6. Alex

6

ALEX

A lex woke with a sharp inhale, the kind that made her ribs ache against the stillness of the cabin. Her gaze darted instinctively to the window, where faint beams of soft morning light filtered in the cabin. The storm outside hadn’t let up, though it carried a strange hush now, the kind that promised it was only gathering strength.

Her body felt like a live wire. Heat still clung to her skin, and an unmistakable ache in her muscles reminded her of the night before. A low, simmering thrill coursed through her as she registered the undeniable weight of Vivienne’s presence over on the bed. The blankets rustled as she shifted on her sofa, careful not to disturb Vivienne.

Alex stared at the ceiling, trying to piece her thoughts together, but chaos reigned in her mind. What the hell had she been thinking? The last thing she should have done was let things escalate. But then...she had.

A sharp exhale escaped her, and she rubbed a hand over her face. It wasn’t just the physical act that was getting to her; it was the way it had felt. A complete unraveling, giving in to the raw, magnetic pull Vivienne had on her. It had been an unrelenting, unapologetic release—a chance to silence Vivienne’s sharp tongue and Alex’s own restless anger all at once. And it had worked, hadn’t it?

Her lips twitched into something between a grimace and a smirk. That woman was maddening and impossible to tolerate for more than five minutes without saying something infuriating. But last night? Last night, Vivienne had been—Alex swallowed hard—silent of smart remarks. Surrendered. Begging and pleading to be fucked. And that had been intoxicating in ways Alex wasn’t ready to admit .

The wind outside rattled the cabin, a stark reminder of the world beyond their fragile bubble. Alex tore her gaze from the ceiling and glanced toward Vivienne across the room. Vivienne lay facing the other way, her dark hair spilling over the pillow, one hand clutching the edge of the blanket like a lifeline.

A pang of guilt shot through Alex. She’d crossed a line. Sure, Vivienne had been a willing participant, but the circumstances—this cabin, the storm, their mutual frustration—had driven them both to act recklessly.

Her jaw clenched as memories of her past crept in unbidden. The years she’d spent keeping people at arm’s length, guarding her independence like a fortress. She’d learned early on that letting someone in too far meant giving up control. Control was what kept her steady. It kept her sane. And now, in one reckless night, she’d handed it over and taken it back in the same breath.

Alex pushed herself upright, the couch creaking beneath her. Every movement felt too loud, too deliberate. She needed to get away, to put some distance between herself and Vivienne before the woman woke and unleashed that razor-sharp wit of hers.

The hum of the generator buzzed faintly in the background, a reminder that even their electricity was on borrowed time. Alex swung her legs over the side of the too-small couch and stared down at her hands. She didn’t regret what had happened—how could she, when her blood still thrummed with the memory? But she knew she couldn’t let it happen again.

Her priority was survival, not indulging in whatever complicated, chaotic thing was brewing between them. Vivienne needed her help, her stability, not this mess of tangled emotions and unresolved tension. And Alex? Alex needed to stay in control.

With a deep breath, she stood and moved toward the window. The light outside was cold and gray, the snow falling in heavy sheets. She placed a hand on the cold glass, her palm meeting the chill with a steadiness she didn’t feel.

The storm outside roared, but the storm inside was louder.

The day progressed with painful slowness, each hour marked by careful avoidance and mounting tension. When evening finally arrived, it brought with it a darkness that seemed to seep into every corner of the cabin.

The cabin felt smaller today. Alex hadn’t thought that possible, but the blizzard outside seemed intent on proving her wrong. Snow lashed against the windows, a relentless barrage that sent faint tremors through the walls. The light had grown dim, gray shadows stretching long tendrils across the wood floor, and the wind howled like a living thing, making Alex’s task of stocking firewood feel like a race against time.

She hefted another log onto the pile by the stove, the dull thud breaking the oppressive silence. Her breath hung in the frigid air, mingling with the faint scent of wood smoke and something faintly floral—Vivienne’s perfume, no doubt. Even now, the woman managed to leave traces of her presence everywhere.

