I try to relax my jaw.
“I just really want to get where we’re going,” I say, my voice raspy.
Finally, the road spills out onto the slightly wider highway that will lead us back to I-40. Checking my GPS, we’re still hours from Cecily’s house.
“Mmm, these are delicious. Are you sure you don’t want one?”
Finally, I see the lights and signs for a little touristy village tucked away in the hills, and I can’t wait any longer. I stop at the first roadside mountain lodge I see.
Cecily looks around. “This is cute, but why are we stopping?”
“It’s been a long day, baby. And I’m not gonna make it if I have to wait another second to get you alone.”
She eyes the “no vacancy” sign and grimaces. “They’re full, though.”
Gripping her face and drawing her close to me, I tell her. “Listen. We can use a woodshed. I don’t care.”
“I do. I don’t want to sleep in a woodshed.”
I chuckle and kiss her again. “Wait here.” I kiss her deeply and then head into the motel office.
Chapter Eighteen
Cecily
Fortunately, we’re not forced to sleep on a pallet in the woodshed.
It turns out the motel has an out-of-the-way cottage in the woods that’s only in use during the summer months because it has no electricity and isn’t up to code.
I absolutely love it. It’s charming and cozy, if a little bit dusty and drafty. I helped Milo start a fire. Even though he gives it a college try, he’s simply not built for the outdoors.
“Guess you’ll be the one barefoot in the kitchen,” I tease.
Milo pulls me onto the creaky, extra-soft bed in the corner and rumbles in my ear. “As long as you’re the pregnant one, I’ll stay in the kitchen and make you as many biscuits as you can stand.”
I have to laugh at the thought. “Only when I’m pregnant? I might get hungry in between having your babies.”
“Anything you want, anytime, anywhere. As long as you start the fire.”
Our own fireplace is not roaring yet, but we have our shared body heat to keep us warm.
I forget all about the cold, though, the second I’m on my back, naked except for my panties, and feeling my scarves pinch the skin of my wrists. Milo is tying me to the rickety metal bedposts. The tightness, the security floods me with warmth between my legs.
I’ve never told anyone else about my secret fascination. But after today, Milo has earned my trust completely.
He’s going slow with me, taking such good care of me. Just like he said he would.
“Tell me if you want me to stop or let you out of the restraints.”
“You’re a Christmas miracle, do you know that?” I tease.
A dark look falls over Milo’s face, and he presses his lips to my neck sweetly.
He lets me watch as he slowly bites the end of a berry, going a little over the top by licking the juicy flesh.
“Share?” I say shyly.
“Oh, sweet Cecily. You’ll be eating this strawberry. But first, I have plans.”