Chapter Thirteen

Jake

My arms felt like Jell-O. I had been working for hours, shoveling snow and chopping wood, hoping to relieve the sexual frustration Calla had stirred up, but it was still there. The image of her hips swaying and her breasts bouncing unrestrained was forever burned into my brain. No matter how hard I worked, I couldn’t get those images out of my head.

I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted another woman. I’d been warring with myself about just taking her and satisfying my lust. But I couldn’t do it. I was too afraid she would want more and I couldn’t give her more. She was a beautiful woman who deserved it all—the total package. I was incapable of giving her anything more than a good fuck.

My body was spent, which had been the goal. I didn’t think I could fuck her right now if I tried. Exhausted, I climbed the steps and pushed open the door, only to find her leaning on the kitchen counter, writing. Her butt was swaying back and forth as she hummed another unidentified song.

Fuck. She was going to kill me. I was going to die of an unrelieved erection. I could take her right there. Sprawl her out on the kitchen counter, feast on her pussy and then fuck her.

“Hey,” she said, looking up at me as if she hadn’t heard me come in the door.

“Hi,” I managed to get out.

“Let me help you,” she said, dropping the pen and walking towards me, her hips doing that familiar sway.

She wasn’t wearing the sweater I had loaned her. The t-shirt didn’t hide the shape of her breasts in any way. The cotton clung to her breasts, her nipples obvious.

“No,” I stammered. “I got it,” I held up a hand.

“What?”

“I’m not done!” I practically shouted before heading right back out the door.

I couldn’t go back in there. Not yet. I needed to work off more energy. If I took her right now, there would be no holding back. I stomped through the snow and into the woodshed. I would start pulling the snow off the roof of the cabin and the out buildings. That would keep me busy. It was a task that needed done.

I grabbed the roof rake and headed back towards the cabin. I guesstimated we were pushing three feet of snow on the ground. That was way too much for any roof to hold, no matter the pitch. As I looked at what should be my driveway, I shook my head in disgust.

“They’re not coming tomorrow, Jake,” I told myself, as if I needed to hear the words rather than think them.

The snow would be heavier up the mountain where the lodge was. They had more equipment, but they would be focused on keeping their guests safe. Tom knew me. He trusted me to keep the woman safe. Calla was not going to be their priority.

“Shit, shit, shit!” I shouted up at the sky. “Stop fucking snowing!”

My face was covered in snow, a clear sign my demand was ignored. I had seen this kind of storm before. It could snow for days without letting up. The only thing to do was try and keep up with it. I hadn’t done that. I had been too busy saving Calla’s ass and now, she was stuck.

“Is everything okay?” Calla asked, stepping onto the porch.

“Yes, fine, but this snow isn’t stopping.”

“I can see that. How deep do you think it is?”

I looked at the area I hadn’t shoveled. “Three feet?”

“Oh God, I’ve never seen this much snow in my life. Is this normal?”

I scoffed, “Normal? I don’t know if it’s normal, but it happens.”

“Well, I know it’s not ideal, but it is absolutely gorgeous,” she said, somewhat breathlessly.

I turned to look around. It truly was. As much as I hated the extra work, I loved it.

“You know this may mean you’re stuck here another day?” I asked her, watching to gauge her reaction.

“What? Really? Don’t they have snowmobiles?”

I nodded. “Yes, but they can’t just set off in this kind of weather. It’s too dangerous. They’ve got their hands full already just keeping the guests fed and making sure everyone is okay.”

“Oh wow. I guess I just assumed they could whip down here, pick me up and take me back.”

“Sorry,” I quipped.

She shrugged a shoulder. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault. I got myself into this mess.”

I wanted to agree with her, but thought twice about it. I was trying to be decent. Despite my frustration, I didn’t want her to think I was a total asshole. I didn’t think I normally was, but she had brought out my cranky side last night when I had to leave my warm house to go find her with the pressure of not knowing if we’d make it in time. And the attraction thing, holy cow, what were the odds? Nonetheless, she had done nothing to me and didn’t deserve my anger. I could rein it in.

“I’ve got to get the snow off the roof so stay inside. You’ll hear some loud bangs as it slides off,” I warned her. “Can you put some wood on the fire?”

“Sure. I made you some coffee. Can I get you a cup?”

