Into the Storm (16 page)

My urgent, hot desire faded, instead replaced with an overwhelming tenderness. I didn’t want her any less, but
how
I wanted her changed. “I love you, Rabbit. So much.” I kissed her tenderly again, lips moving and moulding to each other. “I love you. I love you.” My voice was urgent, needing her to understand the depth of what I was feeling for her. “I want you, Rabbit.” My voice trailed off with a groan as I felt her hand reach inside my coat, stroking me.

“
Take me,” she whispered.

I shook my head. “Not out here. It’s too cold and I want to take my time. I want you to
feel
how much I love you.”

She whimpered in desire and I smiled down at her. “Arms, Rabbit,” I instructed lovingly. Her arms reached up around my neck and I lifted her up and carried into the house. I walked directly to the fireplace, disturbing Bear from his warm spot. His eyes regarded us with utter distain for a moment, and then with a deep huff, he headed down the hall to the bedroom. I slowly lowered Rabbit to her feet and we stood regarding each other. Her hand drifted up, cupping my cheek, stroking slowly. “Love me, Joshua,” she whispered.

There were simply too many clothes between us and our hands moved with indulgent caresses as clothing was shed and soft skin was exposed. I lowered us both onto the plush rug making sure she was surrounded by cushions. I kissed every inch of her delicate body as it was exposed, worshipping her with my lips and tongue until she was trembling and undulating under me. Reaching up, I captured her mouth with mine, kissing her deeply over and over again. I teased her, withdrawing my tongue from her mouth and drawing hers into mine, gently sucking and stroking it, drawing out her soft whimpers and moans. Her hands wandered restlessly over my back, pulling me closer, her leg hitching over my hip. “Please, Joshua …
please,
”
she begged, her eyes pleading.

I hovered over her, staring down into her wide, loved-filled gaze. Slowly, I entered her slick warmth, closing my eyes as the pleasure of being inside her rolled through me. My head fell into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent as I began moving in long, slow strokes, wanting to be buried in her as long as possible. Her hips rose, meeting me, her legs tightening around my hips, pulling me in as deeply as she could. I could feel my orgasm building like a rapidly moving storm, gathering in strength with each thrust as I moved in her. Her muscles fluttered and clenched and her arms tensed as she gasped out my name, coming apart around me. I continued to move and felt the intense burst of heat as I came intensely, not even able to make a sound as I finally stilled.

We were both quiet, the silence broken only by our shuddering, panting breaths as we slowly came down to earth. I pulled away and looked down at her. Rabbit’s hand came up, affectionately stroking the back of my neck. She smiled her shy smile and wordlessly pulled my head down to her chest, her hand continuing her gentle caresses.

“
You wanted me to feel how much you loved me? Mission accomplished, Joshua,” she said quietly.

I couldn’t help the smug smile I felt pull on my lips.

Chapter Seventeen

Joshua

Bear pushed on my arm, and I moved to allow his great body access to see what I was doing under the hood of the truck. I sighed as his shadow blocked the light. I tried moving around him, but he continued leaning against me. Impatiently, I pushed him away. “Down, Bear!” I snapped. He sat looking at me with a huff, but I ignored him and went back to my inspection.

I had just finished the last of the private drive that led to the main road. Even with Rabbit and Bear with me in the truck it had been a panicky, tense exercise and I only cleared a wide enough path to allow a vehicle through. At one point, I had thought I would pass out from my hyperventilating. The gate was just too far away. Rabbit again sat behind me and it was only her voice in my ear and her tight embrace that helped me get through it.

I had noticed a strange noise in the engine and the thought of the truck breaking down that far away was overwhelming. Then when I raised the plow it seemed to seize and that was the last straw. I turned the truck around and headed back to the gate as quickly as possible. After dropping Rabbit at the front of the house and telling her where I would be, I decided to work on the truck in front of the barn. I needed to be alone for a short time and calm down.

The sun was out in full force today and it was warm on my back as I bent over the hood. I was checking out the source of the noise, and then I would move on to the plow.

I leaned forward, checking on the timing belt, when Rabbit appeared. She snuck up under my arm, and once again my light was blocked. “How’s it going?” she asked sweetly.

“
It’s not,” I said through gritted teeth.

She turned her head and regarded me. “How come?”

“
I keep getting interrupted.”

“
Oh.” Her voice was soft. “I brought you some coffee.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

But she didn’t move. “Can I help?”

The emotion of the morning was still running through me and my patience was highly insufficient. When she fell heavily into my side I saw that Bear had heaved himself up beside her, joining the party. She stroked his head lovingly as she chuckled. “Wanting to see what Daddy is doing, Bear?”

I pulled up and away from the engine. “I am NOT his daddy. He’s my dog. And I’m never going to get anything done if the two of you don’t go away and stop blocking my fucking light!” I snarled.

She regarded me quietly. “I’ll take that as a no. Your coffee is in the thermos. Come on, Bear, your
master
is busy.” She leaned down and grabbed his collar, then walked away.

Finally.

I went back to work; I tightened the belt and continued checking. Except, now that I had all the space and light I needed, I couldn’t concentrate. All I could see was the soft hurt that had appeared on Rabbit’s face when I had yelled at her.

And what had she done? Made me coffee and asked if she could help.

