Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

V ivian woke with a start. It was dark, hard to see. She blinked away sleep and took stock of her surroundings. Scrubbing at her eyes, she glanced around the room, confused because this wasn't her bedroom. There were no floor-to-ceiling windows or sleek modern furniture. The orca sculpture she'd spent too much money on was nowhere in sight.

She raised herself onto her elbows and glanced to her left.

There was a slumbering man beside her. Her heart squeezed so tight, she could barely catch her breath. Like a memory wheel, the previous night rolled across her mind. Dallas on his knees between her legs, his mouth and fingers relentless. How many orgasms had he pulled from her?

And that was before he'd buried himself inside her and took her to all the places women dream about. Three times . God, he'd been relentless, and she'd been one thousand percent satiated. Vivian blushed and carefully pulled back the covers so that she could slip out of bed. Once she was at a safe distance (because, good Lord, she didn't trust herself around him) she turned back. Her eyes had adjusted to the gloom, and on the table to her right, the old digital clock glowed green, the time just past three a.m.

Lily was bunched up in a ball at the end of the bed, sound asleep, and Dallas was on his back, his arm flung across his forehead, all that glorious hair a mess on the pillow. He'd gotten a few more tattoos than back in the day, and they only served to enhance his beauty—and give him an edge he so didn't need.

He was incredibly masculine and rugged and hard, but he was also tender and more than willing to put in the effort it took to make a woman's body sing. He was that rare breed: hard and soft. An alpha male with a heart.

And God, she'd missed him.

Naked, Vivian shivered in the cold and tiptoed over to the chair where she'd flung her robe the previous morning. She slipped it over her shoulders and quietly made her way downstairs.

Outside, the wind whistled, sharp against the glass panes, which shook from the force. She peered through the large window in the living room and was shocked at the amount of snow and, shit, she got closer and squinted…ice. The pellets hit the glass like small bullets, the pings loud in the early morning quiet.

Where the hell had this storm come from?

She glanced over to the fireplace and was glad her brother had thought to stock up on firewood. She'd noticed a generator the first night she'd stayed here, but that was generally for appliances and lighting. If the power went, the only heat source would be fire.

She crept over to the sofa and sank back into the soft cushions, grabbing up a blanket as she did so. There was something about storms she loved. Some thing that called to the wild part of her. Her favorite was good old thunder, lightning, and rain. But this would do.

The sound of the storm lulled her into some kind of stupor, and after a while, her eyes closed. She dreamt of things longs forgotten. Of summer nights by the river up at Founder's Cabin. Of moments stolen in the barn with a boy who would grow into an unforgettable man. Of a barbecue with food, family, music, and her mother. When she woke again, her cheeks were wet with tears, and the one man she hated being vulnerable in front of sat on the sofa a few inches from her, his face in shadow.

"Hey," Dallas said, his voice full of morning gruff.

Vivian sat up straighter and pulled the blanket tighter, a security thing, but it made her feel better. "Hey yourself." She kept her voice light.

He was in jeans, though they were unzipped, and her eyes traced the thin line of hair down his abdomen to the spot where it disappeared. Her heart had already picked up, the beats coming faster as he moved a bit, allowing her to see him properly.

What was it about eyes that shot feelings straight into a person's soul?

"You were dreaming." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Vivian nodded. "I guess." She sounded small and glanced away, noting that it was now lighter outside. The wind still whistled, the snow still fell, and she turned back to Dallas.

"Looks bad out there."

He nodded and frowned. "It's supposed to get worse."

"I had no idea." This was good. Polite morning conversation. She could do this. Act like she hadn't been a sex-starved maniac the night before.

"I knew something was coming. But none of us thought it would be this bad." He got to his feet and stretched. "I need to head out."

"In this?" Alarmed, she got up, the blanket forgotten as she faced him.

Dallas was quiet for a few moments and then stepped forward. She stilled as he reached for a piece of hair that had fallen across her cheek. Carefully, he tucked it behind her ear.

"I have animals that need me."

"But it's awful out there. The snow is too deep, and the ice is dangerous."

"You worried about me, Duchess?"

She made a face. "I wish you wouldn't call me that."

"It feels right." His voice was full of rasp, and her insides melted, right there where the sadness lived. It was big and, at times, overwhelming. But that was the thing about sadness. It was a lament for lost things that were never forgotten.

"That was a long time ago," she whispered, thinking of a starry night, the Founder's Cabin, and a little wood carving of a unicorn.

