Page 6 of Peaked Desires

Huxton grabs me by the arm, pulling me into a small woodshed. “Get under here! It will pass quickly.”

We’re both soaked and the second we look at each other we start laughing. It’s the first time I’ve seen Huxton smile, and holy hell, it’s goddamn beautiful.

I can’t look away.

I step in closer as rain pours down around us. It feels like we’re in our own little world, huddled in the makeshift shelter.

Huxton looks at me like no one ever has before. Intensity filling his gaze and he huddles in closer. Our bodies touch, my skin trembles with heat. Burning hot desire.

My tongue swipes across my lips.

For a heartbeat, time feels like it stops. I lean on the tips of my toes, closing the distance between us. It’s our own little world and something shifts, our mouths moving closer and closer. My heart hammers inside my chest and I go to close my eyes, but I’m stopped by the sound of a horn blaring nearby.

My neck snaps around. Huxton takes a giant step backwards and hits his head on a wooden support beam.

“You guys want a ride?” A woman behind the wheel of a buggy shouts out.

Huxton shouts back, but my mind is racing as I pile into the back of the buggy. Rain drums against the roof, drowning out the voices in front of me. The buggy starts moving and I steal a glance at Huxton rubbing the back of his head. It’s then that I feel it… something I’ve never felt before.

I’m in love. In love with my boss.

CHAPTER THREE

Huxton

Istand at the edge of my cabin’s porch, overlooking the retreat nestled way down in the valley below. The rain cleared quickly, leaving behind the sound of raindrops falling from the leaves in the forest.

Leaving Elise at the office was tough. She’s in good hands, of course, Tracy will get her up and running in the office in no time. She will be a good employee, I have no doubts about that.

But letting her out of my sight felt like letting go of a part of myself.

I scrub a hand over my face, slapping my cheeks to snap myself out of this funk. Man. How is it possible for one woman to unhinge a man so quickly?

The walk back up the mountain was exactly what I needed to clear my mind. I’ve got so much shit to do, but even after trudging up the muddy path, trying everything to get my thoughts together, nothing is working.

There’s a twist in my chest that I’ve never felt before. I know exactly what it is, but I can’t afford to think about it. To think about her. Everything I have worked for, all the dreams, the long hard days of work and sacrifices… it’s all coming to fruition. I’m so damn close.

Grabbing my coat, I head straight down to the woodpile. Chopping wood is always a sure way to clear my mind, and the moment I grip the axe, I feel lighter.

I get to work, lining up a log on the chopping block. One enormous swing splits the wood, the satisfying crack echoing in the trees behind me. I set another log on the block, hitting it harder. I do it again, and again, and again.

My breathing becomes heavy as I toss the split logs into a pile and keep chopping. Rolling my sleeves up, the wood splits easily, but my mind won’t stop drifting. It’s like she’s imprinted in my brain. A constant distraction that I can’t fucking afford right now.

Not only that, but today, he’s there too.

Dad.

I swing the axe down hard, taking the emotion stirring in my belly out on the timber. He’s the reason I can’t afford distractions. Not now. The grand opening is two weeks away, and everything needs to be fucking perfect.

This retreat is more than my passion project. This is a tribute, a promise to a man who dedicated his life to helping others find peace and solace in nature. This was his land, our family’s land. I grew up here, exploring with him by my side until his very last breath.

And getting involved with an employee would derail everything we dreamed of.

A breeze whisks across my face, cooling the sweat beading across my brow. Splitting wood is hardly clearing my mind, so I set the axe back in the log and step back.

I need to get back to work.

As I regain my breath, my hands dive into my pockets. There’s something in there - soft, silky. My cock twitches and I pluck out Elise’s lacey panties, bringing them straight to my nose.

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