31 Days of Winter (31 Days #1)

by C. J. Fallowfield

  ‘An arsehole’s girl,’ he muttered with a grunt. ‘He can hardly be classed as a man.’

  ‘Well yeah, my taste has never been the best, but if you’re wondering Brooke and I have never slept together. But we made out for ages once when we were really drunk.’

  ‘O God, please say no more,’ he groaned and I saw him adjust himself in his jeans. He was not only loosening up, but getting horny. I was on a roll with him today.

  ‘She wasn’t a bad kisser, but I really didn’t like the idea of sex with her so that’s as far as it went.’

  ‘Was she ok with that?’ he asked, and his tone was a little gruffer than normal. He really was turned on at the thought of Brooke and I together. There again, for a virile guy like him, after three years without sex, seeing a rabbit humping would probably do it for him, let alone the thought of two hot women getting it on.

  ‘Not at first, no. She told me she was in love with me and wanted more so we had to take a step back while she tried to deal, but it was just a crush. Thankfully she got over it, and now we’re back to normal.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Meaning?’ I puffed as the snowy track got even steeper.

  ‘I’d imagine you’re a very easy person to fall in love with and not so easy to fall out of love with,’ he shrugged. I stopped as my stomach somersaulted, not with bile this time, but the thought that he might be saying that he could really fall for me. I put my hands on my hips and looked at his back as he continued climbing up. ‘Have you ever been in love, Dan?’ I called.

  ‘No more personal questions until tomorrow, Miss Baxter,’ he called back.

  ‘You’re very infuriating, Stan,’ I yelled, and I heard him laugh his deep throaty laugh as he reached a small plateau and turned around to look down at me. So I took a picture of him framed by the trees either side of him and saw him stiffen.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Taking your picture.’

  ‘I don’t like my picture being taken.’

  ‘Well, now I can see why. You’ve cracked my iPad screen with that scowl,’ I teased as I zoomed in to have a look at his handsome face more closely.

  ‘Please delete it.’

  ‘Why?’ I asked as I looked back up at him.

  ‘I told you I don’t like my picture being taken. Don’t make me come down there and do it for you.’

  ‘O my God, I’ve sussed your secret! You’re a known criminal trying to hide out in the middle of nowhere so you don’t get lynched, and you go for your parole meeting every day, that’s where you’ve been disappearing to.’

  ‘You must be a writer, you’ve a very vivid imagination.’

  ‘Well you tell me nothing, what am I supposed to think? I really can’t have a picture of you to remember my winter break fondly?’

  ‘I’d prefer not.’

  ‘God, you’re serious,’ I exclaimed as he started marching down towards me with purpose. I quickly moved the one I had of him chopping wood into a different folder so he wouldn’t see it, so all the pictures he’d see were just scenery and the one I’d just taken of him.

  ‘Hand it over,’ he demanded as he pulled up next to me and held out his hand.

  ‘Invasion of personal privacy,’ I muttered as I clutched it to my chest.

  ‘Like taking my picture without my permission then? Hand it over,’ he waved his hand again.

  ‘Fine, I’ll delete it, look,’ I sighed as I clicked on it and hit the delete button. ‘Happy now?’

  ‘We’ll do the one on your iCloud back up when we get back home in case it syncs when you get in.’

  ‘How do you know I have an iCloud back up?’ I asked stunned.

  ‘Educated guess. Only an idiot wouldn’t back up their items. Now can we continue with our walk without you taking a shot of me, or do I have to confiscate it?’

  ‘Fine you’ve made your point, Stan,’ I muttered.

  ‘Stop calling me that.’

  ‘Well, you’re certainly not being likeable Dan all of a sudden,’ I huffed as I tried to storm off ahead of him. I slipped on a patch of ice and fell face first into the soft white blanket below me and heard him roar with laughter behind me as I spat snow out of my mouth. ‘So not funny,’ I groaned as I sat up and wiped my face.

  ‘It was rather,’ he chuckled holding his hand out to me and hauling me up. He then reached up with his other hand and gently wiped the remaining bits of snow off my face, then clasped my cheeks and tilted my head back and forth as he looked for any scuff marks. ‘It’s ok, no permanent damage, you still look beautiful,’ he smiled and grabbed my hand again and started walking.

