Sarah went into the room and closed the door behind her. Nick finished making the hot chocolate as before with the added topping. He pulled out a couple of large beach towels and placed them on the couch. He lit another fire and went to the window. The snow was just starting to fall, every soft oversized flake floated down from the sky like leaves from a tree in autumn. The wind from the storm had not yet caught up to them and the heavy snow was still an hour or so away. As he waited for Sarah to finish dressing he took delight in watching Jessie biting at the flakes of snow as they drifted through the air.

Sarah quickly put the clothes on that Nick had put out for her as thoughts raced through her head about the bed in front of her. How she wanted so badly to lie down and take in the scent of this dear man who was so kind. Sarah quickly recovered from her vision and headed back to where Nick was eagerly waiting. She felt a little sheepish as she walked back into the living room wearing men’s clothing. That feeling soon subsided as Nick gave an approving glance. He asked Sarah if she was ready to get in the hot tub. Sarah was ready but went to the kitchen to grab the hot chocolate Nick had just made for them. She knew she would be cold outside as she was not from these parts.

Sarah brought both cups into the living room and grabbed the two towels he had placed on the couch. After changing he opened the door for Sarah and they both started out into the brisk air encompassed with the soft orange glow of the sun set.

Sarah was delighted to see the delicate flakes of snow drifting down from the Heavens. She set the cups down on the side of the hot tub, and Nick held out a hand to help her into the tub. Oh how the water felt so good! Sarah was closely watching every move Nick made as he entered the water. She wondered how often he had the pleasure of this magnificent setting. Perhaps as often as he wished, Sarah thought.

Sarah internalized yet another memory that would surely keep in her heart forever as she looked up to the Heavens and watched the flakes dancing about. The swirling warm water, dancing flakes, vanilla aroma, flickering candles, and the comfort and closeness of a gentleman. What more could a girl ask for? This wonderful moment in time made Sarah so joyful that a tear came to her eyes.

Nick could sense the feelings that Sarah was experiencing, and moved closer to her and wrapped an arm around her and with a gentle squeeze said. “It doesn’t get much better than this Sarah!” Sarah looked at Nick, her eyes filling with tears; Nick knew what to do. He gently kissed Sarah once, twice, and then a third time to assure her that he feels the moment too. The two of them sat silently for a few minutes just basking in the glory of God’s country. Nick broke the silence as he reached in front of Sarah to grab the hot chocolate. He told Sarah to taste it and asked if she had ever had Sheridan’s before. Sarah said she had never heard of it. Nick was delighted to have the opportunity to share this fine liqueur with Sarah. He explained that the bottle was purposefully divided with a unique lid to keep the two contents separated. He told her when you pour it, the two coffee flavored liqueurs stay separated. He told her that this was not easy to find in her home state, that this is widely available in Milan.

Sarah took a sip of the liqueur laden hot chocolate and was instantly hooked. What a smooth exotic flavor of chocolate and coffee to warm the soul! Sarah felt the warmth all the way down to her stomach as she sipped the delectable treat. Or was it coffee flavored chocolate Sarah wondered as she felt a little blushed at the thought of the trivial question she imposed upon herself. Nick took a sip of his and Sarah watched him intently as he savored the immense flavor. Nick turned to Sarah and patted her knee under the water. He asked her what she had purchased from the liquor store earlier that day. Sarah flashed Nick her devilish grin and told him he would have to wait and see! This stirred Nick’s emotions as he loved to be toiled with. He put his arm around Sarah again and pulled her close to him so they could both lay back and enjoy the gentle snowfall and sip the warm delicacies.

Nick reached over to the control panel and pushed a couple of buttons. The internal soft blue lights of the hot tub came on giving the illusion of a shallow blue coast line from some exotic destination. Then a soft melody could be heard coming from the speakers, a gentle Spanish classical guitar filled their ears as he looked at her and said “do you trust me”? She nodded and he took the hot chocolate from her hand and asked her to sit in front of him facing the same direction as he was. When she moved into that position he placed his hands on her hips and delicately lifted her up off of the seat. She was puzzled but did not resist. He again asked “do you trust me”? Nervously she nodded yes again.
“Stretch out your legs and float on your back, don’t worry I won’t let you slip”. He said.

As she did this she felt his arms supporting her and stabilizing her in the bubbling blue paradise she was immersed in. She looked up at his face and saw him smiling but had noticed something odd. The snowflakes were not landing on her or in the water. They melted just above them. She came to the conclusion that the heat from the tub had cocooned them in a dome of tranquility. She watched in amazement of how each flake of snow drifted downward until extinguishing itself against the invisible shield like stars twinkling in the night sky. She stayed like that for what seemed an eternity lost in her thoughts of the voyage she has been on since arriving at the Ranger Station.

