#Vacay

by Cambria Hebert

“Wait,” I instructed, following her movements.

  She stilled again, and I reached for the hood on the sweatshirt. She jerked when my fingertips brushed the side of her neck, and we both looked at each other.

  Desire, swift and fierce, sparked inside and damn near surprised the shit out of me. Clearing my throat, I ripped my eyes from her face and finished tugging the hood up to smooth it over the other one.

  Even though I was done, the air around us seemed electrified and thick. Not even thinking about it, I tucked my fingers under the hood and slid them around the edge of the jacket to pull both sides closer together beneath her chin.

  The doc kept her eyes down, her head bowed a bit. Her hair was so black it shone blue underneath the kitchen light.

  “There,” I said, hoarse, and stepped back.

  “I have to go,” she declared and rushed toward the door.

  “Doc,” I called, and she stopped, her fingers around the door handle.

  “It’s Meredith.”

  “You forgot your bag, doc.”

  She spun around, her hair following like a dark tidal wave. Her eyes flashed, and I smirked. She stomped forward, grabbed the bag, and then rushed out onto the deck.

  I followed along, and before shutting the door, I called out to her. “Drive safe!”

  The only answer I got was the slamming of her truck door.

  Rimmel

  “Don’t move,” Romeo instructed the second he deposited me on the upholstered bench at the end of the bed.

  “I’m naked, have a broken foot, and you won’t give me my crutches,” I muttered. “Where am I going to go?”

  Romeo paused long enough to give me a wicked smile over his shoulder. “Knowing you, you’d find a way to get into some kind of trouble.”

  “You’re stupid,” I grumbled and tugged the towel around my shoulders a little tighter.

  “Now, smalls.” He tsked, coming back across the room with nothing but one of his hoodies in hand. “You know that flimsy towel isn’t going to stop me if I want to see you.”

  I gave him a withering look. “I’m well aware. You just watched me take a bath.”

  He smirked, mighty proud of himself. “Someone had to hold your leg.”

  I kicked out with my booted foot and connected with his shin, but I was the one who howled in pain. “Ow!”

  Romeo tossed the hoodie on the bed and dropped in front of me on his knees. “Dammit, Rim. Be careful!”

  “You could at least act like that hurt you, too!” I complained, sour.

  Gingerly, he lifted my leg and very gently caressed the outside of the stupid, bulky boot. I still couldn’t believe I’d broken my ankle. Who manages to do that while sitting down?

  Me. That’s who.

  “I’m hurt plenty,” he said, still staring at the boot. “Not knowing where you were or if you were okay is a pain that might haunt me the rest of my life.”

  The sincere darkness in his voice distressed me, and I whimpered. The towel fell over one shoulder, blasting my bare skin with cool air. Cupping his jaw and lifting his face, I gazed into his eyes.

  “I tried really hard to get back as fast I could. I knew you would worry. I’m sorry.”

  His large hands engulfed my wrists, circling lightly despite the strength I knew he was capable of. “You scared me.”

  I made a small sound and leaned in, pressing my lips against his. He held himself still at first, not kissing me back, but that didn’t stop me. I might have been through an ordeal tonight, but he’d been through one as well. Finally, we were here alone, and he could let go of the steely resolve and commanding presence everyone knew him for.

  Romeo was definitely an alpha. He absolutely had enough dominance for the both of us... but that wasn’t all he was.

  Beneath all that strength beat a loving heart. One I knew was vulnerable, too.

  Just because my husband didn’t often show his weak spots didn’t mean he didn’t have them.

  Here alone in our room, under the gentle pressure of my lips, he could let down his guard, and I could give him the comfort he always so willingly gave to me.

  Tilting my head, licking over his full mouth, my lips fastened deeper against his. Groaning, Romeo let go of my wrists and pushed forward, leaning over me until I was lying across the bed. With his body between my thighs, I bent my knee to rest my foot on the edge of the bench and gave in to him.

  The warmth of his body was so delicious I pressed closer, trying to cloak myself in him entirely.

