Were any birdwatcher, voyeur or simple passerby to stumble onto the immaculately maintained lodge, they would have an unobstructed view through the front bay window of the two young women making love in front of the fireplace, the world around them utterly disregarded in the heat of their passion. Of course, that was absurdly unlikely. The Markham family lodge was hidden on the leeside of a mountain, surrounded by the dense Canadian wilderness hours from any town or village worthy of the name, and the only access road up its slopes was both private and treacherous, especially after three days of constant whiteout blizzard conditions. No, they were quite alone up there, with nothing but each other for company.

And for Mercedes Leblanc and Rebecca Markham, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Care for some more wine, love?”

“No, that would require one of us to get up,” Mercedes expressed, pulling the woolen blanket tighter around their naked forms. The Markham family lodge was no mere unheated shack, but a full-scale chalet, built at great expense for Rebecca’s millionaire family by the finest architects, with all the creature comforts they’d demanded; geothermal power and heating, a full kitchen, multiple lavishly appointed bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, and a hot tub capable of seating a half-dozen. Or at least, it was what Rebecca described when they first reached the isolated lodge, hidden from the world. They’d spent most of that time in the living room, taking advantage of the fact they were alone in the lodge, their desires refusing to wait until they reached the nearest bedroom… “And honestly? I want to stay like this with you forever.”

Crimson lips turned upwards in a satisfied smile. “I tend to have that effect on women,” Rebecca declared, capturing Mercedes’ lips in a passionate kiss and leaving them both breathless. “God, you’re sexy. Have I mentioned that before?”

“I could stand to hear it again,” Mercedes answered with a grin.

Smirking, Rebecca drew her tongue along Mercedes’ slim neck and up to the shell of her right ear, provoking a delighted moan from the blonde. “You’re so sexy,” she whispered huskily, breath warm and lustful in her ear. “You’re beautiful and smart and kind and adventurous…” A hand dipped low, teasing the slick folds of her lover’s womanhood, and instantly, she was rewarded by Mercedes convulsing in pleasure at the contact. “And having to wait until exams were finished before I could ravish you was pure torture.”

“Well, good things come to those who wait, right?”

“That’s the theory.” Gentle hands ran up and down each other’s bodies, still sweaty from the afterglow, taking in every curve, every feature, every inch of supple, pale, feminine flesh, and lust burned anew in Rebecca’s blue eyes. It was a flame Mercedes had quickly come to recognize in the several months since she and the brunette had become lovers, for Rebecca seemed incapable of keeping her feelings hidden, especially where she was concerned. “But in practice?” Rebecca’s head disappeared beneath the blanket, and Mercedes arched her back at the feel of the other woman’s lips running along her inner thighs, a sharp gasp of pleasure echoing throughout the room. “I doubt I could have restrained myself an hour longer.”

“Well, we’re here together now, so let’s make the most of it,” Mercedes assured her. “Thank you for inviting me, by the way. This is the first time I’ve ever been with a girlfriend over the holidays, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, so… thank you.”

“Hey, I should be thanking you for accepting,” said Rebecca, a pang of some old regret shrouding her features, there for an instant and then gone. “You being with me, being here… it means more to me than I can say. It’s— it’s just hard being alone at this time of year, you know?”

“You’d think your parents could put their travel plans on hold even for a few days to share Christmas with you,” Mercedes remarked with her usual patient calm.

Rebecca snorted in disbelief, unwilling to hide her scorn. “That’s because you’re a decent person, Mercedes, and not some corporate parasite growing fat off the profits of the mining industry.” Pale features flushed red with anger. “They’re too damn busy living it up on every cruise ship in existence. What does their only daughter’s happiness compare to that? I—mmpggghh!”

That Rebecca felt that way, even for an instant, was more than Mercedes could stand, and she moved to help her the first way that came to mind. The kiss broke, and it was Rebecca who spoke first as the two women locked eyes with one another. “Mercedes, I--”

“You’re not alone, my love. Not today or any other day. Not while we’re together,” the blonde insisted firmly, cupping Rebecca’s head in both hands. “I know that I play hard to get sometimes, especially when I’ve got a paper to write or a test to study for, but… I cherish every moment with you. Believe me when I say that. Any time you’re feeling down or in trouble, you’ll always be able to rely on me. Okay?”

Her anger forgotten, the brunette gave a soft smile. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“Keeping me safe and hidden from those jocks during Professor Stevenson’s dumb exercise certainly helped.”

“Is that so?” With a grunt, Rebecca straddled Mercedes, pinning the blonde’s wrists to the floor. “If that’s the case, perhaps you’d be interested in showing your… appreciation?”

“And why do you think I slept with you that night in the first place?” Mercedes teased back.

Grinning, the pair gave into their mutual passion once more, and in the days to come, the memory of their time spent alone together in the lodge and hidden from the outside world would become one of their most cherished. For Mercedes, as ever, was right. So long as they were together, they would never be alone…