Chapter 1

My name was Chase Campbell. I was born and raised in the South, yet I had married a woman from the Northeastern valleys.

My wife, Dakota Allen, suggested that we go to her hometown to celebrate New Year's Day this year. We had been married for several years, and we had gone to my place every previous New Year. So, she insisted on going back to her parents' home at least once.

Winters in the Northeast were especially cold. Heavy snow drifted outside, while the fireplace inside the house burned hot.

What surprised me was that there was only one fireplace in Dakota's home. So, the entire family often crowded in the living room to sleep at night.

People in the rural Northeast were very hospitable. As soon as my in-laws saw me arrive, they slaughtered a hen just to cook a feast for me. Soon, steaming dishes filled the table that was set up on the heater platform.

Dakota's younger sister, Yvette Allen, was very thoughtful. She served me a bowl of cream of chicken soup. Her fingers brushed lightly across the back of my hand. Her skin felt unbelievably soft against mine.

I looked up at her. It had been several years since I last saw her. I hadn't expected that the little girl from back then had now grown into a young woman.

She looked fresh and vivacious, and I found her extremely adorable. Her figure had developed perfectly. Even when she was wrapped in a thick coat, the full curves of her chest were still visible.

When she realized that our hands had touched briefly, she lowered her head shyly. Her fair cheeks flushed crimson right away. She looked just like Dakota when we had first met.

However, by then, we had already been married for years. So, the passion from our youth was long gone.

I asked my in-laws, "Yvette should be 18 by now, right? Is she going to college this year?"

Hearing my concern, Yvette had a faint smile on her lips.

My mother-in-law, Ginger Grant, put down her fork and said, "Yvette is 19 this year. She didn't get into college last year, so she stayed home for a year. We're planning to send her to the city to work. She isn't as lucky as her sister, who got to marry such a good man like you."

Her praise made me feel uncomfortable.

I responded, "Not at all, Ginger. I'm just getting by."

My in-laws turned to look at me with serious expressions.

My father-in-law, Brad Allen, spoke up. "Here's the thing, Chase. We've been thinking of having you take Yvette with you to the city to work. She's never been to the city before. It will be safer for her to stay with you two."

So, what he meant was that Yvette would be moving into my home. I had married the older one, and now, I'd be taking the younger sister with me. Deep down, I was secretly delighted.

I agreed readily, "Sure, no problem. Leave it to me."

However, Dakota, who was sitting beside me, didn't seem pleased about this.

She shot me a sideways glance and muttered, "There's going to be an extra set of plates and cutlery to be washed with her there. Will you be the one doing the washing?"

I knew very well in my heart that Dakota didn't want Yvette to move in. There was quite an age gap between them, and they didn't exactly get along well.

Yvette said innocently, "It's okay. I'll wash my own tableware."

Her naive answer made all of us laugh.

That night, my in-laws had us all sleep together in the living room because it was frigid. Firewood continued to crackle and burn as we slept happily together on one big bed that was moved into the living room.

Dakota and I shared one quilt, while my in-laws and Yvette shared another.

Yvette lay right next to me. But the problem was that the bed was a bit small. We couldn't all fit comfortably, so Yvette and I were practically pressed together.

This silly young woman had never been serious in her studies. As people were generally simpler in the countryside, it seemed no one had taught her about the boundaries between men and women.

She seemed to understand nothing about such matters, as her hand was resting near the base of my thigh. If she had moved just a little upward, she would have touched my most sensitive part.

I shifted backward slightly, deliberately avoiding her hand. With her warm hand resting there, I could easily lose control.

Unexpectedly, when I moved back an inch, Yvette's hand moved an inch closer toward me! I was alarmed and thought she had to be doing it on purpose.

Although I found her attractive and feminine, that was merely a man's normal physiological reaction. I absolutely had no intention of cheating on my wife. Besides, Dakota herself was sleeping right behind me. Even if I was really tempted, I wouldn't dare act on it.

Yvette was asleep, so I didn't dare move her hand away, as I was afraid of waking her.

So, I shifted my body back a little more.

Due to the restricted space, my movement squashed Dakota right against the wall.

She shoved me hard in response. "There's no space on my side anymore. Stop pushing me."

That push sent me straight toward Yvette and pressed me tightly against her.