I remember to set my alarm a few minutes earlier than usual. Even Titus knows something’s up when I reach over and shut it off. He cracks an eyelid at the foot of the bed and looks at me as I reach over to Claudia.

“Hey. Claudia.” She wakes with a start and I have to move back before I catch an elbow to the face. “Hey, it’s just me.”

“Oh, god. Sorry.” She closes her eyes and lets out a few stuttered breaths. “Hey what’s up?”

“I’m going to take Titus out. I want you to come. It’s still dark out though. You okay with that?”

“You’re not going to leave me in the woods are you?”

“No. I promise.”

“Okay. Yeah.” She presses her face back into the pillow for a few seconds and then rolls over and shuffles to the other side of the bed.

The rest of our night is quiet. I put on a movie where Tom Cruise fights aliens with Emily Blunt. Claudia offers her opinion on every item I pick out online, from my preferred brand of condoms to the three dildos of varying lengths and girths I assure her will be inserted into all of her holes at my pleasure. She turns her nose up at the idea of a ball gag, but she’s into the idea of massage oil, fishnet body suits, and garter belts and stockings. She knows we’re going to have a good time.

After, she dozes with her head still in my lap and my hands idly play with her tits under the blanket. When I take her to bed, she wakes up and tells me she wants to make out. Her exact words. I kiss her until she reaches between my legs and starts stroking my cock. I fuck her to sleep.

She looks just as beautiful first thing in the morning as she does freshly fucked. She looks at me over her shoulder. She catches me looking at her bare back.

“I don't have proper hiking boots. Is that okay?”

“We’ll stick to the trails. It'll be fine.”

“Great,” she groans and then she starts digging through her suitcase. I start to dress and laugh to myself as Titus finally perks up. He knows he's getting his walk in early. We’re both ready in ten minutes or so. Claudia looks half dead like she's not fully awake, but still sexy as hell. Titus is ready to go. He's doing his panic dance by the front door.

“You want coffee?” I ask as she slips on her coat. I watch her as she pulls her hair up into a ponytail.

“No. I'm going back to sleep when we get back.”

“Are you?”

“Uh yeah. You can boss me around all you want, but I'm pretty sure this whole domination submission thing works a lot better when one of us isn't yawning. Besides, it's Saturday, isn't it?”

“It is.”

“There. We can spend the day napping and fucking. It'll be amazing. You ready?”

“Almost.” I grab Titus's leash and then I get my shotgun.

“Do you take that every time you go out?” she asks.

“Only if I'm leaving my property. It's not for humans. It's for mountain lions and bears. Years ago they'd all be settled in for the winter by now, but now—”

“Fucking climate change. Okay well, let's hope we don't run into any bears.” She pulls a pair of gloves out of her pocket and puts them on.

“You ever seen one in real life?” I ask.

I open the front door and Titus bolts down the steps and down the driveway. Claudia looks between us as I hand her the leash. I lock the front door, then I turn and take her gloved hand.

“No, I haven't and I'd like to keep it that way. We need the dog right? He didn't just take off for Vegas did he?”

I chuckle at how wide her eyes are. “He knows the routine. Come on.” I lead her off the porch and around the north side of the house to the mouth of the trail at the rear of my property.

“Uh. So. Can you see in the dark ’cause…I don't see a flashlight or handy cellphone light in your other hand,” she says once we clear the reach of my security lights.

“I know where I’m going and if you wait a minute you’ll see it’s not pitch black out here. There’s a difference between dark and zero visibility.”

“What in sweet nature man hell?”

I laugh. “Just relax and hold onto my hand.”

“Oh I’m not letting go for sure. You can believe that.”

I laugh again then slip my fingers into my mouth and let out a wolf whistle. It takes a few moments, but I can hear Titus’s tags jiggling as he sprints around the side of the house. He slams into the side of my leg. I grab his collar and take the end of the leash from Claudia and clip it on, then hand it back to her.

“Think you can handle him?”

“Yeah, Mr. Grylls. You just keep your eye out for woodland creatures who want to eat me and I'll handle the pupper. I’m too cute to be mauled.”

“I promise. You’ll be safe. Come on.” I lead her down the trail, holding the conversation until we get to the clearing. Claudia’s not much for silence, but I can tell by the way she’s gripping my hand she might be too afraid to talk. I ask her if she’s okay and she quietly replies with a yes. After about a mile, the sky above us is already starting to grow brighter through the trees. There’s still another hundred yards through the forest before we reach our destination, but the small gasp she lets out tells me she sees exactly what I see. The break in the trees and the wooded valley beyond.

