CS and Colin Obsessed

Emma was sitting on the sofa, listlessly flipping through channels on the television, her dogs lying at her feet. It had been nearly a month since Killian left, but she still felt the loneliness like a pit in her stomach. With every passing day, she felt the hope of seeing him again slipping away.

Suddenly, Cinnamon raised his head and perked up his ears, letting out a low whine. As he got to his feet, Cocoa followed suit, whining and yipping.

“What’s gotten into the two of you?” Emma asked. Neither dog paid her any mind, their nails clattering against the hardwood floor as they ran out of the room and through the kitchen. They were pawing at the outside door by the time she caught up with them.

She was just reaching to unlock the deadbolt when she had a thought. What if something dangerous was waiting outside? Bears and wolves were sometimes seen around the area, though not often. But she had seen her dogs when they encountered something that posed a threat to her and they never behaved the way they were now. Their barks were insistent, but not malicious and their tails were wagging happily.

Better safe than sorry, Emma thought as she picked up the ax she kept next to the door. Holding it firmly in her right hand, she slowly turned the deadbolt, then the doorknob. Opening the door a crack, she peered outside, seeing nothing but the white expanse of snow. Looking down, she saw a large box sitting in front of the door with footprints leading away from it and around the corner of the cabin. No vehicle was in sight. She hadn’t heard a delivery truck, but perhaps the sound of the television drowned it out.

She swung the door open, continuing to swivel her head back and forth. Cinnamon and Cocoa bounded out, quickly disappearing around the same corner as the footprints. Emma picked up the fairly heavy box, examining the outside for a clue of what could be inside and finding nothing.

Curiosity got the best of her. She put down the ax and took the package inside, not even bothering to make sure the door was completely closed. She set the box on the kitchen table and grabbed a steak knife from the counter to cut through the tape. Once she folded down the flaps, she saw another dark brown box inside, designed to look like a traveling trunk. It had several ‘stickers’ and when Emma’s eyes landed on a red one reading ‘Gryffindor’, she knew exactly what was inside. She quickly turned the outer box on its side, tipping out the inner one. Lifting the lid of the ‘trunk’, she gasped at the sight of a set of brand new, beautiful, leather bound Harry Potter books.

Her eyes filled with tears as her fingers brushed across the spines of all seven books of the original series. Only one person could have sent these to her. But surely he wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble…

She hardly had time to mull it over before the dogs came running back into the cabin, yapping and spinning in circles. Emma glanced up, her mouth falling open in surprise when she saw who was standing in the doorway.

“Killian?” she questioned, her voice coming out as a squeak.

“Did you miss me?” he asked, his familiar grin making the corners of his eyes crinkle.

Overcoming her shock, she sprinted across the room, grabbed the collar of his coat and pulled him to her, slamming their lips together. After letting out a surprised ‘oomph’, he returned the kiss, his arms wrapping around her to pull her as close as possible.

Emma kissed him until she felt the need to breathe, then pulled back to look at him. “Wha- how, oh how are you here?”

He started to answer, but as she peppered more kisses across his jaw and cheeks, he broke into laughter instead.

She giggled too, pulling back to look into his face. “You know what? I don’t care how you’re here, I’m just glad you came back.”

He kicked the door shut and pushed the hood of his parka down. “I would have been here sooner, but I had to get everything moved up to Talkeetna.”

“Did you take the job Will found for you?”

Killian scratched behind his ear. “Not yet. I’m still weighing my options. I’m not in a hurry to jump into anything right away.”

“Have you found a place to live?”

“Will and I are staying in a hotel for now.”

Emma snuggled herself into his chest. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

Wrapping her more tightly in his arms, he kissed the crown of her head. “There wasn’t a day that went by I didn't think of you, Swan.”

She leaned back to look at him again. “I was beginning to think I would never see you again.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to come back. It’s been crazy trying to get everything packed up and moved, especially without having the use of my plane.”

She bit her lip, dropping her eyes. “Actually, I have a confession to make.”

“What’s that?”

“When you didn’t come back, I started to think that maybe…maybe you didn’t really care about me - that what we shared was just because you were snowed in here.”

After pulling his gloves off and tossing them on the table, he took her face in his hands. “Oh, Sweetheart,” he said tenderly. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I could hardly wait to get back here, because now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to let you go. I don’t want to live without you.”

Tears instantly sprang to her eyes. “Do you really mean that?” she whispered.

He dipped his head in a reassuring nod. “With all my heart, Love. Because my heart is yours.” Grasping her chin between his thumb and fingers, he added, “I’ve fallen in love with you, Emma Swan.” Dipping his head again, he lightly touched his lips against hers twice, then captured them in a slow and loving kiss.

Emma reciprocated, her tears spilling over until she could taste the salt of them. Killian ended the kiss, gazing into her glassy eyes as his fingertips gently wiped the tears off of her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“They’re happy tears,” she explained.

“Good.” Keeping her encircled in his arms, he swayed them back and forth. “Do you like the gift?” he asked, nodding toward the books on the table.

“They’re beautiful,” she breathed.

“You’re beautiful, Emma,” he said with a soft smile. “And I’m very happy you love them.”

She studied his face for a few seconds before quietly admitting, “I do love them, Killian, but I…I love you more.”

His answering smile was radiant. “You do?” Then his smile dimmed a bit as he studied her face. “You’re not just saying that because I…”

“No,” she interrupted quickly. “I…I’ve missed you every second of every day. I’ve had almost a month without any contact with you to sort out my feelings, since I was too stupid to get your number before you left.”

“Aye, with the rushed way I had to leave, I forgot to get yours, too. I’ve been kicking myself ever since.”

“Anyway,” she continued, “I relived every moment we spent together - how much fun we had, how you made me laugh and feel happier than I can ever remember. After you left, I craved your touch. The way you would hold my hand, hug me, brush my hair away from my face - it made me feel…cherished, I guess? I’ve never felt that way before. And the more I thought about it, the more my head and my heart kept telling me that what I was feeling for you was love.”

They engaged in another heartstopping kiss, pausing only when the dogs began nudging their legs. Emma giggled against Killian’s lips. “They missed you, too.”

He reached down to ruffle each dog’s ears. “I was afraid they were going to give me away when I heard them scratching at the door. I wanted you to be surprised by the books before you saw me.”

“Apparently, they sensed you were out there. When they got as excited as they did, I wondered if there was some kind of wild animal outside.”

He laughed. “No wild animal. Just someone who’s wild about you.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Ugh! That is really corny!”

“Sorry?” he apologized, ducking his head and looking at her through his dark lashes.

“You’re forgiven,” she said, then confirmed it with a kiss. “Can you stay for a while or do you have to leave?”

“I was hoping to impose on your hospitality again. I found someone to work on my plane, but I’m not sure how long it’s going to take. It could take weeks or even months.”

“I’m good with it being months,” she giggled.

“I don’t know if your local sheriff would allow me to stay that long,” he said snidely.

“He was pretty insistent on getting you out of here in a hurry.”

He reached up to scratch behind his ear. “I think he was jealous.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Why would he be jealous?”

“In the car on the way to the police station, he told me the two of you had once been ‘an item’, and he was planning to ask you out again.”

Her jaw dropped. “Seriously? I went on one date with him. He asked me out a few times after that, but I kept turning him down. He’s a nice enough guy, I guess, but I’m not attracted to him and I didn’t want to lead him on.”

“I kind of got the feeling he was embellishing. I was sure you would have told me if you were dating someone.”

“Absolutely. Anyway, enough about Graham. To answer your question, you can stay here as long as necessary.” Stroking her fingers through his hair above his ear, she added quietly, “If you want, you can even stay after your plane is fixed.”

“Thank you, Love.” He looked at her a few moments, then got a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Do we still have to sleep on the floor?” he asked teasingly.

“You didn’t like my sleeping accommodations?” Emma replied, pretending to pout. “I thought you said you were comfortable.”

Tightening his arms around her, he nuzzled behind her ear. “I could be comfortable anywhere, as long as I’m holding you.”

She shivered at the low timbre of his voice in her ear. “Killian?”

“Hmm?”

“You know that thing we didn’t do because we didn’t want things to move too fast?”

He drew back to look into her eyes. “Aye.”

“Do you still think it would be too fast?” she asked, then tugged the corner of her lip between her teeth.

Framing her face with his hands, he gave her a soft smile. “Your heart’s desire, Swan. I promise that’s all I want you to have.” Unbidden tears filled her eyes, which Killian noticed immediately, asking with concern, “Are you alright, Love?”

“Yeah, I…” She blinked, trying to keep the tears at bay. “It’s just…Neal never gave me any control in our relationship. He made it very clear my opinion didn’t matter. Now, here you are, giving me complete control and it…I can hardly believe you trust me enough to do that.”

“Of course I trust you,” he said firmly. “He was a complete idiot, Emma, and if I could wipe him from your memory, I would do it in a heartbeat. What I can do is show you what a relationship built on love and respect is like, and I will do that every day.”

“So, you really are planning to stick around?”

“For as long as you’ll have me,” he said, then kissed her.

She licked her lips. “What if I say I want you here forever?” she asked, her voice nervously quavering the slightest bit.

“Truly?”

“You said you love me, right?”

“I do.”

“I love you, too, and I’ve thought about it for a month. I’m used to being alone and I’ve been fine with that for the last seven years. But after you left, I wasn’t only alone, I was lonely. You showed me what it was like to be with someone who really cared, who listened when I spoke and made me feel important.”

“That’s because you are.”

She gave him an appreciative smile. “Anyway, I know it’s crazy to ask you to move in with me after knowing each other for such a short time, so take some time to think about it and…”

“I don’t have to think about it, Emma, because I have been thinking about it for a month, as well. I was happier being here with you than I’ve been for as long as I can remember.”

“Except for the hypothermia.”

“Aye, that’s true. I could have done without that,” he chuckled.

“So…are you saying that you’ll move in?”

“Aye, Love. I would be very happy to live here with you and your boys,” he said fondly, glancing at the dogs who were sitting at their feet, looking up at them expectantly.

Emma beamed at him, then pulled him down to kiss him firmly. “How soon?” she asked against his lips.

“As soon as I can find a job and get my things moved here.”

“Don’t worry about the job. I have more than enough money saved for both of us. We really don’t need that much, anyway.”

He took a step back, one eyebrow raising high on his forehead. “Why Swan - are you saying you want me to be a kept man?”

She let out a bark of laughter. “You can still get a job. I just don’t want you to put off moving here because you don’t have one, yet.”

“In that case, I can move in as soon as you’re ready for me.”

“Today, then?”

It was his turn to laugh. “Eager, are you?”

Her fingers toyed with the collar of his parka. “A month without you was about twenty nine days too many.”

“Only twenty nine? What about the other one or two days?”

“I enjoyed that time without your snoring,” she smirked.

“That’s bad form, Swan,” he said, attempting to look insulted.

Her face turned serious. “Is Will going to be upset with you about moving here and leaving him behind?”

“I don’t think he’ll mind. He might even follow me here. Somehow in the few minutes it took for him to pick me up at the sheriff’s station, he got very friendly with the receptionist, Belle French. They’ve been texting and calling each other frequently. I think he’s smitten with her.”

“I like Belle. She’s always very nice to me.”

“So, let’s see,” he said, putting his hands on her hips to tug her closer, “we talked about Sheriff Humbert, Will and Belle. Is there anyone else we need to discuss before we turn our attention to ourselves?”

She squinted her eyes, pretending to contemplate his question, then focused back on him. “Nope, can’t think of anyone.”

“Good,” he said, shrugging out of his coat and tossing it over the back of the nearest chair.

Taking his hand, she led him straight through the living room to the hallway and stopped outside her bedroom door. Turning to face him, she asked, “You are okay with this, aren’t you?”

He studied her face. “I need to know that this is really what you want.”

She dropped her eyes, unwilling to look at him as she admitted, “Sex has never been very enjoyable for me.”

Gently lifting her chin with his fingers, he said sincerely, “Perhaps you simply haven’t been with the man who’s right for you. Let me show you how much you can enjoy it when you’re with someone who truly loves you.”

“I’d like that,” she whispered, then turned to walk into her room.

Both dogs trotted past the couple and jumped up on the bed.

“We have company,” Killian chuckled.

Emma rolled her eyes. “It’s not bedtime, boys. Go lie down in the living room.”

Cocoa obeyed immediately, but Cinnamon continued to lie on the bed, looking up at them with big, expressive eyes. “You heard me, Cinnamon. Go to the living room.”

The dog huffed at her, before jumping down and slowly walking out the door, tail drooping. Emma closed it behind him, shaking her head. “That one has an attitude.”

“He just wants to be with his owner,” Killian said. “I can’t say I blame him.” He held out his hand, gesturing her forward.

She moved into his arms easily, immediately fusing their lips together. As they kissed, she slid her hands underneath his shirt and up his back, making him shiver.

“My hands aren’t that cold,” she commented.

“It wasn’t because they’re cold; it’s because you’re touching my bare skin.”

She drew back, feeling chagrinned. “You don’t like it?” she asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

“On the contrary - I like it very, very much. I shivered out of anticipation of you touching more of my body.” He studied her for several long moments. She felt like he was seeing all of her insecurities, and ducked her head, feeling her cheeks flame with embarrassment. “Emma,” he said softly, “I know how badly you’ve been hurt. We’ll take things at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Aye?”

“I feel so stupid,” she muttered.

“Hey,” he said firmly, causing her to snap her eyes up to look at him. “You are many things, but one thing you are not, is stupid. Why do you feel that way?”

“Never mind,” she said, dropping her eyes again.

“If our relationship is going to move forward, we need to be open and honest with each other, Love.”

“I hate to keep dragging up my past, especially when we came in here to…be intimate.”

“Come here,” he said, leading her over to the bed. “Sit down.”

She sank down on the mattress, keeping her eyes on the floor. He sat beside her, taking her hand in his, but not saying anything. She realized he was giving her time and she loved him a little bit more for the patience he was showing.

Finally, she sighed and began speaking haltingly. “I was young when I met Neal - not even eighteen. I was innocent and had never…been with anyone. I heard other girls at the group home talking about having sex and it sounded so exciting. The first time Neal and I…did it, we were in the back seat of his car. It was uncomfortable and…it hurt. A lot. I tried not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. He told me to grow up and stop being so dramatic. I should have known by the way he reacted that he was a selfish bastard, but I…I was afraid of losing him and being alone again.” Killian’s hand tightened around hers and she glanced up, giving him a weak smile. “I could never please him in bed, no matter how hard I tried. He cheated on me numerous times and he always blamed it on my inability to keep him satisfied.”

She looked at him again and saw that his eyes were stormy and his jaw was ticking with anger, yet he still kept quiet, allowing her to continue. Taking a deep breath, she did. “I only slept with two guys since then and it was a disaster both times. I was so anxious that I couldn’t relax and enjoy it. One guy was pretty understanding, but the other one got a little upset with me. I never heard from either of them again.” She paused, picking at a loose thread on her sweatpants. “Anyway, I guess I’m afraid that if I disappoint you too, it’s gonna ruin everything.”

“Emma, look at me,” he implored, his voice gentle but insistent. She blinked a few times, then did as he asked. “I’m not going into this with any expectations. It doesn’t have to be some magical experience. We don’t even have to have sex - we can just get to know each other’s bodies a little more, then cuddle together like we loved doing when I was here last time. There’s more to intimacy than the actual act of making love.”

“I don’t want to keep putting you off, just because of my stupid insecurities.”

“Please stop using that word, Love. Nothing about you or how you feel is stupid. And you’re not putting me off. I’ll wait as long as necessary, because you are worth it.”

A small smile turned up the corners of her lips. “You’re too good to be true, Killian Jones.”

“I’m just a man who loves you.” He thought for a moment. “How would you feel about me giving you a massage to help you relax?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never had one.”

“Then I think it’s about time you had your first. Lie down on your stomach.”

She did so without hesitation, turning her head to the side to look at him.

He climbed on the bed, pulled her arms up, and arranged them so she could fold her hands under her head. “Close your eyes and breathe nice and slow, Swan.”

She felt a little silly at first, but as his hands kneaded the tight muscles of her shoulders, she sank into the mattress. She heard him begin to hum and recognized the song as ‘Peaceful, Easy Feeling’, an Eagles tune they both had said was one of their favorites.

“Do you mind taking off your sweatshirt?” he asked. She quickly complied, tossing it carelessly on the floor. He resumed the massage with only the thin material of her T-shirt between his hands and her skin.

Emma was soon so relaxed, her body felt boneless. Within minutes, she was on the verge of dozing off.

*********

Killian was happy to see Emma responding so quickly to the massage. He offered it on a whim, trying to think of something that would take her mind away from the unpleasant memories she shared with him.

He wasn’t usually one to wish ill will on another person, but he sincerely hoped that idiot Neal was leading a miserable life, or maybe he would suffer a slow, torturous death. Killian almost wished he could be the one to mete it out.

He was amazed that Emma was able to get out of the brutal relationship. Many women in similar situations remained with their abuser. The more she told Killian about what she went through, the more he admired her courage, resilience, strength, and intelligence.

Continuing to knead his palms and fingertips into her tense muscles, he heard her moan with pleasure. His cock twitched at the sound and he needed to adjust his position over her back to keep his groin away from her. He longed to make love to her, but after what she had been through, he was determined to let it be her choice.

