Chapter One
Daniel
Three months earlier
I’d completed my work in Anchorage several days early, and I wanted to go back to Portland. I’d been fortunate enough to catch an early flight and I wanted to surprise Natalie. Take her out to dinner, champagne and candlelight, then go back to our house and ravage her all night. In the morning, I’d put the box on top of the whipped cream on her pancakes, and ask her to be mine now and forever.
It was the ideal plan, but first I wanted to take a shower and change out of my travel clothes.
I was shocked to discover her car parked in the driveway, typically she was out shopping or at the spa this early in the afternoon. There was another vehicle too. I was curious if she had one of her girlfriends over instead or her friend she had told me about. The guy who would spend time with her and make certain she remained safe while I was out of town. This was fucking awesome! Not only was she home ahead of time, but I could acknowledge this guy for taking care of Natalie while I was traveling. I stepped into the house and dropped my suitcase on the floor.
Hearing them upstairs, their moaning and grunting as the mattress creaked. I climbed the steps noiselessly, praying she was watching pornography. Then I caught sight of them, Natalie riding the bastard’s cock, her long brown hair spilling down her back, head flung back in ecstasy.
The other man guided her hips, prompting her to ride him rougher, as he caught her breast in his mouth and sucked long and hard she screamed his name as she came, riding his cock harder as she rode her orgasm out.
I knew all the buttons Sean was pushing as I started to retreat down the staircase. I didn’t want them to know I was here yet. I knew every move they would make. I had been that man not too long ago. Except now I wasn’t that man. And it made my blood boil.
I stopped and waited to announce my presence.
I knew as I heard the hard slaps and loud grunts from Sean that he was about to cum. Natalie screamed again, whimpering as Sean slammed into her, before stilling. I had a front row seat to the end of my own personal porn, and they didn’t even know they were being watched.
I cleared my throat, walking into the room. They both stared at me.
“Daniel, what are you doing here?” Natalie gasped.
“Apparently, watching you fuck another man,” I said, trying to keep my cool, barely able to stop myself from beating the fucking asshole into a pulp. He even had the balls to be smirking at me!
“It isn’t what it loo—” Natalie tried to explain herself as she stumbled out of the bed, tripping over the sheet.
“Don’t tell me it isn’t what it looks like dammit!” I interrupted her, I was aggravated and I didn’t want to hear it. “I know what it looks like, and it looks pretty fucking bad from my angle. I want you gone. You and all your shit. Get. The. Fuck. Out. There’s nothing more to say Nat. Take him and go.” I needed a fucking drink. I stormed from the room and into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and dug around looking for my bottle of whiskey. I looked at the bottle. It was mostly gone.
“Daniel, wait. Let me explain.” Natalie pleaded. “Don’t be rash about this.”
“What the fuck do you expect me to be, Natalie? Calm? Collected?” I laughed, she honestly thought she could talk her way out of this.
“There’s nothing to explain. I fucking saw you! Don’t you get it? I watched as he fucked you like the whore you are.” I punched the wall, so I wouldn’t punch Natalie. I was starting to lose my grip on my temper the longer she stayed in front of me. “Don’t you see? There’s nothing you can say to change what I saw. Nothing. Now get out of my fucking house. You can get the rest of your shit when I get back.” I pointed at the door and waited for them to leave. He smirked at me again. He was fucking lucky I didn’t kick his ass then.
“Thanks for the pussy, dude.” Sean shut the door.
I lost it then. I took the bottle in my hand and chucked it across the room, shattering it as it hit the wall. I couldn’t believe I had been so fucking stupid. I had fucking believed that bitch when she told me she wasn’t fucking around. I needed to get the fuck out of Portland for a bit. But first I needed to call Paul and let him know I was going out of town again. And why.
I was on a plane back to Alaska within a few hours. That was the great thing about winter. There were always flights. I was going to go out to my new house and clear my head. I thought that the cool mountain air would do my head some good, and help me get over some of my anger from what had happened with Natalie.
When I had called Paul and told him what had happened, he gave me the rest of the week off, knowing exactly what I was going through having dealt with it earlier in the year. Paul wasn’t just my boss. He was like an uncle to me. The only annoying thing was that he wanted me back in Portland by Monday for the groundbreaking on our new hotel. The life of a hotel mogul’s son never slowed down.
I was the team leader, and even though I had done everything they needed me to, they still wanted me there to make sure that someone didn’t fuck up my pet project. Dad had finally let me have my own contract after proving I knew the business better than him.
I was already beat when I landed back in Anchorage from everything that I had dealt with today. All I wanted to do was to get my car, check into the hotel, eat something, and get some fucking sleep before the six-hour drive to the house. Honestly, it would have been easier for me just fly to Fairbanks. It was closer than Anchorage, but I wanted one more night in the city before I subjected myself to total solitude in the heart of the Alaska wilderness.
I had called ahead to make sure the Captain Cook still had my room available to me and was thrilled they did. I pulled up on the street and parked taking a deep breath. I had to reassure myself I was ready to do this. To go off into the wilderness of Alaska when the weather could change instantaneously. Yes, I was ready to go out there. In fact, at this point, I was sure I needed to for my sanity before I could handle going back to my home in Portland next week.
I needed to get the whore out of my head. To forget I ever thought I loved Natalie. I was lost in thought walking up the sidewalk when a gorgeous red-head almost ran me over. I stepped out of her way as she stopped in front of me, out of breath.
"Are you Daniel Black. You match the description John gave me."
"I am. But who are you?" She was beautiful. Long legs covered in black jeans, fur-topped boots, a light winter jacket with a cream turtleneck peeking out from under it, and what looked like well-worn leather gloves. Long, flyaway auburn hair, poking out from under the hood of her jacket. Her emerald green eyes felt like they were staring into my soul, and the soft dusting of freckles across her face was mind-blowing.
Her lovely, full lips looked completely and totally kissable. Just slightly parted, as she worked to catch her breath, licking them nervously. God, the places I would love to have those lips. Goddammit, I had just left a relationship, what the fuck was I thinking wanting to walk into another one with her? I wasn’t the guy that wanted anything with tits.
"I'm Alexa Jones. The housekeeper you requested?” She held her hand out to me and I took it. I was right, worn leather. As soon as our hands touched, even through the material, we pulled our arms apart as though we had been bitten by snakes. That was one helluva spark.
“John said you called and wanted someone to watch the house while you were gone. He told me I might be able to catch you before you checked in. I wanted to talk with you about what is expected at the house.” She stopped taking a breath of air, and I was about to suggest dinner to discuss it when she started talking. Again.
“I haven’t eaten all day, and I know you have to be hungry after traveling all day. We can discuss details over dinner." She finally stopped speaking as I stared at her, a little smirk playing my lips.
I was hungry, and I had been about to suggest the same thing. Better her than me though, so she didn’t think I was hitting on her. Even if I wanted to. "Hell, why not? I'm fucking starving. I haven't eaten since breakfast. Let me go check in and put my luggage in my room. I shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes." I picked up my bags and started back towards the front doors of the hotel.