Mountain Man's Baby Plan Page 5

  She doesn’t even say anything about using the bathroom at the same time or about the sleeping arrangement. There’s only one bedroom with one bed in the cabin, after all.

  I’ve been meaning to put in another bed for when Nicole and I stay over, but now I’m glad I haven’t gotten around to it. If Sophia wants her privacy, I’ll sleep on the couch. But, I won’t say anything if she doesn’t say anything.

  “The deck in the back is new, too.” I point outside, beyond the sliding glass door. “But, it’s covered by the snow now, so you probably can’t see it.”

  “I saw it when I first got here.” Sophia’s answer is brief, but I’m just glad she’s saying something at all. At least, she seems to be getting over her shock and coming to grips with the fact that we’ll be stuck here for a while.

  “Let me show you what’s downstairs.” I open a door and turn on the light, illuminating the new staircase.

  “Wow.” Sophia’s jaw drops open as she approaches. “This used to be old, scary, and creaky. And dark. And, I remember there was a lot of sharp splinters, too.”

  “Yeah.”

  That’s why we never had sex on the staircase although we did do it in the storage area in the basement.

  “I also changed a bunch of things downstairs.” I follow Sophia down the steps, recording the way her hips sway as she walks and the way her hair shines under the light, in case we’ll never get to spend time alone ever again. I hit the light switch.

  “Wow,” Sophia says again, her lips widening into a small smile.

  “Yeah. I’m kind of proud of what I did here.”

  “This place used to be so dark and dirty,” she says, her eyes widened as she takes in the space.

  It didn’t stop us from getting dirty in the dark, I want to add. Instead, I say, “Yeah, I put in some walls to cover the storage area so it’s contained. Then, as you can see, I also got a pool table and a sick home audio system.”

  “You’ve worked hard on this place.” Sophia walks toward the pool table and caresses the green felt with her fingers. I never thought I’d ever feel jealous of an inanimate object, but right now, I wish I was that table.

  Next, I show her the storage closet, which is stocked with more cans of soup, fish, vegetables, and fruits than we’ll need.

  “If you devour everything, I can also go out and hunt something for us to eat. I happen to have a hunting rifle with me, but you’ve already seen that.” I shoot her a grin as I lean back on wall by the closet doorway.

  Sophia giggles.

  Jesus, I’ve missed that sound.

  “Thanks, Eli,” she says. She’s standing by the open door, so close to me I can almost feel the heat emanating from her body. She looks deep into my eyes. “Thanks for taking me in. I’m so glad you stopped me from going outside and waiting for Eddie in my car.”

  Her words bring a smile to my face. “Do you feel better now?”

  “Much better.” Sophia returns my smile.

  Our eyes lock, and we say nothing to each other. As I gaze into her big, green eyes, I notice her pupils are dilated. Her full lips part, and her eyelids grow heavy.

  Without even realizing it, we’re leaning toward each other, so close now I can feel her breath on my skin. I tilt my head as my heart pounds. I can’t believe she’ll let me kiss her again, for the second time today, but I won’t waste an opportunity like this.

  As soon as my nose grazes against hers, though, Sophia pulls away abruptly. It’s as if she has just realized what she was about to do and decided it was a bad idea.

  “We should, uh, go back upstairs,” Sophia says, panic in her eyes as she tries to come up with an excuse. “We might … miss an important phone call or something.” She laughs nervously as she turns and walks away. “And I haven’t called my parents either. I should.”

  “Sure.” I turn off the lights and follow Sophia as she scurries out of the basement and climbs up the stairs.

  I can’t help but stare at her ass; it’s at my eye level. Man, she still has such nice, tight buns.

  The corners of my lips tug upward as I reach the top of the staircase and watch Sophia’s beautiful figure outlined by the sun’s rays streaming through the window as she grabs the phone.

  We may not have kissed again, but I can tell she wants to, and that’s enough for now. Sophia may not know it yet, but she’s still mine. I’ll make sure she gets that into her head before we leave this cabin.

