Into the Cold
Chapter 16

As fall turned into winter and the darkness became omnipresent, Amelia found it hard to know when the day ended and night began.

Caleb tried to help, keeping them on a strict schedule of trapping, tanning and wilderness crafts, though this did little to ease the sexual tension between them.

They both tried hard to minimize their physical contact, keeping as far apart as the little cabin would allow, but it was difficult. In such close quarters, they were bound to touch.

Especially when they worked at their crafts which was most of the time.

He taught her how to make buttons out of elk and deer antlers using a small jeweler’s saw to slice the bone into thin disks. He then instructed her in using a hand awl to create the holes. While she worked on these, Caleb carved the most intricate designs into moose antlers usually showing scenes of nature.

Most of these antlers, Caleb explained, he found discarded in the woods throughout the early spring and summer. Since the animals shed them every year and grew new ones, he'd managed to collect several dozens of each species and saved them for the long dark winter days to keep him occupied.

“Can I try something?” Amelia asked one day, indicating one of the smaller moose antlers he’d set aside deeming it not right for his current project. She’d just finished her twentieth button and needed a change.

“Sure,” Caleb shrugged, holding out the basket of antlers towards her.

“Thanks,” she replied, taking it, her hand brushing his.

Standing quickly, he excused himself and walked out into the dark snowy night mumbling an apology, closing the door firmly behind him.

Amelia sat, stunned, wondering what she’d done this time. Usually she knew what she’d done to make him need to go outside for alone time, but this time she was at a loss, she'd barely brushed him.

Turning her head away from the door in confusion, she noticed that Caleb had left without his rifle or revolver.

“Shit,” she sighed, grabbing them both.

If there was one thing that Caleb had drilled into her brain to the point of compulsion, it was that you never went outside without protection. Even just a trip to the outhouse required a sidearm.

Slinging his rifle over her shoulder, Amelia held than handgun in one hand and grabbed a lantern with the other.

“Caleb,” she called, opening the door.

The chilled winter wind almost knocked her over as she stepped outside, its bitter teeth biting through her clothes.

Squinting against the stinging air she scanned the clearing, looking for him.

“Caleb,” she repeated, raising her voice louder.

From her left came a gut rending cry of pain mixed with the snarls of an animal. Running in that direction, she found Caleb sitting in a pool of blood, a large tree branch grasped in one hand. Near him was a wolf, whining as it tried to crawl away, it’s back legs dragging behind it.

“Oh god,” she cried, shooting the wolf in the back of the head before rushing to Caleb’s side.

“Get up,” she ordered, keeping her gun arm up while trying to pull him to his feet.

“Damn bitch,” Caleb said, grunting as he found his feet.

“What?” she asked almost losing her grip on him.

“The wolf, not you,” he clarified, hopping on one leg as she helped him back to the cabin.

Getting him inside, Amelia helped him to a chair before bolting the door.

“Why did you leave without your gun?” she asked rolling up his pant leg.

“I forgot,” he replied wincing.

“You forgot?” she laughed. “After all of those lectures you gave me, you forgot?”

“Yes,” he yelled as she gingerly probed his leg.

“Oh, don’t be such a baby,” she chastised. “She didn’t even break the skin. I guess all that blood was hers.”

“I didn’t want to hurt her,” he said, leaning back in the chair, “but she just kept coming.”

“You still didn’t answer my question,” Amelia pushed, “why did you go outside?”

“It was nothing,” Caleb replied shaking his head. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Don’t lie,” she said standing up to look down at him. “What did I do to make you need to leave?”

“I touched you,” he said, his voice shaking, “I just needed a moment alone.”

“Fuck it,” she breathed, tired of denying them both what they needed. Reaching down, she cupped his face, her lips seeking his.

With a growl, Caleb wrapped his arms around her.

Her lips were as soft and delicious as he remembered. In one move, he rose and crossed the room to his bed carrying Amelia with him. His kisses were deep and desperate, his need overcoming his gentler nature. He needed her, wanted her, and the thought that she would leave him and never return was too much to bare.

