SNOWFIRES

by Caroline Clemmons

  “I knew it had always been a family business so I came to make peace with him. Offered him a place in the firm as Executive VP.” He shrugged. “He refused to listen, said he’d never work for another man in his own firm. Called me some pretty harsh things and ordered me out of the house.”

  He reached across the table to touch her hand. “Sorry you lost him. I know it was rough for you.” As if surprised he’d touched her, he drew back his hand. “Your father was pretty mad when I left, but it surprised the hell out of me to learn it was enough to cause heart failure.”

  As Holly suspected, Trent’s version greatly differed from Geneva’s description. Knowing her stepmother, Trent was probably closer to the truth. Holly wondered what went on after Trent had left?

  “Thanks for telling me.” What else could she say?

  He looked at his watch then pushed back from the table. “I know it’s early in the evening for city girls like you, but this has been a long day and I’m too beat to read. I’m turning in.”

  After her gut wrenching memories, weariness slammed into her. She stood and grabbed one of the candles. “You’re right, it’s been a long day. I’m tired, too.”

  “You take the bathroom first. I’ll take the other candle and the matches to the bedroom.”

  Holly hurried through her night regimen. She hadn’t bothered to pack nightclothes because she always kept some at her grandparents’ home. She’d have to sleep in her underwear again. And wouldn’t you know she’d be wearing the flimsy black lace panties and bra her half-sisters had given her with the boots for her birthday? She slipped out of her slacks and blouse, then put her coat back on before she left the bathroom.

  Trent waited at the door. While he readied himself—and what did a man have to do anyway besides pee and undress?—she draped her coat across the bed and crawled under the covers. After the warmth of the bathroom, the frigid bed set her to shivering. Couldn’t the Martins have at least invested in a pair of flannel sheets?

  Like a streaker in briefs, Trent raced in and tossed his clothes on the bed before he joined her. When he hit the soft mattress, it acted like a trampoline and sent her bouncing into him. He blew out the candle then wrapped his arms around her. His warm skin stopped her shivers and she snuggled her back against him.

  She lay there for what seemed ages. His breathing indicated he hadn’t fallen asleep either.

  “Have to move.” She flipped onto her back with her straightened legs over his bent limbs. That sent too much cold air space around her feet. “Turn over.”

  “Would you be still?” He rolled so she could snuggle to his back.

  After what seemed like another hour but couldn’t have been, he moved. “Hurt this hip when I fell this morning and can’t sleep on it. Need to turn back the other way.”

  With a sigh, she complied. “You didn’t say you’d hurt yourself. I thought you only got wet.”

  “Yeah, wouldn’t have mattered except I injured this years ago and it haunts me.” He slid his arms around her and spooned her to him.

  “What happened?” She laid her arms along his so their hands touched.

  “Old fracture.” He exhaled. “When I was ten, a drunk foster father hit me with his car.”

  “No! What happened and how badly were you hurt?” She squeezed his hand. What a horrid life he’d had.

  “He was so drunk he didn’t know what he’d hit and kept going. One of the other foster kids saw me lying in the driveway and got my so-called foster mother. She made the other kid help drag me to the street. Then she made us promise not to tell who’d hit me before she’d call the ambulance. She reported it as an unknown hit and run.”

  Holly turned in his arms and touched his cheek. “You had a terrible childhood. I know you don’t want pity and my sympathy doesn’t help, but I’m still sorry you had to go through such tough times.”

  “Guess things like that made me tough enough to survive. Whatever we go through becomes a part of us. Early on I learned the only person I could depend on was myself. If I’d had a different life, I’d have been a different person.” He threw one leg over her and pulled her near.

  The intimacy should have made her pull back, but she couldn’t. “You know I still don’t agree with your plans for the company?”

  He stroked her arm. “Yeah, and you don’t want me there. But we’ll have to agree to disagree because I’m there to stay. I’m a nobody from the other side of the tracks, Holly, but I’m determined to succeed in this.”

