by Claire Adams
"Which is beautiful." I nodded, hoping to encourage her to forgo thinking about my feelings and just open up to me.
"Yeah, but meeting you and things spiking so fast between us has me wondering if maybe I was just trying to stay in California because this place has too many memories. I mean... I do seriously hate the cold, but this place really is fun." She tugged her cap off and worked to smooth her long hair. "I'd be near my family if I stayed, which would be great. Parker mentioned wanting me to this morning."
I leaned in and slid my open hand across the table, wanting her to take it. She did, and I closed my fingers around hers.
"Listen, you have to do what you think is best, and remember that any decision you make can be undone. You move here and don't like it? Go back to California. You stay there, and it sucks? Come back to us." I smiled, but my words only seemed to hurt her rather than help.
"My apology is for the way I treated you when I first got here. You didn't deserve it. I pre-judged you. Forgive me."
"My actions and the way I lived my life had everyone judging me the same, and you were all right." I pursed my lips. "Your apology is accepted, but it wasn't needed. You were the wake-up call that I needed so desperately."
"Why are you so damn nice?" She tugged her hand away from me.
"Because I care about you, Chloe. I want your happiness. Wherever that is, go there. Be free to live your life." I forced a smile and picked up my hot chocolate. "You and I will be friends no matter where you are."
"What if I want more than a friendship?" She sucked her lip into her mouth as her eyebrows pulled together.
"Then we work on that while you're here, and when it's time to go, nothing changes. If we decide to be together like that, then location shouldn't change anything. It would be hard, but worth it, right?"
"Yeah. I'm overthinking this. I just can't help myself."
"Let's finish up here and get on with the rest of the afternoon. We don't need to sit here and figure out the future. I'm sorry for being an ass, and you're sorry for being so fucking hot, and it's all good." I lifted my hands and shrugged.
She laughed and leaned back in her chair as the worry on her pretty face melted. "Did you find out anything about our dads? Why they can't stand each other?"
"Nope. I mentioned it to my dad, but he closed up tighter than a clam." I stood and offered her my hand. "That's their problem, not ours. When it becomes ours, I'll deal with it for us."
She took my hand and lifted her mug. "Let's get these to go. I don't know what I figured we could work through up here, but I'm over it."
"Good. Besides, I'd rather snuggle up by the fireplace and work through our shit if anything comes up as it comes up." I pulled her to me and kissed the top of her head. "But, I'm a simple man. I don't need complexity."
"I like that. A lot." She moved up and kissed me once before taking my drink to have them put into to-go containers. "So, if I didn't want the peppermint hot chocolate, were you going to drink it?"
"Sure was." I slipped my hands in my pockets and tilted my head as I studied her. Butterflies ripped through the center of me as she narrowed her eyes a little.
"Even though you don't like it?"
"If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I chuckled, knowing what was coming next, and said it in tandem with her.
"Ain't isn't a word." She smiled and walked back to the counter, leaving me with my insides on fire and the future opened for anything to happen. It was terrifying, but would be worth every minute that I got to enjoy.
* * * *
"How do you want your steak cooked, baby?" I glanced over my shoulder at her. We were on the small porch I'd built at the back of my cabin. Her long legs were stretched out as she lounged in a chair beside me, the top half of her wrapped in three blankets. All I could see was her little red nose and piercing green eyes.
"Medium." She lifted her mouth out of the covers before slipping it back under quickly.
I turned the steaks and moved to sit beside her on the lounge chair. "Did you have that meeting with your dad over the jackets?"
The top of her cheeks lifted above the covers as she nodded.
"And?" I reached out and tugged the blanket down. "Tell me what happened."
"It went really well. He's going to let me take one of the designs to market under his line. I guess he wants me to understand the full cycle from idea to an actual product on the shelves."
"And you're excited?" I pulled the blanket back up.
She nodded, and I stood, checking the meat one more time before pulling it off the grill.
