Page 84 of Escape from the Green

I had gotten to see the outline for the building, and a few of the trees being felled before I was banned.

I could have snuck over and seen it when the men weren't working. But I had decided that if I couldn't be a part of it, then I would rather it be a complete surprise.

I could put my own finishing touches on it when they were all done, a thought that definitely excited me. Enough so that I had caught myself gushing about it for an entire day.

She's nesting, Rayna had said to her mother and sister who both smiled knowingly.

Maybe I was.

Nesting.

I liked that term.

Building something warm and cozy to create a future in.

I would gladly start nesting as soon as I could.

"Oh, Drake," I exhaled as we moved down the path. "It's perfect," I added, my heart swelling at seeing the place that was to be my home. Hopefully, someday, our home.

It was much like all the others, wooden, strong, weather-resistant. But Drake had left the shutters open, knowing, I imagined, that I would want to see it as soon as possible, so not worrying about letting critters or too much cold air in.

My name was carved into the door, as was traditional. Window boxes were under each window, and there were raised beds lining the house, just waiting to have herbs and spices planted as soon as the weather would allow for it. There would also be a giant garden off to the empty space at the side where I knew I would spend many mornings pulling weeds, caring for seedlings before obligation would bring me to the common farmlands to do more work.

But, somehow, the idea of that work filled me with excitement, not dread.

After a life of doing nothing, the idea of doing everything was thrilling.

"You haven't even seen anything yet," Drake said, but the warmth in his eyes said he was basking in the praise.

"Then show it to me," I suggested, pulling him with me toward the door.

Inside, the set up was much like everyone else's with a kitchen area to the left with a large hearth that would keep the main space cozy warm even in the worst of weather. There was a small table with the two chairs, as promised. They weren't as simple as I had been expecting. The legs of the table and chairs were whittled to resemble flowers and trees, a sweet, somewhat feminine touch I was thrilled about.

The couch was a few feet from the table, more toward the right of the room, just a base with an almost paper-thin cushion on the seat and back. But mine. It was all mine.

"This is the wash room," he told me, opening a tiny door that had a small table which would house a wash basin and pitcher when I acquired or made one. There was the simple box with a closed lid that was the composting toilets they all had. "And, finally, your bedroom," he told me, voice going a little low as he pushed open a door.

Size-wise, it was maybe only a few feet larger than Nesta and Rayna's bedroom with a small fireplace to keep warm, the fire dancing happily, making the bedroom a good twenty degrees warmer than the main room with the banked fire and open windows.

The bed was across from the fireplace, my clothing chest at the foot, small tables on each side to hold drinks or snacks, whatever you might have while in bed.

The mattress was a good eight inches thick, likely to squeeze down to two or three under weight, but a lovely deep purple color that must have come from berries of some sort.

"Try it out with me?" I asked, putting down my notebook and pen on the chest, reaching out toward him, fingers slipping his jacket off his shoulders even as I toed out of my shoes.

His hands rose slowly, tentatively, helping me out of my jacket, then pulling my body to his, sealing his lips over mine.

The heat bloomed through my body, spreading until I could feel it in my fingertips, the soles of my feet, the top of my scalp.

My feet slid backward. I wasn't even sure if they did so on their own or if Drake was urging it. It didn't matter. All that mattered was that my legs met the side of the bed, and Drake's arm went around my back, holding me to him as he turned, went down on the mattress, pulling me down on top of him.

Free to do so without the constant worry of having to stop, of getting to a point of what felt like no return, then needing to retreat, Drake's hands roamed my body, sliding down my back, over my ass, down my thighs, then up again, sinking in behind my knees, forcing them to cock, making me sit upward, my butt hitting my heels, looking down at him as he looked up at me.

"If I was misunderstanding you when you invited me to try out the bed, it might be kindest to tell me now," he said, even though his voice sounded pained at the idea of having to stop again.

"No misunderstanding," I told him, raising my arms over my head, silently urging him to get more of me.

His strong body folded upward, fingers sliding deliciously down my sides before snagging the hem of my shirt, drawing it up inch by inch. The subtle brush of his fingertips on my belly made a shiver course through me.