Previously On Love Story: Ian takes time to clear his head and ends up sketching a picture of Brooke. Brooke and Ian talk and she confides to him of pieces of her marriage to Ridge and Thorne. She doesn’t mention they were brothers. Ian feels badly that Brooke was upset about talking about her failed marriages.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 7

Ian stared silently into the mirror looking at the face that he hadn’t seen in months. He touched his cleanly shaven face. It made a difference, he’d even admit to that. Ian had never been one of those pretty boys who pampered himself and worried about his “good” looks, yet when he did leave him seclusion, he would shave and cut him hair to look presentable it must have made a difference because women seemed to find him irresistible yet he was more than ever able to resist them. Ian methodically cleaned his sink. I really made no sense for him to shave now, but he did. In the back of his head, he knew why he had done it. He had done it because of her. He wanted her; he was ready to admit that, but only to himself. Her skin was soft, and he knew that his beard would be abrasive to her skin. When he saw the soft tanned skin about her panties a rush of hedonistic heat coursed through his body as well as purely sexual thoughts through him head. Even now, he was aching just thinking about how soft her inner thighs would be against his naked cheek how sweet she taste. He could see himself, kissing her thigh; he could see his head bending down between her legs; tasting her brining her the ultimate pleasure with his mouth and tongue. Ian was a generous lover, he was never selfish in the bedroom and he knew how to pleasure the women who graced it. He always saw to their satification before he sought his own though he never spent the night. Sex was sex and he wasn’t going to make more of it than it was. He had always made it clear, he didn’t want anything but sex. If he were to be with Brooke, he would see to her pleasure over and over. His dreams that he had been having about her alone were enough to make him burn. Ian shook his head. What was he thinking? Brooke has already been through a great deal emotionally. The last thing she needed was a purely sexual relationship with someone like him and that is all that there could be between them. He had nothing left to offer a woman.

Brooke rolled over onto her stomach; she had a hard time falling asleep. She kept replaying that night’s dinner over and over in her head. She really shouldn’t have called Ian’s bluff. What had she been thinking showing him her panties? She didn’t know what she had been doing. She had had enough trouble where men were concerned. Hadn’t her failed marriage with Thorne or her heart wrenching affair with Ridge, proven that? Besides, Ian wasn’t her type. He was brash, gruffly and opinionated. He wasn’t her type at all. So, why was she laying there in her bed thinking about him? It made so sense. Just like it made no sense that he was a writer. Brooke wondered about what kind of books did he write. She wondered why he had secluded himself from the world. Was he like her? Was he avoiding something in his life? Brooke sighed again. Her life was a mess. She loved living in L.A but working with a group of people who disliked her so intensely no longer held its appeal, nor did working with Ridge. How was she going to work with him hating her? How was she going to deal with Stephanie and Taylor’s nasty remarks? If only they knew the truth. But, it didn’t matter anymore. It was over. Brooke would never chase Ridge again. Brooke’s mind traveled back to Ian. He was different from Ridge. Where Ridge had often been non comitial in his responses, Ian was straightforward and almost blunt. Yet, the same man had exquisite taste in wine and coffee, had beautiful artwork in his home and cooked as well as any woman she had know including herself. It didn’t add up. Somehow there was more to Ian than what met the eye.

Ian woke up suddenly when he realized that his body was still reeling with the effects of his dream. “ What the …damn!” Ian couldn’t believe it, it seemed that his body really had been fooled by the dream. Brooke had been naked lying in front of the fire in his living room while he had been trailing his mouth over top of her soft jasmine scented provocative breast. His mouth caressed her tanned globes trailing a molt trail to her pink nipples. His hands trailed down her stomach, down between her parted thighs. His fingers found the moist folds to her vagina. He easily found her aching nub massaging it. “ It feels good doesn’t it?” He murmured against breast. He could hear her erratic breathing which fueled his own fire. Gently, he slipped his fingers between the moist folds into the hot warmth. When she gasped and undiluted against his fingers when something woke him up. Ian sat up and looked down at his still throbbing pen*s covered with semen—the effects from his dream. Ian looked up at the ceiling. “ Damn that woman…” Ian stood up and headed toward the shower. He stood under the cool water allowing his to soothe him and his aching member. Ian finished his shower dried off. He headed back in his bedroom when he noticed two things. He noticed the silence and the coldness that had come over his room. He looked out at the window realized that it had stopped raining, but now it was snowing and snowing hard.




Something woke Brooke but she wasn’t sure what it was. Brooke sat up and looked around her bedroom. The little light from the bathroom was still on which lit the room dimly. Brooke shivered a bit. The room seemed to have gotten colder. Brooke reached over toward her soft lightweight cotton robe to cover her lightweight thin strapped white cotton t-shirt and matching panties. What she was wearing wasn’t part of the Brooke’s Bedroom line but somehow she had been so comfortable in it after her bath, she didn’t change into one of her nightgowns. Brooke left the bed and walked over toward the window. She looked out into the dark woods and noticed that it was snowing. It was coming down hard and it looked as if it had already gotten a foot of snow. “ Oh God…rain was bad enough but snow? Well God…what else could possibly happen now?” Brooke looked at the clock, which read 2 am. Brooke was cold and she should probably crawl back into her bed. She thought about a hot cup of coffee or maybe some warm milk to help her sleep. Brooke frowned. She really didn’t like warm milk but maybe some wine. Brooke headed downstairs. She turned a lamp on and headed to the kitchen. Brooke took out a goblet and poured herself a glass of wine. She headed toward the sofa when she noticed a sketchpad lying on the table. Brooke touched the sketchpad lightly wondering what was in it. Brooke put the glass of wine down and opened the sketchpad. Brooke looked down at the sketch of a beautiful old Native American woman. The lines and artistry that was captured impressed Brooke. Brooke looked through the different sketches until one stopped her. It was of her. Butterflies filled Brooke’s stomach as she looked at how her image was captured on the sketchpad. Ian had done this. He had drawn her but somehow there was a gentle beauty to his sketch. Was that how he saw her? Brooke sat back against the sofa not taking her eyes off the sketch. When was the last time someone saw something beautiful inside of her? It had been so long. The world, her family and even her children’s attitude hadn’t been the best lately. But Ian with his gruff exterior and brooding had seen something that Brooke had thought was lost, the innocence that had been inside of her.

Ian picked up the last of the firewood and threw it in with the other pieces of wood that he chopped. Ian knew the outdoor like the back of his hand. He also knew about how the snowfall would be steady and constant so he had headed out to take care of matters even though it was the middle of the night. He had to prepare by cutting down more wood. He had already gathered additional water just in case the well froze. Ian stood up; the cold air billowed around him when he heard a noise. Ian walked in the dark cold woods to investigate the source of the noise. Ian walked a few yards with his flashlight until he found what was causing the noise. Ian sighed; a deer had been caught underneath some branches that must have fallen because of the snow. Ian took his time to gently removing the branches to help the hurt deer. The deer had freed when Ian heard a cracking sound and a large branch came barreling toward him.

