When we get to the girls, Casey throws herself into Christian’s arms for a hug that lifts her off her feet. “It’s so great to have you here for the winter.”
“It’s going to be awesome skiing with you.”
When he sets her down she says, “You remember Megan, right?”
“Of course. Can I get anyone more beer?” He holds up our cups, but both girls decline.
I scan the crowd, looking for Kelly, because I’m comfortable leaving Christian with Casey. I find him grilling burgers on a supersized grill with Jason and Kaleb. Megan is watching me and says, “Go to your man. We’ll take care of Christian for you.”
“Thanks.” I approach Christian as he returns from the keg, and when I try to take my beer he holds on to it for a moment before letting go. Weird. “I’m going to mingle while you chat with Casey, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.”
The smell of beef increases as I get closer, and my stomach growls. I touch the soft cotton of Kelly’s worn sweatshirt and snuggle up to him. “Hey.”
He slips an arm around me and gives me a quick kiss. “Hey yourself. Hungry?”
“I am. Are you going to make me the perfect burger?”
He keeps his arm around me and flips burgers with his other hand. “Of course. How do you like it cooked?”
I duck out from him so he can work and answer, “Medium rare please.”
Kaleb bumps me with his hip. “Hey there, knuckle-dragger.” It’s a slang term he uses for snowboarding based on the racers that lay their boards so far on the edge that they can drag their hands along the snow, and it makes me smile.
I ask, “Where’s Lori?” Meat sizzles on the grill, and a flame jumps up when Jason smashes a burger flat to cook faster.
“She’ll be here later. She had to work until seven.”
Kelly plates up a burger for me, and Jason says, “Eat with your girl, we’ve got this.”
I take the dish from Kelly, and he grabs one for himself. We wander over to a picnic table that has condiments and various sides set out. I set my beer down, and ketchup squirts as I put some on my burger.
When we’re done filling our plates, Kelly walks me around to the side of the house. It’s quieter away from the crowd, and he leads us to two rocking chairs. He says, “Here, hold this,” and hands me his plate. He drags a small table over and arranges the chairs so we can each put our meal down.
I perch myself on the edge of a chair and place our dinners on the small table. “Good plan. This smells delicious.” I lift my burger and take a bite. Hot juice from the beef drips down my chin as the flavor satisfies my tongue. “Mmmm.”
Kelly wipes my chin with his napkin and brushes my lower lip with his thumb. I stop chewing and look at him as I melt into his touch. He moves his hand so that he’s tilting my face up toward his. I gulp down my mouthful and set my food down. Reaching around his neck, I pull him in for the kiss he invited.
It’s a hungry connection, and the beer flavor of his mouth melds with the salty residue of meat in mine. By the time we’re done I’ve lost my appetite for dinner because I have something else in mind.
I say, “Dessert first, I like it.”
Kelly grins and lifts his hamburger. “Glad to hear it, because I’ve been thinking about the taste of you all day.”
My heart flutters at his words. “I’ve been thinking about you too.” I reach for a chip.
“I hear you worked at the Kids’ Castle today.” Ketchup and mustard splat onto his plate when he takes another bite.
“I did.” I drink from my cup.
“I’ll bet you whipped that place into shape. You’re so organized.”
“How do you know that?”
Kelly looks at me as if he’s figuring out how to answer. “I spent a lot of time watching you last year, remember?”
“Oh.”
My cheeks heat up, and Kelly says, “Even if I didn’t, I could tell by your neat little piles on your plate.”
I glance down to see what he means. Then I look at his food just piled on in a haphazard way. “Oh, that’s just so wrong.” I shake my head and reach over with my fork to separate things.
Kelly grabs my hand. “Don’t make me mess you up.” His tone is suggestive, and moisture pools in my core.
I speak quietly, “I think I might like that.”
He takes my hand and squashes it onto the contents of his plate. I let out a squeal and try to pull away but he holds tight.
“Ewww, now I have to wash my hand.”
“No you don’t.” Kelly begins licking food off my palm, and the sensation races through me.
