A Kindled Winter

by Rachel L. Demeter

  On the heels of that thought, she fetched her robe from the floor, swung it around her body, and eased into the dim hallway.

  •

  Snow drifted from the bruised sky and covered Blue River, Oregon, erecting an icy shell over the world. Oppressive clouds heightened the coldness and cloaked the mountains in dense shadow. The wind sighed through the capped trees, their leafy branches caked with white snow. Many of them remained naked and vulnerable, and their skeletal limbs trembled in the frigid air. With each step, imprints appeared in the snow while the sodden ground sucked at her boots.

  I am making a lasting impact here, she inwardly mused.

  She turned her face into the biting wind as snow flurried against her cheeks. Loosening the red scarf from her neck, she welcomed Blue River’s touch and urged the breeze to waft against her skin. She felt free, liberated—and just a tiny bit terrified.

  By some strange, almost miraculous stroke of fate, she’d landed on David’s doorstep a week before Christmas. Now Christmas Day had arrived, the New Year was fast approaching—and she sensed she was at the beginning of a long, beautiful journey.

  Then her thoughts shifted without warning—and Aubrey’s image surfaced inside her mind. Aubrey wading through the flash flood and swirling engine smoke, her red hair shimmering within the dark abyss …

  A sob pierced Jeseca’s throat. She stopped dead in her tracks and clasped onto her chest, relieving the unseen ache. I know what I saw. Or have I finally gone crazy?

  Jeseca shook away her dark thoughts. Above head, shafts of light fought to wriggle through the blanket of clouds. Cold gusts of wind struck at her cheeks and heightened her senses; the chill spiraled through her entire body, traveling down to the very tips of her toes. The Gothic façade of David’s home clashed against the overcast sky, menacing and ominous. Yet, as she held David Drake in her mind, an inner warmth radiated. Jeseca sighed to herself as the memory of his touches raced through her errant thoughts.

  Anticipation swelled her entire being, and a grin spread across her lips that she couldn’t wipe away.

  Minutes later, she clutched a small saw in her hand, which she’d snagged from David’s woodshop, and browsed through the countless pine trees and bushes that lay beyond the driveway. Crouching in front of a shrub, she hacked at its base and yanked it from the ground.

  •

  A cheerful melody trickled down the hallway as David exited his bedroom. Strange. Buttoning up the plaid T-shirt with haste, he trailed the music into his office—where he discovered an iTunes playlist of Christmas melodies blasting from the speakers.

  With a painful ache, he stepped back into the hallway and checked Charlie’s room. The ache expanded, darkening his mood and consuming him whole. Jeseca was nowhere to be found.

  Neither was Charlie, of course.

  “Jeseca?”

  The tight ball constricted inside his chest. He entered the family room, half expecting to be greeted by the sight of his son before a bejeweled Christmas tree. He’d be crouched on all fours, dressed in his flannel pajamas and Spider-Man slippers, ripping open his presents in a manic flurry. The stereo would be alive with cheerful Christmas melodies, twinkling lights would decorate the fireplace—alongside four jam-packed stockings (Brody got one too, after all). And Lizzy … she’d be seated on the edge of the couch, a coffee mug cradled in her palms and a tender smile across her lips. Brody would be there, too, of course—little more than a great ball of fur, battling for attention and watching as the excitement unfolded.

  Like every Christmas morning for the past five years, he didn’t discover any of things. But what he did find stole his breath away.

  A small three foot tree stood in the heart of the room. It was quite pitiful, in truth—yet David had never witnessed a more touching or beautiful sight. Beaded necklaces and gold and silver chains hung from the leafy branches, as well as several sparkly earrings. Jeseca’s jewelry. A five pointed star, constructed from tin foil, crowned the tip. It gleamed in the frail morning light, reflecting the sun rays. David briefly wondered where she’d managed to find the tree stand—then remembered he’d stored it in his woodshop. Indeed, it had lurked in the cold darkness for years on end, alone, forgotten and gathering cobwebs.

