Snowbound With Ghost

by Ani Gonzalez

  A deep chuckle brought her back to the present. Sebastian was looking up at her, his grey eyes sparkling with amusement.

  "Give up, Lil. You can't move."

  She glared at him.

  "Wanna bet?" she hissed, running her fingers over the rough cloth of the coat, trying to find his phone. She felt a rough outline under the fabric.

  "Jackpot," she exclaimed in triumph.

  She felt him suck in a breath.

  "Um, Lil?" he whispered, his voice husky. "That's not my phone."

  Her cheeks burned and she tried to pull her hand away, but it was caught between their bodies, and her struggles only made her more aware of Sebastian's arousal. She was embarrassed, but turned on, and her lips trembled as she tried to come up with a suitable apology. "Sorry for feeling you up, Sebastian" didn't sound quite right.

  She settled for an apologetic smile, but it died on her lips as she looked up. His eyes were dark and stormy. She stared, unable to react even as his hand curved over the nape of her neck, drawing her close.

  "You should have come with me," Sebastian said, in a quiet voice.

  She watched, frozen into stillness, as he bent down and touched his lips to hers.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  SEBASTIAN HELD her tightly, enjoying the feel of her body, so familiar and yet so unknown. The kiss was sweetness exemplified, tentative and tender.

  Lily fit perfectly in his arms, just as she had years ago, but her hair was longer and she'd changed her perfume. The baby powder scent she'd preferred in high school was now a spicy, musky blend that made his senses reel.

  Her hand now sat on his hip and that slight touch burned right through his pants like a fiery brand. A fierce urgency overtook him, making his pulse race. He struggled to control himself, if this went on much longer, he'd be making love to Lily on the cabin floor, and he didn't want to do that. He'd waited a decade, he could wait a few more minutes.

  But he didn't want to. The sight of Lily's v-neck sweater drawn tightly across her breasts had been driving him crazy all night, and pulling it off and feasting on her flesh was all he could think about right now. He wanted to haul her off the floor, carry her to the bed, and tear her clothes off.

  But he couldn't...shouldn't. He broke the kiss reluctantly and took a deep breath.

  "Lily..." His voice trailed off when she started unbuttoning his shirt. The soft touch of her fingers, as she worked steadily through the buttons, was pure fire.

  "Um, Lil..." Her v-neck top dipped over her shoulder, exposing the creamy skin and a white cotton bra with lace edging. Hell, she still used those? In the past ten years he'd seen more expensive lingerie than the Victoria's Secret marketing team. Why did the sight of plain white lace arouse him so?

  He leaned away from her, trying to regain control. But she sat up, her top sliding down her arm. The sight of her exposed brassiere drove him wild.

  "We should," Sebastian paused, panting, trying to gather his thoughts. But his brain refused to process his thoughts. He finally managed to blurt out one word. "Bedroom?"

  Lily glanced at the bedroom door, considering his suggestion. Then she glanced back at him, smiled, and shook her head.

  "Too far," she said, pushing him down to the floor.

  He stared as she straddled him, trapping him on the floor. She ran her fingers slowly down his naked chest, clearly pleased with the sight. He desperately wanted to grab her and carry her into the bedroom, but he forced himself into stillness. If she wanted to explore, he should let her explore. He ground his teeth and steeled himself for endless hours of torturously tender kisses and languid caresses.

  But Lily's hand stilled, and she aimed a thoughtful glance at the sofa. "Do you remember the boat house?"

  "Yes." Airborne canoes, splinters, and sexual frustration, how could he forget?

  "Remember how I wouldn't let you unsnap my bra?"

  He nodded, that part was hard to forget.

  "Let's put that in the 'regrets' column," she said, grabbing her top and pulling it off, revealing the madness-inducing brassiere.

  He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.

  She leaned forward, fingers trailing over his chest.

  "This one snaps on the back," she purred.

  He watched, enthralled, as she leaned forward, her smiled a torrid invitation. She reached around to pull her hair back. The mass of dark curls fell over her shoulder, the silky tendrils caressing his skin.

