by Leslie North
Kristy looked around and frowned. “If you mean dog sledding, I don’t think so. The snow is melting too fast, and the path gets really narrow up ahead. The dogs wouldn’t be able to navigate a sled through some of the openings. It would require cutting down a few trees, and not only can I not afford that, but I wouldn’t want to do that.”
“I’m not talking about dog sledding. I’m talking about hiking, camping, and exploring. I’m not sure what it looks like up ahead, but you can easily offer horse rides through this part. Take families out on a picnic. Allow them to reconnect to nature.”
“I don’t know,” she said hesitantly. “There’s a lot more liability involved with dragging people out into the wilderness, plus I’d have to test the horses. If they spook easily, someone could get hurt. Campers and hikers could get lost, and I’m not equipped to handle situations like that.”
“So you’ll get equipped,” he said with a small smile. “You have a head for business. You’re already thinking ahead, and you’ll plan accordingly. Have some faith in yourself, and take a chance”
“That’s easy for you to say,” she mumbled. “You have people who can clean up your messes and pay for your every whim. I hate to break it to you, but that’s not how things work in the real world. If one wrong thing happened, I could lose Mistywood. This is my responsibility, and it’s my home.”
Kashif touched her shoulders bringing her to a halt. Brushing her hair from her face, he cupped her chin. “But you might lose it anyway if you don’t take a chance. Wouldn’t you rather say that you tried than to look back with regret?”
She pulled out of his touch. She couldn’t help herself. The way that he was looking at her so tenderly with his dark, gorgeous eyes was almost her undoing. “I’ll think about it.” Her voice was more breathy than she would have liked to admit. “Now pay attention to the ground. I need some twigs to gather for the wreath and some holly and berries to decorate it with. If you’re getting too cold, you can head back in.”
“Me?” he scoffed. “Too cold?”
“You do live in the desert,” she said dryly, but the dramatic indignation on his face was enough to make her chuckle. She knew that even if he was freezing, he’d never admit it. He wasn’t the kind of man to show weakness.
They walked along for several more minutes without speaking. It was an odd but comfortable silence. Kristy had the strangest feeling that he wanted to say more to her, but he respected her wishes, and that in itself spoke volumes.
Whenever he wasn’t looking, she turned her head and stole a glance. He really was too perfect for words. He had thick dark lashes that framed his beautiful sapphire-blue eyes, and his smooth dark skin was a stark contrast to the snow that continued to cling to the branches and the ground.
No matter how attractive she found him; it still didn’t change the circumstances of their birth. His expensive designer jacket was a stark reminder of how much weight, power, and money was behind him.
Two-hundred-thousand dollars to toss around here and there to chase off clingy women was probably nothing to the royal family.
Finally straightening, she stretched her aching muscles and smiled, pleased, at how full her basket was. “We might be able to make two wreaths.”
“Is that water?” he asked with a frown.
She stilled and listened to the sound of the crashing water. Glancing around, they’d wandered farther than she thought. Closing her eyes, she could picture the small waterfall.
“There’s a small river that runs through here. It cascades over a small grouping of rocks and forms Mistywood Lake. How did you not know that?”
“I guess I was too busy exploring other things last time I was here,” he said with a meaningful smile. “We must be close. Let’s go check it out.”
Grasping her hand, he took off in a jog and pulled Kristy behind him. She thought he was nuts, but she didn’t stop him. Finally, through the clearing, he stopped short. Mistywood Lake was a pretty grandeur name for what was mostly a pond, and the waterfall wasn’t more than eight feet high. Still it was beautiful, and she always loved coming here.
“I can’t believe you don’t take people out here,” he said as he wrapped an arm around her. “It’s beautiful. Romantic.”
“Sure. I’d have a bunch of horny teenagers sneaking off to make-out here. What’s not to love? The water isn’t deep enough to go swimming.”
