by A. J. Wynter
She leaned forward and gently kissed my lips. It was the softest sweetest kiss I had ever experienced in my life. “You still want to kiss me, after you heard all that?”
“Chase, I think you need to stop blaming yourself. If your family knew the whole story, I’m sure they would forgive you.”
“I don’t know about that,” I grumbled. “Even if they did, it still wouldn’t stop the nightmares or the loop that runs in my head over and over and over again of that car disappearing behind me. Take me out of the equation and it never would’ve happened.”
“It was an accident. It’s common for people to blame themselves. You know, the coulda, shoulda, woulda stuff. This guilt. I don’t think that you should have to bear it any longer. Maybe you can be a little softer on yourself and use some of your inheritance for something good. Maybe find someone who can live here with you so you’re not lonely. This...” She gestured to the cabin, “Doesn’t have to be your jailhouse. This place breathes freedom.”
Where had this woman been my whole life? I nudged Prickles out from between us. She stretched and shot me a dirty look before she hopped off the bed. I cupped Emma’s chin in my hands and kissed her, just the way she had kissed me - gently and full of thanks. But when I pulled back, my body came alive and I kissed her again. This time they were full of want and desire. I had taken off my mask, exposed my deepest darkest secret to her, and the woman was still in my bed. Our kisses grew frantic as I leaned forward, my fists sinking into the quilts beside her, my body towering over the top of hers. I let my weight sink onto her, and she murmured in response, drawing her knees up beside my body. I kissed her cheeks, her neck, her earlobes, her forehead, making my way back to her lips. My cock was throbbing against my boxers, but he could wait, I wanted to take my time with Emma. I wanted to savor every second I had left with her. Tears had started streaming down her face and the more that I kissed her, the faster they came. I paused, wiping her cheek with my thumb, “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Just keep kissing me,” she demanded, smiling through her tears and pulled my face back to hers. I kissed along her jawbone and down her neck, my cock straining at my pants pressing harder each time Emma moaned. I made my way back to her ear, kissed the soft lobe and took it between my lips, breathing heavily as I nipped at her soft skin. “Oh my...” she moaned and fumbled with the waistband of my boxers, but I grabbed her hands and held them above her head, both of her tiny wrists held in one hand as I nipped and kissed at her collarbone until she was writhing beneath me, but I didn’t let go. The only light in the room the small kerosene lamp on my dresser, and the beaver moon pouring in through the window, outlining Emma’s body in an ephemeral glow.
“Oh, Jack,” she moaned when I finally slid my hand between her legs.
“It’s Chase,” I growled into her ear and then lightly bit at her collarbone, she gasped in response and rubbed her feet together as she continued moving beneath me.
“Chase,” she moaned breathily. “Make love to me one more time.”
“I will,” I whispered in her ear as my fingertips grazed the wetness between her legs.
She planted her feet on the mattress, arching her back, pressing her hips closer to me. “Chase,” she moaned. “Do it now.”
Chapter 17 – Emma
THE MOONLIGHT HAD LONG disappeared, and snow was piling up outside the window of the cabin as Chase and I made love in the orange glow of the lantern for the third time that night. The crook of his arm felt like it had been designed just for me as I snuggled in, resting my cheek on his hard chest. I had never been a chest hair woman, preferring the waxed Grecian statue look, but now I understood why my mom had gone crazy over Tom Selleck. I ran my fingers through his chest hair, marveling at how masculine, yet sensual it felt. Chase was one hundred percent alpha male, and there was nothing sexier. Okay, except maybe his baritone voice, which vibrated in my cheek when he spoke. “Emma.” He was stroking my hair, playing with the ends and then dropping them.
“Mmhmm...” I murmured. I was in that blissful state between sleep and pure ecstasy and I never wanted to leave the comfort of this man’s arms.
“I could come and visit you, you know,” he whispered and paused playing with my hair, resting his heavy hand on my head.
