Top Dog

“Let me guess. That was what hooked you on art.”

“Most definitely,” she said, smiling.

The hike was a success. We walked around for so long that we bypassed lunch altogether. When we finally made it back to the cabin, Lanie was ready to eat the kitchen table. I pulled out the soup Amanda brought us a few days ago and warmed it up, and we all ate together in a comfortable silence. It was easy and familiar.

I never thought I’d ever experience that feeling again.

“You okay there, sweetheart?” Amanda asked.

I looked over at Lanie, who was about to nod off into her bowl of soup.

“Lanie?” she asked. “You ready to go to bed?”

“No,” Lanie said as her head snapped up. “More soup?”

“I think it’s time for bed,” I said.

“Soup,” Lanie said, whining.

“I’ll let you skip a bath if you lay down to sleep,” I said.

Lanie relented easily as I pulled her out of her chair. Her little head laid itself on my shoulder as I walked her back into her room. I took a few wet wipes and wiped her down before I got her dressed in her pajamas. Then, I tucked her in and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“Uncle Bwian?”

“Yeah?”

“I like Amana,” she said.

“I’m glad you do.”

“Do you like Amana?”

“I think she’s a nice girl,” I said, afraid to admit to any more than that.

“Okay.”

I gave Lanie one last kiss before I turned on her night light, then I closed her door as she slowly slipped into her slumber. I turned around, and Amanda was standing at the other end of the hallway, her arms dangling at her sides. That damn sweater was pouring off her shoulder, exposing skin my teeth were ready to mark. I could feel my fingers jumping as my eyes scanned her body, taking in every dip and curve I’d neglected yesterday.

I strode towards her, and she wrapped herself around me. Our lips crashed together in a flood of desire that pooled in my gut. Wrapping my arms around her, I lifted her off her feet and carried her back into my room.

Tonight, this woman was going to be mine. I’d deal with my feelings about it in the morning.

CHAPTER 11

AMANDA

My back was pressed into the door as Brian closed it behind us. His hands were steady against my skin, creeping up my stomach as he lifted my shirt from my body. The cool cabin air hit my skin and ran goosebumps all over me. But the moment his lips descended onto my chest I felt warmth pooling between my legs.

His hands unclasped my bra, and it dropped to the floor. His lips wrapped around my nipples, languidly licking them. His beard felt coarse against my skin as the calluses on his hands raked down my sides.

He made quick work of my pants, and soon I was naked in front of him.

Picking me up into his strong arms, he carried me over to his bed. His lips kissed any part of me he could find, and I bit back a moan as he lowered me to his bed. I fisted his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing his strong muscles as I leaned up and kissed his chiseled chest.

And when I looked back up into his eyes, I was met with a lust-tainted stare.

He crawled up onto the bed as I laid back. My legs were spread for him and my hands were planted against his chest. His lips encompassed mine again, our tongues dancing like electricity surging through the power lines of the mountain we lived on. I could smell his musky scent as I tilted my head off to the side and deepened the kiss.