.o0o.

 

Meagan’s hand brushed his as she passed him the plate to dry. It was the third time in the last three minutes and once again her heart raced and breath caught at the slight touch.

You want him, she admitted to herself. You want all of him.

Her body tingled standing next to him, like a live wire waiting to be energized. She couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t think about anything but the idea of jumping on him and taking him right here, right now.

Wow, where had that come from? This wasn’t her. She was more the five date and we’ll see type of girl. Not the kind to jump into bed only a few hours after meeting a guy.

Swallowing hard, she pulled back on her racing emotions. Get a grip girl. The man hasn’t shown you the slightest interest. He’s been a perfect gentleman.

Don’t forget, he’s up here to get away from people like you. For all you know he’ll freak and toss you out into the snow.

Besides, there’d be no sneaking home in the early morning. No getting dressed and leaving before he woke up. Instead she’d have to stare at him across a breakfast table. Both of them thinking about what they’d done the night before.

Imagining the embarrassed looks passing between them helped her reign in her galloping libido.

Tomorrow, she reminded herself. She was going home tomorrow and would probably never see this man again.

If she wasn’t going to see him again, didn’t that mean she could be free, open to her true desires? She suddenly realized. The normal rules didn’t apply. Right?

The normal rules might not apply, but she had to be careful with her heart. She knew herself. She was the type of person who didn’t fall in love easily. When she did, she would fall hard. And with this man she knew one night together could well put her on the way to falling head over heels in love.

“When you come to town, I’ll have to buy you dinner. It’s the least I can do.” She said as she reached to give him another dish. He didn’t take it. Instead he stood their staring down into her eyes.

Feeling like a trapped deer caught in a truck’s headlights, Meagan stared back at him.

His gaze searched hers for a moment as he started to lean forward. He’s going to kiss me, she thought. Her heart jumping into overdrive as her mouth went dry.

Before she could think, her body reacted. Closing her eyes and tilting her head she leaned forward to meet him halfway.

His lips ignited a fire as they settled over hers. Creating an excitement that threatened to burn forever. Melting into his embrace she moaned with pure pleasure as she returned his kiss. He tasted like the outdoors, full of life and meaning.

All of her troubles, dilemmas and worries disappeared. There was only now, only him.

As his lips continued their gentle caress, his tongue probed, seeking entry. She opened for him, welcoming him as they slowly began to explore each other.

His hands came to rest on the small of her back, pulling her closer, burning them into her awareness. Her own hands circled his waist and held on for dear life, as if her soul’s happiness depended upon it.

The hard muscles of his chest and broad shoulders made her go weak inside. Turning parts into soft longing, aching for his touch.

The heat continued to rise, getting hotter with each moan and caress. Was he going to take her here? Her body ached to be touched, held, and fondled. She desperately wanted to explore, taste, and experience every delicious hard muscle, every scar, wound, or imperfection. She wanted all of him. 

No, she thought to herself. This was too much, too fast, too dangerous to her heart.

Fighting herself, she pulled back. Physically and emotionally. Careful, she thought. She needed to think this through. Needed space to evaluate and consider. Her body demanded she continue to hold on, but she pulled back.

Looking into his gorgeous blue eyes she tried to read what he was thinking. A brief expression of regret crossed his face, sending a warm shiver to her spine.

The lust in his eyes, the pure wanting and need made her feel powerful and alive. It tempted her to lean in and resume their passionate kiss. To take what she wanted. Then he smiled at her and cocked an eyebrow.

“I’ve wanted to do that since I found you last night,” he said.

Her heart melted. “Me too,” she answered with a shy smile. The room had grown unbelievably warm.

“You need to get off that foot. Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll finish these,” he said pointing to the few remaining dishes.

Meagan hesitated for a moment but decided a safe retreat was the smart move. Smiling her thanks, she limped to the chair and sat, rocking gently while watching him finish.

Brandon dried the last of the dishes, putting it away, he turned to her.