We had avoided all talk of what this would look like between us after I left the cabin.
“Chase...” It still felt weird and wrong, to use his real name. I had decided that I would wait until the morning and then I was going to tell him who I was, and why I was here. I couldn’t lie to him any longer, especially since he had just bared his soul to me. It was selfish of me to wait but nestled up with this mountain man underneath his quilts and the antlers that hung on the wall above his bed, I felt something I have never felt before. True love. I didn’t know if I would ever feel this good again, so sue me if I wanted the sensation to last for a few more hours. “That would be nice,” I replied, truthfully.
“You know, I meant what I said, Emma. That I’m falling in love with you.”
If I wanted to split hairs, I would’ve corrected him. He didn’t say he was falling, he specifically left that word out, and so did I. “I feel the same way, but I mean, we need to be realistic.”
He shifted out from underneath me and propped himself up on his side, his head leaning on his hand. “You look like an Eddie Bauer model right now,” I poked at his chest. He wavered but kept his balance.
“More like Eddie Bauer meets a Playgirl,” He drew his knee up like a centerfold model. I laughed and shoved him over onto his back and nestled back into my spot. “Do they still make that magazine?” He laughed and my head bobbed on his chest.
“I don’t know. My subscription ran out last year,” I smiled and kissed him; his skin salty against my lips.
“You could write from here, you know.” He started stroking my hair again, circling the conversation back around to ‘us.’
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but I guess I could. You might have to install a communications tower so I could get internet here though,” I joked. He continued stroking my hair, “That could be arranged. We would just have to hire a helicopter crew.”
I had forgotten the man was worth eight-figures.
“I was joking. Don’t be ridiculous. Besides, I don’t think that my editor would go for it.”
“Fuck your editor,” Chase said, his chest moving with the laugh in his voice. “You said yourself that things were going downhill, and look... you just started a book here. That’s amazing.”
It was amazing. Writing a novel had always been something I dreamed of doing. However, I never thought that it could be a reality. “I can’t just quit my job, Chase.”
“Why not?” he asked. I was glad that he couldn’t see my face. My emotions were seesawing wildly from positive to negative.
“I have bills to pay.” I started to run my hands through his chest forest again. “I have a life in the city, friends...” I trailed off as I remembered Sadie.
“It’s not that far, Emma. And you wouldn’t have bills to pay. You could live here, with me. I don’t have bills, except for some diesel here and there.”
“That’s tempting, Chase.” I was still trying to gauge how serious he was. The needle was inching towards ‘real fucking serious’.
“Emma.” He rolled over so his body was halfway on mine. “Really think about it. We could make this work.” He kissed my cheek and then my lips. I felt the weight on the quilt as Prickles jumped up and made herself at home beside my feet, and then an even greater weight as Dumpster hopped on, curling up on the other side of Chase. The whole family complete and cozy on the queen-sized bed, the light of the fire and lanterns flickering over us all.
“Did you three plan that?”
“You belong here, Emma, with us.”
And with that, I completely melted. A shiver traveled through my body as I imagined our life here together, tending the gardens, writing my book, cooking together. It was utopia. How coul
d I say no? I couldn’t. But I knew that I couldn’t say yes until I told him the truth.
I pulled the quilt up over my shoulder and kissed him gently. “I’ll think about it, Chase. I really will.”
My answer was yes. I just hadn’t told him yet. I went to sleep with visions of us walking Dumpster through the changing seasons; the leaves turning red and falling as we pulled carrots from the garden. Yes. I would tell him everything. I snuggled in deeper and closed my eyes, the thump of his heartbeat echoing against my cheek. I would tell him first thing in the morning.
Chapter 18 – Emma
I WOKE UP AND SHIVERED, pulling the quilt up higher. I stretched out long and realized that there weren’t any animals curled up at my feet. I reached for Chase, but my hand only met the cold empty sheets.
