Stark September (Stark Trilogy Book 1)

by C. D. Bradley

  “Incredible, isn’t it?” he said, smiling. “Are you ready? We’re going to get off in a minute. Go to your left. There’s one more lift to the top. Trust me, it’s worth it.” Kira did trust him. She couldn’t explain why. She had spent so long not trusting anyone and had built these perfect walls to keep others out. Yet he seemed to break through without any effort at all. It was as if he alone knew the door and had a key.

  The last lift proved very steep and frightening. Kira was typically quite brave, but this lift went straight freaking up. Stark sensed her anxiety and put his arm around her, pulling her close. Through the layers of clothing she could feel his warmth. Sitting this close, with his powerful arm around her, she felt safe, as if she belonged right here. Now the lift lost its threat; in fact, now it was too short. All too soon, they were at the top and he let go. “Time to get off. This is the top of the Cirque lift. Top of the world here at Snowmass,” he instructed. They exited and veered to the left toward the Cirque Headwall. Kira’s heart raced when she saw the Double Black Diamond marking the sign.

  “Let’s go over here and stop for a second.” Stark skied out of the way of the lift and stopped at the edge of the mountain. He sat and Kira followed suit. “Sit beside me,” he urged softly. “I want to keep this.” He pulled a small red camera out of his jacket, a rugged little Pentax. Stark lay back and put his legs with their skis out in front of him. Kira followed. Leaning back Stark took a picture of their boots and skis, with the incredible backdrop of the valley and mountains beyond. “There, now we’ll know where we’ve been.” Turning toward her, he took several pictures of her there in the snow and, then putting his arm around her, took one final pic of their faces. “You ready for this?” he asked as he stood and put the camera away.

  “Yes,” Kira lied. Ready as I’ll ever be, she thought, looking over the edge. Here it was. She was on both a literal cliff’s edge, and perched on the edge of her hypothetical abyss. Now she was actually preparing to go right over the edge, in more ways than one. She watched Stark disappear over the steep cliff. The powder was so deep the only tracks she could see were his disappearing in the distance. I am going to follow him, she thought, aware she was not thinking just about skiing. She said a silent prayer and pushed herself over the edge before she had a chance to get scared.

  Gravity overtook her and she began a mildly controlled decent. Letting the mountain guide her, she rode fluidly on her skis, trying to keep her legs parallel. The intensity of this run dwarfed anything she had ever skied. She was at once exhilarated and scared shitless. She fought through the fear and powered down the mountain. Stark was in sight again. Her confidence had risen to new heights when she hit the moguls. Kira was an experienced skier, but the powder had covered the moguls so much that they caught her by surprise. She hit the first one. “Ditch!” she yelled, surprised. Then another. “Ditch!” The third was much larger, sending her airborne. “Son of a bitch!” she yelled as she sailed through the air. The ground came up at her quickly. Kira hit the snow and began to roll. A cloud of powder surrounded her. Snow, sky, snow—she rolled a moderate distance before she finally came to a stop. She looked back up the mountain and had to laugh at the yard sale of equipment she’d left in her wake. Stark had stopped some distance below her and watched anxiously to see if she was OK. She made her way back up the steep slope and gathered her equipment. Thanks to the deep powder, the only thing hurt was her pride, and perhaps confidence. Embarrassed, she reassembled herself and skied down to Stark. “Are you OK?” he asked worriedly. “We can stop if you need to take a break.”

  “Stop treating me like a little girl” she yelled at him. “I’m a lot stronger that you think.” She took off down the mountain, taking the lead. Stark followed. He was a far superior skier…but he enjoyed the view. He still wasn’t quite sure what to make of this girl. This strong crazy beautiful girl who was everything he had ever dreamed of.

  They reached the bottom of the mountain without further incident. He watched her in awe. “Are you hungry?” He tried a new tactic to get her to rest for a moment. It had been a few hours since they had breakfast. “We could get a bite to eat for lunch, and maybe a beer while we are down here,” he added hopefully.

  Thankful for the time to catch her breath, Kira agreed. She followed Stark to an eclectic little place called The Stew Pot. “You’re going to love this place he said. I’ve been coming here since I was little.” He smiled brightly as he spoke.