When he gets to my fingers, he slips one into his mouth and sucks as I let out a little moan. My eyelids fall shut. “What are you doing to me?”
He pulls the finger out and says, “Whatever you want.”
Oh, God. He goes back to licking, and I melt. I want that mouth all over my body, and then I want to return the favor.
When he’s finished, he sighs. “We’ll have to pick up where we left off later. I need to get back to cooking.”
He stands and takes my plate while I grab my beer. We walk to the large garbage can set out on the edge of the deck, and after he throws away the remains of our dinner, he takes my beer and sets it on the railing next to his. Pulling me against his body by my hips, he presses me against his groin. When he kisses me in a way that leaves me speechless, his erection gets hard against my belly and I grind against him a little.
Hot breath sends shock waves through me when he whispers. “I want to taste more of you tonight. Wait for me?”
I nod and he releases me. Oh, God, yes.
Chapter 15
Kelly goes back to the grill to relieve Kaleb, and I find the girls. Christian isn’t with them, and I assume he’s off enjoying himself with new friends.
When I approach, Megan is talking. “She’s unbelievable.”
I ask, “Who’s unbelievable?”
Casey nods her head toward someone behind me. “Jess. First she had her hooks in the new guy, Bryce, and now she’s all over Christian.”
I glance over, and sure enough, Jess is holding on to his arm as her blond hair swishes about in tune with some story she’s telling. “Well, he is available.” I frown when he gazes at me and then tucks a lock behind her ear. “And enjoying it.”
I turn back around as Megan says, “Oh, my God! That’s it. I’m not sure I can be his friend.” She chuckles.
Casey says, “I feel sick. Oh crap, what if we have to ski with her?” But she too, is mostly joking.
Megan is shaking her head. “No way. I don’t care how nice Christian is. I won’t do it.”
“Oh, come on. She’s not that bad.” Shit. The idea of Jess sleeping with Christian at my house makes me a little sick for real.
Casey crosses her arms. “Have you seen her ski? Yes, she is.”
“Well, I trust Christian is smart enough to figure it out.” I hope. Although I’m not sure why I care.
Casey sighs. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I don’t know why that girl annoys me so easily.”
Megan says, “It’s a gift. She lures you in by being nice, and then bam! When you aren’t looking, she’s after your guy.”
We all laugh, and then Megan says, “We got an awesome new girl this year. Nika, have you met Hannah?”
“No.” I turn around to scan the crowd as if I’m looking for the new girl, but I want to see what’s happening with Christian and Jess. They’re nowhere to be found, and my stomach lurches. What if they snuck off someplace? I give myself a mental shake at the way I’m jumping to conclusions.
I notice a girl I’ve never met and say, “Is that her in the red fleece?”
Megan says, “Yeah. C’mon, I’ll introduce you.”
They bring me to a pretty brunette with freckles across her nose. She’s sweet, and I’m sure we’ll become friends, but I’m having trouble concentrating on the conversation. I’m trying to sort out why I care about Christia
n hooking up with Jess.
A hand on my shoulder startles me, and I turn to Kelly’s eager smile. “My duties are done, and now I’m all yours. Need another beer?”
“That sounds wonderful.” I wave to the girls as he slinks his arm around my waist. The odor of grill smoke has penetrated his clothes, but I don’t mind, and I cuddle right in.
We wander over to get beer and run into a couple of other snowboard instructors. I pretend to listen to their conversation as Kelly pumps the keg and pours amber liquid into our cups. The foam is thick, but I take a sip anyway, and it gets on my upper lip. I lick it and watch the people around me. Beer has been flowing steadily, and voices are getting louder. The dance floor is filling up, and I watch couples making their moves on each other.
A flash of blond hair catches my attention, but I ignore it and lean into Kelly as he once again puts an arm around me. I don’t know what my problem is because I have a boyfriend that is very willing to kiss me. Jess can have Christian for all I care.
I slip my hand in Kelly’s back pocket, and his muscles flex under it. He moves his hand under my fleece and shirt to find bare skin. Stroking lightly near the waistband of my jeans, his touch seems to send a message to my very core, telling me he wants much more.
