by Sue Lyndon
They arrived at his house less than five minutes later, a single porch light casting a thin strip of yellow down the front walkway. He opened her car door and waited as she stepped out, standing a little closer to her than necessary.
“I, uh, need to grab my suitcase.” Turning, she leaned over into her car to press a button on the dashboard.
His hands itched to reach out and grasp her firm bottom, but he resisted touching her. Instead, he grabbed her suitcase out of her trunk after she popped it open.
“Oh, thanks, John.” She smiled at him, the porch light bathing her face in an ethereal glow that made her look even more radiant. “Wow, the bugs are even louder out here.”
“Welcome to the country, darlin’.” He tightened his grip on the suitcase and spun on his heel. “Come on inside.”
He ushered her up the creaking porch steps he’d been meaning to fix for ages and into the large cabin he called home. He flicked several lights on, and when she stepped inside and looked around, the house didn’t seem as empty as usual. Some nights he found the silence deafening, and he often fell asleep with the television flipped on in the other room just to give the illusion that he wasn’t alone. He glanced around the house, grateful he’d tidied up this morning before heading out to visit patients.
“You have a beautiful home.”
Her words filled him with pride, and he swallowed hard as he met her sparkling eyes, still slightly bloodshot but not as noticeable as earlier. “Thank you, Melissa. My grandfather and great uncle built it back in 1955.”
“Well, I like it. It’s cozy and warm. It feels like a home.” She shot him a playful glance. “You might have a difficult time kicking me out.”
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”
She lowered her head and dark pink bloomed across her cheeks. “I… I was just kidding. I’ll be on my way to Florida tomorrow. But I’m grateful to you. I was actually worried I might have to sleep in my car tonight. I’ll be sure I’m out of your way at first light.”
Placing the suitcase down, he stood in front of Melissa and cupped her face in his hands. He tilted her head up, giving her no choice but to stare into his eyes. “You don’t have to rush off.”
She bit her lip and peered at him with a bashful gaze that stirred his desires. “Well, I did see a lot of beautiful scenery I’d love to take some pictures of, so I can paint the landscapes and buildings later. Especially the old barns and covered bridges. Those are my favorite. If you really don’t mind, I’ll sleep in a little and then set out to do some exploring for a few hours before I resume the drive south.”
Excitement bounded through him at the thought of her staying here longer, if only a few hours. Still holding her face in his hands, he brushed his thumbs over her cheeks ever so gently, and her lips parted in a little gasp. He didn’t know what the fuck he was doing, touching her like this, but he couldn’t tear his hands away. “It’s settled, darlin’. You sleep in tomorrow and then join me for breakfast. The hours in my office don’t start until eleven, and that leaves me plenty of time to give you a personal tour of the countryside. I’ll drive you around and show you the most scenic spots. How does that sound?”
She grinned. “That sounds wonderful, actually. You’re sure I’m not being an inconvenience to you?”
“I’m sure.” Reluctantly, he dropped his hands from her face. “Can you be up and ready for breakfast by nine?”
“I’m an early riser. Even if I sleep in a little, I’ll probably be ready by seven.”
He smiled at her in approval. “It’s settled, darlin’. Breakfast at seven and then Doctor John’s Tour Bus leaves at seven thirty on the dot.”
Her tinkling laughter warmed his insides, and memories rushed back in a whirl of sounds and images. It had been too long since a woman’s laughter filled his cabin. He shook the memories away and peered into the depths of Melissa’s eyes.
“Thanks, John,” she said. “It’s nice of you to help me like this.”
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room now.”
Chapter Three
Melissa joyfully snapped photo after photo of an old red barn that was situated next to an abandoned house. John remained close behind her, talking about the family that had once lived there. Weeds had overgrown both structures, and she wasn’t surprised to learn the weathered buildings hadn’t been occupied in over fifty years. She stepped up on a rock to get a shot that captured the house with the barn angled to the side of it, and when she turned to hop down, warm hands gripped her sides. She peered down at John, her pulse quickening at the heat she swore flickered in his gaze.
“Here, let me help you, Melissa. Grab onto my shoulders.”
She nodded, suddenly speechless and breathless as she put her camera back into its bag. Her stomach fluttered and she placed her hands on his shoulders. A smile warmed his expression, but she still detected the desire in his eyes. The heavy flirting they’d engaged in last night had carried over to breakfast this morning, and the longer she spent in his presence, the thicker the tension between them grew. He lifted her down off the rock and sat her on her feet, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear before moving two steps back. The entire side of her head tingled with the memory of his touch, and she ached for him to touch her again and keep his hands on her longer this time, perhaps as he cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her. Her cheeks heated at the thought. She was certainly letting her imagination run wild.
“Th-thank you, John,” she stammered.
“My pleasure, darlin’.” Regret flashed over his handsome features. “I hate to say it, but it’s about time we head back to the cabin.”
“Oh, right. The time.” She tried to keep her voice calm, though her heart was sinking. After he drove her back to his house and dropped her off at her car, she’d never see him again.
“I wish I had the whole day off so I could drive you all over, Melissa,” he said once they were back on the road.
