Chapter Five

Lydia

I never use sick days. In fact, I haven’t used one in years. They’re a bad precedent to set to the students. They show up every day for me, so I show up every day for them. The end. I don’t even use vacation time outside of school breaks. Maybe it’s a control issue. The thought of someone else taking over my classroom for the day doing God knows what is nerve-wracking.

Mrs. Brown, the teacher next door, had a substitute last year, and she told the whole class the Earth was flat. It took her weeks to explain why that wasn’t true. Weeks. Kids are insanely impressionable.

I roll to the edge of the bed and notice Ink is already up for the day. I don’t know what’s happening between us. We’re masturbating on countertops, we’re showering together, and today he talked about spending the day in the garden. Apparently, the peppers are ready for harvest.

I want this life so badly. The one where I have a little garden of my own and a big man who wants to keep me safe, but I can’t figure if any of this is real. I mean, maybe we’re both sucking in carbon monoxide right now. It’s the only logical conclusion to Ink jerking off to my picture last night.

I grab my phone off the end table and read over my texts. They’re all from Mable and they’re all nosey as hell.

Mable: Fuck him yet?

Mable: Come on… tell me!

Mable: I need details! Is it big? Tell me it’s huge.

Mable: I have to spend all day in the barn with my father. I think this might be hell.

Mable: Where are you? I need to know what’s happening.

Me: Hey, girl. No dicks. Just a bear and some gunshots. It was a long night. Tell your dad what you want. We talked about this.

Mable: Bear and gunshots? What? And no… my father would tie me to the rafters before he let me leave here.

Me: It’s a long story.

Mable: You owe me two long stories. You know that, right?

The scent of coffee and bacon wafts from the kitchen.

Mable: Oh, did you see that Dillon’s friend put out a missing person report on him? Apparently, he never came home last night.

Me: That’s not really weird, is it? The dude is always missing.

Mable: Yeah, well, I guess his friend thought it was weird. If you hear from him, you should probably let someone know. He follows you closest, so…

Me: Will do. I’ll message you later. There’s bacon cooking.

Mable: Stop teasing me!

Me: Love you! XOXO.

In the kitchen, Ink is standing over the stovetop flipping pancakes shirtless. I saw him last night without a shirt on, but it was dark, and the experience wasn’t quite as… illuminating as it is now. His chest is cut and perfect, and chest hair rolls down toward his stomach. He could be a model for one of those burly man magazines.

Is that even a thing? A mountain man magazine? I feel like that would sell.

“Hope you’re hungry.” He sets a mug in front of me. “It’s decaf.”

“You just had decaf lying around?”

He smiles. “I only drink decaf. Caffeine and I had a hot and heavy relationship back in the day, but it’s over now. You sleep okay after the drama last night?”

“Well, I don’t remember you getting out of bed. I think I just passed out.” I take a sip of coffee. Detoxing from caffeine has been the hardest. I miss the little buzz I got in the morning.

“Same. You decide what you’re doing today to relax?”

“The garden sounds nice.” My clit throbs as he sets the bowl of pancake mix where I’d been sitting last night.

“I like the idea of my little bunny in the garden.” He glances toward me and rounds the counter, leaving the bacon sizzling on the pan. His hand grips my hips, and he pulls me in closer. His lips graze my neck, his beard scrubs my shoulder, and the warmth of his breath lingers as he brushes his way down my arm, kissing inch by inch until he reaches my hand. His fingers weave through mine and he stares at me. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Good.”

“Emotionally, I mean. Yesterday was hard for you.”

I don’t think I’ve had a man ask me what my emotions are… on purpose . It takes me off guard.

“Oh.” I clear my throat. “I’m good. My friend Mable just told me that Dillon has gone missing, so fingers crossed it stays that way,” I say with a chuckle. It’s an awful thing to laugh about, but if Dillon never came back around, I think my life would go on just fine. In fact, it might be better than fine. In a few months I’ll start showing, he’ll do the math, and I’m sure he’ll do all kinds of things to make sure he’s in this baby’s life. Not because he cares, but for the spite of it all. Of course, it’ll be sporadic, and she’ll be crushed when he inevitably doesn’t show up for her birthday parties or dance recitals.

I cross my fingers and say a prayer that he’s forgotten the way back to Rugged Mountain. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

Ink clears his throat and kisses my forehead. “Let’s get you fed and outside for some sunshine. You need your vitamin D.”

I grin and pull his giant frame back into my orbit. “Yeah, I do.” My tone is hopeful that he’ll pick up on my innuendo.

Ink growls low in his throat. “You want me to get bossy, little bunny?”

A tingle rushes through me and my clit throbs hard . I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.

Nodding, I bite back a grin.

He cups my face with his giant hand and stares down at me. “Good girl. Strip down and run out to the garden. I’m in the mood for a chase.”

My thighs ache, and though I’m terrified to be this free with my body, I do as he asks, because I’m desperate for whatever comes next.