The Ice King On My Hate

by Reese Madison

  She doesn’t fear me like she used to, which is good and bad. Her bravery is putting chinks in my armor I’m none too happy about. Now that she’s got some real clothes and toiletries all women should have I’m seeing the color come into her cheeks.

  She doesn’t have much makeup, I saw to that. Having grown up with two sisters I had an idea of what would be enough, and I was right. She accents her eyes just enough to make her eyes stand out. Lipstick is out of the question because it tastes like crayons and I have every intention of kissing her every chance I get.

  My mind spent the next two hours half doing rounds and half thinking about her. I can afford the three-week road trip but not much more. The mountain needs to be cleared and I need to do more hunting than usual to feed both of us next winter.

  I barely had enough for this winter, but didn’t tell her that because I kept pushing her to eat. I don’t mind the extra hunting, but clearing that mountain for the cabin that’s coming next spring is going to be a tedious and time-consuming task.

  I wish I could trust her not to take off because then I could hire a crew to come up and take orders from her while I go get food. One conversation gone wrong and I could lose her to a nicer man, or worse, prison. I need to talk to Joe about this Quinton guy.

  On my way home from a couple Drunk and Disorderly’s I ran into Denise at the diner. She’s a bit tipsy judging from her swagger.

  “Sho, I hear you’s got yourself a hooker.” Okay, maybe she’s drunk. Ugh. It’s hard enough to keep people sober all winter, then they finally get to go outside and all they want to do is drink even more. People are fucked up.

  “Jasmine is not a hooker Denise, she’s my girlfriend.” Oh God I hate that word.

  “Riiiiight. You know you coulda kidnapped me.” She stumbled so I took her arm and pushed her into a booth.

  “Give me your keys.”

  She needed a minute to find them then slapped them in my palm. “I hate you.”

  “There’s a lot of that going around lately.” I complained tossing the keys to Lia, “Take her home on your break, not before, she’ll puke in your truck.”

  “Yes Sir.” She saluted me. “Do you want some carry-out to take home to your new lady?” She hates Denise, so it’s right up her alley to poke at Denise’s open wounds.

  “Give me a couple of those pies.” I pointed to the apple ones in the case.

  Denise groaned and put her head the table, “I never got pies.”

  Jerry came out from behind the counter and took her some coffee and a slice of pie. “Here honey, I brought you some pie.” He’s had a thing for her since we were kids.

  She looked up, “Why am I so stupid?”

  He shrugged, “I don’t know, been asking myself that for years.” He replied looking at her but flicking me off.

  I just shook my head and paid for the pies. “Give me a call if you see any more idiots out there.” I nodded towards the street.

  “You bet Troop.” Lia replied then added, “Hey, you know what you should do? Bring her in next time.”

  Denise’s groan was loud enough to give me time to grab my hat and slip out the door. Women. Catty little things. I wonder what Jasmine would have done if she’d been in there. Why do I care?

  ***

  Fletcher came back and handed me a bag, “Put these away for after dinner. I might have to eat one off your naked ass.”

  I took the bag and inhaled deep into the opening. “Oh my God I love you.” You could pry government secrets from me with apple pie.

  “Hurry up, there’s not much daylight left.” He motioned for me to move my ass so I did.

  “Oh! How in the hell do you get your bike out of that room?? I was looking at the width, and short of taking down a wall, I don’t see how you’re going to get it down the hall. How did you get it in here?” I was passed out when he did it eight months ago. I’ve thought to ask in past, but either didn’t want to upset him by talking, or later forgot I cared.

  “Follow me and I’ll show you.” He started down the hall.

  I set the bag down and followed quickly. Did he just bring home apple pies?? Okay, that alone peeled off a layer of hate. He’s learning.

  He walked over to the wall on the left in Blue Belle’s room and started moving bookshelves off to the one corner by the door I’m standing in to watch. A series of latches appeared and he began flipping those open.

