Chapter 14: 12

The weeks passed, slowly being cooped up in their little cabin. Stanton had been forced to go back to work, so Aurora spent many of her days alone in their cabin. At night when Stanton was home, they would have a nice meal and then snuggle on the couch watching movies. Well, that was at least the intent. Most of the time, they had to restart the movie because the same none of it between the heated sessions.

When they were sure they were in the clear and that Aurora wasn’t giving off a scent that would drive the other males out of their minds, she finally got to go out. Stanton took her to a nice dinner in a fancy restaurant. They then went to a movie. All in all, it had been a good night.

Winter had come upon them, and there was snow everywhere. The ski lodges in Aspen were making a killing, and all the hotels were booked solid. Restaurants required reservations, and traffic was congested with tourists. Since the garden, Aurora had nothing to do, and she could only reclean the cabin so many times until there was literally nothing left for her to do.

She needed a job, a real job. She spent her days sitting with Stanton’s laptop, searing jobs in and around Aspen. She was reading an ad for housekeepers when there was a knock at the door. She stood up from the table and walked over to the door. Opening the door, she came face to face with Darrell. In his hands, he held a bouquet of flowers. Aurora eyed him suspiciously.

“Stanton isn’t here,” she told him, getting ready to close the door and lock it if she had to.

“I didn’t come to see Stanton. I came to see you.”

“Why?”

He lowered his gaze with what looked like shame. “I wanted to apologize for what happened… and what nearly happened. I feel really awful about attacking you. I know it doesn’t make it right, but please understand I was not in my right mind. If I were, I would have never done that. That’s not me. That’s not who I am. I’ve never done that before. It was like an out-of-body experience. It’s like I could see myself doing it, but I couldn’t stop myself.”

Aurora felt a little bad for him. She knew he hadn’t been in control at the time. The morning after the incident, Stanton had explained in depth the details and the biology behind what had happened. She understood that Darrell and the other two had not been in control of their minds at the time. It seemed petty to hold it against him, and he was there apologizing. She could understand why he hadn’t come sooner. He wanted to make sure she was no longer in heat before he dared to be within striking distance to prevent a repeat incident. She supposed she could cut him a little slack.

Aurora reached out and accepted the flowers. “You’re forgiven,” she told him.

Darrell smiled. “Thank you,” he said happily. “I can’t tell you how bad I’ve felt about attacking you and setting you up.”

“What?” Aurora asked. “What do you mean setting me up?”

“Oh… um…” He now had the deer in the headlights look. Like he realized he’d said something he shouldn’t have. He clearly had no idea what to say now.

“What do you mean setting me up?”

“Oh, look at the time I have to get back to work,” he said, taking out his cellphone to check the time. “I am backlogged like crazy. I’ll see you later.”

Aurora tossed the flowers on the floor and grabbed Darrel by his work jacket, and spun Darrell, slamming him back against the door. She glared up at him. “Talk.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Spill your guts, or I’ll spill then for you.”

“Darrell shrugged her off and fixed his jacket. “Ok, promise me you won’t get mad,” that alone almost guaranteed she would get mad.

“Talk… now…” She growled.

Darrell offered her a sheepish smile. “It’s really funny if you think about it. See, Stanton was feeling a little bit unconfident in your relationship. He was scared you would get sick of his ugly mug and that a pretty face might turn your head and take you away from him. His insecurity was really messing with his head. So… and here’s the funny part… he might have asked… you’re going to laugh so hard… he asked me to hit on you to test you… to see what you would do.”

She could not believe what she was hearing. So that day, you came over. That whole disgusting encounter on the couch… Stanton told you to do that?”

“He asked me to.”

“To test me?” He nodded. “And you went along with it?”

“He’s my best friend. I couldn’t say no.”

“So, you weren’t genuinely coming on to me?”

“Nope. Stanton is my buddy; I would have never poached his girl,” her jaw clenched, and Aurora could feel her anger building. “You’re mad, aren’t you?”

“Livid.”

“He’s in trouble, isn’t he?”

“So much trouble.”

“Can I leave now?”

“Get out.”

