by MINK
“Barrow’s got medic training. You’ll be in good hands,” I assure her.
“I’ll go with you,” Clover and Aurora both pipe up at once.
Barrow reaches up and brushes Bells’ dark, curly hair from her forehead. “Yeah, if you don’t have a concussion I’ll be shocked. Come on. I have some remedies for the pain.” When his fingers stray into her hair, tangling in the curls, he swallows hard. “You need a quiet, dark place.” He casts a glance at her friends. “I need to observe her without interruption.”
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. He strokes her hair again, pretending to push it away from the lump, but I know Barrow too well. He’s enjoying the feel of her. Bells’ eyes get a little heavy-lidded—and I don’t think it’s from the knock in the head.
“Go ahead and take her up to your room, but let us know if you need anything.”
“Come on.” Barrow steps to her and wraps his arm around her waist.
Bells starts to protest, but then sags against him, finally giving in to the pain.
“If you hurt her, I will end you.” Clover’s voice is strong with her pronouncement. Damn, she’s got heart, and I stare at her again like she’s the missing piece of my life-long puzzle.
“Me too,” Aurora adds.
“I can hold my own,” Bells says as Barrow sweeps her past us, his focus entirely on the woman at his side.
Aurora snickers softly. “Did you see the way she was looking at him? I think she’s more than happy to hold her own with that guy. Alone, if you know what I mean.”
Clover laughs, then turns back to me. “You promise he’s going to treat her right? And fix her up?”
“She’s in good hands.” I reach out and cup her warm cheek, my hands unable to maintain any sort of boundaries. “I promise.”
She leans into my touch. “All right. That’s all I needed.”
I want to take her to my part of the lodge, to give her everything she needs, but I’ve also promised to look out for Aurora.
She goes around to the back of the truck and starts pulling on one of the bags. “I can get the stuff,” she chirps.
“I’ll help.” Clover starts heading toward her when Diego comes around the side of the truck.
He doesn’t touch her, but she takes the hint and backs away. With a few easy moves, he’s unloaded what little of their gear we were able to lug to my truck.
“Thanks.” She smiles at him.
Diego just nods. She steps closer. “I’m Aurora.”
He doesn’t look her in the eye. Diego doesn’t talk much, and he bears the scars of a life of violence. We all do. Each one of us is a retired assassin or merc, except for Tiernan, who had his hands in all sorts of mafia dealings before faking his own death. We’re tainted goods. It’d be wise of me to keep that in mind, but the more I look at the pretty-eyed angel next to me, the more I want to dirty her up.
“Diego,” he finally mutters.
“This has been fun.” Tiernan turns to me. “Where’s the turkey?”
“No turkey tonight.”
He frowns. “Well shit, how am I supposed to make ‘Tiernan’s Turkey Surprise’ with no turkey?”
I stare at him, the jokester of our ranks. “Just get some of the filets from the freezer. Steak night.”
“Good plan.” He claps me on the shoulder, then glances at Clover. “Watch out for this one. He’s a real lady killer.”
“What?” She glances at me.
“Tiernan,” I growl, but he’s already striding away, a smirk on his face, no doubt.
“He’s an asshole.” Maybe I’m an asshole, too, because I want to get Clover alone. Right now.
“Diego, could you look after Aurora? I’m going to take Clover to my place and make sure she wasn’t busted up any in the wreck.”
“I’m fine. Bells took—”
“I’ll go with you,” Aurora tells Diego brightly. “I love adventures.”
He looks at me with suspicion. “Split up?”
“Just for now.” I wrap my free arm around Clover and lead her up the stairs and into the sprawling lodge.
“I’ll see you in a little bit,” Clover calls to Aurora, who is staring at Diego with curiosity.
“I don’t know if I should leave her with—”
She doesn’t finish the sentence, because as soon as the garage door closes, I turn on her, push her against the wall, and claim her lips again. I’m desperate for her, my body like a bundle of kindling ready to burst into flames. To my fucking delight, she answers my kiss with her own, her arms wrapping around my neck as I grip her ass and lift her, carrying her to my room.
