by Ali Parker
Parker laughed and turned to face me. "She called me handsome. She's a keeper."
"That's your only requirement?" Adam snorted. "I guess that makes it easy."
"Yeah, maybe too easy." I leaned back and let out a long sigh.
"You really don't think Keira is a good fit? She's so tense and bossy." Parker picked up a fry, took a bite and threw it back in the plate of fries.
Adam pushed the plate away. "There goes that."
I chuckled and glanced toward the bar. "I think the blond might be good for you for a night, but no more than that."
"And Keira?"
He wasn't going to let it go. There was no way in hell Becca was going to be good with him trying to date their newest marketing agent. And not only that, but Keira sure as fuck seemed like a player herself. She'd already made it known as well that she wasn't dating anyone from the office.
I wasn't interested of course, but some of the younger guys Becca had hired over the last year were tripping over themselves trying to get the girl's attention.
As far as I was concerned, Parker needed to steer clear of her.
She wasn't anything but trouble.
Chapter 13
Rebecca
"Thanks for letting me come on the trip." Natalie smiled over at me as we stood side by side in the hotel gift shop. The place was beyond magnificent.
"Absolutely. I'm glad we're getting to spend some time together." I pulled a shirt off the rack and held it up to my chest. "What do you think? Looks like Jason, right?"
"Oh yeah. You should get that for him." She pushed through a few more shirts before turning her attention to me. "Do you think everything is going to work out between the two of you?"
I wasn't sure what to say for a few seconds. Did she know something I didn't?
"Why wouldn't it?" My voice was soft, welcoming. The last thing I wanted Jason's little sister to think was that I was attacking her.
"I don't know." She sighed as her eyes moved around my face. "He's just such a good guy and when Mom died, he closed off."
I reached out and touched her shoulder as her eyes filled with tears. "I would never hurt Jason."
She bit her lip and nodded before dropping her chin and pressing her fingers to her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm a bitch. I came on this trip to make sure you weren’t going to be the kind of girl to hurt my brother, but you're not a girl at all."
"No. I'm a woman." I moved toward her and pulled her into a hug, letting go of my need to protect myself and reacting with a warmth I'd almost forgotten I had inside of me. Protecting myself for so long left me cold and unyielding. Jason had changed that. "A woman that loves your brother with all my heart."
"I can see that on your face." She moved back and wiped at her eyes. "He was so warm and caring when we were kids, all through school. The kind of guy that would give you his jacket on the coldest of days, or change your tire even if you kicked him in the shin earlier that day."
"Did you kick him in the shin a few times?" I smiled and tried to hold back my own tears. I could see that side of Jason so much in the office and the way he treated me already. Just having him help me through the whole process of building my house, even with my greatest fantasy as the contractor on the project, was more than I could have asked for. He was a good man. No, a great one.
And he was mine. Realization rolled over me. Gratefulness in thick, suffocating waves.
"I did." She sniffled. "I'm just starting to see that side of him again. He was close to our mother."
I reached out and rubbed the top of her arm. "I'm not going to hurt him. I promise."
"Okay. He just loves you a lot." She wrapped her arms around herself.
"I'm so grateful for that." Warmth infused every part of me.
"Hey. You two okay?" Jason's voice was soft. Concerned.
Natalie smiled at me, her back to Jason. "I'll see you in the morning. I'm going to shop a little more. Thanks for the reassurance. I was praying like hell I wasn't going to have to kick you in the shin."
I laughed as she moved around me. "I'm glad that didn't happen either."
Jason walked toward me as he nodded toward the back of the store where Natalie disappeared off to. "She okay? What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I wrapped my arms around him. "Take me back to the room. I want to test out the hot tub."
He shifted his face down toward mine. "I like the sound of that."
"Good. Make it happen." I pressed myself tightly against him. "Now."
***
I walked out of the bathroom to the sound of the jets running in the tub, and Jason already sitting deep inside it.
"That's not fair." I put my hands on my hips and let my eyes run across the beautiful swell of his chest and arms. "God, you're hot."
"It's fucking toasty in here for sure." He smiled. "Take off your clothes and come join me."
"Like a strip tease?" I moved toward the tub and pulled my shirt over my head.
"Like a beautiful woman getting ready for a night with her man." He moved to the edge of the tub and rested his arms on the side, his chin propped up on his hands. "I like that bra. It's dainty, sexy."
"Good." I reached behind me and undid it before tossing it behind me. "Like this better?"
"Hell yes." He licked at his lips and nodded toward me. "Pants and panties. Hurry up. I'm getting impatient."
"I like making you wait." I kicked off my shoes, undid my jeans and tugged them down my legs as he watched me closely.
"I'm going to spank you for that."
I laughed and pulled my panties off before standing up to face him. "You threaten all the women in your life with that promise?"
"You're the only woman in my life, Rebecca. You know that." He moved back and took a shaky breath. "I couldn't handle anyone else. You're so much more than I ever expected or deserve."
"Hush. You're already getting laid. Stop trying." I laughed as he splashed me with water and offered me his hand.
"Get in here. Bad girl."
I moved into the hot water and let out a groan. "Feels so damn good."