As his hands massaged her sides just above her hips, her T-shirt rode up a little, allowing his fingers to brush across bare skin. “Mmm,” she hummed, reaching down with one hand to tug the shirt up higher. “That feels good.”

Killian bunched up the material until it was below her bra strap, then skimmed his hands over the silky expanse of her back. Feeling her relax even more, he took his time working every inch of skin he could reach. To his surprise, she stretched her arms behind her back to unhook her bra, then pulled her shirt over her head and lifted up enough to slide both garments off. He moved his hands to her shoulders, spending several minutes kneading them, eliciting more moans and sighs from her.

He was so focused on what he was doing, he didn’t immediately notice that her eyes were open. When he did, he saw that the one visible to him was shiny with unshed tears. “Are you alright, Love?” he asked with concern. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

“No, I just…you’re so gentle and patient with me.”

He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “That’s because I love you.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She considered him for a moment, then turned slightly, causing him to shift over to the side of her. When he was no longer straddling her, she rolled over, exposing her bare breasts. His eyes widened taking in the sight, then darted up to look into her eyes. “Emma?”

“Touch me, Killian.”

“You’re sure?”

“Mmhmm.” Taking his hand, she placed it on her left breast.

He needed no further encouragement. Swinging his leg over her again, he used both hands to stroke and squeeze the soft mounds. His thumbs rubbed over her nipples, hardening them to stiff peaks. He leaned down to lick and suck at first one and then the other, feeling her body beginning to writhe beneath him.

He moved up her throat, leaving open mouthed kisses along the way, while his hands moved down to her hips. As he pulled her ear lobe between his lips, he simultaneously unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans.

Her breaths were coming out in short gasps. When he looked at her face, her eyes were closed tightly and her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth. His hands quickly moved to frame her face, thumbs tracing her cheekbones. “Emma, Love. Look at me,” he encouraged.

Her lashes fluttered open, jade eyes looking up at him in confusion. “Is something wrong?” she whispered.

“Do you like what I’m doing?”

“Very much.”

“Then don’t be afraid to tell me. I want to know what you do and do not like.”

“I just…I’ve never been very vocal during sex.”

“The more you talk to me, the better I can make you feel.”

“I want to make you feel good, too.”

“And I have no doubt you will, but right now, I want to focus on you.”

“But…”

“Shh,” he said, placing his index finger over her lips. “Just relax and let me do this for you.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

He resumed kissing behind her ear, while his hands moved south once again. “Do you still want me to touch you?” he murmured.

“Yes, please,” she breathed.

He pushed her jeans over her hips, then slid his fingers inside her panties. When his middle finger brushed against her clit, she shivered, but didn’t say anything. He inched closer to her center, and felt her legs begin to quiver.

“Killian?”

“Hmm?”

“I can’t…I want to…”

He could tell she was struggling to express herself, despite his reassurances. He wanted so badly to continue exploring her body, but he had to give her a little more time to tell him what she wanted.

“Can we…take the rest of our clothes off?” she asked at last. “I want to be able to move and…to touch you.”

“Of course, Love,” he said, pushing himself up off the bed. While she quickly disposed of her jeans and underwear, he shed all of his clothing down to his boxers. When he looked up to see her watching him, he teased the waistband of his remaining garment. She licked her lips in anticipation. “Do you want to take them off of me again, Swan?” he smirked. “You can do it with your eyes open this time.”

“You think you’re so funny, Jones.”

“I’m hilarious,” he quipped, happy to see that their little exchange seemed to dispel the remaining awkwardness between them. He stripped off his boxers and climbed back on the bed, kneeling beside her. Nudging her thighs apart, he stroked two fingers through her folds, pleased to feel how wet she was already.

“Mmm, that feels really good,” she mumbled, pulling her feet up and letting her legs fall open.

He took advantage of the easier access, spreading her folds open with the fingers of one hand, while he rimmed her opening with his other index finger. Keeping an eye on her face to gauge her reaction, he pushed his finger inside her heat.

She raised her hips off the bed slightly, closing her eyes and biting her lip. After stroking her a few times, he added a second digit, moving his other arm to rest it across her pelvis. He slowly pumped in and out of her, feeling her get wetter with every pass.

“I…that…more, Killian,” she gasped.

He obliged, adding a third finger. He could tell she was close, so he sought that spot inside her that would have her seeing stars. Just as he found it, he leaned down and tongued at her clit, then sucked it into his mouth.

She came with a strangled cry, her hips thrusting up at him. He continued stroking her through the orgasm, the throb he felt around his fingers making his cock hard. Then her hands were in his hair, urging him to move up her body.

“Holy shit! That was…intense,” she breathed.

“Aye, it was,” he smiled, nuzzling along her collarbone, then up her throat. The deep kiss they shared quickly turned greedy and frantic. He noticed her wriggling beneath him, seeking the friction of his chest hair against her peaked nipples.

He flipped them over, rolling her on top of him without breaking contact with her lips. Suddenly, a disconcerting thought hit him and he broke the kiss. “Emma,” he panted. “I…I’m not prepared.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“I don’t have any condoms.”

“No problem. I have an IUD.”

“Is it…is it still effective?”

“It’s not my original one. I had it replaced a couple of years ago.”

“In that case…” He pulled her to him again, kissing her while he adjusted his position to be directly beneath her, his cock nestled in the cleft of her ass.

She moaned long and low in her throat. Her hands ran down his sides to grab his buttocks, firmly squeezing him.

“Gods, Emma,” he groaned.

She released him. “I’m sor-”

“Don’t say that. What you’re doing is perfect,” he whispered hotly into her ear.

They continued stroking and exploring, working each other up until Killian’s entire body felt flushed and feverish.

“Emma, please tell me you’re ready,” he pleaded, sliding his fingers through the slickness between her thighs.

“I am,” she affirmed breathlessly.

“Then ride me, Love.”

“You want me on top?”

“Aye, Love. You take control.”

She leaned down to kiss him, then raised herself up above him, taking him in hand to line him up. Slowly, she sank down around him. When he was fully engulfed in her heat, he closed his eyes in complete ecstasy. He had never experienced such a profound feeling of pleasure and he couldn’t begin to put it into words.

His fingers dug into her hips, urging her to move. She understood, planting her forearms on his chest and beginning to slide up and down his shaft. The pace she set was slow at first, but as they progressed, he started thrusting up into her and she met him thrust for thrust.

As the pleasureable tension built, Killian hoarsely uttered words of praise and encouragement. Emma responded, calling out what felt good, as well. Placing her hands on the bed on either side of him, she slammed down on him again and again, until she climaxed with a shout. Her knees gripped his hips tightly as she shook with the intensity of her orgasm. He soon joined her in bliss and they both rode out the aftershocks, before she collapsed on top of him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once he came to his senses a bit, Killian groped for the edge of the comforter and pulled it over the top of them. “You are bloody brilliant,” he murmured, pressing kisses into her hair.

She lifted her head, resting her chin on his sternum to peer into his face. “Really?”

He could still see lingering doubt in her eyes. Cocking an eyebrow at her, he asked, “Do I really need to tell you how amazing that felt?”

“I know it felt that way for me. You were wrong about something, though.”

“What’s that?”

“It was a magical experience.”

He smiled and reached up to brush some sweaty strands of hair off of her forehead. “I agree, and it confirmed something I already knew.”

“What?”

“That you’re the one I’ve been waiting for my entire life. I love you, Emma.”

A wide smile blossomed across her face. “I love you, too.” She leaned up to kiss him, then lay her head back down on his chest with a contented sigh.

As their breathing and heart rates returned to normal, Killian stroked his hand up and down her back absentmindedly. He had been taken by surprise by the invitation to move in with her. Now, he wanted to do it as soon as possible. He dreaded the thought of leaving her again, even if he would be able to contact her now. Having her in his arms was intoxicating and he never wanted to let her go.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked softly.

“How much I love holding you and how I wish I never had to leave.”

She popped her head up to look at him again. “You don’t have to, do you?”

“I need to pack up my stuff and bring it here.”

“Can Will do that for you?”

He considered for a moment. “I suppose he could. The majority of it is boxed up in storage, and he has his own plane so he would be able to fly everything down here. I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow.”

“Good, because I don’t want you to leave, either.”

He must have dozed off, because the next thing he knew, he was awakened by Emma shifting off of him. “Swan? Where are you going?”

“I need to get dressed and take the dogs out. Go back to sleep.”

He sat up, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll come with you.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m fine. I can do it alone.”

“But you aren’t anymore.”

“Aren’t what?”

He took her hand, kissing the back of it. “Alone.”

She tilted her head, and he could see the love shining in her eyes, even in the dim light. “Saving you is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“It worked out well for me, too.”

She leaned in to kiss him, which quickly became heated. “Are you sure the dogs need to go out?” he mumbled against her lips.

“If they can make it through the night, they can make it a few more minutes.”

“A few more minutes?” he said, trying to sound appalled. “Swan, you wound me. They may have to wait a couple of hours, because I’m going to take my time with you.”

She giggled. “In that case, I better let them out really quick.”

He watched her pull on her pants and grab a sweatshirt. Crawling over the bed, he reached out and tweaked one of her bare nipples, making her squeak in surprise. “Seems such a shame to cover up these lovely breasts,” he remarked in a sultry tone.

“Killian,” she admonished playfully, “if you don’t stop that, I’ll never leave this bedroom.”

“I see no problem with that.”

“Cinnamon and Cocoa will, and so will my living room rug when they do their business all over it.”

“Ugh, fine,” he pouted. “Put the dogs’ needs before mine.”

She tugged on her sweatshirt and threw a beaming smile over her shoulder. “I promise I’ll be right back.”

While she was gone, he straightened the covers and picked up a pillow they knocked to the floor during their pleasurable activities. Then he laid down, pulled the covers up to his waist, and folded his arms behind his head, waiting for Emma to return.

Soon the bedroom door opened and she slipped in. He saw her eyes rove up his bare chest, then she licked her lips. He patted the bed beside him and she wasted no time shedding her clothes and joining him under the covers, moving into his welcoming arms and sighing contentedly.

Killian was as good as his word and took his time, knowing that he had all the time in the world with the woman he loved.

*********

Two months later, Emma and Killian were in town for the farmers market, arms linked as they slowly strolled among the stalls.

“Isn’t that Will over there?” she asked, pointing down the street toward the police station.

Killian craned his neck to see. “Aye. He must be meeting Belle for lunch.”

“Those two are so cute together.”

“I think we’re pretty cute together, too.”

“Oh, I think we’re much cuter,” Emma laughed.

He laughed along, very happy to see how lighthearted and carefree she was these days. “Do you mind if I go talk to him for a few minutes? I need to tell him what the mechanic said this morning.”

The two friends were setting up a cargo transportation company together, using both of their airplanes. All the paperwork was being processed, they were lining up clients, and hangars were rented at the airstrip. As soon as the repairs to Killian’s plane were completed, they would be able to launch their business.

“I don’t mind. Just don’t take too long, okay?”

“I won’t,” he promised, setting down the large canvas bag filled with their purchases and kissing her briefly, before heading down the street.

She watched him leave, unabashedly ogling his backside, then picked up the bag and continued perusing the offerings on other tables. She was filling a small plastic bag with homebaked dog biscuits when she heard someone say her name. Turning around, she saw Graham Humbert.

“Hi, Sheriff,” she greeted, a bit warily. “How are you?”

“Fine, thanks. I, um, I’ve heard Mr. Jones is back in town.”

“Yes, he is,” she hedged, wondering what he was going to say next.

“Has he been in contact with you?”

She figured she might as well tell him the truth. He was sure to find out anyway. “Actually, we’re living together.”

His brows rose. “How did that come about?”

“He came back to see about getting his plane repaired and I asked him to move in.”

The sheriff folded his arms over his chest. “Are you sure that’s wise, Emma?”

“Look, Graham, not that it’s any of your business, but Killian and I fell in love while we were snowed in together. He’s been back for a couple of months already and we couldn’t be happier.”

He opened his mouth to answer, but looked over her shoulder and paused. She turned to follow his line of vision and saw Killian walking back. He was distracted by something on his phone, so he was unaware of who was talking to Emma, until he was a few steps away. When he finally looked up, the smile on his face faded. He stopped beside Emma, giving her a brief, meaningful look that clearly asked if everything was alright. She nodded and slipped her arm around his waist.

“Sheriff Humbert,” Killian said curtly, extending his hand.

“Mr. Jones,” Graham said, shaking the offered hand. “I hear you’re going to be staying in the area for a while.”

“For good, actually. I’m living at Emma’s cabin.”

“Our cabin,” she corrected, smiling up at him.

“Aye, Love,” he agreed fondly. Turning his attention back to the sheriff, he said, “I’m putting down roots here. Emma and I are in a committed relationship, and my friend, Will Scarlet, and I are opening a business together.”

“Is that so?” Humbert asked, then proceeded to ask a few questions about their plans for the new business. Killian answered all of them patiently, while Emma listened proudly, her shining eyes never leaving his face.

When the questioning ended, she remarked, “Won’t it be great to have another way to transport supplies?” Killian met her eyes and the two of them shared a smile.

“It does seem to be a good idea.” Graham said. “I, uh…I hope it turns out to be a success.”

“Thanks, mate,” Killian replied. When his phone began to ring, he checked the screen. “Sorry, it’s my mechanic. I need to take this.” He squeezed Emma’s hand, before stepping away to answer the call.

She looked back at Graham, who was watching her intently. He cleared his throat, then said, “He seems to make you happy, Emma.”

“He makes me very happy,” she beamed.

“I guess he’s the better man for you.”

“You’re a good man, Graham. One day you’re going to meet the right woman.”

He gave her a shy smile. “Well, there is that new waitress at the diner.”

“Oh, Ruby? We met her this morning when we were there for breakfast. She seems very nice and quite…interesting.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Aye, she’s a firecracker. I’m thinking about asking her out.”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

Killian came back and announced, “Good news! The part Billy ordered is in stock and should arrive on Monday.”

Emma threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. “That’s fantastic! It could move up your launch date by a week or two, right?”

“Hopefully, if there are no issues with the paperwork.”

“Congratulations,” Graham said. Glancing around at the shoppers milling about, he added, “I better continue my patrol. The town is always busier when the farmers market is open. It was nice seeing the two of you and I, um, I wish you every happiness.”

“Thank you,” the couple said in unison, then watched him walk away.

Emma paid the merchant for her purchase. Holding up the bag to show Killian, she said, “The boys are going to be very happy. These are their favorite treats.”

“Those dogs are spoiled rotten,” he said playfully.

“All dogs should be spoiled.”

“I completely agree,” Killian nodded. “Is there anything else you want to get while we’re here, Love?”

Emma glanced up and down the row of stalls, offering everything from scented candles, to hothouse vegetables, to choice cuts of meat. “No, I think we have everything.”

He picked up the large bag at her feet and wrapped his other arm around her. “Are you ready to go, then?”

“Yeah,” she replied, snuggling into his side. “Let’s go home.”

*********

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The next morning, Killian awoke first, slowly processing where he was and with whom. His body was still in close proximity to Emma’s, but they had shifted a little during the night. She lay on her side with her back against his front, and he had his arm loosely draped over her hip. He could feel one of the dogs behind him, curled into the space created by his bent knees.

Smiling sleepily, he rotated his head to the left and heard his neck crack. Their makeshift bed may not be the most comfortable place he ever slept, but he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. He and Emma were growing closer, and he could hardly wait to see how much more progress they would make today. He hoped she continued to let her walls down, so he could prove to her that not all men were untrustworthy.

Feeling more content than he had been in a very long time, he let his mind wander. Will said he had a job secured for Killian and a temporary place to live in Talkeetna, but now that he met Emma, he wanted to pursue a relationship with her. That would be difficult to do if they were living hours apart from each other. Perhaps he should inquire about jobs and places for rent in this area. She did say there was a small town several miles away.

As he thought about the possibilities, he grew drowsy and began to doze off, subconsciously tightening his hold on her. Soon he was sound asleep once again.

*********

Emma groaned when a wet nose brushed against her cheek. “Five more minutes, Cinnamon,” she mumbled. “Lie back down.” The dog flopped down beside her, heaving a deep sigh as he did.

Feeling very cozy, she just wanted to go back to sleep, even though she knew she needed to get up and let her boys outside. It took her a moment to realize why she was so comfortable. She was being held in Killian’s strong arms, his breath warm against her neck.

She waited all day yesterday for the feeling of panic to set in, but it hadn’t. She wasn’t a fool though - she knew once the roads were clear enough for her to drive him to town, he would be gone and probably out of her life forever. She wasn’t optimistic enough to think that he would want to pursue a relationship with her, even though he vowed to keep in touch. In her experiences, promises were made to be broken.

Still, she enjoyed the time she spent with him and looked forward to more reading, playing games…and kissing. She really liked the kissing.

She felt him stir behind her and almost giggled at his morning arousal nudging her backside. She was sure he was still asleep, unaware of what he was doing. Otherwise, being the gentleman that he was, he would move away from her. She could move away herself, of course, but she found she really didn’t want to do that. It had been a very long time since she was with a man and, even though she wasn’t going to act on it, the thought of having sex with Killian was quite a pleasant one.

She shifted forward a couple of inches, attempting to keep him from being embarrassed when he woke up. Sensing her movement, Cinnamon once again got to his feet and began pacing the floor. Emma sighed, slowly pushing the blankets off. It wasn’t fair to make her dogs wait to go out just because she was too content to get up.