  She couldn’t stop thinking of the picture he painted of his childhood. Her heart broke for that little boy, alone and injured by the people assigned to protect him. Irrationally, she wanted to make it up to him, supply the nurturing he’d missed. Her cheek touched the skin of his shoulder. As if by its own volition, her hand raised to rest where her fingers gently brushed his chest.

  He caressed her hair before his hand slid down her back, stroking her. Salving motions from this hard man touched a place deep inside her core. Heat swirled and built within her. Years spent as the caregiver, as the glue welding her family together, melted in the wake of her need to comfort him. She yearned to console this man and experience the solace and release his arms offered.

  Lightly she pressed her lips to his chin then his cheek. Her mouth parted to receive the kiss she craved. His lips claimed hers softly, tentatively exploring. So gentle, so sweet. No matter how much she disagreed with him about company business, how could she resist this man?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  In answer to her own question, she told herself no sane, healthy woman could resist this opportunity. She leaned into him, slipping her arms around his neck. He deepened the kiss. Their tongues danced and their lips merged. A low moan escaped from her while raw rumbles emanated from his throat.

  His hands explored her body, his fingers searing her skin as they had in her dream. Fully awake this time she was more alive than ever in her life. Each touch of his fingers set her blood pumping, her heart singing.

  His hand cupped her breast as his mouth trailed kisses along her neck and shoulders. When he unhooked her bra and he suckled her hardened nipple, she moaned and pulled his shoulders to her. Swirls of heat pooled low in her abdomen. Honeyed moisture gathered in her vagina. The hard ridge of his desire pushed against her thigh, and she parted her legs.

  As his hand left her breast, he snagged a finger into the waistband of her panties and pulled them down. She wriggled to assist him and arched her back. The cool sheets raked against her naked flesh and sent her to new heights.

  “Now you.” She nipped at his chest and pushed his cotton underwear down.

  She’d thought to be the seducer but now he took control. His hands and lips created magic with her body. Being with a control freak was a plus when he had this power.

  He slid his finger into her wet folds and rubbed his thumb against the nub of her yearning. “You’re ready for me. Your last chance to say no, Princess?"

  For the very first time in her life, Holly Tucker gave in to the moment. Her mind emptied of everything but the man who lay with her. Gone were thoughts of family duties, grudges, responsibilities, and carefully weighed decisions. She surrendered to her desire to be one with this man.

  "Yes. Oh, yes. Don’t keep me waiting any longer, pirate." Her hips nudged his.

  His hand slid beneath the pillow and pulled out a foil package.

  “You, you had that ready? Were you so sure?” Should she be angry he’d taken her for granted or thankful he came prepared?

  “Princess, I’m a man sharing a bed with a beautiful woman. How could I not hope I’d need this? Besides, remember last night. I always keep some in my travel bag for, um, an emergency.”

  Quickly he slid the condom on and returned to her. Their hot, savage joining left them cleaved together long after the waves of climax passed. Trent rolled to his back and pulled her atop him. Then, he tugged the blankets to cover them both.

  "It's a shame to cover a body like yours, but I
sure as hell don't want you catching your death now."

  "It seems warm in here to me. Did you notice?" She straddled him and looked at his face.

  "First time I've been warm in two days." His fingers wrapped around a long curl dangling over her shoulder. He pulled her head to his chest. "Damn, now you really have a reason to hate me. I wanted this so much. Being with you is all I thought about today. I kept picturing you naked in my arms."

  "I don't remember fighting you off." She traced his nipple with her finger and slid the same finger along the line of his scar. As in her dream, she followed the scar with her mouth.

  "Do you have any idea what that does to me?"

  She sensed his manhood swell within her. "Mmm, I think maybe I do."

  "Princess, you've been in my dreams since the day we met. You have no idea how much sleep you've cost me."

  She stopped the progress of her mouth to raise her head. "Then it's a good thing we've gone to bed so early, isn't it? Now you can catch up on your sleep."

