Thwack.
The blade of the axe wedges into the wood and I curse. I let go of the handle and grab the log with my hands. I pull it apart and toss the pieces to the ground, then pick up the axe once again.
“I was under the impression the woodshed was overflowing with enough to last us several winters.” Simon’s voice is calm and soothing behind me but it still grates on my nerves.
“A tree fell down in the storm last night.” I raise my chin at the wood I’ve already cut through with the chainsaw earlier this morning.
“And you had to rush out and get to it before the sun was even up.” He sounds skeptical but I don’t acknowledge him. “Perhaps there was something you were running from after last night?”
“That’s none of your business,” I say matter-of-factly as I stack up another log to split.
“I think after the sounds the staff and I heard last night, it’s the whole castle’s business.”
I turn around to glare at him but he has an eyebrow raised and he’s smirking. “Rest assured, it wasn’t Miss Pippa we heard.”
My face heats as I turn away from him and go back to the axe. I knew I was enthusiastic last night but I had no idea I’d been so…vocal. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I just couldn’t help myself.
“It doesn’t matter,” I mumble and swing the axe again.
“I think you’ll find that the lady of the house doesn't agree with you.”
She was wrapped around me so tight this morning when I woke up I wasn’t sure where she ended and I began. Warmth went to parts of my body I didn’t know were still alive and all I could think about was keeping her. Then the thought of her leaving in just two days washed over me like a cold shower and I had to get out of there. I couldn’t pretend to play house with someone that would never stay with me. It’s not like I could ask her to give up civilization for this life I lead out here in the middle of nowhere. As much as I want her, I can’t pretend that she’s mine.
“She’s not the lady of the house.” The words taste like dirt in my mouth. “She’s a guest and nothing more. She’ll be gone the day after tomorrow.”
Simon sighs and I can feel his eyes on my back as I ignore him. I think about last night and what I did to her. The thoughts flash in front of me and they’re brighter than the sun. I’m blinded by images of Pippa standing above me dripping wet with her soft pussy in my mouth. The tang of her juices on my tongue as she came apart in my arms. It hits me so hard I have to squeeze my eyes shut to try and ignore them. But it’s useless.
“Miss Pippa has left.”
I swing around so fast that I almost trip over my own feet. “What?” The word echoes through the trees, and before I can wait on Simon to tell me why, I’m in motion.
“There was a mix-up with the floral deliveries and she was asked to go directly to the shop without delay.”
“And you just let her leave?” I roar. I curse myself for being so far out in the woods instead of closer to the castle. “She was supposed to stay on the property the whole time. That was the deal!”
“She did spend a great deal of time waiting for you to come back to the castle before she left.”
His words are like salt in the wound and I grit my teeth. “I can’t believe you let her go.”
“If I recall, I wasn’t the one who snuck out on her at first light.”
When I turn around to face Simon, I’m ready to knock his ass to the ground. But the stern look in his eyes anchors me in place and the feeling of father and son passes between us. He might not be my biological father, but Simon is the last tie I have to my parents and I know he cares for me. He looks out for me like a father would and I respect him. It’s the reason I let him so close to me and allow him to run the place. He has my best interest at heart, so even though his words sting, they aren’t wrong. There’s no use denying it and we both know it.
“I…” I open my mouth to say something, but how do I even begin to defend my actions? I let out a deep breath and he steps closer.
“I made sure Celia went with her. They should be back in a couple of hours.” I feel his hand squeeze my arm and I nod. “I think you should go and get cleaned up, and while you do, think of something nice to do for her.”
“Like what?” I sound defeated even to my own ears.
“You’ll think of something.” He gives me a soft smile before he walks away towards the castle.
How do I apologize for leaving her bed after what we did last night? I’m not good with words and Simon knows it. That’s why he’s telling me to think of something I can do. I wrack my brain as I go inside and already I can feel that the castle is different.
She’s done something in the short amount of time she’s been here and I can’t put my finger on it. Pippa has a light around her that makes these stone walls feel warm and loved. Is that why I don’t want her to leave, because she’ll take the feeling with her? Or is it because she’ll take the feeling from me?
As I climb the stairs to my room I think about how she’s changed me and shaped a future I never thought possible. Thoughts of her and a life together form and suddenly I know exactly what to do.