7
Clover
There is something wrong with me. Each time Charles’ mouth takes mine, I can’t seem to think about anything else. The rest of the world and the millions of things to worry about all seem to vanish. With him, all I feel is passion, and I want to soak it all up. I wonder if this is how it is for everyone. If so, then I’ve been missing out on this kissing thing.
“What are you doing to me?” I ask when his mouth leaves mine and goes to my neck.
“I need to taste you.” He’s pulling at my clothes, and I’m not stopping him. I stand there as he removes piece after piece of my clothing until I’m completely naked. It’s too fast and too much, but also just right on every level. He’s hitting every pleasure center in my brain like he’s turning on the lights in a dark house, and I want him beyond reason.
I’m not shy about my body. I was graced with good genes. Ones that made Bells and Aurora want to punch me in the face. I can eat everything and never gain a pound. They’re both freaking gorgeous, so I find it only fair that I get to eat whatever I want. At least I have that going for me. My balance is iffy, my eyesight terrible, and I also have some odd tics, but I try not to let anything stop me from going for what I want. And right now? I want Charles.
He can’t seem to take his eyes off me. He could have had one of his men tend to me as he’d done with the others, but he’d insisted I’d be going with him. I have to say that I was both relieved and excited that he wanted me all to himself.
“You are tasting me.” I moan when his teeth rake across my shoulder before he gives it a small bite that goes straight to my clit. “I think you may be eating me, too.”
“Promise you, pretty eyes, when I’m eating you, you'll know it.”
That does nothing to soothe the throb between my legs. If anything, it makes it worse because the only thing I can think of now is his broad shoulders parting my thighs as he feasts on me.
“Lift me,” I order. I need to be closer to him. He does as I say, and I wrap my legs around him.
“No one gives me orders, babe.”
“That’s funny, because I’m pretty sure I just did.” He lets out a deep chuckle that I feel all the way to my soul.
“I guess you’re the exception.”
Crap. I’m falling deep already. Way past like and right into the big L with this mysterious mountain man who saved me from a snowy end. I’m new to all this, and I want all of it at once. This is what happens when you’re too busy in life to date. The first person who shows you affection turns you into a clinger. When he pulled me in here, I was thinking this was going to be a fling. Not that I’ve ever had one before, but I figured what the heck. I guess a near death experience will do that to you.
I almost died a virgin. I have to make sure I begin living life a little. I thought a night of fun sounded as though it was exactly what I needed. I figured I could have a quick roll in the hay, and then tomorrow the girls and I would be gone. That idea had blown up in my face real quick, considering my heart is starting to get in the way.
“You just fell into my lap. How?” He pulls back and stares into my eyes. “How did I luck out like this, after all these years alone?”
Why are my eyes watering? I can’t seem to get a handle on my emotions.
He moves across the room until I feel my back being pressed against a mattress. He frees himsel
f of my hold to stand at the side of the bed. I don’t know how long he stands there taking in every inch of my body. It’s as if he’s memorizing it. I’m sure he knows that tonight is all we likely have. I want to enjoy every moment I can with him until real life comes crashing down on us again.
“Take your shirt off.”
He gives me a half smile but reaches behind him to grab it and tosses it away.
“See?” I smirk. “You take orders quite well.”
“That’s it.” He lunges for me. I let out a small scream. I roll over to my stomach to try and get away from him, but his hands grab my ankles and pull me back down the bed. My ass is on full display now.
I look over my shoulder to see what he’s doing. He kisses one cheek and then the other. When he goes to do it again, he takes a bite. I let out a small scream. It doesn't hurt. It can't, because when he slips his fingers through my wet folds, there is no hiding that what he’s doing is turning me on.
“Fuck, you’re wet. Does it hurt, pretty eyes?”
