Falling Fast, Contemporary Romance (Last Frontier Lodge Novels Book 4)

by J. H. Croix

  Garrett dipped his head and dropped a lingering kiss on the side of Delia’s neck. “Exactly, so what does it matter if you take a break?” he asked when he lifted his head again.

  Delia flushed and grabbed her water for a gulp. She focused her warm blue eyes on Ginger. “How’s it going?”

  Ginger shrugged. “Nothing new for me. I was worn out yesterday after being at the hospital for the delivery. I’ve decided if it’s that much work to be there, labor must be way worse.”

  Delia nodded emphatically. “I can vouch for that.”

  The waitress arrived to take her order. In need of something to take the edge off, Ginger ordered a glass of red wine in addition to her meal. By the time the waitress walked away, Don and Garrett were discussing something. Ginger tried to take a fortifying breath before she looked at Cam, but her lungs weren’t working so well. Without even looking his way, she could feel the heat of Cam’s body near hers. He emanated heat, like a slow burn furnace.

  The moment she turned her head, his eyes snagged hers. His eyes coasted over her face like a caress, the warm amber of his gaze sending slivers of heat shooting through her. He arched a brow, his mouth curling up at one corner. “Hey there.” His words were low enough, she felt as if they were for her alone to hear. While his greeting was benign, her body reacted as if he’d whispered something naughty to her. She must have been silent a beat too long because he arched a brow.

  Say something, you fool!

  “Hey, uh, how’s it going?” she asked, her words coming out stilted. By this point, she wasn’t blushing just because he was near, but because she felt like a bumbling idiot.

  “Pretty good. Don and I’ve been working our butts off the last two days. We have the new backcountry trails course ready to go. Just need to find out what signs Gage wants up there.” Cam turned to Delia. “Hey Delia, your dad thought maybe you’d know the plans for signs up on the trails. Any ideas?”

  Delia, Don and Garrett turned their way. Ginger schooled her expression to neutral and prayed her blush had faded, or the light was too dim for them to notice. Meanwhile, her pulse galloped along, unperturbed by the inconvenience of her practically melting into a puddle at simply sitting beside Cam.

  Don fiddled with a toothpick and gestured to Cam. “We’ve got those trails ready for the green light. It’d be nice to surprise Gage and open the course up sooner, but we both know he wanted some signs. Marley usually helps out with that stuff, so I thought maybe she talked to you,” he said with a nod in Delia’s direction.

  “Marley planned ahead,” Delia said with a grin. “She figured you guys would finish up soon, so she had Risa at Midnight Sun Arts paint some signs. I can give Risa a call tomorrow and see if they’re ready.”

  “Wow, Gage isn’t messing around about bringing this place up a notch. Marley mentioned to me he was gradually replacing the old signage outside and in the lodge with more artsy stuff,” Ginger said, feeling relieved to have something to focus on other than Cam.

  “He’s on a roll,” Garrett said with a chuckle. “Gotta give it to him. When he told us he was moving here to revamp this place, I had no idea how well it would go. Of course, it helps to have the best chef in town running the restaurant.” Garrett dipped his head for a kiss on Delia’s cheek.

  Ginger felt a curl of longing around her heart. While she’d been so happy to watch Marley and Delia find love, not for a minute had she experienced any hopes for herself. Until Cam. He was stirring deep waters, waters she’d hoped to leave undisturbed. She couldn’t turn back the tide, but she was still struggling to adjust to her feelings and was nowhere near feeling comfortable enough to hope for something more. Yet, her hopeful little heart, the one she’d been so successful at keeping quiet, kept chirping in her ear.

  Delia flushed again and rolled her eyes. “I’m happy the restaurant’s doing so well, but Gage and Marley have really put the work in at every level. The trail signs are just more on top of everything else.” Her eyes bounced between Cam and Don. “Anyway, signs are on deck. I’ll call tomorrow.”

  Don and Cam grinned simultaneously leading Delia to burst out laughing. “You guys are damn proud of yourselves, huh?”

  Don shrugged sheepishly. “Hey, Cam put the hard work in. It’s not easy to be a step ahead of Gage, so it’d be nice to surprise him.”