Yeah. That so deserved my anger.

Instead of telling her how tense I was still feeling from pushing my boundary limits when plowing and the fact that the road was once again open which made me anxious, I yelled at her and sent her away.

Fuck.

I threw down my tools and grabbed the thermos. I didn’t even bother pouring it into the lid. I just drank it from the thermos directly. The hot liquid’s aromatic steam drifted upwards and I closed my eyes briefly, enjoying the cinnamon-laced beverage. I went to place the thermos down and noticed the slice of pie sitting on the tool chest as well. And lying across the top was a fork. I felt my lips twitch in memory of the kitchen events of a few days ago, and then I groaned.

I was such an asshole.

She
knew
without me telling her how distressed I was and had come to offer me her quiet comfort with both her company and her treats. Instead of accepting either graciously, I snapped and hurt her feelings.

Suddenly, the truck didn’t seem as important as finding Rabbit and apologizing. I’d go get her and she could hand me my tools and talk to me while I worked. We’d both feel better.

If I could get her to listen to me.

I trudged up the path to the house and had just rounded the bend when the first one hit me.

THWACK!

I stopped walking and raised my hand to my head. It came away wet and covered in snow.

What the fuck? A snowball?

Before I could even figure out what happened …

THWACK!

This time the snowball hit me right in my chest.

I looked down, mouth agape, and made the mistake of raising my head to scan the area around me.

THWACK!

Right. In. The. Face.

Blinking, I stood there speechless and was suddenly hit with a barrage of snowballs. Very few missed.

I hit the ground. I heard a mischievous giggle and then there was silence.

“
Rabbit!”

Nothing.

“
Rabbit, where the hell are you?”

Nothing.

I crawled back around the bend and then poked my head back to see. The large piles of snow were excellent hiding places. Especially when you were tiny. I focused my gaze on the direction I thought the snowballs had come from. As I was doing this, my hands were busy getting some of my own ammunition ready.

“
Rabbit! I’m coming out now. No more snowballs. I’m warning you!”

I stood up and poked my head around the bend. Sure enough, I watched a snowball come flying my way, but this time I ducked.

And thanks to Bear’s tail sticking up in the air, I knew exactly where she was. Right behind the clump of bushes ahead and to my right. I chuckled to myself. If I went back towards the barn, I could sneak around and come up right behind her. Just to throw her off, I yelled out one more time. “I’m soaked, Rabbit! And the last one got me in the eye! Come out!”

My only answer was another snowball that flew past me. I stood up and threw one widely, wanting her to think I had no idea where she was.

“
Fine! I’m going back to the barn!” I yelled, trying not to laugh. I crouched down and quickly made my way back towards the barn, and once I got to the other path, I quietly made my way around behind her. And there she was, huddled behind the row of bushes with an impressive pile of snowballs sitting beside her, ready to do battle. I could see her peering through the bushes trying to see where I was, while Bear sat beside her, chewing on one of the snowballs. He glanced at me and I gave him the hand signal for silence. He stared at me briefly, and then looked over to Rabbit. Finally, he gave a huff as if to say ‘I’m out,’ and then went back to chewing on the snowball. I quietly crept through the snow until I was about five feet behind Rabbit. “Where are you, you grumpy man?” she muttered. “Come back and I’ll show you an interruption.”

My lips twitched at her angry mutterings. Pulling two snowballs out of my pockets, I steadied myself.

“
Right here, pretty girl,” I growled.

She whirled around, gasping just as I threw the first snowball. It hit her square in the chest. Instantly, she retaliated with one that barely missed my head. I threw the next one while reaching into my pocket for more. My arsenal was soon depleted and I stood looking at Rabbit. Her cheeks were flushed with cold and laughter and her hair gleamed in the sunlight as she danced around trying to avoid being hit. My earlier anger now forgotten, I grinned as I watched her. I pulled the last snowball from my pocket and dropped it on the ground. “I surrender,” I laughed. “Do with the grumpy man what you will.”

I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. One moment I was standing and the next Rabbit came barrelling at me, hitting me square in the chest, knocking us both into the snow. My breath left me in a large gasp as I stared at her, wide-eyed in shock. Then I rolled her over and, grinning, whispered “Gotcha,” as I pushed a handful on snow down her neck. Her squeals and laughter made me chuckle and I gazed down at her. As her laughter died away, I leaned down. “Forgive me, Rabbit,” I whispered quietly into her ear. “I’m such an asshole.”

I pulled back and was startled to see tears in her eyes. Had I hurt her somehow? Her healing injuries were always foremost in my mind, but maybe I accidently held her too tightly?

“
Baby, are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “I know you were upset, Joshua. I know you only see the failure, but I see the victory. And these last few days, as hard as it was, you won.” Her quiet words of praise rolled through me and I gazed at her, feeling my own emotions suddenly shift.

Groaning, I lifted her head out of the snow and crashed my lips to hers. My tongue pressed decisively onto her bottom lip, demanding entrance, and when her lips parted I delved inside impatiently, wanting her taste. I wound my hand into her hair and tilted her head, wanting more. Deeper. Wetter. Hotter. Over and over, I tasted her, my tongue stroking, dipping, and pressing. Hot, blistering need filled me. The need to feel her wrapped around me. Now.