With the fire crackling and popping the song of warmth in the living room, I open the barren cupboard and stare of my limited options for food. I keep hoping that, somehow, I’ve missed the ingredients to make a nice spaghetti dinner, like if I keep staring at the desolate shelf, food will suddenly appear behind the can of baked beans or the box of stale crackers.

No such luck.

Ashley walks over and peers in. “Pretty bleak, huh?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t look good,” I admit. “What are you doing with that?” I look down at the cellphone in her hand. I thought she’d given up on that thing by now.

“Just checking if there’s signal, there isn’t.” She doesn’t look upset about it for once. “I’m amazed I still have battery left. I guess it’s from shutting it off,” she muses.

“Yeah, isn’t it amazing how much longer it lasts when it isn’t clinging to your hand like a baby attached to an umbilical cord?”

“Yeah, yeah,” she waves me off, “I get it. I think I’ve done pretty good actually,” she lifts her chin and levels me with her beautiful blue eyes. I breathe in sharply as the color transports me to the serenity of the lake by my home. In the oppressive heat of the summer, there’s nothing I love more than diving into that lake. I love relaxing in the water as the ripples of blue wash over me, refreshing me and bringing me back to life.

“You have done well,” I admit and wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her in close. “I’m proud of you.” I quickly kiss her soft lips.

“Thank you,” she looks up at me from under her heavy, dark eyelashes. I can see a glint of pride dancing in the pools of blue, adding vibrancy like when the lake comes to life with fish and wildlife under the hot summer sun.

“So, I already know what I want to eat for dessert,” I murmur in her ear, “but I should figure out what I’m going to feed you for supper first.”

Her pink, plump lips pull up into a sweet smile and I can’t help but kiss her again. This time I savor her lips parting under mine, I enjoy how our tongues join and dance together.

“Mmmm,” she pulls away from me slowly, like she’s fighting the laws of gravity just to put a step between us. As if the universe would rather we never were apart. “Ok, I’ll let you get to it then,” she slides from my side and coasts over the worn floor to the living room.

Ashley absentmindedly picks up my radio and spins the handle until a channel tunes in. Snowy static fills the air, much like the snow that’s been filling the air outside for days now. She plays around with the tuning wheel as I grab the beans from the cupboard with a defeated sigh.

Suddenly a loud noise crashes through the serenity of our cabin. “Buy one burger now and you get a same sized burger free! Wow, where else can you get this whopper of a deal? Nowhere!” The announcer oversells it.

Ashley laughs, “there ya go! Maybe we can get them to deliver.”

“Maybe we don’t have to,” I look at the can in my hand, finally inspired.

“What do you mean?”

“In local news, the search for missing person, Ashley Young will officially begin tomorrow. According to the San Miguel search and rescue team the record-breaking ice and snow conditions that have prevented them from pursuing this operation have lifted and they are prepared to mount a full mission to recover the twenty-three-year-old model from the Rio Grande National forest. It is widely assumed that the young woman is deceased as she has been exposed to days of extreme temperatures and blizzard conditions.”

Ashley stiffens up and flicks the radio back off.

“What you don’t like hearing that you’re probably dead?” I smile but she doesn’t move. Her body is a statue of a forlorn Greek goddess.

“It’s not that,” she finally utters.

“What then?”

“I, I don’t know. I thought I’d be happy to hear they were finally coming for me.” She tilts her head and her long hair trails down her arm.

“You’re not?” My heart beats a little harder. Is she saying what I think she’s saying?

“No, not really. I guess I don’t feel ready to go back to all that,” she confesses. Ashley turns around and looks out at the deep shades of mauve and pinks lace across the sky. Days quickly fade into night in the winter, but nature makes up for the shortened time with her spectacular sunsets.

I put the can down on the counter and walk up to Ashley, sliding my arms around her, we both watch the transforming sky over the shimmering white snow, like we’re at the edge of an artist’s canvas and he’s painting just for us.

“If this is our last night together, I think we should make the most of it,” I hold her close. “We still have that whiskey we can drink, I’ll make us a nice supper, and I think I already told you my plans for dessert,” I grind my cock into her ass and she leans back against me and smiles.

“Beans and booze, wow that’s quite the send-off,” she teases me.

“No, you gave me an idea earlier. I’m going to make something out of the beans,” I smile, happy she’s letting me lighten the mood.

“What’s that?” she turns around and cocks an eyebrow at me.

“I’m making a whopper of a deal,” I imitate the voice from the burger commercial, “a two for one taste sensation!”

Ashley laughs and it’s better than any music my ears have ever heard. Her laughter lightens my soul. “Sounds amazing,” she grins at me.

“You’re amazing,” I answer. “Now, let’s get this party started!”