Amelia knew she shouldn’t be doing this, but the feel of Caleb’s muscular arms around her made everything else outside this small cabin fade into nothingness. She wanted this, almost as much as he did.

He tasted of raw earthiness, of wood smoke and leather, everything a man should be and more. She heard herself whimper with desire as her arms snaked around his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist once more.

Feeling her legs around him, Caleb forgot about everything else but the thought of having her, quickly stripped off their clothes.

He moaned with ecstasy as he finally entered her warm slit, almost cumming instantly. He wanted Amelia to enjoy this too, but over the last three months, his need and desire for her had built to such a point that he couldn’t contain it. With three more thrusts he came, his entire body shaking with relief.

“I’m sorry,” he panted, looking down at her beautiful face. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop.”

“It’s okay,” Amelia said, sadness clouding her face.

“No,” Caleb whispered, kissing her neck. “No, it’s not.

“You deserve more,” he continued as he kissed his way up to lips then down to her breasts. “Let me show you.”

Caleb began to slowly kiss every inch of her creamy skin, suckling longingly on each of her breasts. This time he was slow and deliberate, making sure that Amelia enjoyed every moment of his attention.

“Caleb,” she moaned as he nibbled the tender pink tips, feeling him hardening again against her thigh.

Slowly, he entered her, feeling how wet and ready she was for him. The pressure was soon building in him again, but he pushed it down with all his might as he fought to hold himself in check until Amelia had a chance to climax.

He could feel her muscles tighten around his shaft as she raked her nails across his back, her moans of pleasure turning into cries of “Caleb…. Caleb…” as she finally came, sending him over the edge with her.

They lay there, still joined, neither wanting this moment of perfect contentment to end. Caleb was marveling at how wonderful it felt to be this close to another human being. For seven years he’d lived alone and never once had he wanted to share his life with anyone. Then one day a plane carrying the most perfect gift the Alaskan bush had ever given him crashed in his mountains bringing to him, this woman.

Amelia had forgotten sex could be so wonderful. Dale was ‘adequate’ in bed, though more often than not he was too tired to even try. Caleb on the other hand, dear god… she had lost count of how many times she’d cum for him.

By the time he was completely satisfied, they were both panting and slightly dehydrated. Looking at the water bucket, he sighed.

“I need to go get some water,” he said, grabbing the bucket and walking into the dark Alaskan night completely naked, but this time carrying his gun.

Amelia snuggled down under the bear skin blanket, sleepily listening to the tink, tink, tink of melting snow that dripped off of the stove pipe. When Caleb returned, he set the bucket near the stove a scooped some snow into a pot to boil. When that was done, he crawled under the fur with her, causing her to yelp in surprise as his ice cold hands wrapped themselves around her.

“Sorry,” he said with a husky laugh.

“No you’re not,” she replied, turning so she could be face to face with him.

"I'm so glad your plane crashed," he sighed, caressing her cheek.

"I could have lived without it," Amelia laughed, thinking about how different he life would have been if she'd made it to the oil fields.

"Well," he said, sitting up on his elbow to look down at her, "you're stuck here now."

“Caleb,” she said with a heavy sigh. “This doesn’t change anything. I still need to go home when the plane comes.”

“Why?” he asked, his face clouding over.

“I’ll take care of you. I can make this place bigger if you want,” he said, indicating the cabin around him. “I have a bunch of extra furs I can sell in Fairbanks thanks to you, and most of the money I’ve made over the last seven years is sitting in a bank account just collecting interest. We can use that money to make this place however you want it. I’ll get a generator, some solar panels, anything.”

“I can’t Caleb,” she said, reaching up and stroking his hairy cheek. “I have to go back. Dale...”

“Forget him,” Caleb breathed, placing his hand on hers. “You can stay with me.”

“Caleb, please,” Amelia sighed, “this isn’t easy for me.”

“Alright,” he sighed in resignation, his finger tracing lines across her skin.

“But until then,” he said leaning down and kissing her, his cold hands finding its way down to her still throbbing opening, “until then, you’re mine.”

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