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Ten Days in the Country Ch. 01

By: TrueNorth1969



This is a work of fiction. The town, the situations, and the characters are all imagined. The cottage setting is inspired by a cabin and small town I stayed in several years ago.

 DAY 1 

It was a blue sky day in the northern lumber town of Dorrits. People were milling about on both sides of the single main street that ran through town, a sign saying "Welcome to Dorrits" on one end and "You're Now Leaving Dorrits" on the other. The cars that drove along this road provided the conversation pieces for the people hanging around along the sidewalks. Everybody who drove along it, whether friend or stranger, seemed to stir up stories. 

It was midday when a silver jeep revved into view. People leaned forward and tried to see who was in the car.

David Hettrick saw her. Her shoulder length golden hair had shone through the glare of the driver's window. She pulled up the road and turned and parked at Mandy's General Goods & Service's store at the centre of town.

Most of the people lingering on the street at lunch time in the town of Dorrits had noticed the jeep as it had drove into town. Too silvery and too clean, the jeep had "city person" written all over it with 4x4 drive and a power package that was intended for rough riding but it would be features of the car that would probably never be used by its driver. A lot of the people just smirked, taking only a quick glance as the jeep roll in. Some of the more curious, bolder types, cast a longer glare upon its gleaming hull right until it had parked.

David was usually of the former group, minding his own business, but the driver, with that fine blonde hair, had caught his eye. As she stepped out of the car and onto the street, he realized there was even more to the person behind the wheel, behind the glare of the window, for him to take notice.

The woman stretched, her fingers woven together and held over her head, pushing towards the sky. She had a slender, shapely figure with her hips and legs accentuated nicely by the tight jeans she was wearing. She had a red denim blouse that was oversized but it was still obvious she that she had a fine, fit form. She was smiling as she stretched, looking satisfied after having been on a long drive.

David was able to 'read' the different strangers who drove through town. He could tell who was just stopping by and who would be staying for awhile. As the woman opened her eyes and looked around town with the same satisfied smile on her face, he knew she'd be staying for a little while. He surprised himself, realizing that just the thought this woman might be staying in town elicited a sense of excitement from within him. She really was beautiful.

As she reached back into her car, David suddenly realized he had been staring. Shaking his head, he figured he should just go back to loading his truck before she noticed him.

"Hold up, boys!" a rough voice slurred, "Look what's come to town!"

Without looking up, David knew who was speaking. He grimaced.

"It's always nice when the city folk drop in for a visit," Eric Lafon chuckled. He and his entourage of bored labourers stood on the sidewalk in front of the jeep, heads tilted to the side, whistling and taking a good long leer at the attractive new backside sticking out from the door. They were playing the 'good ol'boy' routine to the fullest. David always hated it when Eric lowered himself to that sort of behaviour.

The group was chuckling even more when the woman leaned out and looked at the men over the rim of her sunglasses.

"Hey! Hope it's not too bright for you, Sunshine!" Eric continued, "Takes time to get used to the unfiltered natural light without all the pollution in your eyes."

The woman smiled, her red lips tightly clenched. Then she made her first mistake. She nodded and said, "Hello gentlemen."

David could hear the snickers. He shook his head and frowned. Never acknowledge the pack.

Eric waved his hand like he was wiping a window and drawled in a syrupy voice, "Welcome to Dorrits, Sunshine!"

'Sunshine'. He had already given her a nickname. This was going to get very messy, very fast. Next he would ask her if she's new in town. She'd say yes. He'd introduce himself. She would give him her name. He would ask her where she's staying, offer his 'help', his 'services', and pretty much make an ass of himself or get into some sort of trouble. Nothing worse than a bunch of guys who had no work to do and spent all day drinking and looking for a new play thing. Not only that, as the de facto leader of the group, Eric was compelled to put on a show.

The others David didn't care about. It was Eric who disappointed him.

David would have surprised himself again, realizing just how defensive he was feeling about the whole situation. But then he was snapped out of his thoughts.

"So where you going to be heading Nicola?" Eric's gruff voice slinked in.

David looked up. The conversation had already progressed while he had been lost in his thoughts Eric and the group had already stepped off the curb and moved in for a closer look. The woman David now figured to be Nicola stood behind the door, keeping it between her and the men. She had raised her sunglasses, perching it in her hair. He had a clear view of her crystal blue eyes blinking with a cautious stare. Her mouth was sort of forming words but not speaking. It was amazing how quickly people could go from a complete carefree demeanour to a deer caught in headlights. 

"Well, uh..." she stammered.

David thought about moving in. Eric moved faster. The tall man leaned over her and winked, "Need someone to show you the sites?"

There was a knowing, obnoxious rumble through the group.

Some sort of defensive mechanism must have kicked in as the woman's glowing expression changed to a cool glare. She lowered her chin and stared at him. In a low voice she said, "Not today. I'm not interested."

Eric's grey-green eyes squinted into sharp slits.

She shut her door. "Excuse me," she said in the same tight voice and brushed past the men.

As the other men murmured and mumbled about her boldness, Eric continued to stare straight ahead where the woman had been standing. He grinned.

David knew she had to eventually try to get away from them but he had hoped she would be more tactful in spite of the situation. That straight-forward city-type brush off often just conjured up an image of arrogance that served to spur on the resentment that locals had for their city cousins. If she had done that to a bunch of frat boys in the city, she would have probably gotten an immediate response of cat calls and defensive bravado. All she was getting now as she walked into the store were cold stares. The men, save for Eric, watched her ominously. They wouldn't forget.

David watched the group finally start to shuffle away from the jeep. Eric lingered for a moment, still thinking about something but then stepped away. David then went into the store to pick up more things.

As he stepped through the door, the attached bells tinkling light fairies, he immediately zoned in on Nicola standing at the counter talking with Mrs.Hayden.

"Don't let them rattle you," the personable matron of the store said waving her hand dismissively, "They're just bored until the next call for work comes along."

David scooted behind the shelves at the back. He paused to wave silently to Mrs.Hayden and she smiled and nodded back. Nicola turned to look at him. Her eyes were impossibly frosty blue, like ice on a lake. He managed a polite smile. She returned a curt smile then turned away from him.

"So you're in town for just a week?" Mrs. Hayden asked.

"Actually 10 days. I'm just taking a breather from work and had to get out of the city. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to just get outdoors, you know?" Nicola said. Her voice was deeper than he would have thought, warm and smooth.

"Not much to do around here except watch the leaves grow," Mrs.Hayden said with a chuckle, her apple cheeks glowing at her little joke.

"Perfect," Nicola remarked holding up her hands, "I'll take it!"

They both laughed as David picked up two bundles from the floor in the back and headed towards the door.

"So I guess you want Kara's mail?" the shopkeeper asked, "She told me you'd be getting it for her."

David froze behind the canned goods, listening carefully.

"That's one of the many little chores she has for me, yep." Nicola sighed easily and asked, "By the way, is her cabin easy to get to?"

David peaked from behind the shelf and watched as Mrs.Hayden lifted a postal box full of letters and packages from the counter. His heart was beating faster.

Mrs.Hayden turned to point at an area map posted on the wall behind her. She described how the cabin was up on the side of a large hill about 5 kilometres away from the town centre. It had a great view, facing a clearing that edged onto a forest slope, with a small creek down in the ravine in front of it. David actually knew the place quite well.

"Still needs a bit of work," Mrs.Hayden added, "Kara's been taking forever getting the place set up but it's coming around nicely. You can tell why she chose the spot for her getaway cabin. It's secluded. It's peaceful. You won't be disturbed at all." 

Nicola put her hands to her chest and bent her knees slightly in genuine anticipation, "Thank god! Just what the doctor ordered!"

She grabbed the large box and smiled her good-bye to Mrs. Hayden as she exited the store.

David came out from behind the shelves. He looked at Mrs.Hayden, "She's staying at Kara Hobbs' place?"

"David!" the large woman said, "If you had come out from the back I would have introduced you to her. She seems very nice. I think she would have liked to have met the fellow who was working on Kara's cottage this summer."

He wasn't paying much attention to the woman's enthusiastic remarks. As he glanced out the window, he noticed that Round 2 was starting with Eric.

"How about I help you with that?" Eric asked with his trademark crooked grin. He and two other guys were leaning up against her jeep.

Nicola stepped hesitantly off the curve, fumbling for the keys in her pocket as she balanced the box in the other hand. "No thank-you," she said her voice a little too sharp, too polite, "I'm fine."

"Hey, not a problem, Sunshine. Looks like you could use an assist," he insisted and reached for the box.

"No. It's okay," she snapped. Probably without intending to do so, Nicola jerked the box away. A couple of letters flew out from the box.

"C'mon, lady! I'm just trying to be helpful!" he said.

David could see Nicola sigh as he stepped out onto the street. He bent down to pick up some letters that had spilled out and blew over to the sidewalk. 

She inhaled deeply trying to keep calm and said, "Look. I'm tired. I want to go and rest so can you please move away from my car and leave me alone."

David wondered if she inwardly winced as hard as he did when she had spoke her words with such vehemence to the wrong group of guys. Their annoyance was palpable. They did move away from the car, again with the same sidestep shuffle as before, but they didn't move any further away from her. The men formed a tight little half circle around her.

Nicola bit her lower lip, trying not to look at any of them eye-to-eye. There was a long moment of silence as nobody moved. Eric was particularly rooted in his spot.

Without saying anything else, Nicola made her way through carefully so as not to bump into any of them. Balancing the box in one hand she was able to unlock the door. She nearly dropped the box though when a large hand reached in front of her for the door handle. She jumped back a bit startled and bumped against a body. She whirled around and looked up at Eric grinning down at her. Nicola was a tall woman but he was a big man. Side by side, it was clear to everyone that he had a good 6 inches on her and about 120 pounds. 

Eric pulled the door open and waved her in. "M'lady," he smirked.

Nicola regained her composure enough to toss the box into the jeep and slide in quickly. She couldn't stick the key into the ignition fast enough. She reached for the door but Eric held it open. Leaning in he winked and said in an almost raspy whisper, "Look, no harm done, okay? We'll let you have your peace."

He closed the door on her still bothered face. As she started the jeep and started to pull out he raised his hand and called out, "Welcome to Dorrits, Sunshine!"

She drove away quickly. The men all laughed as she sped off down the road, all of them except Eric. He just stood where he was watching the dust the car had kicked up settle back to the ground, a stoic look on his face. David watched him. He wasn't sure, but he thought he saw what could possibly interpreted as regret on the big man's face.

Still holding the letters, David made his way to his truck. He thought about what had just happened. Then he thought about the attractive woman behind the wheel, her hair drifting softly down her neck and framing those sky blue eyes. He smiled to himself, knowing he would see her again.

As he pulled out from his parking space, Eric finally started to move. The big man waved and gave the "peace" sign to David.

**********

 DAY 2 

It was an exquisite peace and quiet surrounding the cabin on the hill through the night and into the early morning. The rustling of leaves, the gentle sounding breeze, the babble of the distant brook, and the chirps of the many birds were all instruments in nature's symphony.

Leave it to something man-made to wreck all that.

The chainsaw ripped to life, shredding the serenity of the forest with its scornful roar just as easily as its steel links of teeth could chew through the heart of a tree. It was an unending monotonous screech that filled the early morning air.

David angled the saw against the side of the tree. The buzzing sound increased in pitch as metal met wood. With a steady jaw, he watched the chips and dust fly. He was used to the sound, detached from the noise his tool created as it did its job. He was comfortable with it that, even though it should have been filling every nook in his head with its baleful wail, he was still aware of other sounds around him, albeit muted by the buzz of the saw. For instance, this particular morning he sensed somebody was screaming from behind him.

