She went to work, intent on ignoring him. But she couldn’t ignore that he was there, across the house. Or that she had to do something to calm his anger toward her. She hated to admit it, but he might be the only shot she had at fulfilling the stipulations of her father’s will.
She hadn’t wanted to think of it before, but his anger had given her pause. The will said nothing about her having to live under the same roof as her husband. So what if he lived on the other side of the world, as long as they were married and there were no scandals. The only snag she could see in her plan was that Everest would have to get her pregnant. She didn’t know how willing he would be to do that, though the motivation was definitely there. She wasn’t sure how he even felt about children and then there was the small thing about him finding her father’s will detestable.
Chloe flipped off her laptop. She had stared at the screen for several hours, not typing a single word. Her mind raced with ways to convince Everest to keep the marriage.
Deciding that it would come to her when the time was right, she went to make amends with him. He had to at least start talking to her if she was to accomplish anything. A slow smile came to her lips as she thought of more interesting ways to assuage his injured pride.
She went to his workshop and found the door locked. He wasn’t in the house, which could only mean he was out in the shed working on the generator. Chloe was astonished at how much attention that thing seemed to need.
She grabbed one of Everest’s lightweight jackets off the coat rack. She realized this was going to be the first time she had left the house since her arrival. Going out onto the front lawn, she took a look around. The sunlit snow glistened like diamond crystals. She scooped up some white powder into her bare hands and formed it into a hard ball.
Bouncing the snowball lightly, she traded it back and forth between her two freezing palms. His property was really breathtaking. A mischievous smile formed on her lips as she looked at the shed.
“Everest Beaumont!” she yelled at the door. “Get out here right now!”
She leaned down and packed another snowball together, holding the wet missiles in her cold hands as she started for the shed door.
“Everest! I want to talk to you!” she yelled louder. Readying her arm, she lifted it to take aim. “I’m calling you out!”
She crept closer to the shed, wondering why he wasn’t answering her.
“Everest!” she screamed again.
“Is that so?”
Chloe froze as she heard him behind her and felt a snowball hit her in the nape of the neck. Wet moisture dripped down her back underneath the light jacket she had stolen from him. With a look of disdain, she slowly turned around to face her attacker. Smirking through a look of feigned anger, she shook her head in warning.
“Planning a surprise attack?” He chuckled as she turned to face him. His lips curled into a devilish smile and his hair was tied back in a ponytail. In his hand he roguishly bounced another snowball.
“Why you,” she mumbled darkly before charging him. Chloe immediately launched her ammunition at his head. Both shots missed. She leaned down to reload.
Before she stood she was hit again in the shoulder. Her face turned red at his laughter. She threw and missed again. Everest chuckled even harder. He charged her as she knelt to grab more snow.
Chloe stood up in time to get knocked to the ground. Rotating in the air, he padded her fall with his weight. She felt the stiff snow crunch underneath her head as Everest landed to the side of her.
“Looking for me?” he whispered with a nuzzle and bite to her ear. Leaning over her, his hazel-green gaze drifted to her parted lips. Smiling, he studied her pink cheeks and red nose.
“No.” Chloe breathed in his nearness. “I wasn’t. I was innocently taking a walk when I was shamelessly attacked.”
Everest laughed, white puffs escaped his mouth. Touching his nose to hers, he asked, “What did you want?”
Chloe beamed innocently up into his smug face and grabbed a handful of snow. She crashed it into his temple. “To do this.”
“Ouch,” he whined as he rolled off of her in mock pain. Feigning injury, he questioned, “What was that for?”
“For being a dolt,” Chloe answered as she sat up. She placed her hands defiantly on her hips, ignoring the snow that stuck to her head and shoulders.
“I know. I’m sorry.” Everest sighed as he looked up at her. Gently, he caressed her cheek with his cold fingers. He had spent most of the morning walking around his land thinking of their situation. He could not deny that he had feelings for the captivating woman before him. That is why he had gotten so angry. He wasn’t upset with her. He was outraged by her situation.
