7. Winston

Winston

I stomped my boots and shook the snow off at the door. The house was still pitch black. There wasn’t an extra generator like I had hoped. The power was out, and the snow was only getting higher by the minute. The storm seemed to have turned into a full-blown blizzard.

“Win?” Allie called out from somewhere in the house.

“It’s me. Sorry, doesn’t seem there’s an extra generator, but I did find a lot of wood and —“ The words died on my tongue when I saw the golden light cast from the candle Allie held in her hands illuminating her like a halo, making her seem almost ethereal. Like an angel. My angel.

She was beautiful. Dressed in an oversized hoodie and joggers paired with a pair of fuzzy socks I personally knew she loved, and a beanie over her head, she looked cozy and warm. Thank fuck. At least that was one less thing for me to worry about. I loved looking at her in that damn satiny nightgown I had no doubt I would be thinking about now till my judgment day, but it wasn’t enough for her to wear now that the power was out.

“Wood?”

“For the fireplace.” I pointed, and she turned before giving me attention. There was a lot to love about Allie.

One reason was that if she didn’t tell you something outright, her face most certainly did. Those beautiful green eyes of hers I missed seeing up close like this roamed up and down my body. I didn’t dare blink. Afraid I’d miss every emotion that played out over her delicate features.

Concern was clear.

But there was an underlying appreciation for my body. I’d been very familiar with that look.

“I can get a fire going for you,” I offered. “Then I’ll head to my car,” I added, hoping like hell she didn’t call me on my bluff. I watched her pretty lips purse and those perfectly plucked brows bunch.

“Head to your car?” Her eyes bounced from mine to the window and back to me. “Win—“ She stepped forward, and my breath hitched in my throat as anticipation climbed up my spine. She stopped a mere foot from me. “Maybe you should stay.”

“I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.” Her head tilted, and the soft candlelight glowed across her face. Her lips twitched.

“But following me here was okay?” she asked with a sneaky little smirk.

“Fair.” I shoved my hands into the front pockets of my pants. “Look, Allie-laska. Alaska.” I hated having to call her that. “I can crash on the couch or floor.” She chewed on her lip.

“We don’t have to figure it out right now.” She shrugged. Just like that, hope started to spring to life inside of me.

“Okay, well…” My voice sounded scratchy in my ears. Was I imaging it, or had she taken a step closer?

“Fire?” she whispered. Her eyes dropped to my mouth, and I swallowed hard. Fuck, I wasn’t to kiss her.

“Yeah, fire. Umm—“ I took a hand out of my pocket and scratched the back of my neck. “The wood.” I shook away the immediate thoughts of the million ways I could keep my princess warm. “I’ll get the wood?—

“I can help you. Let me get my coat.” She started to turn, but I reached for her, wrapped my arm around her waist, and pulled her into me. I hadn’t thought about what I was doing; I simply reacted. And damn if it didn’t pay off. Her back pressed against my front. We fell together easily, fitting perfectly despite the height difference.

“Winston,” she breathed.

“You really think daddy’s going to let you go out there in this mess?”

“Da—Winston.” She exhaled. It wasn’t what I wanted her to call me, but as long as she wasn’t pulling away from my arms, I considered it a win. Fuck, the scent of her drifted up to my head, filled my lungs. Jesus, I’ve missed it. When I breathed her in again, I caught it. The very distinct scent of her arousal.

“Win?” she whispered again. My head dipped lower, and I inhaled her again, and again, it was there. Faint but there. Had she…

“Winston?” she rasped my name, and a deep rumble vibrated through my chest. “Wh-what are you doing?” She stumbled over her words.

The control I’d managed to hold on to since she broke shit off had been slowly teetering away over the last thirty-one days. It was thin and fragile and really fucking worn out. I had a feeling it was about to snap. I could feel it.

“Wi-Winston,” she stuttered. I took her hand. Her breathing shuddered as I lifted it up and breathed in her fingers.

“Was my princess being naughty?” I asked.

“Winston.” She might have trembled, but it didn’t mean my girl didn’t want me near. Allie leaned back, pressing her body so close, I doubted a sheet of paper fit between my front and her back.

“I can smell you. Fuck!” I growled. That little worn-out thread started to crumble. “You played with yourself?” I felt her nod as her chest rose and fell. “In the bath,” I guessed, and again, she simply confirmed. “I’m going to have to watch that one day.”

“Win—"

“But right now, you’re going to go grab some blankets and bundle up on the couch.” I hated having to step away, but I needed to. “I’m going to go get some wood and get a fire going. As much as I want you, and fuck, Allie, let me be very clear”—I pressed my hard dick against her lower back— “I want you. I want you so fucking badly, all I want to do is suck on those pretty little fingers that still smell and probably still taste like you.”

“Win—“

“The moment I start, we both know I won’t be able to stop. Not after being without you for so damn long,” my voice rumbled. “So, go take that candle and find some blankets. We will get you nice and toasty by the couch before you know it.” I pressed a kiss to her temple then forced myself to get the hell out of there.

Thankfully, the icy cold blizzard blowing outside helped cut the edge off my urge. Just barely, but it helped.

I hauled wood in and got the fire going before I went back out there and brought in more. By the look of the storm, it didn’t seem like it was going to lighten any time soon, and even though I wanted it to be my body heat that kept my princess warm if we were going to be snowed in together, I needed to make sure I took care of her.

Allie’s needs would always come before mine.

No matter what.