Buried Alive

by Brown, Stacey Marie

  “Let’s get you solid, not falling on your butt, and maybe then you can start to learn a few basic tricks. Sound good?” She nodded, but a frown creased her forehead, impatient to get to the good stuff. Damn, she was so like me.

  “Okay, anything else?” I held out my arms, a shred of sadness my teaching day was over and I would be going home to an empty house. “I think I will be seeing some of you tomorrow. Have a good night, guys.”

  It took me a moment to realize no one moved; they stared at me with wide eyes.

  “I know class was fun, but you really have to go home now.” I smiled, clapping my gloved hands.

  “No freaking way.” One of my older boys blinked, his lips parted. His mouth snapped shut and his head nodded as if he were answering a question.

  “What?” My lids narrowed, taking in they weren’t looking at me but past me. “What is goin—” I curved to look over my shoulder, my words evaporating in my throat. “Oh my god.” A whisper of words fluttered out. My heart pounded, tears filling my eyes.

  A man stood a few yards from me, his finger dropping away from his lips, gaze locked on me.

  My class started screaming and jumping around. Their shouts blending together.

  “Oh, wow! It’s-it’s Rhys Axton!”

  “I can’t believe this!”

  “My aunt thinks you are so hot.”

  “Do you have your gold medals with you?”

  A blizzard of questions and exclamations sounded behind me, but they all merged into white noise. I only saw him, sexy in jeans, a beanie, and black snow jacket, with a hungry look swirling in his eyes. I no longer cared the kids were there, my heart making my feet leap forward. I hadn’t seen him in over two weeks.

  His arms wrapped around me, engulfing me in his embrace. Picking me off the ground, he squeezed me tight, his face snuggling into my neck, breathing in deeply. “Damn, I’ve missed you.” Feeling his lips graze my skin, I let out a quiet sob of joy and excitement.

  “You weren’t supposed to be home for another week.” I wanted the group of youngsters to disappear. There were so many things my body wanted to do with him and none entailed an audience.

  He set me back on my feet, his fingers drawing my face into him for a quick, passionate kiss, full of so much promise.

  “I couldn’t go another day. I had to see you.” He held my chin, his dark eyes looking back and forth between mine. “Andy shuffled a few things so I could come home for a bit.” He leaned in kissing me again. “And next time I want you to come with me if you want? Just be for a week or two.” His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “Jesus, I want you right here.”

  Fire scorched through my stomach and down my thighs. “Yeah, me too.”

  Since winning two gold medals and a silver at the Olympics, Rhys had been on a whirlwind of press junkets, TV appearances, taping commercials, and signing events. His new agent, Andrew, was one hundred percent behind him. Rhys had full control of his career. Andrew was still an agent, a shark who really pushed for his new client, but I respected him. I sensed a genuineness about him I never felt with Graham. Rhys and Shaun seemed to be really happy with this guy, and it was all that mattered.

  Though Graham wasn’t totally out of the picture, Andy got him to drop the lawsuit, if Rhys paid him. They settled out of court, but Graham still somehow had entwined himself in our lives. Rhys blamed himself, but his ex-agent was helping Siena get a modeling contract. So far all they seemed to be doing was sleeping together when Graham came back to town. Siena had quit the restaurant and was now interning at Whistler’s local TV station. I think she hoped to be the next Candice Anderson.

  Funny how some people seemed so confident and unafraid, but deep down, I had a feeling Siena would never go too far from her dad and from Whistler.

  “Go find us a snowmobile while I say hello,” he muttered against my brow and squeezed my hand as he took a step around me. “Hey, guys.” He waved at the kids.

  With their jaws still on the ground, I thought some of them would faint. Squealing, they barreled up to him, surrounding him, looking up at him as though he was their god. To be fair, I had called him that many, many times.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” A boy blinked at him in awe. “Where do you keep your medals? Do you wear them around the house?”

  Rhys chuckled, peering back at me, and winked. “I think tonight I might.”

  And nothing else, I added to myself.

  He stayed answering the kids’ questions and signing their arms or whatever paper I could find before I had to order them to head back. Their parents would come looking for their children and selfishly, I didn’t want to get Rhys caught up talking to them also.

  I wanted him all to myself.

  Finally, we got away and hurried back to the cabin we rented. The sunset painted over the canvas of snow splashing purples, reds, and blues.

  “It’s gorgeous up here.” I sighed happily.

  “You liking it okay? The language barrier not a problem? You’re picking up American okay? No ehs and aboots here.”

  I smirked, nudging him with my shoulder. “Funny. You can rest easy; I became pretty fluent when I lived in San Diego.”

  Rhys and Shaun had both wanted to train back in Colorado in preparation for the Olympics, but I didn’t want to be away from my family either. The relationship with them was still fragile, and my time with my brother was important, so we traveled back and forth. Actually, we were going to bounce around after things quieted for him. Travel. Explore. We were young, and I wanted to see the world, have a million adventures. Live life. I felt like I wanted to do it for Jonah and Bryan as well.

  Someday we could think about if marriage and kids were for us, but right now, I was so happy living every moment. With Rhys.