“It’s still beautiful, and the water is so clean here. And,” Kashif’s brow furrowed as his gaze dropped to the base of the waterfall. “Is that steam rising up back there?”
Frowning, she followed his finger. “I doubt it. It’s probably just mist rising from the water crashing on the rocks. Hence, the name.”
“I don’t think so. Leave the basket so we can check it out.”
“Check what out?” she muttered, but he was already moving along the edge of the water. The bank grew steep, and she gasped when he started climbing down. “Kashif !”
Scrambling to catch up to him, she thought of a million ways that she could kill him and dump his body in the forest. He was her one guest, and if he did something stupid and broke his neck, his family would probably have her shut down. Assuming they found the body.
Grasping the trunk of a tree, she crouched before hopping down. Kashif waited patiently below, and when she jumped, he grabbed her waist and eased her down. The shock of sliding down his body warmed her skin, and she flushed.
“Ready for an adventure?” he muttered in her ear.
“No. I am not,” she said sternly. “I need to get back to Arella, and there is nothing to see. One or both of us is going to slip on those rocks and fall to our deaths.”
“Fall two feet to our death?” he said with a wolfish grin. “You worry too much.”
“It’s not the height that bothers me. It’s the sharp rocks below. Will you slow down?”
He didn’t. Climbing up the rock stoop toward the waterfall, he turned around and stretched his arm out to her. Knowing that he wasn’t going to back down, she grabbed his hand and let him haul her up. To her surprise now that she was close to the waterfall, it did look like there was steam rising up. Kashif flattened his back along the rock and slid through, careful to stay away from the waterfall. Kristy followed suit, but the cold water still splashed on her face, and she winced.
If she got pneumonia and died, she was going to haunt him for the rest of her life.
The rock archway led under the small waterfall, and when she reached the other side, she gasped.
There were several pockets of water among the rocks that hissed and steamed.
“Oh, wow,” she whispered. “Is that a natural hot spring?”
9
Kashif stared in wonder at the springs. He wasn’t quite sure what he’d find, but he never expected this. Eager to test the waters, he bent down and dipped his hand in the water.
Clean and warm.
“We have to get in,” he announced as he straightened and unzipped his jacket. She stared at him like he’d lost his mind and refused to budge. It didn’t bother him any. He knew he’d get her in the water sooner or later.
“What are you doing? Put your clothes back on,” she hissed when he stripped off his shirt. The cold bit at his skin, but he saw the way she stared at him.
She couldn’t seem to look away.
Teasingly, he slowly undid the button of his pants. When he started to peel them down his legs, he thought she’d finally close her eyes, but she didn’t.
Raw desire was written all over her face.
When he was down to his boxers, he gave her a sexy smile. Despite the cold, he was hard as a rock, and when he finally stripped away the last of his clothes, his erection sprang free.
“Join me,” he coaxed her as he eased into the water. Moaning at the pleasure of the warmth, he closed his eyes and sighed. When he stood, the water hit just above his waist, but the temperature and the steam quickly heated his whole body. “It feels amazing.”
“I’m sure it does,”
she said as she cleared her throat. “But I think it’s probably best if I keep my clothes on.”
“Don’t trust yourself around me? That’s completely understandable,” he teased.
“That’s not it at all,” she snapped. “I have perfect control over my body. But when you get out of that water, you’re going to freeze to death. We have no towels to dry off with and…”
“Kristy! Quit making excuses and enjoy yourself for once. I wore several layers because, as you pointed out, I’m from the desert. We have plenty of clothes here to dry off with. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. I won’t let it. Besides, I know that your back hurts. I’ve seen the way that you hold yourself. Imagine how good a little hot water will feel.”
“Fine,” she muttered. “If only it’ll shut you up. But you don’t get to see me naked, so you need to turn your ass around.”
“You saw me naked,” he pointed.
“That’s because you thought it’d get me all hot and bothered, and since I did see you naked, I already know that you’re hot and bothered,” she said with a smug smile.