  Sophia

  “Hello,” I hear Mom’s voice from the other end.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Sophia! Is that you?” she asks, her voice a mixture of panic and relief.

  “Yes, Mom. It’s me. Don’t worry. I’m fine,” I say.

  “Hold on.” Mom’s voice sounds distant when she speaks again, calling out for my dad. I can imagine her holding the phone away with one hand covering the microphone. “It’s Sophia,” she tells him.

  “Oh, thank God. Where is she? Is she okay?” Dad asks.

  “Sophia,” Mom says into the phone, “where are you?”

  “I’m, uh, somewhere outside Ashbourne.” With haste, I add, “Not too far away from town, though. Maybe about ten miles.”

  “Are you in your car?” she asks quickly.

  “No, no.” I was so eager to leave the basement and avoid talking to Eli I haven’t had a chance to think about what to tell my parents. “I’m indoors. I’m safe.”

  “Where? Why didn’t you drive home as soon as it started snowing, honey?”

  “I … Well, the car broke down. I tried to call Eddie, but it was already too late by the time he got back to me.”

  Should I tell her where I am? I have to, right? There’s no way around it.

  “I told your dad he should’ve let you drive his car instead,” Mom grumbles.

  “What?” Dad asks in the background.

  “Her car broke down,” Mom answers, irritated. “So, where are you now?”

  I stare at the heavy snow that’s still falling outside the window, avoiding eye contact with Eli. I don’t have to look his way to know his gaze is on me. I can feel it searing through my skin.

  “I’m, uh, in a cabin,” I tell Mom. “You know how there are cabins along the road to Dewhurst? Luckily, my car broke down right in front of one of them.”

  I’m stalling. I know I’m stalling. I’ll have to tell her eventually, though.

  “Oh, that’s great,” Mom says. “And there just happened to be someone who could let you in? That’s amazing.”

  I can’t tell her I’ve been keeping Eli’s key this whole time. Why would I have the key to his cabin in the first place? My parents know nothing about my secret meetings with him, and I want to keep it that way.

  “Yeah,” I lie. “It was a nice coincidence.”

  I can’t tell if it’s the lying or the knowledge that Eli is watching me lie to my mom, but something tingles in the back of my neck and spreads up across my face, filling my cheeks with color.

  It’s silly, I know. Eli probably can’t tell I’m lying anyway.

  “Whose cabin is it? I’ll have to thank them in some way. Maybe give them free coffee for a year,” Mom says.

  There it is. There’s no avoiding it now.

  “It’s, uh, the Stromes’ cabin,” I say softly, feeling my cheeks grow even hotter.

  The silence from the other end of the line makes my heart race.

  “The Stromes’ cabin, huh?” Mom asks finally. “Who opened the door for you?”

  “Elijah.” Just saying his name out loud makes me more anxious. “Angela’s brother, remember?”

  “Yes, I remember the Stromes. Is Angela there?” she asks, clearly displeased.

  “No, Mom. She’s living in the city now. I thought I told you.”

  “Oh. Right. As long as she’s not there,” Mom says. “She’s always been a bad influence on you. I still remember how mean she was to you, how she made you cry.”

  “Mom, I’m not fifteen anymore,” I remind her. I don�
��t really want to talk about those awkward, hellish years. “Anyway, I just called to tell you I’m safe and warm. I’ll come home as soon as the snow clears, okay?”

  “Okay,” she says. “I’m just concerned. You quit your job in the city, and you’re hanging out with the Stromes. It just feels like you’re regressing or something.”

  “Mom. I’ll come home as soon as the snow clears,” I repeat. If she wants to lecture me about my life decisions, she can do it in person when I get home.

  I can’t stand the pressure of listening to her while Eli is watching anymore.

  “Okay.” Mom sighs. “Stay safe, okay? I love you.”

  “Love you, too. See you soon.” When I hang up, I realize my heart rate has gone way up. I take a few deep breaths, keeping my gaze on the snow outside.

  I can’t catch a break today.

  The car breaking down. The snow storm. Eli kissing me. Mom lecturing me. And most alarmingly, me wanting to kiss Eli again.