  Conversation moved along with occasional visitors pausing at the table, including Becky Wright, the teacher from work who’d been gossiping about how sexy Cam was. While Ginger wholeheartedly agreed with Becky, she wasn’t particularly comfortable having Becky notice she was socializing with him. She loved her hometown, but sometimes it felt like living in a fish bowl. Everyone could see too much too easily.

  Becky was with her husband and son, so she managed only a coy wave, but Ginger mentally reminded herself to be prepared for Becky’s questions about Cam the next time she encountered her at work. After a slow dinner, the small group started to break up. Don left early as usual. Garrett left to pick up Nick, Delia’s seven-year old son, from his school basketball practice. That left Ginger at the booth with Cam and Delia.

  Cam excused himself for a bathroom break. Delia leaned her elbows on the table and looked Ginger square in the eye. “So when were you planning to mention this thing with Cam?”

  Ginger’s cheeks were hot as she stared back at Delia. She tried to play it cool. “What are you talking about?”

  Delia leaned back and crossed her arms. “Don’t play that game with me. I’m not blind. You two are trying your damnedest not to look at each other, but when you do, I’m afraid I might have to call the fire department.”

  Ginger put her face in her hands and groaned. “Oh God. Is it that obvious?” When she lifted her head and brushed her hair back, Delia nodded emphatically. Beyond being plain embarrassed, Ginger felt so exposed. She’d been so confident she’d never fall for anyone again that she was shaken.

  “Okay, maybe there’s kind of a thing. Could we talk about it later though?” She gestured across the restaurant to Cam who was returning from the restroom. She watched as women’s eyes all over the restaurant tracked him, some surreptitiously, others blatantly. She sighed again. “Tell me why I had to go and have this…whatever…for some guy who has all the women drooling over him. It’s not ideal.”

  Delia laughed softly. “You owe me coffee, so we can talk. In the meantime, who cares if other women drool over him? He doesn’t even pay attention. Except to you. And don’t even start with how you look. You’re one of the smartest women I know and beautiful on top of it.”

  Ginger’s defensiveness eased. She had good friends, and Delia was one of the best. She was one hundred percent there for her friends whenever they needed her. Right now, even if Ginger didn’t like it, she needed her friends. “Okay, this ends now. We’ll talk later.” She kept her eyes trained on Delia when Cam got within earshot. “How late are you working tonight?” she asked, putting the conversation firmly back onto the mundane.

  Delia lifted a shoulder. “Until the kitchen closes for orders, which means ten o’clock.”

  As Cam slid into the booth beside Ginger, this time hemming her in on the inside of the bench seat, Delia glanced at her watch. “Speaking of work, I should get back in the kitchen. I need to take care of some pastry prep work for tomorrow morning.” At that, she slipped out from across the booth and stood. She looked to Cam. “After I talk to Risa, I’ll let you and my dad know. The signs might be ready to go.”

  “Thanks for checking on those. I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow,” Cam replied with a smile.

  Delia nodded, her eyes bouncing to Ginger. “G’night,” she said with a small wave before she hurried off.

  It was just Ginger and Cam now. Ginger was close to melting and flustered by the almost overwhelming pull she felt for him. The pulse of desire between them had ebbed and flowed during dinner with conversation and the presence of others to distract her. Yet, here with him alone, the desire had a life
force of its own. Heat swirled in her center, radiating outward through her entire body. She could feel the moisture between her thighs and clenched her legs together, as if she could will it away. That had the unfortunate effect of heightening her awareness, the subtle pressure sending streaks of pleasure through her. Her breath was shallow when she looked to her side.

  Cam’s eyes were right there, as if he’d been waiting for her. They sat for several long moments, eyes locked to each other. Finally, she tore hers away and took a gulp of air. She felt his palm slide onto her thigh, so strong and warm. She wasn’t sure what he intended, but her body went haywire. She literally had to fight to hold still. She felt raw, exposed and filled with need. Unable to tolerate thinking of it in any other way, she focused solely on the physical desire. She wanted Cam like she’d never wanted any man, and he took her to places she’d never been. There was nothing wrong with exploring more of that.

