Taking Back Control

Chapter 59 Navigating Through the Storm

Rory stood in front of the window in the bedroom, watching the heavy snow falling. The wind was howling as the flashing lights appeared in the dark morning as the plow worked its way down Main St. The power was out when they awoke. Tristan immediately got up and built fires in the two fireplaces. He then gave her a lantern and told her to sit in the living room, where it was warmer. He then went up into the loft, where he had a large storage closet filled with camping equipment, and began pulling things out.

Rory picked up the lantern and returned to the bedroom to look for her phone and portable charger. Crawling inside the large closet, Rory bumped into one of the boxes she had emptied the night before. Holding the lantern higher, she squatted down and moved the box. There it was, her charger on the floor. She picked it up and went to turn it on. It was dead. She grabbed her old Yale sweatshirt and a pair of leggings, slipped them on, and put them in her pouch. Rory walked back into the living room and began looking for her phone. She found it with the manuscript under the coffee table. Lifting it up, Rory tried to turn it on, but it was also dead. Sighing, she wrapped the blanket around herself. She heard Tristan in the kitchen moving things around when the aroma of coffee filled the room.

"Hey, Mar. I've got something for you." He walked over to her and handed her a mug full of steamy coffee with a bit of cream and sugar.

"Thank you," she said, leaning up to kiss him. "Where did you get this?"

Tristan returned her kiss and adjusted her blanket around her shoulders, then sat in the chair, wrapping his arms around her as he pulled her on his lap.

Tristan tipped his head back and looked down at her. "Didn't you know I was a boy scout?"

Rory choked on the coffee, trying not to laugh. "Right," she coughed.

Wiggling his eyebrows at her, he placed his hands over his heart. "Mare. You wound me. Have you ever dated a boy scout before?"

Rory frowned. "Hmm... I know neither Jess, Finn, or Logan would fit the boy scout image. Maybe Dean, but I'm not sure. So I think it's a no."

"Huh. So you lump me in the same category with Jess, Finn, Dean, and Logan. Mare, you don't really know me. If you dated me when we were younger, I would have given you the whole Boy Scout treatment."

Rory arches a brow, her pretty mouth curving on one side. Holding her coffee, she shakes her head.

Tristan reaches for her mug of coffee from her and places it on the coffee table.

"Oh, Mary. Are you aware that the boy scout motto is always be prepared? I'm a surgeon and I am always prepared for any crisis. I have food, water, wood for the fireplace, and coffee. I know how to take care of you, plus I am prepared to keep you very, very warm."

Looking into her blue eyes, he smiles. He bends down and softly kisses her lips. He stops, hovering his lips over her, and he gazes into her dark blue eyes. He places his hand on her cheek and kisses her again, letting his tongue caress her mouth. Tristan lifts Rory, and carries her to the bedroom where he tips her back onto the bed, then follows her down. Rory gasps, squirming beneath him as his hands slid up her arms to her wrists, pinning them down on either side of her head.

"Now, where were we?"

Rory looked into his eyes, which became darker with desire making her insides quiver. One side of his lips quirked up in a sexy smirk.

"What are you trying to do?" she whispered breathlessly.

Tristan pushed his hips against hers, and she instinctively spread her legs for him. He lowered his face to hers and brushed her cheek with his nose. "Giving you the true Boy Scout experience."