Ghost of the Forest - Ch. 3 & 4

The Ghost of the Forest

Chapter Three

She moved with grace enough befitting an angel as she moved along the path in front of him.  He watched almost feeling intoxicated as her small structured hips sway before him.  Drinking in her scent he followed not knowing where she was leading him.  He didn’t care where, he was happy enough just to be in her presence.  She stopped and turned to him with a devious smile.  The wooded area behind her was large and full, the sky was darkening as sun began to set.  However, Drogo could not see the sky as he looked up to view the enormous canopy above his head.  He felt at home here, like he should be here.  Turning his attention back to his delicious leader he hadn’t even noticed when she had walked away.　

“Are you coming?”

“Right behind you min engel.”

“I wasn’t sure you would be comfortable here or not.”

“This is perfect. I’m more at ease out of doors.”　

Drogo followed willingly as she left the path and approached a small but beautiful stream that lead down to a large opening in the stream. He saw a circle of rocks that stood nearly fifteen feet in height, and they rested right in behind the wide expanse of the stream.  The stream flowing down over the tall rocks nearly took his breath as he drew closer to the water.  As the icy looking liquid spilled down towards them he couldn’t help but notice that the rocks seemed to concave inward near the pool of water he stood beside.  Wandering just how deep this modest little lagoon was his attention turned the woman he had followed.  She had completely disrobed and was easing her way into the water, already waist deep.  She waded through the deep pool, her small but firm breast gently moved with her, she took a few more steps and they were covered from his sight.  He felt his heart jump as she threw her head back underneath the trickling waterfall.　

“Gods woman! What are you trying to do to me?”

“What would you have me do to you?”

That was all she needed to say as he hastily pulled his tight black t-shirt over his head and tossed it on the ground.  Nervously fumbling with the button on his jeans he watched her out as her tiny delicate hands moved just below the surface and moved over her breast.  Pulling his jeans down to his knees he looked down to see his boots still secure on his large feet.  Idiot!  Damn her, why’d she have to go and get me all tore up like that!  I can’t even think straight.  Bending over to pull the laces and remove his boots he nearly lost his balance.  Oh yeah dumbass, just dive in headfirst with your pants around your knees.  That’ll knock her off her feet. Slinging his boots back behind him he grabbed for the nearest tree using his left foot to push his pants down.  The anticipation was overwhelming and he struggled to gather a single shred of thought as he moved to the water’s edge.　

“It’s about time you decided to join me. I thought you were just gonna stand there and watch.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I have been content to watch.”

“Of course you would. But?”　

Before she could even turn around to face him she felt him at her back.  His heated erection was planted firmly against her spine; she slowly turned her head and looked up behind her to meet his gaze.  She hadn’t given much notice to his height until now.  He was clearly a foot and a half taller.  Those fierce green yes bore into hers with wild abandon that only a man like him could possess.  She knew her control over him was slipping bit by bit and that just couldn’t happen. She jerked her head away and tried to tamp down the growing fire low in her belly.　

“Just in case you were wondering, the water is always this warm. I can’t explain why.”

“I noticed. Although I wasn’t quite sure that it wasn’t just me.”

“Yes, well……you do seem a tad heated.”

“It’s you min engel that has caused this fiery stir inside of me.” 　

Drogo’s hands appeared as giants as they moved over her small shoulders down the length of her arms.  She felt goose pimples rise all over her as if a slight chill had taken over.  It was far from a chill, she felt as if the water would boil.  Resting his hands around her arms just above her elbows she felt him squeeze as they wrapped around her thin biceps.  His senses were reeling with the smell of her desire and he only hoped that he could restrain himself.  She felt hot breath on her shoulder seconds before his velvet lips made contact with her skin.  Gasping in surprise as he made a sensual trail with his soft damp tongue up to her collar bone, she shuddered with lust that practically rolled off of her.  His kisses were hot and passionate against her neck. He pressed his lips even harder to her silky skin.

Drogo’s hardened cock throbbed at her back as he pulled her dark curls away from her nape.  Working his mouth over the back of her neck he could feel her tremble.  Her scent was flooding his nostrils and he knew this woman could make him do anything if she would but ask.  Don’t lose it Drogo, just a bit more…..wait, what the fuck are you doing?  You can’t just lead this woman on like this.  It’s not right, you just can’t.  He pushed away from her and made haste for the bank.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No you didn’t. I’m an idiot, please forgive me.”

“But…”

“I cannot take advantage of you like this.”

“If I weren’t willing, would I have brought you here?”

“Min engel, you no not what you do.”　

She stood in disbelief and watched as he struggled to get his jeans up over the dampness of his broad thighs.  Her heart sank along with his when he glanced back to steal one last glimpse of his would be lover.  Boots and shirt in hand, he reluctantly turned and walked away with an aching in his massive chest.

