Page 1 of Wrapped in Winter

PROLOGUE 15 years ago

It’s been six days—one hundred and forty-four hours—since my dad passed.

Ninety-two days since the back pain he finally had checked turned out to be cancer.

He had been having back pain for almost a month. Mom finally convinced him to go to the chiropractor. The chiropractor said he felt a lump and sent him for a cat scan. The CAT scan revealed a large mass growing on his spine. Further tests confirmed it was cancer, and now, here we stand.

No notice. No time to adjust. Not that there is ever a good time to lose a parent.

The line of people is never-ending, and I just want to run from this funeral home. The sorrowful looks are too much. My baby sisters haven’t stopped crying, and the sound is grating on my nerves. My older brother is like a zombie. And Mom won’t stop smiling and thanking everyone for coming. This isn’t a party. What the hell is she smiling for?

Nothing makes sense.

But we’re all kids. Mom just turned forty. How do we carry on for another full lifetime without him?

“I’m so sorry for your loss. Your father was a good man and this town will feel his absence for quite some time.”

I look on as my barely seventeen-year-old brother stands perfectly still, the only tremble in his body coming from his bottom lip. I squeeze his hand and he bites that same lip. “Thank you, Miss Trudy.”

“I know you’ll do the right thing by your mother and sisters and step into his role. It’s big shoes to fill, but you can do it.”

Miss Trudy taps his cheek twice before moving down the reception line. “January, you’re the oldest daughter, and you have a big role to fill as well. Your mother is going to need to grieve, and you're going to have to take care of your sisters.”

What aboutmygrief? How can I be expected to step into something I can barely understand?

At fifteen years old, I should be at cheerleading practice and sneaking out of the house on Friday nights, not becoming a second-mom to my two younger sisters.

But for right now? I have to bury that grief, and push on for them.

“I know. I will do my best.”

She gives me a look like my best better be enough and moves away from me.

The pressure bestowed upon us today will last the rest of our lives. It’s a crushing weight that’s forever changed who we are and who we will become, I’m sure of it.

Chapter 1

January - Present Day

“Idon't think this is a good idea.”

He kisses down my neck, his hands roaming everywhere until they land on my ass. He squeezes and says, “I think it’s an excellent idea.”

He pulls me close, wedging one of his thick thighs between my legs, and I feel just how good of an idea it is. “You're right. This is an excellent idea.” We kiss desperately. I’ve never felt passion like this before. The need is so strong, I don’t even care that I just met him. I don’t care that we’re in a stall in the bathroom of the local bar.

I don’t even care that I don’t know his name.

He slips his hands under my shirt, and I raise my arms. He grabs the hem, pulling the shirt over my head and dropping it on the floor. Our mouths connect again and his hands have already pushed my bra up and my breasts are out. The pads of his thumbs are rough and calloused as he rubs them frantically over my nipples, and it makes me that much hotter and needier for him.

I fumble with his belt, sliding his jeans down his legs, then following with his boxers. When I grip the base of his shaft, he lets out a moan that rumbles through my body. “Tell me you have a condom,” I pant.

He bites at my bottom lip. “Uh-huh. In my wallet. Take it from my back pocket.” With one hand still wrapped around his cock, I reach for his jeans that are bunched around his thighs, pulling the wallet out and handing it to him. He opens the trifold, pulling out a silver wrapper, and the wallet is dropped to the floor, landing on my discarded shirt.

I step back as he rolls it on, and I turn around, but he grabs my hips to stop me. “No. Look at me.” I shake my head. “Yes, I want to see you.”

I reluctantly face him as he hitches my thigh up, playing with my clit. “You’re so wet; are you ready?”

“Just fuck me.”