“Swan?” she heard in Killian’s gravelly morning voice.

“Go back to sleep. I’m just going to let the dogs out.”

She looked over her shoulder to see him pushing himself to a sitting position. His hair was an adorable mess and the scruff on his face was even now pronounced this morning. She figured it would be a full beard in another couple of days. A thought flashed through her mind wondering what it would be like to kiss a bearded man.

“I was awake a while ago,” he yawned. “I didn’t realize I fell asleep again.”

“The fire lasted through the night,” she commented, as she passed by the fireplace on the way to the kitchen.

“I got up during the night and threw a couple more logs on.”

“I didn’t even realize you did that.”

He got to his feet, subtly adjusting himself through the sleep pants. “Judging by how loudly you were snoring, you were in a deep sleep.”

She turned in the doorway to glare at him. “I do not snore.”

“Beg to differ,” he smirked. “But I don’t mind. I think it’s adorable.”

With a little huff, she continued across the kitchen to grab her coat from the hook, both dogs dancing around her in anticipation. “I don’t snore, do I, boys?” she grumbled. Based on the sound of Killian laughing from the living room, she hadn’t said it quietly enough.

Despite trying to sound displeased about his teasing, Emma was secretly happy that they resumed their easy banter without a trace of awkwardness this morning.

*********

The next five days passed in much the same fashion. They cooked, ate, read, played cards, worked on jigsaw puzzles, and took care of the dogs. They went outside to shovel snow away from the cabin and carry in more firewood. One day, Killian helped Emma wash clothes in a large washtub filled with water heated over the stove, then hang them on drying racks in front of the fireplace.

They continued to sleep together on the floor at night…and they kissed. A lot.

Piling up pillows, blankets and quilts on the floor to make a cozy nest in front of the fireplace was one of their favorite things to do. That’s where they were after lunch on the day that marked one week since she found him.

“This is nice,” Emma sighed, allowing herself to melt into Killian’s embrace, as she held the book they were reading.

“Aye, it really is,” he agreed. “Who could have imagined we would meet the way we did?”

“Let alone get to know each other and realize we have a mutual attraction.”

“All within the span of a few days.”

“I don’t even mind that the power is still out and our phones are dead.”

“Nor do I. I have everything I need right here.”

Their tranquility was broken when there was a loud knock on the door. Both dogs leapt up, barking as they raced through the kitchen.

“Who on earth could that be?” Emma wondered, tossing back the blankets.

“Perhaps the people working on the power lines?” Killian suggested, getting to his feet and offering a hand to help her up. He didn’t mention the other possibilities that came into his mind. Adverse conditions sometimes brought out unsavory individuals who sought to take advantage of vulnerable people in need of rescue.

They walked into the kitchen together. She went to open the door, while he stood behind her, arms crossed. It was her cabin, so she would be the one to answer the knock, but he was prepared to come to her aid if necessary.

She cautiously opened the door far enough to look out. “Sheriff Humbert?” she said. “What are you doing here?”

Killian relaxed a little. Obviously, Emma knew the person and apparently he was a member of the law enforcement.

“Hello, Miss Swan,” a smooth voice with an Irish accent responded. “One of our sky patrols spotted a small airplane in a field not far from here, but the pilot wasn’t anywhere to be found. There’s a record of a mayday being called in the day the storm hit. You wouldn’t happen to have seen anyone, would you?”

“As a matter of fact…” Emma began.

Killian stepped into the other man’s view. “I’m the pilot of that plane.”

The sheriff, a ruggedly handsome man who looked to be the same age as Killian, looked over at him sharply. Killian got the distinct feeling he was being closely scrutinized. Then the man looked back at Emma. “How long has he been here?” he asked, stepping inside the door and wrapping his hand around her arm. “Are you okay? Has he posed any threat to you?”

Emma and Killian spoke at the same time. “No, he…”

“I would never…”

Sheriff Humbert talked over both of them. “Are you Killian Jones?”

Killian was taken aback. “How did you know that?”

“Your friend William Scarlet called to inquire about you. When you didn’t arrive at Talkeetna, he began calling airports, hospitals, and police stations along your flight route.”

“I didn’t have any phone service to contact him,” Killian explained.

“No wonder you didn’t call for help,” the sheriff commented, looking at Emma. “I didn’t think about your phone service being out, along with the power.”

“I didn’t call for help because I didn’t need help,” Emma replied, with a little heat in her voice. “When my dogs found Killian, he was suffering from hypothermia and had passed out. He’s been nothing but a gentleman ever since he regained consciousness.”

Killian gave her an appreciative look, which apparently did not go unnoticed by Sheriff Humbert. After darting his eyes back and forth between Emma and Killian, he said, “I need to get you to the station, let your friend know you’re okay, and inform him of your whereabouts. If you have any belongings, please get them so we can head out.”

“Oh, okay,” Killian said. “But can Emma and I just…”

“There’s no time,” the sheriff interrupted. “I have many other households to check on, now that the roads are passable.”

“If they’re passable, I can take Killian to the station,” Emma offered.

The sheriff shook his head. “That’s not a good idea, Emma. His friend is very worried about him, so time is of the essence. I told him I would let him know immediately if I found him.”

“But…” Emma began.

“Please get your things, Mr. Jones,” Sheriff Humbert commanded.

Killian had an uneasy feeling that the reason the man was so insistent on taking him to the station himself was because he seemed to have more than a passing interest in Emma. Still, Killiian couldn’t outright disobey the sheriff. He cast a helpless look at Emma, before turning and walking into the living room to put on his boots and gather his few belongings.

“You could at least give us a chance to say goodbye,” Emma said, as soon as Killian was out of the room.

The sheriff crossed his arms over his chest. “What exactly was he doing here, Emma?

She blinked. “I already told you. Cocoa and Cinnamon found him unconscious in my woods, so I brought him…”

“You appear to be more than strangers.”

“We just spent nearly a week snowed in together. We’re past the ‘strangers’ stage.”

“Is there something going on between the two of you?”

Emma mimicked his stance by crossing her own arms. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

Before he could respond, Killian came back into the room, immediately sensing the tension between the two people. “Is everything alright, Swan?” he asked.

“It’s fine,” Sheriff Humbert answered for her. “We really have to be going. Do you have a coat?”

“Of course,” Killian said, crossing in front of the sheriff to collect his parka from the hook beside the door. As he pulled it on, he turned to give Emma a sad smile.

“Killian, I…”

Sheriff Humbert pulled the door open. “After you, Mr. Jones,” he said, sweeping his arm in front of himself.

Killian started toward the door, but detoured to give Emma’s hand a quick squeeze. “Thank you for everything, Emma. Take care of yourself.”

“You, too,” she replied, tears shining in her eyes.

Killian walked out the door, turning to give her one last lingering glance. The other man followed, closing the door behind himself with finality.

Killian waded through the snow, his anger at the sheriff building. The least the rude man could have done was allow him and Emma two minutes of privacy. Killian reached the police SUV, opened the passenger door and slumped into the seat, slamming the door shut harder than necessary.

Sheriff Humbert slid into the seat beside him, started the engine, and pulled away from the cabin. They drove without speaking, the roads still snow covered until they reached the main highway, which was much clearer.

Finally, the sheriff broke the silence. “Emma Swan is a wonderful woman.” When he didn’t get a response, he went on. “We were an item for a while. Maybe it’s time to ask her out again.”

Killian stared out the windshield, jaw ticking in anger. He didn’t believe the man. If Emma was involved with someone, she would have mentioned it. Plus, she seemed very formal with the sheriff. If they were dating, surely she would have called him by name.

No one spoke for the rest of the trip into town. When they reached the small police station, Killian wasted no time exiting the vehice, waiting impatiently for the sheriff to do the same. Killian followed him inside, where Sheriff Humbert gestured for him to sit in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, then disappeared into a small office, closing the door behind himself.

The woman sitting at the reception desk gave Killian a friendly smile, which he attempted to return. It wasn’t her fault the man she worked with was a jerk.

For the next ten minutes, Killian sat there and seethed. Obviously, time really wasn’t of the essence, as the sheriff had insisted. Clearly, his objective was to get Killian away from Emma.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, Killian pushed himself out of the chair, marched across the floor, and knocked on the door so hard, it rattled the glass, causing the receptionist to let out a startled squeak. When he didn’t get any response immediately, he pounded again. The door flew open in the middle of the second barrage, revealing Sheriff Humbert, his face red with anger.

“What do you want?” he demanded.

“What do I want?” Killian exploded. “You’re the one who was so insistent I get here to call my friend that you couldn’t even spare time for me to bid a proper goodbye to Emma! Yet, you leave me sitting out here for ages without offering to let me use the phone!”

Humbert slowly put his hands on his hips, deliberately pushing his jacket aside to display the badge on his belt and his gun holster. “For your information, I was trying to find his phone number.”

Killian knew it was a lie. “Did it ever occur to you,” he asked through gritted teeth, “that I might already have my best friend’s number?”

“I thought you said your phone was dead, Mr. Jones.”

The arrogance in his voice grated on Killian’s last nerve. “Some people are capable of memorizing phone numbers, Sheriff, and I happen to be one of them. Now, let me use a fucking phone!”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Humbert stated, “I don’t think I like your tone.”

Killian wondered how much time he would have to spend in jail for punching a police officer. “I don’t really care what you like,” he growled. “You’re supposed to be a public servant, so do your fucking job and alllow me to call my friend. The sooner you do, the sooner I can get out of here.”

The sheriff seemed to consider that prospect, before turning to grab a phone off of his desk. Holding it out to Killian, he said gruffly, “Tell him another storm is expected in two days, so he needs to get here to pick you up ASAP.”

Killian snatched the phone out of his hand, pausing to give him another scathing look, before tapping Will’s number in.

Soon, his friend’s voice came through. “Hello?”

“Hey, Will.”

“That you, Kil? Where the hell have you been? I’ve been going crazy trying to find you!”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” He briefly explained what happened, ending with telling Will the location of the town and passing along the sheriff’s warning.

“I’ll figure out the closest airport to you and fly out as soon as I can get clearance. Sound good?”

“Sounds great,” Killian said, casting a glance at the sheriff, who was leaning against the door frame, arms still crossed. “I’m ready to get out of this police station.”

After saying their farewells, Killian kept the phone, eyeing the sheriff. “Could you, um, would you mind giving me Emma’s number? I didn’t get a chance to ask her for it before I left.”

“I’m sorry,” Humbert said, not sounding sorry at all. “That’s personal information and we’re not permitted to give it out.”

“Fine,” Killian spat, tossing the phone back to Humbert, not even offering him a word of gratitude.

“Is your friend on his way?”

“You heard the conversation. Figure it out,” Killian muttered, sliding down into the same seat he’d occupied earlier. “I thought you had a lot of other people to check on.”

“I do, but with you here…”

“I’m not a prisoner, am I?” Waving his hand toward the woman at the desk, he added, “Plus, I won’t be here by myself.”

Humbert turned to address the woman. “Are you alright with that, Belle?”

Her eyes flicked between the two men, obviously aware of the static of animosity in the air. “Why exactly is he here?” she asked the sheriff.

“He’s the pilot of the plane we spotted close to Emma Swan’s property. He’s waiting for his friend to pick him up.”

“Oh, I see. Of course I’m fine with him staying here. You should probably go check on Mrs. Lucas. She called again while you were out.”

The sheriff nodded, gave Killian one more stern look, then pulled the keys from his pocket and walked out the door.

“You’ll have to excuse him,” the receptionist said. “He’s been busy almost non-stop since the storm hit. People can be very demanding when they’re snowed in and without power, you know.” She stood up and walked toward him, holding out her hand. “I’m Belle French, by the way.”

“Kiliian Jones,” he replied, giving her hand a firm shake.

“Did your plane go down in the storm?”

“I was trying to fly to Talkeetna the day before it hit, but I had to make an emergency landing because of the fog that rolled in prior to the storm. My landing gear was damaged, so I couldn’t take off again before the storm arrived.”

“Have you been in your plane all this time?” she asked, eyes wide with concern.

“No, I attempted to hike for help, but wasn’t adequately prepared for the weather.” He related the story of how Emma and her dogs found him and treated him for hypothermia.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Belle said. “Emma is very resourceful.”

“You know her?”

“This is a very small town. Everyone knows everyone here, even if they live on the outskirts. She comes to the farmers market regularly.”

“She did mention that to me when she was talking about the bread she made.”

“No one knows anything about her background. She just bought the land and cabin and showed up here one day.”

“I believe she likes her privacy.”

Belle nodded. “Well, at least she had you there for a while, so she didn’t have to be alone during the storm and power outage.”

“Aye, we did enjoy each other’s company.”

“Being snowed in together sounds like the plot for a romcom,” she laughed.

Killian could feel the heat moving up his neck into his face. “I suppose it does,” he agreed, nervously rubbing his finger behind his ear.

She cocked her head and raised a brow, studying him for several uncomfortable moments, before saying, “I should get back to work. I have a lot of paperwork to complete.”

“I don’t want to keep you from your job. I’ll just wait over here.” A sudden thought hit him. “Do you have a way for me to charge my phone?”

“Oh, of course! Follow me.”

She led him to a break room and showed him the various charging cords available. “You can stay in here to wait, if you like,” she said, gesturing to the small sofa against one wall. “It would be more comfortable than sitting in the chairs in the lobby. There are snacks in the cupboards and drinks in the fridge.”

“Thank you, Ms. French.”

“Please call me Belle,” she smiled, then left the room.

Killian pulled his phone from his pocket and plugged it into the iPhone charger, cursing himself again for not getting Emma’s number. He had ample opportunity - an entire week. He got so caught up in spending time with her that it didn’t cross his mind. He forgot about the outside world, so it took him by surprise when it came knocking in the unwelcome form of Sheriff Humbert.

He supposed he could ask Belle for Emma’s number, but he knew she heard the sheriff tell him he couldn’t give out personal information and didn’t want to put her in the awkward situation of defying her boss.

Flopping down on the sofa, he blew out a frustrated sigh and leaned his head back against the wall. Sitting there with nothing to do, he brought his fingers to his lips, rubbing them absentmindedly as he remembered how they tingled when they were pressed against Emma Swan’s. With those thoughts running through his head, he soon fell asleep.

*********

Back at the cabin, Emma went through her daily routine mechanically, noticing that the cabin she always found so cozy, suddenly felt a little empty. Her dogs’ demeanor matched her mood; Cinnamon paced between the living room and kitchen, whining periodically, while Cocoa lay in his bed by the fire, looking forlorn.

Killian’s departure happened so abruptly that she didn’t think about getting in her SUV to drive to the police station until several hours had passed. By that time, she wasn’t even sure Killian would still be there. She also couldn’t quiet the voices in her head saying that he would probably leave town and forget all about her. No matter how hard she tried to reassure herself he wouldn’t do that, her past history reared its ugly head, reminding her that she was meant to be alone.

She felt helpless, knowing there was no way of contacting him. When the power came back on three hours later, it didn’t feel like a relief, but rather like the severing of a final tie to him. Nearly every minute they spent together had been in semi-darkness, illuminated only by the warm, soft glow of candles and firelight. Now, the lights seemed harsh and sterile, the constant hum of electricity too loud, after the quiet moments they’d spent talking and kissing.

Suddenly feeling exhausted, she locked the door, shut off the lights, and went to bed, not even changing out of her sweats and into her pajamas. Her dogs sought to be a comfort by pressing close to her as she curled up in a fetal position, her tears falling freely onto her pillow. When she finally cried herself out, she fell into a restless sleep, dreading the thought of waking up all alone again the next morning.

*********

“Well, if you ain’t a sight for sore eyes,” Will said, startling Killian awake. “I don’t know whether to hug you, or cuff your ears for worrying me.”

Killian yawned, stretched, and stood up, grinning at his friend. “I’m sorry I worried you, mate. I truly would have contacted you if there was any way at all.”

“I know and I forgive you. Are you ready to go?”

“Aye, but I have a favor to ask,” Killian said, unplugging his phone, then grabbing his parka from the chair where he’d tossed it.

“What’s that?”

“Can you take me back to Emma’s cabin? She’s the lass who saved me. I didn’t get a chance to give her a proper goodbye.”

Will rubbed the back of his neck. “I wish I could, but I’m under strict orders from the people at the airpstrip to get back there and take off within the hour. They’re keeping close tabs on the next storm and they want to get me back in the air well ahead of it. They even let me borrow a car from one of the maintenance guys so I wouldn’t have to wait on an Uber. Sorry, mate.”

Killian sighed in defeat. “It’s alright, I understand.”

As they walked through the lobby of the police station, Killian noticed the door of the sheriff’s office was closed and was glad he wouldn’t have to have another encounter with the man.

Belle looked up from her computer, giving the men a bright smile. “It was very nice to meet both of you. I hope you have a safe trip back.”

“It was nice meeting you, too,” Will said, grinning broadly. “Maybe our paths will cross again, someday.”

Killian looked back and forth between the two, noticing the slightly besotted look on Will’s face.

“Thank you for everything, Belle,” Killian said. “Hopefully this next storm isn’t as bad as the last.”

“I hope not. They just got the power restored to everyone.” Knowing Emma’s electricity was back on gave Killian a modicum of relief.

The two men bid Belle goodbye and left the station. Once they were in the car, Killian said, “You and Belle seemed pretty friendly, for having just met.”

Will shrugged as the tips of his ears reddened. “We chatted for a bit. She seems like a lovely lass.”