I stop when we reach the clearing and take Titus’s leash from Claudia’s hand.

“Shep,” she says quietly.

“Nice, huh?”

“Nice my ass. It’s amazing. I think—I think this is what Miles wanted to show me. We just didn’t get this far.”

“I think he might have been taking you up to Grafton’s Notch. That has a different view. You can only get this if you come from my property.”

“It’s really amazing. And we can watch the sunrise from here?”

“Mhmm. You want to have a seat?” I say as I nod over to a boulder a few dozen yards off the trail that has a natural ledge cut into its facade.

“Yeah.” I let her lead the way. The rock is wider than it is tall and the ledge itself isn't that high off the ground. She hops up with ease and takes Titus’s leash from me so I can set my gun before I climb up.

“I think we need more of a concrete plan to take some of the stress off you,” I say once we’re settled.

“Okay. Let’s hear this plan.”

“I’m not going to ask you to leave. I don’t want you to. So let’s just shelve that idea for the rest of your time here.”

She lets out a deep breath that turns into a sigh. “Okay. I can do that.”

“And I think we need to talk about what happened. I might not be a medical professional, but I do care about you and I do consider you to be a friend even if we’re still getting to know each other. You can talk to me.”

“I appreciate that and I guess you’re right. For a long time I felt like you might be the only person I could talk to about it.”

“You can, but I think we should balance it out with something else. I came up with a list of positive ice breaker questions,” I say as I pull out my phone.

“You wrote a list on your phone?”

“Uh yeah. I like to be prepared for this sort of thing. It’s what every good Dom and friend does.”

Claudia’s laugh echoes across the valley. She only scares a couple birds. “Shit. Sorry,” she mutters. She looks adorable as fuck the way she ducks her head and covers her mouth. “Go on with your list.”

“Okay and I will answer in kind so you’re not just out here pouring out all this information.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Question one. What is your full name?”

“Oh the basics? Claudia Deja Cade.”

“Shepard Nils Olsen. Nice to meet you.”

She giggles again. “Likewise.”

“When’s your birthday? You mentioned you’re a Gemini.”

“June fifth. And you?”

“February fourteenth.” I look over at her and she’s looking back at me with her mouth hanging open. “Just say whatever you’re going to say. Get it out of your system.”

“You’re just…so cranky. I want to envision this sweet Valentine’s Day baby, but I can just picture you walking out of your mom with a full beard and that scowl on your face.”

“And I punched the doctor to make him cry and stole my dad’s cigar?”

Another hysterical laugh bursts out of her. “Yes, actually.”

“I’m not cranky. Just accustomed to a certain way of living. People up here aren’t much for light conversation and small talk.”

“Well good thing we’re sticking to hard hitting facts. What’s next on your list, Dr. Love?”

“My grandfather used to call me Saint. Like Saint Valentine.”

“That’s so cute.”

“I didn’t want the other kids in my elementary school to know my birthday was Valentine’s Day because I didn’t want the attention, but my third grade teacher heard my grandfather call me Saint one day and it reminded her of my birthdate so she went all out. I was so pissed.”

“I’m sorry. You’re not going to get me to think of that as anything other than adorable.”

“Moving on. What is your favorite breakfast food?”

“Oh that’s tough. I like pretty much all breakfast food. Actually that’s not true. I have a weird aversion to sausage links. I don’t know, just give me a traditional breakfast platter. Some sort of carbs I can smother in butter and syrup. Roasted potatoes, not hash browns. Bacon. So much bacon. I’m a hipster t-shirt cliché. I love bacon. And cinnamon toast and hot chocolate. My dad used to make that for me when my mom wasn’t home. So good.”

“My grandfather used to make this super thick Norwegian porridge that his mother used to make him, rømmegraut. He didn’t have a TV before I moved in with him, but my mom made him buy a TV and a VCR. On Saturday mornings he’d make it for me and we’d watch a video he would check out from the library.” I know she can hear how raw my throat is getting. The exact reason I don’t like to talk about him.

“I’m sorry he passed away, Shep.”

“Thank you. I miss him. Cancer is a bitch.” I’m a little shocked when she reaches down and takes my hand and even more shocked when she slips off the rock and comes to stand in front of me. She moves closer, then hands me Titus’s leash and slips her arms around my waist.