"Mhhmm... it does." He pulled me toward him and spun me around before pulling me flush against his strong body. I let my head fall back on his shoulder and closed my eyes as he moved his hands down the front of me, touching me so gently.
"What happened to this spanking?" I mumbled sleepily. I could have stayed in his arms in the middle of the hot bubbly water all night.
"It's coming." He pressed his mouth to the side of my neck. "I want your mouth on me."
Desire raced through me and I stifled a groan. I loved it when he was straight-forward. I moved from his hold and squatted in the middle of the water.
"Sit up on the side like you promised." I licked at my lips as our eyes locked on the others.
"Yes, ma'am." He moved up on the side of the tub in one of the corners and stroked his cock, which sat thick and hard against his stomach. "Just take what you want, okay. No pressure."
I chuckled and moved up between his thighs. "I sure as hell hope you don't do business deals like this."
"Not at all." He groaned as I leaned over and ran my lips down the full length of him.
"Good. Show me how you do deals then." I bit my lip and glanced up at him as he nodded.
"You sure, baby?" He ran his hand down the side of my face.
"Very." I moved in as he gripped a handful of my hair and lifted his hips, fucking me slowly as I worked him over the edge twice. He was shaky by the time I moved back.
"God, I love you." He moved into the water and wrapped his arms around me, kissing me hard. "Promise me we're going to be together forever, Becca."
"Make love to me tonight." I kissed at his soft lips and pulled out of his arms.
"Get in the bed and I'll do anything you want me to." He offered me a hand, and I got out of the water and started to search for a towel.
"Don't worry about it. I'll have them change the sheets in the morning. Just stay on the right side." He
climbed out after me, looking like a god.
"Right," I mumbled and walked to the bed. How the hell was I going to look sexy hoisting myself up in the bed, butt naked.
He laughed and wrapped his hands around my waist before lifting me. "You're so cute."
I scrambled up on the bed and turned to face him while on my knees. "I didn't want to be cute. I want to be sexy."
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me down. "You're beyond sexy no matter what you're up to."
I cradled his body against mine and wrapped my legs around his lean waist. "Do you feel more alive when we're together?"
His sister’s claims plagued me.
"More than I ever have." He pressed himself inside of me and moved down to suck my nipple deep into his mouth as I moaned and arched my back.
Pressed to the bed beneath him, I felt like I could do anything, be anything, have anything.
Funny enough, all I wanted was to be trapped beneath him, to belong to him fully.
"I want to get married," I whispered against his wet skin, but my words were lost in the sounds of our sex and the gargling of the hot tub.
"Me too, baby. I love you too." He pressed his lips to mine and forced me over the cliff of ecstasy with a series of short, hard thrusts, leaving me weak and willing to do anything he wanted me to.
Chapter 14
Jason
She woke up before I did, and wasn't in the bed next to me when I finally rolled over. The sun streaming in the window was almost too bright. The snow.
I groaned and sat up, stretching and enjoying the feeling of our night together still lingering on my skin. Breathing in deeply, I picked up subtle tones of her shampoo, her perfume. So delicious.
We planned on skiing for most of the day, and I hated to admit it, but I was nervous. I hadn't been on the slopes since I was a kid. Adam was a regular to snowboarding and such, so I'd have to stick close to him and try not to look like a total goober in front of the woman I was still trying to impress.
After getting my bearings, I got out of bed and showered and shaved, half hoping Rebecca would come through the door and drag me back to the bed. I didn't need to make love again, but holding her would have been nice.
"You have the rest of your life to do that. Hopefully." I checked myself in the mirror and walked out into the room to get dressed. My phone buzzed on the table and I picked it up and checked to make sure it was her who was trying to FaceTime me.
I hit the button and smiled. "Hi, beautiful."
Her eyes widened a little. "Are you coming? We're all heading to breakfast."
Pulling the camera back a little, I tilted it toward my chest and stomach. "Not dressed yet. I was hoping there would be someone to wash my back in the shower." I pulled it back up toward my face and smiled. The soft pink on her cheeks hadn't been there moments before. "But you were gone, and seeing that you're the only one allowed in the bathroom while I'm naked-"
"I could skip breakfast." She smiled and nibbled on her bottom lip. How the hell had I survived the last six years of adulthood without her?
"Nope. You missed your chance." I tried to give her a stern look, but it morphed into a smile as butterflies danced in my stomach. The woman had a way with me that no one in my life ever had. It was scary how quickly I'd do anything she asked of me.
"Oh yeah? You would deny me?" Her bottom lip pushed out a little, and my cock jerked under my towel.
"Never. You only have to ask, and it's yours."
"Anything?" Her eyebrow lifted and the cuteness was gone.
"So wicked, Becca. So wicked."
"Come join us. Get dressed and stop teasing me." She whispered the last bit.
"All right. Be there in a minute." I dropped the call and the towel and found a pair of wind pants and a long-sleeve t-shirt. After pulling my jacket over my shoulders, I stopped by the bathroom and ran my fingers through my hair. I wished I looked a little older, but hopefully I'd get a few greys like my father had. That would help make her feel better about my age, and she was the only one I cared to impress.