  Romeo lifted his head just a fraction. “Are you still cold?”

  I let my lips graze his when I replied, “No.”

  Lifting his mouth again, he gazed down to where my foot was propped on the bench. Immediately, he pushed up, taking away his closeness, robbing me of his warmth.

  I tried to pull him back, but all I got was a whisper of fabric between my fingers before he was gone completely.

  The towel he’d wrapped around me was loose around my torso. His blue eyes flicked over it before his tongue shot out to dampen his lower lip. Using one hand, he gripped the material just under my breasts and towed me up to sit. Cold air caressed my skin and made me shiver when he pulled the damp fabric away to toss it aside. The oversized softness of his Knights hoodie came down over my head a second later.

  “Arms,” he instructed.

  Once the shirt was over me, Romeo picked me up and brought me around the bed where he sat me down with the headboard at my back. Using a few pillows, he propped up my foot and then grabbed a nearby blanket to cover me.

  I crooked my finger at him, silently commanding him closer.

  He smirked but walked to the side of the mattress. “Yes, baby?”

  I patted the bed on the other side of me.

  He laughed.

  I patted it again.

  Careful not to jostle me too much, Romeo climbed over me, settling close. The backs of his fingers brushed over the long scrape across my cheek. “Does this hurt?”

  I shook my head even though it did sting a little.

  “What happened?”

  I shrugged. “Probably a branch or something. Romeo?”

  His finger fell away from my cheek. “Hmm?”

  “Kiss me.”

  His mouth was on mine before I even took a breath. The weight of his body when it rolled over mine was sort of like the weight of the snow out on the mountain. It quieted everything. It provided stillness in an otherwise very alive place. A hush befell me. All the anxiety, fear, and even pain I felt melted away, and all that remained was him.

  The roughness of his tongue stroking over mine made me arch into him like a cat. Diving my hands under the waistband of his pants, I cupped his butt and tugged him closer, his hips surging into me. My mouth ripped from his when a satisfied moan filled my throat. Romeo changed direction, kissing down the length of my neck, nipping at the skin and nuzzling beneath the fabric of the hoodie.

  Impatiently, I moved against him, and the throaty laugh he let loose vibrated the sensitive skin against my neck. I shoved at the blanket covering me, and he helped me toss it aside so his hand could find the hem of the shirt and slide up my body until his palm settled over my breast.

  Turning my cheek back, our lips met again. I sucked his lower lip between mine and pushed my breast into his palm. He teased and rolled my nipple until little electric sparks shot through my middle and between my legs.

  All at once, he sat up between my knees and ripped the shirt over his head. With mussed hair and hazy eyes, he grinned down. Leaning up, I dragged my fingers over his chest and down his washboard abs.

  Romeo had always been sexy, but to me, he got better and better with age.

  I knew his body now, what every ripple and jerk of muscle meant. I knew he liked it when I traced the heavy V that tapered down to his center, and he liked it when I followed his spine all the way down until it gave way to his firm ass.

  I started to pull off the shirt I was wearing, but he stopped me with a gruf
f sound. “You’ll get cold.”

  “That’s what you’re for.”

  A slow smile spread over his face, and a lock of golden hair fell over his forehead. This time he helped me peel off the fabric, then pushed me back into the mattress to run his hands along my naked body.

  He didn’t stop until one hand was between my thighs, slipping into the silky heat my body produced. My eyes closed when his finger slipped inside me, and I moaned when another joined it.

  My knees fell open, and I felt him pause. “Keep that foot propped up, or I’m going to stop.”

  I nodded and moved against him, encouraging his fingers to move. Pleasure rose the way the sun graced a new day. Warmth and light bathed everything inside me, blanking out my thoughts until all I could do was feel.

  I was so entranced by him and the way he commanded my body I nearly came up off the bed when I felt his lips close around my clit.

  He paused just briefly to look up the length of my body, one golden brow arched in question.

  “Don’t stop,” I muttered, collapsing back into the mattress.

