I settled further into the seat, the material soft and worn under my back. The interior was spotless and smelled a little like fresh-cut lumber. The radio was playing softly, and I could have fallen asleep if I hadn’t been so excited to see Derek’s world.
Staring at trees whipping by got boring pretty quickly. Didn’t help that it was dark out, but when Derek slowed and took a sharp left turn onto a dirt road, I started paying attention again.
The truck rocked and dipped as we drove over the ruts and snow. I resisted the urge to hang onto my seat, used to paved roads and smooth trips. After a few minutes, the headlights illuminated a small cabin and a slow-moving creek sparkling behind it. There was the odd pile of snow where it hadn’t completely melted.
Under other circumstances, I would be getting horror movie vibes, but with Derek here, I could see it as cozy.
I expected the woods to be silent, but when I opened the heavy door and jumped down from the truck, the woods buzzed with the sound of crickets and the creek flowing nearby. It was colder and more humid than I was used to, and I shivered.
“Home sweet home,” Derek said, grabbing both suitcases and heading towards the cabin.
He pulled a hidden key from above the door frame and let us in. He set the suitcases down and went back for the groceries while I stepped into the cabin. I clicked a light next to the door and looked around. There was a small kitchen behind a bigger living area. An old brown couch with a knitted blanket on the back was against one wall, and a small kitchen table stood in front of a glass door that led to a back patio. It had a bit of a musty smell from being closed up, but it looked homey and comfortable.
I put the groceries away while Derek lit a fire, then he gave me the grand tour. There were three bedrooms - one for him, one for Charlotte, and one for his parents—and a small bathroom down a hallway. That was basically it. It was small, it was simple, but for hiding from the world, it was perfect.
“You can sleep in Charlotte’s room,” Derek said, putting my suitcase at the foot of the bed. “I’ll be in my room if you need anything.” He yawned. “Night, wifey.”
Pardon?
Was he being a gentleman, or did he just not want me? By the way he had kissed and touched me all day, I figured it was the former. He did look exhausted, though, so I decided not to push a shared sleeping arrangement…yet.
Despite the fire, the air still held a chill I wasn’t used to. Unfortunately, all I had for pajamas were a sleep shirt and shorts, so I pulled that on and hid under the blankets. Every sound was unfamiliar, and it was darker than I was used to. No traffic, no streetlights, no air conditioning kicking on.
It should be soothing, but when what sounded like a branch breaking echoed through the small space, I was on my feet and down the hall.
I could just make out the silhouette of a shirtless Derek pushing himself up on one elbow as I entered his room.
He clicked on the lamp. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I heard a noise,” I said, feeling equal parts silly and freaked out.
He smirked. “Just the wind.”
I planted my hands on my hips, goosebumps breaking out over my bare legs. “There is no way you can know that for sure. Could be a bear or a… I don’t know, do you have mountain lions around here?”
“We call them cougars, but yes. And coyotes and wolves and a moose will do worse than all of them if you get in their way.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “Not helping.”
“What would help?” His eyes tracked over me, and his eyes heated.
“Can I sleep with you?” My nipples were tight under the silk of my top, and the idea of his bare skin on mine was flooding my mind with imagined sensations.
He sat up further, the blanket falling to his waist. He had a nice chest, and I was hit with the desire to taste every inch of it.
“Please?”
“Well, in my bed you’d be safe from being mauled by a bear, but what if I wanted to maul you? Respectfully, of course.”
Finally.
I crossed the room and crawled over him until he had to lie back. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter 11
Derek
Ineeded to figure out how to attract bears to the property. With enough apple trees, unsecured garbage, and bird feeders, I could keep my wife in bed twenty-four seven.