“Please” is all I can get out. In one quick move, he flips me over, and I’m on my back once again. My legs hang off the side of the bed where he is now kneeling. He lifts my legs, throwing them over his shoulders.
“What are you doing?” I ask. It’s a stupid question. I might be a prude at times, but I know what he’s about to do, but still I’d found myself asking the question.
“Getting my taste,” he tells me before he buries his face between my thighs. My fingers dig into the sheets, needing something to hold on to. His tongue circles my clit before he gives it a few flicks. I swear I almost come from that alone. But he’s not done.
He pumps his tongue inside of me, mimicking sex while his thumb plays with my clit. I scream out in pleasure. Everything I’ve felt today comes pouring out. My body feels so light I think I could float away.
“That one was to get you out of that head of yours. This one's just for you.” I don’t understand what he means until once again his mouth is on me. He licks and sucks at me, but this time he presses a finger inside me. It’s a snug fit at first, but with how much he turns me on I keep getting wetter, and he gets another inside of me.
I feel it. I’m going to come again. When he hooks his fingers inside of me while sucking my clit into his mouth, I’m done for. This orgasm is more powerful than the last. I lie there unable to move. Charles puts my feet back on the ground as he nuzzles the insides of my thighs. He kisses and sucks them the same way he did when he was pulling those mind-blowing orgasms from me.
When I feel him shift, I open my eyes. He lifts me, pulling me to the center of the bed before putting the blanket over me.
“Wait. That's it? Aren't we going to—” My shy side begins to come back.
“Not right now. I've got some stuff to tend to.” Before I can respond, he’s already out the door. It makes me feel cheap, which is stupid because I was the one who got off. Not only once but a few times. His quick departure leaves me feeling confused.
And men say women are hard to read.
8
Charles
“What’s going on with all these women and you holing up in your room?” Tiernan pulls some milk from the fridge. “And not just you. I haven’t seen Diego or Barrow since you got back.” He pours himself a glass, probably only because I’m standing right here watching. Tiernan’s a drink-from-the-container-guy like an asshole otherwise. “Hey, are you sure this isn’t some sort of setup?”
“No one knows we’re here.” I start pulling food from the fridge and then grab the bread from the pantry.
“We covered our tracks, sure, but between the four of us, there are plenty of people who want our heads. And now a trio of women show up right before we get snowed in? That doesn’t strike you as odd?”
I arrange a sandwich for Clover, making sure to only pick the best slices of ham and the thickest piece of cheese. “It wasn’t a setup. It was Leonard being his furry-ass self, as usual.”
“He’s always a jerk.” I roll my eyes and go back to my sandwich.
Tiernan snorts. “I was looking forward to roasting that bird.”
“Later.” I cut Clover’s sandwich across diagonally. “I’ll get a turkey once the storm is over.”
Tiernan watches as I arrange the sandwich on a plate, then turn it so it looks better. Tiernan arches a brow.
“What?” I gripe, then grab some Cheetos from the pantry.
Tiernan grins. “Making a sandwich for a girl you just met. This is already getting serious.”
He’s right. It is. I’d taken that innocent little thing back to my room and made a meal out of her. What’s worse, I want to do it again. I want to lick and suck on her tender flesh, gorge myself on her and then bury myself balls deep. But I can’t. She’s too good for a man like me. Too damn pure. I could tell it when I was fingering her tight slit—she’s a virgin.
“That look was pretty dark. What’s going on, man?” Tiernan finally cuts the shit and leans onto the granite island, his gaze on me. “Is this girl … special?”
I nod.
He whistles.
“I know. It’s crazy, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think it was a setup, too. A woman like Clover just dropping into my lap? Seems impossible. But it isn’t.” I think back to that shadow I saw on the ridge. “But you’re right on some level.”
“How’s that?” He reaches for a Cheeto, and I slap his hand away.
“When I was hiking down to the wreck, I saw a shadow up on the ridge opposite me. At first, I thought it was Leonard, but now …” I tap my fingers on the counter. “Now I think there might be more to it.”
