Under an Alaskan Sky

by Jennifer Snow

  He carefully slid his leg out from under Cassie’s head, supported her head with a hand, and placed it gently on the sofa. Then, standing quietly, he bent and lifted her into his arms. She stirred, but didn’t wake, just cuddled into his chest.

  Damn those ATV’ers. Booked with North Mountain Sports Company. That was their first mistake. Well, good. At least this event would put a question mark next to the corporate company’s safety record and once news spread around town, the hype surrounding them would die down.

  Diva followed him into his bedroom, where he placed Cassie on the bed and pulled the bedsheets up over her.

  “Mmmmm...hi,” she said, opening her eyes.

  She looked too freaking cute with her sleepy expression and messed-up hair. He resisted the urge to climb in next to her. “Hey, go back to sleep...”

  “Where are you going?”

  He sighed. “I just got a call from the station. Some ATVs are stuck in mud out at Canyon Mountain... They need me for obvious reasons,” he said, flexing his biceps.

  Cassie smiled, but then her eyes widened. “ATV tour? Did I have a tour scheduled today?”

  “No, you didn’t. North Mountain Sports Company did.”

  “Great, they are stealing my business already.”

  “Yeah, and look what happened. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to toss out a dozen times that this wouldn’t have happened if they’d booked with SnowTrek Tours.”

  Cassie relaxed. “Perfect. Thank you.” She pulled him down toward her and kissed him.

  Soft, simple...yet it had the opposite effect on his body.

  Gripping her face, he deepened the kiss. A bad idea. He was hard within seconds. How had he managed to keep his erections under control before? Now just the sight of her, a simple touch or a passionate kiss had him wanting her.

  “Sure you have to go?”

  He growled. “No... Yes. You know if I don’t go out now, I’ll just have to go out later.” He stood and pulled the blankets all the way up to her chin to cover her beautifully tempting body. “Stay here. Sleep. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “Hurry,” Cassie said.

  Oh, he planned to.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  TANK RESTED HIS head against his arm as the hot water steamed the shower doors. Searches always wiped him, even the easy ones. After every one he thought maybe he’d quit the crew. This one had been non-life-threatening, but going out during the more dangerous situations when he was a single dad, with a daughter to think about, seemed foolish.

  Unfortunately, his loyalty to Wild River ran deep. This place had saved him. Coming here had changed his life. He owed it to everyone to do his part, keeping the backwoods safe. His size and strength made him a valuable asset on the crew and he’d never feel right letting his best friends head out there alone.

  Kaia looked up to him and respected him for it.

  Hell, it gave him a sense of pride in himself. Something that had taken a long time for him to feel.

  Once Diva completed her training, there was no turning back...

  Shit. They were getting so close and he still hadn’t talked to Cassie about what that meant for the dog. He needed to have that conversation soon. He’d let it slide to the backburner with everything else going on, but he wanted to give her enough of a heads-up to adjust to the idea of Diva living with him.

  He put his face in the spray and ran his hands through his hair.

  A soft knock on the other side of the glass had him grinning as he opened the shower door. “Hey, you.”

  “Can I join you?” Cassie asked, already sliding her underwear down over her hips beneath his oversized T-shirt.

  His exhausted body sprang to life again. Maybe that was the trick. Maybe he just needed a new surge of adrenaline after each rescue. Keep him on the high.

  He watched as she stepped out of the underwear, then slowly lifted his T-shirt up over her head.

  Damn, her body was fantastic. How he’d resisted having her for so long was a miracle, really.

  Sainthood awaited him in death.

  He moved aside as she entered, letting her stand beneath the stream of water. She inhaled sharply as the heat of the water hit her back. “Too hot?” Tank asked, reaching around her to adjust the heat.

  “Better,” she said, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck, turning them slightly so that they both enjoyed the spray. “You were in here for a long time. I was starting to think you’d fallen asleep.”

  “Almost,” he murmured against her lips. He had been tired, but he was wide awake now. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body into his. Their wet slickness was arousing and he was instantly hard.

  Her lips met his and he closed his eyes as he devoured her mouth. She tasted like a breath mint and coconut lip gloss and her skin was smooth and soft beneath his touch as he slid his hands upward, over the strong muscles in her back and shoulders. Her strength was a huge turn-on for him. There was nothing she couldn’t handle.

  Except maybe the idea of losing her dog...

  Nope. He refused to think about that right now.

  He massaged the muscles along her spine as he lowered his hands back down to cup her ass. Firm and tight, like the rest of her. Lifting her slightly off her feet, he held her against his hardened penis.

  A soft moan escaped her as she deepened the kiss and slid her hand in the tight space between their lower bodies to touch him.

  Steam from the heat of the water had surrounded them and beads of sweat gathered on his body as she started stroking him. Slowly. Torturously slow.

  How many times had he fantasized about her in the shower? At least several times a week, and now she was really there. Naked and incredibly sexy, her mouth and hand driving him insane. Better than anything his imagination could have come up with.