Darrell quickly headed for his truck but then paused and looked back at her. “You and me, we’re good, though, right?”

“Go!” Aurora growled.

“Right… going,” he got into the truck and left. Aurora crossed her arms as she thought about what she had just learned. Stanton was in for a world of hurt when he got home.

***

Stanton opened the door and went into the cabin. He’d had a long day, and he was looking forward to a hot shower, a hot meal, and a quiet night on the couch with Aurora. He dropped his gear at the door and kicked off his boots. They were working on a new site, and the ground was frozen. He was tired, and he just wanted to relax.

As he came into the house, he saw Aurora packing a suitcase by the bed. Months ago, he had bought her some new clothes since she had so little and nothing suitable for her new life. “What’s going on, Hummingbird?” He asked, coming over to her.

“Oh, Stanton,” Stanton? She never called Stanton. She always called him Big Daddy. “I’m so glad you’re home. We need to talk,” she said, putting the closed suitcase down on the floor. “I have something difficult to tell you. Cowboy came over today with flowers, and he apologized and…” She blushed and pushed her hair behind her ear as she smiled at him. “Well, one thing led to another, and I’m leaving you.”

“What?” He could barely breathe.

“I’m just so much more attracted to Cowboy,” he was dying inside. Suddenly Aurora’s smile was gone, her arms were crossed, and she was glaring at him. “Or at least isn’t that what you expect me to say?”

Stanton was confused. “What?”

“You had Cowboy set me up. Test me because you don’t trust me.”

“How do you know about that?” That had just slipped out.

“You don’t even deny it.”

Stanton frowned. “Ok, I’m sorry I know it was stupid, but I had to know. I was losing my mind thinking someone better looking could take you from me,” he said. He now realized the suitcase was all for show. It was an act to punish him. Aurora wasn’t really walking out on him. “It’s just you are so amazing, and you look amazing and I… I…” He hung his head, “I don’t. I mean, people cross the street to avoid me. Small children cry when they see me. How am I supposed to keep a woman like you? It doesn’t matter how long we are together. How am I ever supposed to be secure when literally every man we come across is looking to take my place. How long until you realize you can do way better than me?”

“You’re right.”

“I am?” He asked a little leery of how quickly she agreed with him.

“I can do better than you. I can have any man I want,” he felt his heart sink. “And, I want you,” she said, moving closer. Aurora lay her hand to his chest. “I only want you. I want you because you aren’t like other men. You were the only one to have ever treated me with any consideration. The only man in the world that didn’t see me as an object. I love you, Big Daddy, but the only way this thing between us is ever going to work is if you trust me.”

A smile curved his mouth. Her choice of words brought him great delight. “You love me?” That was the first time she had said those words.

“Of course, I love you, you big dumb ox,” she giggled.

“I love you too, Hummingbird,” he said, taking Aurora in his arms. “I’ve always loved you, and I always will.”

“No more setups?” She asked leadingly. Stanton knew she said she loved him and always would, but there was still that part of him that would always fear the worst. He still felt a cub was the best way to ensure she stayed with him.

“You have my word,” he outright lied.

“Beautiful,” she extracted herself from his arms and took a dress from the closet. “Now, I’m going to change and get all dolled up for my man,” she said, stepping into the washroom. Aurora paused, hugging the door like a stripper leading against the pole.

Stanton groaned as he felt himself grow stiff at the wicked look in her eyes. “What’s the occasion?”

“You are going to take me to a fancy dinner to make up for that terrible test,” she purred.

“I am?” She nodded. “How fancy?” He asked cautiously. She grinned and wiggled her golden brows at him. “I am going to need a suit, aren’t I,” she winked at him and then shut the door, blocking her from his sight. Stanton sighed, “Yup, I’m going to need a suit.”

Stanton opened the closet and reached into the back, moving things to find the only suit he owned. He had bought one for a formal event some years ago and never worn it again. He was not even sure if the thing would fit him anymore. He laid his suit out on the bed and began to undress. He sniffed a bit, catching a funky smell. Given he had just come to work, the smell was likely him. He could not take a beautiful woman to a classy restaurant smelling like sweat and mud. He heard the shower start and decided to join Aurora. If he was lucky, he would get a little loving before he had to get dressed.