His eyes flew open and he nearly jerked himself completely out of bed.  FUCK! Now I’m turning down sex in my dreams! Fucking moron, she wanted you and you just walked away.  He knew all too well why he had left the woman in his dreams.  His secret couldn’t be known.  He planned on forcing himself to stay in this town more than a couple of weeks.  He planned a permanent stay no matter how droll the place may be.  Drogo had always kept to the single life.  There were things that lovers just couldn’t know about him.  One night stands were the only type of relationship he’d ever afforded himself.

Drogo spent the next few minutes lying in bed trying to remember her face.  He didn’t even recall seeing her face.  I know I did, I saw her smile.  Didn’t I? Drogo’s need for release was growing more urgent by the minute.  He was angered and frustrated with himself, so he jumped up and bolted for the shower.  Finally under the cold trickling water of the shower he rested his head on the wall and let the manmade rain spill over his back.  It felt like tiny frozen fingers massaging his muscles.  With his eyes closed he thought of her.  The ice-cold water didn’t do much to relieve his tension.  He held his cock in one hand, the swollen tip hard and dark.  He braced himself with his other hand on the cool shower wall, willing the cold to penetrate his skin.  Drogo let his head drop back as his fingers dipped to his balls, smoothing their tightness.  He let his anger spin into his baser needs.

Drogo squeezed his cock, forcing his fingers tight around it.  His body tightened.  He leaned on the shower wall, breath coming fast.  Drogo slid his hand up his shaft from balls to tip.  He pleasured himself in long, squeezing strokes, trying to build the excitement so that he could release.  The excitement heightened, but not near enough.  Drogo held his cock firmly at the base while and stretched his thumb out to play with his tip.  His hand moved in sensual rhythm, up and down, stroke by stroke.  The pulsing inside him built to the breaking point, and he could no longer hold it back.  He groaned his release as thin ropes of come shot through his fingers and onto the shower floor.


Chapter Four

Veronica arrived at the bakery and caught someone out of the corner of her eye across the street as she tried to unlock the front door.  Her friend, Angela, who waited tables at the quaint café in her view, was just getting to work also.  Angela was a bold fiery woman with a strong opinion of everything.  Veronica often admired her hefty will and ability to make light of any situation, no matter how gray.  Hell, Angela was the only reason she remained in this town after everyone knew that her husband had split.  Ang had helped her cope, had even stayed with her a while.

“Ang!”

“Hey Vee-ron-ica!”  Angela slurred.

“Wanna come by for dinner tonight, I’m making something Italian and something baked,” she said, and then laughed.

“Hmmm…let me see.  Italian take-out from the restaurant you now own and left-over baked goods from this place versus my mom’s homecookin’ that she slaves over for me and dad?” as she made her way across the early morning deserted street. “I think not dear, besides…I have a date.”

“What?  A date, how can this be?” she smiled.

“Omigod Veronica!  I know you ask that man to ask me out.”

“Man?  What man?”

“Oh, you know…the one that manages the Italian joint that your mafia riddled uncle left you.”

“Right…that man.  I didn’t exactly tell him to ask you out.  I simply told him you were single and where you worked after he spotted the picture of you and the boys on my desk.”

“I see.”

“You’re obviously not disappointed, you said yes.”  Veronica grinned devilishly.

It was the truth.  Veronica had taken a few things into the bistro and set things up her way in the lush office that once housed her Uncle Tony.  She had decided against selling it instantly and believed that she could manage the bakery and bistro.  She hired an extra hand at the bakery and spoke with Robert, the manager of the bistro whom she had known for years.  Robert was a nice enough guy, a little scatter-brained at times, but nice.  He was quite handsome and always had a smile on his face.  Veronica often wondered why he was still single.  She also knew Robert hadn’t seen anyone exclusively for a while, that sounded just like what Ang needed.  A romp here and there was perfect for Angela Graco.  She was notorious for chewing up men and spitting them out.  Veronica just somehow knew these two were made for one another.

  “So Ang, what made you say yes?”

“You know.  Usual stuff…beautiful face, tight ass, nice smile, large hands…that kind of thing.”

“Uh huh, is that all you think about?”  Veronica smirked.

“Oh!  Big dick, but I usually don’t find that out till later.”  She laughed.

“Gee Ang.  You talk like sex is a sport to you.”

“It is honey, it is.  There hasn’t been a man alive that can hold my interest for more than two weeks.  Which reminds me, I waited on this hot hunk of man a few days ago.  He said he was from Kansas City or some shit.  Veronica he was hot!”

“So, you’re thinking of setting up a fall-back if things with Robert don’t work out?”

