Page 6

Fletcher

I wake up happier than I've ever been. Having Erika here in my house is exciting, and I'm looking forward to taking good care of her.

I get ready for the day and then go to the kitchen to start making breakfast. While I'm in the middle of it, I see her step out of her room and come toward the kitchen.

"You know, all you need to do is call, and I can come get you."

"I didn't want to bother you."

"Erika, sweetheart. I love taking care of you. Carrying you around like you are my bride is just a bonus."

Her cheeks go pink, and she lowers her lashes, but there's a smile on her face.

"Sit. I'm almost done with breakfast."

"You know, I could get used to this. You're spoiling me."

"And loving every minute of it."

"Stop. What are your plans for today?"

"I'm going to do some work in the shop."

"Can I watch?" she asks with a smile.

"I'd love your company. Just know that it's only exciting for me, not for others."

"I'll be the judge of that."

My heart warms that she wants to spend time with me. My workshop is my sanctuary, but I would never deny her entrance to it. Once we're done with breakfast, I carry her to my workshop. There's a rocking chair there that I use when I'm waiting for inspiration to strike, and I set her down in it.

"This is a beautiful chair."

"This is my thinking chair, and I'm only letting you borrow it because you are the honored guest."

I see her glancing around my shop, and I wonder what it all looks like from her perspective.

I try to maintain an organized space so that everything is neat and tidy.

There's a corner of the shop that has all the work I've been obsessively crafting while trying to stay away from her, and I get flustered when she spots it.

"Tell me I can sell those pieces."

“They're yours to do as you please, sweetheart.”

Most of the pieces are carvings of wood animals caught in their natural habitat. A squirrel, a raccoon, and even a bear I saw once from afar. That's why this mountain has made the perfect home for me, because it fills me with inspiration everywhere I look.

For the next two hours, Erika watches me work with wood as I shuffle around my shop. I keep trying to concentrate on the work I'm doing, but knowing she's there with her full attention on me makes me want to kiss her badly.

When I look up to see how she's faring, I catch a heated look on her face. Is it real, or am I imagining it? I walk over to where she's sitting and squat in front of her. She's so beautiful with that luminous blonde hair and ocean blue eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"I love watching you work. It's like you get lost in that world, and when you come out, you've made something beautiful."

"I don't know. I've been distracted by your presence."

"You hid it well. Fletcher, I…"

"I think you are my muse, Erika White, and I cherish every moment of your company."

She licks her lips and my dick twitches in response. I want her, but it needs to be on her terms. A kiss, however, could be just the beginning for us. I lean forward, pick up her hand, and place a kiss on the back of it.

Everything around us seems to stop, and the tension between us grows. She puts her other hand on my cheek and teases my beard with her slender fingers. It tickles, and I give her a smile. She's not smiling, though, and I catch her intent when she leans forward in order to reach me.

Hovering just above me, I check her face to see how much she wants this. Her gaze is hungry, her eyes a turbulent ocean of desire. When our lips touch, I feel a zap of electricity pass through us and almost pull back, but she's put her hand behind my neck and is pulling me toward her.

I meant it to be a gentle, tender kiss. It's not.

It's heat and passion and everything in between.

I'm caught in a whirlwind of emotions as our lips and tongues play with each other.

I grow harder with every second that our kiss goes on, and I need to remind myself that Erika is recovering from an injury.

It doesn't stop the kiss. I'm about to pick her up from the chair and take her somewhere more comfortable when I hear a voice coming from the front of the house. I reluctantly pull back from the kiss and get up to see who is at my door.

I exit through the workshop door and see a truck parked in my driveway. I take a few steps and find the field doctor, Brock, waiting on my doorstep.

"Hey, we're back in my workshop. Come on in."

He follows me and smiles at Erika when he enters the workshop.

"Hi Erika. I wanted to check on you to see if your healing is coming along properly."

"Thanks, doctor."

"Brock, please."

"Brock, it is."

He takes off the bandage that covers Erika's side, and I cringe at the bruising all around the wound. I need to be more careful when I move her around. She's probably in a lot of pain.

"Everything looks good, Erika."

"Can I walk now? Fletcher seems to think he has to carry me everywhere."

"You can, but why not let him be a gentleman and do that for a little bit longer?"

She rolls her eyes at him, but lets him put the bandage back on. We invite Brock for dinner and get to know him a little better. I, however, can't stop thinking about our kiss. What would have happened if we hadn't been interrupted?

When I put Erika to bed, I give her a kiss on the forehead as if nothing has happened between us, because I need to think of her and her well-being first.