Don't Forget Me (An Unforgettable Romance)

And though I'm tempted to sleep in the huge king-size bed, instead I decide to be a little less intrusive and take a big fluffy blanket to the leather couch and curl up, resting my head on a throw pillow. I get comfortable on the couch, closing my eyes, thankful for this place to sleep.

Thankful for this one place to give me comfort on a night that felt so dangerous.

I say a little prayer, thanking God for this cabin. Praying that the owner understands why I broke in, asking for forgiveness, even though I know I'll never meet the owner. Vowing that I'll be gone at first light.

Smith

It's been a long fucking night. Traveling always wears me out. And the red-eye was probably not a great idea, but it was the fastest, most direct flight I could find so I took it. Now, I'm itching to get home back to my cabin. Back to the peace and quiet of my lakeside oasis. I worked hard to make this place my little slice of paradise. It's not that I don't love my family that lives across the country, but hell, I'd be lying if I said a few weeks with them, a few times a year, isn't plenty because it is.

They're loud, wild, and like drama. Me? I prefer solitude.

I park my Range Rover and grab my luggage from the trunk before making my way to the front door. The lake is quiet and I see my boat out at the edge of my dock. I'm going to go fishing later today, and I smile thinking about my plans for the week ahead.

Absolutely nothing. I chuckle, considering my brothers, who I just spent time with, still busy working 60 hours a week, doing shit they hate in the city.

Me? I gave up that corporate life a long time ago, sold off my shares and made sure to invest my money. Now, I live off my fortune. It's called FIRE, Financial Independence, Retire Early.

Hell, I'm 32 years old and am living the good life, nearly as happy as can be. The one thing I’m missing is a woman to share it with.

But I got time, I figure, just have to meet the right person first.

As I open my cabin door, though, my senses perk up.

Now, I'm not exactly the most observant guy. I'm a man's man, meat and potatoes kind of guy, but I smell something and I like it.

I'm talking vanilla. I'm talking sweet-as-honey. I'm talking feminine.

I'm talking... What the fuck is that on my couch?

And when I say that, I mean her.

I'm talking, who is this angel curled up like a kitten under my blanket?

I'm talking a body like a goddess, all kinds of curves, hips that have my cock aching, tits moving up and down as she breathes, lips that are perfectly pouty and parted, hair brushed away from her cheekbones, eyelids closed, eyelashes long.

Fuck, she's gorgeous. And she's mine.

I mean, hell, she's right here on my couch, sleeping here in my house. I figure she's mine as much as anything.

I step toward her, wanting her and needing her. Wasn't I just saying all I needed was a wife, a woman? And here she is.

I don't want to scare her, but I do want her. I get down, lowering myself to my knees. I want to watch her sleep, and yes, I realize that could be considered creepy as fuck but I don't exactly care. I'm enthralled, captivated, curious.

She senses me. And I'm glad because damn, my whole body senses her, needs her, is awake, alive for the first time in ages. I’m ready for whatever comes next.

Fuck the red-eye. I don't want to sleep. I'm stirred. I'm a new goddamn man. Her eyelids flutter. She wakes. She bolts up upright.

"Oh my God," she shouts. "Oh my God." She scrambles up. God, she looks cute.

"It's okay," I say. "You don't have to run."

"No, oh my God, oh my God. I'm so sorry, I..." She dashes toward the door.

"Stop," I say. "What's your name? You don't have to go anywhere. I'm not mad."

"Oh my God. I'm so..." She shakes her head. She jerks open my front door, keeps on running out of it barefoot and everything.

"Slow down," I say, following after her. "I mean it, you're going to hurt yourself. You don't even have any shoes on. Where's your jacket?"

She keeps on going. She's terrified. She thinks she's in trouble, but she's not. She's in no trouble at all. Hell, she's everything good, everything perfect.

Damn, her ass looks good when she runs, but she is going to hurt herself.

I watch it happen. I try to stop her. I try to catch her, but her foot, it catches on a tree root.

She lunges forward. The sound, it's loud. She falls into my arms, but her head, it hits the rock. And my whole body tenses, electrified with fear.