  ‘What are you doing?’ I asked as he held onto my hand tightly.

  ‘Making sure you don’t fall again. Those aren’t proper walking boots.’

  ‘They are,’ I protested as I looked down at them.

  ‘No, they’re walking around London boots, designed to look good, not to grip the snow and ice. Would you prefer I let your hand go and you fall again?’

  ‘No,’ I replied quickly. I took a shocked inhalation of air and tried not to leap on him and kiss him with joy as he moved his hand slightly to thread his fingers through mine. Did men understand the power of the entwined fingers move and the clasping of the face as they kissed us? I suspected they did, that someone had written a “How to Keep Women Happy” book and listed all of our foibles. I kept my head down as I couldn’t take the childish smile off my face, this was my best day in Scotland yet, that hour of orgasmic bliss aside. I managed to steal one quick look up at him and felt a thousand butterflies being released from my stomach as I saw he had a smile plastered all over his face as well.

  It took about another ten minutes of climbing, at my pace, to reach a very large clearing which seemed to be right in the centre of the island, and just about looked out over the tops of the trees. I jumped up and down on the spot trying to get a better look.

  ‘Get on my shoulders,’ he instructed as he released my hand and went down on one knee making my breath catch. O God, a couple of snogging sessions, an hour of pleasure and some hand holding, and I was going giddy at the sight of him on one knee in front of me.

  ‘I can’t. I’m not five, you know.’

  ‘You know I’m strong, even for a heifer like you.’

  ‘A heifer,’ I laughed as I slapped his back and he chuckled. ‘Right, that’s it. Prepare to be mounted. Shit, sorry, wrong choice of words.’

  ‘Are you getting on or not, my knee’s freezing,’ he laughed. I tucked my iPad inside my coat and laughed at myself as I awkwardly climbed onto his shoulders and kept wobbling until he held both of his hands up and I clasped them. I heard him wince slightly as he slowly stood up, holding onto me tightly.

  ‘Come on, I’m not that heavy,’ I protested then gasped as I saw the view. ‘O my God, it’s gorgeous.’ I could see all the way down to the far end of the loch, hemmed in by the mountains and trees. Dan slowly turned around giving me the full 360 degree view.

  ‘It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?’ he agreed, wonder in his voice.

  ‘Yes, and so peaceful,’ I twisted my head as some large bird of prey screeched overhead. ‘I need to take some pictures.’

  ‘I’m not letting go of you Ellie, it’s a long way down if you fall.’

  ‘But I can’t not take these views. Don’t tell me you want me to delete my scenery ones too?’

  ‘No, of course not. But I’ll take them for you, I’m tall enough to see over the canopy. Ready to come down?’

  ‘One more minute if you can stand it?’ I asked.

  ‘As you wish.’

  ‘O, and there’s the formal expression again.’

  ‘Sorry, public school education.’

  ‘One of the many facets of Dan,’ I murmured. We stayed silent as we both took it all in and it was probably a good five minutes before I said I was ready to come down. He kneeled down and gently bowed his head and I shuffled off him. I handed him my iPad and told him what I w
anted taking. I managed to spot a small gap in the trees and stood looking at the slither of the view through it, and when I turned around he was taking pictures of me.

  ‘Say cheese.’

  ‘Who gave you permission to take my photo?’ I demanded with my hands on my hips and a mocking scowl.

  ‘Want me to stop?’

  ‘No, but I need to strip off a bit, I’m not looking my best,’ I advised as I pulled off my hat and saw his face change. ‘I meant my coat and hat, nothing else.’

  ‘That’s a shame, you’d look good in your underwear in the snow.’

  ‘I’d look good in my underwear anywhere, thank you,’ I smiled as I shrugged his coat off and fluffed out my hair and struck a pose. ‘Better?’

  ‘Much, though I think I need to see the underwear one to judge for myself.’

  ‘If I can take a picture of you up here in yours and keep it, you can take one of me and keep it,’ I laughed, joking. The joke was on me as my chin got snow burn from the drop as he put down the iPad and unzipped his coat, tossed it to the side and ripped his jumper and t-shirt over his head. ‘I was joking,’ I exclaimed as my eyes bulged.

