Chapter 3

Three

JANUARY

H ands pressed to the soapstone countertop, I regulate my rapid breathing. In through the nose and out through the mouth. My heart feels as though it will jump through my chest.

The door to the dining room still swings angrily after Justin fled through it. Fled , as in sprinted as fast as he could away from me after what he just did.

Heat flares on my cheeks that I was the one that made him do that. I made that burly god crumble and come in his pants. At least, I think that’s what happened. He seemed to take pleasure in my backside. If only I can get him to do it again, except with me this time.

From the feel of his steel rod pressed to my ass, it seems as if he’s large. Not just his frame, but everywhere. It’s terrifying.

And thrilling.

Using all the pent-up sexual frustration I now feel, I breeze through cleaning up the kitchen from our dinner, storing everything in dishes I find in various cabinets. Making a list of items I’ll need from the store for more meals, I return to my car and lug in my suitcases.

Where does he want me to stay? I haven’t even gotten a proper tour, but there are so many bedrooms to choose from, it seems. There’s a door that states “Private” on it, down a hall past the main living room, so that must be where Justin has hidden himself. A grand wooden staircase leads to a second story that presents several pine wood closed doors. The railing overlooks the gathering area below.

Moving to the first one, I turn the knob and enter a large bedroom with a sitting room and a full bathroom. It’s seen better days, but nothing a good scrubbing won’t take care of. There aren’t any sheets on the bed, but I find a set that smells fine in the closet. After I make the bed, I venture out onto the balcony from the lounge area and behold the beauty of snow-capped mountains surrounding us, just visible in the orange glow of the setting sun. It’s utterly peaceful and quiet, except for the tiny patters of snowflakes falling against the ice.

Back in the main bedroom, I situate my things and find a book in the library to settle in with for the evening. But when I pull one out, a photograph falls out of the front of it. A clean-shaven Justin stands with an older couple and a beautiful brunette woman beside him. He’s wearing a wedding band that matches hers. Maybe he’s divorced. At least, I hope he’s single after what he did to me.

And for what I plan to do to him.

In the soft bed, I slip under a warm blanket and try to read the mystery book I picked up, but can’t concentrate. My mind wanders continuously to what happened in the kitchen. The feel of his rough palm against my skin. His coarse grunts in my ear. Woodsy scent floating to my nose. And his cock.

Oh, my gosh, his cock. The sheer size should make me worried, but I want to see it.

Slipping two fingers to my clit, I rub myself softly at first, remembering his thrusts into my back. Imagining him taking me from behind while he spanks me hard. His face had grown wan when I called him Mr. Grant… Does that work for him? Does he like that?

Thinking of this hard man between my thighs, I erupt on my fingers while sighing his name. Then fall asleep.

My alarm goes off early, but I’m already awake. Hustling to get ready for the day, I prep biscuits, eggs, sausage, bacon, and oatmeal. Wanting to provide him with anything he could want, I think about mixing up a batch of waffles or pancakes, but spend more time cleaning before he arrives to the kitchen.

When his lumbering body pushes open the door, my heart races. Holding his eyebrows low, he hangs his head, barely glancing at me. His expression is so filled with guilt, I want to rush to him and give him a hug. Perhaps also jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist.

As if he can’t hold himself up, he places one hand on the kitchen island and peers at me. His other palm strokes his beard rapidly. “Uh. Listen. Things did not go the way I planned them to. I, um. I take full responsibility for losing control around you. It’s inexcusable behavior, so if you need to take off or?—”

“I’m okay. It’s fine. I think, what, you haven’t been around women in quite a while?”

Dropping his head, he shakes it. “Yeah. Still, that isn’t an excuse. I should never have done what I did. I’m sorry.”

Filling up a plate for him, I slide it over on the marble top until it hits his finger. Lifting his brown eyes up my figure makes my skin tingle. “Y-you don’t want to leave yet?”

“No. I told you I’d prove myself. I like it here.” Giving him a smile seems to put him at ease, especially when I take my plate over to the table and sit down. Using my foot, I slide out a chair for him.

“This looks amazing,” he says, while sitting next to me. “I realized after I ran out last night, I never asked your name.”

A little laugh escapes my lips. “I never offered, either. It’s January.”

His eyes widen with shock. “ January ? Like this month?”

Nodding, I take a bite and say, “Yep.”

“Well, that’s fitting. I want you to know, January, that what happened last night won’t happen again. I mean it.”

The way my name rolls off his lips gives me goosebumps. I find my plate quite fascinating as I say, “That’s a shame.”

He chokes on his bacon and coughs into his juice as he tries to chug a drink. “W-what did you just say?”

My cheeks flush with embarrassment as they stare at his pouch, broad chest, then his wide shoulders. His Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows, just visible under his beard. By the time I reach his serious brown eyes, I am almost regretting being so forward. What if he rejects me?

“I said, um, I didn’t mind, and maybe I could help you.”

He drops his fork and knife with a clang onto the table, but they bounce onto the floor. “What do you mean, help me?”