Others join our group, and Kelly fades out of the conversation. He whispers in my ear, “Want to see my room?”
I nod and let him take my hand to lead me inside. We snake our way through the crowd, and by the time we get to the hallway leading to the stairs, I’m warm from the collective heat of being inside and the bodies dancing. We walk down a long hall that leads to a staircase. Two rooms are on either side of the hall, and the doors are shut.
We head up the stairs to another hallway. Sound is muffled now, and my footsteps seem to pound against the wood floor as we make our way to the end. Kelly says, “I’m in the loft. It’s kind of hard to climb up the first few times, but I’ll help you.”
A ladder with thick square rungs is nailed to the wall, and I realize what he means the moment I step on it. It’s straight up, but I manage and scramble into the loft on my hands and knees. I won’t be doing this in a dress.
I stand and Kelly joins me. The space has a slanted ceiling that makes my head hurt thinking about how often I would probably hit it. A window seat draws my attention, and I wander over to the view of the mountains. Millions of stars are scattered across the sky, and the Rockies appear ominous in the distance.
“What a great view.” I touch the glass, and it’s cold under my fingers. The heat of Kelly behind me is a strong contrast. He lifts my hair with a hand and kisses the back of my neck. Tiny hairs stand up all over my body, and I turn to him.
He says, “This is the view I like.” He holds my shoulders and brushes my lips gently. I lean into him, take his lower lip between mine, and intensify the kiss. He pulls my body against his, and I mold myself to him.
His hands edge down and grip my butt as I slide mine under his shirt and up his back. Goosebumps break out on his skin, and I shift away to breathe. Kelly says, “You feel so good.” And he moves his hands under my shirt and up my back too. “Your skin is so soft.”
He kisses my neck, sucking and licking gently. A small moan escapes my lips as soft cotton fills my hands and I lift his shirt over his head.
He lets go of me to raise his arms and finish the job. He stands, looking at me, and moonlight reflects in his eyes. His muscles seem more defined in the dim light, and I reach out to trace the lines of his chest. “You’re beautiful.” He flexes at my touch and sighs.
I drag my hand down to below his navel where hair trails even lower. When I reach his waistband, he yanks me back into a kiss. This time, his hands move over my shirt to my breasts. He squeezes gently and is rewarded with my nipples hardening. I reach down and lift my shirt up over my head to reveal a black, demi-cup bra that lets my breasts spill out over the top.
He says, “Gorgeous.” He kisses his way down my cleavage and unhooks my bra to gain access to what he wants. When he sucks my nipple hard, I gasp in surprise. Biting lightly with his teeth, he pulls away. “Do you like that?”
“Yes.” I shrug off my bra, and he drops to his knees.
He kisses his way down my belly and reaches for the button on my jeans. My hands are on his shoulders when he looks up at me in question. I nod. My button pops open, and we hear a banging on the wall below us.
“Kelly! You up there? I need your keys!” It’s Jason’s voice.
Kelly mumbles. “Shit. Hang on.” He gets up and walks over to the edge to look down.
Jason says, “Sorry, man. Casey and I are leaving, and you’re blocking us in. Throw them to me.”
“I have to come move it for you. The ignition is finicky, and you’ll probably flood it. Hold on, I’ll be right down.”
I’m already hooking my bra when Kelly comes back. He says, “Sorry. I won’t be gone long.”
“It’s okay. I need to use the bathroom anyway. I’ll come down too.”
He leans in and kisses me softly. “It’s not okay. But I’ll make it up to you.”
Chapter 16
Kelly and I pull on our shirts and grab our fleeces to climb down the ladder.
After I use the bathroom, I make way to the kitchen. Desserts are set out, and I grab a cookie. Snapping off a bite, I put the sugary treat in my mouth, and I’m about to walk to the great room to watch the dancing. Christian calls my name, and I turn to the door on the other side of the kitchen.
“Hey. Having fun?”
“Where were you?” His tone is stern, and I stiffen.