  Kira enjoyed seeing him so carefree, his usual quiet intensity replaced for a while by this happy young man. They put their skies up and he led her into the restaurant, taking her hand. Once inside, they found a table and he helped her out of her jacket. A blond man with a beard came bounding over to them. “Stark! Hell, brother, it’s been a while. Good to see you!” the blond man said, as he hugged Stark and shook his hand.

  “Fletch! It’s good to see you. It has been a while,” Stark responded warmly. “Fletcher, this is Kira Riley. Kira, this is my good friend Fletcher Duke. He and his wife Sol own the place. These are the best soups and sandwiches in all of Snowmass and Aspen combined.” Stark patted Fletcher hard on the back.

  “You won’t find a better man than Owen Stark,” Fletcher said to Kira. Kira smiled. She was beginning to believe that.

  She and Stark sat in the comfortable little restaurant, chatting over the best beef stew and sandwiches she had ever tasted. “So the house is yours?” she asked cautiously when they were alone, trying to gauge his reaction.

  “Yeah, my parents built it when I was little. We spent so much time here. It’s a great place to be all year-round. My parents were friends with the original owners of this restaurant….” He trailed off, apparently thinking to some happier place and time.

  “Why didn’t you just say it was your house?” she asked carefully, not wanting to sound accusing.

  “I didn’t want to get into a lengthy explanation. The house is mine. It belonged to my family. End of story.”

  “Hey, OK,” she said, resolving to ask him later. “So what are our plans for this afternoon?” Kira desperately wanted to know more about him. However, it seemed each answer only led to more questions.

  They skied hard that afternoon and into the early evening. Stark had really enjoyed himself all day. He led her back to the house, where they stripped their gear in the ski room. Stark hung boots and gloves over the warmer.

  Kira noted the lockers against the wall. The beautiful wooden structures had names engraved into each one. Dad, Mom, Owen, Maggie. Kira’s heart broke for him. This house had held such wonderful memories for him, but they only seemed to hurt him now. She wondered about his parents: where were they? Why weren’t they here for their son? What had happened to the happy family from the pictures in the great room?

  Stark broke her train of thought. “There’s enough time to get a shower and get cleaned up before dinner,” he said, invitingly. He reached up and brushed a lock of hair out of her face. His fingers traced to the tip of her chin, lifting it to meet his lips. He started kissing her slowly and as she melted into him, his desire and forcefulness grew. His other hand reached up behind her head and neck, holding her to him. The passion in his kiss overtook her. “Come take a shower with me,” he breathed into her ear. Kira followed him up the stairs obediently…eagerly.

  Once in the bathroom, Stark flipped a switch to warm the marble floor and set the steam going in the shower. Kira tried not to glance in the mirror at the wretched-looking woman who had been skiing all day. She worked her matted hair out of its ponytail. Stark smiled at her. “You are so beautiful, Kira,” he said softly. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. There she stood in his bathroom, wild chestnut hair spilling around her face. To him, the insecurity in those flawless blue eyes was truly charming—she had nothing to be insecure about. Unable to resist, he reached out to touch her. His strong hands stroked her delicate face and then down her neck. “You can’t take a shower in this,” he said, tugging on her Patagonia base layers.r />
  “You’re one to talk,” she mocked playfully, indicating his remaining layers.

  “That’s an easy fix.” He quickly pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his bare chest. Kira gasped. It had been dark last night. Here, in the bright lights of the bathroom, the details of his muscular chest were breathtaking. Oh, how can you possibly look this hot after skiing all day? I want you more than I can even say. I want to feel your hands on me.

  Stark smiled. He always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. He came to her. “Can I help you with this?” he asked, as he started to pull her shirt off over her head. Casting it aside, he traced his fingers down her arms to her chest and down the sides of her breasts. He trailed to the edge of her waist band. Kira was breathing harder.