“I thought you were in a hurry, yet you found time to flirt?”

“I wasn’t flirting. She started talking to me when I walked in. What was I supposed to do - be rude and walk away?”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, who are you to talk, mate? Some people might consider it a little extreme to crash your plane in order to meet a woman,” Will teased.

“Wh-what’s that supposed to mean?” Killian stammered, knowing that his red face would give him away.

“Oh, come on. We’ve been friends long enough for me to recognize the admiration in your voice when you talked about your savior. And I don’t think it’s all because she saved your life. You have feelings for her, don’t you?”

Killian squirmed in his seat, knowing without even looking that Will had a smug grin on his face. If he confirmed his friend’s suspicions, he would take a good ribbing about it, but he really wanted to tell someone how he felt about Emma.

“I wish you could have met her, Will. She’s the most amazing lass I’ve ever known - strong, independent, intelligent, and very, very beautiful. I was with her for almost a week, but it wasn’t long enough.”

“So, you keep in touch with her until you have a chance to come back and get your plane. It’s not that complicated.”

“The problem is, I didn’t get her phone number and she doesn’t have mine.”

“You spent all that time with her and it didn’t occur to you to get her number?”

“I know. I was stupid,” Killian said with a heavy sigh.

“Well, if there really was something between you two, she’ll wait for you, won’t she?”

“The problem is, she was hurt badly by a man who claimed to love her. I hope she doesn’t think I abandoned her.”

“She’ll know you didn’t, when you show up again. Don’t lose hope, Kil. What was it Liam used to say? A man unwilling to fight for what he wants…”

“Deserves what he gets,” Killian finished. “Aye, you’re right. I’ll do whatever it takes to get back to her as soon as possible.”

*********

All of us who know @snowbellewells are well aware of her love for Graham Humbert, but he's not very lovable in this chapter, is he? lol!

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Killian drifted back to wakefulness from an extremely restful sleep. He had no way of knowing what time it was, but he could tell he slept a long time. As he started to become more aware of his surroundings, he realized he was in much the same position as the morning before - with Emma Swan’s body pressed against him. She was obviously still asleep, based on her slow, even breathing. He was sure if she was awake, she would have scrambled away from him. Despite the many pleasant hours they spent with each other yesterday, she had good reason to be wary of becoming close to any man - both physically and emotionally.

He should probably scoot away from her, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. His initial attraction to her deepened as they talked, ate, read, and navigated the effects of the snowstorm and power outage together. It was obvious she had walls of protection built around her heart, so he knew he had to tread carefully. Still, he was hopeful that as they spent several more days being snowed in together, she would trust him enough to begin letting those walls down. In the meantime, he would enjoy these quiet moments of close proximity.

Hearing her sigh in her sleep, he looked over to see her wrinkle her nose adorably. He wondered what she was dreaming about as he continued to watch her, hoping she wouldn’t suddenly open her eyes and catch him. She truly was a beautiful woman in every aspect. The way her ex-boyfriend mistreated her mystified and angered him. He wished he could prove to her that she deserved all the good things life had to offer, including a man who would treat her like a treasure. Despite having known her for less than two days, he was already longing to be that man.

He was broken out of his reverie when Cinnamon got to his feet, stretched and shook, making the tags on his collar jingle. Killian quickly rolled onto his back, putting some space between himself and Emma, who groaned and began rubbing her eyes. She blinked them open and looked over at him, yawning widely. “G’morning,” she mumbled, her voice raspy with sleep.

Killian decided that barely awake, disheveled Emma was his new favorite. “Good morning, Swan,” he returned. “At least, I think it’s morning.”

She sat up, hands fluttering to her hair to start unsnarling the tangles. “It’s always hard to tell at this time of the year, but Cinnamon needs to be let out and won’t let us sleep late. He’s a morning dog. Now this one,” she said, reaching over to rub between Cocoa’s ears, “would let me sleep until noon.”

Throwing the blanket off, Killian stood up and stretched, then walked over to the fireplace to stir the embers and add more wood. He turned to see Emma watching him, wrapped tightly in a blanket. “Cold, Love?” he asked.

“It got a little chilly in here last night, don’t you think?”

“Aye, a bit. I should have gotten up in the middle of the night to add a couple of logs to the fire.”

Her brows furrowed. “That isn’t your responsibility. You’re my guest.”

“An uninvited one.”

She shrugged. “I don’t mind. It’s been kind of nice having some company for a while.”

He smiled warmly. “I’ve enjoyed it, as well.”

“How does breakfast and hot coffee sound?” she asked, getting to her feet.

“The coffee maker won’t work, will it?”

“No, but I’ve got an old percolator I can use on the stove.”

“Always prepared, eh Swan?”

She tossed him a smile before walking into the kitchen, the blanket still draped over her shoulders. “I told you the power being out isn’t unusual. The first time it went out after I moved here, I wasn’t prepared at all. Fortunately, it only lasted a couple of hours. I did a lot of research about what I needed to have; the next time it happened, I had just about everything ready.”

They let the dogs out, then prepared breakfast together, the conversation coming as easily to them as it had yesterday. After eating, they played cards and read some more, not bothering to change out of their sleepwear. When there was finally enough daylight outside, Emma went into her bedroom to change and bundle up so she could go out and clear a path for the dogs.

While she was gone, Killian got out everything needed to make hot cocoa, his mind filled with thoughts of their morning together. They were very comfortable with each other and the more he got to know her, the more attractive she was to him. He wondered how he was going to make it through several more days without letting it slip that he was developing feelings for her.

*********

When Emma returned to the kitchen, she saw that Killian was starting to prepare hot chocolate. Grabbing her Carhartt coat off the hook, she pulled it on, saying, “Looks like you have things under control in here. I’m heading outside.”

He looked at her across the shadowy room. “Be careful, Love.”

She swallowed thickly, the term giving her pause. It was probably just the way British people spoke, she reasoned. “I will. Come on, boys.”

Cinnamon looked back and forth between the two humans, while Cocoa ran to the door. Emma opened it, allowing the darker furred dog to run out. Emma had to encourage Cinnamon to leave his new friend to go out and relieve himself, before she grabbed the shovel beside the door, pulled her scarf up over her nose and mouth, and went outside.

The snow was wet and heavy to move, leaving her winded after just a few minutes of shoveling. Still, she pushed herself to keep going, until she finally had a path from the house to the south side of the shed, because that side was usually free of drifts. This provided an open area for the dogs to romp and do their business.

When she was finished, she and the dogs made their way back to the cabin. As soon as they entered and she pulled her scarf down, the welcome smell of hot chocolate tickled her nose. In the flickering candlelight, she saw two mugs sitting on the counter, while Killian stood at the stove, stirring the beverage. He turned and gave her a smile, causing her already pounding heart to nearly skip a beat.

“I think it’s ready,” he said. “Were you able to clear a path?”

“Uh, yeah,” she mumbled, as she shed her outerwear and hung everything on the hooks by the door. By the time she was done, Killian had poured the cocoa into the mugs.

“Shall we take it into the living room?” he asked.

“Sure,” she replied, heading in that direction. “I need to warm up in front of the fire anyway.”

They settled into what had become their usual seats. “This is quite the cozy place you have here, Swan.”

“I love it here. It has everything I need.”

“You never get lonely?”

“Not really. I’ve gotten used to being by myself. I do talk to my dogs a lot, but they don’t seem to mind.”

He chuckled, reaching over to scratch Cinnamon behind the ears. “I’m sure they don’t. It’s too bad they can’t talk to you, though.”

“They do in their own way - just not using human language. They’re also very good at sensing my moods and responding to them. They’re really the perfect companions.”

Lapsing into silence again, Emma kept secretly stealing glances at Killian. He was staring at the flames in the fireplace, while the fingers of his hand not holding the cocoa mug moved rhymically on his thigh, as if he was plucking the strings of a guitar.

“I’m sorry I can’t turn on any music,” she apologized. He looked over at her, a puzzled look on his face. She pointed to his fingers, which were still moving.

He dropped his hand down to rest on the sofa. “Force of habit, I guess. I’ve played guitar so long, I do it subconsciously.”

“You don’t have to stop. I didn’t mean to make you self-conscious about it.” She took a sip of her hot chocolate before asking, “What kind of music do you like to play?”

“Mostly rock. Eighties rock, specifically.”

“That’s the best music there is,” she commented.

For the next fifteen minutes, they discussed their favorite bands and songs, playfully arguing about whose choices were better. By that time, their mugs were empty and Emma realized it was well past lunchtime.

“You’re probably starving,” she said, standing up and stretching.

“Not at all,” he replied, also getting to his feet. “I don’t usually eat as much for breakfast as we did today.”

“How does grilled ham and cheese with tomato soup sound?”

“I’m not a fan of tomato soup, but more of your chicken noodle soup sounds good, if that’s okay.”

“Of course it is. There’s still plenty in the fridge. I think I’ll just have that, too.”

As they prepared the food and ate, Emma couldn’t help but think about how enjoyable it was to be with Killian. He didn’t seem to have ulterior motives for being kind to her, he was extremely easy to talk to, and made her laugh. She was beginning to selfishly hope the roads would stay impassable for several more days in order to give her more time with him.

After eating, they began reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets together, pausing only to let the dogs out and make some popcorn the old-fashioned way, in a beat-up metal pan on the stove. When the popping slowed down, Killian raised the lid to see if it was finished and was nearly hit in the face with an exploding kernel. Emma couldn’t control her giggles.

“It wouldn’t have been funny if it shot my eye out, Swan,” he admonished, a small grin belying his attempt at giving her a stern look. “Those things can be dangerous.”

“Yes, Jones,” she giggled. “I’m sure popcorn kernels should be registered as lethal weapons.”

He lifted his chin, one eyebrow cocked high on his forehead as his blue eyes bore into her, and Emma thought she might melt into a puddle. The man was entirely too sexy for his own good…and hers.

She gave herself a mental shake and tried to act composed. “Better get this off the burner before all we have to eat are bits of charcoal,” she said, as she reached for the handle of the pan.

“Emma, be careful!” he warned, grabbing her wrist. “That handle is metal. You’ll burn yourself!”

She felt like she was burning with embarrassment for her near mistake, as she watched him pick up an oven mitt to move the pan off the stove.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

He simply nodded, concentrating on pouring the fluffy white popped corn into the two plastic bowls she’d set on the counter. She grabbed the salt shaker and shook a generous amount over the hot treat, while he swirled the bowls around in an attempt to coat the corn evenly.

“Want a soda?” she asked.

“What? No hot chocolate tonight?”

“I do drink something other than cocoa, you know,” she said teasingly, heading toward the refrigerator. “Is Diet Coke okay?”

“Perfect. I have been trying to watch my figure,” he grinned.

I’ve been watching your figure, too, she thought. Rolling her eyes at herself, she got two cans of soda out of the fridge and followed him into the living room.

After munching on the popcorn for a few minutes, they began tossing pieces to the dogs to see which one could catch the most. Then they made a game of tossing it at each other, attempting to catch them in their mouths.

“You are quite talented, Lass,” Killian praised, when Emma caught three in a row.

“Watch the mocking,” she responded. “I’m actually getting the hang of this.”

“I’m not mocking you, Swan. What I’m trying to say is that you appear to be a natural.”

“Well, at least I’m talented at something.”

He set his bowl down on the coffee table and looked at her intently. “Don’t sell yourself short. You have many talents.”

“Oh, sure,” she scoffed.

Scooting over to the end of the couch within reach of where she sat in the recliner, he captured one of her hands in his own. “I realize I’ve only known you for a couple of days, but you’ve already impressed me with your abilities.”

She swallowed as he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, the sensation of it sending pleasant chills up her arm. “What do you mean?”

“Well, let’s see - you successfully treated me for hypothermia, you’re a wonderful baker and cook…”

“Because I can make chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese?”

“Sh, sh, shush. I’m listing your talents.”

She gave him a shy smile. “Okay.”

“You train your dogs, chop wood and hunt, and are completely self-sufficient - even when there’s no power. You put yourself through college and secured a high-level security job, which means you’re tech savvy, and you’re an avid reader. Oh, and you also make an excellent cup of hot chocolate.”

Emma was dumbfounded. These were all things she simply did day to day and didn’t consider them to be talents or special abilities. Now, hearing him tick them off, one after the other, suddenly made her aware that all her life, people had been treating her like she was nothing. But she wasn’t nothing. She was never nothing.

Her eyes blurred with tears. She looked down at where their hands were still joined, trying to get herself under control before he saw how emotional she had become.

“Emma? Are you okay?” he asked softly.

“Y-yeah, I just, I…I should probably let the dogs out,” she replied, her shaky voice betraying her attempt at bravado.

She rose from her seat, but he didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, he stood up, too. With the fingers of his other hand, he raised her chin to look into her eyes. “Has no one ever told you that you’re bloody brilliant?” After she shook her head slightly, he added, “Don’t ever doubt that you’re amazing, Love. Intelligent, beautiful, and the toughest lass I’ve ever met.”

Feeling a tear slide down her cheek, she reached up to swipe it away, closing her eyes to keep more from falling.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“It’s okay,” she sighed. When she opened her eyes, he had moved closer and was within a hairsbreadth of her. “Killian, I…”

“I know. You need to let the dogs out.”

She let out a tiny giggle. “That’s not what I was gonna say.”

“Then what were you going to say?”

“That I…I would really like to kiss you right now.”

His eyes widened, but he didn’t move away. “I would like that very much,” he whispered.

She leaned in, lightly pressing their lips together. His were warm and inviting, and she found that kissing him for just a few seconds wasn’t nearly long enough. This was highly enjoyable - a far cry from the first time her lips touched his, when they were cold and unresponsive, as she was attempting to save his life.

*********

Killian couldn’t deny that he was hoping to kiss Emma, but he was sure she was wary of men in general, after what she went through with her abusive ex-boyfriend. There was also the fact that they couldn’t possibly avoid each other in this small cabin if they decided sharing a kiss was a mistake.

So when she said she wanted to kiss him, he was more than happy to comply. From the moment their lips touched, he was certain it wasn’t a mistake. The gentle pressure of her lips on his sent his pulse racing. When she tilted her head to deepen the kiss, he pulled her into his arms.

Time stood still as he lost himself in pure bliss. He’d had many first kisses, but none as electrifying as this one. It almost made him believe there was such a thing as soul mates, and his was Emma Swan.

She made a small sound in her throat that sent a jolt through him, causing him to break contact. The whimper she let out in response was possibly the most adorable thing he’d ever heard.

“That was…” he began, a little surprised that he was capable of speaking at all.

“The best kiss I’ve ever had,” she said breathlessly.

He tenderly brushed some strands of blonde hair behind her ear. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“Really?”

“Aye.”

“I was afraid I would regret kissing you,” she admitted.

“You don’t, do you?”

“Not at all. Do you?”

“Absolutely not.”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, looking up at him through her lashes. “Killian, I know we’ll probably be alone here together for several more days, but just because we kissed doesn’t mean that I’m ready to…that we…”

“Emma,” he interrupted, “I’m not presuming that we will take that next step, and I would never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. I like the direction this is going, but I don’t want to push things too fast. I promise I’ll continue to be a perfect gentleman.” He brushed his thumbs across her reddened cheeks, then kissed the tip of her nose.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “I just didn’t want you to think I was leading you on.”

“No worries, Love. Let’s continue to enjoy each other’s company just like we have been…”

“But with kissing now, right?” she smirked.

Killian laughed. “Oh, definitely with kissing.”

She snuggled against his chest, and he sighed happily. After a few content moments, he heard her muffled voice. “Killian?”

“Hmm?”

“I really do need to let the dogs out.”

He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll take care of the fire while you do that. Meet me back here as soon as you can,” he said, reluctantly releasing her.

Once they finished their tasks, they sat on the sofa together, instead of sitting in separate seats as usual. Killian could tell by Emma’s stiff posture that she wasn’t sure how she should respond to his nearness. Attempting to put her at ease, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and reclined, taking her with him to lean into his side. He was pleased to feel her relax almost immediately.

Reaching over, he picked up the tattered book from where they left it, at the end of the sofa. “Do you want to continue reading?”

“Sure. We were just getting to the part where they think Harry killed Mrs. Norris.” Emma’s eyes widened and she clapped her hands over her mouth. “I keep forgetting you haven’t read these books,” she mumbled between her fingers.

Killian laughed. “I really don’t mind spoilers, Swan. Besides, you’re very cute when you accidentally give something away.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help smiling at his comment.

They settled in to read, alternating with each chapter. Killian found his mind wandering while Emma read, caught up in watching her facial expressions change with the events and characters of the story, as he sifted his fingers through her golden hair. He could hardly believe that three days ago, he didn’t even know this woman, and now he was holding her in his arms, rapidly falling in love with her.

*********

When it was Killian’s turn to read, Emma closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into his side. As his voice rumbled in her ear, she could feel goosebumps rising on her arms which had nothing to do with the slight chill in the air.

She kept waiting for her head and heart to tell her to keep him at arm’s length; to protect herself from getting hurt again, but so far, both were quiet. Even in the early days with Neal, she had an uneasy feeling about his intentions, but chose to ignore it. There was simply nothing about Killian that set off warning bells. He was genuinely warm, appreciative, kind, humorous, and caring. She also trusted the reactions of her dogs, and they were completely at ease having Killian in the cabin. She remembered hearing that you could tell a man’s character by how he treated animals, and Killian was very sweet and affectionate to Cinnamon and Cocoa.

