Page 7

Erika

T hat kiss between Fletcher and me was everything. I lost myself completely in it and can't stop thinking about it. It was like we started a fire between us, and the flames were consuming us while it was happening. It was so intense, and I'm sad it got interrupted.

The problem right now is that Fletcher has turned cold and distant, and now I don't know where we stand in this 'relationship' we have. Do we even have one? He's still attentive, but more often than not, I find him trapped in his own thoughts.

Meanwhile, it's been a week since the doctor came to visit, and we invited him for a barbecue this weekend. At the time, I was ecstatic because it meant we were doing things as a couple. Now I'm not so certain. It's killing me that Fletcher's pulling back from that intensity between us.

A part of me realizes that he might be keeping his distance because we can't really be physical right now. I'm much better this week, and I hardly feel a twinge coming from the wound. But it's like Fletcher has shut down on me.

Fletcher got everything we needed for the barbecue, and I'm just making sure everything is ready for when Brock comes. I might want to pick his brain about my situation with Fletcher.

"Hey, what are you doing? You need to rest."

"I'm tired of resting, Fletcher. I want to help."

"Yeah, okay. Maybe cover the potatoes in foil so we can put them on the grill. And prep the corn too."

I'm not really certain what it means to prep the corn, so I just take it out of the plastic it comes in and wash it. I love having baked potatoes with all the toppings, so I made sure Fletcher got bacon, cheese, and sour cream.

My appetite has come back as well, and I worry. I'm a curvy woman, and it doesn't help that I'm tiny as well, so every bit of food I eat goes to my hips. That's the one thing I have going for me, though. Fletcher keeps sending me heated looks.

The contradiction of those looks and his cold demeanor toward me confuses me completely, and I'm about ready to scream about it.

I decide to make a pitcher of sangria and get distracted while doing that.

Before I know it, Brock is knocking on our door, and I've already had two glasses of the fruity wine.

"Brock, it's so good to see you."

"How's my favorite patient?"

"I'm doing quite well, actually."

"I'll be the judge of that."

I walk him to my room and he checks the wound.

"You're right, everything seems to be healing properly. But you don't look very happy."

I sit on the edge of the bed and think about whether I want to share my issues with him. The possibility that he might know Fletcher better or have insights into his behavior makes my tongue loosen up.

"How well do you know Fletcher?"

"Just in passing. I'm on the SAR team here full time, but he's only a volunteer, so we haven't interacted much until now."

"Oh, okay."

"What's going on?"

I take a deep breath and make a decision.

"When we got back here from the clinic, he was very warm and attentive. He's still attentive, but after we kissed last week, he's gone cold, and I don't know if I've done something wrong to push him away."

"Listen, I don't think you could ever do something like that.

I know you have feelings for him. I've seen how you look at him, but you have to understand that Fletcher is a complicated man with tons of baggage.

His stint in the military, from what I hear, was spent in dangerous war zones during turbulent times. "

Brock hesitated and continued, "What I'm trying to say is that you need to give him a little time. He's been here on his own for quite a few years up here in this mountain and not used to having someone to share thoughts and feelings with."

"So you think I'm overreacting?"

"Actually, I think you need to talk to him. Trying to guess what's going on in his mind is not going to help you break that wall he's built around himself."

"Okay, I'll do that, Brock. Thanks."

We spend the rest of the afternoon eating and drinking.

Fletcher is a little warmer with Brock around, and I take advantage of it, lightly flirting with him whenever I can.

He seems flustered by it and blushes slightly.

I take that to heart and realize that maybe he's got his own reasons for pulling away.

Either way, he's in for a disappointment, because I want this space between us gone. Completely. Brock helps us clean up before leaving, and that just leaves me and Fletcher hanging around the kitchen together.

He fixes me some tea, and I sit on one of the stools to find an opening for an honest talk. He hands me the tea—peppermint, which he knows I love—and I blow on it for a few moments before taking a sip..

"Fletcher."

"I'm really tired. I think I'm going to turn in early."

"Fletcher, we need to talk."

"Sweetheart—" he starts.

"Don't sweetheart me. You've been acting cold towards me since we kissed last week, and I want to know why."

"Erika. I…"

I get up from the chair and stand before him. He is tense, but his eyes tell me he's not as cold as I thought. I put my hand on the side of his face, feeling the bristles of his beard tickle my fingers. He's so damn gorgeous.

"I want to pick up where we left off last week."

"I don't want to hurt you, Erika."

All of a sudden, he picks me up and walks me to the couch with him. He sits down with me on his lap, and I put my arms around his neck. He looks vulnerable right now, and I wonder if this is my chance to finally be with him intimately.

"Why have you closed yourself to me? Did I do something wrong?"

"Never. You could never do anything wrong."

"Let's not go that far. Just tell me."

"I want you so badly, it’s burning me from the inside out. I needed some time to cool off, otherwise I'd have ravished you like a feral animal."

"I don't believe that, Fletcher. You are not like that."

"I am when it comes to you, sweetheart."

"I'm much better now. I won't break."

He looks scared, and I place kisses on his face. His breathing is ragged, and his hold on me tightens.

"I want to be with you so badly, Erika, but your well-being comes first. I don't want to do anything to risk that."

"So we'll be careful."

I move out of his embrace and straddle him. His eyes are a beautiful chocolate color that makes me drool, and the sincerity coming from them warms my heart. I can feel him grow hard against my pussy and the heat that is starting between us makes me feel shaky.

"What if I lose my head?"

"Let's take it one step at a time, Fletcher."

As I say the words, I start to unbutton his plaid shirt.