Eve
Logan pulls his truck up to the garage and cuts the engine, causing Stormi to dance in the back seat. She'd been an angel when we took her to visit our moms at the care center earlier and now, I'm sure she's anxious to stretch her legs and romp through the snow. Four feet of the white fluff dumped on us between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, bringing much of life in and around McCall to a temporary stand-still. No doubt the skiers who made it up to Brundage were thrilled.
Wednesday morning, after Bonnie gave her official statement to the authorities and Kim detailed more about the air patrol job offer, I rode along with Logan as he took Bonnie and Melinda home to Riggins. Her parents expressed their eternal gratitude to Logan, myself, and all responsible for bringing their daughter and granddaughter home safely. Once the visit concluded and we were on our way back, what began as a light dusting of snow turned into a mini-blizzard by the time we returned home that afternoon.
After Logan dropped me off, he used my snowmobile to get to his property during a lull in the storm to check on his horses, ensuring they were secure in the paddock with hay and water. If he'd been able to, he would have moved them to a larger stable, but the weather prevented that. A ride out to his property twice a day between then and this morning had been possible, and enough to make sure they were fine. I was glad he wasn't called into work on an emergency, giving us plenty of time together.
So, what did the two of us do while basically snowed in? We talked, of course. About the job offer, which I accepted. About our future together, which is so easy to envision. About remodeling Mom and Dad's house where we'd live instead of him building new. About continuing to grow and harvest the apples, pears, and huckleberries. About adding more livestock to our combined properties and me learning to ride a horse.
Oh, and we put that box of condoms to good use. Damn good use. Just thinking about how many times we had sex has me blushing even now. The man is a dynamo who awakened desires in me I never knew I possessed.
Stormi's bark interrupts that train of thought, and when I turn to look at her, I catch Logan's gaze.
“What?” I ask, knowing I'm blushing.
“What? I didn't say a thing.” He grins.
“Uh-huh.” I turn away to open the door, grinning myself. “C'mon, Stormi, time to burn off some of that energy.”
As I'm exiting, I hear Logan say, “I know how to burn off that energy.”
I laugh. “I know you do.”
As he also exits, I open the back door, allowing my girl to leap out. After turning a few circles around my legs, she darts off to a clear spot, taking care of business before tromping through the snow mounds. Logan joins me at my side of the truck, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
“How can it already feel like the most natural practice to come home with you, watch your girl like that, and be completely at peace with life?”
I turn in his arms, wrapping mine around him while staring into his dazzling eyes. “Well, technically she's our girl now, which I think she kinda realizes. As for being with one another, feeling natural and at ease so quickly, I think, honestly, it helped when our mothers started planting those seeds in our heads about each other. They were hibernating, just waiting to pop.”
Logan laughs. “I'm glad for the unconventional seeds.”
“Exactly. And as you alluded to, we've been around the block, experienced more than the average person, and we're mature enough to know what we want. At least I think we are.” I wink at him, earning another laugh. Snuggling into him, I continue. “And we know a good thing when it comes our way and would be foolish to waste time with nonsense doubts.”
“I like how you think, Chief.”
I laugh at his favorite nickname for me. “Thanks, Sarge.” I tip up to place my lips on his, giving him a seductive kiss. “If you like that then you're really going to like what I'm thinking now.” My eyebrows dance as I grin at him.
He pulls me tighter against him, grinding his body into mine. “Pretty sure we're on the same wavelength.”
“Mm hmm.” I turn my head and give a sharp whistle for Stormi. “Time to head inside, Stormi,” I yell for her. Her head pokes up from behind a snow pile and a split second later she's charging our way. Logan and I have time to separate and prepare for her. She's a good girl and knows not to plow into us, and I'm thankful she stops in front of us before launching up, her paws landing on Logan.
“Oh, ho, I see where the love is,” I tease.
Logan rubs her vigorously. “Time for dinner, girl.”
Stormi gives him a quick kiss before she dashes up to the porch, waiting expectantly by the door. We laugh as we follow her up, open the door, and all get inside. While I take care of feeding Stormi, Logan goes to the living room to stoke the fire he'd banked earlier. It takes Stormi no time at all to scarf down her food before she's lumbering to her bed, plopping down. I follow and see Logan's got a nice fire going, adding the perfect ambiance to our wintry day.
