Taking Beauty (Taking Beauty Trilogy Book 1)

by Wild, Nikki

  “What happened to Bruce?” I asked. Bear was sitting at the table, surrounded by a huge spread of fruit and juice and pastries and omelets.

  “He had to hit the slopes before it gets too late. He’s addicted to the powder, that guy,” he said.

  “You two seem very close,” I said, sitting down and grabbing a croissant.

  “We are,” he said. “He’s my closest confidant. Probably my only confidant, actually.”

  “You don’t get too close to people?” I asked.

  “Not usually,” he said. “It takes a lot of work.”

  “That’s true,” I said. “It’s good that you have at least one friend, I think. I couldn’t live without my friend Marie.”

  “Does she live in Portland?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me about her.”

  “Hmm,” I said, between bites. “Marie is the exact opposite of me. She’s vivacious and vibrant. A real firecracker, some would say. She’s bold and extravagant and always says exactly what is on her mind. You’d love her.”

  “Is that why you’re drawn to her? Because she’s not like you?”

  “Yeah, I think so. She was a really good friend to me when we met in middle school. I needed a girl like her in my life, someone to help bring me out of my shell a little.”

  “I understand,” he said.

  “So where are we going today?” I asked.

  “The old Catskill Mountain House site.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s beautiful. It used to be the site of a grand hotel that was frequented by New York’s elite in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It has sweeping views of the Hudson Valley. I thought we’d do a little sight seeing.”

  “Sounds good,” I nodded, staring across the table at him. He looked so good in the morning light, so healthy, so fresh, so vibrant. And he looked calm and quiet and kind. The storm that was brewing in those eyes last night was gone and he stared back at me with the gentleness of a puppy.

  Now that the intoxicating effects of flesh-on-flesh had faded, I was left to deal with the churning in my heart. I could feel myself beginning to have feelings for him, real feelings, feelings that I had no clue how to deal with. This was all fun and games, sure, but it didn’t necessarily mean that this was love.

  But, dammit, if he kept smiling at me like that, then these feelings were definitely going to be something I had to reckon with. And I had no idea if that was something that I was experiencing all by myself or if he felt it too.

  For all I knew, I was just a good time to him.

  But maybe that was okay, too. I was certainly having a good time myself and I didn’t want that to end anytime soon.

  That’s why I kept my mouth shut and my questions to myself. I didn’t want to overwhelm him with probing questions that maybe neither one of us was ready for yet. Maybe it was best to let things unfold slowly. Maybe it was best not to force anything.

  I made a silent vow to myself to just let go and enjoy myself and do my best not to overthink the situation, which I was usually prone to do.

  “How far away is this hotel?” I asked.

  “It’s not there anymore, actually. Burned to the ground in the sixties. But it’s not far. Only a few minutes by helicopter, actually.”

  “Shut up!” I said, laughing. “You said no more helicopters.”

  “No I didn’t!” he said. “Never say never, Chloe. You never know when a helicopter might come in handy!”

  “What a life you lead,” I teased.

  “It has its perks, that’s for sure,” he replied. “But no worries, darling, your chariot is waiting in the garage.”

  “Now that sounds more like it!” I quipped.

  His laughter was light and easy and it lit up his eyes, the darkness fading into a joyful song that seemed to radiate from him. This man had so many layers and I was finding it completely delightful peeling them back. There was the serious businessman, the loyal friend, the generous employer, the courageous adventurer, the smoldering lover and the demanding fuck machine, and now, here in front of me at the moment, the relaxed, happy, laid-back all-American man.

  So far, I’d enjoyed seeing them all. We finished breakfast in silence and he led me to the back door of the house. Now that the sun was out, I could see that his property stretched far behind the main house that was located on the edge of the cliff we’d rappelled onto last night. A beautiful stream snaked behind Bruce’s tiny, modest cottage, and huge snow-covered, old growth trees towered over the entire property like a thousand snowy guards.