  He turned her so she faced the mirror, forcing her to watch him touch her and to see her own uncontrollable response. He paused at her waistband, holding tightly. She felt the hot breath of his lips on her neck and shoulder. His eyes looked up and met hers in the mirror. A wicked smile played across his lips as he instructed her to be still. She watched helplessly as he began kissing her neck again, feeling those soft, hot lips and dreaming of them in other places. His strong hands expertly undid her bra, freeing her breasts. Kira watched him trace his fingers down to her nipple, tweaking it hard. He cupped his hands around her breasts, holding her to him, and she could feel the power of his hardness pressing against her inner thigh. She reached back to touch him, to feel that cock. But he stopped her.

  “No, Kira.” He grabbed her hands and placed them palms down on the counter. “Be still.”

  The forcefulness of his words subdued her; she was unable—unwilling— to move or disobey. Kira stood helpless as he slowly peeled off her pants and panties. She was completely naked now, standing fully exposed before the mirror. He growled approvingly, sliding his large rough hand over her ass. She felt the sting of his hand as he smacked it, hard. She let out a soft moan, feeling moisture between her legs. He spanked her again, but this time held tightly to her ass with one hand and clasped her breast with the other. He started kissing her neck intensely. The hand on her ass slid around, gaining moisture from her now soaking slit, and found her aching clit buried in a mass of brown curls. He began working it slowly, keeping his eyes locked on hers in the mirror. The steam from the shower filled the bathroom, surrounding them in a warm cloud. He continued caressing her breast, squeezing her nipple. She panted harder, losing herself in his touch, in his eyes. She no longer felt exposed, but rather, enveloped in him. She could barely hear the water over the pounding of her own heart. She was desperate to come. I need it. The hand on her clit picked up the pace. The other hand glided down and into her wanton pussy. He worked those immense fingers in and out of her, building her to the point of no return. Her breath came in short gasps as the intensity built her into a frenzied state and she struggled to remain still. Her senses were overwhelmed by the heat of his body against hers. And he stopped. No!

  “All right, dirty girl, let’s get you in the shower and get you clean.” He was in complete control and he knew it. “If I remember correctly, you have a little problem that I promised to help with.” The playful look on his face is irresistible. He takes off his pants, freeing that massive cock.

  Kira was at a loss for words as he guided her into the steaming shower. He body was rigid with the ache of her abandoned orgasm. The water felt incredible to her sore, ski-beaten body. She stood for a moment, closing her eyes, letting the hot water envelop her. At once, he was standing behind her, the heat from his hard body pressed into her. She exhaled slowly, reaching back to touch him. He held her with one arm and reached for body wash with the other. She was suddenly surrounded with the scents of honey and jasmine. The aroma was exquisite, and she relaxed fully as he massaged the cream into a lather on her skin. His strong hands caressed and kneaded her shoulders and back, and he worked seductively down to her ass and legs. He paused at her thighs, paying delicate attention to each one, his strong fingers gently stroking the edge of her sex with each pass. He stood to get more body wash.

  “I wouldn’t have taken you for the honey and jasmine kind of guy,” Kira said jokingly, hoping that this wasn’t left over from Paige, the phone-sex whore.

  Stark laughed out loud. “Hey, it brings out my sensitive side. No, I bought this for you today while we were in Snowmass village. While you were milling around the market, I ran into an old friend who manages the Hotel Jerome. This is Perlier, Honey and White Jasmine. It came highly recommended. Do you like it?” he asked hopefully. His tone was playful, but breathy with need. She could tell he was restraining himself, savoring this time.

  “Mmm, I love it. It smells wonderful!” she answered, inhaling the intoxicating aroma. “Thank you.”

  Stark began to lather her neck, slowly massaging, sensually working his way down her arms. His hands held hers for just a moment, tenderly. Kira laid her head back against his chest, savoring the moment. Then he let go of her hands, rubbing his fingers firmly back up her arms to her breasts. She arched as the rush of excitement coursed through her.