“Can I get you anything?” I ask him. We enjoyed a few treats and hot apple cider at the center with Mom and Bea, but we hadn't eaten anything substantial since breakfast.
Logan stands and looks at me with what I now recognize as hunger in his eyes. Hunger for me. My heart pounds as my pulse races in anticipation of what's to come.
“Just you,” he answers as he walks my way.
I meet him in the middle of the room where we wrap our arms around each other. “Good answer.” Then we kiss. And kiss and kiss. He reaches up to spear his fingers through my hair, holding me right where he wants me, and I love it. By the time we come up for air, we're both fighting for our next breath yet grinning like crazy at one another.
“While I'd love nothing more than to take you right here in front of the fire, I'd rather not chance our girl waking and being traumatized by the act.”
I snort with laughter then squeal with surprise when Logan scoops me up into his arms and proceeds to carry me to what is now our room. Stormi doesn't even stir at the commotion. Logan deposits me on my feet before closing the door, and without prelude, we're undressing and falling into bed, tangling our bodies together. He pulls me on top of him as his hands anchor on my rear and I plant my mouth on his for a scorching kiss.
But before we get too carried away, I grab a condom and waste no time in covering his erection. Primed and eager, our joining is feverish and wild. The connection we've made in mere days is electric, and as silly as it may sound, it's as if we’re two halves reconnecting at long last. Our bodies are in sync, knowing right now just what the other wants and needs. Doesn't mean there isn't room for further exploration in the future.
Within moments, we explode with orgasms and cling tightly to each other as a post-passion haze cocoons us. Little by little our bodies cool in the evening air yet it seems neither of us are in a hurry to move.
“You're getting cold,” he says.
“Don't care,” I mumble into his shoulder. “Don't wanna break this spell.”
He chuckles then rolls, earning my groan when he separates from my body. By the time I open my eyes, he's already standing by the bed and once again scooping me into his arms. “Let's shower. We'll warm up, have a bite by the fire, then do this all over again.”
“Mmm, I do like that plan.”
Thirty minutes later we're dressed in our flannels, sitting in the living room snacking on meats and cheeses, and tossing grapes into each other’s mouths like we’re kids.
“Mom looked so happy today. Every day she continues to improve and I think Bea's a huge part of that.”
Logan smiles. “Those two are something. It's wonderful they have the friendship they do.”
“I agree. Here's to their friendship and match-making.”
Logan motions with a grape and I pick one up, both of us tossing at the same time. When the juicy orbs hit their mark, he grins while I have to make sure I don’t spit mine right back out from laughing.
“We surprisingly dodged the discussion about grandkids, if you can believe that,” he says.
“I was shocked it wasn't brought up, considering how adamant they were just a few days ago. And with the season? Mom loves Christmas and would always donate to local drives for kids, whether it was for clothes or gifts or whatever was needed.”
“No reason we can't continue that. I know there are businesses in town that do collection drives for the holiday. Maybe we could even start a program where kids visit the center. That is, if something like that doesn't already exist.”
“That's an excellent idea. Like a surrogate grandparent program. I'll have to check with the center, maybe even the grade school and see if there's anything like that in place.”
“I've got some clever ideas, now and then.”
I grin as I crawl to him and straddle his lap. “Oh, I know you do.” I tangle my fingers in his hair and stare into his glorious eyes. “So, what's your idea of a perfect Christmas?”
He settles his hands on my back and pulls me to him. “You.”
“Aw, so sweet. But seriously, Logan, what would your–”
He silences me with a kiss that derails my train of thought. I sink into him, happy to remain just like this. When he finally releases my mouth, it takes me a moment to catch my breath before I open my eyes to find him grinning.
“I only want you, Piper. Your smiles, your laughter, even your tears. Which I hope are rare. I want adventures together. I want love together.”
He manages to steal my breath again with his words alone. “You're too good to be true, yet here you are, holding me, wanting me. I'm not going to wake up and find this is all a dream, right?”
“Not a chance. I'm here to stay as long as you'll have me.”
“How does forever sound?”
His smile is brilliant. “Let's get started.”
