The storm hit faster than either of us expected. When the first heavy flakes began to fall, Ethan and I were already miles deep into the woods, the familiar cabin just a few minutes away. What was supposed to be a peaceful weekend retreat had quickly turned into something else entirely—a trap of snow and silence with no way out.
I could feel the tension building before we arrived, the weight of our complicated relationship pressing down on me as the snow piled around us. Ethan was already annoyed, his jaw clenched as he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white against the cold. He hadn’t wanted to come; that much was obvious, but he had made a promise to Dad. And Ethan, being Ethan, never broke a promise.
I was glad he hadn’t, though I’d never admit it out loud. I’d only just turned 18 a few weeks ago, and I was eager to prove that I could handle things independently. But the truth was, I didn’t want to be alone in the middle of nowhere, especially with a storm like this barreling down on us. And maybe, just maybe, a part of me wanted to spend time with Ethan, to finally break through the wall that had always stood between us.
When we finally reached the cabin, the snow was already knee-deep. I stumbled out of the truck, shivering as the cold wind whipped through my oversized teal sweater, the loose fabric doing little to protect me from the chill. My long, usually carefully styled dark hair was now a tangled mess, the wind and snow turning it into a wild cascade down my back. Ethan barely glanced at me as he hauled our bags inside, his broad shoulders hunched against the cold.
“Come on, Shelly,” he called back, his voice gruff. “It’s freezing out here.”
I followed him inside, stomping the snow off my boots as I stepped over the threshold. The cabin was just as I remembered it—cozy, rustic, with wooden walls and a large stone fireplace that had always been the heart of the place. But it was cold, the air inside biting as if the storm had seeped through the walls.
Ethan dropped the bags on the worn wooden floor and immediately set to work, stacking logs in the fireplace. His movements were efficient and practiced. I stood by the door, feeling a little useless and unsure of what to do.
“You going to help, or just stand there shivering?” he asked, not looking up as he struck a match and lit the fire.
I bristled at his tone, but instead of snapping back, I grabbed a few logs from the pile and added them to the fire. The flames caught quickly, casting a warm glow around the room, though it did little to ease the tension between us.
Once the fire roared, Ethan stood up, brushing the wood dust off his hands. “We should check the generator, make sure we don’t lose power,” he said, his eyes flicking to me for the first time since we’d arrived.
“I’ll go with you,” I offered, wanting to prove I wasn’t just some helpless kid. But he shook his head.
“Stay here. I’ll handle it.”
I watched him grab his coat and disappear into the storm, frustration bubbling inside me. Ethan had always been like this—overprotective, controlling, acting like I couldn’t do anything without him. It drove me crazy. I wasn’t a little girl anymore and tired of being treated like one.
The minutes stretched into an hour, and when Ethan finally returned, he was covered in snow, his face red from the cold. He didn’t say anything, just shrugging off his coat and hanging it by the door. I could tell something was wrong by how he avoided my eyes and the tightness in his jaw.
“What’s the problem?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
“Generator’s out,” he muttered, finally looking at me. His eyes were that stormy blue-grey, the colour they always were when he was stressed. “We’re going to have to rely on the fire and what little light we have left.”
I stared at him, my heart sinking. “How long do you think this storm’s going to last?”
He shrugged, his shoulders tense. “Could be a day, could be a week. Hard to say.”
I felt a knot of fear tighten in my stomach, but I forced myself to stay calm. “So, what now? We sit here and wait it out?”
“Pretty much,” he said, his voice clipped. He walked past me, moving to the kitchen to check the supplies. “We’ve got enough food to last a few days, and there’s more firewood in the shed. We’ll be fine.”
I wanted to believe him, but the way he said it didn’t do much to reassure me. I watched as he rummaged through the cabinets, his movements stiff and agitated. This wasn’t how I had imagined our weekend would go. I’d hoped that maybe, with just the two of us, we could finally talk, finally work through whatever it was that had always kept us apart. But now, with the storm raging outside and the tension between us growing by the minute, that seemed more impossible than ever.
