“Wow… and you said this place wasn’t fancy,” Erin mumbles as we arrive at my cabin after coasting up the long driveway surrounded by trees
We step inside, Erin’s bags in my hands. I flick on the lights, the soft glow spilling across the vast space—dark wood floors, ivory walls, clean lines, minimalist furniture.
No clutter. Just how I like it.
Erin steps in behind me, her eyes widening as she looks in every direction. Her gaze sweeps over the open floor concept, lingering on the kitchen for a beat before drifting to the wall of windows framing the dark forest outside, glowing in the moonlight.
“Nice place, Holt.”
I arch an eyebrow, setting her bags down by the couch. “You sound surprised.”
Her laugh is low and rich, like a slow pour of whiskey. “Not surprised. But I can tell you’re single.”
I cross my arms over my chest, a grin spreading across my face. “Oh? What gave it away? The lack of throw pillows or the absence of scented candles?”
She takes a step forward. “Both. There’s also not a single houseplant struggling for its life. That’s the true sign of a bachelor pad.”
I chuckle. “Keeping a plant alive would be a tall order for me. Unless I brought it to work and put it on the bar where I could keep an eye on it.”
She taps a finger against her chin, considering. “So, if I ever see a fern or a peace lily in here, I should assume you’ve become completely domestic?”
“You see a plant like that here, you can assume I’ve been kidnapped and someone stole my pad.”
She grins. The weight of the night, the anger still simmering in my veins, fades a little when she smiles.
“So,” she says, “no houseplants, no pets. What do you have to keep you company?”
“Don’t need any. I’m not here enough to worry about getting lonely.”
The playful spark in her eyes dims, replaced by something softer, something deeper.
I clear my throat, forcing a smile onto my face. “Well, now that you’re here, maybe the place will be a little livelier.”
Her eyes dance with mischief again, that edge I’ve come to crave returning full force. “Don’t get too excited. I snore.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
I know I shouldn’t be enjoying this—enjoying her—as much as I am. But damn if I can stop myself.
I carry her bags down the hall to the guest room. I open the door and flick on the light. The room is simple—a cozy bed, nightstand with a lamp, and a large dresser. The walls are bare. Functional, nothing more.
“I don’t want to sound like a city girl, but the idea of living out here in the middle of nowhere with no one around is a little spooky.”
I laugh. “I can promise you you’re safer here than anywhere on the planet. Is the room okay?”
She heads over to the bed and sits down at the foot of it. Her hair and breasts bounce as she lands, and it’s all I can do to not stare.
“Suits me just fine,” she says with a small smile.
The sight of her on a bed puts all kinds of dirty thoughts in my mind. My heart starts beating faster, but I push the urges away. She’s been through enough tonight.
I drop her bags by the bed and step back, giving her space. I gesture around. “It’s all yours. Ensuite bathroom with a large tub too. And needless to say, whatever you want from the kitchen, help yourself. If there’s something you want that I don’t have, just make a list and we can pick it up.”
“God, I’ve missed having my own room,” she says, almost to herself.
Her words hit deeper than they should. The simple need behind them, the longing for something stable, something she can call her own, causes my gut to twist. I want to give her that.
She turns to me, her eyes meeting mine, a vulnerable softness to them. “Thank you, Samuel. You didn’t have to do any of this.”
“Yes, I did. You’re in danger, and it’s within my means to keep you safe. Simple as that. But you’re welcome.”
I hold her gaze, the air between us thickening, pressing in on me. Saying good night hovers on my lips, but that feels like an end and I’m not sure that’s what I want.
She doesn’t look away. Her eyes search mine, and I wonder if she can see the struggle there.
“Get some rest, Erin.”
“You too. Think I’ll hit the shower. Or the tub.”
I force myself to turn away, my feet heavier than they should be. Each step toward the door feels like a fight against gravity, against the pull of something I want too damn much but shouldn’t.
I leave and close the door softly behind me. I take a deep breath, trying to ground myself. She’s just down the hall. Too close yet not close enough.
I step into my room, the weight of the day settling like lead in my muscles. My body aches for the comfort of the bed, for the oblivion of sleep, but my mind is still wide awake, still wired with the need to protect her. I rub a hand over my face, letting out a long breath.
Towels. Damn it. I forgot to tell my housekeeper to restock the guest room.
I sigh, pushing off the door frame. I open the nearby linen closet, scoop out an armful of towels then head in her direction. I nudge the door open just a crack.
The room’s empty. She must be in the bathroom. I head over to the bed and set down the stack of towels.
“Yo, Erin.” I call out. “I put some towels—”
I turn as I speak, the sentence catching in my throat when I see that the bathroom door’s open just enough to see into the room.
Through the narrow gap, I spot her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She’s topless, her back to me, her arms reaching up to undo her ponytail. The golden light spills over her, casting shadows that highlight the curve of her spine, the smooth expanse of her bare shoulders, and the soft, subtle swell of her hips.