"Let's get inside, Miss. I hate the cold." I grabbed my beer and put my shoulder against the door as she moved in quickly behind me, grumbling about the freezing cold weather.
After setting the steaks down in the kitchen and checking on the potatoes and green beans on the stove, I walked over to the fireplace and wrapped her in a hug from behind. She was thick due to the blankets, but I still managed to get my arms around her. I snuggled my face into the side of her neck as she swatted at me.
"Your nose is cold! Damn."
"Hush, woman. Part of being my girl means you have to warm me up when I'm cold. It's in the contract." I smiled and moved back as she turned to face me.
"All of you?" Her lips turned up into a naughty smile, and my chest tightened.
"Yeah. Every last inch." I pulled her in tightly and kissed her with the intent of exploring her warm mouth. The sensation of her cold lips and nose combined with the warm wetness of her mouth caused a growl to slip from my lips. "I want you, Chloe. Say you’ll stay the night with me."
She nodded and pulled her thick bottom lip into her mouth as she watched me. It was enough of an agreement for me. I kissed her nose and moved back to the kitchen. "I'm not the only one with a freezing-ass cold nose."
Her laughter caused me to glance over my shoulder.
"What?" I asked.
"Freezing-ass. We should just make that our private joke. You're a grown-ass man with a freezing-ass cold nose."
I laughed, too, and shook my head. "Tell me a few things about you while I cut this up, then we'll eat."
"Like what?" She moved to sit on the stool at my small two-seater table.
"Like your age. Where you were born. Um...the color of your panties?" I kept my back to her, but couldn't help the huge smile that lifted my lips.
"I'm twenty-three. I was born here in Aspen, and I don't wear panties."
I jerked around and pinned her with a stare. "You do, too. You had on panties the other night in your bedroom."
"Those were my sleeping shorts." She shrugged. "Panties get in the way. I don't like them."
"In the way of what, exactly?" I lifted an eyebrow, loving this girl all the more. She was letting us have a full on conversation over her underwear.
"Of my pants looking good." She tilted her head to the side and smiled. "What did you think I meant?"
"I'm the town whore, remember? My panties get in the way of a quickie." I winked and turned back to the stove after teasing her a little. I was surprised when her arms slid around my waist tightly.
"Don't call yourself that again, okay?" She pressed her lips to my back, and I relaxed against her.
"I was just teasing, baby."
"I know, but I don't like it. I don't think you're a whore. Everyone needs warmth, Finn. You just find it in the arms of a woman." She kissed my back a few more times, and I wished like hell that I didn't have my shirt on.
I cut her a piece of the steak and turned in her hold, offering it to her and smiling as she took it. Her eyes closed, and she groaned. "Delicious."
"I bet that's not the only thing that tastes good." I tossed the fork behind me and took her face into my hands, leaning down and kissing her. "Where do you find your warmth?"
"I didn't have a place." She licked at her lips and swallowed. "But I do now."
Dinner was ready, but all I could think about was tasting her. I wanted her to find not only warmt
h, but pleasure beyond anything she could imagine with me.
I pushed at the blankets around her and ran my hands down the column of her neck before leaning in for another kiss.
She groaned and slipped her cold hands under my layers of clothes, her fingers freezing, but silky soft. I reached down and pulled my shirts off, tossing them to the side. Pulling her back against me, I cupped her perfect ass and pressed at the back of her thighs.
"What about dinner?" She pulled back as I beckoned her to jump and wrap her legs around me.
"Fuck dinner." I gripped the back of her neck forcefully and pulled her back down to consume her mouth as I moved us to the couch. Every cell in my body came alive at the thought of seeing her come and hearing her cry out my name. I had to force myself to calm down. I didn't want to scare the poor girl, seeing that I hoped like hell that this would be the first night of many with us together.
I couldn't imagine a better future.