  He touched the curls gently, reverently. He trailed his fingers up her arm and onto her shoulder, watching as her eyes darkened with pleasure. Finally, he reached her bra. He noted gratefully that it had a cheap plastic tab, the kind that was easy to open. He unfastened it quickly and the flimsy piece of underwear slid down her shoulders, exposing the curves of her breasts. Lily quickly reached up to hold the cups in place. She straightened up, her arm still covering her breasts.

  "Not so fast," she said with a teasing smile.

  A groan of disappointment escaped him, but his complaint did not dim Lily's sadistic smile.

  "You got rid of that bra pretty fast," she continued with an arched brow. "I guess you've learned a thing or two."

  "Yes, I have," he said in the most seductive drawl he could muster. "Here, let me show you."

  "Oh, I don't know." She pursed her mouth thoughtfully. "I know a few tricks myself." Her hips glided over his, the seam of her jeans pressing into his flesh. "Remember this?"

  A hiss of breath was the only response she got. With muscles knotted and teeth clenched in an effort to maintain control, he found himself unable to respond.

  Her hips moved again, expertly tracing the ridge of his arousal.

  "You used to like this," she whispered.

  He groaned and she smiled in satisfaction. Then she let the bra fall off, freeing her breasts. The sight of her lovely breasts moving as she rubbed herself against him was the most erotic thing he'd ever seen.

  He'd seen quite a few. Yet none compared.

  "I see you still like it." Her hands went up to her breasts. "Good," she moaned. "I like it too."

  She caressed her breasts slowly, torturing him with the sight. He'd touched Lily's breasts before, but always through her bra. He had no idea what her naked flesh felt like.

  And he was dying to find out.

  But, for now, he watched as her arousal increased. Her gentle touches turned rough, her fingers pinching her engorged flesh as she worked herself into an orgasm. Her eyes closed and her rocking became arrhythmic. He put his hands on her hips to steady her as she brought herself closer and closer to bliss.

  Her cheeks flushed as her hips moved faster. She frowned and bit her lip. His hands tightened around her body, making sure she rubbed against him at exactly the right angle. He felt her body buckle, a moan escaping her lips as the first wave of pleasure approached.

  Then he pushed her away.

  Her eyes opened wide in disbelief as her body slid to the floor. He sat up and looked down at her half-naked, trembling body. He smiled, relishing her frustrated arousal.

  The smiled proved to be a tactical mistake. Lily grabbed one of the fish-shaped pillows that had fallen from the sofa and threw it at him.

  "You monster." She reached for another pillow. "I was so close."

  He leaned over her, chuckling. "I thought you liked taking things slow."

  She snorted. "Not after ten years, I don't."

  "Too bad." He fingered the metal button on her jeans. "I've waited a long time for this." He unbuttoned her jeans, revealing a scrap of white lace. He traced the band of lace with his fingers, enjoying the feel of the once-forbidden texture. He felt Lily shudder at his touch.

  "Tonight, I want to go slow."

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  LILY WATCHED as Sebastian slowly unzipped her jeans, mentally cursing her atrocious choice of underwear. She'd invested a small fortune on sexy lingerie, teddies, negligees, the works. She even had a particularly stunning panty and bra set in torrid purple satin th
at made her feel like a burlesque dancer.

  But she wasn't wearing any of those tonight. She had her super-sturdy, great-for-working-out white cotton underpants on. What a waste. Well, at least they had a bit of lace to pretty things up.

  Fortunately, Sebastian didn't seem to mind. His eyes darkened as he pulled off her jeans and Lily felt like an immortal goddess in her plain white panties. He caressed the scrap of fabric that covered her sex and she moaned.

  He smiled wickedly.

  "You're very wet," he whispered.

  Her hips moved restlessly as he stroked her through the cotton.

  "Going..." The word turned into a groan. "Going to get wetter." She pushed her hips into his hand. It felt so good, but it wasn't enough.

  Sebastian smacked her naked thigh. The stinging pain made her instinctively pull back. The sweet, steady pressure was gone and she moaned in dismay.

  "Don't move," he said, his voice rough with desire.

  She nodded, struggling to lie still as he resumed the torturous caress. Her body tightened, humming with pleasure.