He was in the middle of reading chapter fifteen when Emma got so drowsy, she could hardly stay awake. “Swan,” she heard, through the haze of sleepiness. “How can you fall asleep when I’m reading about a gigantic spider?”

“Sorry,” she yawned. “Spiders don’t scare me.”

“Does anything scare you?”

Being very tired, she didn’t think before speaking. “Only being alone for the rest of my life.”

“Oh, Sweetheart,” he murmured, putting the book down and encouraging her to climb into his lap. She went willingly, letting him cradle her against his chest. “That won’t happen, if I have anything to say about it.”

Emma couldn’t remember anyone holding her like this - not even when she was a child. The strong, independent side of her wanted to rebel at showing such vulnerability, but the side that longed to be cared for and protected won out.

“When the roads are clear enough for you to leave,” she began quietly, as her fingers plucked at his flannel shirt, “will you keep in touch with me?”

His fingers lifted her chin so she would look into his eyes. “I definitely intend to keep in touch, Love. I hope I’ve made it clear that I have feelings for you that run deeper than friendship. Just because I’ll eventually have to leave, doesn’t mean I’ll walk away and never contact you again. I promise I will find a way to come back.”

“Good.” She leaned up to kiss him, then tucked her head back under his chin. The silence in the room was broken only by the crackling of the fire and soft snores from the dogs. Pressed against Killian’s solid chest with his arms wrapped firmly around her, Emma felt herself drifting between wakefulness and sleep.

“Perhaps we should get ready for bed, Love,” he whispered.

“I’m pretty content right here.”

“Aye, but the dogs need to go out, and the fire needs to be tended so it will last through the night.”

She sighed. “I know, but I really don’t want to move.”

His chuckle rumbled under her cheek. “Once we get everything done, we can burrow under the blankets and cuddle the rest of the night.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” she said, sitting up and turning to put her feet on the floor, “I guess I can move.” She stretched her arms above her head, then giggled as she felt his lips on the back of her neck. “That tickles.”

“Hmm, you have a tickly spot. I’ll have to keep that in mind,” he teased.

“Don’t you dare,” she said, lightly elbowing him in the ribs.

They went about getting ready for bed which, even though they had only done it once before, was already a familiar routine. In less than fifteen minutes, they were arranging the blankets and pillows on the floor. When that was done, Emma sat down, grabbing Killian’s hand to pull him down beside her. He laid back, holding his arms open in invitation. She wasted no time snuggling against him, and he pulled the blankets up to cover them both.

She sighed in contentment. “I’m actually glad the power went out. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have had an excuse to sleep out here on the floor together. I felt a little guilty about how much I liked sleeping beside you the last couple of nights.”

“There’s no reason to feel guilty, Love,” he said, rubbing his hand up and down her back before adding, “I have to admit something.”

She tilted her head back to look at him. “What’s that?”

“When I woke up this morning, we were tucked against each other again, but this time it wasn’t because you were trying to share your body heat.”

“You said you had to admit something, like it was a bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with that. I think we probably gravitate toward each other in our sleep.”

“Aye, but I didn’t move away, because I quite enjoyed the feeling of practically having you in my arms.”

“Well, it is a nice feeling,” she smiled.

“Mmm, it certainly is.”

She yawned widely. “I don’t know why I’m so tired. I hardly did anything today, except sit around.”

“You shoveled the path for the dogs. That was strenuous work.”

“I’m used to doing much more than that. Plus, I usually do some sort of workout every day.”

“Ah, that would explain why you’re in such great shape,” he said, squeezing her bicep. “Perhaps I should join you in a workout tomorrow. I’ve been slacking in my exercise routine lately.”

She reached down and pinched his side. “Feels pretty good to me.”

“Careful, Swan. Don’t bruise me.”

“You crashed your plane and nearly froze to death, and you’re afraid I’m going to bruise you with a little pinch?”

He grinned down at her. “You’re a strong lass. You could leave a significant mark.”

She giggled and nestled closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the crown of her head as he did. “Time to go to sleep, Love,” he murmured.

“Mmhmm,” she agreed. She briefly wondered if they would feel awkward with each other in the morning, but for now, she was going to enjoy being in Killian Jones’ arms. With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.

*********

Thank you for reading. There are two chapters left!

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Emma went into her room and sat down on her bed, blinking back the tears that had threatened to spill in front of Killian Jones. She hoped the dim lighting hid them, because she hated to show weakness in front of people. Even when Neal was at his cruelest, she tried not to show how much hurt he was inflicting on her. So why did that simple sentence Killian uttered affect her the way it did?

She doubted that he heard her whisper “you shouldn’t” before she left the room. At least she hoped he hadn’t. She wasn’t even sure he was sincere. He had only known her a day, after all.

In any case, she needed to get her emotions under control, because she couldn’t hide out in her bedroom forever. She drew in a deep breath and tilted her head back, willing the tears away as she exhaled slowly. Just as she started to feel calmer, she heard the unlatched door open. She jerked her head up. Surely Killian hadn’t come into her room without knocking.

Then she felt a wet nose against her hand. “Oh, Cocoa, it’s you,” she said, scratching behind his ears. “I’m okay, boy. Thanks for checking on me.” She stood up and collected the oil candles from her dresser and nightstand to take out to the living room. They would need more light out there, since that was where they would be spending their time. Plus, it gave her an excuse as to why she came into her bedroom as quickly as she did.

After taking another moment to fortify her emotions, she left her room and walked back into the living room, hoping to show more confidence than she felt.

“Alright there, Swan?” Killian asked.

“Yeah, I, um…I was just getting more candles.”

He nodded his head in understanding. “I hope you don’t mind that I added a couple of logs to the fire.”

She answered as she set the candles down. “That’s fine, thank you. We need to keep it going.” Once she lit the wicks, she glanced up at him. He was standing by the fireplace, the flames creating flickering shadows across his form. The clothes she gave him to wear fit snugly in all the right places, and it nearly stole her breath away at how they accented his very attractive body. She swallowed and licked her suddenly very dry lips. “I, uh, I guess the clothes worked out okay?”

He looked down at himself. “Aye, they’re comfortable enough. Thank you.”

“Well,” she said, looking around the room, now bathed in candlelight and fading sunlight, “there’s not much to do for entertainment. I do have a deck of cards, a few puzzles, and plenty of books to read. Do you know any card games?”

“Just Hearts and Gin Rummy. Oh, and War. My brother and I used to play that a lot when we were kids.”

“I’ve played War, but I don’t know how to play the other two.”

“War requires two decks and Hearts is usually played with four players. I know you can play with two, but the rules are a little different and I’m not sure what they are. I could teach you Gin Rummy, if you like.”

“Sure, why not? It’s not like we have anything else to do.” She got a deck of cards out of the end table’s drawer, grabbed a pillow from the couch, and sat down on it in front of the coffee table. Killian sat across from her on another pillow. The dogs ambled over. Cocoa laid down beside Emma, while Cinnamon made himself comfortable beside Killian. “I think you made a friend,” Emma commented.

Killian stroked the big dog’s head. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you, Cinnamon?”

She started shuffling the cards. “You talk to dogs, too, huh?”

“I’ve heard it said that dogs can’t understand what people say, but I don’t believe it.”

“Neither do I. My boys have to listen to me jabber to them all the time.”

He chuckled. “I’m sure they don’t mind.”

Emma handed him the cards. “Ready to teach me?”

“Aye.”

He explained the rules and dealt the cards. It took her a little while to catch on, but he was patient and soon she was able to beat him every now and then. She was happy to see that he played a fair game and wasn’t letting her win.

They played until the daylight was completely gone. It was then Emma realized it was time to feed the dogs and let them outside. Killian followed her into the kitchen and helped her measure out the food and set the bowls on the floor, chuckling as the dogs seemed to race each other to finish eating first.

When Emma opened the door to let them out, they were able to see that the wind was finally dying down and the snow had stopped falling, leaving behind drifts that were higher than the door of the cabin. Cocoa and Cinnamon quickly found the areas where the snow was less deep and did their business.

“I always feel bad when they can’t get outside to run off their energy,” Emma commented as she let the dogs back in and closed the door. She went to a closet in the corner of the room, removing a mop to swab away the puddles left by the snow that had blown in. “Tomorrow, I’ll go out and shovel a path to the shed for them.”

“I can help with that,” Killian said.

She shook her head. “You’re still recovering from hypothermia. It’s not a good idea to go back out in the cold. Besides, I only have one shovel.”

“As a gentleman, I feel guilty for allowing you to do all the work.”

“You’re a gentleman, huh?” she said, returning the mop to the closet and throwing a teasing smile over her shoulder.

“I would hope you figured out by now that I’m always a gentleman,” he said.

“I haven’t seen anything to contradict that,” she admitted. “If you want to do something to help, you can make hot chocolate. I like to have some when I come back in from the cold.”

“Sounds easy enough.”

“You might think so, but I’m very picky about my hot chocolate. I make it from scratch. Have you ever done that before?”

He reached up to scratch behind his ear. “I can’t say that I have.”

She went to a cupboard and took out some ingredients, then pointed to a paper taped to the back of the cupboard door. “Here’s the recipe. I don’t need to use it anymore. I’ve just never taken it down.”

Killian walked over and picked up the candle sitting on the counter, holding it up to read the recipe over her shoulder. She automatically stiffened at his closeness, which seemed silly since she slept snuggled up beside him all night. But it was one thing when he was unconscious, and quite another when she could practically feel his breath on the back of her neck.

“That doesn’t look very complicated,” he commented, taking a step back.

She breathed a little easier. “The trick is to keep a close eye on the milk when you’re bringing it to a boil, so it doesn’t scorch. Do you know how to use a gas stove?”

“Aye, it’s what I have in my apartment.”

“Good. If you want, we can make some right now. You do like hot chocolate, don’t you? Because if you don’t, I’m not sure we can be friends.”

He laughed. “I’m quite the fan of hot chocolate, I assure you.”

She got out the pan, wooden spoon and measuring utensils, while pointing him to the cupboard with the ingredients. “Sugar and cocoa are in there. The milk is…”

“Let me guess. In the refrigerator?” he quipped.

“Yeah, I guess you could figure that out by yourself.”

When he came back with the jug of milk, she supervised as he added the ingredients to the pan. He double checked the recipe often to make sure he followed it exactly.

While they waited for the beverage to heat, they chatted about mundane things. It occurred to Emma how easy it was to talk to him. She was always reserved around people, not wanting to reveal too much about herself, but she felt comfortable with Killian. Even though she wasn’t sure why it was different with him, she decided just to relax and enjoy it.

When the cocoa was ready, she took two mugs out of the cupboard and Killian carefully filled them. Then she crossed the room to the fridge, opening it to take out a can of whipped cream. After topping off one mug with a generous amount, she asked, “Do you want some on yours?”

“Sure. I’ve had it with marshmallows before, but never whipped cream.”

She sprayed some in the other mug, then opened her spice cupboard. “Bet you’ve never had it with cinnamon, either, have you?”

“Can’t say that I have,” he answered. “I’d like to try that, too.”

After sprinkling both with cinnamon, Emma returned the spice to the cupboard.

“Did you name your dogs after a cup of hot cocoa with cinnamon?” Killian asked.

She gave him a grin, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s my favorite thing to drink and I thought the color of their coats resembled cocoa and cinnamon.”

“You’re right. Very clever, Swan.”

They collected their mugs and went into the living room. Emma sat in the recliner, pulling one of the blankets over herself.

“Shall I add another log to the fire?” Killian asked.

“I can do it,” she said, starting to fold the blanket back.

Gesturing for her to stay seated, he said, “You’re already settled.” He placed his cocoa on the end table and went to the fireplace. After stirring up the burning logs and embers, he tossed a large log on top, then stood there and watched it for several moments.

“I find fire to be mesmerizing,” he commented, making his way back to sit on the sofa.

“I know, right? I could watch it for hours.” She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he took his first sip. “Well? What do you think?”

He looked up at her and she giggled at the whipped cream on the tip of his nose. He wiped it off with his finger, then popped it into his mouth, before answering. “It’s quite good. Have you tried yours yet to see if it meets your standards?”

She carefully took a sip, closing her eyes as the warm liquid slid down her throat. “It’s perfect, Killian,” she assured him after swallowing.

They contented themselves watching the dancing flames and drinkng their cocoa. “I would make some popcorn, but the microwave isn’t hooked to the generator,” she said. “I do have hot dogs we could roast over the fire, though.”

“That’s something else I’ve never done,” he said.

“There’s a first time for everything.”

“Aye, that’s true.”

She went into the kitchen to get the hot dogs and bread, pointing out the roasting forks leaning in the corner beside the fireplace as she went. When she returned, Killian was seated in front of the fire with a fork in his hand and an expectant look on his face that reminded her of a child excited for a new adventure.

They roasted the hot dogs, turning the forks slowly over the fire as they chatted congenially. After they finished eating, Killian declared he would never eat another boiled hot dog.

As they returned to their spots on the recliner and sofa, Emma stated, “I can’t believe it’s only six-thirty. With the electricity being off most of the afternoon, it seems a lot later.”

“Do you want to play some more cards?”

She shrugged. “Maybe later. I’m pretty comfortable right now.”

He reached over and plucked a book off of the top of a pile. “Which of these books are you currently reading?”

“All of them.”

His brows shot up to his hairline. “All of them? At the same time?”

“Yeah. I know I’m weird, but I like jumping around from book to book. I’m reading several of them for the first time and rereading some of my favorites.”

“How can you keep track of storylines when you’re reading so many?”

“I’ve never had a problem with that. Books have always been my way of escaping from the real world for a while. The more I’m reading at a time, the less I have to think about what’s going on in my life.”

He flipped through the pages of the book in his hand. “I’m glad books have been there for you. I’ve always been an avid reader myself, and I can relate to how they help take your mind off of real life.”

“Do you have a favorite book?” she asked.

He looked up at her with a grin. “That’s unfair, Swan. It’s like asking someone to choose their favorite child.”

She laughed. “Very true. Okay then, what types of books do you like to read?”

He chewed his bottom lip for a few moments. “I’m drawn to historical fiction and biographies. I think I’ve probably read ninety percent of the biographies about rock musicians.”

“You’re into rock music?”

“Aye. When I was in secondary school, I played guitar in a band with three of my classmates.”

“Whoa! You play guitar? That’s cool!”

Even in the dim light, she could see a blush fill his cheeks. “I didn’t have much time to play while I was in the Navy. These days, I just tinker around with it.”

“It’s probably like riding a bicycle, though,” she said. “Once you learn it, you never forget.”

“Well, you can get rusty if you don’t practice.” He placed the book back on top of the pile. “From the looks of this,” he said, gesturing to the three stacks of books on the coffee table, “you read a wide variety of topics.”

“There’s a lady who has a book stall set up at the farmers market every month. They’re all used, but in good shape, and she sells them very cheap. Plus, if I take her books that I’ve finished, she gives me a bigger discount, so I buy a little bit of everything. Even if I don’t like one or two of them, I’m not out much.”

“Do you have a favorite genre?”

“Probably fantasy. Two of my favorite series are Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.”

“Should I be ashamed to admit I’ve never read Harry Potter?”

“Are you kidding? You’re from England!”

He chuckled. “Is it required reading for British people?”

"It should be.”

“Why? Because the author is British? Have you read all the books written by American authors?”

“Of course not, but not many of them are as famous as J.K. Rowling.”

“Point taken. I’m sure I’ll get around to reading the series someday.”

“No better time than the present,” Emma said, rising from her seat, grabbing a candle and taking off down the hall. When she returned with a cardboard box under her arm, she set the candle back on the table, then plopped down on the couch, a huge smile on her face. Placing the box on her lap and lifting the flaps, she pulled out a tattered paperback, holding it up to show Killian. “Where it all began -The Sorcerer’s Stone. In England, it’s called The Philosopher’s Stone, isn’t it?”

“I believe so, yes.” He reached out to take it. “How long have you had this, Swan?” he asked, gingerly opening the cover and turning the pages. The corners were curled and a few pages had fallen out and were stuck back in where they belonged.

“I’ve had that book since high school. I lost track of how many times I read it.” Reaching back into the box, she pulled out another paperback. “You think that one is in bad shape, look at The Order of the Phoenix.” She opened the thick volume in the middle and it came apart in two pieces. “I tried to tape it, but every time I read it, it comes apart again.”

“Are they all in bad shape?”

“The Goblet of Fire isn’t too bad,” she said, pulling it from the box. “That’s my least favorite, so I haven’t read it as much.”

She handed it to Killian, who perused it briefly. “At least it’s in one piece,” he noted. “Have you ever thought about buying new ones?”

She shrugged. “I don’t really mind that they’re falling apart. Replacing them seems like a waste of money, since they’re still readable.”

“Barely,” he commented with a smirk.

“Do you want to read them or not?”

“How about if we read them together?”

“You want to read them out loud?”

“I think it would be fun.”

“I guess it would. I’ve read them many times, but I haven’t read them aloud, so it’ll be a new experience. I’ll go grab a flashlight.” When she returned from the kitchen, she picked up The Sorcerer’s Stone again, opening it to the first chapter and holding it out to him. “Do you want to start?”

“Ladies first, Swan.”

“Being a gentleman again, are you?”