The chain saw groaned to a halt. It was impossibly silent again as the forest rebooted itself after such a racket. 

"Ex-CUSE me!" a deep but smooth and feminine voice yelled at him.

David turned around. Peering through his safety goggles, he saw a woman standing on the porch of the secluded cabin that faced the hillside, an angst ridden expression affixed to her face. Her golden hair was a bit fluffed and she looked like she had just gotten up. She was in a heavy woollen sweater, her arms crossed and huddled. She wore grey flannel shorts, obviously intended only for walking around indoors as her slender legs shivered slightly from exposure to the cool morning air. With the deep browns and greens of the cabin and forest around her, her skin looked an immaculately pure pearl white, save for her flushed cheeks. She was a sight...even if her brow was knit with unadulterated annoyance.

"My God, what are you doing?!" Nicola snapped.

"Oh, hi!" David was still absorbing the genuinely attractive form shuffling on her plush-slippered feet before him. He was unfazed, "Kind of cold this morning. Don't worry. It'll be pretty hot soon enough."

The appealing blonde squinted and shook off his greetings. She pointed back to the cabin and spoke flabbergasted, "I was standing by the window trying to get your attention! I finally had to come out here to scream at you!"

David smiled, "Oh yeah. Sorry. This thing is pretty loud."

"What are you doing?" she repeated.

He pointed at the tree with the chainsaw. "I was just-"

"It's 6:30 in the morning!"

The young man still smiled riding the good feelings the sight of her stirred in him, "I'm David, by the way. I'm working for Kara."

Incredulous, Nicola shook her head trying to make sense of things. She stammered, "You...you're who? Look...I...Kara didn't say anything-"

"I'm clearing the trees that are too close around the cabin," David went on, I'm also doing other jobs around the place like working on the drainage system."

Nicola calmed down somewhat. She was still annoyed but she finally did recollect her friend telling her that somebody would probably be coming by to do some work around her cabin. 

"The cabin still needs work," he added matter-of-factly.

Nicola rolled her eyes. She buried her forehead into the palm of her hand and thought for a moment before speaking, "I know, I know. Look David, do you have to do that now, though? "

He shrugged, "Well I do a lot of things for a lot of people. I just usually start my day here."

"Now?!"

David didn't know what else to say. He shrugged. From his vantage point, he watched as the woman frowned at him like a disappointed teacher. She dragged both of her hands down her face to her neck and started rubbing the back of it. He could hear her mutter something to herself punctuated by the word, "Perfect."

Without looking back at him, she waved her hands in the air and trudged back into the cabin.

For a long moment, David stood there watching the cottage as he held the heavy saw in his hands. He looked back at the scarred tree and raised the saw slightly. Pausing, he glanced back at the cabin, then he lowered the saw to the ground. He then removed his gloves and goggles.

As she stuffed some coffee into the filter, Nicola looked out through the living room panoramic window to the glory of the morning. "So much for a relaxing vacation," she grumbled as she pushed the filter into the machine and flipped the switch on.

First it was the group from "Deliverance" yesterday, this morning it's Paul Bunyon Jr. She steeled herself as she waited for the rousing cry of the chainsaw to rattle the dishes again. She had been curled up on the bed in the cabin, embracing her pillows, blissfully aware that no unnaturally created alarm clock would be waking her up during the next few mornings at the ungodly hours she had wedged herself in back at work. But the chain-saw had roared and screeched like a klaxon, rattling the walls around her. She was ripped away from her slumber.

Now after a few minutes, she realized she was hearing nothing but the gurgling of the coffee-maker. She frowned and looked out the window again. She watched David packing up his tools into the back of his truck. After a few more minutes, he was driving off down the road. 

Nicola lifted her head and smirked to herself. Switching off the coffee-maker she quickly hopped back into bed. 

Sometimes being assertive was good.

************

The Falcon's Talon was pretty quiet at around 3 o'clock during the day. The bar and tavern at daytime was more like a meeting place for people to get a quick drink before they headed off somewhere else. Or they would stop in to leave a note with the barkeep, Caron, who was like a living message board for the town. At some point, everybody came through the Falcon's Talon.

David liked to hang out in the tavern around this time. Often the burly Caron would set him up with a drink before heading to the back or the cellar leaving him alone in the bar. David just liked to look around the rustic room with its wood styling and darkly lit interior and simple think about things to himself.

It was no mystery what or who he was thinking about today. He thought about how the new person in town was different from the regular visitors who passed through. Families, couples, groups of friends constantly came through. Never a single woman. And an attractive one at that. And she was staying around for a little while. David already had her glowing image racking his mind. As he took a long swig from his glass, he thought about how she stirred something in his young body, something he had been detached from for whatever reasons. 


Ten Days in the Country Ch. 01



David snapped out of his stupor when he heard the tavern door swing open. He coughed slightly into his glass as he glanced over. The light seeped in like a white sheet pulling along a slender figure from the brightness outside.

Nicola took off her sunglasses as she let the door close behind her. She put her hands on her hips and looked around the tavern. She actually seemed to be impressed with the dark rustic surroundings.

"Wow," she said pointing to something at the other end of the bar, "Never too cliché for moose heads hanging in a tavern I guess."

She snickered to herself but David was unmoved, still holding onto his glass. Nicola looked over at him. She gave him a coy wave of her hand as if she were meeting someone at a coffee shop. David blinked, startled and lost. He hoped that he was smiling back at her. He wasn't sure.

The woman walked over to him and took a seat at the bar. He just continued to watch her. She held her breath for a moment then held out her hand.

"David. I'm Nicola," she offered.

Finally putting his glass down, he took her hand. It was gentle and soft. 

"I'm David," he said, his voice trailing off.

Nicola smiled and scrunched her nose , amused. She laughed and said, "I know. I'm Nicola by the way."

David grinned crookedly but finally the light bulb flickered on. He loosened up and said, "Okay. Okay. Hi Nicola. Want a drink?"

She glanced at the bottles behind the bar and waved her hand at them. She looked around the tavern and, nodding, replied, "No, I'm just checking things out around town, looking for the local hotspots." 

"Falcon's Talon is about it," David remarked, then added, "But things usually pick up in here during the evenings."

Nicola shook her head, "That's okay, David. I'm really not looking for much excitement this week. I'd be happy to just hang out in the cabin by myself for the whole week."

"Getting away, huh?" he said.

"Yup," she said with an exaggerated nod, "I need to clear the head a bit."

David watched her intently as she spoke. He was still taken aback by how surprisingly smooth and deep her voice was..

Nicola rested her arms on the bar and leaned closer to David. He froze in his seat. "David," she spoke slowly, "I'm very sorry about this morning."

He moved back slightly, rattled by the sudden apology. He hadn't thought much about the incident from the morning. He shook his head and shrugged, opening his mouth to speak. 

Nicola cut him off, "I really didn't mean to jump down anybody's throat. I guess I'm more wound up than I thought."

With a weary sigh, she stared across the bar with her icy blue eyes. David watched her. She did look a bit tired, a bit stressed. It didn't take anything away from her though.

After a pause, Nicola's thoughts and spirit drifted back and she smiled. She said, "Anyway, I did find a note from Kara saying you're supposed to be working around her cabin."

"I'm just sort of a handyman around the town in the summer," David said, "Pays for university."

A surprised look fixed on her face. "Wow," she said, "A university student."

"Fourth year, actually. I'm 22." He wasn't sure what he had read into her expression or her remark but he felt compelled to clarify his age.

"I remember fourth year, 10 long years ago," Nicola said her eyebrows arching upward, "Hooboy. Maybe I  could  use that drink!"

They both chuckled. David pushed a glass towards her and filled it halfway with a swirling maple coloured liquid. Nicola rolled her tongue along her lower gum, smiling. After a short pause, she took the glass, raised it to her lips and impressively knocked it back. She grimaced only slightly as she swallowed. 

"Anyway," she continued after clearing her throat, "I don't want to interfere in your work. Do whatever you're supposed to do. I'll be fine."

David paused for a moment then said, "Don't worry. I'll figure something out."

Nicola put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. As she looked at the novelties hanging around the tavern, David took a moment to study her face from a closer angle. She had a unique nose with a high bridge that pulled his view to her shocking blue eyes. Her lips were natural and full, glossed and a light shade of red.

She asked, "Where's the ladies' room?"

He turned and pointed down a hall. She thanked him and he watched her as she walked away and disappeared through the door.

Alone at the bar again, he took another satisfied sip from his glass. The door to the tavern swung open. This time the tall person who came through didn't bother to admire the place as he strode in. Eric was quite familiar with the Falcon's Talon. He had his usual assured grin on his face as he sidled up to David at the bar and slapped him on the back.

"Hey, big guy," Eric said, his voice clear and loud, "What's the word?"

"Not much," David shrugged. He didn't try to shake off Eric's hand from his back. Actually, most times, he never had a problem with the big man. At his best, he was kind of a mentor to David. They often discussed a lot of things like work and travel and Eric never talked down to the younger man. 

Eric only became a problem when he had too much time on his hands. Then he would drink and hang out with the lesser locals who often looked to him to provide them with some oafish entertainment and Eric, whether due to bravado or cockiness, would unfortunately oblige them.

Today, without his boisterous entourage, he was just looking for a quick fix.

"Where's that Caron?" Eric said as he looked behind the bar.

"Flushing bottles out back," David said and pushed his bottle over to Eric, "Want a sip?"

Eric smiled, flashing his teeth, and nodded his approval, "Thank you sir! My friend, you've just saved a life!"

David smirked as Eric took a satisfied swig from the bottle. The grin disappeared when he heard the creak of the door down the hall. The two men turned in unison. They saw Nicola creeping slowly up the corridor. She froze when their eyes met.

Eric smiled broadly and then leaned back on the bar counter. He drawled, "Well, good afternoon, Sunshine!"

Suddenly the heavy bravado was back. Her mouth opened slightly. David could tell that she was thinking of some way to resolve this thing already but she wasn't prepared to do that having just come out of the washroom. She continued to stare at the man whose shirt was open down to the last two buttons, his bare hairy chest thrust out like some giant rooster.

"I'll see you later, David," she said quickly and just as quickly made a break for the exit.

"Oh, hey! Hey now! C'mon!" Eric said to her, "Have a drink with us!"

The door was already swinging shut, clipping the light as he called to her, almost shouting, "I'm really sorry about before!"

Eric stood there and watched the door shut. They were back in the dark but David could definitely see the regret lingering on the large man's weathered face. It surprised him.

After a moment, Eric held up his hands and sighed. He turned and swiped at the bar, mumbling a curse then pursing his lips and thinking to himself. David was amazed by his reaction.

"David, buddy," he said thoughtfully, "There goes a fine piece of ass."

David blinked then shook his head. He rolled his eyes. As he lifted his glass to his lips he spoke, "Yeah. She's really pretty."

Eric looked at the young man beside him and smiled. He warmly patted him on the shoulder again and nodded, "Yeah. You're right. Really pretty."

Nicola slid around a corner, the wheels of her jeep skidding on the gravel road, before she realized she had better slow down or else go flying into a ditch.

She was gnawing on her bottom lip and looking off into the distant road. She fidgeted with her left hand, sometimes leaning her head on it, sometimes drumming her fingers on the wheel. There was no way for her to get comfortable, not with the thoughts she was having clouding her space.

Stupid, dumb, arrogant, she fumed to herself. 