Brooke was dozing on the sofa in front of the fire when she was awakened by the sound at the front door. Brooke sat up when Ian came into the living room. “ Ian…” Brooke rubbed her eyes but noticed that his shirt was torn on the left side and what looked to be blood seeping through his shirt. “ Oh my God.” Brooke was alarmed and she ran to him. Ian saw the worry in her face and something inside of him melted. Ian used his right arm to try to unbutton his shirt.
“ No…Let me do that.” Brooke said as she led him to the sofa.
“ Don’t worry, it is just a scratch.”
Brooke hurried to turn on the light. She turned around and found a stranger staring back at her. Brooke almost gasped. Ian had shaved and my God he was handsome as sin. His face was gorgeous with sparkling blue eyes, a strong chin and perfect features. Brooke slowly let out the air. Ian frowned.
“ What is wrong?”
Brooke looked away. “Nothing…it is just. You shaved your beard.”
Ian touched his chin with his right hand. “ Yeah…I did.”
Brooke headed to the kitchen and ran some warm water into a basin. She placed the water on the coffee table. “ Where can I get a rag?”
“The linen closet in the hallway.”
Brooke went to the linen closet and got a rag. She returned to the sofa. “ Let me help you take off your shirt.”
“ I can do it.”
“ Yes…but it must hurt. So let me help you.” Brooke stood and help out her arms toward Ian. Ian looked at her for a moment and stood. Brooke stepped toward him and she gently unbuttoned his shirt. Ian helped her and when she peeled the shirt from his naked chest. Brooke gasped when she saw his chest. Ian looked at his left shoulder toward his gash.
“ It’s only a scratch.”
Brooke looked at the scratch but that isn’t what made her grasp. It was his chest. Who would have thought that underneath the beard he would be handsome? Not only was he ruggedly handsome but also his body was amazing. His chest was muscular and his washboard stomach was amazing. Brooke wondered would the rest of his body be as spectacular as his chest and arms. God, he was simply beautiful. Brooke closed her mouth and turned her head away for a moment. The last thing she needed was for Ian to find her staring sensually at his chest.
“ I umm…it looks like you are going to need antiseptic.” Ian looked at his scratch while Brooke studied his muscles, which rippled.
“ There is some in my medicine cabinet.”
“ In your bedroom?”
“ Yes, I’ll get it.”
Ian left to get the antiseptic. He came back a moment later with the antiseptic. He sat down next to Brooke. Brooke dipped the cloth into the warm water. She turned toward Ian and gently washed his wound. Ian said nothing as she gently washed his wound. It didn’t really hurt him but the blood made it look worse than it was. Brooke was gentle with her washing. Her fingers touched the puckering skin.
Ian inadvertently inhaled deeply. Her fingers had trailed across his shoulder and he felt a thrill course through his body. Brooke’s tawny eyes studied his.
“ Does it hurt?” She asked with a breathiness quality in her voice.
“ No…”
Brooke leaned forward studying his wound closely. Her warm breath caressed his chest and Ian closed his eyes involuntary. He wanted her to come closer, to lean forward and to touch his chest with her mouth.
“ I think that it may need stitches.” Brooke looked up and found Ian looking down at his.
Brooke blushed and raised her head. Their mouths were only inches away from each other. Brooke studied his lips and wonder what he’d taste like. Ian looked at her lips.
“ I can take care of it.”
“What?” Brooke said studying him.
“ The stitches…I can take care of it. I’ll get some thread and a needle.”
“ What?” Brooke gave Ian a perplexed look.
“ It will take a matter of minutes to stitch it up.”
“ You are going to stitch up your shoulder.”
“ Yes.” Ian stood up and went to a drawer in the kitchen. He came back with thread, a needle and matches. “ Brooke, it might make you upset…I can do it in my bedroom.”
Ian stood up. “No! Its alright.” Brooke’s fingers slowly touched Ian in the middle of his muscular chest and lightly trailed up to his scar. Ian felt the heat of sexual tension fill the air as her fingers touched his wound. God…wound or no wound he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to taste her and make love to her. Ian towered over Brooke while wanting filled her. What would it be like for him to take her into his arms? To feel his lips against hers? To have his tongue inside of her mouth? To have him inside of her?