“Yeah, me too,” she said. “I enjoyed meeting you and I appreciate all your help. Letting me crash at your place was really nice. And I’m thrilled that you didn’t turn out to be an ax murderer.”
His deep, smooth chuckle drew her in, and she couldn’t resist scooting closer to him as the truck hugged a sharp turn. Her fingers brushed against his thigh briefly, and electricity zipped through her arm and pierced straight to her inner core, inciting a throb between her legs. Her eyes went wide. She’d never wanted a man so badly before.
“I’m glad you didn’t drive off last night, Melissa. I liked spending time with you too.” He glanced at her, a conspiratorial gleam in his gaze. “You know, I have the entire weekend off. If you stayed a little longer, I could drive you farther up the mountains and deeper into the country for some even better pictures.”
Her heart thudded. “Really?”
“Really. And since we’ve already established that I’m not an ax murderer, there’s no reason for you to decline my invitation. In fact, you can stay longer than the weekend if you want.” The cabin came into sight and he drove down the long driveway. He parked his truck next to her car and shut off the engine, and the sudden silence heightened the air of tension in the cab.
“You really wouldn’t mind my staying a few days, even a week longer?” She’d said ‘week’ to test the waters. Pleasure filled his gaze and the hungry look in his eyes became ravenous. She tried to swallow but somehow couldn’t even manage that action, she was so entranced by his stare.
“I really wouldn’t mind, so long as you’re a good girl,” he said teasingly.
She crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow. “So, um, if I’m not a good girl, what happens then? Will I be taken out back to the woodshed?” Her face flamed at her own words, but she couldn’t resist the tease.
“You can bet your pretty little bottom you will,” he replied smoothly, his eyes darkening to almost black.
“Uh, you really have a woodshed?”
“I do, and I als
o have a forest full of trees with slim branches perfect for cutting switches.”
“Well then, I shall endeavor to be on my best behavior.”
He encroached on her space, looming over her in the cab. She didn’t retreat, but she did squirm under his gaze. He reached out and tipped her chin up. “And I shall endeavor to keep a very close eye on you, little girl.”
*
Melissa sat on the back porch steps of the cabin, a steaming mug of coffee between her hands. It had been ages since she’d enjoyed a simple afternoon such as this, listening to the birds chirping a joyful tune as she relished a breeze caressing her face.
To her surprise, she wasn’t in mourning over her broken engagement to Steven. Today she felt nothing but acceptance and relief over the events of the past few days, and spending the morning with John and having a genuinely good time getting to know another man to whom she felt an immense attraction didn’t make her feel guilty either.
Her phone had practically imploded from the sheer number of text messages and voicemails Steven left her, but she’d deleted them first thing this morning and resolved to continue ignoring him. She was ready to move on with her life, minus the cheating fiancé.
She gazed at the pond as the conversation she’d had with John just before he left for town replayed in her mind. He’d walked her into the kitchen and told her to make herself at home in his absence.
“Thank you,” she had said. “But if you get sick of me, you can kick me out and I promise there will be no hard feelings. Deal?” She offered him her hand.
Another jolt of electricity shot through her at his touch. He shook her hand. “I guarantee that I won’t get sick of you, Melissa. However there are some rules I expect you to obey while living under my roof.”
Still grasping his hand in a shake that suddenly slowed, she gaped at him with uncertainty. “R-rules?”
“Yes,” he said firmly, tightening his grip on her hand. “There’s a pond out back that you are to stay away from when I’m not home. No swimming by yourself. I also don’t want you driving around the hills aimlessly in your quest for the perfect picture. Cell phones and GPSes don’t work very well around here, and I don’t want you getting lost. I’ll be happy to show you around myself though, and we’ll have plenty of time this weekend. Deal?”
She nodded with wide eyes, her surprise over his rules rendering her speechless.
“I don’t want to spend my days worrying about you swimming alone or getting lost and running out of gas on a back road when your cell phone is out of range. Now, I want to hear you say, ‘I promise to be a good girl and obey the rules.’” His tone was teasing but contained just enough firmness to tell her he was serious. “Go on, say it. Promise you’re going to be a good girl.”
A flush spread all the way down to her neck. “I-I promise to be a good girl and obey the rules, John.”
Back in the present, her breathing picked up as she recalled their playful bantering last night in the diner. A heated spasm tightened her pussy, and she found herself pressing her thighs together. Her heart fluttered each time she thought of John. God, what was wrong with her? They’d met less than twenty-four hours ago and she was utterly infatuated with him. His deep, resonating voice made her whole body tingle, the strength of his presence left her lightheaded with arousal, and his dominance uncovered her hidden desires to submit to a loving, authoritative man. He was all her fantasies wrapped up into a handsome, muscular package.
Closing her eyes, she tilted her face up and let the sun’s rays dance across her skin. A different kind of warmth stole through her body as her thoughts remained focused on John.