Kashif couldn’t help but laugh as he turned his back. It looked like there were around five steam pockets, none of them very wide. He could only imagine what kind of money this could bring in for Kristy. Stay at the lodge and visit the natural hot springs of Mistywood Forest.
It didn’t just feel good. The view from the springs was amazing. The ground sloped downward, and for a moment, Kashif felt like he was on top of a mountain staring down at the trees below. Nothing could compare.
Nothing, except for the beautiful woman who now eased into the water next to him. He heard her moan in pleasure, and his thoughts immediately flew back in time.
“I love the sounds you make,” he whispered in her ear as he moved inside her. She whimpered and tightened her legs around his waist. “I love hearing your pleasure. Low and sexy moans. Whimpers of need. I can’t get enough of it.”
“Kashif! Are you listening to me? I told you that you could turn around now.”
Shaking his head, he turned to look at her. The water hit just above her breasts, but it didn’t matter. Her bare shoulders glistened in the steam, and he had to fight for control of his body.
“Feel good?” he whispered.
Kristy bit her lower lip and nodded. “It does. It feels wonderful, actually.”
Not wanting to scare her, he didn’t make any movements towards her. Instead, he relaxed in the steaming waters and watched her. She looked highly uncomfortable, but as she adjusted to the water, her shoulders dropped, and a small smile appeared on her face.
Beautiful.
“I can’t believe this has been here the whole time,” she murmured as she moved her arms languidly in the water.
“That’s what happens when you take a risk,” he teased. “You discover wonderful things.”
She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, her body swayed suddenly, and she pitched forward.
“Whoa,” he said as he plunged forward to catch her. “Easy. Did you step on something?”
“No. I guess the bottom isn’t all that even,” she said breathlessly. Lifting her eyes towards his, he relished the feel of her naked skin in his hands again. Smooth and warm. Unable to help himself, he drew her closer.
“Kashif,” she said with a shudder. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“You don’t think what’s a good idea? You don’t even know what you’re going to do.”
“I know that we’re both naked, and it’s probably not a good idea for us to be this close.”
“Shh,” he whispered. “I won’t do anything that you don’t want me to do. You should know that by now.”
“Things have changed.” Her voice was hollow, but when she looked at him through her thick eyelashes, her own blue eyes were dark with desire.
Tilting her chin up, he couldn’t help himself. “Some things won’t ever change,” he growled before kissing her. It was meant to be light and teasing. He’d only just gotten her to agree to give him a chance, and he didn’t want to spook her, but his erection wouldn’t be denied. Deepening the kiss, he pulled her even closer so that her nipples brushed against his chest, and his cock nestled in the apex of her legs.
Rather than pull away, Kristy moaned and widened her stance. Taking that as an invitation, he drew back and took the lobe of her ear between his teeth. Somehow, he remembered all the spots that turned her on and made her melt.
Sliding his tongue down her neck, he followed the same motion with his fingers as they skimmed down her sides and rested low on her hips. If he went any lower, he could part the folds of her sex and rub and pinch her sweet spot until she screamed.
Kashif desperately wanted to hear her scream for him again.
“You still taste so sweet,” he groaned. Kristy dipped her head back, and he touched his lips to the hollow of her neck as he lifted her whole body up. In response, she wrapped her legs around him, and he shuddered.
It would be so easy to slide into her, fuck her until they both found the release they’d so desperately needed.
He was so close to having her back in his arms, he fought the shudder of anticipation. Seeing her again didn’t just remind him of what he’d almost lost, it showed him what it felt like to feel whole. He wanted to give her everything she ever desired but he had no idea how to do it when she fought him every step of the way.
Instead, he pressed her gently against the side of the pool and reached between them. Ignoring his own throbbing erection, he strummed her clit until she shivered and panted in his arms.
“Kash,” she cried out. “I’m so ready…you don’t have to….ah, fuck.”
