Chapter 14
“Come have your coffee,” she said. “You can’t do any more right now.”
“It’s getting really warm in here now,” he said.
“That’s because you’re working your ass off,” she said. “Come, sit with me. Have your coffee.”
Sam peeled off his shirt, damp with sweat, leaving only a sheer white tank top t-shirt covering him from the waist up. Vandy had also removed the blanket she had wrapped around her and folded it neatly, sitting it off to the side.
He checked the monitor—no activity could be seen.
“What is this icon?” she asked, pointing to the lower left of the screen.
“Motion sensor built into the camera,” Sam replied. “It’s great for people like me who live alone. An alert goes off if someone comes within 20 yards of the cabin.”
Sam sat at the table where he caught the aroma, “Oh wow, that coffee smells good.”
“It is,” she said. “I’m on my second cup.”
He took a healthy sip, “Ah, I needed that.”
“It’s a breakfast blend,” she said. “My favorite.”
“It’s good.”
She put her hand on his hand, “Thank you Sam. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for caring for me and protecting me. I’d have been so screwed if you hadn’t been here.”
He felt himself blushing, “It’s all part of the job.”
She shook her head, “That’s bullshit. You didn’t sign up for all this,” she said. “At times, I treated you horribly. I behaved so badly at first. I said horrible things; treated you so disrespectfully… I’m so ashamed.”
She began to tear up.
“There’s no call for that,” he said.
She looked at him, her eyes still moist. Sam met her gaze and smiled. When she didn’t avert her eyes after a moment, he finally looked away.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked tentatively.
“Yes.”
“You won’t get mad?”
He paused for a second, “Of course not.”
“Can I… touch your face?” she said.
The question froze him in his tracks, “If you’d like.”
She stood and leaned over the corner of the table. She reached out carefully and lightly touched his face, allowing her fingers to lightly move over the burns. Sam watched her eyes as she looked over his face. She leaned in to get a closer look. Her face was less than a foot away from his. Her eyes looked both curious and sad.
“Does it hurt?” she asked, continuing to run her fingers gently over the scar tissue.
“Those areas are more sensitive to hot and cold, but other than that...”
Her touch was sending sensations throughout his body. He had not had a woman touch him like that in a very long time. It didn’t feel like a touch from someone simply curious about his scars. It felt… caring… warm… affectionate. He swallowed and held in a breath as her fingers moved from his cheek to his lips. Her face had moved in closer to his; he could smell her hair; he could hear her breathing.
He glanced at Vandy’s body. Even through the thermal underwear he could tell she was beautifully shaped; tiny waist, beautifully formed legs, round natural breasts; full, luscious lips; silky brown hair; and the eyes… hypnotic… magnetic eyes. They were eyes that could stare right through him.
“You’re really a very handsome man,” she said softly, continuing to lightly touch his face. “You know that, right?”
Her right hand moved away from his face and down his chest. Her hand was moving gently across his pectorals. The sensations surging through his body at her touch were intensifying.
“I don’t think so,” he replied, touching her hand as it moved across his chest. “You should see how people look at me. I don’t think they believe I’m handsome.”
“You are,” she insisted, “and you’re so kind and gentle. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve had a man show me real kindness?”
“I can’t imagine any man not showing you kindness,” he replied.
“I’ve never had a man care so much to protect me like you have? No one has ever sacrificed some piece of himself for me?”
“That’s their loss,” he said.
“The men in my life always want something from me,” she reflected. “Money, position, influence…sex.” She chuckled lightly, “Actually, some of the women too.”
She looked down. Tears filled her eyes and began to roll down her cheeks. “I’ve been so lonely, Sam. So alone. I’ve never felt so alone. And to have you do what you’ve done for me… the risk, the sacrifice, the pain. It’s overwhelming to me.”
He placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face. Their eyes met. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her. He leaned in slowly, half thinking she might back away. She didn’t. She leaned in as well, her mouth opening slightly. It was then he noticed something.
“You’re bleeding,” he said.
“What? Where?”
“There,” he said, pointing.
Vandy looked down and saw that one of the cuts just above her left breast had opened. The blood stained her top.
“Oh, shit,” she said. “Do you think it’s serious?” She moved back to her chair and sat.
“Probably not,” he said, “but we should check it out. It probably reopened when you were helping me put out the fire. Here, let’s take a look.”
“What do I need to do, pull my top down over my shoulder?” she asked.
“I can’t re-dress the wound unless you pull the top down some to expose the cut,” Sam replied.
Vandy pulled the top off of her right shoulder, exposing the bandage and the top part of her breast.
“I’m going to peel the bandage away,” he said. “it means I will have to touch you.”
“At this point, modesty be damned,” she said. “It’s not like you didn’t get a long look at my tits earlier. You know there are magazines and websites that would pay a fortune to see what you’ve seen…”
“And it would be worth every penny,” he said. He froze for a second, realizing what he’d said. His face turned red. Vandy shook her head and chuckled.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “That… just… came out. It was inappropriate. I didn’t…”
“It’s okay, cowboy,” she continued. “I wouldn’t think you were human if you didn’t sneak a peek, even in the direst of circumstances.”
“I assure you my interest was purely professional,” he said, nervously, trying to joke the comment off.
“Bullshit,” she said.
“Why bullshit?” he asked.
“Because there’s a lot I don’t know but there are a few things I do know, and one of them is, men love my tits,” she said.
He blushed slightly. And your eyes, he thought. And your hair. And your…
“Go ahead,” she urged. “You can tell me. You liked looking at my tits, didn’t you?”