  "I don't think so." He sought her mouth with his. Breaking the kiss, he drew her beside him. "Since we have all night and a few more condoms, let's slow down and let me savor you."

  * * *

  The room lay in darkness when Holly awoke. Her head rested on Trent's chest, her breathing matched to his. Yesterday's roller coaster of emotions left her exhausted, but their lovemaking brought a new contentment. Never had she been this relaxed, this complete.

  Did Trent feel contented, trapped, or merely sated? She wondered if he regretted the lovemaking they’d shared. Perhaps he experienced this sort of night often, and it meant nothing to him. How little she knew about him.

  A myriad of emotions tumbled through her--with the absence of contrition. Unused to living for herself, she relished this new feeling. How lovely to live for today and forget tomorrow. Why had she waited twenty-nine years to experience contentment?

  This once she vowed to enjoy the moment.

  This once she gave herself permission to be spontaneous, even irresponsible.

  This once she forced her mind away from worries about the future or the past.

  Trent stroked her back, nuzzling her hair with his chin. "Are you lying awake because you have regrets?"

  She slid her palm along his chest. "No, just savoring. This is a new feeling for me."

  His lips brushed her temple. "What feeling is that?"

  "I guess it's a sort of bliss. It's as if time stands still for us here. There's only the two of us in this big white world and nothing else matters."

  "That will only work for a while longer, Princess." He slid his hand along her shoulder and down her arm.

  "Yes, then it’s back to the real world. It sounds as if the wind is finally losing gale force." She sensed him drifting back to sleep, yet she wanted to know more about him. That knowledge might hold back regrets tomorrow.

  "There's still some of that wild boy in you." She slid her hand to his chest. Her fingers traced the scar before twirling the hair at the base of his navel.

  "Let me show you just how wild this boy can be."

  ***

  Later, Trent lay awake. No matter how much he’d enjoyed this night with Holly, threats of the future cast their shadow. Panic swept over him as he thought of the stakes riding on the meeting he’d missed today.

  Their discussion tonight of his time aboard ship and the reason for his nickname stirred up too many memories. The old feelings of anger and betrayal came back to him as if it were yesterday. What a living nightmare! He sighed and ran his fingers through Holly's silky hair and inhaled her vanilla scent.

  Her sweet smell replaced the memory of acrid odors of the ship's hold and the taste of blood and fear in his mouth. Holding her helped keep at bay the demons of his recurring nightmare. Several times at work he had caught the fragrance of vanilla as she passed, or when she sat near him in a meeting. Her use of the scent replaced the bitter memories its aroma once evoked with a new and erotic association.

  He had new nightmares, dreams where he was once again a penniless orphan with nowhere to turn, and wanted by no one. How could he sleep with his very life's blood poured into a stagnant company that even now might be doomed? How could he enjoy being with this beautiful woman when his failure meant failing her and her family as well as his own destruction?

  Holly murmured in her sleep and rolled away and it was if he’d been deserted. He pulled her back to him, desperate for her closeness amid the turbulent memories. Last night her touch had temporarily silenced his personal demons, perhaps it would again. Cradling her near, he finally slept.

  ***

  Holly waked in a blissful cocoon of warmth. Trent's arms held her, their legs entwined. She propped on an elbow to study him as he slept. Sleep softened the rugged planes of his face and subtracted years from his age.

  Carefully, she stretched aching muscles that protested a night of lovemaking. Let her muscles complain; she had never been so satisfied and complete. More important, Trent made her feel...cherished, just for herself.

  Her thoughts turned to him as a boy and the hard life he must have led then and at sea. He could not have survived that life had he not been hardened by it. How had he turned his life around from that destitute boy to the CEO and owner of forty percent of Marvel Wire and Cable?

  What other stories he must have stored up if only he would talk freely about himself. Even with his disclosures of the night before, he withheld great parts of his life. Would he ever lower the wall and share all of himself with her?