In the corner of her vision, Vivienne paced near the window wearing yet another fancy outfit entirely unsuited to her surroundings, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

“Do you think this storm is ever going to let up?” Vivienne’s voice cut through the room, sharp and exasperated. She cast a glance over her shoulder, her expression caught between irritation and discomfort.

Alex resisted the urge to sigh. “Storms like this can last days. Sometimes longer.” She grabbed another log and shoved it into the stove with a little more force than necessary.

Vivienne let out a groan and threw her hands in the air. “Days? That’s just fantastic. As if this place wasn’t miserable enough already.”

Alex straightened, her back stiff. “You’d prefer being out there, I take it?” She nodded toward the window, where the storm raged in white fury.

Vivienne huffed but didn’t respond, instead returning to her pacing. Alex watched her for a moment, her irritation mounting. The woman couldn’t seem to sit still, couldn’t seem to stop talking. Every complaint, every sigh, grated on Alex’s nerves, yet it was impossible to ignore the undercurrent of vulnerability threading through Vivienne’s words.

“Would it kill you to be useful for once?” Alex finally snapped, unable to keep the frustration from spilling over. “There’s plenty that needs doing if you’re that restless.”

Vivienne froze mid-step and turned, her eyes narrowing. “I’m sorry. Did I ask to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with Miss Mountain Woman of the Year? Forgive me if I’m not exactly thrilled about the accommodations.”

Alex clenched her jaw, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. The audacity of this woman. “Accommodations? This isn’t a five-star resort, princess. It’s survival. And if you’re too wrapped up in your own whining to see that, then maybe you should?—”

The lights flickered once, twice, and then the cabin plunged into darkness.

For a moment, there was only the sound of the storm outside and their uneven breathing. Alex felt the shift in the air like a tangible thing, the weight of the darkness pressing in on them.

Vivienne broke the silence first. “Oh, great. Just what we needed. Can this day get any worse?” Her voice, sharp and accusing, cut through the blackness like a blade.

Alex closed her eyes, willing herself to stay calm. But the tension that had been simmering all day was too much, and Vivienne’s tone was the final spark that lit the fuse.

She spun on her heel, her boots scuffing against the wooden floor as she closed the distance between them. “You want to know what’s worse, Vivienne? You. You are the worst thing about this day.”

Vivienne gasped, the sound more surprised than offended, but Alex didn’t stop. “You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here. You rarely lift a damn finger to help, and you have the nerve to act like this is all some personal affront to you. Well, guess what? You’re not the only one stuck in this situation.”

The words tumbled out before Alex could stop them, her frustration boiling over into anger. She was aware of how close they were, aware of the warmth radiating from Vivienne despite the chill in the room. She was hyperaware of everything about her, from the sharp set of her jaw to the defiant tilt of her chin.

Vivienne’s lips parted, but whatever retort she had died unspoken. In the silence that followed, Alex could hear the faint hitch of her breath, could see the flicker of something vulnerable in her eyes.

Damn it. Why did this woman get under her skin like this? Why did she let her?

Alex stepped back abruptly, breaking the tension. “Stay here. I’ll check the generator.” Her voice was rough, clipped, and she didn’t wait for a reply before turning toward the door.

The storm outside howled as she stepped into the icy wind, but it felt easier to face than the storm brewing inside the cabin.

The storm tore at Alex as she wrestled the door shut behind her, biting wind forcing itself into every crevice of her clothes. The generator hunkered a few feet from the cabin, partially buried under a mound of packed snow. Cursing under her breath, Alex yanked on her gloves and stomped through the icy drifts, the cold stinging her face like a reprimand.

She bent low to inspect the generator, her fingers fumbling as she cleared ice from the casing. A quick inspection revealed the problem: fuel lines were frozen. She sighed, muttering a curse into the night. If the storm didn’t ease, there’d be no fixing it until morning.

The cabin’s faint glow through the window drew her gaze back. She lingered a moment too long, the frigid air sinking into her bones as a far heavier thought pressed into her mind. Vivienne was alone inside—alone and furious, probably pacing the room and muttering about her misfortune.