  David glanced about the room, barely able to think, barely able to draw breath. Countless tin foil stars hung from the furniture and were taped onto the chestnut walls. A bottle of wine, two stem glasses, and a small plate of sugar cookies were arranged across the table. Several more paper cutouts encircled the goodies. Angels, smiling gingerbread men, snowflakes, and mini Christmas trees. Beside them stood two solitary candlesticks; they glittered and twinkled as melted wax ran down their slick bodies.

  David’s eyes drew to the mantel. A pink, feminine sock was pinned to it. Heart thumping, he exhaled a stiff breath and inched closer. His name was scrawled in elegant cursive across the front—and a folded piece of paper poked out from the top.

  David tracked a fingertip over the soft fabric while he fought to reign in his emotions. Then he removed the note with shaky hands, leaned against the mantel, and smoothed out the paper.

  Dearest David,

  Only days ago, you assured me that you are a stranger, and that I have no idea who you really are or what you’re capable of. I’ve known you only a week—yet I have to respectfully disagree.

  I have come to understand you, David. I know you’re a good man. I know you were a loving father and loyal husband.

  I know you sacrificed everything for what you loved most, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I know that you lay awake blaming yourself, thinking it should have been you. I know you’re a victim to nightmares and past ghosts. You don’t have to say the words—I see it in your eyes, every time we speak.

  Most importantly, I know you’re a good man because of your sensitivity, your desire to heal others, and the way you came to my aid when you desired solitude most.

  And I know you’re haunted by painful memories and an unshakable inner grief, because I am too.

  But just for a day, just for this moment, I ask you to allow yourself to feel true happiness again. Allow yourself to experience hope and the prospect of a new beginning.

  Merry Christmas!

  Yours,

  Jeseca

  David propped both hands on the mantel and clamped his fingers several times. Shutting both eyes, he allowed Jeseca’s words to flow through his mind and warm his heart. He recalled the softness of her skin with a vivid intensity … the delicious scent of her hair … the euphoric sound of her cries as she surrendered to his touches …

  Body heat brushed against his back, jarring him into the moment. The sweet melody of Jeseca’s voice followed after. “David?”

  He turned his body and captured her sparkling green eyes. “Do … do you like it?” she asked, gesturing toward the room.

  Do I like it? he thought, bemused. The Christmas music wafted from the hallway and swelled the walls as he struggled to form the proper words. His emotions were in a violent tangle, and he found it impossible to speak. He glanced down and examined Jeseca’s elegant writing—and then the words finally emerged.

  “It’s … perfect.”

  David’s heart clenched as she smiled from ear to ear. Then the instrumental music shifted, and Deck the Halls filled every corner of the room. Jeseca clasped both hands together while her eyes shone like twin emeralds. A passionate flush swept across her cheekbones. “Oh, this one’s the best! Dance with me!”

  Dance? No way, no how. David shook his head, crossed both arms, and slipped away from Jeseca. “Nope. No way. No dancing. Not today. Not ever.”

  “Oh, come on! Why not? It’ll be fun!”

  “Because I’m absolutely terrible at it.”

  “Believe me. There’s no way you’re any worse than I am,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Then she grabbed hold of his shirt and reeled him forward. Her body warmth and sweet aroma instantly roused David’s senses and caused his in
sides to unravel.

  “Now show me what you can do, Doctor.” In that moment, David knew he could deny Jeseca Reed nothing.

  Her tiny hips undulated, swishing from side to side, back and forth, as she attempted to meet the music’s rhythm. She failed miserably—and David felt his heart snap open a little more. “See? No one’s worse than me!” Laughter rocked his chest as he mimicked her movements with considerably more finesse and skill.

  Indeed. She was clumsy and dorky and was blessed with almost no grace. And yet he’d never witnessed anything more charming. It was a struggle to regulate his breathing … and his heart thumped an uneven tempo. She spun around full circle, arched her slender back, and bumped against his legs with her cute, pert little bottom.

  Her laughter was infectious. It swelled the room, filling the house with a cheer that hadn’t existed for years. Then she raised both arms above her head and shimmied her hips, causing red curls to bounce about her shoulders.