  "Good girl," he said, but his touch remained light and teasing. She shuddered, suspended in arousal.

  "Please," she begged, desperate to come.

  He stopped, and she cursed him between ragged breaths.

  "I told you." His voice was shaky with repressed lust, which was somewhat satisfying, but not nearly as satisfying as a full-fledged orgasm. "I want to take my time."

  But the speed with which he stripped off her jeans and panties contradicted his words. She watched as he quickly shed his clothes, standing naked in the firelight, like a Greek god.

  "And I want to do it in the bed," he said.

  She smiled as he pulled her up roughly and held her against his chest. The feel of his skin against hers was a long-deferred dream, finally coming true.

  And speaking of dreams coming true.

  "But I like the floor," she said, running her finger over his chest. "It's like we're back in the boathouse."

  "Except I'm not seventeen anymore." He leaned down and scooped her in his arms, proving his words. Seventeen-year-old Sebastian wasn't this strong. She squealed and hung on to his shoulders as he headed for the bedroom. "And I'm not making love to you on the floor."

  "Has anyone ever told you that you lack spontaneity?" she muttered.

  "You have. Several times." He grabbed the jack o' lantern from the table and kicked open the door to the bedroom. "I like planning. I like comfort." The impact of the door against the wall accentuated his words. "I don't like chaos and I don't like surprises..."

  His voice trailed off as they entered the room giving way to an ominous silence. Lily tensed, expecting an explosion.

  "Surprise," she squealed, burying her head on his shoulder.

  She knew exactly what he was gaping at, the new bed. It was a rare find, made of dark walnut with intricate carvings. It was gorgeous, expensive, and totally unsuited to a rustic lake cabin. It was also completely irresistible.

  "Where's my bed?" He set her down roughly. The amber light of the jack o' lantern illuminated the room lazily as he turned around, scanning the room, eyes wide with horror.

  "Dumpster," she said simply, walking toward the bed. The white duvet was soft and inviting and the red and black patterns of the Stewart plaid wool blanket and buffalo check pillow shams were a nice, rustic contrast to the delicate wood carvings. She'd done a nice job, even if she said so herself.

  "Where's the nightstand?" Sebastian's voice was thick with shock.

  Clients could be so ungrateful sometimes.

  "You mean the wood crate you had next to the bed? It's keeping the bed company. I got you a new one. This one is made of wood and won't collapse under the weight of a paperback."

  But Sebastian didn't seem to appreciate real mahogany. He was searching through the drawers.

  "Your books are in the living room now," she explained.

  "I'm not going to read you a bedtime story, Lil. I'm looking for a box of condoms my brother hid in that crate." He slammed the drawer closed and looked around. "I don't bring girls here, so I don't have protection. Zach, however, periodically sneaks into the cabin with a girl. Did he help you set up?"

  "Well," she drawled. Come to think of it, Zach had been surprisingly eager to assist with the remodel. "He did volunteer to be here for the bed delivery."

  Sebastian snorted.

  "I bet he did." He knelt next to the bed and felt under the mattress. "He must have hidden his stash somewhere."

  Lily considered that. If one were Zach Franco, where would one hide one's sexual paraphernalia? She glanced at a large chest in a corner of the room and smiled.

  "It's not funny, Lil." Sebastian sounded downright testy.

  "Oh, but it is." She gestured toward the chest. "I wondered who'd put this in here. It wasn't part of my shipment."

  The chest was a rustic flea market find, with peeling green paint and the words "Fresh Live Bait" scrawled on the side. Nope, definitely not one of her pieces. She leaned against the bedpost and watched as Sebastian walked over, bent over the chest, and opened the lid, his movements lithe. The room was dark, but Sebastian's jack o'lantern cast a warm glow over his chiseled musculature.

  That box better have some condoms inside.

  "Fratricide," Sebastian hissed, scowling at the contents. "That's going to be my new hobby. Is this where you found the bungee cords?"

  "Yes, I thought it was all camping equipment." She shrugged, trying hard not to laugh. "What can I say? I've led a sheltered life."

  Sebastian leaned into the box and took out a large box of condoms. Large was actually a bit of an understatement. This thing was huge.

