Well, to be fair, it wasn’t like I invited him into my cabin. He kinda invited himself in. If he hadn’t, we’d probably still be outside, with me freezing my nipples off while he pretended he hadn’t been rooting around on my porch with a bag full of sex toys.
I was half tempted to pinch myself to see if this was real. Either it was a dream or someone was playing one hell of a prank on me.
Since I was used to the quiet, it was takin’ me a long minute to process everything that had happened.
Did he say he was a sex worker? What kind of sex worker? By the way he got his hackles up, I would rule out any kind of escorting. But then again, he could be one and just be on vacation. Everyone deserved a break. I was a firm believer in that. Curiosity was poking me, but it wasn’t like it really mattered. I sure as hell didn’t judge him for it. But with the way he went on guard instantly, I imagined he wasn’t used to people thinking that way.
I turned around and watched him through the window on the door that separated the main house and the mudroom.
He was struggling to get out of his big, puffy coat. Once he managed to get free, he looked around aimlessly as if he had no idea what to do with it. With a shrug, he draped it over the arm ofthe couch. Then he was back at the fire, warming his hands like he’d never experienced the snow… or a fireplace, for that matter.
He was cute, I’d give him that. Now that he wasn’t hidden under that coat, I could clearly see his long, toned body. His arms held a little definition under that snug long-sleeved t-shirt. His ass was pretty spectacular, too. His skin, what I could see of it, had that sun-kissed glow. He screamed warmth. Kinda had that surfer boy thing going on, which was strange to see around here, especially in the dead of winter.
For a delusional second, I imagined stripping him out of those Christmas green joggers and burying my face between his perky cheeks. I bet he’d smell like vanilla and sugar, and taste like a damn sugar cookie.
Well, shit.
I hadn’t had this kind of reaction to anyone in a long fuckin’ time. I could chalk it up to the fact that I’d been out here over a month and hadn’t had anything other than my hand to fuck, but the truth was, I was used to the long, solitary winters by now. That was half the point of the run I took with my brother was to make sure I get enough tail in to last me through the stupid holidays.
Though when I actually thought about it, this year had kind of been a dud. Nothing had been exciting, and it had felt more like a chore than anything. Maybe that was contributing to my lustful spin-out. I sure as fuck hoped I could shake it soon.
I needed to get the stranger straightened out and on his way as soon as fuckin’ possible. Give it a few days, then this would all be forgotten.
With a sigh, I grabbed a pair of jeans from the dryer as well and swapped out my lounge pants. If I was gonna deal with this, I was gonna need something thicker than flannel. That shit didn’t do a damn thing to hide my semi.
“Alright, kid,” I said as I opened the door and stepped back into the main part of the cabin.
“Not a kid,” he was quick to correct. The snap in his tone didn’t match the cheerful expression on his face, and it actually made me draw up short for a second.
“Alright…” I let it hang there while I snatched up my jean vest and tossed it on like I needed some extra layers between me and him. Couldn’t explain that shit. I’d go for my cut, but it was currently across the room, hanging next to the door, and he was the roadblock right dead between.
“Danny. That’s my name, and you can call me that.” He sent me a megawatt smile, his teeth so bright I was nearly blinded. “Or sugar or honey. I don’t even mind baby.”
I coughed to distract from the laugh that wanted to slip out, and dropped my gaze. I did all I could to avoid looking at him directly again.
“I’ll stick with Danny,” I grunted out once I got myself under control. “I guess I need to get—”
“And you are?”
I growled low in my chest, frustrated at his perkiness and need to make this more of a big deal than it was.
“I need to get you back to your car with all of your stuff so you can be on your way,” I went on, completely ignoring him. He didn’t need to know anything about me. In fact, he already knew too fuckin’ much for my liking.
When he didn’t say anything, I gave in and looked at him. His mouth was parted, brows drawn down together like there was something right on the tip of his tongue he wanted to say but couldn’t get it out for whatever reason.
His posture fell along with his face. I wasn’t sure I liked the way his shoulders rounded, and he hung his head. If I hadn’t been looking at him, I might have missed the fact that he’d mumbled something.
“What was that?” I asked, daring to take a step closer, ear cocked in his direction.
“I don’t have anywhere to go,” he said, still mumbling. His lips went tight, nostrils flaring as he blew out a hard breath.
“There’s a little bed ’n breakfast in town. This town ain’t all that big or popular, so I’m sure they got a vacant room.”
Another bull-sounding snort came outta him before he said, “I don’t have any more money.”
Well, fuck. I didn’t have a reply for that. I could offer him some. After all, I had enough to get by and then some. I wasn’t hurtin’ that was for sure. But for some damn reason, I hesitated.
“It’s stupid, I know,” he blurted out. “But my ex-boyfriend cleaned me out after he broke up with me—and that was after I caught him cheating on me. He left me with a pile of unpaid bills, rent, and a whole bunch of other things. I’ve spent the last few months working my ass off to catch up on everything, and I saved up enough to give myself a very-needed vacation where I could celebrate Christmas and New Year’s the way I want to. I sold just about everything I own, gave up the apartment we used to share, and here I am. I had thisbrilliantidea that I was going to enjoy my favorite holiday while also figuring out where the hell I’m going to go next.”
