Into the Storm (14 page)

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

My lips rained small kisses on her neck, feeling the tension she was holding. “You’re a terrible liar, Rabbit. Almost as bad as you are at being a criminal. Tell me.”

“
Nothing. That was … just for you. Today is just for you.”

I shook my head. The last two days had been ‘just for me’. Every time I came in from clearing the snow, there was hot coffee, something ready to eat and the sweetest of kisses waiting. Today, when she had noticed how bad my limp was, she insisted the hot tub was needed and she would massage my leg.

“
Rabbit?”

She fixed me with a stern glance. At least, I think it was supposed to be stern. “Your leg, Joshua. Now.” Her voice was firm. I gave in for the moment and sat back in the lounger and lifted my leg onto her lap. Her hands began their magical kneading and soon I could feel the ache begin to disperse. I closed my eyes and gave in to the quiet pleasure of her gentle ministrations. Every so often, I would steal a peek and watch her face as she worked on the muscles. I enjoyed watching the myriad of emotions play across her expressive face. Her brow would furrow when she would find a tight spot and then she would frown as she worked on it. Often, she would look at me, biting her lip as if to make sure I was okay. The times when our eyes would meet I would smile at her and she would return it with my favorite of all her smiles, her shy one.

Looking down in the water, I could see her hands moving as she worked, kneading and stroking the muscles. The pain was almost totally gone and all I was feeling were the ripples of pleasure of her hands on me. I found myself staring at her hands, silently willing them to move higher, suddenly wanting to feel her hands stroking me again. I could feel myself start to stir as my body, once again, grew taut with desire for her. Her hands stilled and she glanced up at me in question. Our eyes locked as I stared silently at her, my eyes darkening with longing.

“
Again?” she whispered incredulously.

I grinned to myself. I wanted her all the time. Leaning forward, I pulled her to me, kissing her deeply. “Again.”

This time she didn’t push me away. Her arms wrapped around my neck as she pulled me closer, settling herself onto my lap. Our mouths met again in a frenzy of wet, deep kisses, tongues entwining, exploring; our teeth nipping and teasing. My hands traced over her curves again and again, reaching around to cup her breasts, stroking and teasing her nipples as they grew hard and tight beneath my fingers. Her head fell back as I began caressing her neck with my tongue, soft, fluttering touches that had her moaning constantly. My lips reached her ear and I pulled on the lobe gently with my teeth.

“
Are you ready for me, Rabbit? Can I have you
now
?” I growled lowly into her ear.

“
Yes … please …” her voice was plaintive and full of want.

Pleased, I captured her lips again and thrust up into her. She broke away from my mouth, gasping as I filled her. I wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around her neck as I moved in her, keeping her anchored to me. My body surged into her again and again as my lips claimed her, kissing and nipping at her wet skin anywhere they could reach. Her body arched into me, meeting my thrusts as her hands gripped my biceps, her soft moans of pleasure becoming louder and deeper as we both reveled in the pleasure. Her head snapped back suddenly as she cried my name, her body stilling with the intensity of her orgasm. I continued to move until the rush of her pleasure had abated and finally let myself go, her name tumbling from my lips as I emptied myself deep inside her.

Rabbit slumped forward, her head resting on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her, once again sinking into the deeper water, my hands caressing the skin of her bare back as we both regained our senses. My lips ran an endless loop of small caresses on the top of her head. Her head tilted up, her ever-expressive eyes gazing up at me, warm and content. Groaning quietly, I kissed her, needing the feel of her lips against mine again. “We’d better get out soon, or we’ll both be prunes,” I whispered regretfully. I could stay here, inside her, for an eternity.

She nodded silently. We made our way out of the tub, and I wrapped her in a huge towel, pulling her to me after draping one around my own waist. Her eyes were heavy and I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my lips. “Did I tire you out, my girl?” I whispered against her lips.

She nodded while trying to stifle a yawn, “Working on your various … aches … was rather … exhausting,” she admitted with an indulgent smile.

Bending down, I scooped her up and, over her protests, carried her upstairs to the bedroom. “Hush, the rest of the day is about
you.
Now, let me show you just how well you worked out all my aches.”

She hummed in contentment.

I smiled in triumph.

Mine.

Chapter Fifteen

Joshua

I pulled the truck into the barn. The driveway was done, and I had cleared one path down to the main road. That took the longest time since as soon as I lost sight of the gates the panic would set in. Having Bear in the truck with me helped but it was still a slow process. I could only go so far then I had to come back to gather up the courage to go even further next trip. Emotionally, it was exhausting.

I climbed out of the truck with Bear clamoring past me, pushing his way through, obviously in a hurry to see Rabbit. The sudden sound of her voice greeting Bear startled me, and I turned to see her standing in the doorway.

Immediately, I was worried. “What’s wrong?” I asked as I stepped towards her.

Her smile eased my worries as she came forward. “Nothing, Joshua. I knew you’d be back soon and I just thought I‘d come out for some air and bring you your coffee.” It was only then I noticed the thermos in her hands. I smiled and reached out, wrapping my arms around her. I nuzzled her cheek fondly. “Hmm ... cold.”

She laughed. “Yes, it is rather, isn’t it?” She pulled away looking at me. “Are you okay, Joshua?”

