Page 34 of Scotch & Shortbread

Now was not the time to break his dry spell—and not with this lass. She was already a handful. If he slept with her, it would just make things way too complicated. No, he had to keep things platonic. He had to stay disciplined. He was good at that. In what felt like no time, he’d chopped enough wood to last a week or more.

Loading up the logs back in the cottage and starting a fresh fire, he was relieved the lass wasn’t about. He could hear the shower running, and he forced himself not to think about the lass naked in his shower. Christ. He needed to go back out again. Maybe shovel some snow.

Leaving her a quick note—his mam had always ingrained in them to be courteous—he headed back out. The snow was blowing hard, so he decided against trying to shovel. Instead, he and Bear made their way to his shed. He took a deep breath once he got inside and shook off the snow that clung to him. His trusty pup shook off the snow from his coat too and proceeded to his dog bed in the corner.

The room wasn’t big but enough that he’d turned it into a small workout area. He had a bench press, stationary bike, and some weights inside. He’d also installed a small heater which he was especially pleased about on days like today. Time to let off some real steam. He threw himself into a hardcore lifting session.

Hours had gone by, and the snow continued to fall and swirl about. Alex was feeling better though. Physical exertion worked wonders on his mind. Not only did he feel physically strong—he felt mentally strong. He was beginning to find it laughable that he’d been rattled at all by Quinn. He knew damn well the lusty feeling he’d had had more to do with his deprivation than it had to do with her. Perhaps he’d need to take care of a little business in the shower. That should help temper his undersexed imagination.

With a clearer mind, it now seemed ridiculous that he’d been so worked up about Quinn staying with him through the snow blizzard. Yes, the lass would be his house guest for a day or two, but so what? It was not such a big deal. He’d been through harder things—far harder things. His muscles burned in his chest and arms, but it felt good. His stomach growled. Feeling hungry, but also more clear and grounded in himself, he supposed he should get back in and get something to eat.

23

Hot Shower and Warm Cookies

Alexcamethroughthedoor looking like he’d just dug himself out of an avalanche.

“Jeepers!” Quinn quipped taking in the sight of him. “How’d the shovelling go?”

He looked up at her as if she were nuts to even ask. “An asinine task in this.” He nodded towards the window where the snow was drifting up on the sill.

Guess we won’t be going anywhere today then, she thought.

“I was getting a little worried. You were gone for a long time. I thought you might have shovelled your way to the town,” she teased.

He looked at her under his brow. “I huv a shed in the back with some workout equipment. I chopped some wood, then did a wee workout. We willnae run out of wood again.”

Quinn felt a pang of disappointment. Did that mean she wouldn’t need to cuddle up in his bed? Then she reminded herself of the photo. She bit her lip. “Oh right, good.” She was quiet before she added, “I’d like to see your shed. I've always thought I should learn to lift weights and go to the gym, but then I end up doing yoga instead. I love yoga." When he just looked at her blankly she added, "Maybe you can train me in your shed. You know, to defend myself and all that."

She had a hunch he didn’t like the idea, but she wasn’t about to let him forget their deal. She’d always intended to learn self-defence, but it was one of those things that she never seemed to get around to.

“Aye,” he said casually, and she could guess he’d forgotten their middle-of-the-night agreement or maybe hoped she’d forgotten. Grabbing an apple from a fruit bowl on the kitchen table, he strode to the bathroom not giving her a second glance.

Quinn watched after him feeling slightly disappointed by their interaction. She hoped they could at least be friends. She wished he didn’t seem so on guard with her. That and she had been feeling excited to have him come back to show him what she’d been up to while he was out.

Alex pulled open the curtain on the shower, and his mouth went dry at the site before him. A red lace bra and matching thong hung off the shower head. What kind of girl goes hiking in that? Shouldn’t she have some kind of sports bra? And why on earth were they hanging in his shower?

He stared for a moment, unable to deter his thoughts from what she’d look like in the ensemble, and then it dawned on him. She was in his kitchen, in his clothes, with nothing underneath them. His cock thickened. Damn her all to hell.

Tentatively, he reached up and touched the offending thong. It was damp. Of course. It appeared she had washed her underclothes and had hung them to dry. It shouldn’t get to him, but it did. Seeing her red lacy bra and thong had him imagining what it would be like to plunge his cock into her, to feel every part of her luscious curves, to hear her whimper as he drove into her. Heat coiled around him. Swallowing hard, he carefully removed her skimpy underwear from the shower head and put it on the vanity.

Stepping into the shower, he let the hot water hit him and grabbed his rock-hard cock, needing to find some relief. He wasn’t going to think about her. All he needed was a quick release. He braced himself, putting one hand up on the tiled shower wall as he let the other pump him.

Immediately, his thoughts turned to the way her arse felt snug against him last night. He growled.Stop.

And her full breasts as she pressed into him at the kitchen sink.Don’t.

Her tight nipples beaded through her sweater when he pulled her over.Christ.

His body spasmed in sweet release, and the second he could breathe again, guilt rolled over him. God, he shouldn’t have noticed her body while he was on duty. And he certainly shouldn’t be fantasizing about it while he… Jesus. Enough. He’d found his release. Now he could calm the fuck down around her. Letting the water spray over him, he cleared his mind and then washed up as he thankfully began to feel more at ease.

Alex strode into the kitchen and Quinn thought she was ready for him this time, but she was thrown off guard by how damn good he looked all clean-shaven with his dark hair still damp from his shower. He looked at her from under his dark brow, and it made her knees go weak.

Tearing her gaze away, she focused on pouring a fresh mug of coffee that she’d made. Before her grandmother had passed she always told Quinn,kill ‘em with kindness. That was her plan. If they were going to be stuck here together during Christmas, she was going to make sure it was pleasant at the very least.

“Coffee?” she asked, and without waiting for him to answer, she handed him the steamy mug.

“Thank ye,” he said taking it. Alex seemed refreshed after his shower and much more amiable. Taking a sip, he looked down at the coffee in his emerald green mug and took a second sip as if testing it. A subtle smile touched his lips. It was his coffee, so it shouldn’t taste different. But maybe having someone else make it for him made it better? Quinn didn’t know, but either way, it was nice to see an agreeable expression on his too-handsome face.

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