“Why are you always like this?” I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them.
Ethan stopped what he was doing and turned to face me, his expression hard. “Like what?”
“Like… like you always have to be in control. Like I can’t do anything without you.”
His eyes narrowed, and I could see the flash of anger in them. “Maybe because you mess it up every time I leave you to do something.”
I felt the sting of his words, but I refused to back down. “That’s not fair, Ethan! I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself.”
“Really?” he shot back, his voice rising. “Because the last time I checked, you still need me to bail you out of every situation.”
“That’s not true!” I yelled, my own anger boiling over. “I never asked you to come here. I don’t need you here!”
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. Ethan’s face hardened, and for a moment, I thought he would walk out and leave me here to deal with the storm alone. But instead, he just shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
“Fine,” he said, his voice cold. “If that’s how you feel, I’ll stay out of your way. Good luck dealing with this on your own, Shelly.”
He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, leaving me standing there, the cold air from the open door sweeping in behind him. I wanted to call him back to apologize, but my pride wouldn’t let me. Instead, I stood there, my heart pounding, anger and fear warring.
I spent the next hour pacing the cabin, trying to ignore the biting cold that seemed to seep through the walls no matter how much I stoked the fire. Every few minutes, I’d glance at the door, half expecting Ethan to come back to apologize for being such a jerk. But he didn’t.
Eventually, the anger faded, leaving only the gnawing fear that I’d pushed him too far this time. I grabbed the blanket from the sofa and wrapped it around myself, trying to ward off the chill, but it did little to help. The cabin felt too big, too empty without Ethan’s presence, and I hated the fact that I missed him, even when he was a complete ass.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw the blanket aside and went after him, my heart racing as I stepped out into the storm. The cold hit me like a physical blow, the wind whipping the snow into a frenzy around me, but I forced myself to keep going, following the faint trail of footprints leading to the shed.
When I found him, he was chopping wood, the axe coming down with a force that made the wood splinter with each strike. He didn’t look up when I approached; he just kept chopping, his muscles rippling under his teal shirt, sweat mingling with the snow on his skin. The sight of him, so strong, so focused, made something tighten in my chest, something I didn’t quite understand.
“Ethan…” I started, my voice shaky.
He ignored me, bringing the axe down again, the sound of splitting wood echoing through the storm.
“Ethan, please,” I tried again, stepping closer. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean it. I’m just scared.”
He finally stopped, the axe buried in the log at his feet, his breath coming in harsh pants. He didn’t look at me, just stared at the ground, his shoulders tense.
“Why do you always do this, Shelly?” he asked, his voice low, almost defeated. “Why do you always push me away?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my throat tight. “I guess… I’m just tired of feeling like I’m always in your shadow. Like I’ll never be good enough.”
He finally looked up, his eyes meeting mine, and I saw the hurt there, the frustration, but also something else—something softer, something I’d never noticed before.
“You are good enough, Shelly,” he said, his voice rough. “You’ve always been good enough. I just… I don’t know how to show it.”
The words hung between us, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was that I didn’t want to fight anymore. I didn’t want to keep pushing him away.
Without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, pressing my cheek against his chest. For a second, he stiffened, surprised by the gesture, but then he relaxed, his arms coming up to hold me close, his breath warm against my hair.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, the words muffled against his shirt. “I’m sorry for always being so difficult.”
He sighed, the tension in his body melting away as he held me. “It’s okay. I’m sorry for being such a jerk.”
We stood like that for a while, the storm raging around us, but I didn’t feel cold for the first time since we’d arrived. I felt… safe. Maybe, just maybe, we could get through this together.
When we finally pulled apart, I looked up at him, and for the first time, I saw my brother—not just the overprotective guy who drove me crazy, but the person who had always been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it.
“Let’s go inside,” he said, his voice softer now, almost gentle. “It’s too cold out here.”
