Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
“You fuck like a wild animal, baby. It doesn't seem like you've only ever been with one person.”
“Oh...thanks, I guess?” She flashes a sly grin that lights up her whole face and accentuates her flushed cheeks from the recent orgasm.
“Quit giving me that look.”
“Yes, boss.”
“I like that attitude.” I grab her arm and tug her back down towards me, taking her lips in a sensual kiss.
“I'm sore, already. You fucked me into submission.” She giggles, a sound that’s music to my ears and makes me smile uncontrollably.
“Be careful, sweetheart.” I playfully smack her ass. “We can get kinky if that's what you want.”
“Ow, oh my God.” She jumps up and rubs her ass cheek. I laugh and wink at her before pulling her back down for another kiss.
I curl her into me, wrapping her in my arms as the fire flickers with warmth.
“Tell me about where you came from—the city, your family,” I say. She plays with the soft edge of a knit blanket.
“There isn’t much to say. Dad’s an alcoholic, mom makes excuses for it. It’s hard to talk to them, they’re always asking for money or guilt-tripping me for not visiting more often. I try to keep my distance.”
“I’m sorry about that, sweetheart.” I offer.
"It's okay. It's my life, it's what I grew up with," she says calmly. "So when I say I have no family, I mean it."
"No friends missing you?" I push, desperate for any information from her.
"Not really," she replies, her tone distant. "I don't really get attached to people."
My mind races, trying to make sense of her words. It's odd for someone to not form attachments. I lean forward and place a soft kiss on her shoulder.
"So you have no family, no friends," I mumble, "and so you moved all the way out here alone?"
She hums in agreement, the firelight dancing in her eyes.
"Well, I'm glad you did," I tell her with a grin, running my fingers along her soft skin. "Things were getting boring around Copper Mountain."
She waits a beat before speaking again, still avoiding eye contact. "Tell me about your family.”
"Well, my dad was an electrician too," I begin, watching the flames lick the logs in the fire. "One year, right before Thanksgiving, there was a storm. One of the worst we'd had in years and everyone was caught off guard. Sometimes these storms just come out of nowhere," I trail off, playing with a strand of hair that falls across her neck. "Ninety mile per hour winds–dad went fishing out in the lake, it’s not even a big lake, but the waves were wild enough that the boat capsized and we lost him…”
“I’m so sorry,” she murmurs so softly that I can barely hear her.
“It was hardest on my mom. I was fifteen. We lost her too that night. She just couldn’t cope with losing him. They were high school sweethearts. I remember catching them dancing in the kitchen late at night to old band music. They didn't see me, but the way he held her in his arms, so gentle and caring, showed that he knew she was fragile. And she was. I didn't realize it then, but after he was gone, she just... disappeared. She’s older now, living with her sister in a big house down at the end of main street. She has lots of friends and stays busy, but the loss of my father changed her.”
"Archer..." Her soft lips form my name. Somehow, it feels comforting to open up to her. She reaches up and caresses my cheek with one hand. My eyes close as I absorb her sympathy. It's been years since I've spoken these words; only people in town know what happened.
"My brothers and I tried to hold everything together for her, but it was never the same.”
She simply nods before curling up against my side and wrapping an arm around my waist lovingly.
"My mom is beautiful. She has dark hair, long and always worn in a ponytail. When I was young, I loved to play with it," I say as I run my fingers through her hair, lost in the memory.
"I would love to see pictures sometime," Bella says.
"Mmm..." I hum, a small smile forming on my lips as I think about showing her snippets of my childhood. "I'd like that, sweetheart." I trace my thumb across the bow of her lips.
I hope I won't regret opening up to her. I'm not sure what we are or if our relationship will ever be more, but it means something to me that I’m sharing this with her. It's been a long time since I've opened up to anyone.
“What are you thinking?” She finally asks.
“Not thinking anything but how nice this is,” I catch her gaze and speak honestly. “You’re pretty good company to be snowed-in with.”