  She took another gulp of air and looked his way again. His eyes immediately lifted from the table to hers. His thumb stroked in a slow arc on her thigh, each stroke sending a throb through her channel. He cleared his throat. “I meant to call you if I didn’t see you tonight,” he said, his words low and taut.

  She swallowed and nodded, shifting her hips restlessly. She hadn’t meant to, but her unconscious move nudged his hand higher up on her thigh, his thumb landing in the crease of her hip. He was so, so close to where she needed him. She was in serious trouble. She was sitting in the restaurant where half the town could see them, and all she could think about was having his magical fingers inside of her. She was seriously contemplating how they could manage this in the restaurant, including the logistics of how she could give him just as much pleasure as he could give her. In public. The table did conveniently mask the fact his hand was inches away from the center of her desire.

  She took a deep breath in a futile effort to clear her mind. “I need you,” she blurted out.

  When he arched a brow and started to speak, she cut him off. “Now. Let’s go to your suite.”

  Cam was completely still for a moment before he nodded his head sharply. “Right. Okay.”

  His hand left her thigh as he stood from the table. She felt the absence of his touch immediately. She grabbed her purse and quickly stood up. She started to walk briskly out of the restaurant. She knew they could go up the back stairs to his suite, but she didn’t want it to be obvious to anyone where they were going. Cam caught up to her when she’d almost reached the archway leading into the reception area. “You forgot your jacket,” he said.

  She glanced over and saw her puffy red down jacket hooked over his arm. “Thanks for getting it.”

  She started to reach for it as they walked past Harry at the reception desk. “I got it,” Cam said softly. He nodded in Harry’s direction. “Night, Harry. You in tomorrow morning?”

  “Nope. I’m not on duty until evening again. See you then. Night, Ginger,” Harry replied with a wave.

  She returned the wave and breathed a sigh of relief when they passed through the reception area into the expansive hallway and saw no one around. She paused and looked up at Cam. His amber eyes coasted over her. She practically felt the burn of his gaze. He turned and slipped his hand down her spine where it came to rest in the dip of her waist. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through her. She hurried at his side up the main stairs and through the halls, so focused on getting alone in a room with him that she didn’t even care if anyone saw them.

  They reached a door at the far end of one of the hallways. Cam swiped his key card in the lock and shouldered through the entrance. As soon as they stepped inside the room, he kicked the door shut behind them and whirled her around. Her purse fell off her shoulder and onto the floor. He tossed her jacket behind him and planted both palms on the door behind her. His eyes were dark and intent. Without a word, his lips crashed to hers.

  Chapter 11

  The last thing Cam saw as he nearly lunged at Ginger was the flash of blue fire in her eyes. Somehow, he had no idea how really, he managed to keep his hands to himself and behave like a rational man in front of everyone during dinner. Underneath his attempt to be casual and social had been the constant drumbeat of lust pounding through his body. Ginger was like a drug for his body. Kissing her was like breaking the surface of water after being underneath far too long. He fit his mouth over hers and poured his need into their kiss. She arched up into him, her tongue stroking against his. Her lips were so soft and her mouth so sweet that it only drove him wilder. He’d been rock-hard for hours. Kissing her was a relief, but it also sent his need for her into overdrive.

  He tore his lips from hers, frantic to taste more of her. He traced his tongue along her throat, savoring the moans humming through her. She tasted like she smelled—like strawberries and vanilla. She wore a fitted blouse, her full breasts straining at the buttons. He was too driven to care when he yanked at the blouse and a button went flying, pinging against the wall before it clattered on the floor. Ginger sighed deeply when he peeled her blouse apart and flicked his thumb under the clasp of her bra. He was too impatient to take it slow right now and needed to feel the tight beads of her nipples in his mouth.

  Without preamble, he leaned forward and stroked his tongue in a swirl around one nipple before he sucked it swiftly. At her cry, he bit down softly and smiled against her skin when his name came out with a sharp gasp. He almost came in his jeans when she arched her back, pressing into his mouth when he gave the same attention to her other breast. He forced himself to take a step back. He thought he could somehow get control of himself, but he took one look at her and his knees nearly buckled.

