The Billionaire's Challenge
Page 9
She took a bite, shocked by the explosion of flavors. “Oh wow!” she breathed. “This is amazing!”
He nodded, taking a bite of his own. “Yeah, they use a lot of herbs in their eggs. That’s what makes the difference. And in this area, there’s a ready supply of organically grown vegetables as well as range raised chickens for eggs. You can taste the difference, right?”
She nodded, not bothering to say anything since her mouth was full. Swallowing, she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Oh, this is great!”
He agreed, and they sat in the privacy of his Jeep while they ate. Looking around as she finished up her burrito, she noticed that almost every vehicle here was either a Jeep or a Subaru. “Lots of people heading to the mountains,” she observed, thinking out loud.
“There are different waves of people that come through for meals at the diner. This is just the morning wave. There are others who prefer the sunsets and will start off a bit later in the morning or afternoon, depending on their overnight options.”
“Overnight?” she asked, thinking it wouldn’t be a good idea to be out in the mountains overnight. “Doesn’t it get cold overnight?”
He laughed. “Honey, it’s going to get cold this afternoon. We’re climbing to the higher elevations. There might be a bit of snow.”
She nodded her head. “I suppose that makes sense since, even from a distance, one can see the snowcapped mountains.”
They finished their breakfast and she took the bag, tossing it into the trash as they drove out of the parking lot. “Okay, now you’re going to fall in love with hiking,” he promised.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled off of the road into a small parking lot. There was a trail that she could see disappearing into the woods and the sun was finally coming up over the mountains.
“We’re going to take this slow and easy so that you don’t get blisters from your new hiking boots, okay?”
She agreed, nodding as she tied the sweater that he’d handed her around her waist. It looked huge, but then again, anything that he lent her was going to be massive on her. The guy was about a foot taller than she was and had shoulders that seemed as if they could take on the world. Perfect shoulders, she thought with a quiet sigh.
He grabbed the heavy backpack, tossing it over his shoulders like it weighed nothing at all.
“Want me to carry that for a while?”
He grinned and shook his head. “Nah. I’ve got this.”
“What’s in it?” she asked, curious despite herself.
“Water bottles, protein bars. Another fleece pullover for each of us. Matches in case of an emergency, first aid kit, GPS and compass, two light rain coats, knife, and sunscreen.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow! All of that?”
“You learn to be prepared. There isn’t an easy escape route here in the Rockies. Even park rangers, who know these woods pretty well might have a hard time finding hikers if they get lost.”
“Sounds fair, although, even with a GPS or compass, I’m not sure if I could find my way out of a bag.”
He laughed. “Oh, I have so much to teach you,” he replied. And for some reason, his words sounded naughtier than he intended them. Then again, looking up into his dark eyes, maybe he had meant them to be salacious.
Rolling her eyes, she accepted the bottle of water he handed her. “You’re a bad man,” she muttered.
“And you’re going to enjoy every moment of my bad-ness,” he promised.
She blushed, but turned away before he could see the pink staining her cheeks. She walked beside him as they entered the woods, amazed at the silence.
“It’s so quiet,” she whispered reverently.
“That’s one of the things that I love about hiking,” he replied. “The silence. The fact that I could literally get lost in these woods and never come out. It’s a bit intimidating and thrilling at the same time.”
As they hiked, he gave her interesting facts about the trees and bushes around them, what the native Americans used them for and why, how they used to hunt and what to do in case of an emergency.
“What do you think you should do if you are surprised by a bear?” he asked.
They were stepping up on rocks so she was ahead of him at that particular moment. She paused and looked over her shoulder. “Run faster than you?” she offered.
He threw back his head and laughed. “Okay, that’s a good answer.”
She finished climbing, putting her hiking boot exactly where he told her to. She was out of breath when they reached the top, and he handed her another bottle of water. “Here, drink slowly, but take as much as you can. It helps to avoid altitude sickness and helps your body function.”
She took the bottle and perched on a rock, looking out. She’d just lifted the bottle to her lips when she realized where they were. “Wow!” she whispered, the water forgotten as she stared out at the view.
He turned around and smiled. “Yeah, pretty spectacular, huh?” he agreed, settling down next to her. For a long moment, they just stared out at the view, seeing the other mountain peaks off in the distance, and the plains further out. The trees were pretty amazing as well, the pine and aspen blanketed the hillsides up until the oxygen was too thin for trees to grow.
“It’s called the timberline,” he explained, following her gaze. “It’s the altitude at which the trees can no longer grow. There’s not enough oxygen, water, or heat for them to survive.”
She nodded silently. Making noise seemed like a violation of the moment. So for a long time, they just sat there looking out at the view.
“Thank you for this,” she murmured softly. “It’s more amazing than I imagined.”
He handed her a protein bar and they sat there in companionable silence, looking out at the views. The bars weren’t the easiest to eat, but they were filled with calories and protein, not to mention, the bars didn’t add a lot of weight to one’s pack. And even though she’d had oatmeal and the egg burrito, Selena discovered that she was famished!