“Don’t think that just because you say you’re sorry that I will automatically forgive you.” Chloe brushed off her arms. Powdery snow fell from her like sawdust. “You’ll have to work for my forgiveness.”
Everest answered her challenge with a sultry smirk through narrowed eyes. Pulling on her jacket so she fell back, he moved his leg on top of her. Brushing a snowflake off the tip of her reddened nose with cold fingers, he leaned down to kiss her.
Chloe moaned as every ounce of anger thawed into the snow. She forgot that she wanted to talk to him. Murmuring contentedly against his mouth, she uttered, “Do you think our lips are going to freeze together?”
“Only if you have braces on,” he grumbled seriously. She hit his back without breaking the kiss. Everest laughed as he pulled away. She gave a soft moan of protest. “Does this mean I’m forgiven?”
Chloe nodded. Her blue eyes drifted to his firm mouth. Her body stirred and began to heat, despite the press of cold snow. He leaned down to kiss her again. Mumbling against his increasingly passionate mouth, she breathed, “Which building is closest?”
Everest growled, entranced by her forward confidence and amazed that their desires had yet to dim. The more he had her, the more he needed to do it again. She was his addiction. He nodded his head toward the shed. Chloe shot him a coy look, her eyes shining with promise. Without words, she stood and grabbed him by his coat. Walking backwards, she led him to the door. Then, leaning against it, she pulled him in for a kiss.
Reaching up, Everest pulled the latch to let the door fall open. Chloe gasped as she fell back. Righting herself, she looked around. She slid the jacket from her shoulders before setting it aside on a worktable. Then, going to a large metal contraption, she asked, “Is this the generator that has been giving you so much trouble?”
Everest closed and latched the door before coming up behind her. All amusement faded from his eyes as he looked down at her tightly fitted blue jeans. His hand grasped the firm curve of her buttocks and squeezed his fingers near her hot center. Chloe groaned a low, throaty sound.
“Get out of those wet pants.” Everest whispered his command hotly into her ear. “I would hate for you to get sick. I’m not much of a nurse.”
Before she could respond, his hands found the tender flesh of her flat stomach. Chloe shivered. His fingers caressed her with the deft precision of a carpenter planing wood. His callused palms skimmed over her ribcage before finding the button to her jeans. With a deft flick, he unfastened the obstructive clothing and began to unzip.
Chloe didn’t turn, liking the feel of him behind her. As he moved his burning caresses over the curve of her pelvic bone, he pulled her buttocks to press along the hardened length of his arousal. She raised her hands over her head, caressing the silken strands of his shoulder length hair. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she cried out in pleasure when he found her neck with his mind-numbing kisses.
And then suddenly, he was gone. Chloe grew dizzy at his absence, falling forward to press her hands on two metal pipes that came out of the ground and connected to the generator. The metal was warm under her chilled palms. She tried to control her ragged breaths, but her body ached for the feel of him and her flesh shivered in need of his impassioned touch.
A strong hand found th
e curve of her back, caressing in a dominant stroke up her spine. With a snap, he unhooked her bra underneath the sweater. As his hands found her hips, he slid the wet denim down her length, exposing the athletic curve of her beautiful legs. Everest growled, a bestial sound coming from his lips as he cornered his prey. Chloe couldn’t move. Her pants trapped her legs about her ankles.
“Don’t move your hands,” Everest ordered. Chloe gripped the pipes fiercely. She felt so exposed bending over in front of him.
He didn’t wait for her to answer. Lightly, he began kissing her firm buttocks. His tongue flicked over the sensitive flesh before biting it gently. Chloe swayed on her feet. Everest grabbed her hips to hold her still. He licked the quivering flesh of her other cheek. His hands ran over her skin in kneading strokes. Firmly, he spread her legs wide so his tongue could lap her sweet nectar.
Chloe bucked and tried to stand up, suddenly feeling self-conscious. She moved as if to turn to him.
“Tsk, tsk,” Everest mumbled, a little disappointed. He held her hips firmly with one hand.
