The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories (393 page)

That was an easy answer. “I love to ride. I’m a rancher’s daughter, there’s nothing I love to do more than take a horse out of the stables and go out into the world. It’s the only time I’m free.”

“Free? Cheyenne, you’re part of the richest family I have ever come across. You have more financial freedom than anyone I’ve ever known, how is that not free?”

I looked down at the hair around my finger, no one ever took an interest in me like this. Luke made me feel exposed but in a natural sort of way. I wanted to tell him how I really felt about my life. For some reason I knew he would understand.

“Just because you have financial freedom doesn’t mean you’re free. It means you’re held to a higher standard, you don’t get to make your own choices. My life has been planned out for me ever since I can remember. No Luke, I’m not free. To be honest this is the freest I’ve ever been, out here with you.”

He nodded, “I guess I never really thought about it like that. I just always assumed that all you rich folk could do whatever you wanted. I’ve always had to work to stay afloat. My family didn’t really take care of me like yours does.”

“Depends on who you ask,” I countered.

We sat there in silence for a moment perhaps in reflection of our discussion when suddenly we were plunged into darkness. The only light remaining was that from the small fire which Luke had created.

“Luke!” I screamed. I could handle a lot but the one thing I was afraid of, was the dark. As he came over to the couch I could already feel some of the heat leaving the room from the lack of electricity. The wind was really blowing outside and there was a draft coming in.

He sat down on the sofa and gingerly put his arm around me. “Shhh, it’s alright. You’re fine, it’s just the power. I’m sure it will be back on soon.”

His words were comforting but I knew they weren’t truthful. If we had lost power we weren’t getting it back on. I sat cradled in his arms realizing in the short time that I’d known him, Luke had become huge comfort to me. As I started to fall asleep to the rhythm of his heart I prayed that he wouldn’t unlatch his arms around my shoulders.

Chapter 3

When I awoke the next morning Luke had a frying pan over the fire and had managed to make some scrambled eggs and bacon. My stomach gurgled in anticipation of the great smelling food. I stood up and stretched from the couch and Luke turned to look at me. It was then that I realized he was only in pajama bottoms. I didn’t know whether to avert my eyes or react at all, but instead I just stared at his well-formed muscles raising my eyes slowly to meet his. When our eyes locked Luke didn’t turn away, instead he stood and walked towards me. He stopped just a foot short of me and said, “Good morning. Ready for some breakfast?”

I sighed deeply, “Smells amazing. Where did you get the pajamas?”

He winked, “Another survival trick,” he laughed, “they were my pack.”

He turned around to pick up the frying pan with an oven mitt and walked over to the kitchen table which was set for two.

Luke picked up a bottle out of the sink. “How about some champagne to go with our meal?”

“Sounds great.” I said. He poured me a generous glass and I knew our conversation would flow easily with some alcohol pumping through my blood.

I smiled as he served me a delicious breakfast and we sat and chatted for hours by the light of the fire and a single candle that was placed on the table between us. There were moments where the magnetism could not be denied, knuckles would brush against each other reaching for the syrup, or the moment when I touched his hand when he made me laugh. My feelings couldn’t be denied, Luke was sucking me into every piece of him, and I couldn’t get enough.

“So tell me more about you! You couldn’t have just been out hiking in the woods all this time.”

He shook his head, “Nah. Like I said my family wasn’t really there for me so I started looking for work around the age of fourteen. I finally settled at this one old lady’s house and she helped homeschool me so I could graduate high school. She used to say there is nothing as important as an education.” He laughed, “If she could only see me now. I haven’t picked up a book in years. She was so good to me. When she passed away and left me most of her fortune, I decided to go hiking for a few months. The rest is history as they say.”

“Wait she left to her fortune?” I said scowling.

“Yeah, what of it?”

“Well last night you made all these comments about my life and financial freedom... you didn’t happen to mention that you’re also financially free.”