  She leaned against the door with her shirt open to her waist. Her nipples glistened in the dim light from the single lamp he’d left on in the corner. Her breath was heaving. Her blue eyes were wild—flashing with fire. Her dark hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, mussed and rumpled. She reached out with one hand and hooked it under the hem of his shirt. With a single finger, she lifted his shirt up slowly, her eyes on him. She stroked her other palm up his chest. His heart hammered inside his chest. With another stroke, she moved down and cupped his cock in her palm, sliding back and forth over the denim of his jeans. Barely able to see through the haze of lust, he grabbed his shirt at the back of his neck and yanked it off in a single swoop. He dug his wallet out of his pocket and nearly dropped it in his haste to get a condom out. After the other night, he’d made a quick trip to the drugstore to make sure he was prepared if he was lucky enough to have another night with Ginger.

  Meanwhile, Ginger was swiftly unbuttoning his jeans. He stepped closer and nudged her chin up for another kiss. Her lips were so damn soft. It was like coming home to a home he’d never known he had. Several sense-stealing moments later, he lifted his head and dragged his hand down her side, cupping the edge of her breast, before stroking his palm between her thighs. She wore a pair of soft, swingy pants that hugged her hips. The cotton was thin enough he could feel the damp heat of her through it. Her breath hitched when he stroked a finger back and forth.

  He couldn’t wait anymore and shoved her pants down, her underwear along with them. She kicked them off, along with the clogs she wore. She was quite the multi-tasker, somehow freeing his cock in the midst of this. His jeans hung low on his hips while she curled her fist around him and stroked. He couldn’t hold back his groan. Her hand on his cock felt so damn good. She shimmied down against the door, her lips trailing a path of fire down his chest and abdomen. Kneeling, she tilted her head up and caught his eyes before she dragged her tongue along his cock. With his heart pounding so hard he thought he might break a rib, she took him in her mouth. The hot, wet heat of her mouth nearly pushed him beyond his endurance. She alternated with bringing him fully into her mouth, licking, sucking and stroking. The pressure built and built within him until he was pushed against the edge of his release.

  He barely managed to choke out her name and reached down to pul
l her up. She leaned against the door, her lips swollen and her eyes hazy. He tore the condom out of its packet. His eyes on her, he rolled it on and hooked his hand under her knee. Lifting it high, he stepped into the cradle of her hips. He lifted her against him, using the door behind her for support. Her eyes widened when he dragged his cock back and forth through her folds. She was so wet, the moisture of her soaked his fingers. His cock throbbed as he tried to force himself to hold back. Her head slammed back against the door.

  “Cam! Now!”

  He looked into her eyes, wild with need and a tinge of frustration. He surged into her in one swift stroke, seating himself to the hilt. Her head fell forward, landing on his shoulder, as she groaned. She felt so damn good—slick, tight and hot. He held still for enough time to gather some control and then began to move. She curled her legs around him and flexed with every stroke, bringing him deeper and deeper.

  With her soft pants and cries raining down around him, the pressure inside unraveled and he pounded into her. He could hear the door rattle with each drive, but Ginger thrashed against him. He couldn’t slow down if he tried. He felt as if he was barreling toward his own unraveling—every stroke into her wet velvet clench pushed him further and further. When he felt her channel being to throb around him, he dragged his thumb down between them, circling over the slick nub where they were joined. She went taut and cried out hoarsely. Only then did he let go into the hot rush. Several deep strokes and his own release rocked him, so intense that he had to brace a hand against the door behind her to hold himself up.

  ***

  The sound of a raven calling outside the window woke Ginger. She was sleeping curled up on her side with Cam spooned behind her. His warm, muscled form felt so good, she sighed and closed her eyes. After he’d blown her mind again last night, she’d somehow pulled herself together and started to get ready to go home. Cam had tugged her to him and attempted to persuade her to stay there, but when she’d reminded him she had to get home to take care of George, next thing she knew he was following her back to her place. Falling asleep tangled up with him was a luxury she wasn’t so sure she could allow herself too many times. It felt so good to be held against his strong body—a physical and emotional comfort she wanted to sink into and savor.