  He sucked me into his mouth, and I cried out. Reaching up, he placed a hand over my mouth, reminding me there was a house full of people. My teeth sank into the pad of his finger, and he sucked harder while pumping his fingers into me.

  Right when I was about to come apart beneath his ministrations, he pulled back and came over me, entering my body in one solid move.

  Nothing would ever feel as good as this. As good as him. Two people no longer separate. Two people who become one.

  “Look at me,” he ordered above me.

  My eyes fluttered open and latched onto his. The glittering blue of his eyes was so brilliant that if they were gems, they would be rare azure diamonds.

  “I love you,” he rasped, pushing as deep as he could as he spoke.

  My fingers dug into his hips, urging him closer as I gasped.

  “Rimmel,” he demanded when I was panting beneath him.

  Unlatching my grip from his skin, I reached between us to cup his face. “I love you, too.”

  Satisfaction made his nostrils flare, and he began moving with a ferocity that always surprised me. I moaned as my body slid up the bed, and I forgot about my leg. Romeo reached around us and hooked his arm beneath my knee, holding my leg still, using it as leverage to slip even deeper.

  A million stars burst behind my eyes and mind-numbing pleasure rippled over my body. Every cell in my body hummed with satisfaction as the orgasm washed over me in great waves.

  Romeo’s body stiffened above me, his muscles all tensed and contracted, making him look like some sort of carved statue rather than a flesh-and-blood man. A rivulet of sweat slid down his rib, and his hand slapped on the bed right beside my head.

  His face fell into the side of my neck, and his shout of pleasure wrapped around my skin. Wrapping both arms around his torso, I hugged him close as ripples of aftershocks made his muscles tremor.

  Too soon, he pushed up, taking his weight off me and hovering over my body. “I can’t live without you, Rim.”

  I whispered, “You don’t have to. Not ever.”

  His lopsided smile brought a burst of warmth through my chest. “I’m not mad at you anymore.”

  I laughed.

  Romeo

  I was in the kitchen, making Rim a mug of cider, when someone knocked on the front door. It was early, and the interruption made me bristle.

  The handle on the door jangled when I swung it inward, letting my body fill the doorway. “Yeah?”

  “Oh, good, you’re up,” Liam replied, not bothered in the least by my unwelcoming tone.

  My hackles lowered instantly, and I stepped aside to admit him entrance. “Why’d you knock? You know you can just roll in.”

  Charlie came running up from the path and burst into the house. Liam winced and glanced at me, but I barely blinked.

  He smiled at the reaction. “I guess you’re used to dogs all over the place.”

  “Just one is a vacation.” I agreed.

  In the kitchen, the kettle started to whistle, and I smacked Liam on the back before going to take it off the stove. I wasn’t sure anyone else was up yet, and I didn’t want to be the reason they all came down here bitching.

  Last night had been a long fucking night.

  “I might own this place, but while you’re here, this is yours, and I wasn’t about to stroll right in this early.”

  “Where’s Bellamy?” I asked, pouring the water over the cider mixture and then grabbing a container of cinnamon sticks.

  “At home with the boys.”

  “So what’s going on?”

  Liam sighed and pointed at the coffee maker on the counter. “You mind?”

  I shook my head, and he went to drop a pod into the machine. As he did that, I put on a regular pot to brew in case someone did come down. There would at least be coffee. We had too many people in this house to make a single cup for each one. Drew would probably die if he had to wait in line for his to brew.

  “Sorry we didn’t come by last night. It was late by the time you guys got in from the hospital, and I figured Rim was worn out.”

  “No worries. Everyone was worn the fuck out. But hey...” I turned to face him directly. “I want to thank you for everything you did to find her. I didn’t even have to ask. You just made sure everything happened.”

  I stuck my hand between us. He looked at it, then at me when we shook.

  “I would have done the same for anyone. We have that shit in place in case this happens.”

  “I still appreciate it.”

  “Now I understand why you guys were a little skeptical about going out without her.”