Chapter 8

Brooke watched Ian with avid fascination as he stitched up the wound on his shoulder. She knew that it had to hurt, he used nothing to numb the pain but he made no sound nor did his eyes betray a hint of pain. Brooke had never been into gore but she had to admit that watching him sew up his arm in tiny little perfect stitches amazed her. Who would have thought that such an act would be sensuous to her? Ian tied the last knot and got a pair of scissors to cut it.
“ You did that perfectly.”
“ It’s like sewing.”
“ You sew?”
“ Yes, who else do you think mends things around here.”
“ It’s just well…. I don’t know too many men who can sew.”
“ My mother thought it important that I learn to do everything. Cook, clean sew along with fixing the car, constructing and the other “male” chores around my house.”
“ Your mother sounds like an amazing woman.”
“ She was.”
“ Here let me do that.” Brooke reached out to take the scissors out of Ian’s fingers. Her hand innocently caressed his. For a moment both of them stilled. Ian’s studied Brooke. The firelight bathed her and beauty. It made her look young and beautiful while her robe slightly opened. While to most men, a t-shirt and panties would not be arousing but it was to him. Her breast looked inviting covered by the tiny white shirt. Brooke took the scissors from Ian and leaned forward to delicately cut the thread. Her fingers touched the stitches gently.
“Still, you did a beautiful job and without flinching.”
“ That wasn’t the first time that I had to give myself stitches, besides it didn’t hurt.” Ian’s voice deepened with arousal. Her fingers trailed down from his stitches down his chest. Ian caught her hand in his, plastering it against his chest. Brooke licked her lips involuntarily.
“ I’m sorry…” Brooke looked away.
“ It’s alright…” Ian still had her hand captured for a moment and Brooke could feel the beat of his heart. “ Thank you for helping.”
Brooke pulled her hand away from Ian’s grasp. “I never thought that I’d hear that.”
Ian frowned. “ What?”
“You thanking me for something.”
“ Don’t get used to it.”
Brooke smiled. “ Now that is the Ian that I know and love…” Her voice trailed off. Brooke blushed. “ I meant…”
“ I know what you meant.” Ian said softly.
Brooke looked away for a moment. “ Well, I’m glad that you are going to be alright. What happened?”
Ian stood and poured the bloody water into the sink and rinsed it out. “ Nothing much. I was chopping some firewood.”
“This time of night?”
“That snow is going to come down pretty hard. It was best to get some more. We will have plenty to keep warm..” Ian picked up his bloody shirt off the floor while Brooke’s eyes studied the corded muscles on his back. “ Truthfully, I was getting water. Sometimes the well freezes and there is a problem with water. I wanted to be proactive so I gathered a few tons and placed them in the outside shed.”
“ Won’t it freeze there?”
“No, the containers are heated and the water won’t freeze.” Ian disappeared into his bedroom. Brooke then noticed that the sketchpad wasn’t where it had been. She quickly put it back on the table. Ian came out of the bedroom wearing another shirt although he hadn’t buttoned it. Brooke could still he his muscular chest through the opening of his shirt and the he button fly jeans had it’s it first two buttons opened. Brooke was starting to feel a little uncomfortable but she couldn’t seem to make herself look away or go upstairs to sleep. No matter how sinfully handsome he was, or as sexy as he looked with his shirt open and feet bare, Ian was a handful.
“ You still haven’t told me how you hurt yourself.”
“ A deer was caught underneath some fallen branches. I got the deer out when a large branch fell ”
“Is the deer all right?”
Ian almost smiled. She was soft hearted wasn’t she? “ I think that it is going to be all right. It only had a scratch. If it had been seriously hurt, I would have had to snap its neck.”
Brooke gasped.” Why would you do such a thing?”
“To put it out of its misery. The deer would suffer if I allowed it to live. Besides, there are wolves out there. If they got a hold of an injured deer, they would hurt it badly before they would kill it.”
“I guess that I never thought of that.”
“ I wouldn’t an animal unless I had too. Animals are special. They were here on the earth before us and hopefully they will be here when man no longer inhabits the earth if we hadn’t destroyed them by then. Man can be very destructive tearing down everything of beauty in his path. Building condos and mini malls. Destroying the ecological system just for his own comfort.”
Brooke tucked her hair behind her ear. “ You feel strongly about nature don’t you.”
“ Nature is beautiful. God created man to live in peace with nature.”
“ You believe in god?”
“Yes. Do you?”
Brooke nodded. “ Yes I do. If I didn’t I don’t know where I’d be.” Brooke picked up a piece of thread and played with it assent mindedly. “ I’ve been through so many things. I’ve walked away from situations that I know that only god must have protected me.”
“ Like what?”
Brooke tilted her head to the side. “ So many things. Once when I was a girl there was a special program, a riding camp. I loved horses from the moment that I had seen them when I was five. I saved up all my money to go to the camp. It was expensive and my mother scraped and saved for me to go.”
“ What about your father?”
“My father had left by then. My mom had to raise all of us.”
“ Us?”
“My older brother Story and my younger sisters Donna and Katie.”
“ Let me guess, you were the handful. Weren’t you?”
“No….” Brooke smiled. “ Well maybe at times.”
“ So what happened at this riding camp?”
“Well, I was jumping well that morning when decided to race another camp member. I think that Starefire picked up a stone and when I went to make a huge jump something happened and I was thrown hard. Truthfully, I shouldn’t have walked away from that fall. I truly believe that god saved me. All I had was broken wrist.”
“ And a story to tell your kids.”
“ I don’t know about that. Neither Rick nor Bridget took up my love for riding. Although I took them all the time when they were kids. They liked it but they didn’t love it like me.”
“ You still enjoy riding.”
“ Yes. I still do.” Brooke leaned back against the sofa and her t-shirt robe up exposing her flat stomach. Ian’s concentration wavered.
Brooke saw a fire in Ian’s eyes. She felt heat filter through her body as his gaze moved up her stomach. His eyes found her breast and her nipples hardened underneath the t-shirt. Brooke breast rose and fell.
“ You do it well?” Ian’s tried hard to keep his mind on the conversation. Her nipples had hardened under her shirt. He wanted to taste them. He wanted to see them. Ian’s fingers trailed to the collar of her robe.
Brooke’s eyes dilated. She didn’t know what they were talking about anymore. Brooke reached out and caressed Ian’s face. “ You shaved…why?”
Ian couldn’t help it. Her fingers on his cheek were alluring and he couldn’t help but to close his eyes to her touch. Brooke fingers trailed down his cheek. “ You look so different without the beard. No so….”
“Not so what?”
“I don’t know…” Brooke voice trailed off.
Ian’s face came closer to hers. “Do you want to know why I shaved?” Brooke’s hand moved down his face down his neck to his chest.
“ Yes….”
“ I shaved because of you.”
“Because of me…”
Ian’s fingers trailed up her collarbone toward her face. Ian’s face came closer to hers. “ I shaved because I didn’t want to scrape your delicate skin.”
“ You didn’t…” Brooke moved closer to him. There mouths were only inches away from each other. Brooke could feel the electric heat between them. Ian’s mouth inched closer and closer. When suddenly Sam bounded into the room startling Brooke that she jumped and she practically landed on top of Ian. Her hand rested on his naked chest displayed through his open shirt while her body was pressed up against him. Brooke breathing escalated as she stared down at Ian. Ian’s hand cupped her cheek and gently pulled her mouth closer to his. Brooke sighed as her lips gently touched his and a spark lit. She pulled her head away. Ian groaned pulled he head back down toward his. He kissed her gently pressing his lips against hers. When she pulled her head away and moved against him, she felt his fuelled hard erection rising up against her. Ian trailed his thumb over her bottom lip. “ Open your mouth for me Brooke. Let me taste you.” He whispered against her lips. Ian pulled her mouth on top of his. He pressed his lips against hers while opened her mouth slowly. Ian’s gently kissed her bottom lip and suckled it into his mouth. His bit slowly and then laved the hurt of the away with his tongue. Brooke sighed opening her mouth wider. His tongue stroked her roughly but sensually while her hand clutched the naked skin of his chest. Ian groaned. Her hand almost burned a hole on his chest, while her tongue stroked his as well. Ian deepened the passionate kiss. His desire for her escalated. Ian ate from her mouth, his tongue thrashed against hers. It was an all consuming passionate kiss that let her know that she was dealing with a real man. A man with wants and needs. By god, they both enjoyed it.

Brooke lay against the tangled sheets. Her body still tingling from the memory of the kiss that she and Ian shared. It was just a kiss a single kiss but she had wanted more. Thank god, she had come to her senses and finally pulled away. It had been hard as hell for her to look down at him lying there on the sofa and to walk away. But she had. Brooke had always allowed her passions to rule her and they had gotten her in trouble. But not this time. Sure, she was highly attracted to him. She had been even before she knew how good-looking he was. She had suspected that it had to do with the fact that he was different from anyone she had ever met. But she knew if she continued with the kiss where it would most likely lead. She wasn’t about to screw up that bad and having sex with Ian would be a big screw up.

Ian rubbed Sam behind his ear. His mind as well as his body was still reeling from that kiss. It had been incredible kiss. Passionate, fiery and oh so explosive. It had been better than any of the kisses that he had shared with her in his dreams. She was so responsive. Just like he knew that she could be. However, she pulled away. Maybe it was best. He kissed her so now she should be out of his system. As much as he wanted to pull down that shirt off of her and taste her ripe nipples. As much as he wanted to be inside of her…maybe it was best to leave things off with just a kiss. Ian wanted to know who he was kidding. It was snowing. She was stuck. She was beautiful, alluring and funny. Most importantly, he wanted her under him, besides him and on top of him. Any way that she would have him. It would have been best if he never touched her. But now, he had a taste and damn her, he wanted more.