Her legs tightened around him, and she buried her head in his shoulder as the orgasm ripped through her. He widened his stance in an attempt to keep them both upright, but his balance was off and they both tumbled in the water.
Keeping a grip around her, he brought them both up to the surface quickly. Shaking his head, he brushed the wet strands of hair from her face and smiled at her. “Sorry about that,” he chuckled.
“God, Kashif, we’re going to freeze on the way back!” She unlocked her legs and tried to move away from him, but he wasn’t about to let her go that easily.
“It’ll be cold, but we’ll be fine. Our clothes are dry, and I’m here to warm you up if you need it.”
Slapping his chest, she glared at him. “Now is not the time for jokes. We need to get back. I need to check on Arella, and I wanted to spend some time with the dogs.”
It was obvious that she wasn’t going to mention anything about the past few minutes. He was tempted to push her, but one wrong move, and he’d never be allowed to touch her again. Sighing inwardly, he released her.
“Turn around,” she commanded. “I’m going to climb out.”
“Really? After all that, you want me to…”
“Do it!”
Holding up his hands in surrender, he turned his back to her. Listening carefully to make sure she didn’t slip in again, he heard the rustling of clothes as she hurriedly dried off and dressed.
It was clear that she was going to be difficult to sway, but he was a patient man, and he didn’t have anywhere to be any time soon.
He’d seduced her once. He’d do it again, and this time, he wasn’t going to let her go.
After a warm shower, Kashif lounged by the doorway and watched from a safe distance as Kristy and Arella worked on their wreaths. He knew that she hadn’t noticed him, and he didn’t want to interrupt.
“All right, now we tie the twine around them, and voila, we have a wreath!”
“Volla,” Arella mimicked pushing her hands up in the air.
Kristy laughed and emptied the rest of the basket. “Now, let’s see here. We have branches of pine, berries, pine cones, and holly. Pick out what you want on your wreath and where you want it. I’m going to get the hot glue-gun, okay?”
As Kristy rose from her chair, Kashif quickly moved
back to the stairwell. He understood perfect moments, and Kristy and her daughter were sharing one. He didn’t dare interrupt her. As he mounted the stairs, he thought about growing up and his mother’s excitement over the holidays. She’d always made this time of year feel so special. He hadn’t realized how much he missed her until this moment.
Back in his own room, he leaned back against the headboard and stared out the window. He could still remember the first time he’d brought Kristy to his room. She’d been so nervous and so passionate but once she relaxed and opened up, she was wild and carefree; unlike any woman he’d ever met. She saw magic in things most people took for granted. And when she looked at him that way, she even made dog sledding look like a jog around the park.
It broke his heart to know that he’d never get that Kristy back. Even if he did regain her trust, their past would always come between them.
He wasn’t sure why he was even bothering trying to win her back. She was right. In the end, he would leave, and nothing would have changed.
But something spurred him on. There was something that he didn’t quite understand happening here, and he couldn’t abandon it. Or her.
Now that he’d tasted her again, he wasn’t going to let anything come between them.
10
Even though it was late, Kashif had wanted to spend some time with her, so he’d asked Kristy to join him for dinner at the diner but she declined telling him that Arella was getting over a cold. Since she didn’t want to ask her Aunt Julia last minute to watch her, she worried that in the event she started coughing, she would be disruptive to the other diners.
As far as excuses went, it felt pretty lame since Arella didn’t seem to have any symptoms of her cold during the day, but she was glad when he didn’t push. His eyes had searched her face, but she steeled herself against him. She wasn’t ready to talk about what happened in the hot springs. Maybe not ever.
Still, in her own bed, she couldn’t help but remember the way it had felt to have his fingers inside her, stroking her. All the promises he’d made about what he wanted to do to her echoed in her head, and she tossed and turned restlessly for most of the night. By the time she got up the next morning, she felt like she’d barely gotten any sleep at all.