"Yeah." Dallas slowly nodded. "But it still feels right." He stepped back and began searching for his clothes, tossed every which way the night before. He pulled on socks, his shirt, and then boots, his jacket, and a wool hat. Once he was fully dressed, Dallas turned to her.

"I'm get to the main house and grab a sled. Get dressed, and I'll take you back to the house before I head up the mountain. You shouldn't be here alone in case the power goes."

"There's a generator," she pointed out.

"It hasn't worked in years. My fault. I should have looked after it before I moved out."

"So I guess I'm not staying here."

"Give me an hour or so, and dress warm."

"It's nasty out there, Dal. Be careful."

He regarded her for a few moments, and her heart turned over at the look in his eyes, then reached for the door. "I've been out in worse."

He disappeared into the swirling snow and ice, and she watched from the window until the treeline obscured him. It was nearly six a.m. by now, and, after checking the weather online, Vivian realized it would be a nasty for at least another twenty-four hours or more in this part of Montana. She jumped in the shower while hot water was still available, then dried her hair and got dressed. She pulled on tights, then jeans, heavy socks, and a tank top underneath a sweater. Her snow pants were downstairs. She'd taken exactly one step down when the lights flickered and went out.

"Crap," she muttered, heading toward the living room. She got her boots and winter gear ready by the door and, with nothing to do but wait, perched her butt on the sofa and stared out the window. It was definitely lighter now, but with no signal for her cell phone, she had no idea of the time.

How long had Dallas been gone? Thirty minutes? An hour? With the wind moaning, she did her best to keep her fear at bay. It wasn't uncommon for folks to go missing in a storm like this, no matter how experienced. Out there, it was easy to become disoriented and lost.

"Come on," she muttered nervously as she began pacing the room.

Vivian had worked herself up into quite a state, so by the time she heard a noise at the door, she was losing her mind. She yanked it open, and it took everything in her not to throw herself at him.

"You're back," she said breathlessly, moving aside so that he could enter. Every inch of him was covered in snow gear, save for his eyes, and she focused on them as if they were a lifeline.

"I am," he replied. "Get dressed and we'll go."

She pulled on her snow pants and coat, then grabbed her hat and plopped that on her head before slipping into her boots. Once she had Lily tucked inside her jacket, she looked up. "Okay. I'm ready."

Dallas reached for a scarf on the hook, and she held her breath as he slowly wrapped it around her neck, then pulled it up over her face. A heartbeat passed. Or two. Then his warm voice washed over her.

"Now you're ready."

Vivian was lightheaded and her stomach was off, but she wasn't sure if it was because she needed food or because an idea was blooming, one she was finding hard to ignore.

"This storm," she managed to say through dry lips, "it's supposed to last another twenty-four to forty-eight hours."

Dallas nodded. "That's what they're saying. Instead of the tail end of the system, we're dealing with the brunt of it."

"Take me with you." The words tumbled out of her. "To your place. I can help with the animals, and I…" She lowered her lashes and stared at the floor, mentally giving herself shit for sounding so damn desperate.

When Dallas didn't respond, she gathered enough courage to look up. His eyes glittered in the gloom, but there was no mistaking the heat inside them.

"You'll be stuck up there for a couple of days," he said, watching her closely.

"I know."

"It's going to be a tough go, getting up the mountain."

She cracked a wry smile. "I've been through worse."

Dallas took a step back. "Yeah," he replied, voice low. "I was there with you." He nodded to the door. "Let's go. We have to head back toward the main house anyway, so you've got time to change your mind. We should leave that thing you call a dog with Nora."

"Why?"

"My cat will have it for lunch."

She walked past him and shook her head. "I think Lily can stand up for herself."

"It's your dog's funeral."

Vivian bent her head against the blast of wind and snow, and after Dallas got himself settled on the Ski-Doo, she crawled up behind him. With Lily snuggled inside her jacket, she wrapped her arms around his midsection and closed her eyes.

She wouldn't open them until later. Wouldn't think about the right or wrong of her actions. Or the consequences, for that matter.

As Dallas revved the sled and they headed into the storm, she couldn't help but think how right this felt. And for Vivian Bridgestone, feeling good and right always led to something dark.

Would this be any different? With secrets between them and a past that had left scars, how could she and Dallas ever have something worth saving? Was she setting herself up for another heartbreak?

But then, could you break a heart that was blackened, bruised, and broken?