She thought about that man who was leaning against the bar, checking her out like she was some runway stripper. His sharp teeth were accentuated through that wide open smile he threw at her. She felt like a piece of meat under that glare of his.

 Jerk, goof, goddamn freaking, mountain-man... She didn't want to say it but she spat out, "Yokel!"

Instantly, as she spoke the word, she rolled her eyes, disappointed in herself. She didn't want to be an elitist urban diva. She reminded herself that she was on vacation. She wasn't there to pick fights or impose her sensibilities onto these people who spent much of their lives trying to tolerate urban people insisting that they show them 'the richness of the outdoors'. 

 Did I call him 'mountain-man'?  Nicola thought to herself, smirking. He was certainly rustic and rough all over but not exactly Grizzly Adams either. He had those sharp teeth, a nose like a small crooked pear, weathered and deep tanned skin, a long hard face narrowing to a rugged jaw, and ratty brown hair that looked like it was cropped short with a knife. Yes, he had all the features of an undeveloped plot of land. But somehow, they all pulled together and worked. Nicola couldn't put her finger on it.

She thought about the hard shelled body exposed beneath his unbuttoned shirt. No paunch whatsoever. The man was solid all over.

 What am I thinking?!  Nicola sniggered behind the wheel. So who was on the runway now?

"Oh wonderful! Let's fantasize about lumberjacks!" She laughed to herself as she turned the jeep up the long winding forest trail that led to the cabin. 

 DAY 3 

Nicola was breathing heavily as she rounded the large tree that had fallen across the nature path. Her steps were heavier at the end of her morning run through the lush foliage and she was more inclined to just plough through the smaller underbrush than sidestep any of it at this point. 

Morning? she thought,  More like noon time, you bad girl! 

True she had started her run late in the morning. She had woken up late, surprised to see the numbers "10:30" glowing in her face when she lifted her head up from the pillow earlier. That was almost 5 hours later than she normally woke up for work back in the city. That was after spending her time with Matt until midnight the night before. 

Well, at least she didn't have to worry about staying out late with her ex-boyfriend anymore. Bastard.

Two things surprised her that morning: first, that she was actually able to stay asleep so long after training her body to get itself up at ungodly hours of the week and second, that David hadn't woken her up earlier with his mind-splitting chain-saw.

She had plopped back into the mounds of down-filled pillows she had nested for herself on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She wondered where the young man was, hoping he still didn't feel snubbed by her actions the previous morning. The bedroom was so peaceful, painted a lemon yellow with little décor, sheer white drapes, an antique vanity table and mirror across from the bed. All very comforting.

She had closed her eyes and fell asleep for another half hour.

When she finally kicked her day into gear she took her jog at a harder pace just to punish herself and make up for lost time. Half way through she realized that was probably a dumb thing to do. Running hard through an unknown landscape on what amounted to barely a narrow goat trail, she stumbled a few times, once almost tripping onto her face, ran into some bushes, and slipped on soft patches which she really hoped was just mud. It was becoming an obstacle course.

Then there was the heat. The days may have started off early with cool crisp air but that quickly gave way to an intense wave of midday heat that struck her just as she had begun to head back. After a few minutes, her mouth had dropped open and she was sucking in oxygen like water. Thank god it was fresh. But by now, even the earthy, sweet smell of wood and pine was overwhelming. And it was warm and soon she was dripping water freely from every pore, her flaxen hair damp and drooping flat on her face and neck.

She stumbled around the corner of the cottage, the sanctuary, and stooped over holding the handrail to the stairs leading to the door. They looked like the stairs to the Basilica. Nicola lowered her head and groaned between her gasps then hauled her sorry butt up the stairs.

She was hot and sticky and dirty with her shoes caked in mud and various stains of nature all over her clothing. As she entered the cottage and made her way slowly down the hall to the bathroom, she peeled off her clothes leaving a trail of her sweaty track pants, tank top, shoes, socks and underwear along the floor.

*********

David pulled his truck up beside Nicola's jeep. He smiled. He had been hoping she hadn't gone out for the day yet.

He got out and unloaded a few tools onto the ground before heading to the door. He wanted to ask her if it was okay if he got started now on his work. Really, he just wanted to see her. 

David knocked on the screen door. The cottage was wide open so he figured she was in. After a moment of silence he peered through the screen and squinted. He saw some clothing on the floor leading down the hallway. 

"Nicola?" he called out. No reply.

He reached for the door handle but then stopped. Possibly it was his conscious telling him it wouldn't be polite just to barge in. Then there was the voice on his other shoulder holding him back and beckoning him to go around to the back of the cottage.

As he approached the window to bathroom from outside he thought it was pointless trying to step quietly. He could hear the rush of the shower. He knew she had no idea he was out there.

Having helped build it, he knew the lay out of the cottage well, including the bathroom. It was shaped like a J with the tiled shower around the corner of a high wall. The shower area was in open view to the window.

David stepped up carefully on a couple of cut tree stumps. He could barely peer over the ledge of the window but he was rewarded for his knowledge of the cottage design.

The water flowed like glistening streams down Nicola's bare back, from her hair which was a richer gold colour from the water, down the smooth curve of her spine, spilling over the small of her back before rolling downward over and between the two firm round of her bum.

David sighed a long breath as he watched her rub some soap with a sponge across her arms and shoulders. She bent down to reach her toes and legs, covering them with a rich later and serving another fine view of her backside to him.

"A fine piece of ass," Eric had said. Grudgingly, David had to admit that the gruff description was apt.

She had other fine pieces on her. Despite a part of him that was feeling really uncomfortable now, he wanted to see them. It was this thought that kept him rooted in his place even as she turned toward the window. He held his breath, a line of sweat running down the side of his face.

Nicola's eyes were closed as she massaged shampoo into her hair. Again David sighed, his breath shuddering, and then gulped. Her breasts hung there before them, two perfectly rounded shapes of delicate softness, slicked to a shine from the soap and water. They sloped to two pinkish, pointy peaks, covered slightly ball small tufts of foam.

David slowly scanned her from her toes to her head, watching her as she tilted her head back to let the water wash out the shampoo. She opened her mouth, the water filling it, overflowing, and seductively running down the side of her mouth, down her chin and neck.

The young man's own mouth dropped open. He really felt unsettled now. With another blink and a shake of his head, he stumbled off the stumps, stepping back a few feet from the cottage. Staring at the wall blankly, he couldn't believe he had just done that. With barely a thought he had become a peeping-tom, invaded someone's privacy. 

The pipes squeaked as the water shut off. David made his way to the front of the cottage.

*************

The shower had been refreshing and the woman was thoroughly relaxed now. She loved the smell of clean.

As Nicola slipped on her shorts and a denim top in the bedroom, she heard a series of dull thuds outside in front of the cottage. She walked to the living room, picking up the clothes she had left on the floor in her post-run haste, and looked out the window.

There was David with an axe taking chops at the tree he had been working on the previous morning. Nicola leaned closer to the window, her brow furrowed from curiosity. He certainly was working with a fervour on that tree. The young man had removed his shirt, s shiny sheen of sweat highlighting his long, lean musculature. His dark brown hair was matted from perspiration. His swings were strong, precise and rapid. He stopped only briefly to drag his forearm across his brow. Despite the obvious heat, he continued his chopping.

Nicola smiled, impressed by his effort, impressed with him in general.

Slipping on the shoes she unceremoniously kicked off earlier, she went outside.

"Hey David!" she said cheerfully as she approached him, her hands tucked into her shorts pockets.

He stopped in mid-swing and leaned back. For the briefest moment he paused before looking at her, trying to be certain he had the right expression on his face. A few minutes ago he was leering at her in a way that would impress Eric and his cronies. With her nude image fresh in his mind, he had to muster a cordial smile.

"Hey Nicola," he said with a curt nod He tried not to stare at her, "You're looking really nice."

"Oh well," she laughed and rolled her eyes, "Thanks! I just took a shower."

David's stomach ached. "That's..." he eked, "That's good."

"I figured you'd be here earlier this morning," Nicola said then smirked, "I was all ready to wake up to the sound of your wonderful chain-saw."

"I thought I'd start my rounds at other places first this morning. You know, give you a break. You looked like you needed a rest," David said. He lowered the axe head to the ground and leaned on the handle casually.

Nicola tilted her head and said, "Well thanks. That's really sweet of you. But I don't want to throw off your schedule..."

He waved his hand, "Not a problem."

There was a long pause as they smiled at each other. As he leaned on his axe, Nicola couldn't help but continue to mentally assess the looks of the young man. She noted how well defined his smooth chest, hell, his whole body, was. Her brow lowered a bit and her head shook ever so slightly as she realized the types of thoughts she was verging on at that moment.  Okay, Nicola. Not going to have any of that now! Less than three weeks after your break up and you're ready to jump the first healthy body you see? 

She quickly thought of something to say, "Uh, but why are you using the axe?" She nodded towards it.

"Because I didn't want to disturb your rest," he replied quickly as she had asked the obvious.

Nicola bent forward slightly, her shoulders dropping as she assumed the "How nice!" position and expression, eyebrows arched in the middle, blue eyes glistening, mouth open. This was a genuinely sweet guy.

"But isn't it more work for you?" she asked.

David looked back at the tree and shrugged, "Well the wood's pretty hard but you know, the axe'll get the job done. Good for the muscles, too."

Good grief, he's not kidding! she thought to herself.

"It's really easy actually," he went on and then looked at her with a smirk. He pointed his thumb at the tree, "You wanna give it a whack?"

"Ooh-hoo! I don't know," Nicola said stepping back, "I don't have your muscles, David!"

"Ah, c'mon! It's all in the swing," he replied as he took an easy stroke with the axe through the air. "Just like playing golf."




Ten Days in the Country Ch. 01



The woman tilted her head with a coy smile.

David held the axe out to her, his green eyes squinting over a wide smile.

"I don't know about this," Nicola said warily as she finally grasped the handle.

David let go and the axe head immediately thudded to the ground like an anchor.

"Woah-god!" Nicola gasped. Doubled over the handle she started to chuckle, "Oh-kay! What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

"Alright. Now you just need to lift it up."

Nicola lifted the heavy axe from the ground and walked unsteadily with it to the base of the tree. She stared at the defiantly solid tree and then looked back anxiously at David, "You've gotta be kidding me."

"Well," he said opening his palms to her, "May I, then?"

"Yes! For god's sake! Help me!" she gasped in mock panic.

David moved behind her then wrapped his arms around until he was holding the handle of the axe as well, his hands just below hers. His body curved to her shape. She smelled sweet and fresh, and he could feel her warmth.

Nicola was also very aware of the body moving close behind her. His bare chest brushed the back of her shirt. She may have seemed relaxed but inside she sensed some unexpected pangs welling within her. David leaned over her shoulder. She didn't turn her head, just shifted her eyes to look at the sharp angled features of his face coming into view. 

"Okay, we swing back slowly, the head is kept high," he guided her. Their arms moved back as they swung the axe over their shoulders.

"Look at the spot you're going to chop, don't look at the axe head," he paused as he felt her hold her breath, "And now swing fast."

The two of them grunted as the axe swished awkwardly through the air and struck the trunk of the tree. Little bits of wood flew about. 

"Ow!" Nicola cried out, the handle rattling her from her hands to her teeth.

"Good!" David said, "And again!"

Before she could protest, the two swung back the handle again. After taking another pathetic swipe at the tree they started to laugh.

"Alright again!" he said choking back the laughter.

