Page 8 of Merry & Wild

“A long time ago,” he replies. “I know the original building was built about a hundred years ago. It used to be the original house on the property.”

“Your grandparents raised their families here?”

“Well, my great and great-great-grandparents did. Then, my grandpa did well selling cattle and made enough money to build something bigger. I don’t think anyone had lived out here in about twenty years. It was mostly used for storage. I asked my father if I could fix it up and live in it since I knew that I wanted to stay on the property.”

“And he said yes.”

“He was excited,” John replies. “He helped me. Took us a while, but it worked out. Now, what else would you like to see?”

“Well, you said you’d show me anything that I wanted.”

“And I’m a man who keeps his word. What do you want to see, Joy?” He watches me with hot, greedy eyes, and I know without a doubt that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be tonight.

“Your bedroom.”

CHAPTER 5

JOHN

Now that we’re here, I want to take my time with her. Maybe I’m a masochist, I don’t know, but I’m suddenly not in a rush anymore.

“I’m happy to show you the bedroom,” I assure her and take her hand in my own, link our fingers, and bring them up to my lips. “Let’s go check out this part of the cabin. Here’s the bathroom.”

I point to the small room off the hallway, flipping on the lights for her.

“It’s pretty small.”

“But it’s clean, and that’s all that matters.”

Her smile could light up the whole place, like a sunrise in the fall, casting everything in gold.

She’s fucking beautiful.

“It’s clean,” I agree and move on to the guest bedroom. “This is just storage for now. I don’t get many guests out here.”

“Oh, you mean we have to share a bed?” Her eyes go wide in shock, and then she giggles. “Just kidding.”

“Beautifulandfunny. I like it.”

She presses her lips together, obviously pleased by the compliment, and I finally lead her into my bedroom.

“This is an addition to the original structure,” I inform her as I turn on the light and lead her inside. “I wanted just a little more space.”

“It’s nice,” she says, looking around. “I like that you made it look like the rest of the building so, from the inside, you’d never know it was added on.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, walks to the window, and gazes out into the dark, snowy night.

Walking up behind her, I rest my hands on her slender shoulders, then glide them down her arms, and she shivers under my touch.

“Are you nervous?” The question is a whisper, and for a long moment, she doesn’t reply. Finally, she simply nods, and I nudge her around until she’s facing me, and I skim my knuckles down her cheek. “We’ll take this as far asyouwant, Joy. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable at all. I’m just enjoying the hell out of you and wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Also, you’re sexy as fuck.”

That makes her laugh out loud, and she fiddles with a button on my shirt. “I’m enjoying you, too. I wouldn’t have come out here if I didn’t feel comfortable.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. Definitely sure. But, maybe we could cuddle for a while or something.”

I feel my lips tip up in a smile and nod my head. “Sure, we can do that. Here, I’ve got a T-shirt you can put on, and we’ll cuddle up and talk.”

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