Burning for Love: Los Angeles Armstrongs 2 (The Armstrongs Book 8)

by Gray, Jessica

  “I understand that some planning is needed, but my ex used to organize his closet.” When Drake looked at her skeptically, she shrugged. “By color and material. And all the canned goods were alphabetized in the pantry.”

  “Are you serious?” Drake barked out a laugh. When she nodded, he continued, “I organize my clothes as well. Clean and dirty. And maybe by whether to wear them to the office, or for outdoor activities.”

  Roxie saw the honesty in his blue eyes and started to think that having a relationship with Drake might not be the worst thing in the world.

  “That was the reason you broke up with him?” Drake asked.

  “Yes. I felt trapped. He was controlling my every move. Same routine year in, year out. Same places, same meals, same activities, same everything. I was afraid that life was passing me by and I’m missing out. I’m young, I want to explore, travel, do fun and exciting things.”

  “So what? You tossed in the towel and fled the country?”

  “Not exactly, but I had to do something drastic,” she admitted.

  “Roxie, you can have adventures and still hold down a steady job. I do it. Many of my friends do it.”

  “You can say that because excursions are part of your job,” she said.

  “It is. In my field of work, one trip is worth more than a thousand hours of theory in the classroom.” His fingers tapped a steady rhythm on her arm.

  “But not all jobs are like yours,” she complained.

  “No, they’re not. But I believe everyone has a choice. With a bit of inventiveness anyone can add adventure to their lives. Take a weekend trip to the mountains…”

  “…and get stuck in a snow storm.” Roxie completed his sentence and they both started laughing. During their conversation she had unconsciously inched closer to him, and now his nearness set her body on fire and clouded her mind. Damn, she wanted to lean in. To let herself get wrapped up in his feel, his scent, his strength.

  To let herself fall.

  Drake stared into her eyes until she squirmed under his scrutiny. Heat shot through her. Please kiss me.

  “When you decided to become a teacher, did you see yourself always being a teacher?”

  Roxie thought about the question for a moment and then shook her head. “No, not full-time. I thought I would marry and have a few kids.”

  “With the ex?” Drake wanted to know.

  Roxie nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. When the kids came along, I was going to work part-time. I knew we would spend two weeks vacationing each year at his parents’ summer cottage, and that would be my life.”

  “And now?”

  “Now I want more. I want the freedom to explore the world if I want, or just my own town. But being in a serious relationship would keep me from doing that.”

  “I want you,” Drake told her baldly, and her stomach did that flip-flop thing again.

  “I want you too, but…I’m just not ready for a serious relationship. Can’t we be together without a big commitment?” she asked, searching his face with her eyes. “There has to be a middle ground.”

  She could see the fighting emotions on his face, but in the end he nodded and pulled her against his chest. His mouth claimed hers in a kiss as deep and urgent as their desire that had been building for days. His big hands running up and down her back kindled hot flames and her lust spiraled out of control.

  A moan of need reverberated through her and his reaction was to squeeze her tighter, before he released her for a moment and zipped the sleeping bags together. He stripped both of them down to the underwear and Roxie shivered from the frigid air in the shelter. But that was soon forgotten as they crawled into the sleeping bags and he took her into his strong arms.

  Through the thin fabric of his boxers she felt his immense erection pressing hard into her thigh as he started to caress every inch of her exposed skin. Tingles rushed from head to toe and her pulse raced. She wanted him –now! She had wanted him the entire time, but with the commitment thing out of the way, she could now give in to her desire.

  Roxie traced the muscles in his arms and grabbed his firm buttocks. He groaned and took her in another punishing kiss. Her head swirled and she had the feeling she was floating. While his lips and tongue pleasured her mouth, his hands stroked her back.

  He kissed her neck, finding the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met. When she groaned in response, he made it his anchor point, kissing his way across her breasts, and then returning to that ultra-sensitive spot. Moments later he’d divested her of her bra and released her mouth, to roll onto his back.

  Suddenly she was on all fours, her knees to both sides of his hips and he suckled her nipples. The breath hitched in her chest as sensations of pure ecstasy rushed through her. The tingling in her nipple intensified with each lick, suck and bite he gave. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he released her nipple and gave the same attention to the other one.

  “Ohh, Drake,” she moaned.

  By now she was dripping wet and longing to have him inside her. Within the sleeping bag the heat had been rising constantly and when he let go of her nipple to remove her panties, she welcomed the fresh air that entered. Her already taut nipples tightened into sharp peaks when the cold draft hit them. It was deliciously painful and sent shivers down her spine.

  Roxie longed for Drake’s big hands on her skin, but he crawled out of the sleeping bag and scrabbled about his backpack. She got to appreciate his entire, almost naked, body and the sizzle in her veins became intolerable. If he didn’t join her soon, she’d explode from pent-up lust.