  ‘Too late, I want that picture.’ He bent down, undid his boots and kicked them off, then removed his socks as I still stood in shock. ‘Are you joining me? I don’t drop the jeans until you’re in the same state of undress.

  ‘I’ve got thermals on,’ I mumbled embarrassed.

  ‘Not when I take the picture you won’t.’

  ‘O, God. What are doing to me?’

  ‘No one ever takes my picture Ellie, do you want it or not?’ He put his hands on his hips, his fingers pointing to his crotch and my eyes were funnelled down to see his erection. That was all the incentive I needed. I quickly pulled off my jumper and then my thermal vest, and cursed that I hadn’t put on my sexy lace underwear. I undid my boots, pulled them off along with my socks and squealed as my bare feet touched the cold snow. I hopped up and down as he laughed, before I jumped onto my clothes on the floor.

  ‘Shit, it’s freezing,’ I laughed.

  ‘I can tell,’ he chuckled with a flick of his head at me. I didn’t even look down, I knew my nipples were hard, they were already like that from him holding my hand, let alone standing in front of me half naked. ‘Jeans off.’

  ‘If you’re planning on me stripping and then running off with my clothes, I won’t be amused, Mr. Dan.’

  ‘Wouldn’t dare. I was hoping you’d cook for me again tonight.’

  ‘Together then,’ I suggested as I unbuttoned and unzipped mine. ‘On the count of three.’

  ‘Agreed,’ he nodded as he undid his belt, then his buttons.

  ‘Ok, I’ve never done this on the count of three thing, it just always sounds cool when the SWAT team says it in movies, so do we go on three, when I actually say the word three, or do we go after I’ve said the word …’

  ‘For God’s sake, just drop them, woman,’ he groaned as he pushed his down, stepped out of them and put his hands back on his hips as he looked at me with one questioning eyebrow raised. I took a serious gulp and moved a hand to my chest as I tried to catch my breath. He had on a fitted pair of low-rise boxer shorts in black with a white band around the top, but more drool worthy was his erection, which was stretching them in a way that would mean they’d never shrink back. I knew, I’d felt it, pressed up against me when he’d grinded against me on the kitchen island, but to see it with an extra layer of clothing missing was even better than the view of the loch from his shoulders. ‘Yes, I’m stiff, you’re stiff, drop your jeans, Ellie,’ he growled. I reached down with shaking hands and made sure I hooked my thumbs in my unsexy leggings, too. I pulled them both down, removing them then squealed again as I tried to hop back to my clothes while he laughed and started taking photos.

  ‘It’s not funny, it’s cold,’ I groaned as I rubbed my arms.

  ‘I’d prefer to have a sexy picture than a whinging picture, please.’

  ‘Fine,’ I sighed and cocked one knee in and arched my back and pushed my hands up into my hair and held it up and gave him my best sexy smile as he clicked away. He reached down and squeezed his cock, which made my eyes roll back. ‘You now, please.’

  ‘A couple more of you. Blow me a kiss.’

  ‘Dan,’ I protested, though I was really enjoying this. We were acting like a stupid young couple of kids with crushes, and I was loving every minute of it.

  ‘Please. Something for me to remember your winter break.’ He gave me a smile I’d not seen before, right up to the fine creases at the edges of his eyes and I melted, pretty sure I’d do anything to see that smile on his face again. I leaned forward, my hair falling all around my face and blew him a kiss. ‘Again.’

  I had to do five before he sighed and announced he was ready to change places. I went to walk over to him, then screeched with laughter and stepped back onto the coat. He just shook his head and walked over towards me barefoot, obviously totally accustomed to the cold. He stopped before he reached me, but not before his eyes roved appreciatively over my near naked body, so I took the opportunity to do the same with his.

  ‘O, God,’ I sighed as quietly as I could. I was about to get vagina burn from the wetness in my knickers freezing. That would take some explaining at a hospital.

  ‘Catch,’ he called as he threw my iPad gently to me.

  ‘You’re lucky I can catch,’ I scowled as I caught it in one hand.

  ‘So what position would you like me in?’ he asked, my scowl turning to a grin immediately. I could think of loads of positions I’d like him in on the bed, or any item of furniture.