The idea of going back in felt like stepping toward a fire, one she wasn’t sure she wanted to extinguish. But staying outside would accomplish nothing, and if she was honest with herself, the frost gnawing at her fingertips wasn’t the only reason she wanted to head back in.

Alex kicked at the snow, her jaw clenched as she trudged to the cabin.

Inside, the room was dim, lit only by the flickering glow of the woodstove. The warmth hit her like a wall as she stepped in, shoving the door shut behind her. Vivienne sat curled in one corner of the couch, wrapped in one of the blankets Alex had painstakingly retrieved the day before. Her dark silhouette stood out against the muted orange light, her features shadowed but unmistakably tense.

“You fixed it?” Vivienne asked, her tone clipped.

“No. It’ll have to wait.” Alex’s reply was as curt as her movements as she tugged off her gloves and stomped the snow from her boots.

Vivienne scoffed. “Of course it does. Why wouldn’t it? Just one more thing to make this entire situation more unbearable.”

Alex whipped her head around, heat rising in her chest. “You think it’s unbearable for you? I’ve been out there freezing my ass off while you sit in here?—”

“Freezing your ass off? You’re the one who chose to live out in the middle of nowhere like some recluse. Some of us actually enjoy civilization!” Vivienne’s words were sharp, like daggers meant to hit their mark.

“Civilization?” Alex shot back, her voice rising. “You mean your cushy life where you don’t have to lift a finger because someone else does it all for you? God forbid you should have to learn how to survive on your own for once.”

Vivienne rose from the couch, the blanket slipping from her shoulders. Her face was illuminated now, the flicker of the fire painting her features in shifting hues of frustration and…was that desire?

“At least I don’t hide behind a wall of self-righteous solitude,” Vivienne snapped, stepping closer. “You act like you’re above everyone, like you don’t need anyone, but let me tell you something, Alex Carter—you’re just as human as the rest of us.”

Alex froze, her breath catching at the edge of Vivienne’s words. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms as the tension thickened around them like the storm outside.

“Shut up,” Alex said quietly, the words less a demand and more a plea.

“No,” Vivienne countered, her voice trembling with both fury and defiance. “You don’t get to tell me to shut up. You don’t get to?—”

Alex moved before she thought, closing the space between them in two strides. The heat of Vivienne’s body, the fire in her eyes—it all ignited something primal in Alex.

Her hands found Vivienne’s waist, and in the same moment, Vivienne’s fingers curled into the fabric of Alex’s shirt. Their mouths crashed together, teeth and lips clashing in a kiss that was more battle than surrender.

The sharp intake of Vivienne’s breath hit Alex like a jolt of electricity, and she pulled the woman closer, her grip firm and unrelenting. Vivienne didn’t resist; if anything, she met Alex’s intensity with equal fervor, her nails grazing along Alex’s arms as their bodies pressed together.

The world beyond the cabin faded. The storm, the cold, the darkness—it all dissolved under the weight of their connection, as volatile and undeniable as the storm that had brought them together.

Alex pushed Vivienne backward, her movements urgent, until Vivienne’s back hit the edge of the couch. She hesitated, just for a moment, her gaze locking onto Vivienne’s.

Vivienne’s eyes softened, her lips parted as if she might speak, but no words came. Instead, her hands pulled Alex down, the fight in her giving way to something raw and unguarded.

Their breaths mingled, ragged and uneven, as Alex guided Vivienne down onto the couch. The firelight danced over their entwined forms, casting shifting shadows on the walls that seemed to move with them.

Every touch, every kiss, was charged with an intensity that Alex hadn’t allowed herself to feel in years. The anger and frustration that had built between them found an outlet here, transforming into something she couldn’t deny.

The firelight cast dancing shadows across Vivienne's face as Alex pressed her into the couch, one hand braced beside her head, the other gripping her hip with barely contained urgency. The anger that had fueled their argument still simmered beneath the surface, transforming into something darker, more primal.

"Is this what you wanted?" Alex's voice was rough, her breath hot against Vivienne's neck. "To push me until I snapped?"