I nodded, letting him lead the way back to the cabin, his hand warm in mine. As we stepped inside, the fire greeted us with its warm glow, the heat a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside.
We settled by the fire, side by side on the sofa, the blanket draped over us. The silence between us was no longer tense, but comfortable, like we’d finally found peace.
“Remember when we got lost in the woods when we were kids?” I asked, breaking the silence.
Ethan chuckled, a natural, genuine laugh that made me smile. “Yeah. You were convinced bears would eat us.”
“I was seven,” I protested, laughing too. “You made it sound like there was one behind every tree.”
“Well, you were easy to scare,” he teased, nudging me with his shoulder. “But I always knew we’d find our way back.”
“I guess we did,” I said softly, leaning against him. His warmth was a comforting presence beside me.
As the night wore on, the storm continued to howl outside, but inside, wrapped in the fire’s warmth and my brother’s quiet companionship, I felt something shift between us. The rivalry and tension were still there, but they were different now—less about competition and more about understanding.
I looked at Ethan, his profile illuminated by the firelight, and felt a strange calm. This weekend hadn’t gone as planned, but maybe that was okay. Maybe being snowed in, trapped together in this cabin, was precisely what we finally needed to understand each other.
“Thanks for coming with me,” I said quietly, not wanting to break the peaceful silence too much.
He glanced at me, his eyes soft, the anger from earlier wholly gone. “Wouldn’t have let you do this alone, Shelly.”
I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the fire. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” he replied, and at that moment, I knew we’d be okay no matter what happened next.
We’d always been a little too stubborn for our good, but maybe, just maybe, we were finally learning how to let each other in. As I leaned against him, my eyes growing heavy with sleep, I knew that whatever the storm threw at us, we’d face it together.
The storm’s fury only grew as the night wore on, the wind howling with a relentless force that shook the very walls of the cabin. The temperature continued to drop, the biting cold seeping into every corner of the room, creeping through the thick wooden beams and settling into my bones. The fire in the hearth was dying down, the embers glowing weakly, barely holding off the encroaching chill.
I had changed into my nightie—a favourite of mine, though I knew it wasn’t exactly practical for a night like this. It was a deep, midnight blue made of silky fabric that clung softly to my skin. The thin straps rested delicately on my shoulders, the hem stopping just above mid-thigh, leaving my legs bare to the cold air—low cut showing slight cleavage. As I slipped it on, the coolness of the material sent shivers down my spine, but I couldn’t resist its familiar comfort. I threw my oversized teal sweater back on for warmth, but the nightie’s delicate straps still peeked out, a teasing contrast against the thick wool.
When I stepped back into the main room, I first noticed Ethan. He was standing by the fire, his back to me, and to my surprise, he was shirtless. His Henley, soaked from his trip outside to check the generator, was draped over a chair near the fire to dry. My breath caught in my throat as I took in his sight, his bare skin illuminated by the flickering firelight.
Ethan had always been fit, but I hadn’t realized how muscled he had become. His broad shoulders tapered down to a lean, defined waist, his back rippling with muscle as he reached up to adjust the shirt hanging near the flames. The play of shadows and light across his skin was mesmerizing, highlighting the hard lines of his body in a way that made my pulse quicken. I had never seen him like this before, and the sight stirred something in me, something unfamiliar and unsettling.
He turned as I approached, his stormy blue-grey eyes locking onto mine. There was an intensity in his gaze that I hadn’t noticed before, something that made the air between us feel charged, almost electric. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence thick and heavy as his eyes swept over me, taking in the way my nightie clung to my curves beneath the loose sweater. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks; the heat from the fire was nothing compared to the warmth that spread through me under his gaze.
“It’s freezing in here,” I murmured, trying to break the tension that had suddenly settled between us.