  David felt himself lose control, and with it, the last of his rational thoughts faded away. Laughing, she turned her undulating body and pinched his cheek between two fingertips. “Still always so serious. Come on, Dr. Drake. Really let it go!”

  But letting go is one of the hardest things when you’ve spent so much time holding on.

  “Sorry,” he murmured, shaking his head. “I used to be better with these things. With people.”

  She surprised him and simply grinned at the self-deprecating words. “Well, something tells me you’re still great with people. You just don’t know it yet. And I know, without a doubt, that you’re a better dancer than me.” Transient shadows crossed her eyes, and she momentarily stilled her ridiculous movements. “You like to hide from the world. From yourself. But today you’re gonna come out to play. But first you gotta loosen up.”

  She poked his ribs with an index finger and did another ridiculous maneuver with her hips. “Come on, Doctor, you don’t want to bypass this opportunity, now do you?”

  It was a terrible joke and hardly worth a belly chuckle. And yet something shifted inside David. He felt his limbs relax and an irresistible smile spread across his mouth. Then he latched onto Jeseca’s hand, playfully rotated her body in elaborate circles, and dipped her backward. Brody barked and twirled around in manic circles, parroting their erratic movements.

  “Oh, woah, I’m getting dizzy! And, hey, you’re actually not half bad! Neither is Brody.”

  She slowed her pace and sprawled a hand on David’s forearm, stabilizing her body. Then she joined in the song’s words—and her beautiful voice took him by complete surprise.

  “Deck the halls with boughs of holly,

  Fa la la la la, la la la la.

  Tis the season to be jolly,

  Fa la la la la, la la la la.”

  The delicate, soulful cadence poured through David’s veins like fine wine—lush, warm, and inviting. And in that instance, he caught himself crossing two things off his list. Jeseca Reed couldn’t dance to save herself, but she sang like a damn angel.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The snowfall came to a halt late that afternoon. Jeseca, David, and Brody wandered through the ice-capped wonderland, needing to stretch their legs and breathe fresh air. David bombarded Jeseca with countless questions, dying to know every nuance of her character—and she threw each one back with equal fervor. Afterwards, they dedicated a full hour to trading random facts about each other:

  “I graduated high school when I was sixteen,” David proclaimed.

  “Very impressive! But I can do ya one better. I fell flat on my face during my college commencement. No joke.”

  “I’ve never been on an amusement park ride, and I have a huge phobia of airplanes. I suppose I can’t handle not being in control.”

  “I owned a bearded dragon from age seven to seventeen. I used to dress him in my Barbie doll’s brassieres. He was a real stud.”

  “Lizards, huh? Me, personally? I’ve always been more of a snake guy.”

  “I’ve read every Stephen King novel in existence. His short stories, too.”

  “So have I. And I’m proud to say I can recite the first few pages of The Shining by heart.”

  “Jack thought …”

  “… officious little prick.”

  “Nicely done, David. And to think you labeled us as opposites? We really are two of a kind.”

  And so forth.

  After another half hour of walking and intense chatter, David adjusted his posture, shifting the duffel bag from one shoulder to the other. Jeseca eyed the thing and poked him in the center of his chest. “I gotta say, the suspense is killing me. Are you going tell me what’s in there?”

  David shook his head, surrendering to a small grin. “My lips are sealed, my lady.”

  She gave him a playful look—then bounded forward and attempted to sweep the duffel bag from his arms. David was worlds quicker and more agile. He dodged her thrust and spun to the side, then slowly inched backward. Baiting her, he dangled the duffel bag in midair as she tracked after him. A smile spread across her mouth and caused those dimples to make a startling reappearance. “This what you want, eh?”

  “Nope,” she said, her chin raised at a defiant angle. “You win. Go ahead and keep it.”

  David chuckled low and swung the bag over his shoulder. He shrugged, then added with a melodramatic sigh, “All righty, then. I must admit—I’m a bit disappointed. I really thought you’d have more fight in you.”

  Truer words were never spoken.