He frowned, “No, I said she left me what was left. It wasn’t much, just enough that I could live on for a few months before I found a new job. Mostly what she left me were books. I had read so many of them over the years that I decided other people should enjoy them and donated them to the library. I certainly couldn’t take them with me while I hiked.”

“What types of books?”

“What?”

“I said what types of books? What types of books did you like to read with her?”

“Well the last one we read was Moby Dick.”

I was impressed; finishing that book was no small feat. “You’re an interesting character, you know that?”

He laughed, “You’re fairly interesting yourself Miss Cheyenne.”

I paused for a moment taking another swig from my glass. “Are we going to get out of here Luke?”

He looked at me concerned, “I’m sure someone will realize soon that I didn’t come back. Fred is always on the lookout for me. He knew I should’ve been back last night, I’m sure search party will be sent out for me. And the boyfriend of yours, didn’t he call anyone to tell them you are alone?”

“How did you know I was meeting him?”

He laughed, “Lucky guess. Plus you didn’t pack any movies to watch with your friends.”

“Oh, well he’s not really my boyfriend.”

“Oh, well I just assumed since you were coming up here with him...”

“We’re not really together yet. But yes I think he would’ve told my father that I was here by myself.”

He smiled broadly, “Well then it’s settled. I’m sure someone will be here by morning at the very latest now that the snow has stopped.”

We both looked out the window and sure enough the snow had subsided throughout the day and it finally stopped, but there was at least ten inches of fresh snow since yesterday. Luke was right someone would come for us but it wouldn’t be until morning. We had one more night together.

I smiled at him. He stood to clear the dishes and I stopped him with my hand.

“No way! You cooked, I’ll clean up. Why don’t you go relax in the bedroom? Most of the heat seems to have retained back there, it’s pretty cozy.” I had gone back to use the restroom during our meal and noticed how much warmer it was back there.

“Sounds nice, I think I will, thanks.” He leaned in and gave me a sweet peck on the cheek before retiring to the bedroom.

As I washed the dishes by hand using what was left of the hot water that Luke had made over the fire I tried to understand my feelings. Sure before we got here I had an innocent crush on him, but now that we were together in such close quarters I felt like there was more going on here than what I wanted to admit. But again I was spoken for and what I was feeling for Luke was just because we were in this dire situation together. Or was it? Whatever it was I needed to figure it out before someone came to rescue us, because this could be my final time alone with Luke to make my decision.

After finishing the dishes I walked slowly back to the bedroom to find Luke sprawled out on his stomach sleeping. He looked so peaceful and calm but the scars on his back almost ruined the situation. There was something so deep and emotional about them. Something about how newly formed they were and how they had gashed his skin.

I turned around and took a moment to collect my thoughts and found myself face-to-face with my suitcase. I realized that I hadn’t changed since my shower and decided since Luke was fast asleep he wouldn’t mind if I put on some fresh clothes. I allowed my liquid confidence to help me choose an outfit. As I pulled on a pair of jeans and t-shirt I heard rustling behind me.

“You changed,” said a gruff voice.

“You were sleeping.”

“Damn shame, I would’ve appreciated the view.” It was clear he hadn’t completely sobered up yet either. All the formalities of earlier this weekend had disappeared.

I turned to face him and his eyes immediately moved to my breasts where he realized I hadn’t put on a new bra. I had made my decision, my previous innocent crush for Luke had turned into a severe lust that I couldn’t control any longer.

“How’s this view?” I said as I drug my finger down the line of my t-shirt.

He stood up slowly walking across the cool hardwood floor resting his hands on either side of my hips. It was the first time he had purposely touched me. The feel of his hands made my heart beat so hard I thought it would come out of my chest. He watched the rise and fall of my breasts with every breath I took.

“You’re incredible, do you know that?”