My breath catches, my chest locking up tight. Her dark hair cascades down her shoulders, covering the nape of her neck.
My throat goes dry, my pulse pounding hard enough to shake my ribcage. I’m frozen in place, trapped between the urge to look away and the primal need to drink her in, to let the sight of her brand itself into my mind.
Goddamn, I want her. I can imagine how good her hips would feel in my hands, the way her back would arch as I drove into her, the sounds she’d make.
Fucking hell, I can’t stop staring.
I can see the faint rise and fall of her chest, the muscles in her back shifting as she moves. The smooth curve of her side, the teasing glimpse of her breast.
I swallow hard, trying to control my breathing.
This is a line you’re not going to cross.
But every part of me wants to. Every part of me wants to step inside, to close the distance, to feel her body against mine.
With willpower I didn’t know I possessed, I back away. I quietly shut the guest room door, the faint click of the latch like a gunshot in the quiet hall.
I lean against the wall and tip my head back. My heart hammers in my chest, every beat echoing with the image of her burned into my brain.
I push away and head down the hall. I close the door behind me and head to my bathroom.
I need a cold shower.
As I strip off my shirt and step into the bathroom, I know there’s no undoing what I saw.
I turn on the shower and it hisses to life. I strip down naked then step in, steam curling around me as hot water pours over my shoulders. I plant my palms against the cold tile wall and bow my head, letting the scalding heat work its way into the knots of my muscles. The sting of it feels good, grounding.
I close my eyes, and there she is. Her bare skin glistening, glowing under the mist. I can see her so clearly, the image sharpening until it feels like reality. I imagine her pushing open the glass door and stepping inside the shower with me.
Her chest rises and falls, droplets clinging to her curves, sliding down her stomach. My gaze is drawn to every inch of her perfect body.
“You know, for someone who’s only been a guest here for about twenty minutes, you sure know how to impose.”
She chuckles, shutting the door behind her. “Consider it my way of saying thanks for the hospitality.”
My hands find her damp shoulders, my fingers trailing down her slick back. I pull her to me, her full, round breasts pressed against my bare chest.
Her eyes meet mine and I tilt her chin up, my thumb brushing over her lower lip.
‘I need to taste you,’ she says.
“Then do it.”
Her hands slide down my chest, nails scraping lightly over my wet skin. She sinks to her knees, her eyes never leaving mine. My breath catches as her fingers wrap around my length, her grip firm.
‘You’re so hard,’ she whispers.
‘Because of you.’
She leans forward, her lips brushing the tip, teasing. A flick of her tongue makes my hips jerk. Her eyes gleam with satisfaction before she takes me into her mouth, slow and deliberate. The heat is almost too much.
‘Fuck, Erin.”
She hums, the vibration shooting straight through me. Her tongue swirls as her lips slide down my length until I’m buried deep. I fight to keep my hips still, to let her control the pace, but it’s torture.
She pulls back. ‘I want you to lose control.”
‘Careful what you wish for.’
Her mouth closes over me again and I’m gone. The tension coils tighter, every nerve on fire. Her hands grip my hips as she moves faster, sucking harder. The slick heat, the sight of her on her knees, it’s all too much.
‘Erin…’
She doesn’t stop. She takes me deeper, her nails digging into my thighs.
I want to release, to watch her drink every last drop. But before that, I want more of her.
I pull her to a standing position, my mouth crashing down on hers. My hands slide down to cup her ass, lifting her effortlessly.
“I need you,” I growl.
‘You have me.”
I turn her gently, her hands bracing against the wall. I slide my hand between her thighs, feeling how wet she is. I position myself behind her, the head of my cock brushing against her entrance.
‘Ready?’
“Hell yes.’
I thrust into her, burying myself to the hilt. We both groan, the sensation blinding. I set a steady rhythm, each thrust hitting deep, each moan driving me closer to the edge.
‘Harder.”
I oblige, gripping her hips and thrusting harder, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoing in the shower. The pressure coils tighter, every nerve ending burning.
‘Come with me.”
I reach around, my fingers finding her clit. I circle it and she shatters, her pussy clenching around me. Her scream is swallowed by the rush of water. Her release tips me over, and I explode, a groan tearing from my throat as I spill into her.
I exhale sharply, jaw tight, every muscle coiled and tense. Just like that, I’m back to reality, alone in the shower, my hand wrapped around my throbbing cock.
Fuck. I can’t be thinking like this. I shouldn’t be fantasizing about her in this way.
She works for me, she’s an employee of mine, yet she’s in my home, just down the hall. Every fucking rule I’ve ever lived by, every line I swore I would never cross, flashes through my mind like a warning siren.
My head drops forward, water dripping off my brow. One thought pounds in my brain, relentless and clear.
I may not be able to keep my hands off that woman.
And right now, I’m not sure if I want to.
