CHAPTER TWENTY-THREEMalcolm-10
The days ran together as Malcolm and Autumn continued to play house in their little cabin in the middle of nowhere. On the days she worked, her off hours were filled with sexual escapades that only grew more adventurous by the day. Days she didn’t work, they hardly made it out of bed, or if they did, it was only to have sex in a different location.
The rest of his time was spent working around the cabin and the garage, making minor repairs and such in preparation for the time when he would leave. The more he thought about it, there was no way she was going to be set to leave, find a place to live, find a vehicle, and get another job on just what tips she was managing to make at the restaurant. He had decided to wait and see how things were in the next couple of weeks, but most likely, he would just let her stay in the cabin as long as she needed to get on her feet without rushing her out.
He wasn’t sure why it hadn’t occurred to him before that he didn’t have to stay there with her now that she was out of danger. Perhaps he just didn’t want her to be lonely or scared. Then again, maybe he just wanted to be with her and that was the idea that scared him more. It was precisely the reason he needed to get away from there soon. There was no doubt he was falling for her and she was...well, perfect—other than the fact that she was a bear.
He didn’t want to leave her. He had to. That was what volleyed about his head at any given moment of the day. Their three weeks were almost up, and he had to pull away from her. He couldn’t think with her so close to him, couldn’t focus on anything other than how much he wanted her, needed her. He made up his mind to talk with her over dinner.
“How are you doing with your savings?”
“I’m doing okay,” she replied. “Not nearly where I’d like to be starting out, but it’ll be enough to get somewhere at least and maybe rent a room or something until I can work some more.”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and you’re safe here. There’s no reason for you to hurry off before you are ready. I’ve talked to my uncle and he said that he doesn’t come out here anymore. It’s just too much for him to travel these days because he had a bad hip from a fight he got into years ago. The place is ours for as long as we need it.”
“Thank you, but I’ve held you up long enough,” she told him, now not making eye contact.
Was it possible that she was having the same feelings for him that he was having for her? They hadn’t talked about it, and it was probably best that they didn’t. It served no purpose other than to make things harder than they already were.
“You aren’t holding me up. Don’t worry about that. I’ve enjoyed being here with you, and there are still some things I’d like to get updated around the place. I might like spending some more time here once all of this has passed.”
Her face fell and he knew he had chosen the wrong words, making it sound like he couldn’t wait for her to leave. It hadn’t been what he had meant.
“I really should get out of your hair,” she said, picking up her plate and taking it over to the sink.
She stood there with her back turned to him. He sensed that there was a struggle within her, a struggle within them both, that was keeping them together despite knowing they had to part eventually. They had ignored their attraction beyond the physical aspects and now it was biting them firmly in their backsides.
“That came out the wrong way, Autumn. Please stay as long as you need to stay. Save up enough that you don’t have to worry about every penny you make and spend. Okay?”
“If you are sure it’s alright.”
“It is.”
As night fell, there was an uneasiness between them. If he had any doubts that it was mutual, the sight of her coming out of the bathroom in a pair of flannel pajamas she had found at the discount store said more than any words could convey. They were ill-fitting and definitely not intended to arouse. Still, she somehow managed to make them look alluring.
“Goodnight,” she told him, kissing him on the cheek and climbing into bed.
“Goodnight,” he replied, stripping down to his boxer briefs and t-shirt to climb in beside her.
They lay there, back to back, as far apart as the edges of the bed would allow. Malcolm stared into space and wondered if she was doing the same. He wasn’t sure how long he lay there in the darkness, his thoughts running amok in his head, but he eventually heard her breathing deepen, not quite a snore, but the soft vibrations of a sound sleep.