Page 49 of Icebreaker

"It means a lot to me to finally use the cabin. I called some people nearby, and they set it up perfectly for the weekend."

I swallowed past the lump, looking at Axel through eyes blurred by tears. "I'm honored. It's amazing to be invited by you."

A short while later, Axel turned off the highway onto an asphalt-topped back road. Tall pines and firs rose on either side of us. We gradually climbed in elevation, and the outside air was even cooler.

"Will we see snow?" I asked.

Axel chuckled. "I don't think so. It's notthathigh in elevation."

When we rounded the final bend, the cabin came into view. It sat in a clearing by a small, sparkling lake. It was like a postcard image come to life. The little house had weathered wood andlarge windows. As Axel parked, I thought about all the memories we could make together.

I climbed out of the car and stretched my arms and legs. "Look at this place. It's fantastic."

He stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "And so are you."

The cabin was cozy inside, with a weathered sofa and woven rug in front of a stone fireplace. The attached bedroom had a queen-sized bed piled high with quilts. Axel set our bags down and hugged me, sharing a slow, passionate kiss.

"I've wanted this for so long," he whispered. "Time with just you, away from the rest of the world, including Dad and your buddy, Moose."

I melted into the hug, enjoying his warm body against me. "Yes, we have some time in the evenings but never a whole weekend. This is wonderful."

A fire was already crackling in the fireplace. "Did you see that pickup truck that passed us a few miles before we arrived?"

"Yes, I think I remember it."

"That's the caretaker. I let him see where we are on my phone's map, so he only left the fire unattended for minutes."

I tapped Axel's temple. "Smart. That's my man, brilliant."

We settled onto the sofa together. Axel draped his arm over my shoulders while the fire crackled and popped. After a few minutes, he got up and rustled around in the cabin's galley kitchen. When he returned, he had a bottle of wine and two glasses in hand. He grabbed large cushions off the couch and spread them on the floor over the rug.

We curled up before the fire and toasted ourselves with glasses of wine. "To finding each other," I declared.

"And to the best man I've ever found."

I leaned my head against Axel's shoulder. He kissed the side of my neck, and I moaned softly.

"Thank you for this weekend." He muttered in a low, intimate tone next to my ear. "I don't think I've ever met someone who let me feel so…free just to be myself."

I set my wine down and cupped his cheek. "I only want you to be yourself. That's the man I love."

He turned his head and kissed my palm. "That's part of what makes you so special. You see all of me, the real me, and you love me anyway."

I shifted my position and straddled Axel's lap, looking directly into his eyes. "Is there any other way to truly love someone? Looking at the whole picture, I see a kind, brave, and strong man. That's all I've ever wanted."

I placed both hands on his muscular chest, slowly beginning to unbutton his shirt. As each button popped open, I leaned forward to plant kisses on the newly exposed flesh, relishing how his breath caught each time my lips touched his skin.

"You know, I've always been attracted to older men and their depth of life experience."

Axel stroked the knuckles of my right hand as I stared into my eyes. "Yeah? What do you mean?"

"It's like…when I talk to you, it's not an ordinary conversation. It feels like I'm setting out on an adventure. You've collected so many stories and wisdom from the years you've been around." I pushed his shirt up and off his shoulders, biting my lip as I saw his bare, muscular pecs again.

Unable to stop myself, I leaned forward and captured one of Axel's nipples between my teeth. I flicked my tongue across the nub, and when I tugged, he let out a low, throaty moan. "Quinn…"

I released the nipple and sat back, admiring my sexy man. "You've seen so much and done so much in your life. I love talking about it." His eyes darkened as he stared back at me.

Axel began to tug at my buttons, his callused fingers grazing my skin and leaving fiery sensations behind. "You have an old soul, Quinn. So mature and full of…of poise…for your age. You understand more than men twice as old as you."

---