"OW! No! Wait! Wait! Wait!" Nicola screamed, her mouth a wide-open goofy smile.

Once more they tried to swing the axe back but the two stumbled, their legs tying up together. The handle pulled them off balance.

"Whoa!" they both called out in unison as they stumbled backwards.

The axe dropped to the ground and so did they, David landing on the earth first before Nicola fell across him.

Their laughter reached high up into the trees hanging over them and rolled down across the hillside. They continued to chuckle as they lay on the ground together. Nicola finally composed herself when she realized she was lying sideways between his legs, his arm around her, her head pressed up against his bare chest. When she became silent, David also took notice of the tender form pressed up against his body. Nicola quickly pushed off of him, her hands on his chest, and stood up.

She helped him up before brushing her back with her hands. David slapped the dirt off the butt of his denims. Nicola could see his bare back was also covered in dirt and leaves but caught herself as she reached out to brush it off for him. She cleared her throat, the only sound breaching the awkward silence between them.

"So a lumberjack I'm not," she was finally able to joke. She looked herself over and said, "I'm going to need another shower!"

David froze.

Nicola blew out another long breath of air, "I could use a drink of water. Want to come in?"

"Yeah, sure," he answered.

***********

Nicola and David sat at the kitchen counter and talked as they drank their glasses of water. He had put on a shirt and that in itself seemed to bring them both at ease. The discussed their university experiences. She was always into media and in fact, right after her studies had landed a job on television hosting for a kids station in the city. She parlayed that into a few news reporting gigs and now was hosting an early morning news show for a local station in the city. It was probably why she was so comfortable meeting new people. She was confident and spirited when she talked, always quick on her toes. 

David was from a small town and went to a university in another small town. During the summer breaks he worked in Dorrits. He rarely saw his family anymore. He was closer to the people in school and in Dorrits. He was an engineering student and his plan was to design development projects and works for the more isolated areas of the province.

"You're a real outdoors type of person," Nicola noted, "That's really great, being out here. It's beautiful."

David shrugged, "Yeah, I guess."

"Me, I'm just pathetic when it comes to nature," she said flatly, "I couldn't grow a weed to save my life."

"You know how to chop a tree," he offered.

She shook her head and sighed, "You can take the city out of the girl but you can't put the country into her, or something like that. I'm not going to be a woodsman, that's for certain."

David nudged her with his shoulder and grinned, "Don't think plaid shirts would look good on you anyway."

They laughed softly.

Nicola mused to herself for a moment, running her fingers along the rim of her glass, then she said, "Now that Eric, I bet he's a real man of nature."

She didn't know why she felt compelled to bring his name up. Still, as she raised her glass to her lips, she found herself looking over the rim at David, anticipating some sort of remark about the big man.

David thought for a moment then said, "Eric's been pretty much living in the same area all his life. He really knows his way around and can get by on his own."

Nicola flattened her lower lip and nodded aside.

"I mean, he's a real survivor," he continued, "It seems kind of a dumb thing to say but he really is sort of part of nature. There's nothing he can't do out here. I don't know half of what he does. I know I couldn't live out here on my own, especially during the winter months."

Nicola put down her glass and looked at David intently. He suddenly felt he probably sounded like some sort of hero-worshipping goof. He looked down at his feet.

As if she had picked up on his embarrassment, Nicola said, "But unlike you he's really rough around the edges. A rough and tumble sort of guy." She snickered and thumped her chest mockingly.

"Yeah," he replied. Then he lowered his glass and looked at her, "But you know, Nicola, Eric's not a bad person. In fact, he can be surprisingly...well, considerate."

The thought snapped at Nicola and she turned to the sink shaking her head, unconvinced.

"No, you're right, too," David added, "He can be, as you said, rough sometimes. But I don't want you to think that the way you saw him when you first arrived is the way he always is. He was just with the guys, you know, and he hasn't had steady work for awhile. If you had met him on his own the first time, I guarantee Eric would have been better, completely different."

Nicola leaned on the counter, her hand on her hip. She had her tongue pressed against the side of her cheek as she continued to shake her head, looking out the window above the sink. "I don't know, David," she said, "If we were in the city I could have called the cops on him for harassment."

David's suddenly felt defensive, "You can't apply those sensibilities to this town and that really goes for Eric. He just doesn't play by those rules. No one does out here. But Eric does have rules of his own and they're fair."

Nicola thought carefully about what he was saying. She had quickly grown to appreciate what David had to say and she was leaning towards giving Eric the benefit of the doubt simply because he was asking her to.

"I'm not saying what he did was right. Sometimes his intentions come out all screwed up. I am saying that most of the time he's a regular easy-going person," he paused then added, "He's a decent guy Nicola."

"And I wouldn't want him as an enemy right?" she quipped.

"Eric doesn't have enemies," David said bluntly, "He's not the type of guy who needs to hold grudges."

That remark stung her.

"You'd know that if you talked with him, Nicola."

David swallowed the rest of his water as she watched him silently. His mind was swirling with thoughts now. He felt protective of Eric for some reason but he didn't want to rub Nicola the wrong way. He really hoped she understood not only Eric, but himself as well.

He glanced out the window across the living room floor and said, "Well, I guess I'm still not going to get that tree down today."

Nicola snapped out of her distant contemplation and stretched a slight smile across her lips. He could tell she was thinking hard about what he had just said.

He grinned, "I guess I'm not much of a woodsman either."

The two went outside. Nicola helped David with his tools and then she got into her jeep to go into town. He said he would offer her a lift in his truck but he had other errands to run and didn't know when he could bring her back.

She followed his truck down the hillside road. After a few minutes they came to the main road and they drove off in different directions.

Nicola continued to mull over his words about Eric in her head. She thought it would be difficult for her to let go over such overt chauvinism, such utterly degrading behaviour, a first class jerk. Then again, she had to admit that she did carry some preconceived notions about the townspeople before she arrived there. It was frustrating because she prided herself on always trying to have an open attitude about people. Her job in the city demanded it. It amazed her how quickly she had abandoned that ideal when she had pulled into Dorrits. 

In a lot of ways Eric seemed similar to the player-types in the city. He was an Alpha Dog. Yet there was definitely something unique about him as well.

What really got to her though was how, in some odd way, he reminded her of Matt. The confidence and the swagger were similar and he knew how to push her buttons. That made her feel more than a little uneasy.

She drove into town and stopped at an intersection. Looking out the driver's window she saw through her sunglasses Eric by himself working on the engine of a beat up blue jeep along the curb just a few feet away from her. She didn't turn away when he looked up.

Eric stood straight up before her, wiping his hands with a cloth. Then he nodded and smiled at her, an impossibly gentle and warm smile. It was also impossible not to notice his sort of weary, almost sad grey-blue eyes.

She tried but couldn't muster any sort of reaction. Pressing on the pedal, she simply drove away not acknowledging his greeting. As she slowly pulled away she checked the rear-view mirror. He just watched her leave for a moment before he turned back to the engine.

Now who's being a jerk? she thought to herself.

************

David or Eric? To be continued...



Ten Days in the Country Ch. 02



Sorry for the long delay folks. Here's chapter two and for those who sent me words of encouragement to continue, offered critiques, and requests for some payoff, I hope you feel rewarded by this chapter. 

DAY 4

Nicola started the next day earlier than the previous one. Without the feeling of needing to catch up in her day, her morning jog was leisurely, with slow, easy strides. She was mindful of where she was running as she continued to think about the previous day, talking with David, seeing Eric.

David was bringing more conversation into this vacation than she was expecting. She had been thinking that she was going to be a hermit for the entire time. But she was enjoying herself, enjoying her time with the young man. It was refreshing. Lacking any of the pretensions and bravado of many of guys back in the city, David had an honest and relaxed take on things. She was even looking forward to seeing him today when he would come to work on the cottage. However, she also hoped that he would keep his shirt on. Talking was fine. That other sort of distraction...well, she wasn't so sure about.

Then there was Eric who, in two days, went from a countrified letch to...something else. Aside from the unnervingly warm smile he had offered to her, it was his eyes that were now the focus of attention. Perhaps it was because they were bloodshot and full of piss and fire the first time she had met him that she hadn't noticed how soulful they actually looked. Those eyes and David's good words were adding unexpected dimensions to the man.

She still thought of him as the "mountain-man" but now that just made him more intriguing.

As she walked up the stairs to the cottage, much less winded than the previous day, she heard the phone in the cottage ring.

"Hello?" she answered, wiping her wrist across her forehead. 

"Hey Nicola? It's David."

"Hi David, how are you?"

"Not bad," he said. His voice seemed low as he talked, "The thing is I'm going out of town for a job in Kilonas about 2 hours north-east of here. It'll probably take me most of the day so I'm just letting you know that I can't come to work at the cottage today. Sorry about that."

"Oh," she spoke softly, "Oh, that's okay."

"Sorry I won't see you today," he said.

He couldn't hide his dejection and Nicola realized she felt the same way. They exchanged short good-byes then hung up.

Standing by the phone she let her mind drift between David and Eric.  She shook her head then threw up her hands. Rolling her eyes towards the ceiling, she groaned, "Men!"

Nicola didn't bother going into town that day. She sat out on the porch, read her book, and took a short nap. A gentle wind rustled the leaves in the trees. As she awoke she smiled. She loved waking up looking upwards at the canopy of trees.

She got up and walked across the clearing, yawning and stretching her body as she did so. Stepping close to the edge of the ridge that dropped down to the ravine below, she peered down through the trees.  Taking a closer look, she spotted somebody by the creek. It looked like he was fishing, a big muscular man. Her mind sighed. She knew who it was.

As typical of her spontaneous nature, Nicola had two thoughts running through her head as she made her way carefully down the steep slope towards the bottom of the ravine. First, she was wondering why she hadn't put on some proper shoes and pants instead of the cork-heeled sandals and cut off denim shorts she was wearing.  Secondly, and more importantly, she was wondering why she was going down to see Eric at all. 

The man was leisurely seated on the ground leaning against a large rock, one leg stretched out, the other folded casually, perching his arm which was holding a makeshift stick rod. He simply gazed at where his line had gone into the water, a noticeable, closed mouth smile on his face. 

As she approached him from the opposite side of the creek, Nicola thought she had never seen a person so at ease in his world. He looked like a big Tom Sawyer.

Glimpsing the smooth white legs standing across the water from him, Eric looked up slowly taking his time to appreciate her just like he took the time to appreciate so many other things in the wilderness. He had seen many things probably just as beautiful, but a rare few were as appealing. 

The pretty blonde had one hand tightly wedged into the back pocket of her sorts as she waved to him once with the free one. She managed a soft smile, although her eyes still showed some hesitation.

Like the way he had looked at her, he acknowledged her slowly with a wispy wave of his hand and that same gentle smile from yesterday.

Nicola realized he was smiling with his eyes, those soulful eyes.

Only the babbling of the small creek filled the void between them as they continued to exchange silent looks and greetings. Nicola guessed that the moment was more awkward for her than for him so she decided to wing it and just say something. 

"Beautiful day," she said.

"Certainly is," Eric replied and nodded. He rolled his eyes across the sky before setting them firmly on her once more. "Just beautiful."

Again there was a long pause. He was unfazed but she was shifting nervously on her feet, chewing her lower lip.

"You want a beer?" he asked her.

Nicola looked up, startled. "What? No, that's fine," she replied, "I'm fine."

He motioned towards the water. "It's cold. It's in the creek."

She frowned and looked into the water. She saw the silvery tops of four cans gleaming just below the surface.

"Now, you know you want one," he laughed, "Just go in and help yourself."