“Would you like a bath?” he asked. Where did that come from? she wondered. A bath sounded lovely, it’d been two days and she could feel herself starting the beginning of that gross stage.

“Yes, but how. Your bath doesn’t have a faucet?”

Smiling, he bent and retrieved four galvanized buckets from under the sink. He quickly pumped water into each one and brought them to the fire, arranging them across the front.

While they warmed he took a fifth bucket and started filling the bath with cold water.

“It won’t take long. The hot water will warm things enough for you. I’ve got it down to a fine art.”

While he worked, she thought about that kiss and what it'd meant. She’d never come so close to completely loosing herself in her emotions. Never experienced such a sense of abandon and total freedom while also feeling safe and secure. What was it about this man, this situation?

Her mouth tingled thinking about the way his lips had felt.

The wind whistled outside. Desperately trying to get in.

Folding her arms across her chest she sighed. The cabin felt so warn and snug. As if nothing could ever get in. No problems, drama, or terrors would ever enter this world. It was only the two of them and it felt right. As if this was how things were meant to be.

True to his words, within fifteen minutes Brandon had the bath full. It’d taken two sets of boiling buckets before she could see steam sneaking out of the bathroom door.

Handing her a new T-Shirt, boxers and two towels. He bent and un-wrapped her ankle then pointed towards the bathroom.

The towels weren’t as fluffy as she would have liked but probably better than most found on a mountain top.

Looking at the clothes in her hand, she shook her head.  Next time she was traveling with a fully stocked suitcase. Even on a day trip.

The bath felt like bliss. The hot water lapping her shoulders as she leaned back and sank into its embrace. Massaging two days of stress from her body.

He didn’t have any bath oils and his bar of soap was some kind of industrial abrasive more suited for removing the hair off a pig’s hide, still, it was nice to finally feel clean. Fresh, somewhat normal.

Of course she’d have been worried if he did have bath oils. It would have totally ruined the whole outdoorsy he-man thing he had going on.

Her mind drifted as she closed her eyes and rested in the unexpected luxury. Brandon had left a bucket of warm water for her to use to wash her hair. It wouldn’t be easy but it certainly beat the alternative. Maybe she should ask him in to pour the water over her.

Smiling to herself, she thought about the man on the other side of the door. The way he smelled like a camp fire in the deep woods. How he tasted of lust and wanton desire. She thought about how nice it felt to sit and talk with a person and not worry about anything but the person she was with.

A small ‘tink’ sound of metal tapping metal let her know that he was moving around, making her wonder what he was doing. What did he do here all alone anyway?

He’d been so sweet and caring. Nothing like the imposing animal she’d imagined him to be.

First he rescues her from death. Gives up his bed, cooks for her and spends the day entertaining her. Then he tops it off with a kiss that curled her toes and made her insides turn to Jell-O.

She wasn’t used to being taken care of like this. A woman could definitely become accustomed to it. It was seductive and addicting.

A brief flash of regret washed through her when she thought about going home.

Why couldn’t she have met him at a bar in town or a Chamber of Commerce meeting? They’d have spent a few months getting to know each other. An occasional movie intermingled with dinners and maybe a Saturday picnic. That was how she’d always imagined it would happen.

The first man in a long time she was interested in turns out to be a hermit living on a mountain top. A reclusive Norse god with the people skills of a mediaeval monk.

“Meagan, you always knew you were stranger than most,” she mumbled to herself. “This proves it.”

.o0o.

 

Are you ready for this? Brandon asked himself as he stared through the window into the night. This woman was different, special. Remember she’s going to wince when she sees your scars, she's going to have a thousand and one questions. She’ll want to know why, how, bring it all up and probably wouldn’t let him keep it buried.

Are you ready for that, he asked himself again? Because if not, then don’t let it get started. Don’t go down that path.

The snow had stopped, and it felt like it might turn to rain. A clear patch of night sky had opened in the clouds, letting a brief silvery moonlight fall across his meadow.

Had he changed enough to let himself get close to someone? To care without panicking. 

