I watched him from the kitchen while I waited for the pot to whistle.
He sat on his haunches, resting his left elbow on his left thigh. He poked the fire with a stick and then stood.
A smile spread slowly across his face when he saw me watching him.
I turned back to the tea, prepared two mugs, and then went to sit on the couch next to him. He took the mugs from me and put them on the coffee table.
Turning me, he pulled me up against him so my back was flush with his chest. His left leg was up on the couch. He cradled me between his legs, pulled a blanket off the back and covered us up. We stared into the dancing flames of the fire. He snuggled me close.
“Now that we officially got that out of the way,” he teased and kissed the side of my head.
I wasn’t sure how he wanted me to respond so I remained silent. What we’d done in the forest had been erotic and moving. I knew I didn’t want to move from this spot right now. I wanted only to curl up and go to sleep on him.
He continued, “Why didn’t you tell me you were a doctor when we were at the bar?”
“It didn’t matter,” I whispered.
“How so?”
“I didn’t think I would see you again.”
He ran his palm over my hair. “What’s happening?” he said, quietly.
I stared into the flickering flames of the fire. “I don’t know.”
He lowered his head. I tilted mine back. He settled his cheek against mine.
“I have to leave in two days.”
I nodded, unable to respond.
He asked, “Can you spend that time with me?”
Eyes closed, I nodded again.
It didn’t seem possible, but he pulled me even closer, wrapping his arms around me like a weighted blanket.
We fell asleep. At some point in the middle of the night, he lifted me up and carried me to bed. I stirred. His gentle hand caressed my stomach, and I turned to him.
Lowering his head, he kissed my belly and then blew softly on the wet skin. I closed my eyes. He tugged on the waistband of my sweats and I lifted my hips. Soft lips brushed my inner thighs, leaving warm, wet kisses as he worked his way to my sex. I spread my legs for him.
The mattress depressed as he stood. I watched the shadow of him pull his shirt over his head. I heard the zipper of his jeans and the rustle and clink of a belt buckle as he tossed everything to the floor
I had no idea what time it was. All I knew was that I needed him over me, around me, inside me.
The soft hair on his broad chest hair tickled my breasts. I parted my thighs, inviting him in. I thrust up to meet him, gasping at the thickness of him. Opening myself more fully than I had in the forest, I let him take me.
He wasn’t gentle. He wasn’t tender. He thrust into me like a man branding his woman. Placing his hands behind my knees, he pushed them back. The drums beat in my head again. He moaned and ground against my mons. I held my breath. I was reaching, grasping, tensing, waiting. The rhythmic pressing and grinding drove me over the edge again and with one final thrust, I shattered. I screamed his name. Stars filled the space behind my eyes.
He threw his head back and moaned again. A guttural sound of pride and release. I went limp, wanting only to fall back into a blissful sleep, relaxed and at peace.
When I woke again, the bed was empty. Gray light shone through the windows. It had to be almost noon. I was on ski patrol at two o’clock.
The house was quiet. I smelled coffee.
Padding quietly into the kitchen, I poured myself a cup of the hot liquid, and curled up on the couch. A moment later, booted feet clomped on the steps. Todd and Brett both came through the front door with smiles on their faces.
“You’re up.”