Page 49 of Pieces Into Place

I lean into him for another kiss, pressing my lips softly to his. We continue kissing softly, our hands roaming and exploring while we come down from our high.

“Let’s take a shower and start our morning routine,” he says.

“We’ve been here long enough that we have a morning routine?” I ask in disbelief.

“As long as coming in you is part of that routine, I’m a happy man,” he says.

Within minutes, Kane has started the fire and we’re in a hot shower, taking our time washing each other gently, talking, and laughing. His strong, soapy hands feel amazing, roaming over my body.

He doesn’t have to tell me how he’s feeling at this moment. I can feel it in the way he touches me and looks at me. I can see it in his reverent gaze and feel it in his soft kisses. He’s guarded with his words, but his eyes betray his secrets. They tell me everything I want to know.

All I want to do is immerse myself in him. After we finish showering, we dry off and take time to enjoy our morning coffee together.

While he does his perimeter walk around the property and gathers firewood, I get dressed for the day and bundle myself up to go outside as well. Kane is cleaning the ice off of the truck’s windshield when I join him. There’s something about how he tackles even the most menial tasks that makes them seem sexy. He’s just so capable. It’s like he knows how to do everything.

In contrast, I’ve always had to rely on myself and YouTube tutorials to teach me things like changing a tire or installing a ceiling fan in my bedroom. Kane has a rugged competence that leaves me feeling envious and a bit breathless.

My thoughts start to turn in an inappropriate direction as I imagine Kane shirtless under my car changing the oil. Realizing where my thoughts are taking me, I shake my head and focus instead on the pinecones by the car that need to be picked up.

As I wander around picking them up, my mind flashes to arts and crafts projects with the kids. These would have been perfect for something like that. I miss my class.

“What are you doing?” Kane asks, coming to stand in front of me.

I glance down at the pinecones piled inside my jacket and then back up at him before shaking my head. “Nothing,” I mumble. “It’s silly.”

“What’s silly?” he questions, genuine curiosity in his eyes.

“I was thinking we could use some of these pinecones to make a bird feeder or some cute Christmas decorations,” I answer timidly, shrugging my shoulders.

Kane takes a pinecone from my hand. “That sounds like a great idea,” he states.

My eyes widen in surprise. “You think so?”

“Yes! It’ll be something fun to do instead of watching DVDs.”

“I need some that aren’t as green though.”

“There’s some just behind the house. We can look for more later or tomorrow,” he says cheerfully. “Let’s get to making that snowman!”

Thirty minutes later, we stand back and observe the final product of our efforts. “He’s so cute,” I say, wrapping my scarf around his neck. “I wish I had some other way to decorate him.”

Kane stands there thoughtfully for a moment and then retrieves a small, thick stick. I’m assuming he’s going to turn it into a snowman nose, and I watch with pride as he finishes the final touch. However, the head is not where he places the stick. Instead, he uses it to create an enormous snowman dick.

He steps back from the snow figure, a broad smile dancing across his face. “Now, he’s perfect,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.

I let out a small chuckle and cross my arms. “Are all men just fourteen-year-old boys at heart?” I ask him, raising an eyebrow.

Kane nods thoughtfully and glances toward the oversized, icy phallic sculpture. “Pretty much,” he answers with a mischievous grin.

I shake my head incredulously, but can’t help but laugh with him. “We can’t leave it like that though, what if the neighbors see?”

He laughs louder and sweeps me up into his arms. “Then they’ll be happy for him and his enormous snow cock!”

My gloved hand flies to my mouth, an infectious chuckle bubbling up from somewhere deep inside. I shake my head in disbelief, the words spilling out like a secret confession, “I’m falling for an idiot.”

Chapter twenty-four

Kane