Page 37 of Pink and Country

“Fine with me. You’ll be lucky to taste my vegan sausage if I win.” His words sucked all the air from my lungs. I shifted in my seat, my body an aching mess. When I regained some sort of self-control, we shook on it. HN winked, and if I wasn’t sitting on the floor, I would’ve fallen off my chair. HN exuded confidence and sex appeal like it was a suit tailored just for him. It fit him tightly in all the right places. My body was bothered and hot. Did someone crank up the heat in here?

A ball of lust sat down my throat. I coughed and found my voice.

Two could play this little game.

“Well, I’m not sure I’ll let you enjoy my buns, but how do pancakes sound?” For the first time, I noticed a small pink flush rising on his face, under his dark stubble. My eyes lingered on his throat, where I witnessed his pulse spiking. I clenched my thighs when our gazes met. HN swallowed hard, and the movement sent jitters between my legs and down to my toes. My skin burned, and my heart quivered. Ohmygod, his smitten grins could, without exaggerating, liquify me right on this floor.

“Show me what you’ve got, woman.” All my inhibitions died right there. His eyes ate me up like I were some sort of candy melting on his tongue. His knuckles grazed the side of my face. I shivered. With a glint in his eyes, HN leaned back and settled to his side of the coffee table.

His intoxicating presence sucked all the air from the room, leaving me breathless, all my senses heightened.

His genuine laughter and his soft chuckles made me dizzy. With desire. And need.

When I won the game after HN went bankrupt, he cupped his heart. “You own me, Fairy.” The way he faked I bruised his strong male ego made me shiver. I tried to ignore the game we were playing, but I couldn’t stop. Monopoly was just an excuse to play with each other’s restraint. No matter what, I wouldn’t give in to temptation. HN would crack first. I bent over every time I got up, pushed my boobs up each time I crossed my arms over my chest, wet my lips with my tongue a few too many times. HN missed nothing. And the more his eyes darkened, the more my inner thighs pulsated.

* * *

I woke up early with a purpose. Since I won last night’s game, according to our terms, I was on breakfast duty. I showered, dressed, and went downstairs to mix the pancake batter. I’d bring last night’s fruit leftovers along with me. By now, my smile was etched on my face.

I paced the kitchen before mastering the courage to go next door. My heartbeat was messier and louder than a little kid’s orchestra. I slid my hands in my sweater sleeves and stretched my neck muscles in all direction, trying to calm the flock of birds inside my chest.

My tongue grazed my bottom lip, and I rolled my shoulders back as I walked out the door.

The memory of last night got me all tingly and giddy.

Whenever HN and I were together, the world around us stopped existing. Why did I keep going back to him? When did I become a glutton for punishment?

I pushed the thoughts away and strolled forward.

My jaw slackened. I blinked. I swallowed. And I sucked in a shuddering breath. Before me stood HN, bare-chested, with an unconcealed erection, an adorable sleepy smirk grazing his lips, and bed hair. Those abs. Oh god. They had haunted my dreams since the morning I woke up in his bed, entangled in his warm, toned body, after my hypothermia scare. My mouth watered as I pictured him wearing only boxer briefs in my head. His tanned, rock-hard chest on full display.

Travis was handsome. But Carter was out of this world. Was I so rusty with men that the sight of one, from up close, was enough to get my hormones in a frenzy? Last night, I feared my ovaries would take over and beg him to ram into me, thick and hard, on repeat, until next year. I caught him checking out my butt many times. Each time his gaze drilled holes in my back, I swayed my hips a little more, loving the feeling of playing with the man.

In the doorway, HN studied me, his head tilted to one side.

Why was HN staring at me this way? Did he forget I was coming over? I felt my blood rising in my cheeks. I closed my eyes. I gazed down, hoping I’d disappear. Holding my breath, I turned on my heels, ready to bolt, when he begged me to come in.

“Thanks,” I said, brushing his arm on purpose with my shoulder as I made my way in. A million butterflies flew up inside me. I shivered as HN’s warmth rubbed against me.

Hours later, I left his cabin thinking I’d get some writing done. Who was I kidding? I shifted in my seat. Drummed my fingers. Chewing on my purple-ink pen. Not even the fantastic hammock chair with the perfect view of the mountains was appealing enough today. Like a caged lioness, I roamed around the cabin, not knowing what do to with myself. My fingers itched to do something but refused to comply on the keyboard. I fanned myself, warmth rippling in me. I rolled a cold bottle of water down my nape, between my breasts, over my forehead. HN’s manly cedarwood and pine scent was all I could smell.

My fingertips tapped on the pad of my laptop—the sound driving me nuts—while I aborted the idea of writing for now and layered in a warm jacket and a soft blanket instead. Slouched in an Adirondack chair on the back deck with a fantasy novel in my hands, I welcomed the winter sun as it warmed me up, hoping it’d clear my mind and make me forget about HN’s hotness. The story, dark and exciting, kept me on the edge of my seat for hours.

My heart did a little dance. Mission accomplished.

I fixed myself a quick dinner, sprawled on the sofa, and dozed off. Bernice curled beside me, her warm body resting against my belly, my dreams spiced up with everything I wished my hot neighbor would do to me.

A loud thud woke me up. I flinched and sprung to my feet, wondering if it was a part of a dream or not. My heart scurried in its cage and felt heavier in my chest. The sun had settled down hours ago. I scuffed to the far corner of the living room and flicked the light on. The room swam in a warm glow. A high moon lit up the starry sky.

Another loud thud thundered outside. I startled. I held my breath, all my senses waking up.

Was it a raccoon going through the trash can? A skunk? Or a bear?

No. The fence. Saunders told me it prevented bears from getting too close to the property.

While my heart plummeted down to my stomach, I padded across the room and grabbed the TV remote on my way to the front door, ready to hit anyone standing in the dark.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a window. Armed with only a remote, I wouldn’t even scare a baby. I sighed.