“I told you - I’m always a gentleman.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help the small smile that crossed her lips. Tucking herself into the recliner again, she grabbed a blanket from the floor and threw it over her legs. Then she opened the book, lifted a questioning eyebrow at Killian and, seeing that he was comfortably settled in the corner of the couch, began to read.

They took turns reading chapters for the next four hours, stopping only once for Emma to change into her pajamas, while Killian let the dogs out. They were two-thirds of the way through the book, when both started yawning so often, they could hardly read.

“I think it’s bedtime,” Emma said.

“Aye,” Killian agreed with a jaw-cracking yawn. “I am a bit knackered.”

They took turns carrying a candle into the bathroom to brush their teeth. When Killian returned after making use of the facilities, he found Emma arranging the thick quilt, blankets and pillows on the floor.

“You can have the couch,” she said.

“No, Swan,” he insisted. “You take the couch. The floor is perfectly fine with me.”

“Cinnamon and Cocoa like to sleep beside me. They can’t do that if I’m on the couch.”

“A gentleman would never allow a lady to have a less comfortable spot. Your dogs like me well enough. Perhaps they’ll be fine sleeping on the floor with me.”

“Again with the gentleman rules,” she teased.

“I won’t be able to sleep knowing you’re on the floor.”

“Well, we both slept on the floor last night. I guess we can both sack out there again tonight.”

He chuckled. “I’m okay with that arrangement as long as you are.”

They finished preparing the makeshift bed, then Killian added several logs to the fire, hoping to keep it burning through the night. They blew out the candles and settled onto the quilt, pulling the blankets over themselves. Cocoa lay down between Emma and the fireplace, while Cinnamon paced around the perimeter of the quilt before finally choosing to lay beside Killian.

After lying quietly for a few minutes, Emma spoke softly, “Sometimes I sleep out here even when the power isn’t out. I love the sound of the crackling and popping fire and watching the shadows it creates on the walls. It’s really relaxing, don’t you think?”

“Aye, it really is,” Killian answered in an equally quiet voice. “I’ve never lived anywhere that had a fireplace. Perhaps that will be a requirement when I look for a place in Talkeetna, if I decide to move there.”

A few more peaceful moments passed. “Goodnight, Killian,” Emma whispered.

“Goodnight, Emma. Sweet dreams.”

She went to sleep with a smile on her face and warmth in her heart that couldn’t be attributed to the flames in the fireplace.

*********

Thanks very much for reading!

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Emma jerked awake when she heard a groan in her ear. It took her a few seconds to remember why she was sleeping on the floor and who was beside her. Sitting up abruptly, she looked down at the man, who was shivering sporadically but still unconscious. She yawned widely and stretched her arms above her head, then reached for her phone on the coffee table. She was shocked to see it was nine forty-five in the morning. Since there were so few hours of daylight during the winter months in Alaska, it was always difficult to tell the time.

Before getting to her feet, she grabbed the thermometer and ran it across Killian’s forehead once again. His temperature was much improved and with the groan that woke her, she knew he’d be waking soon. “Hmm,” she hummed. “Using body heat must have worked.”

She heard another groan and glanced over at the man again. His long, dark eyelashes began to flutter against his cheeks. “I think he’s waking up,” she said, with bated breath. The two malamutes got out of their beds and shook out their fluffy coats, then ambled over to check out their visitor.

Just as Cinnamon was sniffing at the man’s ear, his eyes opened and he gasped. The friendly dog licked his cheek before Emma could command him to move away. Killian tried to push himself up, but his arms were pinned to his sides by the blanket that was tucked tightly around him. He began to thrash around in a frenzy.

Emma quickly moved to his side, laying one hand on his chest while shooing her dogs away with the other. “Hey, calm down. It’s okay. They won’t hurt you.”

His eyes shot up to look at her. “Where…” he tried to say, but it came out as a raspy croak.

“I’m Emma Swan,” she said, anticipating his question. “You’re in my cabin. My dogs found you in the woods and we brought you here. I’ve been treating you for hypothermia.”

“Hypo…” He looked confused for a moment, then understanding crossed his features and his head dropped back down to the pillow. “Oh.”

“Do you remember what happened to you?” she asked. “How did you end up in my woods half frozen?”

“I…” he started, then cleared his throat and tried again. “My p-plane…” His teeth were chattering, making it difficult for him to talk.

Emma quickly got to her feet. “I’m sorry. I should get you something hot to drink to help warm you up from the inside. Would you like coffee, hot chocolate or tea?”

“C-coffee would be m-most welcome, th-thank you.”

Even through chattering teeth, she could hear the English accent in his voice. She licked her lips subconsciously, then said, “I’ll go start the coffee maker. Be right back.”

When she returned, he was sitting up, holding the blanket tightly around himself. He looked at her with wide eyes and she was sure he realized he was naked from the waist down. It was confirmed when he asked, “Where are my c-clothes?”

She gestured to the area in front of the fireplace. “I put them there to dry because they were very wet.”

“All of them?”

Her face reddened. “The medical book said it was important to remove all wet clothing that was touching your skin. They, uh, they should be dry by now.” She walked over to the fireplace and pulled his pants from the drying rack, figuring they would be the last article to dry completely. The back and side pockets were still damp. “These aren’t quite dry, yet, but maybe your, um…” Picking up his boxers, she began feeling them, then realized what she was doing. Embarrassed, she flung them at him.

He slowly reached over to pick them up. “How did you…t-take these off?”

“I covered you with a blanket, then I, um…I…I did try not to look!” She wondered why it was suddenly so hot in the cabin.

He blinked a couple of times before the hint of a smile crossed his face. Then he chuckled. “See anything you liked?”

“What? No!” she spluttered. “I barely even…I mean, I didn’t really…I couldn’t…”

Apparently he took pity on her. “It’s fine, M-Miss Swan, or is it M-mrs? You did what you had to d-do and I appreciate it.”

Face still beet red, she bent down to collect his shirt and socks, making sure they were dry before walking over to hand them to him. “Oh… it’s Miss, but you can call me Emma… or Swan or… whatever. Why don’t you get dressed while I make your coffee? Do you take anything in it?”

“Just b-black, please.”

She nodded and hurried from the room, summoning her dogs to follow her. While she waited for the coffee maker to finish, she looked out the window. The snow was still coming down, though not as heavily as last night. She wondered how much of the white stuff had accumulated. She crossed the kitchen and cautiously opened the door to let Cinnamon and Cocoa out. The gust of wind that came in stole the breath out of her lungs.

“Go outside and do your business, boys,” she commanded. The dogs obeyed without hesitation, leaping into the deep snow, which came up to their bellies. She closed the door, knowing her pets would romp around for several minutes. They loved playing in snow, their thick fur making them ideally suited for it.

Emma turned and moved toward the coffee maker, shivering and rubbing her arms from the chill. Droplets of the strong brew were still going into the pot, so she busied herself getting mugs out of the cupboard. It took a lot of will power to keep from peeking into the living room where Killian Jones was dressing himself. She would never be able to face him if he caught her sneaking a glimpse of him naked again.

By the time she got her favorite creamer out of the fridge, the coffee was ready. She poured it into both of the mugs, then added a generous amount of Irish Creme flavored creamer to hers and took a sip. Before carrying them to the living room, she went to the door and called the dogs to come in. Cinnamon came first, slipping and sliding across the kitchen floor. “Cocoa, get in here!” she yelled over the howling wind. She had to wait another twenty seconds for the darker furred dog to make his appearance. Quickly closing the door, she told both of them to go lie down in front of the fireplace.

She carried the mugs into the living room, her shivering causing her to be extra careful not to spill them. Killian was sitting in the middle of the floor with the blanket still draped over his legs, but wearing his flannel shirt.

“You can sit on the couch, Killian,” she told him.

He looked at her quizzically. “How do you know my name?”

“Oh, I, um…I found your wallet in your pants. I hope you don’t mind that I looked at your ID, or rather IDs.”

He slowly got to his feet, continuing to hold the blanket around himself. After settling himself on the couch, he replied, “I don’t mind at all. It seems like the normal thing to do when you have an unconscious stranger in your house.”

She handed him the coffee and he thanked her, gratefully wrapping his hands around the steaming mug. “Are you still cold?” she asked.

“Aye, but at least my teeth stopped chattering,” he said, before taking a cautious sip.

She took a seat on the recliner, folding one leg underneath herself. “I already checked your fingers and toes for frostbite. It doesn’t look like you have any.” Pointing to the book on the coffee table, she added, “It pays to keep a medical book on hand.”

He held his left hand out to examine it, slightly wiggling his fingers. “I agree with your assessment. They don’t feel like pins and needles and they’re not numb.”

Emma took a sip of her coffee and swallowed. “So, how did you end up in my woods? You started to say something about your plane?”

“Aye. I was flying to Talkeetna to meet a friend, when it became too foggy to see anything. I had to make an emergency landing, but I clipped some treetops and damaged my landing gear in the process.” He paused to take another drink of coffee. “I had no choice but to begin walking to find help. When I reached the woods, I thought I would sit down to rest for a bit. I must have lost consciousness.”

“You’re lucky my dogs found you when they did or you would probably be frozen solid right now.”

He looked over to where Cocoa and Cinnamon were obediently lying by the fire. “I owe them - and you - my thanks.”

“You weren’t dressed very warmly.”

He shook his head. “It was only supposed to be a quick trip, but you’re right - I should have been better prepared for an emergency.” He noticed his phone on the coffee table and reached for it. “I should call Will to explain why I didn’t arrive.”

“Um, I’m afraid you won’t be able to do that. I get cell service through a satellite dish and since it’s covered with snow, there’s no signal.”

“The predicted storm must have hit, I take it?”

“Yeah. It looks like at least seven or eight inches have fallen so far and the wind is pretty wicked.”

He sighed. “Looks like you’re going to be stuck with me for a while.”

“It’s no problem,” she assured him. “I have plenty of food and firewood.” She took another sip, keeping her eyes on him over the rim of her mug. “Are you from England? I found your UK driver’s license and veteran’s card.”

“I was born in the United States, but our father left us when I was six, so my mother moved us to England. She was from there originally. After she passed, my brother and I decided to stay on. He was old enough to be my legal guardian by then.”

“So you’re just here visiting?”

“Actually, I moved here after my discharge from the Royal Navy. Will and I decided we were up for a new adventure.”

“Will is your brother?”

Killian swallowed the coffee he just drank. “No, he’s my friend.”

“Did your brother stay in England?”

He dropped his eyes and began picking bits of fuzz off of the blanket. “My brother - his name was Liam - was killed in a car accident almost a year ago. That’s why I retired from the military and moved to Oregon. I needed a fresh start away from so many memories.”

Emma set her mug on the end table beside her, unfolded her legs and leaned forward. “That’s terrible, Killian. I’m so sorry.”

He met her eyes. “Thank you, Emma.”

They were both quiet for several minutes. Finally, Killian asked, “What exactly did you do to treat me for hypothermia, besides removing my wet clothing?”

“Hot water bottle, heavy blankets, roaring fire. It was a slow process. Your body temperature was eighty-four point seven when I first took it.”

He winced and gave a low whistle.

“It was ninety-five this morning.”

He finished his coffee and set the mug on the table. Pulling the blanket up to his chin, he stared at the fire for a long time, before yawning widely. “May I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Did I imagine it, or were you lying beside me when I woke up?”

She ducked her head, feeling the heat creep into her face. “I, uh…I thought adding my body heat might, um, might help make you warm up faster.”

“It must have worked,” he commented, then yawned again, his jaw popping.

“You’re probably going to be very tired the next day or so. Why don’t you lie down while I fix something for breakfast?”

“I hate to keep imposing on you.”

“It’s not an imposition. I would make breakfast for myself anyway. Besides, it looks like you’re going to be stuck here for several days, so you might as well settle in and make yourself at home.”

She rose from her chair and collected the throw pillow from the floor. Handing it to him, she said, “Sleep, Killian. You can eat when you wake up.”

He took the pillow, nodding at her in appreciation. She watched him stretch out on the sofa and pull the blanket over himself, then left the room. When she peeked back in a few minutes later, his soft snores told her he was sound asleep.

*********

When Killian didn’t awaken by noon, Emma fed Cinnamon and Cocoa the scrambled eggs she prepared. Then she bundled up and went out to shovel a small area in the snow for the dogs to do their business. She was glad she stocked her woodpile inside the cabin yesterday, because a huge snowdrift blocked the path to the shed. She estimated she wouldn’t be able to reach the satellite dish for at least a couple of days.

Thoroughly chilled by the time she brought the dogs back in, she decided to make her favorite homemade chicken noodle soup. Over the years, she experimented with different recipes and felt she had perfected it. She always made a large stock pot of it, so she could freeze the leftovers.

As she set the broth to simmer and chopped the vegetables, she frequently glanced into the living room to check on her sleeping guest. He hadn’t stirred from his position on the couch since falling asleep over four hours ago. She was glad she was able to gather information from him while he was awake. At least now she knew how and why he ended up in her woods. Talking to him also set her at ease about him being a threat, because he appeared to be a genuinely nice guy.

Emma tossed pieces of carrot to the dogs, smiling at the enthusiastic crunching of one of their favorite snacks. She scraped the vegetables off the cutting board and into the pot, then opened a cupboard to select spices to add to the soup.

After the soup was bubbling merrily on the stove, she decided to make a loaf of sourdough bread from the starter dough she always kept, humming as she worked. Cooking and baking always made her happy, but more so today, because she could share the final product with another person.

*********

The rich aroma of the soup and freshbaked bread was the first thing Killian noticed when he began to wake. He cracked his eyes open and blinked several times. Once they focused, he saw that the room was empty. He had no idea how long he slept, but apparently Emma Swan and her two huge dogs were elsewhere in the cabin.

Slowly, he sat up and took time to look around the space for the first time. The pieces of furniture were well-worn and sparse - a recliner, coffee table, end table and the sofa on which he sat. Three precariously balanced piles of books were stacked on the coffee table. Turning his head to read the spines, he saw a diverse collection of titles - classics, historical fiction, romance novels, non-fiction and more.

A painting depicting an autumn landscape hung on the wall over the sofa, but there weren’t any photos on the walls or tables that might have told him anything personal about Emma.

Two large dog beds were close to the fireplace, where a fire was still blazing. He figured it was the cabin’s main source of heat. A large woodbox in the corner was heaped with a sizable pile of wood and a basket of kindling sat beside it.

Looking upward, he saw rough-hewn beams across the vaulted ceiling. He wondered if she bought the cabin, or had it built. It wasn’t fancy, but from the little interaction he had with Emma Swan, it seemed to fit her.

Finally, he swung his eyes toward the doorway into the kitchen where he could see Emma standing at the stove. The two huge malamutes sat behind her, tails swishing back and forth on the floor. As she stirred something in a large pot, Killian heard her humming, swaying her backside to the tune. He watched, mesmerized by the sight. There was no denying she was a lovely woman and, based on the great pains she had taken to help a total stranger, she had a good heart, too.

He knew it would be bad form to act on his attraction to her, though. Doing so might make her uncomfortable, and since they were going to be snowed in together for several days, that would make things very awkward.

“Oh, hey. You’re finally awake.”

Killian was startled out of his musing by the voice of the woman he’d been thinking about. She was standing in the doorway, holding a soup ladle and smiling at him.

“Are you hungry?” she asked. “I made some of my patented chicken noodle soup.”

“Patented?”

“Well, it’s not, but it should be. It’s really good, if I do say so myself.”

He hadn’t thought about his hunger, but now that she mentioned it, the delicious aroma made his stomach growl. Emma laughed. “I guess that answers my question.” Using the ladle to gesture, she stated, “I’m sure your pants are dry by now. Why don’t you put them on while I get our lunch ready.” She turned to go back into the kitchen.

Killian pushed himself to his feet, swaying a bit as he acclimated to standing. He retrieved his pants from in front of the fireplace and pulled them on. “Uh, Emma?” he called.

“Yeah?”

“May I use your restroom?”

“Sure. In the hallway, first door on the left.”

When he came back into the living room, Emma had bowls of soup, thick slices of bread and glasses of water set out on the coffee table, along with spoons and napkins. “I hope water is okay. I try not to drink soda very often, but I do have some if that’s what you prefer.”

“Water is fine with me,” Killian said. “I probably need to rehydrate, anyway.” He seated himself on the sofa and allowed her to pick up a bowl of soup, before he took the other one. “This smells delicious.”

“I hope you like it,” she replied, taking a seat in the recliner.

He could see her watching him expectantly as he dipped his spoon in and brought it to his mouth. After blowing on it to cool, he put it in his mouth and closed his eyes in pleasure. The soup was full of carrots, celery, onions, and chunks of tender chicken, with a hearty broth that had the perfect blend of spices.

When he opened his eyes, Emma was still looking at him, biting her bottom lip in anticipation. “Well?” she questioned.

“It’s the best soup I’ve ever eaten, bar none,” he assured her.

Her cheeks turned a pretty pink. “Really?”

“Absolutely. Did you come up with this recipe yourself?”

“I used to eat the condensed canned stuff, but it always tasted too salty, so I started experimenting. I tried different kinds of noodles, vegetables and spices. There’s a farmers market in town once a month and I buy a few fryer chickens to keep in my freezer. When I cook one, I save the broth and divide the meat into Ziploc bags to make a couple of batches of soup.”

Killian took another bite, savoring the rich broth as it warmed his throat. “It’s truly delicious, Emma. Just what the doctor ordered.”

She ducked her head at his praise, dipping her spoon into her own bowl. “I’m glad you like it. I’ve never made it for anyone else.”