  Dipping his own hand between her legs, his thumb massaged her clit as he inserted a finger inside her body. So wet, so ready for him.

  Her tongue separated his lips and her stroking grew faster, her grip on his shaft tightening. The moisture inside the shower provided an arousing amount of lubrication as they pleasured each other.

  His breathing grew heavy as he backed them toward the wall, lifting Cassie’s legs around his waist, giving him better access to her. Lowering his head to her neck, he placed a trail of desperate kisses along it, down her collar bone, dipping low to capture a nipple between his teeth. Her breasts were perfect—small and round and perky. He sucked hungrily, then bit gently, and her legs gripped him even more. “That feels amazing,” she said, her own breathing coming in short pants as her hands reached out for support along the shower wall.

  “You feel amazing. Man, this body is incredible.” He could run his hands over her all day. Now that they’d crossed this line into a physical relationship, there was no going back. He’d never survive without her touch, her kiss, her body... Words and emotions were not something that came easy to him; he wasn’t sure they ever would...but maybe he could show her how he felt. Maybe she’d be okay with what he was able to give.

  But for how long?

  “Put me down,” she said, lowering her legs from around his waist.

  “Am I hurting you?”

  “Not at all,” she said, grinning as she moved away from the wall and dropped to her knees in front of him.

  Holy shit. His penis throbbed in anticipation.

  Cassie moved closer and gripped his ass cheeks as she lowered her face to his erection. The feel of her tongue along his shaft made him shiver. His knees weakened, and he grabbed the shower door handle for support. “Fuck, Cassie...you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” She smiled up at him before taking him into her mouth. Slow, seductively, her beautiful eyes locked with his as she sucked him, rotating her tongue along the shaft as he slid in and out of her mouth.

  With one hand,
she massaged his balls, while the other held his body close. He couldn’t remember ever feeling this good. He couldn’t remember being with anyone who could turn him on and have him craving more, the way Cassie could.

  His grip tightened on the door handle and he supported his weight against the wall as she sucked and teased him with her tongue. Her mouth was so wet and warm...

  His breathing was labored and the water was cooling off, but all he could focus on was the intense sensation coursing through his body at her pleasuring him. He swallowed hard, feeling himself close to the edge. “I’m coming...”

  She didn’t stop. Keeping the demanding tempo with her mouth, she continued to suck and lick and tease him into orgasm.

  “Fuck.” He was dizzy as the overwhelming sensations of pleasure rippled throughout his body. His legs nearly gave way beneath him as he came. He closed his eyes, and his head fell back into the now cold stream of water.

  Cassie slowly removed her mouth and got to her feet.

  Gripping her face between his hands, he kissed her. Hard. A new longing ache developing for her even before the first one had completely faded... He was ready for her again immediately. No recovery time needed. He’d never get enough of her.

  Reaching behind his back, he shut off the water. Then, opening the door, they stepped out. In one fell swoop, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into his bedroom.

  “I’m soaking wet,” she said with a laugh as he placed her on the bed.

  “You’ll be even wetter soon,” he said, lifting her legs and placing them over his shoulders as he buried his head between her legs.

  He slowly licked her opening, savoring the taste of her. How many times had he fantasized about going down on her? It was one of his favorite ways to think about sex with her. He loved the idea of pleasuring her, making her feel amazing...like she’d just done for him.

  She moaned, her hands tangling in his wet hair. “Tank...you’re killing me.”

  He grinned as he pushed against her thighs for better access. His mouth teased and his fingers slipped inside. She was so wet, so ready, but still so tight. He felt himself harden as she lifted her hips higher. Sex with her was incredible. He’d always known it would be. What surprised him was his own inability to be satiated.

  After so many years without sex, his body was making up for it now.

  His fingers applied pressure as his tongue circled her clit. Flicking faster against it.

  Cassie’s moans grew more frantic and he knew she was close.

  “Tank, please, Tank, don’t stop...”

  He had no intentions of stopping. He wanted to feel her body pulsate around his fingers.

  Seconds later, her back arched and he could feel the intense throbbing inside her body as her orgasm rose. She let out a cry as her body fell back against the bed, and she slid her hips away, freeing his fingers.

  He crawled across the bed to lie next to her, taking in her look of spent contentment. “That okay?”

  “More than okay... Had I known you were capable of that, I would have successfully seduced you years ago,” she said playfully, rolling him onto his back and straddling him.

  His rock-hard erection between them made her laugh. “Wow, ready again so soon?”

  “What do you say? You up for it?”

  “Oh hell ya,” she said, leaning down to kiss him.

  Holy shit. This woman was going to be the death of him.

  * * *

  IT HAD TO be the warmest May on record. Tank unzipped his search and rescue jacket as he climbed out of his truck late on Monday morning. Or maybe he was still heated from his weekend with Cassie.

  He opened the back tailgate to let Diva climb out. She still had a dog pout. She hadn’t exactly been impressed to be cooped up inside all weekend, but in their heated state, neither he nor Cassie had wanted to leave the house unless it was absolutely necessary. Short walks and not enough attention from them had Diva acting truly dejected. “Are you going to stay grumpy all day?”