"Hey, buddy." Parker walked down the hall toward me with a smile on his face. "You survive last night?"
I wasn't much of a kiss and tell kinda guy. "Meaning?"
"The liquor. I felt like shit at five this morning when I rolled over for the first time." He shrugged and moved up beside me as we made our way to the lobby.
"You got up at five?" I scanned the large foyer in front of us, looking for Becca.
"Yep. That's what old people do." He snorted. "As if thirties are old. I sound like Rebecca."
"I think it's just a habit anyone can get into regardless of age. Get up at five for a few months and you're going to reset your internal clock. Just how we function."
"You make that shit up or what?" He chuckled and patted my back. "We skiing today?"
"I plan on trying. Are you a good skier?"
"Good is pushing it a little. I can stay upright, but that's about it." He pointed toward the breakfast restaurant near the front of the hotel. "There they are. I'd know Rebecca's dark red hair anywhere. It was a little lighter when we were kids, but it's beautiful nevertheless."
I glanced over at him, a little jealous that he knew her when they were younger. I bit my tongue and held back my questions and comments. No need to feel anything other than excited. Parker had her past, but I had her future.
"Here you go, guys." A tall guy near the center of the foyer handed us a flyer. "The Christmas program begins tomorrow night at six on the dot. The kids from the neighborhoods around will be singing for us. You should come. Bring your significant others."
"Thanks." I took the flyer and walked into the restaurant.
"What's that?" Becca moved up beside me, leaning in for a kiss as I stopped by the buffet.
"A Christmas program tomorrow. The guy just handed it to us." I handed her the flyer and pulled her close for another kiss or two.
"I'm not going to that sappy shit." Parker set the flyer on a table near him and walked toward the food. "Kids. No thanks."
I smiled at Becca and offered her my arm. "You already eat?"
"No. I was waiting for you." She slipped her arm into mine and we walked toward the front of the buffet. "You want to go to the Christmas program?"
"I want to do whatever you want to do." I released her and grabbed a plate. "Let me rephrase that. I want to eat and then do whatever you want to do."
I couldn't help but scan the room for my little sister. I hadn't heard from her all night, not that I expected to, but something inside of me churned with the need to make sure she was okay and having a good time.
"She's already on the slopes." Becca moved past me. "I told her we would join them in a little while."
"Perfect." I handed her a plate and moved up behind her to grab the tongs for the bacon. She needed to know now that I loved bacon almost as much as I loved her. Something told me she would understand when she filled half her plate with the greasy stuff.
"Don't judge. I love bacon." She smiled.
"I didn't think I could love you any more than I already do, but it just happened." I chuckled as her cheeks burned red.
I'd go to the sappy Christmas program, down the black diamond slopes, anywhere she wanted to go. As long as she was there... I would be too.
***
"Wow. I seriously forgot how hard that was." I pressed my hands to my knees and took in large gulps of air. "And here I thought I was in shape."
She smiled and ran her glove over her dark hair. "Your sister is kicking our ass at this."
I turned and glanced up the large snowy hill to watch Natalie make her way down with ease. "She is, isn't she?" I smiled. "I'm glad to see her enjoying herself."
My sister made her stop a few feet from us and reached up to pull her goggles off. "I got a massage appointment for two today. I figured one of you would go with me."
"Did you get two appointments or one?" I lifted my eyebrow.
"A couple’s ma
ssage, but you can take a friend or sibling or whatever. They don't care."
I didn't want to ask where she got the money. She'd been struggling since her divorce, so I didn't. I just made a mental note to go take care of the bill.
Adam skidded to a stop beside us, spraying me with snow. He pulled off his face mask and smiled. "Parker is still on the bunny slopes."
Rebecca laughed and shook her head. "He's just doing that to meet girls."
"Typical." Nat laughed. "So... who's going with me?"
Becca lifted her hand. "I would love to unless you wanted some time with your brother."
"Nope. I was hoping you would." Nat stuck out her tongue at me before skiing off.
I turned to face my girl. "You sure? I don't mind going with her."
"A massage in a warm room with soothing music and someone to talk to that knows your deepest, darkest secrets? Are you shitting me? I'm so there." She moved close and pulled me to her awkwardly for a quick kiss before leaving me standing there.
"Girls. I swear, I'll never understand them." Adam pulled his mask back on. "We going to save Parker or hit the hill again?"
"The hill. Parker is right where he wants to be. On the bunny slopes looking for a playgirl with a furry tail."
"Oh." Adam's eyes widened a little. "In that case... I should be there too. You know, in case he needs me."
"You do that." I laughed and moved in behind him to make my way back to the lift. It was a beautiful day, and I wanted a little bit of time to myself.
I had a decision to make. Buy the ring or not. Hit my knee or not. Ask my girl to marry me...
Or not.
Chapter 15
Rebecca
"Thank you for inviting me to this. I needed it more than I realized." I turned my face toward Natalie and tried to keep my eyes open. After my long night with Jason, I was sore in all the right places, but I was beyond exhausted. I'd have to take a nap or get to bed early. Racing down the side of a mountain and trying not to bust my ass didn't help with my energy levels much.