 

Chapter 9

Bridget Forrester hung the phone up and sighed while her husband Deacon finished last of his cigarette came down to sit next to her. “ Babe, don’t get worried.”
“ Deacon, how can you say that? Other than one phone call, I haven’t heard from my mother.”
“ Your mother has been going through a difficult time. She needs time to get her life together. Besides, you and your mother haven’t spoken that much since her affair with Ridge.”
“ She didn’t have an affair with Ridge.”
“ Are you so sure about that? I’ve seen the way that he looks at your mother.” Brooke Forrester was a very attractive woman and sensual. Mother-in-law or no, even he noticed that. Only a fool would turn a woman like that away and Ridge Forrester wasn’t a total fool. Deacon knew a bit about forbidden fruit, he had that with Amber, his wife’s brother’s wife. Although he had learned to let that go in order to be a good husband to Bridget, still every once in a while, that attraction was still there. He surmised that that was what it was like between Brooke and Ridge.
Bridget shook her head. “ My mother is living in a dream world. I can’t believe that she threw away a perfectly good marriage with Thorne to chase after Ridge. You know that it was really embarrassing to me. Some of the kids at school were talking about it. Does she ever think? Does she ever think about how Rick and I are affected by her behavior? What about Taylor and the kids, has she given any thoughts about destroying their family? No. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mother and she is a good person most of the time but she doesn’t think. She just acts without thought to whom she my hurt. And as much as I hate to admit it but sometimes, my mother acts like a slut.”
Deacon was surprised by Bridget’s attitude. “ Bridget….do you know who you sound like. Stephanie.”
“ Stephanie?”
“Yeah. No matter what your mother does, she is still your mother. She is a hell of a lot better than the mother I had. Although I haven’t always liked what you mother has said, she was open and honest and I can respect that. Hell, I respect her for going with her feeling even if it cost her.” Deacon smashed the last part of his cigarette in the ashtray and stood up. “ I’m really surprised by your attitude. Your mother needs your support and your love. She made a mistake Bridget. Everybody is burning her at the stake, you really shouldn’t join in.” Deacon gave Bridget a harsh look. He wasn’t a big fan of Brooke, however he did respect her and that said a lot. “ It isn’t becoming of you.”
Bridget looked as if she had been slapped. “ I didn’t mean….well I….” Bridget was ashamed. Deacon was right. She hadn’t been very supportive of her mother lately. No wonder her mother hadn’t bothered to call her. Her mother had always put her first and loved her. Maybe she should try to be understanding to what her mother was going through. Her mother had loved Ridge for a long time; she just wished that her mother could love someone else.

Brooke studied the picture of her children. It had been taken at her house around six months ago. It been taken before her world fell apart. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Brooke heard some barking outside. She stood from the dinning room table and went toward the large windows to look outside. Although it was daytime, snow falling hard toward the ground blocked some of the sun radiating down. Brooke however could see Ian outside with Sam. Brooke watched as Ian made his way toward the cabin. He had left early that morning. She hadn’t been able to do much but think about that kiss that he had given her the other night. He had been distant as usual but there were times that she could have sworn that he was looking at her.

Ian made his way toward the cabin carrying backpack on his back. The hike to the Jennings’s home had been an arduous one but he had needed the exercise. He was never a man to stay cooped up and to be cooped up with Brooke was indeed too much for even him to take. He was in a constant state of semi-erection and he didn’t like it. He looked up at his cabin and saw her standing in the window. She was studying him. God, just seeing her made him ache all over. She was wearing tight black pants and a black ribbed sleeveless turtleneck. Her blonde hair rested well past her shoulder. “Damn”, he thought, she looked so fu(king good. Good to look at, good to smell and he was sure so damn good to taste. Sam bounded past him in the snow to get his ball and then bought it back to him. He threw the ball again and by the time he looked again, she was gone.