Chapter Twenty-One
Chloe
The heat in Finn's gaze left me tingling from head to toe. I laid back on the couch and reached for him, wanting to run my lips over his shoulders and neck, but he pushed my hands away and moved down between my thighs. His tongue darted out to lick his lip as he unbuttoned my jeans and smiled up at me.
"Lift up and stop being so damn difficult."
I laughed and lifted my hips before reaching out and running my fingers through his messy hair. He was pure masculine sensuality and so damn hot. The thick muscles of his shoulders and chest were built through hard work every day, and I found myself wanting to be the soft place he landed every night, the arms that welcomed him when he got home.
"You do have panties on, you bad thing." He brushed his fingers over the front of my black panties, and I groaned, the sensation of being touched intimately not having belonged to me in far too long.
"I wanted you to want to find out." I bit at my lip and reached out, touching the side of his face as he watched me with extreme interest.
"You missed that train, baby. I've been wanting to find out since we met." He moved down and pressed his mouth and nose to my sex, breathing in deeply and glancing up at me as I stiffened. His eyes closed, and he flicked his tongue over my scantily covered mound.
"God," I groaned and pushed his head away. "Too much."
He took my wrist in his hand and licked along the inside of my thigh. "Not nearly enough. Relax and let me taste you."
I was almost shaking by the time he tugged my panties off. His fingers spayed out over my stomach as he pushed my shirts up. I trapped his hand against me and opened my legs as he beckoned me to with his shoulders pushing back and forth as he moved in closer.
"So beautiful," he whispered and pressed his tongue to the center of my wetness, lapping a few times and moving to suck my clit into his mouth.
I jerked and released his hand, moving mine above me and latching onto the couch behind my head as moans started to pour from my lips. His tongue was thick and deliciously wet as he dragged it across me rhythmically. I wanted to be embarrassed by the tremors that shook me, but I couldn't. He made me feel safe and loved before ever seeking to make me feel good. The slight pressure of his fingers against my entrance had me crying out.
"I want to hear my name when you come, Chloe." He licked at me, and I glanced down at him, the seriousness in his face shooting an arrow deep into the core of my desire.
"Yeah, anything you want. Just don't stop." I reached down and gripped the top of his head, pulling him back down.
The deep chuckle that left him reverberated across my skin, and I arched my hips as he pressed two fingers inside of me and picked up his pace. Pleasure burned in my belly, and I worked myself against him, unable to help how badly I needed a release.
His mumbles and groans left me panting as I drew closer and closer to the edge of ecstasy.
"You're close, baby. I can taste it." He glanced up and ran his other thumb over my clit, tapping it lightly as he continued to fuck me expertly.
The minute his mouth spread over me again, I stiffened and screamed, his name being repeated over and over as fire burst from the center of my stomach and rushed down my pressure points, searing me with his promises. He continued to work me, prolonging the orgasm until I pushed at his shoulder and scooted back.
"Shit," I growled, leaning over and pressing my hands to my face. "That was incredible."
He sat back on his heels and smiled, licking at his lips and cleaning his fingers, which was wickedly sexy. "I want more."
"Me, too." I scooted forward and wrapped him in a hug, pulling him flush against me as I pressed my lips to his ear and licked softly. "I want all of you."
"I'm all yours, baby. Take anything you want." He turned his face toward me, and I pulled him into a long kiss, enjoying the taste of my ecstasy on his lips. Dinner was cold by then, but I couldn't seem to care.
"Make love to me." I moved back and slid my hands down the thick swell of his erection, squeezing softly as I looked up at him. "Now."
"Yeah," he muttered breathlessly and leaned in, kissing me as he worked to get his pants undone. He stood and pulled his jeans over his ass, leaving him standing there bare and beyond sexy with the fire glowing behind him.
I reached up and stroked his cock, the thickness of it a little concerning. I'd never been with a man his size, but I figured he would go easy if I asked him to. I moved up to taste him, but he stopped me.
"No. Soon, but not now. I want to feel you, Chloe." He reached for my hand and pulled me up, squeezing my ass and rubbing as his lips brushed over my neck. "Let me get a condom real quick."