I pulled on Chase’s flannel shirt and wool socks and tiptoed across the cabin. The fire had been reduced to embers, but the coffee pot on the stove was still steaming. I pulled back the curtain and saw that the pathway had been cleared and that Chase’s truck was gone.
I put two logs on the fire and rubbed my hands together as they started to crackle. Prickles rubbed up against my legs, her purr the loudest thing in the cabin. “Where did Chase and Dumpster go?” I asked. She sashayed away and hopped back up on the bed. I pulled on my new uniform of Chase’s sweatpants, his university t-shirt, and his flannel shirt. I poured myself a cup of coffee and set my messenger bag on the coffee table, pulling out my laptop. I looked around the cabin, wishing and wondering if this could be my life. I draped a wool blanket over my lap, took a sip of coffee, and started writing. The words poured out of me like they never had before. My surroundings disappeared as I become enveloped in the story I was writing. I was knocked out of my alternate reality by the sound of Chase’s truck. I glanced at the time and my cold coffee and realized that I had been writing for an hour.
Chase stepped into the cabin, knocking off his boots and rubbing his hands together. “It’s a chilly one today.” He pulled off his jacket and hung it up. “A high-pressure system has set in.”
“What does that mean? I asked and shut my computer.
“It means that it’s going to be cold and clear for the next little while.” He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Did you get some coffee?”
“It’s gone cold,” I answered as I held up the mug. He took it from my hands and leaned down to kiss me. “What were you working on?” he asked.
“My book.” I tried but couldn’t contain the smile from spreading across my face. He did the same. “How’s that going?”
“Good.” He poured me a new cup of coffee and handed it to me. “Really good,” I smiled as I took a sip.
“Well, I’ve got some bad news, or it might be good news, who knows...”
“What’s that?” I asked.
Chase sat down beside me on the sofa and Dumpster jumped up beside him. “Off, Dumps. You’re soaking wet.” He pointed to the floor and the dog obeyed. “Emma, I have to come clean about something.”
His tone was serious, but he was still smiling. “There’s something I have to tell you too.” There I finally said it.
He raised his one eyebrow. He was one of those talented people who could operate each eyebrow independently from the other. “Well, let me start.” He held both of my hands in his. “Emma, I lied to you yesterday.”
My heart skipped a beat. “About what?”
“The road.” He was staring down at my hands, but when he looked up, he had a sly grin on his face. “It was clear yesterday. I just wanted one more day with you.”
I relaxed and smacked his shoulder lightly, “How dare you? Keeping me here, torturing me with orgasm after orgasm all night.”
He was now full-on grinning. “It was good, wasn’t it?”
“The best night of my life, actually.”
“But the road is clear, so that means...” he trailed off.
“That I can leave.” I finished his sentence and then he echoed it.
“That you can leave.”
We sat there hand in hand with the fire crackling in the background. He rubbed the back of my hands with his thumbs. “Did you think about what we talked about last night? I know it sounds crazy.” His voice was quiet.
“Chase, there’s something I really have to tell you–”
We were interrupted by the sound of growls and fabric ripping. “What the hell?” Chase turned and we both saw Dumpster running to his bed with my messenger bag in his mouth. “Drop that,” Chase ordered, but the canvas must have been irresistible for Dumpster and he leaped onto the bed, emptying the contents of my messenger bag as he ran, his trail of destruction spreading across the entire cabin.
“Emma, I’m so sorry,” Chase jumped off the couch and ran to retrieve the bag from Dumpster’s jaws. Then he stopped to pick up some of the papers.
“Stop,” I screamed. “I’ll get them.”
I fell to the floor on my knees, scrambling to pick up the photographs and papers. I crawled along, picking up and cramming the papers against my chest.
“Let me help,” Chase offered and stooped down to pick up a file folder. As he did, the folder fell open and its contents fell on the floor between us. On the top of the pile was a picture of the Titan family.