  He gave the wall a couple tentative pushes then one good shove and the whole thing fell down like a ramp leading up into a semi truck. “And we’re free.”

  “Holy shit that’s cool.”

  He started pulling heavy blankets, or cloth tarps, down from one of the bookshelves. “Come here and help me lay these out. They’ll protect the paint on the walls while I bring her down.”

  “You’re a freaking genius.” I’m so impressed I want to kiss him. I wonder if he ever washed his face from this morning. Do men really like that smell? Men are so gross sometimes.

  “Why thank you, but it’s not uncommon to do things a little differently up here. I’ll move her to the shed for the rest of the spring and summer. If I can get it insulated better before next winter I’ll store her in there, giving us room in here for a bed.” He explained while we laid the blankets down.

  “Now I feel guilty kicking her out. I’ve spent so much time talking to her it almost feels rude.” I confided.

  He froze making me do a double take.

  “What?”

  “You’re better friends with everyone and everything in this house than with me. Did I push you so over the edge Jasmine?”

  I shrugged, “Depends on your version of edge. To be honest I’ve been pushed over so many times, one more really doesn’t make a difference. I can tell you I’ve been more relaxed the last couple weeks than I have been in a while, let’s just keep going in that direction. Not like we can change the past.”

  “I’m sorry.” He stepped over and cupped my face in his hands. For the first time I saw an understanding in his eyes. He knows he fucked up, and for once he’s not happy about it. “I want to be better. I want you to be better.” He shook his head. “That came out wrong.”

  I put my finger to his lips silencing him, “Enough. Right now I want to get on that bike, with or without you, and let go. I need therapy only you can give me. Tick tock on the daylight Trooper Colson.” I reminded him.

  He closed in and pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead. “You make me want to put a ring on your finger.”

  I laughed and smacked his ass as hard as I could earning a raised eyebrow as he leaned back. “What? The collar isn’t enough?”

  “Did you just spank me?”

  I smiled so big my face almost cracked, “I did, and I’ll do it again if you don’t get this bitch out of this house and put some wind in my face.” I threatened thinking if he chooses to kiss me right now the ride will have to wait. It’s a tough choice, kissing him or riding. I like kissing him, but he better choose ride.

  He did, but not before smacking my butt playfully right back. “Let’s go.”

  The first ride was with him and me riding bitch. He wanted to make sure the bike was okay. I don’t blame him. That ride was nice. After being cooped up in that trailer of his it was pure heaven.

  When he gave me the keys and two hours to myself to ride I thought I’d fall at his feet and beg to pleasure him. I still might later. The only restriction was I had to go north. South leads to Fairbanks. I’m assuming he only trusts me so far. After all my threats to leave him I guess I can’t blame him.

  He’ll never know how many layers of hate he’s peeled off today. If I can keep him right here we’ll make this work. If he regresses, I will leave him despite all the thoughtful things he bought me.

  Dinner’s been in the crockpot all day so when I got back right at the two hour mark it was easy to get i
t on the table for us.

  “I found some insulation for one of my sheds. She’ll be okay in the shed.” He assured me over his first bite of my beef barbecue.

  “I think there’s room for both. We can keep the bike at the end of the bed, but the bed against the wall, and climb out one side towards the door. I really don’t want to kick her out.” I begged.

  He sat back and tilted his head, “You were serious?”

  I nodded, “Yeah. I like Blue Belle, even more now. Tell you what, I’ll trade you a kid for your Harley.” I smiled and shoved food into my face. Yes I’m kidding, sort of. Okay I’d trade my virginity, if I still had it, for that ride.

  “Deal.”

  I choked barely swallowing what’s in my mouth. “I was kidding.”

  “No. You offered a deal, I’m taking it. The bike is yours. That settles a debate I’ve been having anyway.” He took a bite leaving me hanging.

  “What debate?”