  ‘Hands on hips, shoulders back looking straight at me,’ I ordered and clicked a few shots, making sure I centred it on his chest so I’d get his face and erection in the same shot.

  ‘What now, Ellie?’

  ‘Reach up and run your hands through your hair, both hands.’

  ‘Hmmm. Like I did coming out of the shower.’ He gave me a cocky smile this time.

  ‘O shut up, you did that on purpose and then you complain that I go to pieces looking at you?’

  ‘You did go to pieces,’ he nodded.

  ‘You did do it on purpose to see my reaction, didn’t you?’

  ‘Personal question, Ellie.’ He reached up and mimicked his pose, pushing his shoulders back, his broad chest expanding as his biceps bulged, and I groaned. ‘That was the reaction, yes,’ he smiled again as I quickly started snapping before I lost all ability to function. He put his arms down and flexed his neck from side to side as he shook his hands and opened and shut his fingers. My breathing was coming way too fast, was he seriously thinking about us having sex up here? I carefully put the iPad down on my coat, taking my eyes off him for a few seconds and then screamed as I was struck in the head by a snowball.

  ‘You did not just do that,’ I hissed as I straightened up. He laughed and launched another one at me, hitting me straight between the breasts. ‘Right, that’s it. You’re so getting it now.’

  We spent a blissful few minutes hurling them at each other and laughing, with me even venturing off the coat and running to try and dodge his uncannily accurate aim, while scooping up more snow for mine. Every single one I threw missed, yet he hit me with alarming accuracy, but I could feel that he was holding back with the power so that he wouldn’t hurt me. I screamed even louder as he started to run after me and I tried to get away, but he dropped to the floor doing a sliding tackle and took my legs from under me. He caught me in his arms as I fell and landed, my back on his chest as his arms wrapped around my waist. We lay panting on the snow, he seemed oblivious to the cold as I felt his lips barely skim the side of my neck.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘For what?’ I could barely breathe feeling the heat of our skin on skin contact again.

  ‘For making me realise I can still have fun,’ he whispered. I struggled to twist in his arms, until I was outstretched on top of him, his erection painfully digging into my pu
bic bone as I looked down at him, barely an inch between our lips.

  ‘Why don’t you have it more often?’ I asked, sure that I wouldn’t get an answer. He closed his eyes and reopened them to look at me, and I saw his pupils dilate and felt his erection flex.

  ‘Ellie,’ he sighed and lifted his head, his lips moving towards mine and for a second I nearly let them touch, then at the last minute I tilted my head to the side and his lips met my cheek.

  ‘Don’t. Please.’

  ‘Why not?’ he asked as he carried on kissing my face and moved down to my neck making me let out a sigh, that sounded like an orgasm noise, which in turn made him let out a rough groan and crush me to him tighter as he rolled his hips against mine.

  ‘You promised Dan, option two, remember? You promised that you wouldn’t tease me.’

  ‘I don’t want to tease anymore, I want you. I want inside you Ellie, I want you to milk my cock the way you did my fingers the other night. I want you to roll your tongue around it and swallow me, but most of all, I want to come inside you, so badly, while you scream for me,’ he whispered in my ear as his teeth caught my lobe and nibbled. I groaned and ran my tongue up the side of his neck before following the trail with kisses. ‘And you will scream, no one will have fucked you as well as I’m going to. You’ll be hoarse and legless by the time I’m done with you and I’ll have to carry you back to bed.’ He nibbled on the side of my neck making me close my eyes and whimper as a shudder of pleasure ran through me.

  ‘Dan I want that too, but not if you won’t be honest with me.’

  ‘I can be honest after.’

  ‘Don’t lie to me, I told you I don’t need lies.’ I quickly snapped out of my aroused state and tuned into logic. I couldn’t have sex with a man who was going to withhold the reason why he’d refused so far. I struggled to get out of his arms but he held on tightly. ‘Dan please, don’t. I hate the fact that you say you have reasons for not sleeping with me, especially as I don’t understand why, but those reasons haven’t gone away. Until you face them or share them with me, I can’t be there for you like that, you can’t hurt me like that.’

  ‘Fuck,’ he groaned as he buried his face in my neck and stroked my back. ‘I’m so sorry.’