Page 20 of Whiskey and Wildfire

His casual response caught me off guard. He’d never said things like that before. But as I watched him, I saw the realization of what he just said dawn on his face.

“I… I didn’t mean?—”

“It’s alright,” I said, saving him before he dug the hole any deeper. “Don’t worry about it.”

Dakota cleared his throat, his eyes darting away from mine. “Right. Well, uh... how about some breakfast?”

He stood up abruptly, adjusting his shorts as he did so. I couldn’t help but notice the prominent bulge he was trying to hide. My own arousal hadn’t subsided either, making me grateful for the blanket still covering my lap.

“Breakfast sounds great,” I managed to say, my voice slightly higher than usual. It was still dark outside, but we needed the distraction.

Dakota nodded and headed towards the small kitchen area. I watched him move, admiring the way his muscles rippled underhis t-shirt. He seemed determined to act as if nothing unusual had happened, but there was a new tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there before.

“Hope you like eggs,” he called over his shoulder, pulling a carton from the fridge. “It’s about all I got right now.”

“Eggs are fine,” I nodded, still staring.

As Dakota busied himself in the kitchen, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The sound of eggs cracking and sizzling in the pan filled the small cabin, a mundane noise that seemed at odds with the electric tension still hanging in the air.

I stood up slowly, keeping the blanket wrapped around my waist as I made my way to the bathroom. Once inside, I splashed cold water on my face, willing my body to calm down. When I looked in the mirror, my reflection stared back at me with flushed cheeks and wide eyes.

By the time I emerged, Dakota had two plates of scrambled eggs ready on the small table. He’d also brewed some coffee, the rich aroma filling the air. I sat down across from him, grateful for something to focus on other than the lingering awkwardness between us.

“Thanks,” I murmured, picking up my mug and taking a sip.

Dakota nodded, his eyes fixed on his plate as he shoveled eggs into his mouth. The silence stretched between us, broken only by the scrape of forks against plates and the occasional sip of coffee.

I tried to think of something to say, anything to break the tension, but my mind was blank. Every time I glanced up at Dakota, I caught him quickly averting his gaze, as if he’d been watching me.

Finally, Dakota cleared his throat. “Listen, about earlier...” he began, his voice low and hesitant.

My heart leapt into my throat. “Yeah?” I managed to squeak out.

He met my eyes then, his expression unreadable. “I don’t want things to be weird between us. What happened was... well, it was an accident. We were asleep. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

I nodded, ignoring the pang of disappointment that shot through me at his words. “Of course,” I said, forcing a smile. “It was just one of those things. No big deal.”

Dakota seemed to relax a little at my response, his shoulders dropping slightly. “Good,” he said, nodding. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

We finished our breakfast in silence, the awkwardness slowly dissipating but not quite disappearing entirely. As I helped Dakota clear the dishes, our hands brushed accidentally, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I saw Dakota tense for a moment, his eyes flicking to mine before he quickly looked away.

“I should probably get going,” I said, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was five in the morning, and I didn’t have work to do, but things were getting intense. “I’ve got some work to do back at the main house.”

Dakota nodded, running a hand through his hair. “Right, yeah. Of course.”

As I gathered my things, I couldn’t help but notice Dakota watching me out of the corner of his eye. There was a tension in his posture that hadn’t been there before, like a coiled spring ready to release.

“Thanks for last night,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual. “The movie was good. Well, what I saw of it anyway.”

Dakota’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Yeah, you conked out pretty early. Guess I’m not the most exciting company.”

“No, that’s not it at all,” I protested quickly. “I just... I always fall asleep during movies. It’s kind of my thing.”

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before darting away again. “Well, feel free to come by anytime. For movies or... whatever.”

The pause in his sentence sent a shiver down my spine. I found myself hesitating at the door, not quite ready to leave. Dakota stood nearby, his hands shoved in his pockets, looking as uncertain as I felt.

“Maybe we could do this again sometime,” I ventured, my heart pounding. “Watch a movie, I mean. Or just... hang out.”

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