She closed her eyes only for a moment and allowed herself to embrace the warmth of the water, the subtleness of the music, the massaging feeling provided by the jets and the touch of this man. She breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. He watched her as she lowered her defenses and submitted to the evening. When he felt her start to stir, he slowly sat her up floating in the currents while turning her to face him. She did not offer any resistance as he brought her to him. Their eyes met and for the first time they were looking into each other. Every sense had stopped functioning except for sight, no sounds, no touch, just sight. They stayed that way, her resting on his lap, arms around his neck while he held her against his body. He glanced down at her now slightly parted lips and kissed her ever so slowly and gently. She offered no kiss back the first time but on his second kiss she followed his lead. The fullness of their lips met, and compress against their teeth. He pulled her closer to him against his chest, while she repositioned hers arms for a tighter hold on him. Their hearts beating against one another’s as they pull back for a third kiss. Licking his lips and placing his hands on her face and he drawers her to him never breaking eye contact until the moment their lips meet again.

The sounds and sensations of their environment return as the two lovers explore the passion raging inside. Their tongues dancing to the rhythm of music, their gasping breaths give way to deeper and even more sensual kisses. They are so hypnotized by the over powering lust that they fail to notice that the pump has shut off and the bubbles cease to exist. Their frenzied kissing escalates further and further with no sign of letting up, neither one wants this to stop, neither one will allow this to stop; they have reached a point of no return.

Nick pulls back and asks her to make love with him. Let this night be our night, a night to cherish forever. Give yourself to me as I will give myself to you.


Sarah responded with barely a whisper. “Yes Nick, I will give myself to you.” Nick pulled Sarah close to him again and they both embraced in an even more passionate kiss to seal the commitment both had just made. In the heat of the moment, all sound was lost yet again as the two remained embraced just enjoying the moment when all of a sudden, both were brought back to the reality outside of their passion when there was a splash upon them. They both looked in awe and burst out laughing when Jessie paddled over to them and gave them both a tail wagging kiss.

Nick said he must go in and get Jessie dried off so she didn’t catch cold. Sarah agreed that they all should go in. Nick gently carried Jessie out of the hot tub. He then turned his attention and caught Sarah just as she was about to slide off the side of the tub. He told Sarah that she should just lie back and let him carry her into the house. As Nick carried her over the threshold, he paused just inside the door. He kicked it shut after Jessie came in and planted a very long sensuous kiss on Sarah before letting her down from his masculine hold.

Nick trotted off to gather a towel for Jessie. He came back into the living room to find Sarah sitting by the fire giving a reassuring stroke to the top of Jessie’s head. Nick showed Jessie the towel and she came bouncing across the floor, coming to a halted skid. Nick gently towel dried the pup and to our delight, she took to her bed in the corner of the room. Nick made us another cup of hot chocolate with Sheridan’s and brought Sarah her cup. He asked her to taste it to see if it needed more Sheridan’s. Sarah sipped the flavorful delight and closed her eyes and murmured a sweet gentle sound. Nick did not need further clarification; he could tell by her body language, that Sarah was enjoying the flavor immensely.

Nick grabbed his cup and joined Sarah on the couch. He was hoping the moment outside could be recaptured in the comfort of the cabin in front of the warm dancing fire Nick had started before they went outside. Nick opened a draw in the end table and produced a remote control, with a smile he asked Sarah what kind of music she liked as he scrolled through his collection. Sarah was open to anything soft and romantic, so she told Nick to pick his favorite. Nick took a second to find just the right music for this romantic interlude. He activated a disk and the music gently came through the surround sound speakers that Sarah had not even noticed before. The melody was so sweet, it made Sarah sit back on the sofa and close her eyes as she started to go into her fantasy place…a place no one has been able to follow her to.

Nick went to the bedroom to change from his wet clothes to something more comfortable were he laid out a long plush blue robe, a pair of wool socks and a spare track suit he had brought. He returned wearing his favorite pair of Green Bay Packers track pants and matching sweat shirt. He walked around behind the couch where Sarah was still lost in her dream world and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. She did not open her eyes as he began to massage her. He placed a soft kiss on her neck and told her she should change out of her now partially dried clothes. He watched her walk away, her form silhouetted against the fire light and he thought to himself, if she turns back to look then she would be the woman for him. Each step she took closer and closer to the bedroom door filled his eyes with lust and his heart with desire. She opened the door and stepped into the room where her eyes were captivated by the scene in the window of the swirling white snowflakes against the treed back drop. She paused there in the doorway for a moment before turning to him and casting the most beautiful smile he had ever witnessed. He watched her close the door and breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to Jessie and said “I like her to old girl”.