  Haven’t I learned my lesson? Being with Eli may feel good for a short moment, but it will only end in pain and heartbreak.

  After what he did seven years ago, I can’t trust him anymore. I can’t let my guard down.

  And yet, a part of me wants nothing more than to let Eli do his worst to me.

  “Sounds like your mom was worried about you,” Eli says.

  “Yeah. A little bit.” I don’t dare take my eyes off the view outside even though I’m no longer looking at anything in particular.

  I hear Eli’s heavy footsteps, and I know he’s getting closer.

  My whole body freezes up, much like the blades of grass outside, buried under the heft of something outside my control.

  I want him close to me, so close his weight suffocates me, makes it hard for me to breathe. But, I’m older now and supposedly wiser.

  “She shouldn’t,” Eli says. “Be worried about you, that is.”

  “Yeah. I’m old enough to take care of myself,” I answer without looking at him.

  He’s no good for me. I should know that by now.

  I should walk away.

  But, as Eli draws closer, my legs grow weaker.

  A deep longing surges up from deep inside me. Like a little air bubble rising up from the bottom of the ocean, it grows stronger and faster the closer to the surface it gets. I should lock myself somewhere before it pops and creates a mess.

  “Are you scared of me, princess?” Eli asks, stopping just a few inches behind me, judging by how close his voice sounds.

  “No.” I laugh nervously.

  “Why won’t you look at me?” he challenges.

  “I … I’m tired.” Call it the cowardly way out; I don’t care. I can’t resist him—I know that. I shouldn’t stand so close to him. “It’s been a long day. I should rest, maybe take a nap in the bedroom.”

  I turn around and try to side-step him, but he blocks my path.

  “I won’t bite,” Eli says darkly. “I won’t hurt you. You know that, right?”

  “Of course,” I answer quickly, my eyes darting toward the bedroom door. It’s only a few feet away, but it feels like a mile.

  “Good.” Eli steps aside and lets me through.

  As I rush away from him, I feel the heat of his stare on my back, sending a thrill down my spine.

  “Not unless you want me to,” he says under his breath.

  I slip inside the bedroom and swiftly lock the door behind me.

  He doesn’t scare me. Not really. I know he won’t hurt me.

  I’m scared of myself.

  My mind goes crazy when it concerns Eli. Like the thing with his phone call, when he said “I love you” to whoever’s at the other end of the line. After I’ve had some time to think about it, maybe that was nothing. He probably told me the truth about not having a wife or a girlfriend.

  In all likelihood, that was Eli’s mom. I said the same thing before hanging up with my mom, too.

  Eli makes me lose control in unexpected ways. If I let myself go, I’ll throw myself in his arms and under his rule. I’ll plead with him and beg him to hurt me.

  And, I know he won’t even try to resist. Because it’ll be for nothing.

  I wake up with my body trembling despite the thick blanket draped over me.

  Squinting, I look around me.

  I’m still in the cabin. It wasn’t a dream.

  It’s dark outside. How long have I been asleep?

  Grabbing my phone on the nightstand, I check the time. It’s three a.m.

  I’m alone in this locked bedroom.

  I wonder where Eli is sleeping. I didn’t see any bedroom downstairs although I didn’t exactly give Eli the opportunity to finish the tour before I ran up the stairs to avoid another kiss with him.

  Jesus. I just kissed Eli Strome today.

  I can’t believe I did that.

  I didn’t think I’d ever talk to him again after what happened at the cupcake shop the other day. That feels like eons ago now.

  And now, I’ll have to go outside and face him again. I can’t sleep here like this when it’s so cold my whole body is shaking.

  Did Eli deliberately turn off the heat to force me out?

  No, he wouldn’t do that … would he?

  There’s only one way to find out. I’ll have to go out there and find out what’s going on.

  I wrap the blanket around me. It’s heavy, but it’s too cold for me to leave it on the bed.

  I make my way toward the door, the edges of the blanket dragging against the wooden floor planks. My heart pounds as I unlock the door.