Stanton stripped down and cracked the washroom door open as he quietly slipped inside. He shut the door and walked to the shower. Stanton slid the curtain aside and climbed in behind Aurora. He came up behind her wrapping his arms around her, and pulled her back against his body. He lowered his head and nipped at her neck.

Aurora snickered as she turned in his arms and looked up at him. He tried to kiss her, but Aurora placed her index finger over his lips, stopping him from kissing her. “Oh no, Big Daddy,” She purred as she pressed against him, her hands moving down his body and stopping over his happy trail not touching his growing arousal, “You have been very bad, and you don’t get no loving until you pay for what you did,” she said with a slow commanding confidence.

Stanton felt a shudder of arousal that spiked right to his cock every time Aurora asserted her dominance over him. He must be the only man on earth that got off on his woman controlling him sexually. Stanton’s lusty gaze held Aurora’s, and he sunk to his knees before her. Aurora smiled that evil smile that really got his engine revved up. “Good boy,” she whispered. “Show me how sorry you are.”

Stanton lifted Aurora’s right leg and draped it over his shoulder, giving him access to the part of her he craved so much. Excited, he leaned in and ran his tongue over her sex, and she leaned back against the tile wall with a pleased sigh. He loved it when she made that sound, and he wanted to make her do it again. Stanton sucked and licked at her damp folds making her squirm and wiggle against his mouth.

Stanton pushed his fingers into her slick passage as he sucked at the swollen, sensitive bud of her sex, making her moan his name.

He felt her hands plant firmly on his shoulders as she tried to keep herself upright. The louder she got, the more he ate at her and then it happened. She reached her climax and cried out his name.

At that point, Stanton lifted Aurora’s other leg up over his shoulder, then he stood up, grabbing her hips.

He loved her flexibility; it made things all the more fun. He leaned back but positioned Aurora in just the right way that he drove his arousal deep into her, and she climaxed again. Holding her by the waist, Stanton lifted Aurora up and down like she was riding him. Her back was pressed against the wall as she leaned back for the best possible angle.

He loved watching her when she was like this. Aurora was sexy when she took control, but she was fucking amazing when she let go and lost control. He took her there in the shower over and over until they were both sore and needed a break. Even then, Stanton was lost in desire. He stood under the water while Aurora lathered him up, washing away the sweat from his body, planting little kisses over his skin as she washed him. He enjoyed the way she catered to him. It was moments like this when he felt loved and cherished.

Once they were both clean, Aurora turned off the water, kissed his lips and handed him a towel, then gently sent him out of the washroom, claiming she needed time and space to get ready. He did not fight it. While she was making herself beautiful, Stanton put on some cologne and got into his suit. He brushed his hair and debated shaving but decided against it. Aurora seemed to enjoy his rugged beard, so he would keep it.

Stanton grabbed his tie and was tying it when the washroom door opened, and Aurora stepped out.

Stanton turned, and the breath left his body when he saw Aurora. She was dressed in a flowy red silk dress. It was one of those backless dresses that was fitted around her bustline and tied around her slender neck with a gold choker instead of laces. The body of the dress hung loosely from just below her breasts to just above her knees. Her flawless legs looked all the longer in the red strappy heels she was wearing.

Aurora had curled her long golden mane, and it tumbled down her back and fell over her right shoulder.

Her make-up was flawless, and her full lips were the same colour as her stunning dress. Even from here, he could smell the cherry blossom perfume she wore. “You look… I have no words.”

Aurora strutted his way and helped him finish tying his tie. “You look pretty damn good yourself in this suit,” she finished tying the knot and then smiled up at him. “You clean up real good,” Aurora ran her hand over his body, and she giggled. “You kind of look like a mafia enforcer,” Stanton laughed. “It’s sexy.”

“You like big and bad?”

“I like you don’t I. Come on, Big Daddy; I’m starving, so let’s go eat something expensive.”

“You got it, Hummingbird,” he would give her absolutely anything she asked for. Aurora took him by the hand, and they headed out for the first time in weeks.