  “Whether to get me another bike or not. I don’t get to ride much as it is, so there didn’t seem to be much point. If you ride Blue Bell than I have an excuse to get an old knucklehead I’ve had my eye on.” He shrugged and looked past me to the kitchen. “Are you reheating those pies?”

  “Just one.”

  “Don’t make it too hot. I fully intend to eat mine off your naked ass.” He promised.

  I think I blushed as I tried to picture him doing just that. I resisted the really bad ‘cream on top’ joke that formed in my head along with the image. It made me giggle.

  “You better hurry up woman.” He urged.

  “I should take a shower first. Road dust and all.”

  “Oh no, I like your stink. The stinkier the better.”

  “What?” Is he nuts?

  He swallowed then shrugged, “I like the taste and smell of your sweat. Makes me want you even more.”

  I shook my head and finished my dinner. He eats faster than me so he went to get a second helping before I was halfway through mine. I noticed he turned the temperature down on the oven and smiled to myself.

  “Oh you just wait. I’m going to fill you full of apples then suck 'em all out.”

  I cracked up, “That can’t be sanitary!”

  “It’s not, but it does prove you’re as gullible as your are beautiful.” He replied simply as he sat back down across from me.

  I screamed into the pillow when he surprised me by smashing a handful of pie on my lower back and smeared it over my ass. “Master!! You’re making a mess!!”

  “A delicious mess.” He corrected me before getting a beard full of pie and my butt. He bit, nibbled, sucked, and licked his way over most of my backside. I’m talking shoulders to ankles. I think he missed the back of my neck.

  While his mouth is doing one thing his fingers are doing another. Time lost all meaning. I lost track of the orgasms as well. Some of them seem to run into each other. Was that one? Or two? “OH GOD!!”

  I pulled my knees up as if offering myself for his taking.

  He shifted behind me keeping his fingers securely where he knows he can’t put his cock yet. I know what he’s doing. The apple pie is ready for some whipped cream. Good thing too, because I’m whipped!!

  A few minutes later he helped me to my back and pulled the quilt over my naked body so my head is resting on his thigh and I’m looking up at him. He moved my hair off my face and sat back to look at the television that’s not on. “I can’t refer to you as just my girlfriend.”

  I snuggled into his hip as his fingers threaded and combed my hair. “I don’t exist, you can’t marry me.”

  “I might be able to change that.”

  “Hmm.” I dozed off feeling more loved and more cherished than I’ve ever felt in my life.

  6

  I’ve never worked so hard in my life. Until you’ve scooped a winter’s worth of chicken shit from a frozen coop you have no idea what the definition of ‘fucking disgusting’ is. Not only is it backbreaking work, but it smells worse than a dead body. Mostly because you have to spend hours sniffing this shit, not necessarily the dead body.

  As miserable as I am I have to feel for Trooper Colson. People really do go ape-shit-stupid at the onset of spring. He’s gone constantly.

  The only good part is Agnes and I have started to bond over the radio. Fletcher has let me join his force and play liaison between him and some of the ‘local’ residents by talking down situations over the radio. This means convincing the disputing parties to separate until Trooper Colson can get there.

  Agnes is finally getting a break as dispatcher, but I’m not so sure she likes it.

  She finally came back on the radio, “You think you can put a Husky-mutt on your Master’s trail?”

  My heart almost stopped before kicking into high gear. The sudden swing made me grab the desk. “Where?”

  “I’ll have to send you maps to your phone, it’s too hard to describe. He’s in his truck. Do you have transportation?”

  “I have his bike. Get me a dog. Get me the smartest, fastest muther fucker you got. I’m getting ready now.”

  “Dress as warm as you can, it still gets damn cold out here at night.”

  “I’m on it. Agnes, what happened?”

  “He saw some hunters he didn’t recognize and pulled over to go check them out. They were too close to the road for his comfort. I haven’t heard from him in almost thirty minutes.”

  “Fuck.” I grabbed the keys to his Glide and rode a little too fast to the location on the maps Agnes sent me.