  I have no idea what’s going to happen when I see Eli. I had already decided not to let myself get carried away when I almost kissed him again for the second time.

  Hopefully, I won’t mess things up again.

  Well … Here I go.

  Eli

  This fucking couch …

  It’s cushy enough, sure, but it’s way too short for my legs. I’ve been tossing and turning all night, trying to find a comfortable position to no avail.

  To be fair, it’s not the couch’s fault.

  Whenever I come here with Nicole, I sleep well enough in this couch. That’s why I’ve been putting off sectioning another room in the basement and making it a second bedroom.

  Really, it’s Sophia’s fault.

  I keep jerking awake, thinking she has come out of her bedroom. I hear noises but I’m sure it’s just my imagination.

  Around dinner time, I knocked on the bedroom door, but I didn’t hear an answer. When I pressed my ear against the door to listen, all I heard was the regular rhythm of her breathing.

  She could sleep. What’s wrong with me?

  There it is again. The click of the door being unlocked. Stop imagining things, man. No matter how much I fantasize about it, she won’t come out here naked and climb up on top of me like I want her to.

  But God, I’d die happy if I get to experience that.

  Actually, if I can make a dying wish, I want her to get between my legs and take my dick into her mouth. I can just imagine her tongue swirling over the head of my cock and her plump lips sliding up and down my shaft …

  Man, my imagination just won’t stop. Now I’m hearing light footsteps and something dragging against the floor, like Sophia is shedding her clothes as she approaches me.

  That won’t happen, though. She’s been staying the fuck away from me like she’s afraid of me.

  Maybe I should’ve taken things more slowly. Perhaps I shouldn’t have tried to kiss her a second time.

  But, what the fuck was I supposed to do when she leaned in toward me and closed her eyes?

  That’s the stuff of my fantasies, right there. I couldn’t have just let the moment slip out of my hands. I’d kill myself—hell, I’d die of regret without ever having to pull a trigger.

  Jesus, when will my hallucinations stop? The noises just won’t stop.

  I should just rub one out. Maybe that’ll help me sleep.

  But, wha
t if Sophia comes out for real and sees me grabbing my own dick and jerking myself off?

  Ah, fuck this.

  I’ll get up and make myself a drink. I need to take a piss anyway.

  I sit up and rub my eyes.

  Is that … What the fuck is that, right by the fireplace? A pile of … clothes? No, a blanket.

  I doubt I would’ve been dumb enough to place a flammable material right by an open fire without any supervision. I could wake up to a cabin on fire, which I guess would keep Sophia and me warm despite the snow storm, at least for a few hours.

  With a grunt, I get up to inspect whatever it is. If it’s just a figment of my imagination, I’ll find out soon enough.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you,” I hear Sophia say, clear as day.

  I couldn’t have imagined that, could I?

  Squinting at the bundle of blanket by the fireplace, I ask, “Sophia?”

  “Yeah. Sorry,” she says. The blanket shifts on the ground until I finally see Sophia’s red hair highlighted by the flickering flame behind her and her beautiful face in the shadows.

  “What are you doing up?”

  That’s a stupid question, idiot, I scold myself in my head.

  She’s been asleep for, what, six hours? She’s probably wide awake right now, even though it’s—I glance at the clock—three a.m.

  “It’s too cold in the bedroom.” Sophia pauses. “Did you turn off the heat?”

  “Of course not.” I glance at the closed bedroom door, reluctant to leave her now that she’s here. But, she’s looking at me expectantly, and I recognize the opportunity to solve her problem and become her hero. “Let me check.”

  As expected, the bedroom is cold as a tomb. I inspect the windows but every single one of them is properly sealed.

  When I leave the bedroom, I make sure to close the door behind me and seal the cold air inside.

  “Sorry about that. I don’t know what happened,” I tell Sophia as I check the thermostat. “It shouldn’t have gotten that cold in there.”

  “I thought maybe something broke,” she says softly.

  Sophia remains calm and doesn’t blame me when something goes wrong. That’s one of the things I love about her and definitely something I missed when I tried seeing other girls.