Brooke opened the front door of the cabin as Ian made his way to the porch. She handed him a hot cup of coffee. He looked at her with a surprised look.
“ I thought that you might be cold. That must have been some trek?”
“It was nothing.” He took the coffee and whistled to Sam who bounded up the stairs. Sam jumped up on Brooke. Instead of scolding him, she only laughed. Ian frowned. Why did she have to be so different from any other woman he had known? Ian pushed past Brooke sipping his coffee. He kicked his boots off and took of his jacket. The cabin was warm and he took off the flannel shirt that he wore wearing only a tight black T-shirt that said Navy on it. He silently unpacked the knapsack taking out some large Tupperware dishes. “ We will eat good tonight. Annette is one hell of a cook.”
Brooke who threw Sam a treat. “ That is the people you visited?”
“Yes.”
Brooke wondered what he had been doing for those people all day. She watched as he opened on the dishes, which held what looked to homemade peach cobbler. Ian closed his eyes and inhaled. Brooke watched him and he smelled the delicious dessert. Ian opened his eyes and dipped a finger into the still warm treat. He scooped up a bit of the treat and then sucked it off his finger. Brooke watched with fascination, as his tongue licked the cobbler off his finger when suddenly, her mouth went dry. Brooke felt heat fill her body and her face flushed. Ian looked at Brooke and wondered why she looked so flushed. “Are you all right? Is it too hot in here?” He asked her with a raised eyebrow. Brooke looked away. She couldn’t believe that he had this effect on her.
“ I’m fine.” Brooke walked to the table. “ That cobbler looks good.”
“It is the best, especially with some ice cream.”
“ That is sinfully delicious.” Ian looked at Brooke with an unreadable expression. “ That is the best kind. I have a sweet tooth.” Ian waved the Tupperware in front of Brooke’s nose. “ So do you want a taste?”
“No.. I think that I’ll pass.”
Ian got a fork. He ate a bit of the cobbler. “ Its good.”
“ I bet it is but I’ll wait for dessert.”
“ Ahh, so you always wait for the right time. Are you a perfect little girl all the time?”
Brooke was surprised; she had never known Ian to be a tad bit playful. “Have you been drinking?”
“What?” Ian said.
“ You are pleasant. That isn’t like you.”
“ Being around the Jennings has this effect on me. They are good people. Been married forever, devoted to each other.” Ian had met the black couple years go when he moved here. They had always been kind to him. Both where retired school teachers and they had a passion for art and books just like him. Truthfully they had reminded him of his parents the way that they interacted and loved one another. Being around them a was a special thing especially because in their own off brand way, Annette treated him like her son.
Ian’s mind moved from the Jennings to Brooke. “You didn’t think that it was your sparkling personality did you? Now get your ass over here if you want something sweet.” Ian said with a grin.
“Now get my ass over here? What is this, cave man language? My ass will go wherever I want it to go.” Brooke said in a stern voice as she went to the cabinet to get some bowls.
“ Now do you plan on eating out of a bowl or with your hands? Fred?”
“Fred?”
“Yes, Fred. Like Fred Flintstone. Mr. Caveman.” Brooke said with her hands on her hips. Ian hid a smile as he took the bowls and put heaping spoons of cobbler. He went to the freezer and pulled out the ice cream.
“ Ice cream?”
“Why not. I’ve after all I like being a bad girl.”
Ian who had been scooping out the ice cream stopped and looked at Brooke but said nothing. Brooke who hadn’t paid attention to what she said stopped when she realized what she had said. Ian handed Brooke her cobbler. Brooke walked to the sofa and scooped up a bit of the cobbler on her spoon. She ate a bit of the sweet dessert. “ Ohh. God…this is so good.”
Ian who had made his way over toward the sofa stopped dead in his tracks. The way that she sounded…it sounded so sexy and arousing. Why in the world did she do this to him? Being around her had him in a state of constant arousal. He was constantly erect, she was killing him. Ian sat down in the chair next to sofa. “ I told you that Annette is one hell of a cook. She made a whole meal for us. You won’t have to worry about cooking tonight.”
“ What were you doing at the Jennings?”
“Why? Did you miss me?”
Brooke laughed. “ Maybe I did.”
Ian stopped eating. He hadn’t expected to hear that. “ I’m sorry that I had to leave you.”
“ No you aren’t. You left without a word on purpose.”
Ian finished off the rest of his cobbler. “ I’m not used to telling anyone where I am going or what I’m doing. I went to the Jennings to try to dig out their path and to bring them firewood. They are older and sometimes its hard on them in this kind of weather.”
“ The snow is still falling. Won’t you have to go back in a couple of days to dig it out again?”
“Yes….but I don’t mind.” Brooke smiled. Ian noticed. “ What?”
“Nothing…its just nice to know that the Grinch has a heart after all.”
“ The Grinch? What do you do, sit around and watch cartoons all day?”
“No. But I do like cartoons. Besides when you have kids, you see all the cartoons and movies.”
“ I thought that your kids are grown.”
“ They are.”
Ian noticed the photo on the table. “ Is this them?”
“ Yes.” Brooke scooted closer. “ This is Rick and Bridget.” Ian looked at the photo of the smiling kids and Brooke.
“ They are nice looking kids. Kinda young to be married.”
“Married. How did you know that?”
“The wedding bands on the fingers.”
Brooke studied Ian for a moment. “ Your good with details aren’t you.”
“ I have to be, I’m a writer. So. Tell me about them.” Brooke talked about her children for the next hour; she of course failed to mention the fact that they were both disappointed in her at the moment. Ian had understood her frustration at her children being married at such young ages and to people who Brooke thought that were truly in love with them. She was frustrated because there was nothing that she could do.
Ian stood up and Brooke noticed that he rotated his injured shoulder. “Is it stiff?” Ian stopped. His **** was hard a rock. She wanted to know that if he was stiff. Hell yes, he was stiff. Brooke stood and reached out to touch his shoulder lightly. “You were rotating your shoulder. I was wondering if you were stiff or were your stitches hurting you.” Ian studied her for a moment. He remembered the night that he stitched himself up. How could he forget it that was the night that he had kissed her? How could he forget the feel of her soft lips under his or the way that her tongue tasted next to his.
“ It is a little stiff from cutting down the firewood. It is probably fine.” Ian took off his T-shirt and looked at his shoulder. He studied the stitches and it looked fine. Brooke’s breath was caught in the back of her throat. His muscular chest was more than sexy. God, she couldn’t believe the gorgeous man standing on front of her was same growling man from a couple of days ago. She studied his handsome face for a moment.
“ It looks fine.” She said looking away. Ian shrugged his shoulder.
“Its nothing. Like I said the other night. “It’s just a scratch.”
“Well…I’ve got some work to do.” Brooke picked up her dish and placed it in the sink.
“ Did you mean it when you said that you missed me?”
Brooke rinsed her dish out. “ Maybe…It is kinda lonely here most of the day.” Brooke said while she cleaned out the sink. Ian came behind her to reach across her to place his dish in the sink. Brooke could smell his scent of pine across his skin. Brooke turned around and her face almost came in contact with his chest. Ian looked down into Brooke’s beautiful eyes.
“ Why were you lonely? I thought that you wanted to be alone so you could think.”
Brooke swallowed. “ I do want to think. I was just lonely. I’ve been lonely for such a long time.” A tear ran down Brooke’s face. She didn’t know where it had come from. Before he could stop himself, Ian stopped the tear with his thumb. Brooke stilled and looked at him. The spark of electricity between them shocked her. She swallowed deeply.
Neither she nor Ian said anything for a moment.
“ The next time, I’ll take you with me. Annette would like you. She’d like to have some female company..”
Brooke smiled. “ I’d be honored to meet your friends.” Brooke was slowly moved away from the sink, sliding her body away from Ian’s. Being so close to him with his naked chest on display was a little much for her. Ian closed his eyes for a moment, willing his aroused body to calm down. He picked up his shirt.
“ I’m going to take a shower. If you need anything…you are welcome to it.” He headed to the hallway leading to his bedroom. “ You really shouldn’t be afraid of being by yourself. Sometimes it takes being alone with yourself to understand yourself.”
Brooke nodded. “ I guess you are right. After all I should use this time to put my life in order.” Brooke said running her fingers through her hair.
“ You might start by not working so hard.”
“ What?”
“You are working all of the time. You are always faxing something or reading some report e-mailed here. Do you ever do anything besides work?”
“I have a company to …” Brooke was almost going to say run but she remembered that Ian didn’t know that. “ I have company that I work for. They expect me to get the job done. Besides..you are always working. Especially late at night. You are writing. Isn’t that your job?”
“ No…that isn’t my job Brooke, it’s my passion. That is what makes it different than what you do. When was the last time you did something that was your passion?”
“I love my job…”
“ That isn’t what I said. You may love your job, but it isn’t your passion. When was the last time you created something from nothing?”
“ I guess when I was in the lab.”
“ You might think about doing that again. It might take your mind off working so much.”
Brooke tilted her head to the side in deep thought as Ian left the living room. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She did love running Forrester, but the passion that she used to have for that job was no longer there. When she had been a chemist, she created. She had done a hell of a job at it. She had loved being in the lab and creating. Maybe it was time that she started working in the lab again. Not full time, she had major responsibilities and she was a hell of a businesswoman but in her spare time. With the kids gone and no real relationship in sight or wanted, she did need something to fill up her lonely nights.


Ian stretched long and hard. He had been working non-stop for the last four hours that he hadn’t noticed the passage of time. He looked at his watch; it was around 8 in the evening. He was hungry. If he was hungry than so should Brooke. Ian smirked, for a little thing, she could eat. He liked that about her. He had always hated those society women who ate like birds, but not Brooke. She kept in shape too; it was event by her toned body and arms. “ What do you say Sam? Shall we find out what Brooke is up too? She’s been quiet for too long.” Sam who had been resting in front of the fire only lifted his head to put it back down. Ian put turned off his laptop and headed up the stairs. He knocked on Brooke’s bedroom door and waited. When he received no answer, he knocked again. After calling her name for a moment, he opened to door. He found her asleep curled up in a ball on her bed. He noticed the note pad and pen on the bed. He picked it up and stared at what looked to be like calculations. Chemistry….it seemed that Miss Logan had decided to pick up with her passion as a chemist. Good. He gently shook her. “Brooke…” She mumbled something in her sleep and turned toward him. “ Brooke…” When she didn’t stir. He decided to leave her alone. He took a look at her. Sleeping with pants on had to be restricting. He called her name one more time before he gently undid the clasp on her pants. Underneath the black pants was pair a thin black see through panties with little silvery sparkled stars on it. Ian groaned. He shook his head. She would be the death of him, she and her underwear. He pulled the pants down her legs and placed them on the chair. He then covered her with a quilt. Before he knew what he was doing, he kissed on her forehead and then cut the lights out leaving her in the firelight from the fire going in her room. She had said earlier that she had missed him. When was the last time that someone had missed him? Damn…truthfully, he had missed her. He had missed her chatter so much that he had told Annette with her all too prospective eyes all about the woman stranded in his home. The woman who was melting his icy heart with her smiles, her tears and her honesty. “Damn” Ian muttered.