  Arrow is with him so I took scents from both human and dog before leaving the house. I flooded three sled dog’s noses with the scent but only got a bite on one to hunt.

  I grabbed her collar and bent to his ear, “You find my man and his partner and I’ll shower you in biscuits the rest of your fucking life.” My promise is so sincere it’s almost a threat.

  That dog took off so fast I face-planted in the mud twice before finally getting my footing and catching up. Okay, you don’t catch up with a dog on the hunt, you just become less dragged. It doesn’t help I’m so out of shape it’s ridiculous. Fletcher stays fit by going out and chucking wood I guess. I need to do more things like that.

  The dog I have is named Skittles. According to Arlene she’s a dominant personality with an affliction for hunting rabbits.

  We searched for hours. Skittles kept doubling back, then she’d go off to the north, then back south. I kept shoving scents in her nose but it didn’t seem to change her behavior.

  I focused on tuning into her mentally in hopes she’ll pick up on the vibe of desperation in my heart. I need her to find my boys. I don’t know which is worse, losing Fletcher or losing Arrow. I’d rather not lose either.

  The helicopters were called off after dark. I can’t stop looking so neither can the rest of our sweeping crew. They’ve tried to get me to go back a few times now but there’s no way in hell I’m leaving these woods without my Master and his partner.

  Arrow better be okay. I finally radioed Agnes to ask more details about what they think happened to keep from passing out in exhaustion.

  She sounds as tired as I feel. “He went after some hunters to check their licenses and never radioed back in. Bobby saw his truck and pulled over to see if everything was okay, that’s when he radioed me Troop was nowhere in sight.”

  “Fuck.” My lungs feel heavy and tight. I don’t know if it’s exhaustion or the cold air.

  “You need to come in Jasmine. I’m not asking this time. The temperatures at night are still too low for you to be out.”

  “Then they’re too low for him to be out. Call everyone else back in if you have to.”

  “I have to call you in honey. Troop knows how to survive out here, he’ll be okay. You don’t. Go back to the road and take a nap in a warm truck. We’ll resume in the morning.”<
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  “No.” I shoved my radio in my pocket and started yelling for Arrow at the top of my lungs until they hurt so bad I had to wait before yelling again. Wolves howled back forcing our group to make a tighter circle. I raised the .38 and shifted my weight to make sure the rifle is still strapped to my back.

  They used the smaller circle to coral me back to the road and into a truck. Skittles jumped up and fell asleep hard and fast on the floor below me. I didn’t sleep, but I did finally thaw out.

  My brain couldn’t stop. I barely like Fletcher and yet somehow I’d die trying to find him? That makes no sense, but it’s true. I hate him almost as much as I love him.

  Have I finally lost my fucking mind for real?

  Someone pounded on the window then opened the door as the sun began to brighten the horizon. “Jasmine! Wake up! We found the hunters, they’re dead but we have a path to follow. Bring Skittles, let’s move!”

  Skittles and the rest of us headed back out in the direction we were told by the pilot who happened to see the hunter’s campsite on his way up from Fairbanks to help with the search.

  My feet are still numb but I have to get to Fletcher. He has to be hurt. He better be alive. I started howling again causing Skittles to chime in. Between the two of us we got the attention of a wolf pack and scared every rabbit off in our path.

  Finally I heard barking. Weak barking, but it’s there. “Arrow!” I yelled and started running towards the sound. Skittles ran right to Arrow and began checking him over, I had to dig Fletcher out from a pile of brush and dig through his mask to find his face.

  “Fletcher! Can you hear me?? Answer me! Please!”

  He groaned but didn’t answer or open his eyes.

  “Wake up baby! I need to know where you’re hurt before we can move you! Wake up baby. It’s me. It’s Jasmine. I’ve been bad. You have to punish me! Dammit wake up!!” I started looking for holes and found two, one in his right shoulder and one in his left thigh.

  The rescue helicopter lowered the basket and four large men lifted Fletcher’s huge body in the basket and strapped him down.