  Sebastian regarded the box, his expression one of acute displeasure. "Hell, was he planning an orgy? In my house?"

  She laughed, and he glared at her

  "First thing tomorrow, I'm getting the locks changed." He sounded thoroughly offended, which made her laugh even harder.

  "And," Sebastian continued with a threatening scowl. "I'm getting rid of that bed."

  She stopped laughing instantly, her fingers curling around the bedpost in a protective gesture. Was he serious? The bed was priceless, and its voluptuous decadence suited Sebastian perfectly. He couldn't get rid of this bed, without it the cabin...was just a fishing cabin.

  "Don't you dare," she said firmly. "This is a hand carved French antique. It's a piece of art."

  "I don't care if Louis XIV personally polished the wood. This is not my bed. And what's all this stuff on it?"

  "Those are pillows, Sebastian," she explained patiently. "They keep you comfortable."

  That was Interior Decorating 101: Men didn't understand pillows. It was a testosterone thing.

  "I don't like fancy beds and I don't like pillows." He held up a plump offender in a green and orange plaid. "I specially don't like pillows with metallic dreadlocks."

  "The pillow is a provençal tassel fringe and the bed is a classic four-poster. They are both gorgeous." She held on to the bedpost, striking a sexy pose. "How can you not love this bed?" she purred enticingly.

  Sebastian's black look disappeared and he chuckled.

  "You're going to have to do better than that," he said, setting the jack o' lantern on top of the dresser and walking to her.

  She leaned against the column and aimed a sultry glance over her shoulder. A wicked thrill ran through her. She simply wasn't the kind of girl who fondled phallic furniture, and yet, here she was, rubbing the sturdy mahogany in a distinctively suggestive manner. She was very impressed by her own daring. Maybe she wasn't such a scaredy-cat after all.

  But she gasped as Sebastian placed his hand over her wrists, pinning her hands against the bedpost.

  "This is much better," he whispered as he wrapped a restraint around her wrists. The neon-colored bands seemed familiar. Yep, they were the bungee cords she'd used in her Devil Monkey booby trap.

  "What are you doing?" she asked, a tremor in her
voice. Her courageous veneer was stripped bare and goosebumps crawled over her skin. The bedroom was cool and dark, but she couldn't blame her reaction on the temperature.

  This was an entirely different kind of goosebumps.

  "Remember the devil monkey booby trap?" Sebastian tightened the cords, the synthetic rope digging into her skin. The binding wasn't painful, but she was effectively immobilized. "This is called payback."

  The darkness in his voice made her shudder. Their crazy argument about the glorious four-poster bed was forgotten. The tight grip of the bungee cords around her wrists made her deliciously aware of her vulnerable nakedness.

  "I like payback," he said as he caressed her shoulder with his free hand. His touch made her muscles clench. His fingers swept down her back and her entire body tensed with pleasurable anticipation. She wanted more. She turned to him for a kiss, but the bungee cords tightened on her wrists.

  "Now, Lily," he said, in that dark, seductive voice. "Be a good girl and take your punishment."

  His fingers continued their lazy progression, lighting tiny flames of desire under her skin. They traveled over her waist, down her stomach—tantalizingly close to her sex—then back up again. She licked her lips and tried to stay still, but it was hard. Her muscles clenched under his slow, deliberate touch.

  Sebastian's head lowered, his lips temptingly close to her own. She closed her eyes and craned her head as far as she could. Just one tiny little inch and she'd be able to taste him.

  Just one tiny...

  She jerked in shock as Sebastian's palm struck her ass.

  Sebastian's dark gray eyes bored into hers. He smacked her again. And again.

  She bit her lip to keep from moaning. The blows delivered just the right amount of pain. Each smack made her sex clench. Two, three...She was suspended in pleasure. She rubbed her thighs restlessly, trying to work herself into an orgasm. She was so close, teetering over the precipice, almost there.

  Then, suddenly, her arms were free. Aroused and disoriented she could only moan incoherently as Sebastian picked her up and laid her carefully on the bed. She felt the rough wool blanket against her buttocks, the sensation almost unbearable on her sensitized skin.