Chloe could feel him moving around behind her. Without hurting her, his hand grabbed her hair to pull her neck back in a steadfast motion. Chloe shivered at his domineering hold. It both excited and frightened her. Slowly his hands lifted hers above her head to pull off her sweater and bra. The chilled air hit her breasts to instantly peak her nipples into hardened beacons. Everest took their offerings with teasing fingertips. The aching mounds strained for more attention but were denied.
Again he grabbed her hair. With an unrelenting shove, he pushed her forward so she was again forced to hold onto the pipes. And then he was all around her. His hand caressed the length of her arms. His lips sought the sweet partings of hers. His breath grazed the frantic pulse at her neck. Parting her narrowed lids, Chloe saw the hard length of his erection looking up at her. Licking her lips, she thought of taking his member into her mouth to excite him.
But she had no time to lean over. As Everest chuckled mischievously, he let her go. Chloe tried to raise her hand to follow him, but gasped when she discovered he had bound her wrists to the pipes with his belt. She hadn’t even noticed his plan through the distracting fog he created with her skin.
“Are you scared?” he whispered ominously from behind.
Chloe nodded and then shook her head. Confused, she pleaded, “Kiss me.”
Everest obliged, trailing his lips over her naked back. Chloe could feel his hands over every inch of her burning form. Through small glimpses as she leaned over, she saw his bared feet. They were strong like the rest of him. His legs were lightly covered with hair, but they too were powerfully built. In her minds eye, she could see his brawny chest, flexing and bowing with every commanding move of his upper torso.
Finally, his exploring led his fingers to the scorching urgency of her center fire. Parting her slick entrance from behind, he massaged her womanhood open with callused fingers. Her trembling form melted over his hand to ease his way with the sweet liquid of her desire. Everest growled at her potent heat. Chloe bucked her hips against his fingers as he slipped one inside of her. It glided easily in the warmth. Joining it with a second finger, he began to force her to ride his hand. Leaning his head against her, his lips bit and soothed her slender neck.
“That’s it,” he muttered along her flesh. “Come on, baby.”
Chloe’s wrists pulled at the ties. She couldn’t think beyond the burning need of her hot core. Tossing her head back, she screamed as she neared her snow-melting climax. Everest felt her convulse against his hand to pour her pleasure sweetly over him. As the tension left her body and she began to slump forward, Everest chuckled.
“Oh, no,” he whispered with much greedy promise, “not yet.”
Chloe lifted her weakened head. She felt him come behind her. His hands held fast to her hips. With a swift stroke he was in her, embedded completely in the moist heat he had created. Chloe gasped as he wildly began to thrust in her. He controlled her hips so he could ride her like an untamed mare.
Again the intensity climbed inside of her. Her weakened body could do nothing to resist as he pushed her higher and higher. Then, with a fiercely barbaric yell, he met his release inside her quivering loins. At the same time of his release, Chloe’s scream echoed his as she again reached the pinnacle of his touch.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Everest slung his arm around Chloe’s shoulders, completely sated. She smiled up at him through her lashes. After their lovemaking, they had quickly realized how cold it was out in the shed. Covering themselves the best they could, they ran to the house and straight to a steaming shower. Everest had been insatiable, bringing Chloe to climax another two times in the shower until she protested for a rest.
They sat curled on the couch in front of a toasty fire. Chloe thought mournfully of her neglected work, but was too happy to leave the gentle hold of Everest’s arms. She had the rest of her life to fight deadlines and only a short time to spend with Everest. Nuzzling closer to him, she giggled lightly.
“Hmm,” he mumbled against her hair. He planted a soft kiss on her drying locks.
“I was just thinking about how all of this came about,” she sighed. “Who would have guessed dialing a wrong hotel room could be so enjoyable?”
Everest frowned, “Yeah, but I would’ve rather met you under different circumstances, not facing the terms of your father’s damnable will.”
Chloe tensed. Her smile faded. She couldn’t answer. Through the soft crackling of a fire, Chloe heard a soft noise coming from the distance. She pushed at his chest to sit up. “Is that an airplane?”