A crooked grin slid onto her face and she shrugged.

Eric watched her as she reached down to take off her sandals. Holding them in her hands, she dipped her toes into the water. She shirked back and yelped, "Hoo! That's cold!"

"Yeah, it'll feel great," he cajoled, "Trust me. Just jump in!"

Nicola stepped into the water gingerly. When both feet were in she stood there letting the water rush past her just a couple of inched below her knees. He was right, it did feel very good and as she stepped across the narrow creek, the smooth river rocks massaged the bottom of her feet.

She reached down for the cans. Stooped over, she looked up at him. "Did you want one?" she asked.

"Sure. Bring them all over."

As Nicola carefully stepped out of the creek holding the beer in her hands, Eric reached behind his back and pulled out the blanket he had been leaning against. He flipped it onto the ground beside him.

Nicola put down the beer before settling down into the blanket. Then she handed him a can and opened one for herself. Eric held his can out to her. She looked at it, then with a wry smile, she touched her can to his. With that silent toast, they both took a drink, her a short sip, him a long drag.  As he continued to gulp down the beer it occurred to her how strange it was that she was now sharing a drink with the man who had cause her to tear up the streets of Dorrits with her car in order to escape him during her first few days in town.

Eric sucked down the last drop of beer. "Ahh, that's pretty good, eh?" he said. As she nodded, he rubbed his hand, moist from the can, across his chest and belly.

The fact that he was shirtless all this time hadn't been lost on Nicola. She had noticed it from all the way at the top of the slope. Now as he dragged his hand across the darkly tanned skin stretched tight across his hairy barrel chest and solid abs, she was acutely aware that this man was indeed cut from the stuff of the wilderness around him.

She looked away, hiding the blush on her face. What was it with these shirtless guys these last couple of days?

Staring at her feet, she brushed away the small bits of dirt at her ankles. She sighed and decided to take the bull by the horns.  "Eric, about the other day-"

"I'm really sorry about that, Nicola," he interrupted, "I've been a jerk and had every right to be upset with me. I'm sorry."

Nicola glanced up at him, bewildered by his unexpected words and sincere tone. It was also the first time that he called her by name instead of "Sunshine".

Noting how she was stunned into silence, Eric continued, "I guess you've just got to understand that it's hard for us guys out here, you know, when someone like yourself comes through here. We just sort of, well, let go a bit. You know, strut around, swinging our dicks...uh, sorry about that, too."

Nicola chuckled and nodded. The phrasing was what she had expected. She was still surprised by his candid remarks, however, and the way he wouldn't take his eyes of off her. Most people would be fumbling around, looking this way and that, when they offered such a frank apology that seemed to go against heir grain. It was almost as if he were making her accept the apology just by his stoic stare alone.

Trying to fill the sudden silence, Nicola shifted on the blanket and looked at him directly in the eyes as well. She said, "Well, actually Eric, I was going to-"

The man raised an assured finger to her. He tilted his head as he shook it, his lips pursed, silently hushing "Shh." He wagged his finger and said, "Don't. You don't have to."

Nicola wasn't sure why but she smiled and felt more at ease all of a sudden. She looked over at his line drifting in the shallow waters. They sat there quietly for a few minutes then she asked, "So how are they biting?"

************

For the next couple of hours, it was just their voices drifting along with the running creek. Nicola was unaware of the time passing. It was a nice, new feeling for her considering the way her life was run by the clock back home. She was really enjoying their talk. Listening intently, she tried to match his leisurely voice. He had a slight drawl, with lazily spoken R's and W's. There was a whole relaxed nature about him. Nicola though of how David had barely skimmed the surface when he had told her that Eric was truly immersed in his surroundings when he wanted to be. 

Eric had a cabin which he had built himself further down the creek. He used it more as a depot than an actual place to live. He liked to stay out doors as much as he could, sleeping outside many nights. He'd stock up his large backpack with supplies then trek off through the hills. He admitted however, that even though he'd probably logged several hundred miles in his treks, he never really wandered too far from the area. Nicola imagined him to be like a solitary bear who had staked his territory and was content to stay there.  

"Probably why my wife left me about 10 years ago," he remarked, not sounding too particularly disappointed.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Nicola replied.

"Eh, not such a big deal," he shrugged, "She wanted to go places, wanted a big house. I just wanted to build my little shack in the woods. Wasn't right to make her stay."

"I couldn't imagine yourself any other place but here," she said then added, "You belong in the wilderness."

He looked at her for a moment, taking in those attentive blue eyes of hers. He sighed, "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Thinking she might have overstated herself, she quickly added, "I mean, I've never seen anybody so completely at ease with their surroundings."

Eric nodded slowly then looked back at the fishing line. 

She watched him snag a couple of fish during their conversation. He'd simply pick them up in his large hands, unhook them, and nonchalantly flip them back into the creek. She couldn't see why a person like him would want to leave this place.

He talked about he moved from job to job around the area, just picking up supply money and killing time. Not surprisingly, it was usually manual labour work.

Nicola noted to herself that the hard work showed in his physique.

"Built for power," he said, flexing his arms mockingly. "Nobody thinks of asking me to use this," he said, tapping his forehead.

"Your friends back in town seem to look up to you," Nicola said as she brushed at the little bits of dirt that had fallen on the blanket.

She was measuring, he could tell. After a second he replied, "I don't think I'd call them friends really."

Without raising her head, she looked towards him with her bright blue eyes and said, "I think David thinks of you as a good friend."

Eric smiled and nodded, "David's a good kid.  reminds me of myself when I was his age. He's about 20 or 21?"

"22," she noted.

"22. Wow," he whistled. "That's almost 20 years ago for me know. Yeah, now that I think about it, he really does seem a helluva lot like me when I was his age."

"He's very sweet and thoughtful," Nicola said her voice trailing off a bit. She added quickly, "Not that you're not a teddy bear yourself, I mean!"

Eric smiled, flashing some of his crooked teeth. "No apologies," he said to her, "I know what you mean. He's a good guy. Seems a bit lonely, though."

Nicola tilted her head.

He pointed a finger at her, "No. Now there you go. I can tell by that look. You think I'm talking about myself."

"I didn't say anything," she said with a wide grin.

Eric continued, "All I'm saying is that you don't see many other people his age in this place. He likes it here, just like me, but that could mean a bit of a loner's life."

"But he's also going to school. Maybe he'll move away from here," Nicola said.

The man looked away, saying nothing. She didn't know what to make of his non-response.

They continued talking. He hadn't veered into any of that uncomfortable chauvinism or bravado at all. After a while, he stood up and went to the side of his lounging rock and pulled over his backpack. Nicola watched him as he rummaged through his pack, wistfully admiring his well-sculpted body, red-brown skin, with little nicks and scars here and there, those little imperfections adding to the mystique of this "mountain-man". He had at least 30 pounds more bulk than her ex, Matt.

"Here you go," he said as he held out a small container full of plump blueberries. "I passed a bush on the way here this morning."

He snickered at her as she daintily picked one up between her fingers and placed it on the tip of her tongue.

"Hey, do you know how badly these things can stain my clothes and fingers?" she playfully snapped back at him.

The man sighed, "City folk."

"Bumpkin," she answered. Her bright eyes widened as she chewed, "Ohmygod, these are great, though! So juicy!"

Eric winked and sat back down beside her.

"How do you like the cabin?" he asked her about Kara's cottage in the hills. 

"It's really beautiful. She picked a great spot," she remarked, "Secluded. Quiet. The cottage is just so comfy. I'm already regretting having to leave in a few days."

"Yeah, I actually helped her a bit there when she was starting out," he said, "I helped her out when she broke ground. Typical Kara, she made a ceremony of it, held a nice big party with most of the townies. Just a bunch of yokels getting drunk around a pit of dirt."

Nicola smiled.

"Kara's a good girl. Always having people come by when she's here," he noted.

There was a pregnant silence. Nicola motioned like she was going to say something, but caught herself and turned her gaze upon the flowing creek.

*****************

The sun had begun to drift down in the sky. They had talked for hours, shifting their seats and positions several times to let their blood circulate a bit. Nicola, feeling so relaxed and enjoying the company so much, had no thoughts about leaving any time soon.  It was Eric who suggested that they call it a day. He looked down towards the west end of the creek and said, "It's going to be dark pretty quickly, at least by the time you make your way back up to Kara's. Trust me, you don't want to be walking up that slope in the dark."

Nicola nodded in agreement. She couldn't quite hide her disappointment though.

They stood up at the same time. Nicola closed her eyes as she inhaled a deep, languid breath and rubbed the back of her neck gingerly. Eric watched her.

She leaned back and stretched. Looking at him, she asked, "Which way are you headed?"

As he started to pack his things, he nodded along the creek. "Just going to hike it for a bit." He winked at her, "I don't have much problems in the dark."

Nicola waited for him to finish packing, quietly watching as he finally put on his shirt, before she turned towards the creek. She felt a tap on the shoulder. As she turned, Eric held out the makeshift fishing rod.

"As a memento for the day," he declared.

She took the rod from him as if it were a bouquet of roses. It had been a good day.

"See you later," Eric said then with a sharp grin he added, "Sunshine."

Nicola hit him gently on the arm with the rod. He just chuckled and winked at her as he turned and walked away. 

She stood there at the edge of the creek watching him stroll away as if the world was waiting for him to pass by. She suddenly felt anxious and her lips hesitantly opened, motioning to say something.  Finally something grabbed her by the gut and she called out to him, "Eric!"

He stopped and turned about 20 yards away from her. The creek babbled on loudly between them

She spoke as she tugged at her finger tips, "Would...Do you want to come by the cottage tomorrow?"

Eric cocked his head.

"How about lunch?" she asked. "No. Dinner. Or lunch? Maybe..."

He held up his hands and shook his head, grinning. What's it going to be?

Nicola flattened her palms and closed her eyes, saying decisively, "Dinner. Come for dinner. Please? Around 6:30?"

He gave her the thumbs up and waved back before continuing on.

With the cusp of dusk beginning to shadow her, Nicola continued to stand on the edge of the creek watching him move further and further away. She still hadn't come to grips what was going on in her head when she finally started to make her way back up to Kara's.

***********

"Alright, it's just dinner! Just dinner!" Nicola said to herself as she walked into the cabin and closed the door behind her. It was already dark outside. 

She went over to the kitchen, still muttering to herself, and then stopped in the middle of the floor as a thought struck her. "Shit!" she spat. "Very good, girl. You invite somebody over to dinner and you have no food!"

She opened and closed the kitchen cabinets and fridge looking at the meagre supplies she had brought with her. Then she looked at the fishing rod she was still clutching.  "Right, I can always go and  catch  dinner", she thought, smirking at herself.

Placing the rod down, she dragged her hands through her hair, leaving one on her forehand and placing the other one on her hip. She stared blankly, exasperated with the grocery situation and with herself. She was anxious and excited and couldn't understand why.

"Eric's coming for dinner," she said to herself. Okay.

She told herself that she really enjoyed her day with him, that she felt that they could have talked endlessly if it wasn't for the sun setting. He was just as easy-going and knowledgeable as David had described him to be. Eric was a genuine and earthbound man. Combine all that with his rugged exterior and rough around the edges appearance and you had a very intriguing subject. Very attractive.

 Great. Let's just fantasize about the "mountain-man". 

Nicola never wanted this. After everything that went on with Matt, she was taking a break from men. Supposedly. Yet now she had to admit she never recalled ever feeling this excited. She rubbed her temple. Maybe she had a headache.