He’d almost convinced himself to back off. To avoid the pain of remembering, when he heard the bathroom door open behind him. Turning, the vision he saw flushed all doubts from his mind. All he could think about was how much he wanted this woman.

Her long legs reflected the firelight.

“There is nothing as sexy to a man as a woman wearing his clothes,” he said, surprising himself when he realized his thoughts had been spoken aloud.

“And nothing as un-sexy to a woman as a man wearing hers,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t know where that came from,” she added with a shudder.

Walking towards him, her eyes grew big. “You shaved your beard off?” she said, her voice rising in surprise as she lifted a hand to gently caress his cheek.

“It seemed like the right time for a change,” he answered staring down into her eyes.

She stared back for a long moment. “Is that the only reason?” she asked as she bit her lip.

“No the real reason is that when we make love tonight, I wanted you to see the real me,” he said with a confident smile.

Her breath caught and her face grew red. She didn’t look away, instead her lips turned up in a small smile.

“I like it,” she said as her hand went back to once again caress his face.

Chapter Three

Meagan felt her stomach flutter with a thousand butterflies as his words sank in.

Yes, they would be making love tonight. There were no truer words ever spoken.

As she looked up into his deep blue eyes, her butterflies turned to churning worry. What would he expect of her? Would he be happy?

She had so little experience with men. Those two times in college with Tommy Preston had been fiascos both times. And then, two years ago with Jack Powers, a very big fiasco. It had been over almost before it started.

She cringed inside thinking about it.

Pushing the memory away, she studied the man before her. A man such as this had to have been with many woman, she realized.

What did she know? How would she compare to the other women Brandon had known?

But, here, now. With this man. Somehow she knew it would be different. More intense. More meaningful. She could feel it in her soul.

A night with Brandon Erikson would be a night to remember. She was sure of it.

He’s so handsome, she thought as her fingers reached up to gently caress his cheek. A small pang of regret coursed through her. She missed his beard. But, she couldn’t complain with the results.

They continued to stare into each other’s eyes for a long moment, then he slowly took her face in his hands. His thumbs stroking across her lips as he leaned forward and took her mouth with his.

It was like sinking into a warm pool of heaven. A soft moan escaped from the back of her throat as she melted into him. She was his, whatever he wanted, she was his, her body told him.

His tongue darted into her mouth, igniting the burning passion building inside of her as his hands roamed up under her t-shirt to cup her breast.

“Yesssss,” she moaned into his mouth as he gently pinched her nipple.

Backing away, he smiled down at her as he slowly began to pull her shirt up.

“This is the second time you are undressing me,” she said with a saucy smile.

“I’m not turning my back this time. I want to see you. I want to see every part of you.”

Meagan gulped and lifted her arms so that he could pull the shirt over her head.

Once he had her shirt off, he smiled with pleasure as he slid his hands into the waist band of her shorts and pulled them down over her hips.

Meagan stepped out of them and had to fight to not immediately cover herself with her hands.

Biting her tongue, she waited as his eyes roamed over her body. Stopping to examine her breasts. Sliding down over her waist to rest on her hips and then focusing on the juncture of her legs.

He looked up and smiled. A smile that told her how pleased he was. How much he wanted her.

The smile slowly turned to a smoldering look of pure need. The lust in his stare made her grow warm and wet with need.

The way he looked at her. It was like a man living a life without meaning, suddenly finding the reason to live. It made her want him even more.

The knowing in her soul that a man such as this wanted her made her world come alive. Made her life important. And made her body ache with need.

“My turn,” she said as she stepped forward and slowly began to unbutton his shirt. Her fingers shook as a nervous energy rushed through her.

When she had finally gotten the shirt unbuttoned, she pulled it free from his jeans and gasped.

The man was pure perfection. Hard muscle surrounding a broad chest and shoulders wider than the mountain outside their front door.

Her hands spread themselves across his chest as she felt his heart pounding inside of him. Leaning forward, she gently kissed his chest as her fingers fumbled with his belt.

This is it, she thought, this was what she wanted to know.