“You think you’re going to get out of talking by hugging me?” I ask her.

I feel her shaking with laughter before she pulls away a little. She looks at me a moment then tugs on my beard. “I miss Miles, but I miss my mom so much. Grenada is a small island, ya know. And we lived close to the water so it didn’t take long to walk down to the beach. When we were little, my parents would take turns doing things with us individually. My mom would take me with her to run her errands, but she’d always work in something fun for us to do when we were out and about. My favorite days were when we would stop by the water and she would let me ‘chase the waves’.” I smirk at the little air quotes she uses.

“When we moved to the States, we didn’t have any family here. We didn’t know anyone and it was fucking freezing. The day before my first day of school she took me to the beach at Coney Island. I was all bundled up in my new winter coat and mittens and shit, but she told me to go chase the waves. I felt like an idiot at first. I’m running toward the water in a damn snowsuit, but I just remember turning around and seeing the look on her face. She didn’t want to leave Grenada either, but she was happy because I was smiling again.”

“When did they pass away?” I ask.

“About seven years ago. It was like your standard, run of the mill car accident. Nothing crazy, like an attempted double homicide, but it felt like they were literally stolen from us. It completely turned Miles around. He’d been fighting my dad on med school for years and then right after their funeral he got his shit together and applied. And I joined a grief support group. That’s how I met my friend Liz and her sister. The group was bullshit, but I got two friends out of it, so whatever.”

“Fair enough.”

“I have this weird—sometimes I have these weird thoughts where I actually envy Miles. He gets to be with them again.”

I reach up and cup the side of her neck. “That’s not weird. You miss your family and you want to be with them again. I feel the same way most of the time.”

“This would be a lot easier if it didn’t feel so shitty.”

“I’m sure it would be.” I lean forward and kiss her. “Turn around.”

She turns and I move a little closer to the edge of the boulder and wrap my arms around her shoulders. She takes my hand and rubs her lips across my knuckles. We watch the sun come up.

* * *

I make her eggs and bacon and carbs she can smother in butter and syrup. She’s tickled to see I still use my grandfather’s griddle top that he’d picked up sometime during Kennedy’s administration. She wins the argument about the nap. We nap. Titus decides he’s sick of our bullshit and wedges himself between us on the bed. Claudia wakes me up because she wants more food.

It’s my turn to be confused. No one’s woken me up in a while. She tells me she’s hungry. I tell her she’s high maintenance and she needs to get the fuck out of my house as I pull out some of the food May-Bell dropped off. We eat on the couch and she makes me watch the first season of a spin-off show based on another show that’s based on a book. It’s fucking terrible and I can’t even pretend to be interested, so I slip to the floor between her legs and see if I can test her concentration. The night before I was distracted by the moment. Now I take my time. She actually tries to ignore me.

“Babe. Move that big ass, hairy head of yours a little to the left. But keep doing what you’re doing.”

I grab the remote and turn off the TV. “That’s the end of that.”

“Hey! They get married in that episode.”

“And you’re about to get fucked in this episode. Up, and bend over the couch.”

“What. Ever. You. Are. The. Worst.” She stands and stomps her feet as she strips down naked.

“Yeah, I’m not interesting in your bratty showboating. Over the couch, slut,” I add for a little flavor.

She gasps and flips her ponytail over her shoulder. “Well I never.” Then she bends over and uses both her hand to spread her cheeks. “You are so rude.”

I shake my head even though she can’t see me. I pull a condom out of my pocket and hold it between my teeth as I strip naked. “Keep those cheeks open.” Once I slip the condom on I take my time teasing her. I can’t believe how wet she gets. I tell her.

“It’s ’cause I’m such a slut, Master Shep. I’m always wet for you.”

“Always talking so much shit.” She laughs, but I turn that chuckle of hers right into a moan as I slide my cock inside her tight slit. I push in and out a few times, then slap her hands away. She braces herself on the back of the couch.

“You were fucking up my leverage,” I say. She laughs some more, but she can barely catch her breath. I pick up my pace. This is why I can’t stand regular sex. I like the anticipation. I like drawing things out. The suffering, the begging. I like to see my submissive driven crazy by the need to come before I even get started. But Claudia, fuck, her pussy feels so good and the sight of her ass as it bounces against my hips. I reach forward and slide my hand up over her tits. I pinch her nipples.