The woodshed they’d discussed rested to the right of the pond. Her bottom tingled at the prospect of John marching her there to punish her for some misdeed. She’d brought up spanking in a playful way first, just to see how he reacted. It had taken a lot of bravery on her part, but she’d told herself she’d never see John again so it didn’t matter if he thought her fixation with discipline was strange. But he didn’t seem to find it strange, and he’d taken her flirtations a step further and threatened to switch her pretty little bottom. Those were his exact words.
Maybe it was crazy of her to agree to stay here for a few extra days. In fact, nothing was keeping her from tossing her suitcase in her trunk and driving away.
Nothing except John.
Snapping more pictures of the countryside for her paintings was insignificant compared to the chance to spend more time in his company. She touched her cheek, a shiver coursing through her as she imagined his hands cupping her face again. Several times, he had grown tense around her just before hesitantly reaching out to touch her, as if he was battling with himself over how forward to behave. More than once, she’d sworn he was about to kiss her, especially when he’d lifted her off the rock.
She headed inside to rummage through his kitchen to see what ingredients were on hand. She loved cooking and had cajoled her parents’ cook into teaching her at an early age. To her delight, she found everything she needed for vegetable soup, cornbread, and a salad. Once she got the soup simmering in a crockpot, she trudged to her room in search of her phone.
She dialed her mother and began pacing the room.
“Melissa! I’ve been worried sick about you, dear. Are you all right?” Concern laced her mother’s voice, and Melissa felt guilty for waiting so long to call her.
“Hey, Mom. Please don’t worry about me. I’m just calling to let you know I’m fine.”
“Where are you?”
“West Virginia. I’m staying here for a few days.”
“Why? I thought you were heading to Florida straight away. I was thinking of flying down to meet you. After what Steven did to you, you need your mother.”
Melissa smiled into the phone. Although her mother had been excited for her to marry Steven, once Melissa informed her of his infidelity, she’d been nothing but supportive of her decision to leave Steven. “Thanks, Mom, but I really am fine. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I was coming home that night to try to talk to Steven about his anger issues and his drinking, and when I walked into our bedroom and saw all those girls, I knew there was no way we could ever work it out. I’m just glad it happened before we said our vows and started a family.”
“Melissa, I wish you would have come home to be with me and your father. You always have a place here with us. I doubt Steven will be stopping by looking for you again, and even if he did come over, we wouldn’t let him near you. He came by last night and your father threatened to deck him if he didn’t leave immediately. Steven proceeded to throw a hissy fit, cursed at both of us, and told your father to shove his job up his ass.”
“Oh my.” Melissa ran a hand through her hair and sat on the bed. Pride for her parents welled up in her. “What happened then?”
“Your father punched him in the nose and called the police. Steven was arrested and charged with trespassing since he’d hopped over the front gates to get to our front door. We heard he’s out on bail now, and I’m sure he’ll just be sentenced to community service, but I think he’ll learn a lesson from this.”
Disbelief swirled within Melissa. Even though she was sitting down, she was suddenly dizzy. She took a few deep breaths in an effort to calm her nerves. “I’m so sorry that happened, Mom. I never imagined Steven would behave like this with other people.”
An exacerbated sigh drifted through the phone. “Melissa, if you and Steven were having problems, why didn’t you tell us? You’re lucky he didn’t hurt you.” She paused before a sharp intake of air. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No, Mom. He never hit me. But the last year has been rough. His drinking is out of control, and he yelled at me a lot, and a few weeks ago he smashed some plates in the kitchen.”
“Oh dear, you should have told us. Will you at least give me an idea of when you’re coming back to New York?” There was a sadness to her mother’s voice that tugged at Melissa’s heart.
They spoke for over an hour, and Melissa’s mother filled her in about all the charity work she’d done recently. Her idea of charity work was throwing a lavish benefit at a country club and inviting all her friends and acquaintances, but Melissa knew every penny raised always went to whatever organization she was trying to help. Her mother had never stepped foot in a soup kitchen or volunteered in a homeless shelter, and as a result neither had Melissa. Her family threw money at problems instead of actually getting their hands dirty. They were the complete opposite of John, she realized, a man who devoted his entire life to helping others and getting his hands dirty in the process.
Luckily her mother didn’t ask any details about the cabin. Melissa intentionally made it sound as if she was staying at a rental house, without actually calling it a rental house. She didn’t want to deal with her mother’s high pitched lecture about stranger danger if she admitted she was staying with a man she’d just met.
After promising to keep in touch, Melissa said good-bye and ventured back to the kitchen to check on the soup and made herself a sandwich for lunch. She ate outside on the porch in the same spot she’d drunk her coffee, letting the quiet seclusion of the cabin and the countryside permeate her soul. Half a day out here in the middle of nowhere, staring at the thick, green forest and the rolling hills and distant mountains had done wonders for her mood. It was as if she’d ventured into an alternate world. She half-expected a group of fairies to zip out of the forest and sprinkle magical dust all over her.
She went back inside and even though she’d just finished eating lunch, her mouth watered at the appetizing aroma of the vegetable soup. She hoped John liked her cooking, and she tested the soup to make sure it was edible. Once the kitchen was tidied up, she spent the afternoon reading on the porch, but found it difficult to concentrate.