Vivienne's response was a sharp inhale, her body arching up into Alex's touch. The movement sent a jolt of satisfaction through Alex's chest. Even now, Vivienne couldn't admit it, couldn't voice her surrender. But her body betrayed her, every tremor and gasp telling Alex exactly what she needed to know.

Alex's grip tightened, asserting control as she pulled back just enough to meet Vivienne's gaze. In the flickering light, Vivienne's eyes were dark with desire, her usual sharp edges softened by want. The sight sent a surge of possessive heat through Alex's veins.

"You've been trying to get under my skin since you got here," Alex murmured, her free hand sliding up to grasp Vivienne's jaw, holding her still. "Congratulations. You succeeded."

A small sound escaped Vivienne's throat—not quite a whimper, but close enough to make Alex's pulse quicken. The woman beneath her was a far cry from the uptight CEO who'd arrived at her door. This Vivienne was undone, her carefully maintained control fracturing under Alex's touch.

Alex leaned down, her lips brushing against Vivienne's ear. "But sexually,” she whispered, feeling Vivienne shiver beneath her, "I'm the one in control. "

The declaration hung in the air between them, heavy with promise. Outside, the storm raged on, but inside the cabin, a different kind of tempest was brewing—one that threatened to consume them both.

Alex's hand slid lower, savoring the way Vivienne's breath hitched at her touch. She kept her movements deliberate, measured, even as her own desire threatened to overwhelm her. This wasn't just about physical release anymore; it was about power, about dominance, about finally silencing the storm that had been building between them since the moment they met.

"Tell me to stop," Alex challenged, her voice dark with intent. But they both knew Vivienne wouldn't—couldn't—say those words. Not now, when every fiber of her being was crying out for more.

The fire crackled in the background, its warmth nothing compared to the heat building between them. In this moment, with Vivienne trembling beneath her touch, Alex felt a fierce sort of triumph. She'd finally found a way to render that sharp tongue speechless, to turn those biting remarks into desperate gasps.

And she intended to savor every second of it.

Alex pulled down Vivienne’s wool-lined leggings, the fabric peeling away to reveal Vivienne’s buttery smooth skin underneath. Alex repositioned Vivienne so she could fit between her legs, and she could feel the heat radiating off the woman. She looked up to look at Vivienne and saw her unravel before Alex had even started.

Alex didn’t bother with any slow build-up. She was too frustrated, too heated, and she needed her now. She put her face in between Vivienne’s legs and nipped at the soft skin of her inner thighs, replacing them quickly with kisses as she made her way upward.

When she got to the top of her thighs, she deeply inhaled Vivienne’s musky scent, letting it cloud her practical sensibilities, and she pressed her face against her silk panties, already damp from excitement. Alex smiled against Vivienne’s heat and, keeping her panties on, slipped a finger in between the sides, eliciting a soft moan.

That was all Alex needed, and she tore away the delicate panties and tossed them on the floor. Without missing a beat, Alex licked her folds from the bottom to the top, taking care to press a little harder at her clit before sucking on it.

She was delighted to find Vivienne was already wet, as if she, too, got riled up with their arguments and bickering. Alex didn’t spend any time thinking about what that meant for them or their dynamics and instead savored Vivienne’s taste. She ran the flat part of her tongue up and down, letting it slip through her folds. She increased the pressure as she continued and reached up under Vivienne’s shirt to squeeze her breast, knowing it would undo the woman who got under her skin and frustrated her like nobody else could.

Alex continued, licking around Vivienne’s sensitive clit, making Vivienne beg for release, before running her tongue lightly, so very lightly, over the swell of it, spurred on by Vivienne’s sharp gasps. Alex roughly grabbed Vivienne’s breast in a show of ownership and slowly ran her thumb over her hardened nipple, knowing it was less from the cold than from their shared passion.

Vivienne lay on the couch, pushing against the back of the fabric, and Alex could feel her body tense as waves of pleasure rocked her body. Alex put her other hand on Vivienne’s spread leg, pressing down on it hard to make sure she didn’t move or squirm. Every time Vivienne made a move to paw at her, Alex pushed down harder, a clear signal that she was in charge and she called the shots.