  His hands encircled her breasts now, gently manipulating them with his strong hands. He found her nipples and the friction of his rough skin on her sensitive flesh was exhilarating. She gasped sharply, and ran her hands down his sides to his muscular thighs. His hands lingered on her breasts, working them more intently. Using the lather that covered them both by now, she grabbed his thick shaft and began to work him with her hands. He moaned deeply at her touch, his massaging becoming more intent. She slid her hands up and down his length, his legs and hips working with her rhythm, as she stroked his now-throbbing cock. He held her tightly in one arm now, the other sliding effortlessly across her skin to find the electric prize between her legs. Deft fingers manipulated into her waiting slit, exposing and massaging her clit. Small, slow circles of movement at first, then they became faster, and Kira gasped. How am I so close already? As her dormant orgasm came racing back to the surface, her breathes were short and rapid, her heart racing. His hardness pushed against her thighs, and his hips began to thrust, sliding easily through her thighs and buttocks. He didn’t enter her, but the friction was driving her insane. She was desperate to feel him inside her now.

  “Not yet” He said quietly as if feeling her need, “We have a little problem to take care of remember.” He took out a sliver plated razor from a stand on the ledge. Kira stood almost trembling, watching his svelte hands rinse the shiny blade under the steaming water. “I’ll need you to be very still.” He commanded quietly.

  Kira was afraid to move. She had never trusted anyone this much. How could she let someone she barely knew take a razor blade to her delicate regions? She watched the blade coming closer and then delicately touch her skin. She realized one false move and she could wind up sans clitoris. Holy hell what have I gotten myself into!

  “Trust me Kira, I will never hurt you.” His voice soothed and transfixed her. She realized she had been holding her breath as the first pass of the razor crossed her skin. OK, no pain, no bleeding. “Relax Kira, I will take good care of you if you will let me. Let me worship every sweet curve.” His voice deep, commanding yet strangely hypnotic permeated her every pore. Kira felt her muscles slowly soften and relax as if even tension followed his commands. Her body seemed to obey before her mind could follow. Each delicate pass of the razor uncovered fresh new skin, she felt as if he was opening her up to him. Parts of her no one else had seen were now exposed and open. Yet her fear and hesitation melted away and flowed effortlessly down the drain with the remnants of hair. She had never dreamed shaving could be so sensual. The warm caress of his hands and the cold steel of the blade tortured her body with conflicting emotions.

  “Let’s get rid of this soap, shall we?” Stark grinned as he took one of the removable showerheads and began gently rinsing her from top to bottom. As he approached her sex, a wicked smile slid across his face.

  Oh, my! The stream of warm wat
er directly on her most sensitive flesh was overwhelming. She panted, barely able to catch her breath. He changed the water stream to pulse, holding the showerhead firmly in place. He pinned her legs apart with his, holding her there, vulnerable to the effects of the spray. The warm caress of the water on her newly exposed skin, coupled with the pulsing sensation of the spray, sent her into a frenzied state. He dropped to his knees before her; holding her hips in his hands, and began a slow, sensual assault with his mouth. His hot breath, that tongue, found its way into her. The coarseness of his tongue glided slowly over her swollen clit, sending an electrifying wave through her entire body. Barely able to stand, she struggled to breathe. Looking down, she was in awe at the sight of his thick muscular back and arms, those powerful arms wrapped around her legs. He held her in place, sucking, licking, fucking her with his tongue. Her hands went instinctively to his thick hair and she held on tightly, throwing her head back. Unable to stand any more, her body went rigid and she cried out loudly, coming hard and falling into his waiting arms.

  Stark smiled at the vision he held close to him. “You’re so responsive, Kira! I love making you come like that.” His voice was content and triumphant. He stood, holding her steady for a moment. Kira rested against his firm body. Stark could feel the softness of her skin. She seemed so fragile in his large arms. She tilted her head up, looking at him with those eyes. He knew he was powerless to her. He wanted her, needed her, in a way he never had with any woman before. He let his hand trail gently from her neck down her shoulder, then her arm. He throbbed and ached to be inside her. He had waited, had wanted, to hear her, to feel her come. Now he needed to be inside her.

  He reached down, finding her soaking slit and working his fingers inside. Her soft moan encouraged him to further his entrance. God, she is so fucking tight! “I’m going to fuck you from behind. Hold onto the ledge.” Kira obeyed. Using his feet, he spread her legs wide once more. He worked her with his fingers in small circular motions, around and around, penetrating further until she was ready. He smacked her ass. His eyes flashed wild, ardent desire overtaking him like an animal. He worked his thick expanse into her tight opening and, holding tight to her hips, he began moving in and out with purpose.