I didn’t know how to respond but as he pulled the thin t-shirt above my head it didn’t stop him. I didn’t want to. My nipples were hard as he admired my curves. I knew what would happen next, but I didn’t know how good it would feel. He slowly dipped his head down so that his lips met my neck. He trailed light kisses down to my collarbone and a small moan escaped my lips. I willed it to stay inside of me, but I couldn’t control my feelings any longer. The heat that spread from his lips down my neck could hardly be contained. Within seconds it had spread from my chest to between my legs. He drew his forefinger from my lips down my neck and across my collar bone stopping right above my chest. Slowly his finger dipped between my breasts and down to my navel where his hand greedily grabbed the front of my pants and pulled me towards him. My head snapped back before my lips locked with his. The heat radiated from our mouths, wet and juicy kisses joining together. Everything about him was so forbidden and mysterious, just the relief I needed from my perfectly mundane life. I inhaled his woodsy scent allowing it to take me away. He was the freedom I wanted and now I would do anything to have him.

“Luke,” I said in a husky voice. “Luke, take me.”

His eyes met mine for only a moment, while a smile played on his lips.

I waited on bated breath afraid to move. My heart was beating so fast inside my chest that I considered lunging towards him just to end my moment of discomfort. But as he rubbed his lips together I noticed that his breath increased pace. He took his free hand and put it behind my head into my blonde locks and pulled me towards him. Our faces collided, the air finally releasing from my lungs as our lips converged. Heat spread through my body as his hand reached inside my jeans becoming dangerously close to my already wet sex.

His lips separated from my own he moved his delectable mouth next to my ear. “You feel so good, so warm,” he whispered throatily. “I want you, all of you.”

I swallowed, deeply unsure if I could make my lips do any of the talking I wanted to say, instead I nodded slowly. I turned my head so more of my neck was more exposed to him as he started slowly sucking on the side of my flesh. His hands unraveled themselves from my body parts in order to undo the button on my jeans, slipping the fabric slowly and stealthily over my legs. As I stepped out of them he swept me up into his arms and laid me gently down upon the bed. I thought back to the naughty thoughts I had just one night ago, that were only dreams. I had never imagined that such a short time later Luke would understand my need for him. That he would take me into his arms and have his way with me.

My skin felt cold against the sheet underneath me, only the thin layer of lacy underwear left. His gray eyes searched my body and his hands curved around my voluptuous breasts. He studied them for a moment before slowly lowering his head to suckle my left nipple. He teased lightly with his teeth, his eyes looking up attempting to match mine however my eyes began to close in ecstasy. He flicked the tip with his tongue and I moaned for more. Thankfully he obliged as his other hand reached down between my legs. He traced small circles over my sex on the outside of my underwear, but he could feel the wetness through the thin fabric. He released my breast and I let out a frustrated groan, not wanting him to stop. But he stood removing his own pants revealing what I knew would be a large cock bulging under his boxers.

My confidence got the best of me, “Time to take those off I think,” I said with a side smile.

He laughed, “For someone who seemed so stuck up, you’re damn good at letting loose.”

I licked my lips and smiled, “You make me good at it.” I ripped his boxers down and my eyes took in the beautiful sight before me. His tan muscles rippling in the candlelight and his throbbing member standing erect ready to enter me.

Luke lay stomach down on the bed, but further down than I wanted. He was so far away, but then he rested his head on the bed and slowly began kissing the inside of my thighs. He moved up slowly finally resting his chin above my mound. He then used his teeth to take in the top of my panties and I lifted my hips in order to give him better access so that he could remove them. It was a slow tantalizing process that only caused my need for him to become stronger. When they were finally near my ankles he ripped them off and raised his body up putting his arms under the crux of my knees and yanked me towards him. I was at the perfect angle of penetration; he had planned it so well.

He took a deep breath and said, “You are so beautiful.”

I smiled for just a moment before he pushed into me, then my smile turned into a moan of affection. I knew I couldn’t last long, the teasing of the past couple days had practically driven me over the edge.

As he pumped himself in and out of me I pushed my hips further against him placing myself up on my elbows so that I could get a better view of what I knew would be our joint orgasm. As my body began to tremble I attempted to hold back the feeling inside of me and he leaned his head back and released a guttural groan. I felt him shoot his warm seed into my body and I matched his reaction by yelling out.