Page 31 of Stranded

I peel myself away from Maddox, my heart pounding in my chest, my body humming with desire. The sight of the blue chiffon fabric brings me back to reality. Excitement rushes through me as my fingers glide over the soft material. I switch on the old sewing machine, feeling the familiar hum under my fingertips.

Years may have passed since I last used one, but it feels like yesterday. I cut and stitch, losing myself in the machine's rhythm. I don't notice the time slipping, the world fading as I create.

From the corner of my eye, I see Maddox in the kitchen, cooking. Occasionally, his gaze flicks in my direction, the blue of his eyes as intense as the fabric I'm working with. I can't help but smile at the sight. This is our strange little paradise in the cold of Alaska, and for now, it's perfect.

All I can think about is now, as the future is too unclear and hazy.

Maddox pulls a pie out of the oven and sets it on the table, glancing over at me. "Do you think you can peel yourself away long enough to eat?"

I smile, setting the dress on the chair beside me. "Of course. I need a break."

We sit across from each other, the meat pie between us a delicious distraction.

Maddox slices into the pie and the smell of cooked meat fills the cabin. He hands me a slice, his eyes never leaving mine. "How's the dress coming along?"

"It's getting there," I reply, my smile mirroring his. "I feel I'm missing something. I want it to be perfect."

He raises an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "You’re too hard on yourself. I'm sure it will be stunning, just like you."

"I'd love to wear it to one of my mom's events," I mention, my fingers tracing the smooth edge of the porcelain plate. The words hang in the air, a fragile thought I've allowed myself to voice.

Maddox's gaze sharpens, his nostrils flaring. I would like to know if he has the same thoughts as me. What happens next with us? "Maybe you will one day," he murmurs.

I don't bring up the New Year's Eve gala. A gala Maddox knows nothing about. It's only five days away. I can get the dress done in time, but how do I shatter this dream we're in and leave Maddox? The thought of donning this dress, a creation born out of our shared solitude and my passion reborn in the glow of the spotlight under my mother's proud gaze, would be so fulfilling.

"I'll get back to it after dinner then," I say, trying to break the tension.

Maddox nods but doesn't seem to be focused on his food anymore. He looks lost in thought, his spoon hovering mid-air. "You should, Ivy. Don't let your talent go to waste," he says.

Our conversation fades into the background, replaced by the rhythmic clinking of cutlery against plates.

I return to the dress after dinner, my fingers dancing over the fabric, the rhythm of the sewing machine echoing in the silence.

Maddox watches me from the old leather chair he's sat in, his icy blue eyes intense. I'm not sure what the future holds, but for now, I'm content to bask in the soft glow of the cabin light, the hum of the old machine, and the presence of a man I care about more than anything. I’m trapped in this dream we've spun together. A dream I'm reluctant to wake from. But I know I must, soon.

MADDOX

Ivy’s soft breaths are in sync with the rhythmic thumping of my heart as she lays on my chest, fast asleep. An unfamiliar sense of peace washes over me, unbidden but not unwelcome. The heat of her body against mine stirs a tenderness I’ve never known, her trust in me both unsettling and intoxicating. I run my fingers gently through her hair, relishing the silky feel of the strands against my rough skin.

The stirrings of an emotion I’ve kept well buried threaten to surface as I watch her sleep. It’s a feeling too dangerous to name, but too potent to ignore. I’m in love with her. Irrevocably. I was in love with her before we even fucking met. It’s insane.

My cock has been inside her more than it hasn’t since Christmas morning. All we do is fuck, sleep, and eat like animals. It’s hard to believe it’s been only two days since Christmas. Ivy thinks she’ll go home once the road is clear, but that’s not an option. I’m not letting her go anywhere.

A sudden, thundering crash startles her awake.

“What was that?” she asks, eyes wide.

I shake my head. “I’m not sure, angel. Stay here. I’ll check it out." I leave her side reluctantly, slipping into my boots and throwing on a coat. Outside, the cold air cuts through me like a blade. A stark contrast to the warmth of my angel.

There, sprawled across the road, is a large tree. Instantly, I know It didn’t fall as the cut in the lumber is too clean and precise. Someone cut it.

A gnawing suspicion creeps into my thoughts. Either one of the men from the settlement near by knows what I did to those two men, and they’re here for me. Or maybe they’ve seen my pretty angel and want her.

Panic hits me as I return to the cabin, my mind racing. Ivy is in danger.

I return inside, trying to keep my face neutral and my emotions in check. But Ivy reads me too well. “What's wrong, Maddox?” she asks.

“It was just a tree,” I say, struggling to keep my voice steady. A world of danger lurks outside, and I can’t let it touch her. I won’t.

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