C5: Moonlit sleigh ride

The next afternoon Rowan surprised Elara with something special. He had the old wooden sleigh hitched and ready behind the stables, with two calm horses waiting patiently in their harnesses. The Caldwells had politely declined to join them, saying they preferred to relax by the fire with their books and some hot tea. Elara felt a flutter of nervous excitement as she climbed into the sleigh beside Rowan and settled under the thick wool blankets he had prepared.

The horses began moving at a gentle, steady pace along the snow-covered trails that wound through the forest behind the resort. Tall pine trees rose on both sides of the path, their branches heavy with fresh snow. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the sharp scent of pine and winter. The only sounds were the soft jingle of the harness bells and the muffled crunch of snow under the sleigh runners.

Rowan kept one hand on the reins. His other hand found hers beneath the heavy blankets and intertwined their fingers. The simple contact felt wonderfully intimate after the tension of the previous day with the investors.

“This feels like a dream,” Elara said softly, looking around at the beautiful winter landscape.

He glanced over at her, his stormy gray eyes warmer than usual. “It does not feel fake anymore.”

The sleigh eventually came to a stop in a stunning clearing that overlooked a wide valley. The sun was beginning to set, painting the snow-covered slopes in soft shades of pink, orange, and gold. Rowan tied off the reins and turned to face her fully. For a moment they simply sat there, taking in the view and each other.

Then he cupped her face gently with both hands and kissed her. The kiss was slow and thorough, full of the growing need they had both been holding back. There was no rush. Just warmth and deepening desire. Elara sighed against his mouth and leaned into him, her hands resting on his broad chest.

His lips eventually moved from her mouth to her neck. He placed light, teasing kisses along her sensitive skin, making her shiver with pleasure. Elara threaded her fingers through his thick hair, holding him closer. When his hand slipped under her coat and rested against the warm skin of her lower back, she let out a soft breath. His touch felt electric.

“Rowan,” she whispered, her voice shaky with want.

He pulled back just enough to look at her. His eyes had darkened with clear desire. “Tell me what you need.”

“Right now I just need you to keep kissing me.”

He obliged willingly. The kisses grew longer and more heated under the fading sunset. His hands roamed her back beneath her coat while hers explored his strong shoulders and chest. The cold air around them only made the warmth between their bodies feel more intense. They stayed wrapped up in each other as the sky turned deep purple and stars began to appear overhead. The world felt small and private, like the rest of reality had disappeared.

The ride back to the lodge was much quieter. Both of them felt the undeniable shift that had happened between them. What started as a business arrangement had become something much deeper. Elara rested her head against Rowan’s shoulder during the return journey, and he kept his arm securely around her.

When they arrived back at the stables, Rowan helped her down from the sleigh. He held her a moment longer than necessary, his hands on her waist. The moonlight reflected off the snow and lit up his face.

“Thank you for today,” she said quietly. “It was perfect.”

“You are perfect,” he replied, his voice low and sincere. He leaned down and gave her one more slow kiss before they walked back toward the main lodge together.

Inside, the Caldwells were still enjoying their evening by the fire. Rowan and Elara joined them for a late drink, playing their parts as the happy couple. But every glance they shared carried new weight. Every accidental brush of hands felt loaded with promise. Under the table, Rowan’s fingers found hers again and held on tightly.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to their rooms, Elara lay in her bed in the Aspen Suite unable to sleep. Her body still hummed from Rowan’s touches and kisses. The memory of his hands on her skin and the way he had looked at her in the clearing kept replaying in her mind.

She was falling for him. There was no denying it anymore. And from the way he had held her and kissed her that afternoon, she was almost certain he felt the same.

Down the hall in his own room, Rowan stood by the window staring out at the moonlit snow. He had not planned for any of this. Elara had come here as a temporary solution to a problem. Now she was becoming the one thing he did not want to let go of when the three weeks ended.

He ran a hand through his hair and let out a slow breath. The lines between fake and real had completely vanished. Whatever happened next, he knew one thing for certain. He wanted Elara in his life for real.