  “This area reminds me of Oregon,” I said. “So many trees…”

  “Yes, it’s a lot like the Pacific Northwest, only colder. We have many of the same trees you do—fir, birch, beech, pine, lots and lots of oak.”

  “I love it, Bear,” I said, as we walked around his property. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”

  “I’m glad you love it,” he said, reflections of the trees shining in his eyes. The snow crunched beneath our feet as we walked hand in hand back to the house. “You’re going to love the view of the Hudson Valley from where we’re going.”

  “I can’t wait,” I said.

  A black Jeep with huge tires that would rival the biggest dualie's in Eastern Oregon was parked in his garage.

  “This thing is a beast,” I remarked.

  “Isn’t it?” he said, his voice bursting with pride. “This thing is one of my most prized possessions.”

  “It is?” I asked.

  “Hell, yeah. I can go anywhere at all with it. It practically drives on water, that’s how amazing it is.”

  “Please tell me we aren’t driving through water today,” I said.

  “Come on, Chloe, where’s your sense of adventure?” he teased.

  “I have one. I just don’t think it’s quite as wild as yours.”

  “Well, baby steps, right?” he winked, as he slid behind the wheel. I jumped in beside him and he roared out of the garage like a rocket. I held on to the door handle, my heart racing as I remembered the fear I’d felt jumping out of the helicopter last night. I wasn’t sure my heart could handle too much more of Bear’s escapades.

  After winding through his property, we were on a regular road within minutes. I reminded myself to breath and pried my fingers from around the door handle. He looked over, sensing my nervousness and laughed.

  “Don’t worry, darling. Nothing too adventurous or dangerous today, I promise,” he said. “Relax. Enjoy yourself.”

  “I’m definitely enjoying myself,” I smiled. “I’m working on the relaxing part.”

  “Good girl,” he said, reaching over and patting my knee. Every single time he called me that it sent a shock through my system. I think he knew it, too. I think he knew exactly what he did to me. How could he not? I was such a hot mess of lust and desire, I could barely breathe around him.

  After about ten minutes of driving down winding forested roads, Bear turned into a half-empty parking lot.

  “There’s a bit of a hike, but it’s worth it,” he said, cutting off the engine.

  We jumped out of the Jeep and he led me down a trail to the right of the lot. We passed some small shrubs and a bunch of large rocks, but it wasn’t really anything spectacular. But once we rounded a corner and exited the trail, it was like the entire world opened up before us. The sweeping view was absolutely stunning, the valley below us expanding for what seemed like forever.

  “My goodness!” I exclaimed.

  “I know! It’s incredible, isn’t it?” he said. “This is the site of the old hotel. It’s gone now, as I mentioned earlier, but the view will never be gone. I love coming here.”

  “I can see why,” I said, drinking everything in. A few other people walked around also, but the cold and snow seemed to be a natural people repellant.

  He grabbed my hand and led me to the edge of the cliff and we stared down below at the mesmerizing view. The cliffs and hills and trees were all lined with sn
ow, the landscape of the valley below rising and falling like the curves of a woman. A light fog hung heavy in the distance, casting an eerie feeling over the entire valley.

  “The escarpment trail lines the entire valley,” he pointed to the edge of the mountains in the distance. “It’s probably my favorite hiking trail in the entire state of New York.”

  “It’s beautiful, Bear,” I said, turning to him. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

  “Let’s walk for a while,” he said, grabbing my hand in his and leading me to the trailhead. The view was spectacular and seemed to change with each step we took. His hand was warm in mine and my heart swelled with emotion at the beauty of the Earth.

  “I never want to leave this place,” I whispered to him. Birds chirped over our heads and the sun shone through the trees every now and then as it peeked out from between the clouds. It was incredibly cold, but the warmth of his hand and the heat rolling off of him as I leaned into his side kept the shivers at bay.

  “Well, it’s not going anywhere. You can come back here as often as you want.”

  “It definitely reminds me of home,” I said.