“Yeah,” Ethan replied, his voice lower than usual, almost rough. He grabbed a thick blanket from the pile on the sofa, wrapping it around his broad shoulders, though it did little to hide the hard planes of his chest and arms. “The fire’s not going to keep this place warm all night.”
I nodded, my eyes flicking to the fire, the flames now just a weak glow. The cold was biting, and despite the layers I had on, I could feel it in every inch of me. I glanced back at Ethan, his expression unreadable as he watched me.
“We should, uh… stay close,” I suggested, my voice hitching slightly. “Body heat, right?”
His gaze darkened briefly before he nodded, his jaw tight. “Yeah, it’s the best way to keep warm.”
He motioned for me to sit on the sofa, and I moved to the spot he had left open, trying to ignore how my heart was pounding. As I settled in, pulling my legs up under me, Ethan draped another blanket over me, its weight pressing down on my shoulders. But it wasn’t the blanket that made my breath catch—it was his closeness as he sat beside me, his bare skin brushing against my arm, the heat of his body a stark contrast to the cold air.
I shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable, but the space was tight, forcing me to lean into him, our legs touching under the blankets. I couldn’t help but notice how his muscles tensed as our bodies connected, his skin warm and smooth against mine. I’d never been this close to him before, and the realization sent a jolt through me, a thrill that I couldn’t quite place.
“Comfortable?” Ethan asked, his voice a low rumble that I felt more than heard.
“Yeah,” I breathed, though my heart was racing. “It’s warmer like this.”
He nodded, his arm sliding around my shoulders, pulling me closer to his side. The move was so natural and familiar, yet it felt different now—charged with a tension that neither of us seemed willing to acknowledge. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the slow thrum of his heartbeat beneath my cheek as I rested my head against him.
We sat like that in silence, the only sound of the dying fire crackling and the howling wind outside. I could feel every inch of him pressed against me, his body heat seeping into me, warming me from the inside out. The cold seemed to melt away, replaced by a different kind of heat—one that burned low in my belly, spreading warmth throughout my body in a way that had nothing to do with the blankets or the fire.
Ethan’s hand rested on my shoulder, his fingers light against my skin, but I could feel the strength in them, the subtle flex of muscle as he pulled me closer. My breath hitched as I realized just how close we were, my bare legs pressed against his, the silk of my nightie brushing against the hard planes of his side. It was a closeness I hadn’t anticipated, making something flutter inside me, leaving me feeling dizzy and off-balance.
“You’re shivering,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
“Just… cold,” I whispered, though the truth was, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling anymore. The warmth of his body was intoxicating, the scent of him—woodsy, with a hint of the outdoors—wrapping around me, making it hard to think clearly.
Without a word, Ethan shifted, turning slightly so that I was more fully nestled against him. His other arm came around me, pulling me into his lap, his chest solid and warm against my back. I sucked in a breath, surprised by the sudden intimacy of the position, but I didn’t pull away. It was warmer like this, so much warmer, and I found myself relaxing into him, my body naturally fitting against his, even though it was anything but.
He rested his chin lightly on my head, his breath stirring the loose strands of my hair. “Better?” he asked, his voice a soft rumble that vibrated through me.
“Yeah,” I whispered, my eyes fluttering shut as I let myself sink into his warmth. “Much better.”
We stayed like that for hours, the storm a distant roar outside, the cabin filled with only the sound of our breathing. The cold, the storm, the tension between us—it all faded into the background, leaving only the warmth of his body against mine, the steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek. I felt safe with Ethan, more than I ever had before. But this safety was different, laced with something more complex, something I didn’t want to examine too closely.
“You’ve changed,” I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “You’re… different.”
“How so?” he asked, his voice filled with quiet curiosity.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my hand resting lightly on his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat. “You just… feel different.”
He was silent for a moment, his hand stilling on my back. “You’re not a kid anymore, Shelly,” he said eventually, his voice rough with something I couldn’t quite place.