“What’s... this?” he picked up the photograph. The one underneath was his graduation photo from the private academy, the one where he had a mouth full of braces. “Emma?” He pawed through the stack of photos, all of them featuring him or his family. He picked up the entire stack and fanned it with his thumb, his mouth agape. “What the fuck is this?”
“I can explain.” I tried to snatch the photos from his hand, but he pulled them high in the air away from me. He picked up a piece of paper. “Chase Titan. 6’4” blue eyes. This is my criminal record.”
He set the paper down on the floor and stood up, leaving me on my knees in front of him. His blue eyes looked black from my vantage point. “Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?”
“Chase, I can explain.”
His face was the reddest I had ever seen it.
“You keep saying that. Now get up off the floor and do it.”
I gathered the papers and held them tightly to my chest as I stood up. My heart was pounding against my ribcage. Chase’s nostrils were flaring, and his hands were balled into fists.
“Chase,” I reached out for one of his hands and he jerked back as if I had burned him.
“Explain,” he growled.
I slunk back and perched on the edge of the sofa, holding the papers close to my chest. Chase tossed the messenger bag onto the cushion beside me and sat down in the armchair, his body rigid with his arms crossed across his chest.
I didn’t know where to start. “I-I-I...” I stammered, struggling to find the words.
“How about you start with your name?”
I nodded. “My name is Emma Hunter and I really am a journalist.”
“Emma Hunter, what are you doing with a bag full of pictures of me and my family?”
I wrung my hands in my lap. This was not going to go over well. “I was hired to come and find you.”
“By whom?”
Damn you and your proper grammar, Chase. “Your brother.”
I winced, waiting for some kind of explosive response from Chase, but he remained in the same position his eyes steadily on mine. “My brother sent you to find me. Why?”
“He needs you to come and sign off on your half of the company.”
“Ha.” Chase shook his head aggressively. “Of course.”
“Why couldn’t he come out here himself? Why did that little coward have to send someone to...” His voice trailed off. He stood up and turned his back on me. He walked to the door and pulled on his clothes. “Get your stuff,” he barked.
“Wait, Chase.” I stood up and rushed to him. There was so much more I had to tell him.
“It’s time for you to leave.” He stepped into his heavy boots and
stomped out into the cold, slamming the door behind him. I was left alone in the middle of his cabin, holding the remains of my Chase Titan investigative file tightly to my chest.
I blinked a couple of times, trying to process how things had gone south so quickly. Just hours earlier he had practically been begging me to come and live with him, and now the man couldn’t even be in the same room as me.
I tossed the stack of papers into the fire and gathered up my few belongings. I shoved my hands into his leather gloves, but instead of feeling warm, the well-worn grooves of Chase’s fingers felt like they were mocking me. I pulled off the gloves and tossed them onto the console table beside the door. I turned to take one last look at the small cabin, wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall down my face, and stepped out into the freezing cold, my ride away from utopia idling in wait.
THE RADIO CRACKLED in the thick air of the pickup truck’s cab. I stared out the window as Chase navigated down the forestry road, the studded tires humming on the pavement when we reached the main highway.
“Chase, there’s more.”
He didn’t take his eyes off the road. “You were hired to seduce me. You know what that makes you?”
“That’s not what I was hired to do,” I felt the blood start to boil in my veins. He wasn’t giving me the opportunity to explain and now he was making up scenarios that were disrespectful and hurtful.
“Were you or were you not hired, by my brother, to find me, befriend me, trick me, and what, somehow lure me into the city to sign some fucking papers?”
I inhaled sharply; my lips pressed together tightly. I had no rebuttal. He wasn’t wrong.
“I wasn’t going to do it.”
“Oh, please.”
“Chase, just give me a minute to explain.” I had grown frantic. We had passed the town circle and were now making our way down the side streets of Windswan.
“No.” He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “You know when a good time to explain would’ve been? When I was pouring out my fucking heart to you. And you...” He pulled up in front of my rental house and turned to face me, “...you, pretended that you didn’t know.”