  “Do you miss it? Home?”

  I paused, contemplating his question before answering. Truth was, I hadn’t really had time to miss anything. Everything had been such a whirlwind since I’d arrived, and honestly I hadn’t really thought about much at all except Bear.

  “No,” I finally answered. “At least not yet.”

  He nodded, smiling at me quietly. We walked for a while, leaving the people wandering at the cliff’s edge behind us until we were alone on the trail. Our words fell away as we took in the majestic view below as we wandered along, the peacefulness of the wilderness washing over us. My heart slowed, my breathing steadied and the stillness of the forest seemed to seep inside me, capturing all the restlessness and anxiety and dissolving it until nothing was left inside of me but pure serenity.

  We rounded a corner and the view changed, the valley below us twisting and turning. After a while, we came upon a huge house-sized boulder that jetted out at an angle over the cliff, the trail winding around behind it. We stopped to admire the view. I stood there in awe, mesmerized. Bear stood behind me and slipped his arms around my waist, leaning in and brushing a kiss against my neck. I moaned, arching back into his warmth.

  “You look so beautiful out here in the wilderness,” he murmured.

  I smiled, loving the solidness of him behind me.

  “Thank you,” I said. “I’ve always been amazed to think that people used to live out here, surviving in such harsh conditions, barely shielded from the elements.”

  “Yes, we’ve gotten soft as humans, haven’t we?”

  “I suppose,” I replied.

  We stood there for a moment, looking down into the valley, Bear holding me close. After a moment, his grip on me tightened and I felt his cock stirring against my ass. He let out a low groan and I couldn’t help but smile.

  “Chloe,” he growled, “you make my cock hard as a rock every time I’m near you.”

  “Hmm,” I murmured. “Am I supposed to apologize for that?”

  He laughed and turned me around, kissing me hard before replying.

  “No apologies necessary,” he growled. I looked up into his eyes and saw the rawness there. I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I stared up at him. “But you do need to take care of it.”

  “Here?” I asked in surprise. “Now?”

  “On your knees,” he ordered.

  “But the snow…” I said, looking back down the trail. “The people…”

  “Then just squat down and don’t worry about the people! Do as I say!” he barked, unzipping his jeans and pulling out his beautiful hard cock. I jumped into action, bending my knees and gripping his shaft, sliding it between my lips, his guttural moan my reward.

  My nipples hardened as I twirled my tongue around the velvety skin of the head of his cock, sucking his hardness into my mouth. I couldn’t help but keep my eyes open, the fear of getting caught rushing through me as I frantically slid his cock in and out of my mouth. His hips moved, his hands holding my head tightly as he fucked his cock into my mouth, his hardness throbbing against my tongue deliciously.

  “Stop!” he demanded and I jumped again, looking up to him. He reached for my hand, pulling me up and walking me over to the huge boulder we were behind and pressing me up against it. I faced the rock and he stood behind me. I looked over my shoulder, waiting for instructions.

  Surely, he’s not going to fuck me right here, I thought.

  I was so wrong.

  He reached around me, unfastening my jeans and pulling them down around my thighs, exposing my bare ass to the freezing cold. I gasped as the frigid wind hit my skin.

  “Bear,” I protested. “It’s so cold…”

  “Not for long,” he said, smacking my ass with his warm palm, hard. It stung, sending shivers of pain and pleasure through me. He hit me five more times and by the time he was done, my ass was warm and tingling.

  His fingers sank into my hair as he grabbed it and pulled back, whispering in my ear.

  “I don’t like it when you complain,” he growled, before shoving his cock into my pussy fast and hard. I whimpered at his words, at his sudden thrust inside, but quickly, I submitted to him, opening myself up to him, lifting my ass as much as I could to allow him easier access to my pussy.

  He moved against me, the force of his blows pressing me into the boulder as he fucked me harder and harder. His cock felt amazing and my ass was still stinging from the blows of his hand, the cold air blowing against the hot, red skin sending shivers throughout my body. The faint sound of approaching voices startled me and I turned my head, my eyes wild with fear.