“One of our enemies?” He sighs.
I flip the coffeemaker on and set it to brew. “Could be. Not sure yet. But keep an eye open, all right? I don’t want any surprises.”
“You’ve already gotten the biggest one of your life.” He jerks his chin toward the sandwich.
He’s right about that. I never saw Clover coming, but from the moment I glimpsed her, I can’t seem to think of anything else. I want to know every single thing about her, and I’m aiming to start now. When will it end? I hope the answer to that question is ‘never.’
Smitten. I chuckle to myself.
“Get going. She’s waiting. And I want to see how all this plays out.” He grins, then turns to leave. “I’ll check all the cameras and do a stroll around the lodge.” He points to the window. “Weather’s perfect for a stroll.”
I look, but I don’t see a thing. Complete white-out. Snow, snow, and more snow. If my gut is right—and I always trust it—there was someone out there. But I don’t see how they could survive this onslaught. Not unless they came prepared.
Despite that niggling feeling, I grab up the plate and some bottles of water from the fridge before returning to my section of the lodge.
“Hi.” Clover is wrapped in a warm blanket as she sits in my favorite leather chair and watches the snow cover the last visible branches of the fur tree just outside.
“Here.” I hand her the plate.
Her eyes widen. “That looks so good.”
“Ham and swiss. And here’s a water. And a coffee.” I set both drinks down on the little table next to her, then pull over a chair to sit beside her.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” She takes a bite of the sandwich, seemingly unable to stop herself, and when she moans, my cock presses against the seam of my pants.
“I’m good. I want to make sure you’re comfortable.” I scoot closer. “Warm enough?” I pull the blanket up higher, then when fabric opens a little, I see she’s still naked underneath. My cock goes off again like a fucking egg timer, and I have to take a deep breath just to concentrate.
“This place is wonderful.” She takes another bite, which pleases me to no end. “We’ve been traveling for so long, it feels amazing to just be somewhere, you know? Just to sit here.” She smiles and sips the coffee. “And eat and drink and not worry about logistics, and set lists, and crowd co
ntrol, and the million little things my life has turned into over the past few years.” She catches my gaze again. “Sorry, I’m rambling.”
“Don’t stop. I want to know you, Clover. All of you. A last name might be nice, too.”
Her cheeks flame up into a peachy pink. “It’s Lane, and you already know more of me than anyone ever has.”
I take her free hand and kiss the back. “Thank you for trusting me with that.”
She pulls my hand to her mouth and kisses it. “Thank you for treating me right, and for saving us from the snow, and for the food, and for being the mountain man I never knew I needed.” She rests my palm in her lap and plucks up a Cheeto, eating it with crunchy gusto.
I used to watch cartoons when I was a kid. The old school hand-drawn ones. Not digital crap. And right at this moment? I’m the skunk who sees the perfect cat and gets big heart-eyes. I never knew I was a sentimental sucker, but here I am, staring at this woman like she’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted. And maybe she is.
“Normal childhood, boring time at college, but then I met Aurora. And when her career took off, so did I. I make sure she stays on track and stays safe. And I handle all the details.”
“So she’s a big pop star?”
“You’ve really never heard of Aurora?” She finishes off her sandwich and follows it with half the bottle of water. “‘Love Tang,’ ‘Sweet Rain,’ ‘Stuffie Sweetheart’?” She gawks, then finishes the water.
“Those all sound like great songs, but no, I’ve never heard of them.” I offer her another water.
She shakes her head, so I bring a Cheeto to her lips, which she accepts. I rub up her arm, just enjoying the feel of her skin, the warmth.
“I could do this forever.” I don’t realize I said it out loud until a smile spreads across her angelic face. I clear my throat.
Her smile spreads wider, and she continues, “We’re planning on putting out an emo record next year. Like going deeper, you know?” She smiles and takes another, larger draw from the coffee. She shrugs. “Anyway, tell me what you’ve been doing--other than not listening to the radio--out here. Are you a lumberjack?”