“I know,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly as I looked up at him, our faces so close that I could see the flecks of silver in his stormy blue-grey eyes. “But I guess I never realized how much you’d changed too.”
Ethan’s eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker there that made my heart skip a beat. But then he blinked, and it was gone, replaced by the familiar brotherly concern I’d always known.
“I’ll always be your brother,” he said softly, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. “That won’t change.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat as I settled back against him, the warmth of his body a comforting presence beside me. “I know. But it would be best if you didn’t feel like you always have to care for me. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“I see that now,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper, and something in his tone made my heart race even faster. “I’ll try to remember that.”
We fell into silence again, the fire now just a dull glow in the hearth, the only light coming from the soft embers. The cold was relentless, but so was the warmth that had blossomed between us, a quiet, steady heat that kept the chill at bay. I was drifting off to sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of Ethan’s heartbeat and the warmth of his embrace.
And as I did, I couldn’t help but wonder what this new closeness meant for us. The storm might have brought us together out of necessity, but now, wrapped in his arms, sheltered from the cold, I realized I didn’t want to let this go. Not yet. Not when there was so much more to discover, so much more to understand.
For the first time, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be—wrapped in the warmth of my brother’s arms, the storm raging outside, but inside, everything was calm. And in that calm, I knew that whatever came next, we would face it together.
Ethan and I were still on the sofa, huddled close under the thick blankets, trying to keep warm. The strange, electric tension that had started earlier still hummed between us, making the air feel thick, almost charged. I couldn’t ignore it anymore, couldn’t pretend that the way I felt sitting here, wrapped up in his arms, was anything close to normal.
The feel of his bare skin against mine, the solid warmth of his body, had chased away the cold, but it had left something else in its place—something that made my heart race and my thoughts swirl in ways I wasn’t ready to confront. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek, the steady thrum of his heartbeat, and it was so calming, so constant, that it only made the strangeness of the situation more intense.
I tried to focus on anything else, but every time I moved, my leg brushed against his, or his hand shifted slightly on my waist, I was reminded of how close we were. It was a closeness I’d never experienced with him before, a kind of intimacy that made my pulse quicken and my skin tingle with awareness.
“You’re really warm,” I murmured, trying to break the silence and distract myself from the way my body was reacting to him. The words came out softer than I intended, almost breathless, and I immediately felt a blush rise to my cheeks.
“Yeah?” Ethan replied, his voice a low rumble in his chest. He sounded amused, though there was a roughness to his tone that made my stomach flip. “Glad to be of service.”
I laughed, but it came out more like a nervous giggle, and I shifted slightly in his lap, trying to get more comfortable. The movement brought us even closer, and I could feel the hard lines of his muscles against me, the heat of his body seeping through the blankets and making my skin flush. It was almost too much, too intense, but I couldn’t bring myself to pull away.
“This is kind of weird, though,” I said, trying to keep my tone light, even though my heart was pounding. “Sitting on your lap like this… who are you, Santa?”
Ethan chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “Yeah, I guess it is kind of weird,” he admitted, though he didn’t make any move to shift me off his lap. Instead, his arm tightened around me, pulling me closer as if he wasn’t ready to let go. “But I’m not complaining.”
I swallowed hard to find my voice, but the words wouldn’t come. All I could do was stare at him, my heart racing, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps as the reality of our situation settled over me. This wasn’t just about keeping warm anymore—this was something else that neither of us had expected, but both of us seemed unable to resist.
“Ethan,” I whispered, his name barely audible over the storm’s roar outside.
“Yeah?” he replied, his voice low, rough, as if he were struggling to keep his own emotions in check.
“I… I don’t know,” I stammered, my mind swirling with confusion and conflicting emotions. “This is just… different.”
Ethan’s gaze softened, a small, almost sad smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, it is,” he agreed, his thumb brushing lightly against the bare skin of my waist where my nightie had ridden up. The touch was light, almost accidental, but it sent a jolt through me, a warmth that spread through my entire body and made me feel dizzy.