  A slow smile spread across his face as he whispered in my ear, his cock thrusting hard and fast inside of my quivering pussy.

  “Are you afraid, Chloe? Are you afraid someone’s going to see what a nasty little slut you are? Are you afraid they’ll see your bare little pussy getting pounded by my hard cock? Are you afraid they’ll see who you really are?”

  His words shot daggers of pleasure straight through me, my pussy spasming around his cock as I cried out.

  “Bear, fuck me, please Bear!” my voice echoed through the canyon below.

  The voices became louder and closer as he slammed into me, harder and harder, until he was coming too, his cock bursting inside of me as an animalistic growl escaped from him.

  I shuddered, not from the cold, not from the fear of getting caught, but of the sheer strength of his thrusts and his orgasm ripping through me.

  Slowly, he pulled out, slapped my ass a few more times and then took a step back. I looked over my shoulder at him, my hands up against the rock as I looked back at him, waiting for further instructions as the voices came closer.

  He smiled, a slow, sexy smile spreading across his face as he nodded.

  “You can get dressed,” he laughed, zipping up his pants.

  I leaned down, pulling up my jeans and fastening them, just as the group of people rounded the corner. My face flushed hotter than my ass as we walked past them and back down the trail. Bear grabbed my hand and laughed.

  “My name sounded pretty good echoing through the valley like that,” he teased.

  I shook my head, laughing, the thrill of the moment still running through my veins.

  Chapter 19

  The drive back to the city was stunning. The winding roads were lined with towering snow dusted pine trees with a stream flowing beside us almost the entire trip. Ribbons of pink sunbeams broke through the trees as the sun sank into the horizon, casting shadows across the blankets of snow that covered the ground —it was an enchanting winter wonderland and I never wanted to leave.

  “It’ll be dark by the time we get back to the city,” Bear said. His hand rested on my knee and besides the few moments behind the rock, he’d been the perfect gentleman all day. He was quiet and calm, a little reserved even. I was start
ing to see that was his usual demeanor until his cock got hard, and then apparently, all bets were off.

  It was a little hard to get used to, but I was trying. He flipped on a dime today and I had no idea that was coming. The old me never would have fallen to her knees like that. Outdoors? In public? When I heard those voices approaching, I almost had a heart attack.

  He’s definitely keeping me on my toes, I thought.

  I squirmed in my seat, my pussy still sensitive and swollen from the poundings he’d been giving me the past two days.

  “I had a wonderful time,” I told him, as I gazed up at the sky, capturing the moment in my mind, drinking in every single detail. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

  “I’m glad,” he said, glancing over to me with a smile. “I told you the helicopter ride would be worth it.”

  “It wasn’t the ride that was so bad,” I laughed. “It was leaving the helicopter behind.”

  “Goodbyes are never pleasant, are they?” he teased.

  I laughed at his joke, shaking my head.

  “Can I ask you a question?” I said.

  “Oh, yes, the questions. We didn’t quite get to them, did we? Sorry about that.”

  “We managed a few,” I replied.

  “But not enough,” he said.

  “I can’t imagine I’ll ever be finished asking questions,” I laughed.

  “Good point,” he said. “I’ll remember that. So, we have a little less than an hour left on our drive. Ask away.”

  I nodded, growing serious as I contemplated how to word what I wanted to know. It was simple, really.

  “Why me?” I asked, my voice soft and shy suddenly. “Why is this all happening?”

  He nodded, staring straight ahead at the road. For a moment, I wasn’t sure he heard me at all.

  “Do you remember the first time we met?” he finally asked.

  “Yes. At the restaurant, how could I forget?”

  “No, before that, years before that.”

  “Oh, right. At the company Christmas party. I’d just turned eighteen and Mom dragged me with her for the some reason. She’d always been so against me going. I never understood why she made me go that year.”