Brooke slowly opened her eyes and sighed. She must have nodded off a bit, she thought. She sat up rubbing her eyes when she noticed that her pants where hanging on a chair next to the bed. Funny, she didn’t remember taking them off or putting a blanket around her. In a flash she knew that it must have been Ian. Brooke touched her lips gently. That kiss…it still permeated around her brain. God, who would have thought that mean, rude, arrogant hermit would end up being nothing what she thought. Ian was different from any other man she had ever met, and she had met a lot of different men in her life. He didn’t seemed like he was refined like Ridge, but there were moments when he spoke about his passion, she knew that there was much more. Then there were the moments that he was gentle with Sam displaying love for his dog as well as his concern about the Jennings. The man had a heart somewhere. Brooke smiled.

Ian who was sitting on the back balcony to his cabin was watching the snowfall when he heard the door from the cabin open. Brooke appeared wearing on of his flannel shirts over top her turtleneck and pants. “ I hope that you don’t mind, I thought that it might be a bit chilly out here.”
“ It is.” Ian closed his sketchpad. Brooke sat down in the other chair.
“ You sketch?”
Ian pretended that he didn’t hear her; he wasn’t ready to share his love of artwork with her. “ If you want something to eat, you can warm up some of the food that Annette made. There is bar-bar-que chicken, macaroni and cheese, homemade rolls, cabbage and collard greens.”
“ You’ve already eaten?”
“Yes. But there is plenty for you to eat.” Ian was quiet for a moment. “ I had checked on you to see if you wanted to eat with me but you were asleep.”
“ I guess that I was tired although I’m not sure why?”
“ I noticed that you had what looked to be chemical elementary notes on a paper.”
“ Yes. I did.” Ian waited for Brooke to respond. He looked at her. “ You want to tell me what you were writing?”
Brooke turned toward Ian. “No. Brooke leaned back against the chair she was sitting on. “ But if you want to talk about what you are doing in that sketch book than I’d be willing to discuss what I was writing.” Ian said nothing. It was a smart move on her point, something that he’d do. “ Not biting are you?”
“No.” Ian said.
Brooke smirked. “ You will sooner or later. I just wait, I have plenty of time.” Brooke stood up and went back in.

Ian looked at his watch. He had been sitting there for the last fifteen thinking about what Brooke has said. He glanced inside of his house to see Brooke through the large bay windows. She was eating at the table while reading a book. Ian sighed. He went inside the cabin toward the table where Brooke was eating. Brooke looked up. Ian opened up his sketchpad and put it in front of Brooke. Brooke put down her fork and looked down at the sketchpad, she wasn’t surprised that he hadn’t shown her the sketch of herself but the sketch of the scenery outside was breathtaking.
“ This is beautiful…”
“ It isn’t anything creative. Just a picture as I see it.” Ian sat down next to Brooke. When Brooke tried to turn the page Ian took the sketchpad back.
“ I showed you mine. Now, what are you doing upstairs?”
“ I was thinking of creating a new formula for the fabrics that the company that I work for. I came up with this idea of a wrinkle of proof solution for fabrics for linen long time ago. I thought about the smoothness of certain fabrics and how they feel against a woman’s skin. What if I were able to come up with a solution that could make that fabric smoother against a woman skin especially for the lingerie.”
“What types of fabrics?”
Brooke smiled. “ You don’t get that until I get to see another sketch.”
Ian sipped a bit of his beer out of the bottle. “ That is blackmail.”
Brooke leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “ It is isn’t it? You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.” Ian looked at his watch for a moment.
“ Looks like we will have to table the rest of this conversation for later.”
“ Why?”
“ You’ll see.” Ian stood up and walked toward the hallway leading to his bedroom. “Are you coming?” Brooke had no idea what Ian was up too but she couldn’t resist. She followed Ian into his spacious bedroom. She looked around taking in the large bed, fireplace, bookshelves filled with books. She was pleasantly surprised to see Ian standing next to a large television next to a comfortable looking brown leather sofa.
“ You have a TV?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“ I don’t know. I guess that I figured that you spent your life writing and other things.”
“ I do, but I do like TV occasionally.” Ian turned on the large TV switching through the different channels until he got to cartoon network.
Brooke gave him a questioning look when The Flintstones came on. “ I figured that you must like this show since you were calling me Fred earlier. Brooke laughed.
“ Very funny.”
Brooke sat down on the sofa tucking her feet under her. Ian disappeared for a moment and then came back with a bowl of popcorn and another beer. Brooke took the beer and sipped it. Ian couldn’t help but to watch her. Delight was in her eyes as she watched Fred’s antics on the television. She was having fun. Watching television, eating popcorn and drinking a beer. Ian relaxed enjoying the cartoon. When the Flintstones went off Brooke almost cooed at the sight when Josie and the Pussycat came on.
“ Bridget and I used to watch this together. I loved this cartoon. It was silly but funny.”
“ Not as fun as Scooby Doo.”
Brooke laughed. “ If it wasn’t for you meddling kids and that stupid dog too.”
“ Not the best detective show.”
“ Hey…don’t talk about them like that. I once has a Scooby Doo decoder ring.”
“ You did?” Ian laughed. “ Ms. Sophistication…”
“ You mean the girl from the valley. Donna used to pretend that Stormy was Fred.”
“ You, of course wanted to be Daphne, right?”
Brooke munched on some popcorn. “ No…I wanted to be Velma. She was the smart one. I figure good looks would be handy but not as handy as intellect.” Brooke gave Ian a sly look. “ But I will admit that I loved the micro-mini that Daphne wore.”
Ian couldn’t help it. He threw back his head and laughed. He couldn’t remember when he had ever had a conversation about the dynamics of cartoon.
“ Who are Stormy and Donna?”
“My brother and sister.” Brooke’s smile faded for a moment. “ Wow…I hadn’t thought about that in years. It is funny. When I was a girl, I all I wanted was to have some exotic life somewhere. Now, I’ve been almost everywhere and I’d give just about anything to have sense of home again and family.” Ian finished off his beer. Home and family. He understood that importance. Many people didn’t understand it before it was too late but somehow, Brooke did. That said a lot.

