The soft hum of the wind outside the cabin windows whispered through the stillness of the morning, wrapping the room in a gentle embrace as I slowly blinked my eyes open. The sky beyond the faded curtains glowed a pale blue, early sunlight filtering in like a delicate promise of a new day. My body ached—not from pain, but from the weight of restraint.
I turned over anddamnit—Bryce was still sprawled in my bed, snoring lightly, flat on his back, lips slightly parted. He looked so peaceful. That sly hint of a smile was still etched on his face even in sleep. For a moment, I just stared, taking in the sight of him. Then, with a glimmer of hope, I slowly peeled back the covers… just a little. I was low-key hoping, praying that during the night, he’d stripped down to somethingless.But nope! He was still fully dressed in that same fitted black tee that hugged his toned body and rugged jeans from the day before.
“Ugh!” I huffed quietly, barely able to suppress my frustration. “Wasted opportunity.”
Just as I went to pull the covers back over myself, his voice broke the silence.
“You trying to see something, Chesteria?”
I damn near leapt out of the bed, startled. “What the hell, Bryce?! I thought you was asleep.”
Bryce was wide awake now, watching me with that dash of mischief in his eyes and that sly, half-sleep smirk tugging at his mouth. “Chesteria, I haven’t had any pussy in over a week. So, unless you want Isis and Adrian to hear you moaning like you auditioning for a choir solo in the next thirty seconds… you might wanna get yo’ fine ass up outta this bed.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, struggling to fight the smile lifting the corners of my lips. “Correction—you’re in my bed.”
“Yeah… you right.” He yawned, stretching long and slow, arms flexing behind his head as if to show off his physique. "What time is it?"
I glanced at the nightstand. “A little after seven.”
Bryce groaned, slouching slightly as he sat up and planted his feet on the floor. He stretched again, and the hem of his shirt rose just enough for me to get a glimpse of his abs. As he stood, my eyesaccidentallydropped to the heavy print in his pants.
Lord.
I quickly jerked my head away, but not before Bryce caught me in the act. That slow smirk of his widened, clearly amused.
“So… what we doing today around here?” he asked, his tone light but laced with a hint of something deeper.
I cleared my throat, attempting to maintain my composure. “I guess we’ll all have to come together and figure something out. Maybe a game or something. There aren’ttoomany options since we’re snowed in and have limited access to electricity.”
“I can think of a few things,” Bryce hinted, licking his lips in that way that sent a shiver down my spine. “But I’ma about to go check the generator,” he added, rubbing the back of his neck, the motion causing his muscles to ripple. “Then I’ma shower.”
“Me too,” I replied, trying to sound casual despite the sudden rush of nervous energy coursing through me.
Bryce paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face before he simply nodded. “Aight. I’ll meet you up front in about thirty minutes or so.”
“Okay."
As soon as the door clicked closed behind him, I flopped back onto the mattress and groaned into the pillow, burying my face deep into the fabric.
“Lord, I don’t know how much longer I can hold out!” I muffled my voice into the pillow. “That man done woke up looking like a whole sin in sweatpants.”
I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling, my heart racing like I’d just sprinted a mile instead of merely observing him.
“Seven in the damn morning and he already got me questioning my salvation,” I whispered to myself, unable to shake the visual of him—print out, lips slick, and voice deep like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, biting my lip to stifle my yearning.
“This is dangerous,” I breathed, the reality of the moment crashing over me. “One more look, one more slick comment, one more accidental bump, and I’ma forget every promise I made to myself.”
I let out a shaky laugh, dragging the covers up to my chin, as if they could shield me from my racing thoughts.
“But God help me… if he touches me today, I’m not strong enough to stop it.”
“What the Cabin Taught Us About Grace, Growth, and Unexpected Friendship”
I was seated on the couch, tucking my hair into my bonnet, enjoying the rare silence, when Adrian came limping into the room.
“Aight, y’all! Since y’all clearly forgot we was doing this, welcome back toRandom Positivity Hour!”
