Snowbound Hearts

Chapter 2: Flames in the Dark

The words just hung in the air between them like the smoke from the fireplace. Ethan said they had to *survive each other*. His voice was really low. It still made her feel all weird inside. Lila took a step back. The old floor creaked under her boots. The cabin felt small all of a sudden and the storm outside was so loud it was like it was pushing in on them.

"I will take the couch " she said quickly. She turned to get some blankets from the closet. Her hands were shaking a little as she pulled them out. She just wanted to put some distance between her and Ethan.

Ethan was watching her. He was standing in front of the fire. The snow in his hair was. It was running down his neck. "Don't be silly Lila " he said. "The couch is too short for me. You take the bed. I will be fine."

She turned around. She was holding the blankets to her chest like they could protect her. "We are adults Ethan " she said. "We can share this cabin without...". Then she stopped. She did not know what to say. Without remembering how it felt when they were together all those years ago? Without feeling the pain that never really went away?

Ethans eyes got all dark. He knew exactly what she was thinking. "Without what happened " he said and he took a step closer to her. She could smell him. It was like cedar and cold air. "I did not come here to bring up the past " he said.

Lila was not so sure. "Are you not?" she. Her voice was a little sharper than she meant it to be. They had not talked in eight years. It all came flooding back. She threw the blankets on the armchair. Crossed her arms glaring up at him. Ethan was thirty-eight now. He looked even more imposing. He had a gray in his hair and his jaw was all strong and shadowy. He looked like a man who could lift the world or he could break her heart without even trying.

Ethan ran his hand through his hair. He let out a big sigh. "Your brother called me two days ago " he said. "He said the cabin needed to be checked before it could be sold. I did not know you would be here. If I had known I would have..."

Lila laughed,. It did not sound very funny. "You would have sent someone " she asked. " Course you would. That is what you do right? You walk away when things get complicated."

Ethans jaw got all tight. He went to the kitchen to get some more candles. The firelight made his arms look really strong. Lila had to look away.. She could not help thinking about how those arms used to hold her.

"I thought I was doing the thing " Ethan said quietly and he lit a candle on the mantel. His face looked really regretful. "You were twenty, Lila. You were young and full of dreams. I was thirty-two. I was divorced. I had a lot of baggage. I did not want to hurt you."

Lila felt a lump in her throat. "You did hurt me " she said. "That kiss... It was not a kiss. It was everything.. Then you just disappeared. No calls, no explanations. I waited for months like an idiot."

The room was really quiet for a while except for the wind and the fire. Ethan sat down in the armchair. He looked at her with his dark eyes. "I thought about you every day " he said. "I felt so guilty. It still eats at me. Seeing you now... You are more beautiful. You are stronger. I am still the same broken man."

Lilas heart was beating fast. Part of her wanted to yell at him to throw all her feelings at him.. Another part of her the part that never stopped loving him wanted to go to him and make all the pain go away. They were stuck in this cabin together. It was like the whole world was pushing them together.

"We should try to sleep " she. She stood up. "The storm might be over by morning."

It was not.

The night was really long and quiet. Lila went to the loft bedroom. She got into the big bed with the heavy quilt her grandmother made. Ethan took the couch downstairs. Neither of them could sleep. She heard him walking around adding wood to the fire and cursing when the wind made the cabin shake. Every little creak made her think of him of the bed that could fit two people.

Around midnight it got even colder. Lila was shivering under the covers. She could see her breath in the air. She heard Ethans footsteps on the stairs.

"Lila?" he. His voice was really rough. "It is freezing down here. The fire is dying. Do you mind if I..."

She sat up and she held the quilt to her chest. The moon was shining through the window. It made Ethan look all silver and shadowy. He looked really tired. It made her heart feel all funny. "Come in " she said. ". Stay on your side."

He. He got into bed with her. He was fully. He kept a little distance between them.. Lila could feel his body heat and it was like a warm hug. She turned onto her side. She faced away from him but she could feel every nerve in her body.

After a while Ethan murmured, "You are shivering."

"I am fine " she said.

Then he put his arm around her waist and he pulled her back against his chest. It was not like he was trying to hurt her or anything. It was just warm. It felt really good. "Body heat, Lila " he said. "It is just practical."

Lila should have pulled away. She did not. She just melted into him and her fit right into his chest. His breath was on her neck. It made her feel all tingly. She could feel his body through their clothes. It was like it was made for her.

"Ethan..." she. Her voice was a warning.

"I know " he said. "Eight years. You still fit right here. Like you were made for me."

Lila felt tears in her eyes. She was feeling all the love and pain at the time. She turned in his arms and their faces were really close. His eyes were all stormy. She could see the desire in them.

"Why did you really come?" she. She touched his jaw. His stubble felt all rough on her palm.

"Because your brother asked " he said. ". Because... Some part of me hoped I would see you. Even if it hurt."

Lila felt something break open inside her. She leaned in. Their lips were almost touching. The storm outside was like the one inside her. Unstoppable. Ethans grip got tighter. He pulled her closer. She felt his hardness against her thigh. It was like it was made for her.

"Tell me to stop " he. His forehead was on hers. His hand was on the back of her neck and his fingers were in her hair.

Lila did not say anything. She just closed the distance between them.

The kiss was like a fire. It started slow. Then it got deeper and hungrier. Ethan. He rolled her under him. His weight was on her. It felt really good. His hand was on her side. It was under her sweater. His thumb was, on her breast. It was like it was made for her.

Lila arched into him. Her fingers were clutching his sweater. "Ethan... God..." she said.

He pulled back. He looked at her. His eyes were all raw and needy. "You taste the same " he said. "Sweet. Mine."

Then there was a loud crack and the cabin shook. Ethan jumped up. He shielded her body with his. "What was that?" Lila. Her heart was racing.

"Tree probably " Ethan said. "Close." He was already. He pulled her up with him. "Stay here."

She followed him downstairs flashlight in her hand. The living room was a mess with wind blowing through a hole near the window. A huge branch from a tree had hit the side of the cabin damaging one of the main beams that held it up. Snow was coming in through the hole.

Ethan looked at the damage quickly his eyes were sharp in a bad situation. "The cabin is hurt badly. If this gets worse the roof could fall in."

Lilas voice was shaking with fear. "We are stuck. Really stuck."

He turned to her. Pulled her into his arms again this time they were both fully dressed but the hug meant a lot. He really cared about her his hand was rubbing her back to calm her down even though his body was tense with worry. "I have got you. I will not let anything bad happen to you, Lila. Never again."

They worked together in the cold and dark they used plywood from the shed to cover the hole and some tools from Ethans truck to make it stronger. Hours went by. They were very tired. They also felt closer to each other. They looked at each other their hands. They said some quiet things to each other while they were hammering nails.

By the time they went back to bed near dawn their bodies were. Their minds were confused but they still thought about kissing each other. Ethan held her close he still wanted her but he did not do anything he just said sweet things into her hair.

But as they finally fell asleep Lilas mind was thinking about one thing: the storm was not the only thing that could hurt them.. With the road blocked and the cabin getting weaker they could not leave anytime soon.

What would happen when the walls, the real walls and the walls, around their feelings finally came down?