  As if he sensed my train of thought, he stopped, turning to me. “Screw this, I can’t make it back to the house.” He growled, unzipping my jacket; his eyes flashed with heat as his mouth covered mine, his lips frantic and hungry. We ripped at each other’s clothing. It was always like this with us, desperate for the other, even if it had only been minutes between. Slow, rough, or quick, we were always eager for more.

  Kissing him, I brought him down to the snow, using the discarded clothes as a bed, his warm naked body covering mine. Our mouths hot and brutal.

  “Don’t mistake me coming home early as love.” He nipped playfully at my lips.

  “Okay, then don’t mistake me moving to this forsaken country as love.”

  He grinned, finding my mouth again.

  “You know you fucking love me,” he mumbled against my lips.

  “I love when you’re fucking me,” I teased, my feet drawing up the back of his legs.

  Desire flashed through his eyes, his kiss devouring me, his hips grinding into mine, sending pleasure up my spine.

  “Rhys…” I needed him now. It had been too long with just phone calls and Skype.

  He pulled away, grabbed my arms, and pinned them into the snow. The sharp cold only heightened my nerves running along my body. He parted my legs wider, positioning himself, and thrust in. My head went back as a cry parted my lips.

  “Holy shit…” He pulled out, then slammed in again, bucking my hips to move with him, our rhythm picking up. “You feel better than I remember.”

  My legs clutched his waist and with a twist, I rolled us, so I was on top, causing him to moan and swear loudly, his voice echoing off the mountains.

  Before us the sun set over the tops of the mountains, splattering reds, purples, and golds over our naked bodies as I rocked relentlessly into him. Our bodies dug into the powder, making me feel every sensation with extreme clarity. He rolled me again, putting himself on top, our scalding bodies, melting the snow around us.

  His gaze burned down on me. “I love you.”

  My heart jolted with emotion. I knew he did, but we had never said it plainly. Always in banter. Playfully.

  “I love you too.”

  As though my words
created a fury in him, he thrust in even deeper, harder. I arched my back, a cry ripping from my throat.

  Once the snow had taken everything from me. Buried me alive. I might never have broken out of my tomb, but something led me back home where I began to live again and found love and forgiveness.

  I gasped in air, inhaling the distinct scent of snow surrounding me.

  It smelled like hope and a future.

  Thank you to all my readers. Your opinion really matters to me and helps others decide if they want to purchase my book. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on the site where you purchased it. It would mean a lot. Thank you.

  Enjoyed Buried Alive? Want more contemporary romance? Don’t worry, there is much more headed your way! Sign up for my newsletter on my website and keep updated on the latest news. A new romance will be coming out Spring 2018!

  www.staceymariebrown.com

  Acknowledgements

  I am so excited to be venturing into contemporary romance. Don’t worry. I’m not leaving paranormal, but it’s nice to do both. This story came to me on a long drive home through snowy overpasses. That night I sat in my hotel room, scribbling the notes that came into my head. But it sat for a long time, while I worked on other stuff. However, this story would not go away and I am so glad. From just scenes in my head on a boring drive to a full book. Magical. I hope you fell in love with Hannah and Rhys like I did.

  As usual I could not do this alone. A HUGE thanks to:

  Kiki at Next Step P.R- I know I can be a pain. Thank you for all your hard work! https://thenextsteppr.org/

  Colleen- You have made everything so much better. You have my back and let me write, while taking care of all the stuff I don’t like doing. You are awesome. Thank you so much for everything.

  Jordan- You make everything better. And now I have your voice constantly in my head as I write. Love you lady. http://jordanrosenfeld.net/

  Hollie “the editor”- Always wonderful, supportive, and a dream to work with. http://www.hollietheeditor.com/.

  Hang Le Designs- For being so kind and doing such a beautiful cover! http://www.byhangle.com/

  To Judi at http://www.formatting4u.com/: Awesome as always! You always got my back.

  To all the readers who have supported me: My gratitude is for all you do and how much you help indie authors out of the pure love of reading.

  To all the indie/hybrid authors out there who inspire, challenge, support, and push me to be better: I love you!

  And to anyone who has picked up an indie book and given an unknown author a chance. THANK YOU!

  About the Author

  Stacey Marie Brown is a lover of hot fictional bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick butt. She also enjoys books, travel, TV shows, hiking, writing, design, and archery. Stacey swears she is part gypsy, being lucky enough to live and travel all over the world.

  She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm, raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts.

  When she’s not writing she’s out hiking, spending time with friends, and traveling. She also volunteers helping animals and is eco-friendly. She feels all animals, people, and the environment should be treated kindly.

  To learn more about Stacey or her books, visit her at:

  Author website & Newsletter: www.staceymariebrown.com

  Facebook Author page: www.facebook.com/SMBauthorpage

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  Twitter: @S_MarieBrown

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  Amazon page: www.amazon.com/Stacey-Marie-Brown/e/B00BFWHB9U

  Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938728.Stacey_Marie_Brown

  Her Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/1648368945376239/

  Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/stacey-marie-brown