Chapter 10

Brooke sipped her hot coffee while watching the snowfall. She had watched the sun come up over the horizon around an hour ago. She had been up for hours although she ought to be tired, after all she and Ian stayed up late but she couldn’t seem to sleep. Last night had been fun. She honestly couldn’t remember the last time that she had found something simple like watching cartoon so much fun, but she did. Ian had been so relaxed and not once did he make a rude remark of any sort, instead, he had listened as she told him stories about her childhood. Brooke had only hoped that he’d share with her stories about his childhood but he had said nothing about his life. Yet, by talking about her family, she found something that she never thought she’d find again, peace. Brooke started to hear the sound of a phone ringing. Laying her coffee mug down, she headed toward Ian’s bedroom door, which was closed. She knocked. “ Ian, your phone is ringing.” She didn’t get a response. She called his name again and headed toward Ian’s office where the phone was. She picked up the cordless phone. “ Hello” There was no response. “ Hello?” Suddenly the phone was dead. Brooke frowned. “ That was odd.”
“ What is odd?”
“ The phone rang but no one said anything on the other end.” Brooke turned around to find a naked and wet Ian with a towel wrapped low around his waist. He was sinfully good looking. Brooke’s breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t seem to help noticing a bead of water that trailed its, way down his bare chest toward his abdomen, down toward his navel and then lower beneath the towel. Ian had felt her eyes exploring his body and his body naturally reacted causing him to become erect. Brooke instantly noticed the change in his body as the material of the towel began to rise along with his erection. Brooke felt her heated center pulse as wanting filled her body. Ian didn’t bother to try to hide his erection for he knew that she noticed the rise behind the towel.
“ I’m a man Brooke. It you look at me like I’m a feast, my body is going to react.”
“ I wasn’t…”
“ You were. And now I’m aroused.” He said in a calm voice. “ I’m not going to apologize for that, instead I should blame you.”
“ Blame me for what?”
Ian stepped into the room. Brooke’s heart raced. She wondered if he had any idea on how sexy he was sanding there. “ Yes, for keeping me in this state most of the time.”
Brooke’s eyes widened with his admission. “ I do?”
“If you are looking for a complement, you aren’t going to get one. I’m quite sure that you know that you are beautiful. I’m also sure that you know the effect that you can have on a man.”
“I thought that you were immune to my dubious charms.” Brooke with a breathy quality in her voice.
“Not completely immune to your…” Ian looked deeply in her eyes. “ Charms. Although I’d like to be immune. You are ruining my peace of mind. You and your tight little ass.”
“ My tight ass?” Brooke said astonished.
“Yes, your ass. Your sexy little body with those nipples that are so sensitive that they become hard whenever you are aroused.” Ian eyed Brooke’s breast. “ Just like now, they are hard like jewels against you shirt.” Brooke couldn’t help but to flush. She was wearing a whit shirt buttoned up shirt from the Banana Republic and a pair of faded light blue jeans. Her nipples were swelling at the moment as it painfully rubbed against her nylon bra. He was right, she was aroused. She was aching between her legs and a part of her desperately wanted to take her hands touch him. She wanted to see if what his skin tasted like, to lick the damp water off his body.
“ Oh god,” She whispered.
“ Oh god. Is that all that you have to say? You’ve been driving me mad. Your body is enough to drive a monk to forget his vows. Then, there is your laughter and not to mention your smile that draws my attention to your luscious lips.” Ian came close to Brooke only inches away from her. He gently traced the lower shell of her mouth. “ Your mouth alone keep me up late. I kept thinking of all the things that …” Ian looked at Brooke’s inviting mouth. He hadn’t come in here for this. He had come to answer the phone, but now it seemed like some sort of demon had come and was taking over his thoughts and feelings. Now, he was saying things that he had no right to say to her. He liked her, more than he had liked a woman in such a long time. To allow her to have power over him was stupid yet he wanted her to know. “ That I wanted to do to your mouth. That I wanted your mouth to do to my body.” His words had such an arousing effect on her. She wanted to know what he had dreamt about. She could clearly see herself under him, naked being filled his torrid hot member.
“ Tell me. Tell me about the things that you’ve wanted me to do.” She whispered.
Ian’s eyes darkened. He didn’t want to just tell her, he wanted to show her. He pulled her against him, his damp chest wetting the white of her shirt but she didn’t care. He pulled her mouth toward hers and before she could inhale a last breath, he mouth took possession of her. He expertly titled her head so that his tongue could sweep into her mouth. Tasting and filling her mouth, Brooke opened her mouth wider to accept his tongue while hers founds his. Their tongues rubbed against each other and he growled while his hands dug painfully against her jean clan bottom. The kiss was totally explosive, he suckled her tongue into his mouth and she tasted the essence the toothpaste that he must have used. Brooke hands cupped his head as she gave herself totally into the passionate kiss. Ian loved the way that she kissed, she was not submissive, instead, she a full partner. Somewhere in the kiss, his towel has dropped to the floor and he stood achingly hard against her, his member almost knowing where it should be was rubbing against the juncture between her thighs. Brooke gasped pressing her body against his hard member, while Ian’s hands moved down her shirt until his thumb found her hard nipple. Brooke gasped pressing her breast into his wandering hand. She cried out against his mouth as hot flashes of heat filled her body and made her ache between the juncture of her thighs. Suddenly, the phone rang, the sound blaring against their heavily breathing. The sound jarred them both. Brooke jumped out of Ian’s arms and stood in awe at his beautifully naked toned body. Her eyes took it all in, his muscular arms, thigh, washboard like stomach and finally, his hard huge manhood that jutted out in front of him. Ian stood there in his naked glory trying to his best to calm himself. His **** was jerking and its head tip was a drop of essence. Brooke looked at that drop and she wanted to use her hands to smear that drop against the head of his ****. She wanted to peel off her clothes and impale herself on his hard manhood.. The phone rang again. Ian’s chest heaved as he studied her. Her eyes made his body feel alive, while her blouse was wrinkled and wet against her skin. He could see the black nylon bra she wore as well as her outline of her hard nipples. Her lips were swollen and puffy from his kisses. Her hair was disarray all over her head. Yet, she didn’t look away, her eyes bore into his skin scorching it. The phone rang again. Ian slowly bent over to pick up his towel and wrapped it around his waist. He knew that a man could only take so much. Ian pushed the button on the phone. “ Hello”
There was a pause on the other end. “ Yes..Hello. I’m looking for Brooke Forrester.”
Ian looked at Brooke, his eyes studying her. “ Who is calling?”
“ This is her son, Rick.”
“ It is your son.” Ian handed the phone to Brooke.
“ Rick?” Brooke flushed at she looked at Ian. “ Rick.”
“ Hey mom. I was just calling to see if you were okay. Bridget and I were both a little worried about you.”
Brooke looked at Ian, who was staring at her with an unreadable expression. “ I’m fine. I’m in very good hands.”
Ian’s eyes jumped to hers when she made that statement. “ The man who answered the phone earlier. That is the guy who owns the cabin? Mom, I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with you staying with a strange man.”
“ His name is Ian. He isn’t strange. And before you get all worried, I want you to know that I’m doing fine.” Ian studied Brooke for a moment and left his study. He closed the door behind him. He wasn’t sure if he should be cursing or thanking god that the phone rang. If it hadn’t, he was sure that he’d be inside her hot tight sweet warmth that moment on his way to a mind-blowing climax. It would have been mind-blowing because she was responsive as hell. Just the thought of that made his member move on its own. Ian headed toward his bedroom. He threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt and over that, light tan sweater. Lastly, he put on his socks and Timberland boots. He had to get the hell out of here before it was too late. Before he gave into his billowing emotions and fu(ked her. He wanted her with a fever that he couldn’t control. He wanted to take her while she knelt on her knees, lay on her back, her lay stomach, he wanted her to ride him and allow him to take her against the wall. He wanted to explode inside of her until he had no more semen left in him. He wanted to taste her essence on her nether lips, to lick and fill her with his tongue and then his ****. He wanted her mouth on his member suckling at him until the light of his own climax blinded him. He wanted to wash her to remove his seed from between her legs gently. Then, he wanted to start all over again. Ian threw some items in a backpack. He quickly went to the kitchen threw some other items out of the fridge. Lastly he got his notebook and sketchpad. Ian left the cabin knowing that it would be days before he got back. He couldn’t stay here, not with her here. If he did, he would take her.