She went to the medicine cabinet and rifled through the bottles and jars looking for some aspirin. A small tin dropped out and into the sink, popping open and spilling its contents. Nicola picked them up slowly and inspected them with a heavy sigh. Her heart skipped.




Ten Days in the Country Ch. 02



 Condoms. Not fair. 

She looked up toward the ceiling thinking this was some sort of joke. Picking up the container, she stuffed the small packets back in with a grim determination that just as quickly began to wane as she looked into the mirror. Her face looked so refreshed and colourful from having spent so much time outdoors. It was only her eyes that seemed intense and troubled. She stared hard, the background behind her disappearing into the mirror. Her eyes shifted suddenly when the image of a tall bare-chested man with a sharp smile filled the room behind her for a flickering second.

Slowly Nicola replaced the lid.  She walked into the bedroom in silence and put the container into the drawer of the night table. She slammed the drawer shut before walking back to the kitchen.

 DAY 5 

David was eager to get up to the cottage that day. He had quickly went through his other jobs in the morning and was headed up the winding trail to Kara's at just about 2 o'clock.  He was anxious the whole day before, trying to speed up his trip to Kilona, maybe giving him a chance to see Nicola before the end of the day. By midday he knew it would be impossible and he resigned himself to focusing on the job. But that proved to be difficult as well.

She was on his mind constantly now. He knew he didn't just want to see her. He wanted to be with her. Those thoughts made him anxious and preoccupied him as he tried to do his work.

It didn't matter. Right now he just needed to see her, ease those butterflies flitting in his stomach. The anticipation spurred him on and he pressed down on the accelerator of his truck, churning up dirt as it pulled its way up the hill.

David's smile broadened as he pulled up into the clearing and spotted her jeep. He stepped out of the truck and quickly made his way to the door.

Nicola met him as she came out wearing her sunglasses and carrying her purse. David's spirits dropped a bit, realizing she was just heading out.

"Hey, David!" she said with her big smile.

"Hi Nicola. Going out?"

"Um, yeah. I have to get some groceries." She paused, stopping short of telling him about having Eric over for dinner.

They stood on the porch, both stealing a silent moment to think.

"Well, uh, I'm sorry I didn't come by yesterday," he finally said, "But I've got time today so I can work a bit longer around here this afternoon."

"That's great," she nodded. "Will you be finishing off that tree?"

He looked back at the scarred tree hanging over the edge of the slope and said, "Actually I lent my chopping tools to someone. I thought I'd work on the cottage's drainage pipe.

Nicola winced, "Ooh, I hope that's not going to be messy work for you."

David shook his head and chuckled.

Suddenly clapped her hands together. "Look, I have to run but I'll leave the door open. You can go in and help yourself to whatever you want," she said as she walked past him and towards her car. "There's not much but have at it!"

He hesitated and then held out a hand and called to her, "Wait! Where are you headed? Want a lift?"

Nicola turned as she opened the jeep's door. "Oh no, that's alright," she said, "But actually, can you tell me where's a good place to get some groceries?"

David thought for a moment and replied, "Well, there's Mandy's..."

Great. The General Store. More canned and boxed food,  she thought to herself, dejected. She looked up at him anxiously and said, "That's it? Is there any place to get some fresh meat or fish?"

"Mr.Winters sells chickens from his coop just about 5 miles down the road."

"Live chickens?" she remarked, incredulous.

"He can pluck it for you, if you want," David noted, then shrugged and added, "Or you can bring it back here and I can do it for you."

Nicola's mouth dropped. Her stomach was already performing somersaults today. She didn't need the guilt of watching a poor chicken being hacked up for her sake right now.

"Mandy's it is!" she said bluntly as she climbed into her jeep. "I'll be back soon!"

She waved as she drove off leaving David still standing on the porch. He hadn't mentioned the regional grocery store about 20 minutes away. He was hoping she'd come back soon.

"Well that was pretty rude," Nicola scolded herself as she pulled onto the main road. She realized it felt like she had just blown off David.

She shook her head. What was she thinking? She didn't brush him off. She said hello. She was polite. She was in a hurry.

Of course, she still didn't know why she hadn't told him what she had been up to the day before or her plans for the evening. She did sense that he was kind of taken with her, which was really flattering. In the city, he'd probably have a gaggle of girls in his little black book. Hell, if she even thought for a moment that she was interested in him in that way, she'd probably be all over him as well, the ten year age difference not a factor at all.

What the  hell  was she thinking?

She was already meeting with Eric tonight for -- something.

"God! Eric!" she exclaimed, gripping the wheel and staring off down the road.

She was a mess last night trying to get some sleep. Each time she dozed off, she would immediately wake up again, always facing that stupid night stand, knowing what was in the drawer and wondering what exactly she thought she was going to do with the condoms. At one point, she took them out and held one up in the darkness as she lay on the pillow. In the edgings of the little square packet, she made out the shape of a small smooth circle. As she lowered it to her side, a vivid image suddenly came to mind. Between her and the ceiling was Eric, his hard edged face lying above her, his ample frame moving on top of her, a satisfied smile wrapped along his teeth.

"Welcome to Dorrits," his voice rumbled, his smile sharpening, "Sunshine."

The thought yanked Nicola from her pillow. Scooping up the condoms, she marched to the bathroom and dumped them in the toilet. But even as she flushed she realized that wasn't the smartest thing and she immediately reached in and fished out a few packets before the rest were sucked down the drain.

That would have been  perfect  if David should have happened to find those in the drainage system.

She had reluctantly returned the salvaged condoms to the night stand drawer.

Later. All thoughts for later. Right now, she needed groceries.

************

Nicola was happy to see that David hadn't left yet when she returned. She had taken longer than she thought she would. She had stopped at the Falcon's Claw to see if she could buy a bottle of wine from Caron. She ended up sneaking in a glass of courage at the behest of the neighbourly barkeep who said that she looked like she could use a drink. 

It helped settle her a bit.

Still, though she was glad to see him, inwardly, as she checked her watch, she hoped he wouldn't stay for too long this evening. She winced again, dumfounded with the way she was behaving.

David had come around from the other side of the cottage when he heard the jeep pull up. He saw her pulling out a couple of bags.

"Hey, I'll get those for you," he said as he ran over.

"Thanks. There's only two bags," she said. Her cheeks were a bit flushed but she hoped he hadn't noticed. "Guess what? I got chicken!"

David frowned and asked, "Did you go to Winters'?"

Nicola waved her hands and fluttered her lips. She pulled out two packages of frozen chicken from the bags. "Mandy's had a special delivery this morning, thank god!"

As they made their way to the cottage she asked, "How was the drainage pipe?"

"No problem," he replied. He made no mention of finding anything peculiar.

Unpacking the groceries onto the counter, David observed, "Quite a bit of chow." He perked up a bit, "You planning on staying a bit longer?"

Nicola turned and faced him. Without blinking she replied, "No. No, I'm just stocking the pantry a bit for Kara."

David nodded silently. They picked up a couple of cans each. He started to talk, "Still it's too bad you're not going to stay-"

"Oh, shit!" Nicola broke in, thumping her hands onto the counter, "I forgot Kara's mail again!"

"You want me to get it for you?" David said quickly turning to the door.

She grabbed him by the arm and sighed, "No, geez. I'm not going to ask you to do that, David."

"I don't mind," he said.

"Yes, I know," she said appreciatively, "But I'm not going to let you. Just sit down there on the couch and take a breather. Let me get you a drink or something."

They exchanged warm smiles.

They talked for about an hour. Nicola actually started cooking before she joined him on the couch. Whatever she was making smelled good. David quietly hoped she was planning on asking him to stay for dinner. He wished hard. He noted that she was a bit anxious. She hid it well, but he was watching her closely.

Nicola noticed him looking at her intently. His gentle and focused green eyes unnerved her. He was indeed a very handsome young man.  She worried about how transparent she was becoming to those eyes.

By the end of the hour, Nicola was becoming more fidgety. It pained him to do so, but he figured he would let her get some dinner -she wasn't going to ask him to stay- and some rest.

The moment he stood up, she did too.

"You're sure you don't want another drink?" she asked, a little too politely.

"Naw, I did quite a bit today," he stretched and yawned, "I should go."

She walked with him out to his truck. She patted him on the back as he climbed in. It felt like a Hallmark moment where the man gets a good-bye kiss from his sweetheart.

That wasn't happening right now.

David said he'd be back the next day as usual then drove away. Even before his truck dipped down the ridge of the trail Nicola was scurrying back to the cottage.

As David veered around a curve on the main road, he glanced at his rear view mirror. He wasn't quite sure, but he thought he saw an old banged up jeep turning up the trail to the cottage.

*************

Nicola heard the rap on the screen door just as she slipped on a white T-shirt in her bedroom. 

"Be there in a sec!" she called out. She fixed her hair with her hands and then grabbed a red sweater before heading to the front.

A large figure filled the view just behind the screen door. He was cast in silhouette by the waning sunlight from behind. She could still make out his big smile and eyes, though.

She pulled on the sweater and fixed her hair again. As she opened the door, she hoped her smile appeared half as relaxed as his was.

"Hi! Come on in," she said waving him in. 

"Too late for lunch?" he chided as he strolled past her.

She shivered as she closed the door. "Boy it gets chilly fast around here."

He pivoted smoothly on his foot, "Well, we'll just have to warm it up in here a bit."

She looked up at him.

With a flick of his wrist, he pulled some flowers out from under his jacket. "For the woman of the house."

"Wow! Wildflowers!" she cooed, "They're gorgeous."

"Smell nice, too," he said, "Take some of the petals and roll around in them on your bed at night. You'll wake up smelling like a meadow."

Nicola arched her brow as she looked up from the flowers. She couldn't tell if Eric was being overt, just skirting innuendo, or making natural small talk. It was typical of her confusion over the man.

She managed to compose herself. Sniffing the air she said, "Well somebody certainly smells fresh!"

"My own special blend musk," he said holding his hands out to his side. "Am I dressed appropriately as well?"

Wearing some well-fitting jeans like herself and a blue turtle-neck sweater, form-fitting around his muscles Nicola noted, he looked very good for a "mountain-man". Even his mousey coloured hair looked casually groomed.

"You look fine," she replied thoughtfully. He looked great.

The big man pretended to tip an imaginary cap. Nicola cleared her throat and brushed her hair back around her ear. Eric immediately reached up, too quick for her to flinch, and carefully teased the hair back over her ear.

"Looks better this way," he said in a husky voice.

They stared at each other. Nicola cleared her throat and said, "I-I'll go get the food ready."

Stepping around the man, she walked towards the kitchen, She glanced back. Eric was still facing the door, standing straight and tall.

She couldn't stop herself from looking anxiously towards the bedroom door as she turned into the kitchen.

*************

Before dinner, she put out a small tray of appetizers. Nothing special. Just some sliced salmon and cream cheese on melba toast squares. She held the tray as he carefully selected one and began to nibble it slowly.

Nicola giggled as she watched him.

"What?" he said as he swallowed.

"I don't know. You're just acting so," she paused, "Dainty!"

He tilted his head and smirked, "You know how this stuff can stain my clothes and fingers?"

Nicola laughed and said, "Bumpkin!"

"City folk," he said shaking his head also laughing.

Dinner was very casual. They talked as they ate leisurely. Eric ate everything on his plate. Nicola couldn't finish hers and several times during the meal, she simply sipped her wine and observed the man sitting across the small table from her.  

"I'm sorry. I didn't cook enough, did I?" 