“Shelly,” he murmured, his voice rough, almost hesitant. “You okay?”
I nodded, my eyes fluttering open to meet his. “Yeah,” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. “I’m… just not used to this.”
“Not used to what?” he asked, his tone gentle, almost coaxing.
“Being this close to you,” I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “It’s… different.”
“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” he said softly, his voice strained. “We don’t have to… do this if you don’t want to.”
“No,” I said quickly, surprising both of us with the urgency in my voice. “I mean… I’m not uncomfortable. It’s just… weird, I guess. But not in a bad way.”
Ethan’s hand moved, sliding up from my waist to rest on my ribs, just below the curve of my breast. The touch was so light and careful that it felt almost reverent as if he were afraid to cross a line he couldn’t uncross. But the way his fingers splayed against my skin and his thumb brushed the edge of my sweater made my breath catch in my throat.
“You’re not a little girl anymore, Shelly,” he said, his voice low and strained as if he were holding something back. “And maybe I need to stop treating you like one.”
“I don’t want you to treat me like a kid,” I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions. “I want you to see me… for who I am now.”
Ethan’s gaze softened, his eyes tracing the contours of my face as if seeing me in a new light for the first time. His hand, still resting on my ribs, shifted again, his thumb brushing against the bare skin just below the hem of my sweater. The touch was so gentle, so tentative, but it sent a wave of warmth through me, making me acutely aware of every inch of my body pressed against his.
“I do see you,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I see you, Shelly.”
The way he said my name and his eyes darkened as they held mine made something flutter deep in my chest. I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to respond to the intensity in his gaze, the way his hand seemed to burn against my skin, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. All I knew was that I didn’t want this moment to end; I didn’t want the warmth and the closeness to slip away.
Without thinking, I shifted in his lap, turning slightly to face him more fully. The movement brought our faces close—so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my lips and see how his pupils dilated as his gaze flicked to my mouth. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps as the tension between us reached a fever pitch.
“Ethan…” I started, but I didn’t know what to say or how to express the whirlwind of emotions I was feeling.
But I didn’t have to. At that moment, Ethan closed the small distance between us, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss so soft, so tentative that it left me breathless. It wasn’t like anything I’d ever felt before—this wasn’t the playful teasing we used to engage in; this wasn’t brotherly affection. This was something new, something real, and it sent a shockwave through me, leaving me trembling in his arms.
The kiss deepened, his hand sliding up to cradle the back of my neck, pulling me closer as if he couldn’t bear to let go. My hands found their way to his chest, my fingers splaying across the hard planes of muscle as I melted into him. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, chasing away any lingering cold. We kissed for a while, and it felt so good, and I felt loved.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathing hard, our foreheads resting against each other as we tried to catch our breath. The tension that had been building between us hadn’t dissipated—instead, it had transformed into something else, something tangible and electric that pulsed in the air around us.
I smiled, leaning into him again, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. The warmth of his body and the softness of his breath against my cheek all felt so right, so natural, that I didn’t want to let go. My heart was still racing, but it wasn’t out of fear or confusion—it was out of something else that made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t before.
Ethan’s arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and I could feel the tension in his muscles ease as he exhaled slowly. His touch was gentle, almost reverent as if he were afraid to break the fragile connection we had just forged. I could feel his breath against my hair, his lips brushing lightly against my temple, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I didn’t expect this,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with emotion. “But I don’t want it to stop.”
“Me neither,” I whispered back, my fingers tracing the contours of his chest, feeling the strength beneath my touch. The reality of what had just happened, of what was still happening between us, was starting to sink in, and it made my heart swell with a mix of emotions—joy, fear, excitement. But most of all, I felt loved. At this moment, with Ethan’s arms around me and his heart beating in time with mine, I felt truly loved.