  Jeseca stopped in her tracks and scooped a handful of snow into her gloved hands. Her eyes flickered with mischievous intent—and a moment later a cold blast of snow was hurled at David’s chest. She hit him dead center like a true champ. Groaning loudly, he gripped onto his heart, bent at the knees, and feigned fatal injury. “How … how could you? You monster! And to a heart surgeon of all people?”

  The rich, melodic cadence of her laughter echoed the outside world and tugged at David’s heartstrings. Then she tossed him a playful look, stuck out her tongue, and zoomed away—losing herself within the thicket of trees. Brody tracked her every step with enthusiastic barks and manic twirls of his body.

  Winter air hissed past David’s ears while he chased Jeseca through the colossal trees. They cycled past him—eternal, mighty, and timeless. The wind stirred, and David felt cold blow off the snow in the same way heat crawls off flames. The lush ground swallowed his boots, sucking him into its icy depths. And yet he’d never felt more free or in command. Wintertime usually made his life a prison; he’d lock himself in his cottage, where the memories would close around his consciousness and devour him whole. But now everything was changing.

  Jeseca Reed is changing everything.

  She hid behind one of the massive pines, bless her—but Brody gave her away. David crept up from behind, placed a hand over Jeseca’s eyes, and pressed her into the thick trunk. She squealed and made a blind attempt to escape his grasp. David secured himself intimately against her, ensnaring her in between his chest and the tree. “Tsk-tsk. Now where do you think you’re running off to?”

  From head to toe, his mind and body hummed with desire and sweet anticipation. He wanted to taste her, to consume her warmth, to track his tongue across her beating pulse … to lick between her breasts and blow lightly into her eardrum. His palm slid away, though her eyes remained sealed shut. Her breasts rose and fell in rapid movements, her cheeks were flushed a bright red, and wild curls danced about her shoulders.

  She was magnificent.

  She sagged against the tree as their lips crashed together in an explosive, sensual exploration. The kiss was invigorating. Far beyond anything David had ever experienced—and it echoed the entirety of the week. It spoke of discovery, a journey into the unknown, of finding comfort within another person’s closeness and warmth …

  Urging him ever closer, she tipped her face and welcomed him inside. David outright consumed her, filling her mouth with passion and slick promise. She
stepped onto his tiptoes, looped both arms around his neck, and crushed her breasts against him. His fingers grew limp. He released the duffel bag, allowing it to land on the snow-covered ground with a muffled bang.

  “I win after all,” she murmured inside his mouth, chasing the words with her tongue.

  Desire raced through his veins and set his blood on fire. Their mouths worked in flawless sync, as if they had been born to kiss each other. Jeseca’s fingers wove through his hair, causing ripples of pleasure to shoot up and down his spine. The wind whistled in David’s eardrums—ice-cold, invigorating, sensual. And it did nothing to cool his desire; instead, it heightened his senses … caused the whole of Blue River, Oregon to come alive and seep into his veins.

  All the while, he devoured Jeseca and ground her body against the tree’s massive trunk. She moaned into his mouth—and he swallowed each sound, welcoming them inside his body, urging her essence to complete him. Then his hands ventured beneath her coat and trailed over the tight, smooth flesh of her belly. He didn’t wear gloves—yet the scar tissue prevented him from fully experiencing her warmth.

  Dark thoughts screamed inside his mind and eclipsed his heart, shattering the moment.

  Too much, too fast.

  David somehow managed to unhook his lips from hers. He pressed his forehead against her own and struggled to regain control of himself.

  Damn. I am losing myself to this woman.

  Heartbeat to heartbeat, their ragged breaths consummated in white puffs of air. Then he grasped onto either side of her face, drew her into a slow, sensual kiss, and whispered inside her mouth. “Come on. I have a surprise for you.”

  •

  Jeseca clasped onto David’s hand as they passed through a small clearing and arrived at their destination. He glanced over his massive shoulder, the duffel bag hanging from his fingers. His handsome features shattered into an almost boyish, giddy smile. A gust of wind whispered through his dark hair, sweeping the forelock from those mesmerizing eyes. His gaze held Jeseca’s, and the smile faded from his mouth. In its place, an intense emotion surfaced—and she felt resounding chills race through her body.