  She refused to look at him.

  He took her favorite ball out of his pocket. “Well, if you’re not in the mood to play...”

  She yipped and her wagging tail said he was forgiven. “Good girl,” he said as she jumped down from the truck.

  He whistled an undeterminable tune as he led the way to the training clearing. The dog eyed him with suspicion.

  “What? I’m in a good mood.”

  Now a knowing look spread across the dog’s face.

  “Don’t look like you know anything about it. You were passed out most of the time.”

  A mischievous glint.

  The dog had serious personality.

  “Alright, smartass. I got lucky this weekend, now let’s see if you do.”

  Woof, Diva took offence.

  “Not luck. Skill. I know, it was a figure of speech,” Tank said as he bent to remove her sequined leash. “Looks like we’re the early ones today.” Damn, he could have spent more time kissing Cassie goodbye. He’d arrived extra early to pick up Diva and it had taken all his strength not to drag her into her own bed.

  Lying next to her in bed, waking up to her, spending uninterrupted alone time with her had been a long overdue experience. They fit together perfectly and she was everything he’d thought she’d be and so much more. They were best friends, which had to contribute to the mutual trust and respect they had for one another between the sheets, but it went so much deeper than he’d imagined.

  But did it go far enough? Could he really open himself up to her?

  Taking the ball, he tossed it as far into the clearing as he could, feeling the burn in his bicep. He grinned, knowing the muscle tension was from holding Cassie up against the wall in the shower. She was a featherweight. He had to start working out harder.

  Diva returned with the ball and he threw it again.

  But hearing Frank’s truck pull into the clearing, Diva immediately sat at attention at Tank’s feet, ignoring the ball, even though it took all of her willpower not to chase after it.

  “Someone looks ready,” Jimmy said as he and Frank approached.

  “She’s determined to get it today,” Tank said. “It’s okay, girl. Go get the ball.”

  Diva took off across the clearing.

  “So, is she living with you yet?” Jimmy asked, nodding toward Diva.

  Tank squirmed, the question making him even more nauseous than before. He’d had all weekend to have that conversation with Cassie, but he hadn’t wanted to ruin things. The weekend had been going so perfectly.

  “Not yet,” he said as Diva returned with the ball and dropped it at his feet.

  Frank grinned. “Time’s running out, buddy.”

  He was far too aware of that.

  “What’s the holdup anyway?” Jimmy asked.

  “Cassie will be devastated to lose Diva. I mean, sure she will still see her all the time, but it’s going to be hard on her,” he said.

  Jimmy shrugged. “So, ask her to move in with you too.”

  Diva barked her agreement.

  “Things are still complicated...” They weren’t ready for that. He wasn’t ready for that. His ex had been back less than a month. Things were still up in the air regarding parenting between him and Montana...how could he start living with Cassie, having her in their lives full-time, in the middle of everything else? “We’re not there yet.”

  The two men just shot him looks of disbelief and impatience, so he felt the need to say something more. “Look, we just started moving forward...but no one else knows right now.”

  “In that case, you may want to remove Cass’s bra from the hood of your jacket,” Jimmy said.

  Diva grinned her agreement.

  * * *

  HAD A GOOD hike always made her feel this fantastic? Or could she credit Tank for her euphoric feeling
that morning? Everything just felt right with the world. They’d finally taken the next step in their relationship and while she wasn’t crazy enough to start hearing wedding bells in the next decade, it was difficult not to get ahead of herself. She’d always been able to see a future with Tank, and being in his house with him all weekend, being intimate physically but also sharing their daily routine, every moment, had just reconfirmed for her that this was what she wanted. He was what she wanted.

  “You’re glowing this morning... I take it you had a nice weekend off?” Montana said as they reached the top of Suncrest Peak. Mayor Morell was heli-lifting in and would be there any minute.

  “Yeah...the break was nice.” Luckily her glow could be blamed on exertion. She and Tank had agreed to keep things between them for now...and Montana was probably last on the list of people Cassie wanted to recount the details of her weekend with Tank to.

  How would Montana feel about the two of them together? So far, she hadn’t made a move to get Tank back herself, so maybe she really was there just for Kaia and to get her life back... Was that too much to hope for?

  “This weather is perfect. Conditions couldn’t be better,” Montana said as she set her pack on the ground and opened it.

  Cassie agreed. They’d picked the perfect day to show him the site. “I could sit up here and look at this view forever,” she said. Whether this peak was legalized as a jump site or not, she wanted to bring Tank up here. A romantic picnic would be nice...and maybe they could bring a tent and sleeping bags...

  What on earth did they do together before they started having sex? That was all she could think about doing now.

  Montana eyed her. “Okay, you are definitely different today. You are radiating happiness.”

  There was nothing wrong with Montana’s instincts. But she couldn’t exactly confess the reason she was on such a high.

  “I just have a good feeling about this, that’s all,” Cassie said, opening her canteen and taking a gulp of water.

  “Me too. Get your video camera ready,” she said, opening her backpack.