Brooke looked out the window again searching for any signs of Ian but she had seen none. A look of worry passed her face. It was getting dark now, the day had come and gone and still, no word. Ian had left the cabin while she had talked to Rick. At first, when she had finally left the office, she was glad that he had gone. She figured that he was taking on of his walk, which was good because she needed to straighten things out in her head. She had to understand what happened. Although there really wasn’t anything to “figure out”. She was highly attracted to him, so much that if that phone hadn’t stopped them, she wouldn’t have. This is what worried Brooke the most. Although she hadn’t been the most moral person in the world, she had never taken a lover whom she wasn’t in love with. She had grown to like Ian and although she’d never admit it to him, she had begun to care but that didn’t make it love. So, why was she so eager to have sex with him? Why had she been to wet after one kiss? Boy, could he kiss. She wondered if he made love the way that he kissed. Why did she want him so badly that she could almost taste it? Why was the image of his naked body and hard **** filtering through her brain? Just thinking about how good it would feel in her body was enough to make her close her eyes for a moment as arousal hit her body. How in the world was she going to look at him when he came back, knowing fully well that if he asked, she would have****ed? Even if he asked just like that. “ God, Brooke…maybe you are the whore Stephanie called you.” Tears filled her eyes. All the peace that she had felt this morning when she had awoken was gone, because she knew that she wanted Ian.

Brooke finished washing her plate from dinner. Sam had been sitting by the door, he hadn’t touched any of his food, and he like her was waiting for Ian. Brooke looked at the clock, it was now 10 p.m. She surmised that Ian wasn’t coming home; either that or he was in trouble. A queasy feeling filled Brooke. She was worried, what if something had happened to him. The snow was falling hard. She went to the window again. Frost made her hot air freeze again the window. Her fingertips grew cold against the glass but like a little girl looking for Santa on Christmas Eve, she was waiting…waiting for Ian to come home.
“ Ian. Where are you?”


Brooke studied Ian’s beautiful bathroom. It was very spacious and had an impressive skylight above the huge oak crafted Jacuzzi bath. Oak was used all over the bathroom, trimming the walk-in shower as well as the double basin counter. Brooke sat on the rim of the large tub. She turned the brass knobs and hot water came steaming out into the tub. Looking in of the big closets she found some bath oil, pouring it and a bit of bubble bath in the water. As the water filled the tub, she went another closet, which she found hid a music system. She pressed by on the CD player and the sounds of Marvin Gay filled the room. Brooke turned off the water when the tub was filled. She took of her clothes, stripping completely and sunk into the warm water. Leaning back into the water, she wet her hair. Brooke let out a sigh of relief. She knew that she could take a bath in her own bathroom and she might be taking a chance being in Ian’s bath, but she hadn’t wanted to stay upstairs all alone. She needed to be close to Ian, and being in his room was the closest thing that she could think of at the moment. Brooke sunk lower into the water, looking up at the skylight that was covered with snow. Still the bathroom had not only an earthy quality to it with the oak hues from the artwork handing on the wall, but there was a peace here. Outside, it was cold and snowy. She wondered for the umpteenth time that day if Ian was all right.

Ian finished off the semi-warm beans that had been his dinner along with some homemade rolls that he had taken with him. Tomorrow, he’d have fish or something. Although parts of the lake were frozen, all of it wasn’t. Ian threw another log onto the fire. For tonight, he has opted to sleep in the in a cavern that was created in the mountains. He had stayed there before, sometimes he’d go camping in the summer and autumn, just because it was winter didn’t bother him. There was a time in his life that he’d have been happy to be sleeping in a cavern like this. Ian washed out his tin cup and headed back toward the fire. He wished that he had taken Sam with him but he thought it was best to leave his dog with Brooke. Ian sighed as he opened his sketchpad. He had done what was best, depending on the falling snow; he’d stay away for a few days. He’d in turn use these days to cool his ardor as well as think about what he was doing. He knew that he wanted her. He knew that he wanted her badly.

Brooke dried herself off and stepped into on of Ian’s robes. It smelled like him and for some strange reason, that gave her confront. Brooke walked toward the large fireplace and then to Ian’s bookshelf in his bedroom. Brooke studied the different books when she came across what looked to be a photo album. She pulled out the album and carried it to the sofa with her. Brooke opened the album and looked at different pictures of a man and a woman. Brooke studied the different photos of the couple, it was clear that they had a deep abiding love for one another. Brooke smiled at on of the picture of the man and the woman getting married. It looked as if they were getting married in some sort of beautiful castle. The woman looked radiant as she stared into the eyes of her partner. Brooke turned the next page when she saw a picture of the couple and a little boy. She couldn’t help but to feel her heart warming, the little boy, she knew instantly was Ian. The couple had been Ian’s parents. It was clear that he had had loving parents. Brooke turned the photo album and saw pictures of Ian as a boy and then a few as a man. There was one photo in which Ian had been smiling with a beautiful dark haired woman. Brooke noticed how happy Ian looked. He had softness to his face that she had never seen. Brooke turned the next page and saw other photos of the woman. One was especially beautiful, it was a black and white photo of the dark haired woman lying in bed with the looking as if she had woken. The photo had been taken with so much loved that Brooke knew that Ian had taken it. The next photo was another black and white one, but it was of Ian sitting on a stool wearing a worn jean and nothing else, in front of a painting. Next to the picture of was a folded up sketch which she unfolded. It was of the dark haired woman. The woman was lying naked in a valley of sunflowers. At the bottom of the sketch it was written the name Sasha. Reality hit Brooke. Ian had loved this woman.

Ian looked down at what he had sketched; he wasn’t surprised to find that he had drawn a picture of Brooke’s face, the way that it had looked earlier that day when he kissed her. He captured the passion in her eyes, the fullness of her swollen lips as well as the semi-flushed look on her face. Damn, she was so beautiful but there was more to her than beauty. Last night, he had a wonderful time listening to her story about her childhood with her brothers and sisters. It had delighted him. He had been an only child. His mother and father loved each other dearly but during another pregnancy after his birth, she had had complications and would no longer be able to carry another child. His mother would have loved other children, since family was so important to her. Brooke loved her children. Although she didn’t say have to say it. It was there when she touched the photo of her children. It was there when she talked about her son and her daughter. Ian lay back against his sleeping bag as the cold air billowed against him. The cold however didn’t bother him. He remembered when he had been a child, his father had taught him the ways of the Scots, and after all he was a McKenzie. He had grown up learning to live on the elements like the forest, to sleep in the outdoors. He had learned like his ancestors and he found comfort in that. His father’s teachings had helped him when he had been a Navy SEAL. That was when Ian had lived on the elements with his band of brothers doing things that the United States would never admit to, but Ian had enjoyed it. Ian had enjoyed the risks that he had taken, the lives that he had saved but it had changed him. He had seen the ugliest things in life. He had seen the horrors that men could do to the innocents in the world and fought against it. A few years ago he had quit the SEALS for a woman, for Sasha. She had said that she couldn’t live with him being gone at the drop of his hat. She had even convinced him to work on his writings. Little did he know that writing would be the thing to sustain him once she was gone. He had only loved on woman in his life. Now, he was stilling here in the cold not wanting to go back to his cabin because of another woman. Not because of sex, if it were just about sex he would have taken Brooke. If it were just about sex, he wouldn’t be aching at the moment. But there was more to it than just sex. There was the woman, herself. Being near Brooke had bought him a joy that he hadn’t felt before. Ian wasn’t sure if he liked that. He had allowed Sasha to destroy his life there was no way that he was going to Brooke destroy the peace that he had created.

 

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