“Wait, Shep. Shep! Stop.”

I freeze. “Did I hurt you?”

“No. Do you hear that?” I hear it, but before I realize I’m hearing footsteps outside my front door, there’s a loud knock.

“The fuck,” I say under my breath.

“Know you’re home, Shepard. It’s Jad!”

“Ah, fuck. Not a good time, Jad!”

“Who the fuck is Jad?” Claudia asks.

“May-Bell’s husband.”

He knocks again. He knocks louder. I know Jad is getting on in years, but now he’s just fucking with me. “Hold on! Sorry, baby.” I pull out and nudge her over on the couch cushions. She groans and shoves her hand between her legs.

“Here. Hide.” I toss a blanket on top of her and go crack the front door open. It’s fucking freezing, and the air feels like it’s about to snow and there’s Jad standing on my porch.

“Afternoon, Jad. This is a really bad time. A little occupied at the moment.”

He can only see my face and about half of my shoulder, but he still looks me up and down. He makes a face. “I thought she was just visiting.”

“Jad. Please.”

“There’s a tree down over at our place and my chainsaw is busted. I need to borrow yours.”

I’m tempted to chuck the keys to my shed at Jad’s head, but he helped raise me and he knows I was raised with better manners than that. He’s also a man of the mountain who’s almost my size. I’ve never tested him before, but I’m not sure he can’t take me.

“One second.” I try to close the door, but he walks right in. “Christ, Jad.”

“Oh I’ve seen your bare ass before, boy. Hurry up.” It’s not my ass I’m worried about. It’s my half deflated cock and the condom I’m still wearing. And the naked woman on my couch.

I grab my pants off the floor and dig up my shirt. I do something I’ve never wanted to do and pull the condom off and shove it in my pocket. It takes me a second to find my keys on the table, then stomp into my boots. “Come on. It’s out in the shed.”

He follows me outside, but I catch him trying to look around me to get a glimpse of the couch.

“Did you really come by for the chainsaw?” I ask once we’re outside.

“I did, you smartass. Unlike my wife, I don’t need to pry into your business. You’ve got a lady in there, you got a lady in there. It’s good. Glad your pecker’s working and I was little worried you’d gone insane after the thing with Sarah.”

“Don’t need to talk about her, Jad. It’s been a while, but I’m fine.”

“Yeah. That’s what Egil used to say.”

I unlock the shed door and grab my chainsaw off the shelf.

“Thank you.” Jad reaches for it, but I shake my head.

“I got it.” We walk down the driveway and I set it in the bed of his truck. “Hold on to that as long as you want.”

“I’m gonna replace mine next week. Just needed something in a hurry.” He turns to me with his hands on his hips. “Bring her on by tonight. May-Bell’s cooking. Like always. You two come by.”

“Alrighty.”

“People love you, Shepard. I know it’s a hardship. We just want to meet the woman you love.”

“Whoa. Who said anything about that?”

Jad’s eyebrow goes up. “Just like Egil. Dinner’s at seven. We’ll see you then.”

Jad gets in his truck and I stand there and wait until he’s back down the drive and headed on his way. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second before I head back inside. Claudia is sitting up on the couch wrapped in the blanket when I walk through the door.

“Is the coast clear?” she asks.

“Yeah, he’s gone.”

“Great.” She stands and tosses the blanket off. “Where were we?”

I laugh a little at the huge smile on her face. “Give me a second. Conversations with Jad are a bit of a boner killer.”

Her expression drops. “What did he say?”

“Nothing. He just invited us over for dinner tonight.”

“Oh.” She sounds about as excited as I am. “Are we going?”

“We’re going.”

“But you don’t want to.”

“I can think of better ways to spend a Saturday night. With you.”

“And we can’t get out of this?”

“No.” I pull off my shirt and head back into my bedroom to grab another condom. Claudia dumped them out on my shelf so I don’t have to keep asking where she’s keeping her little pink pouch thing. I drop my pants and start stroking myself. “They will come back. Both of them.”

“Let me help you with this and then we’ll go and have dinner with your very interesting neighbors.” She scoots to the edge of the couch and opens her mouth.

“Thanks. You’re really looking out for number one right now.”

“I know. Me. I want sex. In. Now.” She points to her lips. I walk over and slide right in. I should probably warn her about how intense May-Bell and Jad can be, but that’ll have to wait until later. Claudia’s mouth feels too good.