Being wide awake during a snowstorm was officially my least favorite way to spend time with my old friend insomnia. The wind whipped around outside, smacking snow against the doors and windows. It was a steady howl that sounded more like hell hounds were out there, poised to strike at any moment and steal my warmth.

Yeah, that’s how I knew I really needed to sleep. Hell hounds? Stealing my warmth? It was better than thinking about Rex and my restaurant, neither of which I could do anything about. I had a feeling that even if I handed over my full business plan, the one I’d gotten approved for a bank loan, he would still say no. Rex didn’t like me, which only made me feel like a big idiot for still being affected by him. He didn’t even want me to cook for him and I’m a fucking chef.

Yet another thing I couldn’t worry about. I’d never given Rex a reason to dislike me yet he did, and my future hinged on those plans. At least it had, anyway. Now, I would have to put out feelers to work at any kitchen that would have me. Story of my life.

But not anymore. I would just have to alter my time line a bit. Get a job in a kitchen and start saving up. Then I would start dating. Find a cute guy who made me laugh and hand my virginity over to him on a drunken platter. Yeah, that sounded like a plan. And I would put it into action.

As soon as this damn storm was over.

Listening to the storm though had me wondering if I should fight harder to use the house. Show Rex my plans and let him decide fair and square. But I didn’t want to risk rejection and I didn’t want him thinking he had a say in my business. So maybe I should just find my own property in another small town.

Hell, I didn’t know and I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to think clearly until I was off Shadow Mountain.

“What in the hell are you doing down here? It’s freezing!” Rex’s voice split open the silence and his heavy footsteps charged down the stairs.

“I was trying to get to sleep and mind my own business, but I guess that’s over.”

“It’s cold as fuck down here, Lena.”

“Then it’s a good thing you’re not sleeping down here, Rex.” I didn’t bother lifting my head to look at him because I could hear him stalking about the room. And tossing two logs onto the fire. “Gee thanks, why didn’t I think of that?”

“You could freeze.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes even though he probably couldn’t see me since the storm had hidden the moonlight. “I was wide awake and perfectly aware, Rex, but please tell me how I feel.”

“Dammit, Lena!” He stood in front of me, looking imposing and hot in flannel pajama pants and nothing else. “Come on, you’re sleeping with me.”

“No thanks, I’m fine right here.”

“I’m not in the mood to play games with you.”

“Good, because I said I’m fine and I don’t need you to worry about…me! Put me down you ass!” The big jerk tossed me over his shoulder like I was nothing but a ragdoll, and as a woman one inch over five feet, I hated being moved against my will so I kicked and punched anywhere I could. To no avail, the man was built like a tank. Damn him.

He tossed me on the bed like I was an inanimate object and pointed at me like I was a child. “Stay here and don’t argue. And don’t fucking think about moving, Lena.”

I wanted to, but his room was warm and toasty and I was sprawled on a spot still warm from his body. So I took his pillow, shoved it between my knees and burrowed under the blankets with my head resting on the other pillow. Facing a large bay window, I watched the snowflakes whip around, hoping the movement would lull me to sleep.

It almost worked until the other side of the bed dipped under Rex’s considerable weight and he rolled closer. His body heat warmed me to the bone and I felt an immediate and unwanted flash of arousal. Aware of him in a way I hadn’t ever been before. His hard body pressed against me, a sharp contrast to my soft body. Like a fool, I still harbored some kind of school girl crush on Rex even though he could barely tolerate me.

The last thought on my mind as I drifted off to sleep was, what in the hell is wrong with me?

* * *

The first thing I felt when I woke up was heat. Hot, humid heat. The next thing I noticed was the very impressive erection nestled firmly between my ass cheeks, and then one large, slightly roughened hand cupping one of my breasts. The other rested high between my thighs but not high enough. Then the hand on my breast squeezed, circled my nipple until it beaded just shy of painful. A moan escaped and I tried to hide it, hoping—assuming—he was still asleep.

“If you don’t stop moving, I’m gonna give you what your body is asking for.” His voice shouldn’t have made me shiver, but it did.

I froze and let his words sink in and I felt…frustrated. “I never took you for a, ‘any warm body will do,’ kind of guy.”

He growled in my ear and in half a second he was on top of me, his hips resting between my thighs, his long hard cock pressing up against where I was wet and pulsing. I moaned at his touch. “Trust me Lena, it ain’t just any body. It’s this one.” His hips sank against mine and when I moaned again, his hand replaced his cock and one long finger stroked slowly into me. “Am I just a hot male body for you, Lena?” His voice purred in my ear, causing tiny fires to erupt all over. “Fuck, you are drenched for me.”

I was and I was too far gone to feel ashamed or self-conscious about what was happening. “Rex.” My back arched off the bed as he sank another finger in, filling me up until I could hardly breathe. I felt my body start to pulse around his hand. “Yes.”

“Oh fuck Lena. I’m no good for you. No matter how much I want you, and believe me. I fucking want you.” His words should have killed my desire, but they didn’t. They pushed me right off the edge into a crushing orgasm that shook my body until I was spent.

“Rex,” I moaned again because apparently it was the only word I knew.

“That right there, the sound of my name on your lips as you drench my hand in your pussy juices, that just makes me want to bury my cock in you even more.”

“Yes.”

Blue eyes stared down at me, intense and laughing. “I’m no good, remember? Stay here. I’m going to check on the weather.”

So he could get me out of his hair probably. Shit, was this a pity fingerbang?

Story of my life.