  I chuckled. “I tried putting some bodyguards on her a few times, even ones she didn’t know about.” I shook my head fondly. “She can barely walk on her own two feet, but that woman can spot a plain-clothed bodyguard like a mouse finding a crumb.”

  Liam grinned. “Didn’t go over too well?”

  “Fuck no. She damn near ripped my balls off.”

  “Bellamy’s the same.” He boasted. “Thinks she can handle everything herself.”

  His expression changed, and I could tell he was remembering something. “Even when people were trying to kill her and she was alone.”

  “Sounds like you got quite a story.” I grabbed a mug to make myself some coffee.

  “Don’t we all?”

  I leaned against the counter and waited for him to get to the point of the visit.

  Lowering his mug, he made a face. “I’m afraid I’m about to cause more of a headache for you.”

  I arched a brow.

  “Someone called the press. Rimmel’s adventure in the woods last night made national headlines.”

  “Fuck,” I spat, planting my hands on the marble and looking down. “I swear to God those vultures will do anything to get a story with her.”

  “What?”

  I glanced over at him. “Someone on the mountain accidentally ran into her at full speed on that tube yesterday, knocked her into the woods.”

  My eyes narrowed. “You think someone did that to her on purpose?”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time they’d hurt her for headlines.”

  Liam cursed low. “Anderson.” He straightened. “I can promise you this ain’t the way I run my resort. The press usually isn’t a problem, and when we do have a problem, I can usually nip it in the ass before it even becomes an issue.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not blaming you. I knew they’d probably find out where we were staying. We all haven’t traveled together in a long time. I should have warned you how persistent they are with us.”

  “Romeo?” Rimmel’s voice carried from the stairs.

  Conversation forgotten, I shoved off the counter and rushed toward the sound. “Rim? You shouldn’t be up walking—”

  “I got her.” Trent interrupted as he came the rest of the way down the stairs, carrying my wife. She looked small a
gainst him, and I had a half-and-half reaction seeing her like that.

  One half of me was sort of charmed to know she must look that small in my arms, too. But the other half of me was sort of pissed some other dude was carrying my wife.

  “Where are your pants?” I demanded, the jealous side winning.

  Rim made a face.

  “Bro, what the fuck are you doing carrying my wife around pantless?”

  “I don’t have any pants with me that will fit over this boot, and I need you to help me put them on,” Rimmel answered.

  “I told her I’d help her,” Trent offered, his eyes full of mirth.

  “Give me my wife,” I deadpanned. Even though I was unamused and pretty salty, I still took her away from him carefully. “How you feeling this morning?” I asked, gazing down.

  “I was fine until I woke up to an empty bed.”

  “I was bringing you up some cider.”

  Her eyes brightened. “You were?”

  Charlie gave a low woof and rushed over from the kitchen, sniffing everywhere around Rimmel.

  “Charlie!” she said, reaching her hand out so he could lick it. She laughed, and it was like the sun came out and shined down on her.

  Placing her on the couch, I propped her foot up and then flipped a blanket over her bare legs. Charlie jumped up on the couch and flopped down, taking up the rest of the space.

  Liam came forward, a protest vibrating his throat.

  Rimmel laughed again and buried her fingers in his big ears, and the dog put his head in her lap.

  I glanced at Liam and shook my head. “He’s fine.”

  Trent came out of the kitchen with a coffee and the mug of cider, handing it over the back of the couch to Rimmel.

  In my pocket, my cell went off.

  “Oh no.” Rimmel worried instantly. “It’s so early. Do you think the kids are okay?”

  “Everything’s fine, baby.” I assured her before answering.

  “Roman!” my mother squawked in my ear. “Roman Anderson, why didn’t you call us?”

  “Mom, how are the kids?” I asked, only because Rimmel was giving me a pleading look.

  “They’re perfectly fine, unlike my son and daughter-in-law!” she snapped.

  Tugging the phone away from my ear, I relayed the information to Rimmel. She seemed pacified but also slightly suspicious.