  How could she fault him for what she herself practiced? She had not shared the hopelessness of her family's situation. She realized that as much as their relationship had changed during the past thirty-six hours, they still had many obstacles in their way.

  The thought startled her fully awake. With cold desperation she realized she was very close to falling in love with the wrong man, this man who lay beside her.

  He opened his eyes and brought his hand to brush her hair back from her face. "Good morning, Princess. What put such a serious look on your face so early in the day?"

  She chewed her lip, but couldn’t tell him her true feelings of doubt mixed with longing. Instead, she countered, "I...um, I was just thinking about what you told me of yourself last night and wondering why you chose Marvel?"

  He shook his head. "You'd think me even crazier than you do now."

  "Try me." She pushed her pillow up to the headboard and leaned against it, drawing the cover up under her chin.

  He leaned on his elbow as she had earlier, the finger of his other hand tracing the pattern of the spread where it curved over her abdomen. Her insides dissolved to jelly and she had difficulty concentrating on his words.

  "You know who Richard King was?"

  She nodded, glad his voice penetrated the throb of desire pulsing through her. She hoped her voice sounded steadier than she felt.

  "What kind of Texan would I be if I didn't? You do mean the man who started the King Ranch in the mid 1800's, don't you? That Richard King?"

  "Yeah. Did you know that before he started his ranch he captained a boat?" He scooted up and tucked his pillow behind his head near hers then pulled her near him.

  She snuggled up to his shoulder. "No. Are your certain?" She tried to recall all she knew about the King ranch, and realized she only knew it was huge but nothing about the man who founded it.

  He leaned back against the pillow with one arm around her and one arm behind his head. "Yeah. Of course, he captained a steamboat up and down the Rio Grande instead of a diesel up and down the Atlantic."

  "I didn't know that." Against her own desire to gaze at his body, she pulled the cover up to shield his chest from the cold.

  "I told you I read a lot aboard ship. One of the books spotlighted Americans who had made a fortune and how they started. Several of the men founded a fortune in Texas. When the time came to start my campaign, I also chose Texas."

  "You think of building your fortune as
a campaign?"

  "Exactly what it is. In addition to the benefits of the reward I told you of, I saved and invested from the time I was eighteen."

  She frowned. "I thought you were sixteen when you ran away to sea."

  His rakish grin sent her pulse climbing. "Ah, but the first two years I played the devil, spent every penny I had."

  "And you just waked up one day and decided to become prudent?" Even at sixteen he must have been a handsome devil.

  He sobered. "No. One day I waked up in a hospital and realized I was as mortal as any other man." His hand rubbed the great scar slashed across his chest. "My best friend didn't wake up from that fight. It made me think, I can tell you."

  She placed a hand on his arm. "Your friend died? I'm so sorry." What if it had been him? The thought of him dying before his time sent shivers through her.

  "Aside from the sorrow of losing a mate, Captain Swenson pointed out I could easily have been the one laid out on a slab in the morgue."

  "So you changed your wicked ways?" She tilted her head and flashed him a smile.

  "I didn't say that. I said I started saving my money."

  She gave his chest a playful nudge.

  "In fact, I gave saving the same dedication I had given to spending. I started reading everything I could on making those savings multiply.”

  He appeared lost in thought then met her gaze. “What really helped my capital was that John Swenson’s father had grown up with this Dallas investment banker, Carl Winston. John hooked me up with Winston to guide my investments. In the almost eighteen years since then, that amount grew steadily."

  “Carl Winston? Imagine that. Guess it really is a small world. He’s a family friend from way back.” She slid to the edge of the bed and reached for her clothes. "I think I'll fix breakfast so you can save the Martins' money by caring for their cattle."

  "Yep. It's time to head 'em up and move 'em out." With a playful slap to her still-bared backside, he mimicked the old television western theme.

  "Hey, watch it, Macleod." She tried for indignation but couldn’t suppress a smile.