“Vandy, let’s just dress this wound and…”
A hint of a smile formed on her face, very subtly, but it was there, Sam noticed.
“Look, I know you’re embarrassed, but you’re a man—all man. You did, didn’t you?” she continued. “You looked. Go ahead, admit it.”
“Vandy…”
“You can say it. Say ‘Vandy I looked at your tits,’” she insisted.
He sighed and looked down. After a moment, he glanced up. There was a small grin on his face.
“They were pretty magnificent, yes.” he admitted.
Her eyes brightened and she actually smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.
“I knew it,” she said in a tone of satisfaction. “Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get this done before those men come back. I’d prefer not to face them down with a bloody boob, if you know what I mean.”
“I think that’s actually in a self-defense manual I read,” he joshed.
She giggled, “Don’t make me laugh.”
Sam looked at the amazing woman in front of him. One moment she was a scared, frightened little girl, as almost anyone would be when put into this situation. The next minute she was strong and resilient. How had Randall Vanderbilt described her?
A split personality: A beautiful, intelligent, caring, plainspoken woman… and her evil twin. Don’t piss her off.
His eyes moved away from the wound and met hers for just a second and he looked back toward the wound. He carefully peeled the bandage away.
“I’ll be right back,” he said. “I’m getting a fresh bandage, a warm wet cloth and some antibiotic cream.”
When he returned with the wash cloth he handed it to Vandy, “Here. Don’t rub the wound but dab it and clean the skin around it.”
“You do it,” she said. “I’ll probably just make it bleed more.”
He raised his eyebrows slightly, “You sure?”
Her eyes met his again. She paused, just looking at him. Sam didn’t know whether there was anything to read into the look or not.
Finally, she nodded and replied, almost in a whisper, “I’m sure.”
Sam began to dab at the cut on top of her breast. She was still holding her top over most of her breast but he noticed her hand slipping down again. The top still covered her nipple, but just barely.
He felt her eyes on him as he cleaned the skin around the wound. He couldn’t tell if she was grateful to be treated or judging whether or not he was crossing the line or…
It had been so long since he’d been with a woman, he no longer trusted his instincts. He made eye contact with her again. She did not avert her eyes—those beautiful bedroom eyes—they were so expressive.
He put the washcloth down and picked up the antibiotic cream. He opened the tube. He held it forward, offering to squeeze some of the ointment onto her fingertips.
“You might as well finish the job,” she said, again in a near-whisper. Her eyes were still fixed firmly on his.
He carefully squeezed some of the ointment onto his fingertips. He slowly touched the top of her breast and gently rubbed the ointment on the wound. He slowly continued to rub. He saw her hand lowering her top still, actually exposing her nipple.
He sat and scooted his chair near hers. He put a little more ointment on his fingers and applied it to the wound on her breast. He pulled his hand away and picked up the fresh bandage, stealing a glimpse. She was indescribably beautiful. He wanted to take her, then and there. She lowered her hand completely leaving her full breast exposed. She showed not the slightest hint of embarrassment or trepidation. He gently placed the bandage over her the cut. She took in a deep breath and held it when he touched her.
She was responding to his touch, she knew it and he knew it. She no longer felt the embarrassment or awkwardness she experienced earlier. He no longer seemed as backward and shy around her, either, she noticed.
Sam rolled his fingers over the bandage allowing them to linger on her breast. Her eyes closed and she let out a soft, nearly inaudible sigh. Sam allowed his fingers to softly move down, touching her flesh, her nipple. She sighed again, still softly but more audible than before, encouraging him to continue touching her.
Vandy opened her eyes, her gaze meeting his. He cupped his hand underneath her breast and leaned over. She leaned in too, and their lips met, softly. She allowed the kiss to linger, feeling his moist lips. Her tongue moved into his mouth and for the first time, she heard him moan.
Their kiss turned deeper. Her left hand lowered. She touched his knee. It stirred a twinge in his loins. He leaned in further and kissed her more passionately, his hand still gently caressing her breast.
“You’re a good kisser,” she said, breaking momentarily.
“It helps when you kiss a good kisser,” he replied. She leaned in for another kiss. He felt himself getting hard.
He continued to gently caress her breast. Her hand began to move up his leg from his knee.
“Whatever shall you do with me now, cowboy?” she whispered.
The alert on the monitor went off. It was loud, annoying and disruptive. Sam glanced at the monitor.
Vandy pulled her top up, her expression changing instantly from passion to panic, “Is it them? Are they back?”
“No,” he replied, smiling. “It’s good news. The cavalry has arrived. It’s my friend, Sheriff Frank Stone.”
“Thank god,” she said.
“Here,” Sam said, handing her the fresh bandage. “Place this bandage back over the wound.”
Vandy took the bandage and glanced at the monitor. She saw a heavy-set man in a thick overcoat and a wide-brimmed policeman’s hat. He was walking toward the cabin door. Behind him, she could see his vehicle, a white Chevy Tahoe. The vehicle’s police lights were not flashing. She saw the large Sheriff’s star emblazoned on the door.
“Stay low for a minute,” he said.
“Why?” she asked.
“I have to warn him. He’s a sitting duck out there.”
She immediately remembered what Sam had said about where the men might be positioned and perhaps using a high-powered rifle. The wind had died down and the snowfall was beginning to subside.
Sam opened the front door of the cabin and screamed, “Frank! Get down! Hit the ground!”
Chief Stone froze in position and looked at Sam, wide-eyed.
“What? What’s wrong, Sam?” he asked.
“Hit the ground. Now, Frank!” Sam screamed, but it was too late.