“Want to tell me about it?” he asked her.
Selena looked down at her feet. “Tell you about what?” she asked, but she knew exactly what he meant.
“About what happened earlier?”
She thought about it for a long moment, then decided that he deserved to hear the story. “When I was in college, my body image became distorted. I obsessed about losing weight, to the point that I couldn’t think about anything else. My grades slipped and I was having trouble sleeping. It got to the point that I started skipping classes just so I could spend more time at the gym. Eventually, I spent all of the allowance my parents sent me on exercise classes and I just sort of…stopped eating.”
“Completely?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. Not completely,” she laughed self-deprecatingly. “I was so heavy in high school and…well, I needed the control. Not eating was my way of controlling my world. So yes, I would eat, but not enough to sustain my body or repair the muscles I’d used while exercising.” She stopped, thinking back to that miserable time. “I’m better now, but it took me a long time to figure out how to come back from that. Time and a great therapist.” She looked at him carefully. “There are some foods that trigger memories. Bad memories. I’m so sorry for freaking out like that, but bacon is just one of those triggers. I avoid the smell, just because it brings back those memories.”
“How long were you sick?”
She smiled, grateful to him for understanding that she was sick and not crazy. “Less than a year. My mother realized what was going on and forced me to get help.” She stuffed the protein bar wrapper into her shorts pocket and stood up. “I have a much better body image now, thanks to that therapist, but it is a struggle.” She took a deep breath. “As long as I don’t smell bacon or a few other foods, everything is good.”
He stood up as well, pocketing his own wrapper, but she could tell from the look in his eyes that he wanted more of the story. “Is that why you don’t date?”
“You won’t date me.”
Selena’s heart raced with his words. Oh, if he only knew about the fantasies she’d woven with Reid as the star! Shaking her head, she sighed. “Because you’re not serious.”
“I’m not?” he asked in surprise.
She shook her head. “Nope.
“So, you will only date men who are serious about relationships?”
She stopped and looked up at him, a realization dawning. “Actually…no.”
“Why not?”
“Because…” She wasn’t exactly sure why. The thought struck her that she hadn’t dated anyone in…a long time!
“Because…?” he prompted.
Selena stopped walking and looked back at him. “I don’t know why.”
He moved closer, not touching her. “Perhaps I can offer a reason to change your status?”
She wanted to back up, to put some space between them, but she couldn’t move. Didn’t really want to, if she were honest with herself. Up here in the mountains, it seemed like a perfectly wonderful thing to do, staying close to him.
She felt more alive, somehow. More invested in the world. It was as if the cleaner air at this altitude was able to blow away the smog of her past. Her heart raced when he wrapped his hands around her waist to her closer.
“What if I don’t want a status change?” she asked, thinking that she was crazy. Of course she wanted to change her status! She wanted…
Reid. She couldn’t say much more after that because he kissed her. It started softly, barely there for a long moment. It was almost as if he were testing her, giving her the chance to back away. Did she want this? Yes! The resounding answer in her head caused her to pull his head closer.
That was the only invitation he needed. His arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her up slightly as his mouth covered hers. His head slanted as his lips moved over and over on her own. Automatically, she opened her mouth to deepen the kiss, her body tingling with the raw sensuality of his caress.
His response was to pull her closer, pressing his arousal against her stomach, which gave her a sense of power that she’d never felt before. She moved closer, sliding against him and heard his groan. Smiling, she felt an almost overwhelming need to hear that sound again, run her hands along those muscles that she’d been admiring recently, but hadn’t had the courage to touch. Now she was touching, she was feeling and…yeah, he groaned again.
Her breathing was ragged, she couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen to her lungs and rested her forehead against his chest. Thankfully, he was feeling the same way, if his heaving chest was any indication.
“We can’t do this here,” he murmured, his fingers sliding into her hair, ruining the neat and tidy braid she’d pulled her hair into.
“Why?” she asked, letting her fingers slide over his chest. He caught one of her hands, the deep rumbling in his chest telling her that just that simple movement was exciting him.
“Because if you continue touching me like that, we’re not making it down off of this mountain tonight.”
She stared up at him, not sure what he meant. He threw back his head and laughed. “You have no idea, do you?” he asked. He moved the hand he was holding until her fingers covered his erection, pressing urgently against the canvas of his shorts. “This is what you do to me, Selena,” he warned her. “And if you continue to look at me like that, I’m going to encourage you to explore this in a bit more detail. On that rock right there.”
God help her, she actually peered around his broad shoulder, considering the size and possible comfort of the flat, sun warmed rock.
“No,” he laughed softly, pulling her head back to his. The kiss this time was softer but no less powerful. Thankfully, he lifted his head before it got out of control like the last one.
“Come on,” he took her hand, helping her climb down. “I think we’ve climbed high enough for today.”
“I thought we were going higher?”