“I assume you made the bread, too?” he asked.

“Yeah. It’s from a sourdough starter I bought at the farmers market several months ago.”

“And it’s still good?”

“A starter will last forever as long as you feed it some flour and water once in a while.”

“You make it sound like it’s a living thing.”

“It is, in a way. It’s dough made from a mixture of flour and water that ferments over time, creating a living culture of wild yeast and bacteria.”

“So I’m eating bacteria?” he asked with a slight grimace.

She laughed. “It’s good bacteria. The culture is what gives sourdough its flavor and allows it to rise.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“It does require attention, but I don’t mind. I try lots of different recipes with it, like cinnamon sugar, rosemary garlic, and roasted garlic and herb.”

“Which one is this one?”

“Just plain sourdough.”

“Well, for being made from bacteria, it’s delicious,” he grinned.

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t keep the corners of her lips from turning up in a smile. “Thank you.”

They ate in silence until his bowl was empty and his bread was gone. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” he commented.

“There’s plenty of soup and bread left. Would you like more? ” she asked, starting to rise from her chair.

He held up his hand to stop her. “Finish eating. I can get it.”

She smiled at him and sank back down. He stood, collected his bowl and headed to the kitchen, stopping to scratch both dogs behind their ears on the way. After refilling his bowl and cutting another generous chunk of bread, he carefully carried them back and resumed his seat.

“Are you a dog person?” she asked.

“I like most animals, but dogs happen to be my favorite. Especially now that these two saved my life.” He ate several mouthfuls of his soup, before looking up to see her watching him. She quickly lowered her eyes. He set down his bowl and took a drink of water, then said, “May I ask you a question, Emma?”

She shrugged slightly. “That’s fair, since I grilled you earlier.”

“I don’t wish to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s fine. You have a right to know something about the person you’re gonna be stuck with for a few days.”

“I could think of worse circumstances,” he grinned.

“What do you want to know?”

“How long have you had your dogs?”

She blinked, obviously surprised at the question. He was sure she was expecting something more personal. “Oh, uh, I got them four years ago when I moved here. I did research into the best breed for this climate and a malamute was one of the breeds suggested. I planned to only get one dog, but I found an animal shelter that had a pair of puppies who were abandoned by their mother. I couldn’t stand to split them up, so I adopted both of them. It’s the best thing I ever did. I don’t know what I would do without them. They’re my best friends.”

“They’re beautiful animals, and very well trained.”

“Thank you.” After almost a minute, she asked, “Is that the only question you have?”

He reached up to scratch behind his ear. “I don’t want to overstep.”

“Let me guess. You want to know why I live out in the middle of nowhere by myself, with only a pair of dogs for company.”

“The thought did cross my mind.”

She set down her empty bowl then shifted in her seat, tucking her feet underneath her. “I’ve always been a loner. You tend to be that way when you’ve never had a family.”

“Never?” he questioned, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

“Not really,” she said. “I was abandoned at birth. My case worker said I was nearly adopted twice, but apparently the families changed their minds, so I grew up in the foster care system. At sixteen, I ran away from a group home and they never found me. Or they didn’t try, I don’t know. In any case, I was on my own when I was barely old enough to drive. I found a job as a waitress in an old, run-down diner. When the owner found out I didn’t have a home, she let me stay in her office. It had a ratty but comfortable couch to sleep on and she let me eat for free. That worked for almost three years, before she closed the diner due to her ill health. By that time, I was dating a guy who asked me to move in with him.”

She paused, glancing up at him. He figured she was gauging his reaction to her story, so he carefully schooled his features.

After several moments, she continued. “He was eight years older than me and professed to love me. I didn’t have a place to live, so I convinced myself I was in love with him, too. It lasted a little over a year until I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“You couldn’t take what anymore?” he pressed gently.

She pulled off a bit of bread and rolled it between her fingers into a doughball, her eyes trained on the movement. “His verbal abuse. He was constantly telling me how worthless I was and how it was no wonder my parents hadn’t wanted me. Things like that. I never had much self-esteem to begin with and he seemed intent on tearing down what little I had left.”

“What a bloody prat,” Killian spat.

“I guess he thought he had the right, since he was providing me a place to live.”

“Nobody has the right to do that, Emma.”

“I know, but at the time, I didn’t have any other options. I worked three jobs until I finally saved enough money to leave him. On the day I planned to move out, he came home early and caught me packing. He was so mad, he shoved me out of the apartment and locked the door. When I shouted that I needed my stuff, he threw the bag I’d started packing out the window into the street. Fortunately, I hadn’t taken my money out of the bank yet, so I was able to withdraw it and get the hell out of that town. I lived in Montana, working and taking classes to get a degree in cyber security, then got an online job with a financial firm. I stayed there for three years. Then one day, I saw a real estate listing for this cabin and fell in love with it. I got it for a bargain because it had been on the market for a very long time. Seems nobody else was interested in living miles away from civilization in Alaska. So I bought the cabin, which included twenty-five acres of land and the woods, rescued my dogs, and here I am.”

Her story came to an end and silence ensued for a time. Finally, Killian remarked, “You’re quite the survivor, Swan.”

She gave him a shy smile. “So are you.”

“Do you still work for the financial company?”

“Yes. They’re very understanding when my internet service is wonky. It’s really the perfect job for me because I can work from home and the pay is great.” She ate her last bite of bread, chewing slowly and swallowing, before saying, “How are you feeling?”

“Much better, thank you.”

“Another thing that helps with hypothermia is a hot bath. Would you like to take one? I’ve got a nice, deep, claw-foot tub.”

He considered for a moment. He hated to keep taking advantage of her hospitality, but despite the blankets, fire, coffee and soup, he still felt a chill in his bones. “That actually sounds very inviting, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I’ll only mind if you use all of my bubble bath,” she quipped, getting up and heading toward the hallway.

“I can’t make any promises,” he teased back. “I do love a good bubble bath.” He heard her laugh as she disappeared into the bathroom.

He collected their empty bowls, spoons and plates, carried them to the kitchen and put them in the sink. He noticed the burner was still on under the pot of soup and wondered if he should turn it off, but decided he would leave that up to her. He only wished to help, but this was her home and she was very clearly independent and could take care of things herself.

Going back to the living room, he wandered to the window and looked out. He couldn’t tell if the snow was still coming down or if it was just being blown around by the strong wind. Turning around, Killian noticed the butt of a gun sitting on the floor in the corner, nearly hidden by the curtains. He pulled the panel aside to reveal a rifle, which made him think how oddly appealing it was for a woman to be able to handle a firearm.

“Please don’t mess with that.”

Her voice startled him, causing him to jump slightly. Looking over his shoulder, he could see her standing in the doorway with an exasperated look on her face.

“I’m sorry,” he said, dropping the curtain and turning around. “I was looking out the window and happened to notice it, but I didn’t touch it. Do you keep it here so it’s handy when you see wildlife outside?”

“Actually,” she said, then hesitated and seemed to consider something, before going on. “I put it there last night in case I…needed to protect myself.”

Understanding dawned on him. “From me?”

She shrugged slightly. “You could have been a fugitive, running from the law, for all I knew.”

“You’re quite a resourceful lass,” he said sincerely. “And I’m very glad I didn’t give you any cause to use it.”

“Not as glad as I am,” she said, making him smile. “The bath water is ready. I put a pair of flannel sleep pants that are really baggy on me and one of my biggest T-shirts in the bathroom. They might fit you, but I’m afraid I can’t help you with underwear.”

“That’s alright,” he grinned. “I can go commando.”

“Not in my clothes, you won’t,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him in mock seriousness.

“And yet your blanket was touching my private bits all night.”

Her face reddened. “Just go take your bath before the water gets cold. I put a towel and washcloth on the counter.”

“Thank you, Milady,” he remarked, giving her a wink as he walked past.

The bathroom was toasty warm, thanks to the steamy water in the old-fashioned tub and the small space heater in the corner. After dipping his fingers in the water to test the temperature, Killian stripped down and stepped into the tub, sinking down in the pleasant warmth with a sigh.

He soaked for quite a while, before washing his hair and himself. He was in the midst of rinsing off when suddenly the lights flickered several times, then went out, leaving him in complete darkness.

He was pondering what to do, when he heard a light tapping on the door. “Uh, Killian. The power is out.”

“I noticed,” he replied dryly.

“Are you dressed?”

“No, I’m still in the bathtub.”

“Oh. Can you see anything at all?”

“I’m afraid it’s pitch black. I can’t see my hand in front of my face.”

“Yeah, there’s no window. I have a candle I can bring in if that’s okay. I’ll just bring it in and set it on the counter, then leave.”

“Not going to sneak a peek this time, Swan?”

There was silence and he wondered if he had offended her. He really didn’t know her well enough to predict how she would take his good-natured ribbing.

“I could just leave you in the dark, you know.” He could hear the teasing tone in her voice.

“My sincerest apologies. I would greatly appreciate your assistance,” he said.

“That’s better. I’m coming in now.”

The door opened and he saw her face illuminated by a burning wick atop a glass jar. She set it down, explaining, “I use oil candles. I can refill the oil when it runs out and the wick doesn’t burn down.”

“Very efficient,” he commented. “Thank you, Lass.”

“Hopefully, it will give you enough light to be able to dry off and get dressed. I have to go to my storage room and start the generator. It powers my fridge and water pump.”

She exited the room, closing the door behind her.

Killian carefully climbed out of the tub and grabbed the towel off of the counter. He quickly dried off, then picked up the candle, shining it around the room to locate the clothes hanging on the back of the door. After pulling on his boxers, he dressed in the sleep pants and T-shirt. They were a little snug, but wearable and it felt good to be in clean clothes.

Carrying the candle, he went out into the living room. Emma was lighting another glass jar on the mantle. “We only have about another hour of daylight, so I’m gonna go ahead and light the candles now.”

“Does the power go out often?” he asked.

“Often enough, especially when we get heavy snow and wind.”

“How long is it usually out?”

“Sometimes for days, until the linemen are able to get out this way. I’m prepared, though. Besides the generator and candles, I have a gas water heater and stove, and the fireplace for heat. I usually close off my bedroom and just sleep out here.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Killian asked.

“No, thanks. It’s pretty routine for me.”

As she moved across the room to light another candle on the coffee table, he asked, “Do you ever get nervous about living by yourself so far away from civilization?”

“Not really. I’m self-sufficient. Besides, if anything did happen to me, who would care? I don’t have any family or friends.”

“I would care,” he said quietly.

She glanced at him briefly, but the shadows across her face prevented him from reading her expression. If she responded, she did it so quietly, he couldn’t hear her. Then she turned and went down the hall to her bedroom.

Killian knew he probably shouldn’t have said anything, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad about it. Nobody should feel like they didn’t matter to anyone, especially the lovely Emma Swan.

*********

Thank you for reading! Chapter 3 will be posted on Friday.

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“Bloody hell,” Killian Jones muttered, squinting to see through the fog that had suddenly formed around his small plane. He wasn’t trained to fly by instruments only - he had to see his surroundings as well. Right now, visibility was rapidly diminishing and he knew he had to find a place to land.

The weather forecast he checked before flying out gave plenty of details about the snowstorm expected the next day, but hadn’t said anything about developing fog. Peering through the mist, he thought he saw a small forest of trees with an open field beyond it.

He pushed the button on his headset and spoke into it, calling out a mayday and giving the plane’s tail number. After saying a quick prayer, he began his descent.

Unfortunately, he misjudged the distance and cringed as he heard and felt his landing gear hit the tops of the trees, luckily managing to maintain control. Several moments later, the wheels forcefully touched down on the frozen terrain, jarring him violently. Cursing, he throttled down. The plane bumped along the ground for another three hundred yards before it finally came to a stop.

Killian rubbed his hands over his face in agitation. This was supposed to be a quick flight to Talkeetna, Alaska, where his Navy buddy Will had jobs lined up for the both of them. Now, he was stuck out in the middle of God knows where without transportation.

He blew out a frustrated breath before sending another message. “Mayday! Mayday! This is N3759 Foxtrot. I made an emergency landing approximately sixty miles southeast of Talkeetna,” he told the air traffic controller. After receiving a reply that sending help wasn’t possible, he began to weigh his options. He could stay in his plane and wait for help from someone in the vicinity, but since his aircraft was white and blended in with the fog, it seemed unlikely anyone would spot him anytime soon. He was also concerned about the prediction of a substantial storm moving in within a matter of hours.

If the fog dissipated soon and his landing gear was okay, he might get lucky and have a few hours left to attempt to fly out of his predicament. But hearing the gear hitting the treetops as he came down, he wasn’t optimistic about its condition, and from what he could see, the snow already on the ground would make takeoff difficult. He figured his first step was to inspect the landing gear.

Pulling out his phone, he wasn’t surprised to see he had no cell service, so trying to call local authorities for help wasn’t possible. He couldn’t even contact Will to explain why he wouldn’t be arriving as expected. He was sure his friend would never let him live it down.

If he lived through this experience.

Shaking his head against the negative thoughts, he considered his final option - leaving the plane to search for shelter. He unbuckled his seat belt, got to his feet, grabbed his parka from the passenger seat, and went into the back of the plane.

He had packed lightly for this trip, intending to simply check out Talkeetna and the job Will found. Now he was kicking himself for not being better prepared in the event of an emergency. Unzipping his duffle bag, he pulled out his gray woolen beanie, gloves and a thick pair of socks. He sat down in one of the seats, removed his boots and swapped out his lightweight socks for the heavier ones. Then he put his boots back on, wishing he had worn his water-resistant snow boots instead of the black leather ones.

After exiting the plane, he knelt to check the landing gear on the left side. He dug through the snow, cursing when he found the torque arm broken. Even if the fog lifted immediately, there was no way he could take off with that damage.

He stood up and looked around, unable to discern anything through the white blanket of fog. Instinct told him to head back the way he came. If nothing else, he might be able to find shelter in the copse of trees he clipped. He securely fastened his parka, pulled on the beanie and gloves, and set off through the snow.

By the time he reached the edge of the forest, his fingers and toes were beginning to tingle and his face was getting numb. Wading through the snow was quickly taxing his energy, so he made his way over to a large tree, cleared a spot at the base of it, and sat down with his back against the thick trunk. He needed to rest, just for a few minutes.

*********

Emma Swan switched off the television after watching the latest weather update. “Well, boys, it looks like you better run off some of your energy outside before the storm hits,” she told her Alaskan malamutes, Cocoa and Cinnamon, who perked up their ears at the word ‘outside’. She walked over to her coat closet and pulled out her heavy tan Carhartt work coat. As she shrugged it on, she continued, “I’m going to carry in more firewood, because we may be stuck inside for a few days.”

When Emma headed toward the door of her small cabin, the dogs leapt to their feet and sprinted past her. She opened the door, happy to see the fog that had surrounded her home all morning was finally dissipating, allowing her to see all the way to the woods a quarter of a mile away. She told her pets they could run to the woods, knowing they would obey, after all the training she had given them.

Pulling her favorite red beanie over her blonde hair, she smiled fondly as she watched them racing each other to the woods, their playful yips echoing across the snowy landscape. She tugged on her well-worn leather gloves, retrieved the sling she used to carry wood from the hook in the kitchen, stepped outside and closed the door behind herself.

Emma made her way to the woodpile located against the side of the small shed to the left of her home. She untied the ropes holding the heavy tarp in place and threw it off, revealing the neatly stacked logs. She took pride in the fact that she had cut down the trees and split the wood herself during the summer, in order to have an ample supply ready for winter. Cinnamon and Cocoa had hauled several loads from the woods to the house. At that time, the sled they pulled was mounted on wheels; now it was equipped with runners to glide over the snow. It was a big expense when she purchased it, but it came in handy on numerous occasions and was money well spent.

She filled the sling with pieces of wood, carried it into the cabin, emptied it into the woodbox in front of the hearth, and went back outside to get another load. As she walked across the space between the cabin and the shed, she heard her dogs barking excitedly. Assuming they probably came across a rabbit, fox, or some other form of wildlife common in the area, she didn’t break stride. They often discovered creatures in the woods and chased them until they grew bored or ran the animal up a tree.

As she hauled the second load toward the house, her brow furrowed when she saw Cocoa running out of the woods at breakneck speed, barking frantically. “Oh, no,” she whispered. “Cinnamon…” Fearing that something happened to the other dog, she dropped the bag and started running through the snow, her feet feeling clumsy in her cumbersome boots.

Suddenly, Cocoa turned and ran back toward the woods, just as Cinnamon sprinted out, barking and howling. Emma breathed out a sigh of relief, seeing that the other dog was fine. She whistled shrilly, her signal for her pets to return to her. They always obeyed without fail, but this time, they continued running back and forth, never stopping their frenzied barking.

“You better not be making such a fuss because of a stupid squirrel,” she muttered, continuing to plod toward them.

When she finally reached the edge of the woods, the dogs came running to meet her. “What is up with you two?” she puffed, out of breath from hurrying through the snow. Cinnamon forcefully nudged at the back of her legs, urgent whines coming from deep in his throat. “What’s wrong, boys?” she asked, her concern growing. She had never seen them behave this way.

The dogs darted away through the trees, looking back periodically to make sure she was still following them. They came to a halt beside a very large tree, pawing at something on the other side of it. Emma caught up to them and circled around the tree. “What the hell?” she gasped, dropping to her knees.