“Well… I just thought since I’m helping around the inn that I could help you in other ways. Maybe in ways you need a woman to.”

His fingers extend toward me, but just out of reach of my arm. “January, no. That’s not what you’re here for, and I’m your boss. This is already messy enough. I knew I should have grabbed one of those ski punks for this.”

Making the first move, I stand and scoot closer to him. He sits back in his chair with a creak and I sit on his thigh, then let my fingers feel the softness of his beard. His T-shirt stretches with his held breath. “I think it can work both ways. You teach me stuff and I help you around here.”

“Snowflake…” There’s a crass warning in his tone, but his big palm plants on my hip and doesn’t push me away. “I can’t resist you. If you’re this close, you better understand what you’re doing. And what you’re getting yourself into.”

“I don’t. I don’t know what I’m doing. So, tell me…”

Leaning forward, the scruffy hairs of his face tickle my neck as he growls, “I’m going to dirty that tight pussy up with my thick cock until you can’t even scream because I’ll fuck the air out of your lungs. You’ll be so filled with my come, from mouth to muff, that it’ll drip from your lips all day long . You ever been fucked before, snowflake?”

My thighs are soaking wet from his harsh words, pulse pounding deep in my belly, where a tight need twists itself inside me. Shaking my head rapidly, I pant out, “No. I-I’ve never done anything.”

It’s loud. Forceful when he curses against my ear. His hand grips the back of my hair and yanks me from him before he gathers me onto his lap and shoves his lips against mine. He tastes like ice and steel, plus salty remnants of the breakfast I made for us.

A whimper escapes my lips in between surges of his vigorous tongue, and I naturally writhe against his waist, feeling that firmness right where I need it. My legs barely fit around his girth, but I ride him as best as I can. His deep groan vibrates my entire mouth and chest as he presses my body against his.

“Y-you’re gonna make me come in my pants again. Stop.” He pauses, then pushes his plate away on the table. “You want to learn, snowflake? Let me teach you. After I eat some breakfast…” With little effort, he picks me up and sets my ass on the table. “Lie back.” I do as he commands, and he unbuttons my jeans. Helping him, I slide them down until he peels them off my legs.

His big hands grip my ass and carry me to the edge and my knees naturally part for him, spreading wide. “What are you doing?” I’ve never had a guy go down on me before, and my clit tingles with his breath being just this close. I can’t imagine what it would feel like if his mouth were closer.

“I’m too big for you. We’ll take things slow. Besides, I’ll probably come in two seconds being inside your virgin pussy. Going to make this right for you. You need to decide if this is what you really want.”

Just as I start to say I do , he lifts my core to his beard and shoves his wet lips onto mine between my legs. My back arches as I wail with pleasure. The feel of his sloppy tongue on my clit is one of the best sensations I’ve ever had. In between my moans, I hear his zipper lower, and his body shakes as his arm moves up and down. Leaning up, I try to get a glimpse of him, but can’t and his free hand plants me back down and pulls my hips closer to his face.

“Stay down. This is my favorite fucking meal. Your pussy is so ripe and juicy for me.” The heat from his words makes me shiver, but when he dips his firm tongue inside my hole, lightning shoots up my spine. “Mm, my snowflake is so tasty.”

My stomach clenches at his words. His snowflake? Am I his? I want to be…

Clamping my thighs around his ears, I hump his face. My skin burns as I rub his beard repeatedly, but as I get closer to orgasm, my legs hug him tighter to me. Then, I worry about him being able to breathe. “Sorry…”

I try to relax, but he lets his dick go and grips my ass, pulling me closer and says, “Fuck my face. If I pass out, just let me lie there with the memory of your sweet pussy on my lips.”

A giggle bubbles up from my belly as I thread my fingers through his hair. He resumes the strokes with his tongue. When he flicks my clit with the tip and adds a finger, I feel like I’m done for. Pulsing his wet muscle against me, his deep chocolate eyes meet my gaze and we hold there until my inner muscles clench his finger. My eyes squint at the ecstasy rocking through my being as I scream, “Mr. Grant!”

“Oh, fuck!” My ass cheeks muffle his yell until I lurch forward and clasp my hands around the back of his neck. Huffing breaths, he stares at the mess he made on his lap, and I get a peek at the beast he’s unleashed from his pants. It’s enormous. But I’m too blitzed to be afraid.

“I-I’ll be right back.” He stands and heads toward the half-bath by the entryway as I find my jeans and tug them back on. Straightening up our mess, I fix my hair and pinch my lips between my thumb and finger, worried about how awkward it will be when he comes back.

When he does, he stands close to the door, eyeing me, but I smile and sit back down to resume my meal. He does the same, and we eat in silence for a long moment.

“Fine.” His grunt startles me.

Chewing the last of my biscuit, I lick up the crumbs to ask, “Fine, what?”

“Fine. I’ll teach you stuff. But if you ever want to stop, you tell me. And this is the best fucking breakfast I ever had.” Looking at his plate, he lifts his eyes and the corners of his lips jerk up into a tiny smile. “ Both of them.”