He chuckled. “We will.”
It took only about half as long to climb down the mountain as it had to go up because of the steepness of the decline, however they still had to walk slowly or they could trip and slide. That wasn’t exactly how she wanted to get down off the mountain, so she listened carefully to Reid’s instructions on descending. When she spotted his Jeep across the meadow field, her heart fluttered wildly.
Before she could step into the Jeep though, he spun her around, pinning her against the hood. “You realize where we’re going now, right?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.
She gasped, shocked by the heat hitting her. “Where?” she asked, gasping when he nibbled a particularly sensitive spot.
“To my bed. Do you have any objections?” he asked.
“Fine. Just hurry up!” she gasped, shuddering when he found a spot that made her knees threaten to give out.
He deposited her in the passenger seat. As soon as he stepped into the driver’s seat, he took her hand and placed her palm on his thigh. “I need you touching me, Selena,” he groaned as he put the Jeep in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot.
It took less than forty minutes to get back to his house. Even so, it was still late afternoon when he pulled into the driveway.
By that point, she’d come to her senses, actually thinking about what they’d been doing on the mountain.
“Stop.” He stepped out and looked into her eyes. “Dinner first,” he announced. “You are probably starving after all that hiking, aren’t you?”
Selena was relieved that she wouldn’t immediately be rushed into his bedroom. “I am, but…”
“Don’t even suggest that you can make something yourself,” he warned her. “I’m sure my housekeeper has something ready to put into the oven. So come on,” he walked around the car, closing her door as she exited.
When he saw the nervous look in her eyes, he shook his head. “Selena, if you don’t want this, then say so. I won’t pressure you.” He moved closer. “But you should know that once I get you into bed, we’re going to light the sheets on fire.”
Seeing the earnestness in his eyes, she realized that he wasn’t kidding. He really did want her. He WANTED her! This wasn’t a fraternity dare. This wasn’t a college prank that would be broadcast to anyone who might want the ridiculous, salacious details. Reid was attracted to her. To who she was. He wasn’t going to push. Instinctively, she knew that if she wanted to go into the guesthouse and curl up under the covers alone for the rest of the night, he would let her.
That realization changed something. She didn’t fully understand it, but she knew she wanted to experience Reid’s touch. She wanted to feel him, to know him in ways she hadn’t wanted to explore in a long time.
“I want this,” she told him, feeling liberated.
This was Reid. He wasn’t just gorgeous, sexy and incredibly appealing. He was intelligent, secure in who he was as a man, and a brilliant businessman. She wanted him. She might even lo…like him. And she definitely respected him.
She opened her mouth to tell him how much she wanted to make love with him, but the words came out wrong. “I’m not on contraception,” she blurted, thinking back to that college night and her worries afterwards. Diseases had been the last thing on her mind at that point. A teenage pregnancy was her major worry. The possibility of a sexually transmitted disease had come later. Thankfully, the campus clinic had helped her through those traumatic tests and given her the reassurance of clean health.
His hand came up to her head, his rough fingers cupping her jaw gently. “I’ll take care of the protection. No worries there. I don’t want to rush you into anything.”
She smiled, thinking that he was sweet in a dangerous kind of way. Yeah, all that raw power and intensity was right there, lurking behind his molten, almost glowing eyes. And all of that intensity was for her. He wanted her th
at much!
“Could we skip dinner?” she suggested, peeking up at him shyly through her lashes. She wasn’t as hungry for food as she was hungry for him. For the way he made her feel.
“Damn, woman!” he growled and lifted her into his arms just as he had at the trailhead.
Laughing, Selena squealed as he carried her inside. “Put me down!” she laughed.
He rolled his eyes even as he took the steps two at a time, not even breathing heavily as he carried her up the stairs and shouldered his way into the bedroom where he lowered her feet to the floor.
Looking up into his eyes, her stomach muscles tightened with anticipation. “What are you going to do now?” she asked.
He stepped closer, pulling her hips flush against his own. “I thought I’d start with taking your shirt off.”
Selena suddenly remembered that she was wearing an ugly sports bra. “Um….”
“Don’t even try it!” he told her, chuckling and that sound…it was an amazing aphrodisiac! “I don’t care if you’re wearing lace or spandex,” he told her, correctly realizing where her mind was going. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s coming off too.”
His attitude intensified her excitement and caused her to relax. It was a strange sensation, feeling both at the same time. If she’d had a moment to think about it, she’d say that they were opposite reactions.
Then he pulled her tee shirt off, dumping it on the floor without any concern, and she was too shocked to think of anything. She couldn’t even protest.
Then his fingers moved to her breasts, his eyes tracing the path where her sports bra pulled her breasts in. “This isn’t supposed to look sexy,” he groaned, “but seeing your nipples through this material,” and he ran a finger over each, causing her to gasp, “is pretty hot.”
Over and over again, his forefinger teased that indentation, making her squirm and her knees to go weak. “Reid!” she gasped.