Eric shook his head as he swallowed and wiped his lips with the napkin. He leaned back, looking thoroughly satisfied and said, "No. This was great. Been awhile since someone made me a home cooked meal."

She thanked him, crossing her arms on the table and leaning forward a bit.

"Besides," he went on, "I always leave room for dessert."

Nicola didn't move, but her smile dipped ever so slightly. She didn't want to tell him that she hadn't made dessert, and not because he might be disappointed that there was no pie or cake in the cottage. She knew when she was open to a line. Even the way she was feeling, God help her, she wasn't going to just leave the door wide open. 

"Coffee?" she offered instead.

"Actually," Eric replied as he reached for the bottle of wine, "This will do just fine."

She brightened a little. "Alright, how about you go into the living room and get the fireplace going and I'll put away the dishes."

Still holding the bottle, he stood up from the table and held out his hand to her. "How about this," he suggested, "You just leave the dishes on the table, go over to the couch, let me serve you some wine, and I'll get that fireplace going really good." 

Without another word, as she looked up into his gentle gaze, she took his hand. She stood up and let him lead her to the couch.

************

Eric looked over to her as he crouched down and stoked the fire. Curled up with her teeth underneath her, she quietly ran her finger around the rim of her glass as she watched him. The light from the flames cast a glow around her, shadows dancing across her face. She was so fine. She smiled and he nodded, turning back to the fire.

He could tell a few times tonight that she had hesitated or was slightly taken aback by his advances. But she never showed signs of being upset or repulsed. If anything, she was very relaxed and at ease just now.

Eric didn't want to blow it by pushing too hard. It had taken a lot on his part to mend fences with her. He wanted her to trust him. He needed that trust because he wanted her. He had no doubts that she was piqued by him, attracted to him. It was up to him to cajole those impulses that he could see were brimming within her. Watching the flames entwine and writhe together in their own courting dance, he inhaled the warmth then stood up from the fire.

"How's that?" he asked her.

Nicola tilted her head. "A man of many talents."

"Can't deny that," he said as he sat down beside her on the couch. He draped his arm across the back of the couch, his hand within touching distance of her shoulder.  They both took long sips from their glasses and continued to do so until the bottle of wine was empty. Nicola could feel the warmth fill her. Again they talked, growing more familiar with one another as the minutes passed. Nicola liked how the "loner" was opening up to her.  She couldn't take her eyes off of him and she was slowly leaning in closer and closer to him without even realizing it. 

"So the base of the tree whips up in the air and WHAM" Eric concluded his story by pushing his palm up against the bridge of his nose. "Busted."

Nicola cupped her hand to her face and winced.

"Not too bad though," he said turning his face to profile his nose.

She chuckled and examined the disjointed nose. "Not too bad. It suits you," she remarked then added, "I mean look at this."

Eric watched her point to her own bridge. "Look at what?" he asked.

She touched her nose. "The bridge between my eyes is kind of high. Makes my eyes look close together when I turn my head like this."

Eric squinted, then leaned in close. Nicola leaned back slightly. He examined her nose like a doctor, his breath blowing across her lips. She was frozen, inhaling his musk, seeing every crease and edge on his face up close.

"Looks fine to me," he said with a rough whisper. His eyes lowered then raised, scanning her body, "Looks beautiful to tell you the truth." 

It was time to ignite those impulses, he was thinking.

Nicola's mouth dropped open and she turned her head away momentarily. When she looked back, his face was still there. He was so close. She swallowed even though her mouth was dry. 

They stared at other silently. Even when the clock on the mantle chimed, they didn't pull their eyes off of one another. 

"It's 9 o'clock, Sunshine," Eric muttered, his drawl oozing in his voice, "Should I go?"

She was breathing hard now, her breast heaving sharply. Her eyes shifted quickly up and down between his eyes and mouth as he closed in on her. "It-it's pretty dark out," she gasped, aware of her own breathless voice, "Can, uh, can you make it down the trail?"

"Don't know about that," he said smiling, his words confident and strong. His head tilted this way and that slowly, always moving forward, "Road's kinda narrow. Could slide right off. Wouldn't want that to happen, would you?"

Nicola shook her head quickly, her nervous blue eyes now fixed on his. "N-no. I...no, wouldn't want that." She could feel his warmth.

He flashed a wry smile. "I knew you were a nice girl," he whispered.

Their mouths touched. They both took a deep breath as they kissed. Her hands came up and held his face, feeling the rough skin and stubble under her fingers.

As he pulled back, Nicola breathed, "Eric."

The man never stopped grinning. "I think I'm ready for some dessert now, Sunshine," he said.

They came together in a smouldering kiss, heads rolling, lips pressing hard and parting. They breathed into one another, the heat within their bodies intensifying by the second.  She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him in closer. His large hands had a firm grip on her waist as he leaned her back against the cushions. Their inner lips tingled as they pressed and slid them together, glossing one another's mouths with their slick saliva.  His tongue slipped into her mouth and explored her deeply. She could taste the pungent flavour of the wine on his tongue and she gasped and swallowed as it probed her mouth. 

"Mmm. Oh god, Eric," Nicola's voice was quivering from the intensity of the moment. When he lifted his head away from hers, the woman pulled him back. This time her flickering tongue intercepted his, lashing against it .

 I can't believe this is happening,  she thought to herself briefly. This wasn't what she had in mind at all when she had driven from the city to the cottage.  But the thought of stopping this, stopping Eric, never entered her mind. If anything, her passion for him was just building.




Ten Days in the Country Ch. 02



Eric was impressed. He could feel her determination. He could see her brows angle hard downward towards her nose as her intensity spurred her on. This comely woman was giving as hard as she was taking. This was an unexpected surprise for him and he was more than ready to let loose, eager to test the woman's limits.

He learned forward, her body sliding more and more beneath him onto the couch. She felt his weight, his solid body, rest upon hers. She wriggled and shifted her smaller body under him. Their desperately loud and heated kisses continued to mingle with the crackling of the fireplace. It had become very hot very fast.

Eric licked and kissed at her chin as she tilted back her head, gasping for air. His lips moved quickly to her neck. He dragged his tongue up and down her smooth flesh and her breath quickened at the sensation. One of his hands moved to her chest and cupped her breast, a generous and giving round of flesh tucked not so deeply behind her sweater and T-shirt. Her fingers ran through his short strands of hair as his tongue and hand continued to work at her body.

Nicola continued to gasp and moan. Her whole body tingled and her stomach ached. His legs straddled her thigh. He rubbed against her. Through two layers of restrictive denim, she still felt his large member press against her leg. It was stiff and warm. Purely by lustful instinct, she arched her pelvis firmly against him.

His mouth returned to hers and they continued their voracious kissing. His hand went down then grabbed the bottom of her sweater, yanking it upward and sliding underneath. He couldn't make it under the T-shirt but he still had a closer, indulgent feel of Nicola's supple breast. He massaged and caressed it, squeezing at the outline of her stiffening nipple.

Eric raised his head and looked down at her. The yearning on her face was the most satisfying thing about this and he shared in her eagerness. Nicola licked her lips and continued to wriggle under his large body. She stroked his arms as his hand continued to grope and touch her breast.

"You look hot," he said, his voice heavy and deep. They both were beaded with sweat. 

"Must be the fire," she said half in jest.

With a deliberate slowness, he moved back down to her neck and kissed her again, muttering as he did, "Careful with fire. You might get burned."

Eric eased himself off of her then bent down and effortlessly lifted her off of the couch, cradling the slender woman in his arms. They kissed softly as he slowly carried her to the bedroom.

As they entered the room and closed the door, Nicola's mind had cleared and she was left with one unanswered question, the only one that mattered to her in the here and now. How gentle, or rough, a lover would her "mountain-man" be?

*********** 

As soon as he had put her down at the foot of the bed, they came together in a rough clinch. They folded their lips over and over one another.  

Long past deciding whether to commit to the moment, Nicola made herself loud and clear as her soft hands slid down from his neck, along his broad chest and flat stomach, and immediately found his belt buckle. Without breaking away from their fervent kisses, her fingers, practically trembling, fumbled with the buckle and then pulled at the stiff, creaking leather. The belt slipped out of her hands a couple of times before giving way to her determination. She only looked down for a moment to find the button on his jeans before returning her mouth to his.

With a firm push and tug, the button popped open. She slid her hand in, pushing the zipper down as she did. Eric felt her tender hand slide down the length of his rippling cock. Her thumb flicked at the soft dome head. At her touch, Eric tilted his head back and exhaled a stream of warm air. She kissed his neck, licking at his prominent adam's apple, tasting his musk.

Her hand stroked up and down his length, experiencing the soft skin stretched taut over the hard, hot organ. 

Eric pushed her back, her hand slipping out from his pants. Nicola backed into the bed, and ran her hand through her air. They were both breathing hard through their mouths as they looked one another over. Eric had a hardened look on his face. Reaching down he quickly pulled at his sweater, yanking it over his head and tossing it aside. He stood there before her, a man cut from the rough wilderness he lived in.

Nicola pulled her own sweater more slowly over her head, revealing the tight white T-shirt underneath. He liked how the shirt formed to her body, the seductive figure of her ample bosom wrapped underneath the cotton.  

The two came together once more, and kissed more deeply. His hands worked the back of the shirt, pulling the white material up. he massaged the smooth, soft flesh of her back. 

Nicola stepped back and reached around to pull off her shirt. Eric watched as her breasts slipped free with a slight, beckoning jiggle. His rough hands cupped them gently. He stroked them, his finger tips running at the bottom of the soft curves, and she trembled, her open mouth immediately covered by his. He felt her gasps in his mouth when he flicked his thumbs on her stiff nipples.

Further and further she spiralled into the moment with Eric. It was his turn to work her pants button and he snapped it open with a simple flick of his fingers. He unzipped her pants and stole a quick feel of her quivering and damp crotch through her panties.

The man lowered her back onto the bed, her fine figure melting into the soft linen. He watched her breasts sway and settle but still held their curvy shape. Nicola breathed heavily as she felt him pull at the sides of her jeans, rolling the tight denim down the length of her slender legs, helping him by pushing them off with her feet. He smiled as he did the same with her tiny panties, pulling them down slowly and deliberately, revealing her clean shaven slit.

He took his time to admire the nude body of the beauty who was waiting for him.   But Nicola was eager, shifting her glance back and forth between his narrowed stare and the tip of his cock that was spiking out from his fly. She readied herself as he finally stepped out of his pants, his hard length jutting towards the wall above her head.

Always with that sharp grin of his, he slinked onto the bed. Working his way upward with kisses along her toes and foot, up her shin, past her knee.  She bit her lip as she looked down to watch and feel his lips move along her tender inner thigh. He didn't pause for a second as he pushed his face onto her smooth snatch. 

"Ah!" Nicola shifted and bucked her hips as she felt him suck and caress her petals and folds with his lips. She felt his rough, stubble-covered cheeks and chin brush against her thighs and crotch. His tongue was just as rough, but it was slick and nimble as it moved along her slit.

"Eric!" she gasped aloud. Her hands tried to clutch at his hair but the sensations that coursed through her made it difficult to get a grip on anything at this point. 

He forced his tongue past her petals, into her. His powerful arms wrapped under her thighs and held her down firmly even as she bucked and strained hard against his wanton indulgence of her body. Her soft inner thighs opened and closed on the side of his head.

"Ah! Ahh!" She tossed her head back and forth against the pillow and grabbed the bed rails behind her head. His tongue lashed at her and in her relentlessly. His lips and teeth nipped at sucked at her delicate clit.