The simple offer was unexpected. It touched me in a way I hadn’t expected. It was too homey. Too girlfriend, or wife-like. It scared the shit out of me.

“Later,” I grumbled and walked away, roof rake in hand.

Being rude hadn’t been my intent, but I didn’t want to get used to have a little woman in the house, keeping the home fires burning. That was more terrifying than the thought of a grizzly bear coming out of the trees.

I pushed the image of Calla making me a hot dinner in nothing more than her birthday suit from my mind. There were plenty of other fantasies that followed that one as I started the tedious, often wet process of extending the rake up and pulling the snow down, jumping out of the way as it slid down in heavy berms.

“Here,” her voice startled me.

I looked over to see her standing on the edge of the porch with what I assumed was hot coffee. I could see the steam rising from the cup.

I considered telling her I didn’t want it, but I did. I needed the fuel.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the cup and sipping the hot liquid.

I blinked as the stout coffee hit my tongue and rolled down my throat.

“Too strong?” she asked with a concerned look.

I coughed and blinked away the tears the coffee had caused. “Nope, perfect,” I lied.

After a few more drinks I handed the cup back. If I drank any more, I was going to find myself digging a tunnel through the snow all the way down the mountain. It was very potent.

“Thank you,” I said, and turned to walk back to my position at the edge of the roof. She smiled and headed back inside.

It had been a very kind, thoughtful gesture and I realized I could get used to someone doing things like that. Making me a warm dinner and making sure I was taken care of in general. That thought led to sex. How could it not? For a split second, I let myself think about coming home to a woman after a long day hunting or working at the lodge. Not just any woman, Calla.

Instead of dwelling on a naked Calla, bent over the back of the couch, laid out on the kitchen counter or pushed up against a wall, I concentrated on pulling the snow down the roof. By the time I finished the two outbuildings and the cabin, I was beyond exhausted. I had pushed myself to a point that assured me I would not be lusting after the hot little redhead in my house. I would be lucky to get my dick hard. Her coffee boost had given me a burst of energy, which had been great at the time, but I was feeling the pain of my exertion now.

I was too tired to move, let alone screw. Thank God. I had finally exorcised the demon.

When I walked through the front door, the house was absolutely quiet. She wasn’t in the kitchen humming and swaying. I didn’t see her on the couch. Maybe she had gone in my bedroom? I took off my coat and snow pants, kicked off my boots by the door and noticed immediately that the fire was burning low.

She could have at least put a damn log on the fire.

I stomped towards the stove, opened the door to put on a log and froze when I heard a strange whimpering sound. I turned around and found my house guest. She was asleep on the couch. Her arm twitched, and her mouth opened, a low moaning sound crossing her lips.

I slowly stood, not wanting to make a sound. The blanket she was using was wadded up against the back of the couch, leaving her torso exposed. The overly big t-shirt of mine was twisted and pulled up her side. My gaze focused on the wide swath of milky-white skin that was exposed. I waited, silently pleading with her to move her arm up a fraction of an inch. I could see the round flush of her breast under the arm she had thrown across her chest. I was hoping for a peek at the entire breast.

As I watched, another moan escaped her mouth and her leg moved. The blanket twisted between her thighs as she rubbed them together. The arm over her chest flopped to the side, hanging off the couch. Her other hand moved to her bared stomach. The shirt was dangerously high, but not high enough. My earlier revelation that I would be unable to get an erection was long forgotten. My dick was straining against the jeans I had put on. I reached down and rubbed my cock while I stared at her hard nipples creasing the fabric stretched across her breasts.

I couldn’t breathe as I watched the woman writhe on my couch. She had to be in the middle of what looked to be a really hot dream. Her leg fell open for a split second before clamping against the other leg pressed against the back of the couch. When her head rolled back and forth against the pillow, her lips parted, I had to close my eyes.

“Don’t do it, Jake,” I whispered, warning myself to walk away.

I counted to five, but then I heard what I thought was my name. My eyes popped open, expecting to see her staring back at me. She was still asleep. Her eyes were closed when she mumbled something that I was absolutely sure was my name. She was dreaming about me.

My name on her lips was too much. I couldn’t deny myself or her another second. Fuck my self-control. Fuck the idea of commitment. All I wanted in that moment was to bury my cock inside that lush body. I would deal with the consequences later.