I moved back and worked to get my shirt off as he disappeared into the bedroom. I couldn't help but to steal a long stare at his ass. He was a work of art—the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. Why he would want me was beyond figuring out, but I wasn't going to question it.
Turning, I reached behind me and released my bra, letting it drop as he walked back out.
He stopped at the door and took a shallow breath as his eyes drug across me.
"Damn, woman. So much better than I even imagined you to be." He moved toward me and handed me the condom before moving down and pressing kisses all around my breasts. He pulled them together and licked at my nipples in tandem as he growled over and over.
"Mine," he murmured and stood up as I panted. "Give me that."
Finn plucked the package from my hands and rolled the condom on as he nodded to the fire place. "Go stand by the empty wall and slide your hands up above your head."
I walked to the wall and slid my hands up the slick wooden surface, arching my back a little and glancing back over my shoulder at him. "Like this?"
He glanced up and shook his head. "You're going to be the death of me."
"I plan to." I arched harder when he reached me and ran his hands over my ass, up my back, and around to my front before latching onto my breasts and massaging softly. He rubbed himself against me, and I whimpered again, needing him to take me hard and fast. Love making could come later. I hadn't been fucked in far too long and was just now realizing it.
"Tell me if you need me to slow down or if I'm hurting you, Chloe." He removed one of his hands from my chest and moved back as I pushed against the thick press of his cock.
"Stop talking and start fucking me." I groaned as he pushed forward, opening me up and working his way into where he belonged, deep inside me.
"So damn tight, baby. Don't let me..."
I growled and pushed back, taking more of him. "Hush."
"Yeah." His hands moved back to take hold of my hips and he rocked against me, his speed picking up as he grunted softly.
Pleasure rolled through me in suffocating waves, and I sagged against the wall, breathing deep and enjoying the intense pressure of his thickness. He leaned forward and pressed kisses to the side of my neck as his fingers slid between the wet folds of my sex.
I arched my hips forward and jerked back in rhythm with his deep thr
usts as he softly pinched my clit.
"I want to feel you come," he whispered against the wet skin of my neck, and as if he'd already gained mastery over my body, it responded to his desire.
I let out a guttural cry and came hard. He coached me through it, his words commanding and voice so deep that I lost myself in it. His other hand moved up to cup my throat and he lifted a little above me, hitting a spot inside of me that caused pleasure to pulsate each time he thrusted.
"Oh my God," I groaned and rocked against him, never wanting the moment to end.
"Come again before we go get in the bed." He pinched my nipple and brushed his fingers back and forth over my clit as he worked himself in and out of me hard and fast.
It didn't take long before I was crying out again, tears filling my eyes at the intensity of emotion that flooded me alongside the orgasm. He didn't stop until I dug my nails into the side of his thigh and pulled forward, pressing myself to the wall as I shook.
"God, you're hot. I love how willing your body is to take pleasure from me." He pressed himself against me, his cock fitting perfectly between the curves of my ass. He rocked himself against me, the slick hot skin of his chest rubbing over my back, his hips over my rear.
I reached back and gripped his head, scratching softly as I turned to watch him out of my peripheral vision. "You're incredible."
"You've not seen anything yet, baby." He nipped at my lips and moved back, tugging at my hand and pulling me toward the bedroom.
My legs shook something terrible, but with the bedroom only a few feet away, I made it and sunk down on his bed, moving back and awaiting his instruction.
He moved over me, his body glistening as the moonlight brushed through the window behind us.
I reached up and ran my hands over his beautiful chest and shoulders before pulling him down and tracing the ropes of taunt muscles in his back.
Finn lifted to his elbows and pressed back inside of me as he brushed my hair away from my eyes. He pressed soft kisses along my face as he made love to me slow and deep. The smell of our lust rushed up and wrapped around me, and I groaned and moved my legs up, wrapping them around his narrow waist and brushing my heels across his ass and lower back.