Alex moved her hand from Vivienne’s breast to push two fingers between her folds, angling her fingers upward, never letting up on sucking on her clit. At this, Vivienne moaned loudly and twisted her body on the cushion. Alex, once more, pushed down hard on Vivienne’s leg so it was flush against the cushion again.

She spoke against Vivienne’s heated skin, her voice coming out in muffles. “I said, don’t move.”

Vivienne stilled, though Alex could feel her legs shaking with pleasure; Alex allowed it, reveling in the woman’s undoing. She slipped in another finger as she picked up the pace, swirling her tongue in large circles against Vivienne.

Alex hooked Vivienne’s legs over her broad shoulders, giving her more access to the woman’s enchanting pussy. She plunged her tongue deeper, picking up the pace with both her tongue and fingers. She felt Vivienne’s thighs clench slightly around her face, and Alex eased the pressure as the wave subsided, only to increase again, bringing Vivienne to the edge once more.

Alex snaked her free arm up Vivienne’s side, squeezing her waist, and gripping the side of her ribs, pulling Vivienne’s body closer to her mouth. She exhaled hot breaths against Vivienne’s pussy as she stilled her tongue but increased the pace of her fingers, plunging them deeper til she found the soft area that made Vivienne lose control.

“Does this feel good?” Alex said, her voice still muffled.

Vivienne whimpered with pleasure in response.

“I asked you does this feel good?” Alex repeated, gripping Vivienne’s body harder as she leaned forward to stretch Vivienne’s legs that were still hooked over her shoulders.

“Yes,” Vivienne managed to pant out, but just barely.

“That’s what I thought,” Alex said as she lapped Vivienne’s clit with the tip of her tongue and then sucked it, targeting all her attention to Vivienne’s swollen clitoris.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Vivienne moaned, and Alex reached out to grab a pillow on the other couch cushion and put it over Vivienne’s mouth.

“I didn’t tell you you can come yet,” Alex said, still pressing the pillow against her to muffle her moans. Alex wasn’t worried about anyone hearing—she had no neighbors, after all—but she wanted to draw out Vivienne’s pleasure as long as possible while staying in control.

“Alex, please…” Vivienne moaned from under the pillow.

Alex rewarded her with a playful nip on her thigh before going back to draw circles around her clit, her fingers sinking deeper inside Vivienne as they continued to fuck her.

Hot wetness dripped down Alex’s fingers down to her wrist, and she removed her fingers from Vivienne to lap the liquid, spurring her on even more. She could barely contain her own excitement, and her own clit pulsed with excitement and desire .

She wet a finger from her left hand and then lowered it to Vivienne’s anus. As she pushed it deeply and slowly inside Vivienne’s ass, she continued to fuck her pussy with her right hand and she sucked on her clit again, finally dropping the pillow to grab her breast again. She felt Vivienne’s whole body begin to shake as her finger pushed into her ass.

“Come for me,” she growled against Vivienne’s wet heat. “Now.”

Alex knew she didn’t have to tell her twice; she was already teetering on the edge, desperate to fall over. Alex could feel the orgasmic wave crash over Vivienne as her legs shook with pleasure, still draped over Alex’s shoulders, now sliding down.

Alex’s own body responded to Vivienne’s pleasure, and she felt her own orgasm send her over the edge as she pressed her tongue against Vivienne’s clit even harder, trying to soak up as much of her scent and taste as she could.

When the moment ended, the room seemed quieter. The fire crackled softly, its glow casting warm light over them. Vivienne’s legs fell off Alex’s shoulders as she moved to sit up, breathless and quiet. Alex could sense that Vivienne was avoiding eye contact at all costs as she silently retrieved her still damp panties from the floor.

Alex, still on her knees on the cold wooden floor, stared at the ceiling, her thoughts a whirlwind. She’d crossed a line—again. But as her gaze drifted to Vivienne, watching as she gracefully cleaned herself up wordlessly, Alex couldn’t summon the regret she thought she’d feel.

Instead, all she felt was the faint hum of something that felt far more dangerous than the unrelenting blizzard outside.