In the kitchen Nick prepared some trays of appetizers, a vegetable platter, a shrimp platter and a cheese platter. He set them down on the coffee table in front of the couch when the bedroom door opened and she once again appeared silhouetted, only this time with the window as her back drop. He smiled and asked if she was hungry as he motioned her to sit with him. They sat there on the couch discussing their childhood, music and an array of topics while they sampled the assortment of party favors Nick had placed before them. Jessie wanted in on the festivities also as she had come over from the corner and put on her best begging game face. Tilting her head from side to side and flashing her blue eyes at Sarah as if to say “I thought we were friends”. Sarah giggled and fed her some of the assortment they were sharing. When Sarah had felt the dog consumed enough of the people food she halted the gift giving and told Jessie that was all she was going to get. Nick and Sarah returned to their conversation sharing old stories and laughs when Jessie had dropped a large bone made of rope in front of Sarah.

Nick chuckled at the site. “What’s so funny”? Sarah asked. “I think someone wants to play” Nick replied. “You don’t have a choice Sarah” Nick said. “You see Jessie has just thrown down the gauntlet and is challenging you for the role of Alpha Female” he continued.

Sarah not being one to back away from a challenge laughed and spoke in an aristocratic voice” I accept your challenge and may the best woman win” with that Sarah grabbed one end of the rope bone while Jessie tugged at the other end. The two played tug of war while Nick looked on in amazement as Sarah strategically out witted Jessie time and time again. It was clear to him who would be sleeping on the floor tonight but the question he most wanted answered was would the victor take her place in the bed beside him?

While the two played on the floor in front of the fire Nick asked Sarah if she wanted a drink from something she had bought. . Sarah replied immediately, “Oh yes Nick, I bought stuff for margaritas. I hope you like Patron!” Nick went to the kitchen and mixed the drinks that Sarah had requested.

He returned to the living room just as Jessie had conceded the match to Sarah and handed her the drink. Holding his glass up high Nick toasted the winner “Cheers to the victor, a warrior woman of un-surpassing beauty and courage”. They both laughed and Nick continued “May I kiss the hand of the noble Warrior Princess”? He asked. With an out stretched hand Sarah fell into the part and replied “You may kiss thy Royal hand my young woodsman”. As Nick knelt on one knee also falling into the role he thought to himself “young woodsman”, I’ll show you young woodsman my Princess.

He held her hand gently and placed a soft but lingering kiss on the back of her hand, then slowly rotated her hand over exposing her soft white wrist. He place as second kiss on the upper palm of her hand and a third on her wrist slowly and methodically breathing his warm breath on the sensitive flesh before his mouth. He watched not her but rather the tiny hairs on her arm straighten out in appreciation of his attention. His light kisses continued up her arm while keeping time with the music in the back ground. He reached the top of her shoulder and peeled back the collar of the loosely fitting jersey granting him access to her creamy white neck. He teased and toiled with her emotions as he gingerly stayed in rhythm tasting every inch of her skin. She moved in closer to him and placed her arms around his body pulling at him to press against her. She turned her head and closed her eyes as she gave in to his desires.

Nick and Sarah were as one in this passionate moment their moves were as choreographed as the finest ballet’s. Each submitting to the other’s subtlest of gestures. Each kiss given and each kiss received brought their souls closer and closer. The burning desire that grew in the pit of their hearts brought down protective walls that each had erected as defensive shields against the cruel world known as everyday life. When the drum like pounding of their hearts and the deeper breathes that each had to take to maintain the lust and physical demands that surely awaited them reached a climax Nick pulled back from Sarah and repeated his words from earlier. “Make love with me, give yourself to me as I would give myself to you” he said in the softest and most sincere voice Sarah had ever heard before in her life.

‘Take me my Prince” Sarah pleaded. With that Nicked lead Sarah from behind into the bedroom were the dancing flickering light of the fireplace in the living room echoed on the walls. Without her knowledge and without a spoken word Nick pushed a button on the remote he plundered from the living room setting in motion a completely new rhythm to further enhance what was indeed the most romantic night of his life.

He led her past the bed towards the curtain less window with his arms around her waist and her hands holding his arms in place. At the exact moment they reached the window the air filled with the sound of the music that had come to life.