Eric loved her taste and smell, as nice and sweet as anything in the forest. Hearing her satisfied gasps and groans, his cock was starting to throb in anticipation. 

Nicola's death grip on the bed rails and the rest of her body eased slightly as he finally stopped his lusty sampling with one last, long drag along her snatch. He resumed his deliberate journey up her lovely body. Her smooth belly shook and flinched, tickled by his lips and tongue.  Rough, strong hands and warm, experienced lips then explored her breasts as they rose and fell with her heavy breaths. He filled his palms with her supple tits and let them slip and slide under his hand as his tongue swirled around and around each of her light pinkish-brown nipples, brushing them only slightly with the edge of his lips. 

This was not what Nicola had been expecting from him. A hard, fast, rough and tumble night of fucking was what she had steeled herself for, the clearest vision she had when she thought of having sex with Eric.  The way he was taking his time with her, taking pleasure in every inch of her body, breaking her down piece by piece was driving her crazy. It felt amazing but she was ready to indulge in her vision.

Finally the man made his way upward and looked at her face-to-face. They embraced tightly and locked up in another passionate kiss, her firm breasts pressed up against his rock hard chest, his hair tickling her skin. Their hands worked feverishly to explore each other, hers running through his hair and clutching at his large butt cheek, his sliding along her smooth back and also kneading her tight, round ass. Eric shifted and suddenly she felt the hard rounded tip of his cock nudge against her opening. Just as he barely pushed past the top folds of her cunt, she gasped and opened her eyes.

"Uhhn-wait!," she strained through a gasping breath. It took all of her effort to stop and wriggle his tip out of her. 

Eric glared at the woman, her face flushed red, feeling like he had just slammed the brakes on his jeep while driving at 100 mph. Before he said anything she stretched out her arm and fumbled with the drawer of the night table. Reaching in she pulled out a small container. With one hand she popped the lid open, letting the packets fall out onto the bed. She scrabbled for one and held it up to Eric.

The two continued to breath heavily. Nicola looked eagerly up Eric who was staring at the condom in her fingers. Without a word, Eric took the packet from her and rolled back up to his knees. He continued to inspect it. There was a long uneasy silence.

Nicola held her breath. She wanted this so badly. "Did-did you want me to put in on for you?" she asked.

The man's deep grey eyes shifted from the packet to her, the woman he had been wanting all along lying on the bed in front of him, naked, vulnerable, waiting for him. Wanting him. Without removing his eyes from hers he bit and tore the top of the packet off with his teeth, spitting it aside. With an assured smile, he took out the thin piece of latex, and rolled it securely down his length. He arched his left brow and winked then quickly pounced on her again. As they kissed once more, he felt her legs slide up along his side, her knees angled above the sides of his buttocks. He reached down between their bodies and handled his solid cock. Again the head pushed up against her slit. He dragged it up and down, the tip barely pushing along her entrance. He teased it on her clit, eliciting strained gasps from her trembling lips.

 Goddamn you, Eric!  her mind screamed.

"No more waiting, Sunshine," he slurred through his smiling teeth. 

"Eric..."

He pushed his cock into her with a smooth shift of his hips. His thick length spread her wide as he settled deep into her warm body. Her petals clutched tightly around him but he slid in unimpeded. 

"Ahh-uhn," Nicola groaned aloud, shutting her eyes.  She had seen and felt how hard and warm he was, how big and thick he was, she had no idea how it would feel to have him in her. He answered her questions with a simple stiff thrust, his throbbing inches sinking into her with an unrestrained urgency.

Eric couldn't believe how delicious she was, like a breath of morning air after the rain. He smiled as he withdrew from her slowly until his cock, already slick from her moistness, was almost completely out of her. 

She opened her glistening, ice blue eyes. They pleaded with him to stop teasing, to start making heated and passionate love to her. 

Eric started his motions then, sliding his full length in and out of her in broad, satisfying strokes. If she were more aware of things, she would have been amazed by how steady and rhythmic the large man was with his thrusts. In and out, in and out, deeper and deeper, pressing their crotches together burying his stiff cock inside of her warm hole.

"Uhn! Mmm! Oh, god, Eric!" she called out as his strokes intensified. Her moans and groans grew louder as did his grunts. 

As the minutes passed, their pace increased rapidly, both of their bodies rolling and undulating in a languid rhythm. they probed each other's mouths eagerly. Nicola could barely hold onto him, her hands desperately clutching at his wide, sweat-slicked back. His solid body worked every muscle and sinew to drive the most pleasure from the moment. His hand gripped her outer thigh as her legs clamped to the side of his body. 

Eric rolled up onto his knees. Nicola grabbed the railing above her head again and arched her back as he took hold of her hips and pulled her of his cock over and over, the moist slapping of their bodies coming together alternating and mixing with their gasps and heavy breaths. 

"Ah! Ah!" he grunted as he stole an appreciative look at his red cock slide into the white skin of the woman.  He scanned Nicola over as he thrust into her. Her beautiful blue eyes rolled up into her head over and over in ecstasy. He rocked her harder and faster, his cock swelling painfully. Her ample, round breasts shuddered in circles with every stroke. 

"Eric! Uhn! Uhn!" she called out through the roughness in her throat. When she did manage to focus her eyes upon him, she was greeted with the image of a huge, over-heated man, leaning over her pouring his lust into her, and her body was very giving and at the same time took him all in. He slapped his piece into her to the hilt.

"Yeah! Huhn! You're so fucking hot, Sunshine! Huhn! Huhn!" he managed to groan through his own straining mouth. "So fucking good!"

It was sweltering hot in the room now. He dug his fingers deep into her hips now. His thrusts grew even faster, harder, more erratic. He pulled and pushed at her roughly. Nicola continued to hold tight to the bed railings even as he yanked at her body. Her back strained to an impossibly high arch, Her head rolling back over the pillow. She grit her teeth, parting them only to call out towards the ceiling.  

"Ahn! Ahn! Ahn!" her voice was raw but still the sounds of her groans continued to grow louder.

The bed frame rattled and banged hard against the wall of the bedroom as Eric bucked his hips with hard strikes.  Slapping flesh, strained moans and cries, the thumping bed, the sounds of their lustful coupling were enough to wake the forest beyond the walls of the cottage. He leaned back on one hand, his other supporting her arching back and thrust upward, raising her butt high off of the bed. 

Every moment leading up to this was pushed of her brain one after another with each accentuated thrust of his cock. Every doubt was gone. Matt had never brought her to this level before. After this was over maybe she would have time to resent him for that. But for now as her body quaked and she felt her mountain-man fill her with his throbbing, swollen cock, she was focused solely on Eric. He poured it on and her fine body, arching and bucking, was asking for more. So good. He was so fucking good. 

Suddenly she felt the electric rush through her body. Her fingers wrenched at the bedrails, her toes curled and her body tensed so hard, she thought she would explode. 

Her bright blues eyes, rounded wide open along with her mouth and she cried out, "Hahn! AH-HUHN!" 

She came hard a fast over Eric's cock. She could feel it rush out of her. Her body shook and quivered. Blinking, her mouth remained wide open as she continued to gasp and groan. 

Her moaning climax urged him on. Even through the latex Eric could feel the sweet warmth and silkiness of her juices surrounding hic cock. He grasped at her slick, soft hips pumping as long as he could. He grit his teeth, the sinews in his neck straining, his face nearly purple. He was growling until he felt the  surge in his loins finally, incredibly, release.

"UHN!" he raised his head and fired a full load of cum into the condom. It seemed to burn and stream relentlessly as his throbbing cock unloaded everything it had built up. 

Both their bodies immediately started to relax. Almost painfully, both of their fingers eased their grasps. Eric slumped on his knees and Nicola lowered herself down from the strained crescent she had shaped her body into. She felt him slide out his length out of her.  Eric ran his hands through his damp hair, sucking in oxygen, feeling the strain on his ab muscles. 

After momentarily regaining their breaths, they looked at each other. Nicola managed to smile first. Her head was clearing, delirious thoughts replaced by a feeling of overwhelming satisfaction. She relaxed against the pillow.

"Now that's the way you should welcome somebody to Dorrits," she sighed, surprising herself with the joke. 

Eric blinked. She had actually managed to catch him off guard. He smiled and laughed. He cleared his throat then said, "I'd just not assume shake the hands of some of the people who come through here let alone get in bed with them."

They both laughed now. Eric pulled off the slick condom, his cock covered with his viscous cum. He wiped himself with the corner of the bed sheet before lying on his back beside Nicola on the bed.

They passed the minutes in silence. Nicola's whole body began to ache as it started to register the strains it had gone through moments before. It was a good ache. She turned on her side and faced the man who was staring up at the ceiling, a boyish smile affixed on his manly, weathered face. Wrapping an rm around her, he dragged his fingers along her back and neck. She reached out and stroked his chest, her fingers pushing through his soft hairs.  Nicola smiled and blushed. She broke the silence, "You know, i don't think I've ever...well, I don't think I've-"

"Copulated?" Eric offered jokingly. 

The woman rolled her eyes and chuckled. Looking up at him with a grin she said, "Yeah, I've never 'copulated' like that before."

He grinned.

"In fact," Nicola sighed as she lifted her head onto his chest, "I guess that was the most intense 'copulating' I've ever had."

They both chuckled, their laughter dulled in the small, insulated room.

"Well, Sunshine," Eric said, "You're probably the best 'copulate' I've ever had."

She pawed at his chest playfully and remarked, "Uh-huh. That's what I always wanted to be: a good 'copulate'."

Again they laughed softly as the continued to caress one another. 

"Still," she sighed, "I never expected us to end up doing this when I invited you over yesterday."

Eric looked down at her. He raised his brow and asked, "Really?"

Nicola froze for a moment. She wasn't sure now, if she were to be honest with herself. Since she didn't have an answer, she turned the question on him, "So when did you think we'd end up in bed together?"

"From the moment I saw you," he said without hesitation.

She grimaced and leaned back to look at him. She said, "Oh really? I looked that easy to you or do you always expect things to go the way you want them to?"

He shrugged, "Neither really. I just believed it would happen." 

She tilted her head to the side, curious by his words and attitude. He was his usual calm self. His face showed no signs of bravado or arrogance or smugness. 

"Will power?" Nicola offered.

"Destiny," he countered, "Destiny, Sunshine. You never saw us getting together?"

Her smile faded. She shook her head slightly. "To be honest, Eric, unlike you, I didn't know what I wanted. I was never sure why I went down to the creek to speak to you and I don't know why I asked you over for dinner."




Ten Days in the Country Ch. 02



"And now?" Eric said knowingly, "Forget before. Now do you know what you want, Nicola?"

In her mind she hesitated. But her body knew what she wanted, what she needed, and she knew only Eric could offer it to her right here and right now.  

Her answer came in the form of a long passionate kiss. As her mouth moved down to his chest and nibbled and licked at his nipples, Eric stretched out his arm and picked up another condom from the edge of the bed.

 DAY 5 

David walked out of Mandy's General Store and stepped out onto the quier main street of Dorrits. It was early morning, the sun barely peeking above the hills in the distance and only the sounds of his footsteps on the dirt and gravel intruded upon the silence f the sleepy town.

He shuffled through Kara's mail, smiling to himself.

Climbing into his truck and plopping the mail in the seat beside him, he decided to make Kara's his first stop for the day.

 Maybe I'll surprise her and finally get that tree down today, he thought to himself.

As he drove towards the cottage, just the thought of seeing Nicola again woke him up better than a mug of coffee.  

 To be continued...