Page 14 of Two Canes, One Cup
“Whew!” She leads me into her small rental in a swirl of snow.
Pushing the door shut, the silence that hits me makes it painfully obvious that we’re suddenly alone.
“Okay, let’s get this lit and comfy in here.” Flashing her a smile, I push past her to the fireplace.
Huh. No wonder. She has three hefty logs in there. No kindling. No tinder.
With a glance, I find a hatchet propped near the woodpile, and quickly go to work splitting down a few pieces against the rockyhearth.
“The flame is like a baby,” I grunt with another swing. “You have to give it little bites to grow.” In a moment, I have a pile big enough to start a few fires.
Squatting in front of the grate, I wave her over. “Come here, I’ll teach you how to be an ember momma,” I chuckle, balling up a piece of newspaper from the tinderbox.
Her giggle warms a spot deep in my belly.
“I’ve always wanted to be a mother.” When she rests her palm on my shoulder to watch, the ray of heat turns to a sizzle that makes my cock twitch behind my zipper.
An irrational urge to give her what she wishes for, in more ways than one, flashes through my mind.
I have to clear my throat to refocus myself. “Make a nest with the paper, then cover it with the small pieces, like this.” I prop the slivered wood into a teepee shape, then rearrange the large rounds like a roof over the pile.
“You want to build it from the fastest burning to the slowest. This little stuff is what makes the coals that lights the bigger ones.” When I glance up, her cheek is only inches from mine.
Her full, lower lip is poised between her white teeth in concentration.
When I flick the lighter, the tiny flame eats into the paper, then grows to envelop the ragged splits of the kindling.
With a squeal, her fingers tighten on my arm. “Oh my gosh, you’re so good at this!”
Fuck, I want to hear that sound again.
Unfortunately, I am too good at it, because the heat starts to come off the logs in waves.
Standing, I make myself take a half of a step away. “All you’ll need to do now is keep it fed. Don’t go too long, or it can be a pain to get restarted.”
Or let it go out, so I can come back and hear that noise break from her throat when I stoke her flames.
It’s strange, I’m around models and actresses all of the time, but her genuine reaction is so much more alluring than any of the stilted, practiced behaviors of the women in the city.
Dean’s right, it is refreshing.
And addictive.
“Thank you so much, you made that look easy!” The flush of excitement rushing up the cords of her throat makes her practically glow in the flickering orange light.
“Anytime.” Pushing on my thighs to stand, I almost catch my stiff dick in the crease of my jeans.
I don’t think she saw me readjust.
“Did you want to come back for lunch?” I twirl my finger in the crispy air. “Until this warms up?”
The pink triangle of her tongue darts over her lower lip. “I can be over in a few minutes?” She gives me a shy smile. “I didn’t get much of a chance to clean up before rushing over.” Her brows raise and pinch high on her forehead.
“Ah, yes. No hurry. I don’t think any of us have any pressing deadlines for a little while.” I give her a broad grin and move towards the door.
“Thank you.” She rushes forward and crushes her chest against mine in a fast hug.
I’m glad we’re both wearing thick coats so she can’t feel what she’s doing to me before she backs away.