“Nope.  He’s for you.  If he comes back around I’ll call you.”  Angela winked and smiled as she turned and started back across the street.

What?  For me?  Veronica shook her head and opened the door to the bakery.  Since she was now the proud owner of the bistro also, she had decided to split her days.  She worked the bakery in the morning from seven till eleven, took lunch, stayed at the bakery till two.  She then picked up the boys from school and worked the bistro with boys in tow from around three in the afternoon till eight or so.  She really didn’t like the boys being with her, but the lady that got them on the bus in the mornings, Miss Jansen, worked part-time in the evenings.  Besides, this was only temporary till she could think of a better plan.  Robert was good enough at his job that he could handle things during the day by himself.  Hell, she’d even considered making him a partner.

Veronica had a lot on her mind.  There was no doubt about that.  At the beginning of the week she was nobody with a small bakery, rental home and a single mother of two young boys.  Veronica was now the owner of a large house, beautiful land by the lake, a bistro, a bakery and a happier, but busy single mother.  Pops had assured her that if she wanted to build a house “out by that lake” he had contractor friends that could help her out.  He’d take care of that.  Thank goodness.  Veronica didn’t even know where to start on building a house.  Pops had mentioned permits, utilities, and blueprints.  She had no idea what the hell he was rambling on about.  She knew that her father built houses when he was young.  She trusted that he knew what had to be done.  He needs this with mom being gone.  He needs something to keep him busy.

Veronica’s employees started to slowly show up one by one, but they were always on time.  Fisher was the first through the back door this morning.  He was usually the last to show.  He bound into the kitchen wrapping his apron around his waist with a smile.  Fisher was in his early twenties, tall and skinny.  The other employees called him “The Professor” because he resembled the guy on Gilligan’s Island, but much younger.  Veronica had preferred to call him Fish.  He had been working at the bakery since he was sixteen, back when Veronica’s father owned the place.  Janice was the second to arrive.  She strolled in humming some unrecognizable tune as she washed her hands.  Janice, being in her mid-fifties was always full of life and always happy.  The short plump woman always had a kind word and never said anything negative that Veronica could remember.

Most of the work for the morning was done by nine o‘clock, all that was left was to sell pastries and clean.  Lunchtime pastries were always handled by Janice, so Veronica knew she was safe to take a break.  She called Pops and talked about her plans and ideas with the new house yet to be built.  He had said that they were going over there in the evening to “look around a bit” and that she didn’t need to be there.  That was fine with Veronica.  She was exhausted with all of the running and planning of the last few days.  She wondered how much Ang was cussing trying to wrap up the morning rush over at the café.  She picked up the phone with a feral grin, ready to make trouble with Angela.

“Hello? Big Man’s Meat Packaging, you stab ‘em we’ll slab ‘em this is Ang speaking.”

“Damned caller ID.” Veronica laughed.

“Gotcha chick.” she returned laughing.

“I’m on break bitch.  You got me some coffee ready?”

“Well hell yeah, come and get it.” she laughed again as she hung up.

Veronica jogged across the street and swooshed the front door of the café open.  A few locals looking up and greeting her as she made her way to her favorite corner booth in the back.  Angela followed her with a cup of coffee and a smile.  Angela sat across from her at the table and begins to bitch about the mornings happenings.  Veronica listened in total amusement until the front door opened and her attention took a different direction.  He was tall with a long single braid hanging over his left shoulder down to his waist. His broad chest was about to bulge out of the t-shirt that kept him held in.  Jeans hanging low on his narrow hips and a dangerously beautiful face had her about to swoon.  Ang turned to see him and gasp.

“Omigod girl. That’s him, the guy I told you about.”

“That’s him? The one for me?” she sounded stunned.

“Yep, that’s the one. I’m gonna go talk to him.”

“No! Wait, what are you going to say?”  Veronica said with a frightened voice.

“Don’t freak out babe, I’m just gonna find out more about him.”  Angela jumped up and headed for the man that just sat himself at a window table.

Veronica was most definitely about to freak out.  She’d never seen anything close to the likes of him.  Ang was right, he was hot.  She scrambled into her purse in search of her compact to check her make-up.  As she looked herself over quickly she decided that if she could reach the back door and sneak back to the bakery. Maybe Ang won’t be too mad at me.  Veronica watched as her friend talked with the man and then took his order glancing toward her and smiling before she reached the kitchen.  Angela came back over to the table in a rush like a giddy school girl with a secret.  Thank goodness the man has his back to me or I‘d be outta here so fast. She laughed to herself with excitement.

“Veronica, this man is so polite. Good sense of humor too. I’m telling you he’s perfect for you.”

“What did you two talk about?”

“I wasn’t sure what I was gonna say when I got to his table. I kinda choked up a bit, we didn’t talk much, I just took his order.” she shyly said.

