything I could to get her to comply with my wishes as my cock hardened. I couldn’t believe that she walked out on me.

  I let the urge to demand her return go and focused on the details of tonight. Brooke and I suited each other, at least to the public. She was the wealthy daughter of a CEO and right for me, by society’s standards. She was beautiful, but to be honest, the sex was never great and the attraction mild at best. When I got involved with her, I was younger and willing to sleep with anyone who wanted it, and Brooke was convenient. I didn’t know how that would affect my plan, but I needed to do something fast.

  I stayed in my office, even though I was desperate to talk to Elisa and fix this. I hadn’t been in this situation before, but a prop had always calmed down a rumor before. I needed this one fixed immediately.