“D-do you want to kiss again?” I asked softly, my voice trembling with anticipation and vulnerability. I could see the hesitation in his eyes, a flicker of uncertainty that mirrored my own. But then he nodded, his gaze never leaving mine, and I could feel the tension between us build, thick and electric.
Ethan leaned in slowly as if savouring every moment and breath between us. His hand, still cradling the back of my neck, tightened slightly, pulling me closer. Our lips met again, and this time, the kiss was different. It wasn’t tentative or unsure—it was deep and full of longing, a release of the tension that had been simmering between us for so long.
“Shelly…” he breathed, his voice thick with emotion.
“Yes?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I don’t want to stop,” he admitted, his gaze intense. “I want to keep going. I want to make you feel good, to show you how much I care about you.”
His words sent a thrill through me. I had never heard Ethan speak so openly and honestly before. I knew he cared about me, but to listen to him say it, to feel it in every touch and kiss, it was overwhelming.
“I want that too,” I replied, my voice trembling. “I want you, Ethan.”
I then felt him get very hard underneath me, straining against the fabric of his pants. I blushed, realizing the effect I was having on him, but I didn’t pull away. If anything, the knowledge only made me press closer to him, my body conforming to his as our kiss deepened. Ethan’s hands wandered down my back, his fingers tracing the curves of my hips before sliding down to cup my backside, pulling me tightly against him. I moaned softly, the pleasure of his touch sending sparks through my body, setting my skin on fire.
Ethan seemed to take my reaction as a sign to move things further. He started to shift us, sliding down on the sofa until I was lying on top of him, my nightie riding up to bare my thighs. Ethan’s hands stayed on my hips, pulling me against him as if trying to merge our bodies. I could feel him, hard and wanting beneath me, and the thought made my heart race and my skin tingle.
I wanted him, wanted to be close to him in the most intimate way possible, but I was also terrified. I had never felt like this before, and the intensity of my feelings scared me. But before I could voice my fears, Ethan’s mouth was on mine again, kissing me with an intensity that left me breathless. I could do nothing but surrender to his touch, letting him explore my body as I did the same to his.
Ethan slid one hand up my body, his fingers tracing a path up my side, making me delightfully shiver. When he reached my breast, he paused, gently cupping it over my nightie. My breath hitched as he caressed me, his fingers lightly teasing my sensitive flesh. I moaned softly, my hips instinctively rocking against him, seeking more friction.
Ethan responded by sliding his hand inside my nightie, his fingers finding my hardened nipple, gently pinching and teasing it. I moaned louder this time, my body arching into his touch. His other hand slid down between us, his fingers fumbling with the button and zipper of his jeans. I helped him, eager to feel him fully inside me.
“Shall I take off my knickers, too?” I asked, my breath coming in short, shaky gasps. My heart was pounding with anticipation, and my whole body trembled with longing.
“Yes,” Ethan said, his voice thick and husky with desire. He helped me slide the fabric down my legs, his fingers brushing lightly against my skin, leaving a fire trail in their wake.
Once I was bare to him, Ethan took a moment to look at me, his gaze hungry and intense. I could feel the heat of his gaze, the way it penetrated my soul, making me feel seen and wanted in a way I’d never experienced before. I blushed under his scrutiny, but the embarrassment was quickly overshadowed by a fierce desire that made my skin tingle and my heart race.
Ethan then shifted beneath me, positioning himself at my entrance. His gaze never left mine, his eyes locked onto mine as if trying to imprint this moment onto his memory. I nodded, unable to find my voice, my heart too full of emotion to speak. Ethan then slowly eased himself inside me, his gaze never leaving mine as he filled me. I moaned softly as he entered me, feeling a wave of pleasure roll through me.
Once fully seated inside me, Ethan paused, giving me time to adjust to his presence. I could feel the weight of him, the hardness of him filling me, and the feeling was both overwhelming and intoxicating.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asked, his voice strained as he fought to maintain control.
“Yes,” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper. “I feel… amazing, you… feel so good inside me.”
