While the coffee was cooling to a drinkable temperature, I ran back to the room I was staying in, or keeping my stuff in, and dug out the items Leigh loaned me. She ignored my protests and insisted I needed a pair of leather pants, a leather jacket, gloves, and some riding boots. As luck would have it, we wore the same size shoes. She assured me she had several sets of leathers, and it was no hardship to loan a set to me. Despite my initial reluctance to accept her offer, I was suddenly grateful that I did.
Once I was dressed in my makeshift snow gear, I pulled on a Blackwings MC beanie I found in Copper’s room, picked up the still steaming coffee mugs, and headed out the back door. I took a minute to enjoy the beauty of the freshly fallen snow, undisturbed by footprints and tire tracks, before making my way to the front of the house.
Copper didn’t notice me right away, the sound of the chainsaw masking any sounds from my approach. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Captivated by his rugged handsomeness, I didn’t notice he had stopped the chainsaw and was staring at me. “See something you like?” he asked with a slight smirk on his face.
I ignored his questions and stepped forward, extending one of the mugs to him. “I didn’t think it would be wise to startle you with a chainsaw in your hand. I was waiting for you to stop or notice me so I could give you your coffee. I thought you might like something to warm you up,” I rambled.
He took the mug of coffee and took a tentative sip. “Thanks,” he said, lifting the coffee in a mock salute, “but the sight of you in those leathers was all it took to warm me up.” His lips quirked up at the sides as he raked his eyes over me from head to toe. “Don’t get me wrong, Locks, your ass looks fine as hell, but you didn’t have to put on all that just to bring me a cup of coffee.”
I rolled my eyes. “I came to help with the tree.”
“I don’t need any help. Go back inside,” he ordered.
I was taken aback by his response. I didn’t know whether to stand my ground or stomp back inside. Why couldn’t I help? Because I was a girl? Too fragile and delicate to handle a task deemed to be man’s work? Suddenly, I was overcome with anger. Without giving it much thought, I reached down for a handful of snow, packed it into a ball, and launched it at Copper, smacking him right in the chest, causing his coffee to splash on his jacket and his hands.
His eyes shot to mine. “What the fuck, Layla?”
“What the fuck is right, Copper!” I yelled, pelting him with another snowball.
“Stop throwing snowballs at me. What in the hell is your problem?” he asked as he placed his mug of coffee on the ground.
“My problem is you telling me to go inside because I’m a weak little woman who couldn’t possibly help with something as manly as cutting up and removing a fallen tree!” I screamed, followed by another two snowballs, both hitting their mark.
His face was getting red, and his fists were already balled at his sides. “I didn’t say any of the shit you just spewed,” he barked.
“You didn’t have to,” I shrieked, launching another ball of snow at him.
“That’s it,” he said through gritted teeth and started toward me.
My fight-or-flight response kicked in, opting for flight. I turned on my heel and took off running as fast as I could. Between the inches of snow on the ground and the restraints of the leather gear, I wasn’t moving very fast, making it easy for Copper to catch up with me.
I could hear his labored breaths behind me as I rounded the back corner of the house. Just when I thought I was going to make it to the back door, he launched himself at me, taking us both down to the ground. He landed beside me and quickly moved so that he was hovering over me, holding my arms above my head.
He lowered his face, only inches from mine, and searched my eyes, for what, I don’t know, but I saw it, the moment he made his decision. His mouth crashed into mine with a force sure to leave my lips swollen and bruised, and I couldn’t have cared less.
His hands slid down my body until he had a thigh gripped in each hand. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tried in vain to pull him closer to me. I felt his weight shift, and suddenly we were moving. I tried to pull away, but he squeezed my thighs and grunted his displeasure. Before I knew it, I was on my back on the living room floor in front of the fire, with Copper pressing down on top of me.
I was expecting him to be rough, maybe even forceful. What I was not expecting was the gentle way he removed my clothes or the tender way he caressed my body. He took my lips in a soft kiss as he slowly pushed himself inside me.
He cupped my cheeks with his hands and met my eyes as he began to move his hips in a hypnotic rhythm. His eyes never left mine as our bodies moved together in perfect harmony until we reached our climaxes together.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you, Locks,” he whispered.
“Okay,” I whispered back and nodded once.
“It’s safer for you inside,” he said softly.
“Okay,” I said and leaned up to kiss him. All sorts of emotions that I wasn’t ready to deal with were bubbling up in my chest and kissing him seemed like the perfect distraction.
He broke the kiss far too soon for my liking. “I need to get back out there.”
“Yeah, I guess you do.”
“So, we’re clear on why I don’t want you outside helping with the tree?” he asked, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth.
“Yes, we are. And I’m sorry for how I reacted. Just, after everything that’s happened to me over the last few months—”
He interrupted me before I could finish, “It’s okay, Locks. I get it. You don’t have to explain yourself to me. For the record, I’m used to being in charge and barking out orders without being questioned. I’ll try to remember to explain myself next time.”