Pushing his loosened jeans down, she bit her lip to stop herself from gasping again.

Big, powerful, and fully erect. Demanding her touch.

So male, she thought. So purely masculine. Strong, hard, and demanding her.

Slowly, she reached for him, taking him in her hand. He was so big, so hard, her insides turned over with need.

Brandon groaned in the back of his throat as her hand slowly moved up and down the solid shaft.

“you are dangerous,” he said with a smile as he bent down to slide an arm behind her legs and another behind her back. Lifting her as easily as a soft pillow.

Staring into her eyes, he carried her to the bed and gently placed her there then stepped back to admire her once again.

“I don’t have protection,” he said with a tone of regret. “I wasn’t planning this.”

“That’s alright,” she answered. “I’m on the pill.”

A quick pang of worry was pushed aside almost immediately. Nothing would stop her from having him. Not tonight.

He nodded, never taking his eyes off her body.

Licking his lips, he joined her on the bed and pulled her into his arms. It was like being pulled into a warm, caring heaven, she thought. Like coming home to the perfect place meant only for her.

He pulled back and smiled as he stared into her eyes for a long moment. The anticipation continued to build until Meagan thought she would explode.

At last, he leaned forward to take her lips with his as his large hand cupped her breast.

Meagan felt herself sink into him as a warm tingle traveled throughout her body. She was lost. There was no coming back.

She couldn’t get enough, she wanted to know every part of him. Her hands roamed over the strong muscles of his back. Up over that broad chest. Down over the nasty ridges of scars.

Not now, she told herself. Don’t ask. Let him tell her about them when he wanted. Now was for now. Not a past best forgotten.

Her heart pounded. She felt herself surrender to him as he bent to take a nipple in his mouth.

She moaned as she arched into him. Yes, this was what she wanted, what she needed.

As he suckled, his hand roamed down to touch her at her very core.

She was wet for him. Oh so wet, as he spread her pussy and touched her at that magical spot.

It was as if her world narrowed down to that very spot. To this very man and his wondrous fingers. Everything else fell away. There was just Brandon, just the glorious feeling flowing through her.

His fingers circled and probed, driving her higher. Taking her to a mountain top of her dreams.

“YESSSS,” she yelled as she exploded in his arms.

The climax caught her by surprise. So quick, so intense. As if he knew exactly what she needed.

Her body continued to shake for a moment as he positioned himself above her. Using his knees he gently force her legs apart.

This was it, she realized, this was what she really wanted. The aftershocks of her climax were still washing through her body as he slowly pushed himself into her.

“Oh, My, God,” she exclaimed as he filled her to the point of breaking. He was so big, so hard. So powerful. We worried if she could take him.

Biting her lip to stop herself from screaming with pleasure, she looked up into his eyes as he held himself above her while he finished filling all of her.

He halted in place, pausing for a moment to let her adjust, as he  looked down at her with a caring, tender smile.

Her heart was lost. How could such a man exist.

She wanted to catch this moment and never let go. She wanted to … He world shifted as he pulled back and then filled her again.

“Yes,” she hissed as her eyes rolled back into her head. Yes, this was what she needed..

Brandon slowly began to rock back and forther into her. Each time they met, her very core erupted with pure pleasure.

As he began to increase his pace, she reached up to wrap her legs around his hips, needing desperately to be closer to have all of him.

Still he thrust, over and over. Filling her, again and again, always pushing her higher and higher.

Forever, it seemed, this big, powerful man filled her with himself.

She watched as his face grimaced with determination, prolonging this heaven as long as he could until at last he exploded into her.

His pulsating shaft filled her with his seed, sending her over the cliff into oblivion.

She erupted with him, holding onto him with desperation, afraid if she let go her world would disappear.

At last, he shuddered one last time, then collapsed next to her.

She felt a sad loss as he slipped from inside of her. A loss that she knew she would feel for the rest of her life.

Sighing, she snuggled in next to him, her head on his chest as his arm wrapped around her, pulling her in tight.

Yes, she thought, this was heaven.