Ethan groaned at my words, a deep, guttural sound that sent a shiver down my spine. He started to move slowly at first, his hips rocking gently against mine as he built a rhythm. Each thrust sent a wave of pleasure crashing through me, leaving me breathless and trembling beneath him.
“Umm… ah… yes, oh Ethan, your cock feels good in my pussy, keep going, don’t stop,” I urged, my voice barely above a whisper. I could feel the tension building inside me, my body tightening around him as the pleasure became almost unbearable.
Ethan picked up the pace, his hips moving faster, his thrusts becoming more intricate and deeper. I could feel him hitting that spot inside me that made my toes curl, and my breath caught in my throat. Each thrust sent a wave of pleasure crashing through me, leaving me breathless and trembling beneath him.
“Trust me, I won’t stop. I want to last a long while. We’ve got all night,” Ethan said, his voice strained as he fought to maintain control.
I nodded, trusting him completely. My body was on fire, every nerve ending tingling with pleasure. Ethan’s thrusts became faster and harder, and I could feel the tension building inside me, my body tightening around him as the pleasure became almost unbearable.
“Ethan, do… do you like f-fucking me,” I gasped, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes, Shelly, I love it,” Ethan groaned, his thrusts becoming faster and harder. “I love being inside you, feeling you wrapped around me, feeling your warmth and softness.”
“Ethan, I… I’m so close,” I panted, my nails digging into his back. “I’m going to… I’m going to come.”
“Come for me, Shelly,” Ethan urged, his voice hoarse with desire. “Let go, I’ll catch you.”
With those words, the tension inside me finally snapped, and a wave of pleasure overcame me so intensely that I couldn’t see or hear anything but the sensation. I cried out, my body shaking as the pleasure washed over me, Ethan’s name a hoarse whisper on my lips.
Ethan didn’t stop, his thrusts becoming even deeper inside my tight snatch, pushing me through the aftershocks of my orgasm. I could feel him swelling inside me, his own pleasure building. He groaned, his body tensing, and then he stilled, his orgasm crashing through him.
He couldn’t hold back any longer as he pounded me into the couch hard and grunted, “UNG, UGH, UGH, SHELLY!” and his whole body shuddered as he emptied himself inside me. He kept on shooting and shooting, hot ropes of semen filling me. I could feel every pulse, every shudder of his body as he emptied himself inside me. It was the most intense and satisfying feeling I’d ever experienced.
As the pleasure slowly ebbed away, Ethan collapsed on top of me, his head resting beside mine, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I could feel his body’s weight and his skin’s warmth, and the feeling was both comforting and overwhelming. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close as if trying to keep him there forever.
We lay there like that for a long moment, both of us too spent to move, too overwhelmed by the intensity of what had just happened. I could feel the steady beat of Ethan’s heart, the warmth of his breath against my neck, and it all felt so right, so perfect.
Finally, Ethan lifted his head, looking at me with a softness that made my heart swell with emotion. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes,” I replied, my voice equally hushed. “I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
Ethan smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. “Neither have I,” he admitted. “But I think… I want to feel it again.”
I nodded, a warmth spreading through me at his words. “Me too,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion. “Me too.”
We lay there for a long time, wrapped in each other’s arms, our bodies still entwined. The storm outside had started to subside, the wind dying down to a whisper as the snow continued to fall. The cabin was still cold, but the warmth of Ethan’s body kept me toasty and comfortable.
Eventually, Ethan shifted, pulling out of me carefully. I winced at the sensation, my body still sensitive from our lovemaking. He returned to the bathroom with a warm washcloth to clean me up. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about the depth of his care for me.
Once we were both cleaned up, Ethan pulled me back into his arms, holding me close as we drifted off to sleep. I could feel the steady beat of his heart, the warmth of his breath against my neck, and it all felt so right, so perfect. As I drifted off to sleep, I knew that this was a moment I would never forget, that would be seared into my memory forever.