Ah. The real reason came out. I smiled and tucked her back under my chin. “I am now,” I admitted quietly.

“
Would it help at all if I came with you next trip?” she asked gently.

I thought about it and nodded. “It might.” Having her beside me might ease the panic.

Wanting to keep things light, I grinned and squeezed her quickly. “Although you are gonna have to fight Bear for shotgun. He called it long ago, you know.”

“
Pfffth,” she giggled. “I can take him. He’s putty in my hands.”

I pulled away and looked down at her. Her vivid blue eyes gazing up at me, cheeks pink from the cold, the bruises finally starting to fade. “We both are,” I smiled and kissed her warmly. The thermos hit the ground as she wound her hands into my hair, pulling my head back down to her lips. I went willingly and lost myself in her, savoring her taste. All too soon Bear distracted us, pushing the thermos around with his nose, thinking it was some sort of new game. After the third time of knocking into us and almost sending us both onto the floor, Rabbit broke away laughing. She bent down and grabbed the thermos. “Not yours, Bear,” she scolded sweetly. Then she dug into the pocket of my hoodie that she was wearing, and handed him a biscuit. “This is for you.” I watched smiling as he gently took the biscuit out of her small hand, set it down on the floor, and rubbed his head up against her in thanks before picking it back up and trotting away.

Rabbit opened the thermos and poured me a cup of the steaming liquid. I took it gratefully and drank it swiftly, holding it back for more. Rabbit’s eyebrow arched but she silently poured me another cup. This time I sipped it, offering to share. She took a sip and handed it back to me, and started wandering around the space. I watched her stop by the car and look at it, studying it, only to shake her head and move away. “You can’t force the memories,” I reminded her.

She shrugged. “I know. I’m not trying to. I just keep thinking something will bring my head back into focus.”

I watched her, feeling worried. She’d had some nasty headaches the past couple days and I was worried it was because she was trying to push the memory loss issue too hard. I hated seeing her in pain.

Her eyes moved around and, for the first time, she noticed the staircase. “What’s up there?”

Grateful for the distraction, I held out my hand. “I’ll show you.”

Feeling rather self-conscious, I took her upstairs and showed her my art studio. I sat on the bench, watching her take it in.

She was silent as she walked around, stopping to gaze at a canvas or one of the charcoal drawings that were tacked on the wall. “Joshua, these are marvellous!”

I shrugged. “It was part of my therapy with Maggie while I was in the hospital. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, and when I built the barn, I added this space.”

“
Do you sell your work?”

“
I have sold some, yes. It’s more a hobby than anything.”

“
Watercolors and charcoal; are those your favourite mediums?”

I nodded. “I tend to do more between the spring and fall. But sometimes I fire up the heaters and work in here in the winter. The views from up here are amazing.”

She came and stood in front of me. “They are beautiful, Joshua. Thank you for showing me.”

She shivered and I stood up from the bench. “Let’s go back to the house. I don’t want you cold." Hand in hand, we trudged slowly back, Bear running ahead only to stop and come barrelling back towards us playfully barking and circling around us. Rabbit laughed in delight at his antics and I grinned at her reaction. I loved seeing her relaxed and carefree no matter how briefly. Once in the house we made our way into the main room and I smelled the aroma of something sweet.

“
What do I smell?”

“
I … umm ... baked some pies. Apple. You have so many and I didn’t want them going bad so I thought I’d try.”

I walked over and examined the pies sitting on the counter cooling. I grinned widely. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had homemade pie. Or pie of any sort. “When can we eat them?”

Rabbit laughed. “Don’t get too excited, Joshua. I did them without a recipe, just from an idea in my head. And we both know that my head isn’t very reliable these days. They might not be very good.”

I shook my head. “Impossible. They smell fucking amazing and I want a piece. Now.” I looked at her pleadingly. “Please?”

She laughed and went to the cupboard to get me a plate, and then cut me a generous slice. She watched anxiously as I cut into it and chewed. “I used butter in the pastry since you didn’t have lard. Is it okay?”

I shook my head. “No, it isn’t actually.”

Her face fell. I leaned forward and kissed her. “It is beyond okay, Rabbit. It’s the best pie I’ve ever tasted. Thank you.”

The relief was evident in her voice. “Really?”

I nodded and kept eating. The rich, buttery pastry melted in my mouth and the filling was sweet, dense and well-laced with cinnamon. Looking down, I realized I had eaten the entire slice, except for one bite. Embarrassed, I glanced up to see Rabbit watching me with a grin. I returned her grin, and then silently offered her the last bite off my fork. She leaned forward and covered my hand with hers, guiding the fork to her mouth. I watched as her lips wrapped around it and she slowly drew back, keeping her eyes on me as her tongue darted out, flicking the tiny crumbs of pastry off her mouth as she chewed. She closed her eyes and moaned quietly.

I shivered.

Fuck
, that was hot.

Her eyes opened and looked at me steadily … and the vixen was back.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Rabbit …” I warned subtly.

She looked at me, smiling innocently, her eyes dancing. Her head tilted to one side teasingly. “Joshua?”

I stepped forward.

“
Did you want me to … fork … another piece for you?” she giggled suggestively.

My lips twitched in amusement at her word play. “I
would
like to … fork … a piece …” I grinned at her, stepping forward again.