“Ah, with Kelly. Why?” Heat rushes to my face, making it clear I wasn’t just talking to him.
“Oh.” I wouldn’t call Christian angry, but his face makes me imagine what he’s like when he is. “I’ve had a long day and want to go. Are you staying here tonight?”
I don’t know why the words fly out of my mouth but I say. “No. But I’m not sure why you care. I thought you were going home with Jess.” God, why am I being so bitchy?
Anger flashes though his eyes, and his jaw clenches. “What makes you say that?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.” Damn it. I could have stayed here with Kelly. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s what he has in mind. Why did I say no? My ears burn, and I wish I could just hide.
Christian sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. “When will you be ready?”
“Let me go find Kelly and say good-bye.” I turn and pain cuts into my hip as I bump into the dessert table. As a plate teeters on the edge, Christian quickly grabs it and slides it back in place.
We gaze at each other for a moment, and my stomach clenches. Kelly is going to be disappointed. I should tell Christian I changed my mind, but for some reason I can’t.
“Okay, I’ll be on the front porch. Waiting.”
As he walks away, I notice a few girls watch him go by. My heart aches a little. When Kelly comes through the front door seconds later, I take a deep breath and move toward him.
A smile covers his face and he pulls me into a hug. He kisses below my ear and whispers, “Let’s go finish what we started.”
I pull away. “Um, actually I have to go.” I drop my gaze and notice his tattered-looking, surfer-style sneakers. “I’m sorry.”
A strong hand cups my chin and lifts my face up. “Hey, don’t be sorry. This is too fast for you. It’s fine.”
I want to protest because it’s not too fast, but I go with it instead. “You’re not mad?”
“Of course not.” He pulls me into a hug. “I want it to be right for you too. I’ve waited for you since the day we met. What’s a little longer?”
His words warm my heart. I weave my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and pull him toward me for a kiss. I let it linger and don’t stop until he’s ready.
When we’re done, he leans his forehead against mine. “Let me walk you to your car.”
Oh, no. I step back. “Did you meet Christian Nickelson,
Gretchen’s brother?”
“Yeah. He’s going to teach this year, right?”
“Yeah, and he’s staying at my house.” I quickly add, “You know, because of Gretchen. And he’s waiting on the porch for me.”
But Kelly doesn’t seem the least bit concerned. “No worries.” He leans in for a quick kiss. “It’s going to be a late one, but I’ll look for you tomorrow in the afternoon.”
I give him my moneymaker smile. “You’d better. Bye.” I walk off with a touch of a strut, hoping he watches. When I turn by the door, I see he did and blow him a kiss. He reaches in the air and grabs as if he caught it and places his hand on his heart. I melt at the sappy gesture, knowing he didn’t care who saw.
Christian stands up from a rocking chair when I step onto the porch. The sight of him sucks away my joy. I know it’s not his fault I’m leaving, but I blame him anyway. “Let’s go.”
My feet stomp like a child down the steps, but I turn it into a jog to hide my anger. I’m being unfair because the only person I should be upset with is myself. I’ve just let my fear of what Christian thinks of me affect my decisions.
My car isn’t far away, but by the time we reach it the cold has seeped through my jacket.
Christian asks, “Want me to drive? I’m completely sober.”
While I’m sober too, I’d rather brood so I hand him my keys. “Sure.”
Once we’re inside he works on adjusting the mirrors, and I fiddle with the heat so it’s blasting on high to warm me up. The hot air tamps down my mood. “Think you’ll have fun this year?”
“I do. What a great group of people. I guess I didn’t expect everyone to be so smart.” He pulls onto the road with ease.
“You thought we were all goofing off?” I’m teasing because I know what he means. Most instructors have at least a college education and are just not ready to settle down in the real world yet.
He chuckles and says, “Kind of. Because that’s what I think I’m doing.” His eyes glance in the rearview mirror when the lights of another car flash on.
“I suppose we are. But be careful. There are quite a few that are running away from something. We have our share of dysfunctional individuals too.” I reach up and open the moon roof shield to see the stars overhead.
Fierce: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 4) Page 7