“Do you feel like talking?”
“You want to know why I was out in the forest?”
“Among other things. But if you need to rest or whatever first, we can talk in the morning.”
“It is morning. Just really early. Besides, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until the pain lessens a bit.”
“Wait.” He rushes through another doorway and returns with a bottle of pain reliever and a tiny paper cup of water. “This should help with both the pain and the swelling.”
I take the medication along with a silent thank you to the universe for my safety and healing. Then after a bite of cheese, I nod.
Dane drags a chair from the corner of the room and sits next to the bed facing me. Grabbing a handful of grapes along with his cider, he leans back, obviously ready for my explanations.
I’m probably going to surprise him. Maybe even shock him. Holding my mug in both hands, I allow the warmth to give me courage.
“Tonight I came to the forest to dance naked under the full moon.”
three
Dane
Only her serious expression and the challenge in her eyes keeps my laughter silent. What kind of an idiot would want to dance naked outside, let alone in a December snow storm? Naked as the day they were born naked?
Damn me, that brief glimpse I got earlier is forever engraved in my memory. I’d given myself a strict lecture while heating the cider. Told myself to be a gentleman. No matter how I try, I can’t get the image of her body out of my brain. Pale almost translucent skin. Dark pink nipples tip her full tits. And she’s a natural blonde with golden curls covering her pussy. She looks soft and feminine, my sensual fantasies come to life.
I’ve been around enough to know that a beautiful body doesn’t always harbor a sensible, intelligent mind. Keeping my focus on her actions rather than the nipples that make my mouth water is the better idea. If I keep her talking maybe the craziness will push away any growing interest.
“So,” I drawl slowly. “Why would you want to do that?”
She set down her mug and crosses her arms. Fuck, if that doesn’t show off a deep cleavage barely contained by my hoodie. “Do not talk down to me like that. Like you think I’m crazy.”
“I don’t think you’re crazy.” At her doubt filled glare, I amend my statement. “Not as in totally crazy. But do I think it’s crazy to come to the forest during a snowstorm just to dance? Naked or not? Yeah, that’s outrageous.”
Her full lips twitch as though she’s fighting to maintain her stern expression. Finally she shrugs one shoulder, reaches for her mug, and sighs. “I have to admit you’re right. Sorry, I’m a little touchy about that crazy lady label. That’s all I heard from my family and friends when I decided to move to Oregon and open my store.”
There’s a lot to unpack in that statement. Unsure which direction to go first, I go with what I think is the easiest. “So, you’ve recently moved here?”
“Yeah. From Nebraska.”
“Why?”
She thinks for a long moment, no doubt trying to figure out the best thing to say to avoid sounding like a nut case. “I’ve always been interested in stones and crystals, how people through time have come to give them purposes and special properties. A few years ago I decided to share my interest and opened an online shop.”
“How did that work out for you?” Wincing at the snide tone of my words I wait for her to correct me again.
“Oh, I know most of the time internet shops fail. Just like brick and mortars do. Any business is a risk. I was lucky. Beat most of the pretenders and other legit operators in offering lucky draws and blind boxes.”
I don’t have a clue what she’s talking about.
After a wide yawn, she shivers. This discussion isn’t helping her get warm. Her cheeks are still pink from the cold, althoughher lips have lost their faint bluish tint. It’s past the middle of the night. I fight the yawn threatening to pop my jaw. We can figure out what to do once the sun is up. “Enough questions and talking. You need to rest. I’ll help you to the bathroom.”
“You don’t need to do that.” Obviously wanting to prove the truth of her statement, she uses her hands to lift her leg from the pillow and ease it to the floor. Her pain filled exclamation is followed by a resigned sigh. “I guess you do. And I’d like to put on those sweats. I’ll need some help with that, too.”
Giving her a silent nod, I hand her the sweats then slip my arms under her bare legs and lift her up against my chest. Trying to be a gentleman and carry her without touching her soft ass takes total concentration. She feels too good in my arms. Holding her feels too natural, too… right.
Once she’s done she calls me into the bathroom. She’s got the sweats pulled up to her knee on one side, the other leg is bunched at the toes of her injured foot. “I can’t get the leg over the wrapping. The cuff is too tight.”
Inspiration strikes when she yawns again. Digging through one of the vanity drawers I find a small pair of scissors that I intend to use to cut through the cuff.