“Where?” Everest sat up. He went to the window and peered out into the evening sky. He had been concentrating on Chloe and hadn’t noticed the sound. Squinting, he said, “No, I think it’s a helicopter.”
Chloe joined him by the window. Everest grabbed a coat and tossed it to her before slinging one over his shoulders. As he opened the door to his home, a helicopter flew into view. Chloe followed him out onto the porch.
“What’s it doing out here? Do you think it’s going to land?” she questioned.
“It looks like it,” he replied darkly, confirming both of their unspoken fears. “Quick, cover your head.”
Chloe ducked her head and lifted her arms to protect her face. Everest moved over to shield her body with his own. The helicopter blew snow onto the porch as it made its decent. When finally it landed and the engine turned off, Everest stepped aside. The couple quickly brushed off their arms.
“It’s Devon, my lawyer,” Chloe yelled over the dying engine as she saw the logo on the aircraft. “The helicopter belongs to her firm.”
Everest watched as a slender woman in a business suit and trench coat emerged from the helicopter. Devon lifted her sunglasses to cover her eyes. Her curly red hair was tamed into a neat, businesslike bun. She carried a briefcase with her.
“Devon!” Chloe yelled, as she ran out to meet her friend. “What are you doing here?”
“I was worried about you. Are you all right?” Devon gave her a quick hug as they ran for the door. Then, once on the porch, she looked expectantly at Everest.
“Devon Wentworth, this is Everest Beaumont,” Chloe began with a quick gesture of introduction. “Everest, Devon.”
“Pleased to meet you ma’am,” Everest greeted politely. The pools of his eyes remained dispassionately calm, but his insides shook with anger—anger that the woman had dared to interrupt their time together. But, knowing that it was for the best that she had, he said nothing.
“Likewise,” Devon tilted her head appreciatively at Everest. She leaned over to whisper in Chloe’s ear as the lush mountain man turned around to open the door for them. “Perhaps I came too soon.”
Chloe nudged Devon in the side and tried not to giggle. Her cheeks stained with a blush as Devon winked knowingly.
“Please, come in.” He turned stiffly to hold open the door.
“Do you mind if my pilot joins
us?” Devon asked as she waved to the man.
“Not at all,” he assented.
The pilot shook his head at the offer and lit a cigarette by the helicopter. Reaching behind him, he held up a thermos of coffee.
Once inside, Devon took off her black trench coat and matching leather gloves. Chloe hung them on the coat rack by her borrowed jacket.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Everest stated. He opened the door to go back outside. “Chloe, coffee’s in the kitchen if you would like some.”
“Thank you,” Chloe mumbled as he left. She wondered at his surly behavior. She already knew there would be coffee in the kitchen. There had been every day since she had been there.
“Well, well.” Devon laughed as soon as he was out of earshot. “Not quite what we expected is he?”
“Nothing like we expected.” Chloe let loose a girlish sigh. Heat colored her cheeks with the knowledge of what she had spent the entire day doing. She led Devon into the kitchen and motioned for her to take a chair. A concerned frown marred Chloe’s features, as she inquired, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to warn you about Paul,” answered Devon carefully. She sat at the wood table as Chloe poured her a cup of coffee. Her gaze became guarded, as she uttered, “He’s on his way here to rescue you. We went to that little town, Miner’s Cove. Well, thankfully no one told him anything. But he was able to learn where this house was from a waitress. Anyway, he left yesterday to charter a helicopter.”
“How does he know where I am?” Chloe asked, puzzled. She searched the cabinet for some creamer. Finding some, she poured it into Devon’s mug.
“He has been trying to force our hand,” Devon returned bluntly. “He’s not the man we thought he was. I’m sorry, Chloe. I used every resource I had to check him out. He has a clean record, but I guess there is no accounting for personality.”
“How bad?” Chloe became alarmed. Her face paled.
“He’s pretty dead set on marrying you,” admitted Devon with a sad grimace. “I think he might need the money.”
Mountain's Captive Page 11