At that moment, Veronica had come to the conclusion that she would have to take matters into her own hands.  She hadn’t so much as looked at another man since Karl. It was time, time for her to come on out of the shell she’d been encased in for year.  What’s the worst thing that can happen?  He’s married, got a girlfriend, not interested or tells me to go piss up a rope.  She bit the last comment back and rose from the booth.  Ang watch her friend with much curiosity.  Veronica, on shaky legs, knew that if she could make it past him to the restroom over by the register…she’d be okay until she had to come back out and face him.  She slowly made her way toward his table.  On her way by she glanced down at the huge hands wrapped around the coffee mug and caught a faint whiff of him.  She almost fainted as she tried desperately to keep her pace.  He smelled of woodsy fresh air and a spice she couldn’t put her finger on.  Veronica stepped into the single toilet restroom and nearly wet her pants.  Why am I so fucking nervous?  He’s a man.  He’s only a man.  She used the facility, which wasn’t in her initial plan, and washed her hands.  Veronica checked herself in the mirror and then took a huge breath.  She opened the door and stepped out trying not to look in his direction.

Too late. He was staring straight at her with a seductive look about his face.  The corners of his mouth turned up in the sexiest smile she’d ever witnessed.  He was looking under hooded eyes as if she were naked, hell…..she felt naked at that moment.  That look nearly stopped her, but she kept moving toward him, their eyes never parting.  This was the most erotic thing she had ever encountered, except for her dreams.  Her dreams.  If this man could only be the one she’d been dreaming of, that would be too precious.  Veronica had a hard time breaking eye contact with him as she started to walk by his table, but she did.  By the time she reached her booth her heart was about to jump out of her chest.  Angela was coming out of the kitchen with his order, three plates full to be exact.  She sat the plates down, chatted a minute and made for the coffee pot.  Stealing a glance at her friend you could see the wonderment on her face.  Didn’t take long for Angela to reach Veronica’s table, coffee in hand.

“Shit girl! Everybody in here felt the tension between you two!”

“I have never been entranced by a man like that before!”  Veronica said nervously.

“I’ll be right back, I gotta fill his coffee.”

Veronica waited patiently as she watched Angela talk to this god-like man that had walked into her life out of nowhere.  She hadn’t really given dating much of a thought yet, even after a year.  To hell with dating, I want my legs wrapped around this man.  A man just doesn’t look at a woman like that unless he wants her.  I’m not that big of an idiot. Veronica squirmed uncomfortably as Angela headed back in her direction.  Angela sat the coffee pot on the table, sat herself in the booth and bit her lip with a guilty look upon her face.

“Oh Ang, what did you do?”  Veronica definitely knew that look.

“Okay, just hear me out.  I know your about to build a house and all, we’ve talk so many times about making a beautiful garden in my mom’s back yard. I know that what you would want for your own place, right?”  Angela was looking a bit skittish.

“I remember the ideas we had, yes.”

“Well, he’s looking for work since he just got into town and I thought….” she broke off unsure of her actions. “I practically just hired him to make you a garden.”

“You what? Ang!”  Veronica felt as if she would vomit at the thought of this incredible man working so near her father.  Pops thought every man that even looked at her was “a fuck-up” she was sure this situation would be no different.

“I’m sorry, I had an idea and I ran with it.  Besides, since tomorrow is Friday, I get off at two tomorrow afternoon.  I’ll go get the boys at school and we’ll hang out a while.  You, have a date at the bakery with him.”  as she thumbed in his direction.

“What?  Oh-my-god! You just thought of all this in a few seconds?

“Well, yeah.  You can discuss the specifics of what you want and maybe take him down there to look at what he’s gonna be working with?  Angela saw the horrified look stretched across her friends face.

“You owe me big-time Ang!  I can’t believe you did this!  You know what…..you have to stay with Robert at least a month and I know that’s going to kill you.”

“Veronica, you’re kidding right?  You know what my track record with men looks like, that’s out of the question.”  she bit out.

“Is it?  Are you that ignorant or just a slut Ang?  Would it seriously kill you to stay with the same man for a while?  Holy shit!  That’s it!  You’re afraid of commitment.  Why didn’t I see that before?”  Veronica smiled a delightfully evil smile.

“I am not afraid.  I just don’t have time in my life for things like that.”  Angela smiled back in the same manner.

“Right Ang.  You live with your parents at thirty-five, you work in a café waiting tables thirty hours a week, you have no kids, and you play bingo with your mom on the nights you’re not degrading various men.”  Veronica waited for a smartass remark from her friend.

“Okay, your right.  A month, no longer and I mean it.”  Angela calmly said.

“Fine with me, good luck my friend.”  Veronica stepped toward the back door.