The man propped up against the tree appeared to be dead. His eyes were closed, his lips were blue, and she couldn’t see any signs of him breathing. Not bothering to check his pulse - she wouldn’t be able to feel it with her gloves on anyway - she reached out and shook his shoulder. “Hey, mister. Wake up!” Getting no response, she used both hands to shake him harder. “Wake up!” she shouted again.

His head lolled to the side and she could see bits of ice clinging to his long, dark lashes. “No, no, no,” she chanted, slapping his face with her gloved hands. “Come on, mister. I don’t want a dead body in my woods.”

Laying him flat on the ground, she didn’t see any vapor from him exhaling air, so she leaned down, placing her cheek close to his mouth, hoping to feel even the hint of a breath. She thought she did, but didn’t dare hope, figuring it was her imagination. Straddling his body, she began giving him chest compressions, uttering a mantra of ‘come on, come on, come on’. After the compressions, she covered his mouth with her own and administered rescue breaths, his lips ice cold under hers. She repeated the process and studied him carefully for any sign of life. “Son of a bitch,” she muttered as she began chest compressions again, not ready to give up yet.

When she thought she heard a groan, she leaned down and listened closely. “Do it again,” she encouraged, holding her breath until she heard another low moan. “He’s alive!” she exclaimed, causing her dogs to start barking again. Her relief was short lived when she remembered she still had an unconscious man in her woods with a major snowstorm due to arrive within an hour or two.

She struggled to her feet and ordered Cinnamon and Cocoa to lie down across the man’s torso. Moving as quickly as possible, she went to get the sled from her shed. The trip back to the man in the woods seemed to take twice as long than it really did. By the time she returned, she was sweating with exertion and her lungs hurt from breathing in cold air.

This time, she pulled off a glove and held two fingers against the man’s throat. Feeling a slow, weak pulse, she ignored her own discomfort and got to work. First, she hitched the dogs to the sled then, with a lot of effort, rolled the man onto it.

“Okay, boys. Home!” she commanded. The dogs immediately obeyed, easily pulling the sled through the trees and over the field separating the woods from the cabin. Emma followed on foot, trying and failing to keep up with them. She was in excellent shape, but four trips through the snow, fighting off panic and trying to formulate a plan all the while, were taking a toll on her.

Cinnamon and Cocoa were standing in front of the cabin by the time she made it back. “Good…dogs,” she panted, bending over to unhitch them from the sled. Next, she was faced with the problem of getting the man into her home. “Come on, Emma, think!” she commanded herself. She went into the cabin, rapidly scanning the space for anything that might help. Spotting the heavy quilt on the back of her overstuffed sofa, she snatched it up and took it outside. Laying it alongside the sled, she rolled him onto it, then grabbed two of the corners and began to tug.

By the time she got him over the threshold, through the small kitchen and into the living room area, she was almost crying with exhaustion. She shed her hat, gloves, boots and parka. Leaning over the man, she unzipped his coat and studied his chest, relieved when she saw it rising and falling shallowly.

She walked to the fireplace and threw on a couple of logs to get it blazing. Then she went to the bookshelf, searching for her medical handbook. Pulling the thick volume from the top shelf, she flipped to the index and looked up hypothermia. After scanning the symptoms, she realized from his loss of consciousness that his hypothermia could be either moderate or severe. She could deal with moderate; severe would mean an emergency run to the hospital, which was over an hour away. If it came to that, she wasn’t sure how she would be able to get him into her SUV to transport him. In addition, she would be driving right into the winter storm heading her way. She could call 911 for an ambulance, but it would take at least half-an-hour for it to arrive, and by that time, the snowstorm would have started. She just had to hope it wasn’t severe.

Going into her bathroom, she took the thermometer from her medicine cabinet and hurried back to the living room. She knelt beside the man and pulled off his hat, releasing a shock of thick, dark hair. Having purchased the same type of thermometer used in hospitals, she pressed the power button, then ran it across his forehead. Holding her breath, she looked at the readout. “Eighty-four point seven,” she breathed. Quickly checking the medical book, she was relieved to see that it fell in the middle of the moderate hypothermia range.

“Okay, I need to take off his wet clothes,” Emma announced to her pets, who were nervously pacing, whining and nosing at the stranger lying in the middle of the floor. After pulling off his gloves, she set to work trying to remove his coat. She managed to slip his right arm out, then moved to the other side and tugged the coat out from underneath him.

She methodically removed his flannel shirt, boots, wet socks and pants, leaving him in a white undershirt and black boxers. She hoped that was as much as she needed to do, but she also knew it was important to take off all wet clothing. His parka protected the top part of him from the weather, leaving his undershirt dry. However, he had been sitting in the snow and his pants were soaked, so she was reasonably sure his underwear would be, as well.

“Sorry, mister, but I’m gonna have to invade your personal space,” she explained to the unconscious man. After flexing her fingers and taking a deep breath, she slid a hand under his buttocks and just as she suspected, the material was sodden. Sighing, she sat back on her heels and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Seriously, You couldn’t do me just this one favor?” she asked the Man upstairs.

She stood up and went into her bedroom to retrieve a thick, fleece blanket from her bed, planning to cover him up as she pulled his briefs off. She took it back into the living room and spread it over him, then went to the fireplace, grabbed the poker and jabbed at the burning logs. As she watched the sparks fly, she chided herself for being a coward by delaying what she had to do.

Kneeling beside him, she reached under the blanket, her hands searching for the waistband of his underwear. When her right hand came in direct contact with his crotch, she pulled it back as if she’d been burned. Cocoa lifted his head to look at her from his position on the opposite side of the man. “Don’t judge me,” Emma told him. He gave a little huff and laid his head back down on his paws.

She raised the blanket and peeked under it to get an idea of where she needed to put her hands. This time, she succeeded in grasping the waistband, but when she tried to tug the briefs down, they didn’t budge. She wasn’t in a good position to pull the wet material from under his rear and down his legs. With a sinking feeling, she knew she would have to remove the blanket and straddle him to get it done.

As she pushed the blanket above his waist, she mumbled, “Don’t be such a prude, Emma. It’s not like you haven’t seen a naked man before.” That was nearly seven years ago, before said man broke her heart and caused her to embark on the solitary life she now led.

Attempting to protect the unconscious man’s dignity, Emma focused her gaze on the clock on her mantle as she wrangled his underwear down his legs. Once she finally had the soggy garment off, she reached for the blanket to drag it back over him. While rubbing it over him to remove excess moisture, curiosity got the best of her. When her eyes flicked to his groin, they widened at the sight. Even flaccid, his cock was impressive.

She quickly yanked the blanket into place, face flaming hot with embarrassment.

Throughout the entire ordeal of having his clothes removed, the man showed no signs of waking. Emma noticed his lack of shivering which, according to the book, was another symptom of moderate hypothermia. It also said it was important to warm his abdomen first, so she went into her bathroom, turning on the water to give it time to get hot. Then she searched through the cupboard under her sink to find an old-fashioned water bottle she sometimes used to warm the foot of her bed on especially cold nights.

After filling the bottle, she carried it into the living room, glanced at the fire to make sure it was still blazing, and sat down on the floor beside the man. She pulled the blanket down and placed the water bottle on his chest, but instead of immediately covering him back up, she took his hand and studied his skin for several long moments. It was very pale and cold. She examined his fingers carefully for frostbite, then moved to do the same to his toes. After referencing her medical guide, she determined that although they were white, they were not yet in danger. They just needed a lot of warmth.

She tucked the blanket tightly around him and grabbed a throw pillow off of the couch to put under his head. Sitting back down, she wrapped her arms around her knees, murmuring, “Well, that’s all I can do for now.”

This was the first opportunity she had to really look at the man she rescued. He appeared to be in his early thirties and was physically fit with well-defined muscles. Dark scruff highlighted with hints of auburn covered his angular jaw. Equally dark hair framed slightly pointed ears and fell across his forehead. Emma reached over and brushed strands of it away from his brows, admitting to herself that the man was incredibly handsome.

She wondered how he came to be in the woods. Surely he wasn’t trying to hike across the terrain. He wasn’t dressed appropriately for that. Maybe he was driving and had car trouble, but she hadn’t spotted a vehicle anywhere during her trip to the woods. She supposed she would have to wait until he regained consciousness to find out his story.

After sitting with him for ten minutes, she decided to make some hot chocolate. It was how she always rewarded herself after spending much of the day outside.

Checking the clock above the sink, she saw it was time to feed her pets. As soon as they heard the food being poured into their bowls, Cinnamon and Cocoa came running. “Sit,” Emma commanded and they obeyed immediately. She set their bowls on the floor and released them, their crunching and slurping sounds filling the kitchen as they ate.

She pulled out the ingredients for her beverage and set to work preparing it on her gas stove, inhaling the sweet scent of chocolate with a smile. The open layout of her cabin allowed her to glance frequently at the man. He didn’t show any signs of regaining consciousness.

None of the leftovers in the refrigerator appealed to her, so she tossed a package of popcorn in the microwave. Once the cocoa was hot enough, she poured it into her favorite oversized mug, topping it with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Then she carried the mug and bowl of popcorn into the living room.

After carefully setting the mug on the coffee table, she sat down on the sofa and pulled open the bag of popcorn. She tossed a couple of pieces to each dog, then told them, “No more,” to keep them from begging. They obediently went to their beds and lay down. Cinnamon curled up to sleep with his bushy tail over his muzzle, while Cocoa started licking his paws.

Emma began munching the popcorn, pausing occasionally to take a few sips of hot chocolate. After eating half the bag, she wiped her right hand on her sweatpants and picked up the novel she was in the middle of reading. She tried to focus on the words, but couldn’t keep her eyes from straying to the man on the floor. She wasn’t surprised he hadn’t awakened yet, since his body temperature was so low. Although he appeared still and calm, she knew his body was working hard to warm itself up.

Pulling up the weather app on her phone, she saw the big blob of blue and purple, indicating the storm was nearly upon them. She stood up abruptly, causing both dogs to jump to their feet, also. “Come on, guys. You need to go out before the weather gets too bad.”

They trotted behind her through the kitchen and when she opened the door, a blast of cold air and snow flurries blew in. Wrapping her arms around herself, she commanded, “Hurry up and do your business.” The dogs ran outside toward their favorite spot behind the shed. Emma slipped on her boots and coat so she could dash outside to retrieve the sling of wood she dropped earlier. She took it inside, and closed the door behind her. Soon, she heard the dogs scratching at the door and let them in, noticing that the snow was beginning to fall. “Good boys,” she praised, going to the cupboard to get them each a treat.

Emma was sure her satellite dish would soon be covered with snow and she would literally be cut off from the outside world. The only reason she had the internet was because two years ago, T-mobile was trying to earn bragging rights for having the best coverage, so they were handing out satellite dishes like candy. That gave people in remote locations like hers the ability to get online. However, if the wind was too strong and blew snow into the dish, her connection was lost until she was able to get outside to clear it off, which was usually several days when a blizzard came through.

She never minded being snowed in. Whenever a major snowstorm was predicted, she made sure she had plenty of supplies and firewood. Then when the storm hit, she enjoyed hunkering down with a cozy fire, blankets, a pile of books, a couple of jigsaw puzzles, hot cocoa and her two furry companions. Having a stranger in her home may make that routine a bit less comfortable.

Suddenly, a disconcerting thought entered her mind. What if this man was dangerous and posed a threat to her? She was going to be snowed in with him, and if the pattern for bad winter storms in this part of Alaska held true, it could be for several days. Her dogs were there to protect her, but they had never dealt with an intruder before and she hadn’t trained them to attack.

She did have a rifle in her bedroom closet that she used for hunting. Perhaps she should put it somewhere more accessible in the event she would have to defend herself. Even if she did manage to maintain cell phone service, first responders wouldn’t be able to reach her in time to help.

Emma went into the bedroom and retrieved the gun, loaded it and engaged the safety. Then she carried it to the living room and contemplated where to put it. She wanted it out of sight, but also within reach if she needed it in a hurry. Finally deciding on the corner beside the fireplace, she leaned it against the wall, then walked around the room to see if it was visible. The only way he would be able to see it is if he was standing against the north wall facing the fireplace, which was on the west wall, and there was very little chance of him doing that.

Satisfied with the precautions in place, she settled back down on the sofa, studying the man on the floor once again. He didn’t appear to be nefarious, but everyone tended to look innocent when they were sleeping.

As she absentmindedly ate the popcorn left in the bag, she began imagining scenarios of how the man came to be in the woods. Maybe he was on the run from the law, wanted for murder or some other terrible crime. Or perhaps he was a good Samaritan on his way to help a friend when his car broke down. He could be a veterinarian attempting to get to a ranch where he would deliver a new foal.

Her musing roused her curiosity to the point that she rose from her seat to check through the pockets of his clothing to see if they held any clues to his identity. First she searched his coat pockets, finding nothing helpful. Then she went through his cargo pants, where she found his phone and wallet. Earlier, she had been in such a hurry to get the wet clothes off of him that she hadn’t thought to take things out of the pockets.

After glancing at him briefly to make sure he wasn’t waking up, she opened the wallet, quickly locating his Oregon driver’s license. “Killian Jones,” she read aloud. “That doesn’t sound like a bad guy’s name, does it, boys?”

Cocoa lifted his head and cocked it one way, then the other, giving her a puzzled look.

“At least I know what to call him now,” Emma went on. She continued looking through the wallet, finding a pilot’s license, HM armed forces veteran’s card and a UK driving license. “Apparently he’s from England,” she mumbled. “Wonder how he ended up in the US?” In the compartment with his paper money, she found a small patch of gold material with an anchor on it and realized he must have been in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy.

She replaced everything and set his wallet and phone on the coffee table, feeling a little more at ease. Knowing he was a veteran gave her the impression that he was a good guy, but her instincts hadn’t always been correct, so she still needed to be cautious.

Looking at the pile of wet clothing at her feet, she reprimanded herself for leaving them in a heap on the floor instead of spreading them out to dry. She didn’t have the luxury of owning a dryer, considering it an unnecessary expense. It didn’t bother her if it took a couple of days for her clothes to dry. She was sure it would bother Killian Jones if he didn’t have any clothes to wear when he woke up, though.

She set to work draping his socks and underwear on the edge of the hearth, arranging his boots on their sides, and laying each piece of his clothing over a wooden drying rack in front of the fireplace.

When she finished, she walked to the window and looked out. The security light she had mounted to the top of the shed illuminated the snow, which was falling heavily now. She watched, mesmerized, for several minutes, before turning away from the window. After collecting her empty mug and popcorn bag, she took them into the kitchen, rinsed the mug and put it in the sink, then threw the bag in the trash.

“Might as well get ready for bed, huh boys?” she said, as she walked through the living room. Talking to her dogs might seem weird to some people, but they were her best friends and her only link with other living beings most of the time.

Emma went through her nighttime skin care routine, brushed and flossed her teeth and put on her pajamas. Killian Jones was still unconscious when she re-entered the living room, but she noticed that he was starting to shiver. She took it as a good sign that her treatment was beginning to work.

She removed the hot water bottle from under the blanket and took it to the bathroom, emptying the now tepid water. Then she refilled it with hot water. Sitting down on the floor beside him again, she folded the blanket down to his waist. Instead of putting the water bottle on top of his shirt, she peeled it back to place it on his bare chest. She wasn’t prepared to see the sexy dusting of dark hair across his entire torso, culminating in a thin trail that disappeared under the blanket. Blushing, Emma recalled what else was under the blanket.

She slid his shirt down over the hot water bottle and placed his hands on top of it, then gently pulled the blanket up, tucking it under his shoulder blades. Collecting the thermometer off of the coffee table, she took his temperature again. It had gone up almost two degrees, but was still far below normal.

“It’s a slow process,” she explained to her pets. She moved to the couch and picked up the remote control for the television, but when she turned it on, the message telling her it was unable to obtain a signal flashed on the screen. “Looks like the satellite dish is covered already.”

Cocoa and Cinnamon were curled up in their beds on the floor at the end of the sofa. Most nights, they followed her into her bedroom and slept in her bed, one on each side, creating an Emma sandwich, but tonight they looked so cozy and content, she hated to disturb them. She also didn’t want to leave the unconscious man alone through the night.

Rising to her feet, she went to toss another log onto the fire, then stood looking down at Killian Jones. She had done all she could to warm him up except for one thing - the medical book suggested body heat. Did she dare lie down beside him to help speed up the process?

She knew he probably wouldn’t regain consciousness until his body was nearly back to a normal temperature. That would take at least several more hours, so he shouldn’t wake up during the night.

Making her decision, she went into her bedroom to grab a pillow and another heavy fleece blanket off of her bed. The quilt underneath Killian was large enough to fit both of them and because it was lying on top of her thick area rug, it should be fairly comfortable.

After dropping her pillow on the floor, Emma stretched the quilt out and lay down beside Killian, leaving several inches between them. “I guess lending you my body heat isn’t gonna be effective unless I’m actually touching you, is it?” she murmured. She threw the fleece blanket over herself, then sucked in a deep breath and rolled onto her left side so that her body was against his. Wrapping her arm around his waist, she adjusted herself until she was snug, all the while holding her breath that he would wake up. Of course, the goal was for him to regain consciousness eventually - she just preferred that it not be while she was embracing him.

It had been years since she slept next to another person, so she figured it would take her a long time to fall asleep - if she did at all - but within minutes, she was out like a light.

*********

Chapter 2 will be posted early next week. Thanks for reading!

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