  Drake turned around and threw her a package, which she identified as condoms. She caught it with one hand and stashed it neatly in the hood of the sleeping bag.

  He chuckled and removed his boxers. Roxie gasped at the sight of his impressive erection, standing up like a soldier. Another rush of heat to her core reminded her how aroused she was and how much she’d been longing for this moment.

  “Like what you see?” He teased her while he prowled across the room like a panther hunting for prey.

  “Very much. But I’d like even more to get my hands on you.” Roxie had no idea, where her boldness came from. But with Drake, everything was easy, natural.

  “And you will, sweetheart. We have nothing else to do all day – and all night.”

  The seductive edge in his voice made her quiver and she couldn’t wait for him to make good on his promise.

  “Come inside,” she said and opened the sleeping bag for him to slide in.

  “Not so fast sweetheart. First I’ll make you come until you can’t take it anymore, and then I’ll make you mine.”

  She felt her whole body flush with red-hot heat and was grateful when he slid into the sleeping bag and pressed his cool body against hers.

  Chapter 15

  Drake was way beyond logical reasoning. Otherwise he might have stopped. He would never be able to treat this as a casual relationship. He wanted her – for good. But for now he followed his emotions in his plan to make her lie spent in his arms after she’d screamed her ecstasy into the forlorn mountains.

  He took his sweet time nibbling on her earlobe and relished in the way her body responded when he hit a sensitive spot on her neck. She squirmed and wiggled beneath his touch and he decided it was time to give her a release.

  His hand wandered over her silky skin, brushing lightly across her nipples, followed by another squirm and a sexy moan from her throat. Drake’s cock pulsed in response, but his own pleasure would have to wait. They had all day, there was no reason to rush.

  When his hand reached her curls, she bucked her hips against him. Drake had to chuckle at her frantic eagerness, but he wouldn’t make it that easy for her. It was too much fun to bring her arousal to unknown heights.

  “It’s such a shame I can’t watch what my hand is doing,” he said.

  Roxie blushed and he could feel a trembling coming from deep inside her.

  “You want to wa
tch?” she whispered.

  “I’d love to. You’re so beautiful and you respond so violently to my touch. It turns me on.” He chuckled and intensified his pressure on her pubis.

  “Ohh,” Roxie moaned and opened her thighs for him.

  “Unfortunately, it’s too cold to shed our covers, so feeling you has to suffice,” Drake said and slid his fingers inside her wet folds. “You are dripping, sweetheart. Are you that needy?”

  Instead of an answer, she opened her legs wider and pressed her core against his hand. Her beautiful brown eyes had darkened with desire and her breath came in erratic spurts.

  How much he would have liked to go down on her and taste her, but that would have to wait for another opportunity. He dipped two fingers inside her while his thumb rubbed over her clit. It didn’t take long, before Roxie screamed his name and her inner muscles clenched and pulsated around his fingers.

  When she calmed down, he kissed her on her mouth and whispered, “That was so sexy.” Then he fumbled for one of the condoms, sheathed himself and rolled on top of Roxie. He remained poised at her entranced and searched her eyes.

  Her eyes were filled with passion and lust, and he knew she was ready for more. But before he could act on it, he felt how she took things into her own hands and pushed his hard member inside her.

  “I like straight-forward women.”

  He breathed against her ear and followed her pace until he couldn’t hold back any longer. His thrusts became faster and more powerful and just before he was about to spill his hot seed, he reached down and rubbed her clit to send her over the edge together with him. Ripples of pure ecstasy shook his body at the sensation of how her inner muscles clenched and convulsed around him.

  His release was epic and then he collapsed at her side, taking her into his arms. But his hands wouldn’t stay still and started to explore her body again and again, until the last rays of sunshine had given way to darkness and both Drake and Roxie lay content and completely worn out in their love-cave.

  “Is it still snowing outside?” she asked in the stillness of the shelter.

  Drake reached for his iPad and then nodded grimly. “Yeah, it is.”

  “You know what? I should probably be worried about the snow, but I’m not. How can I be worried when you hold me in your arms,” she said.

  “That’s good.”

  He was just the slightest bit worried, but he wouldn’t tell her that. And he also couldn’t say what he really wanted to. I love you. And I want you. Only you. Always. Forever.

  “Are you hungry,” Drake asked after several minutes had passed.

  “Hmm. Yes. Someone made me exercise a lot. What’s on the gourmet menu for tonight?” Roxie grinned at him from her spot on his chest.

  “Well, let’s see. I believe we have freeze-dried noodles with a lovely marinara sauce to accompany them.” Drake did his best imitation of a high-class maître de, causing Roxie to burst into giggles.

  “That sounds delicious. I look forward to sampling such a delectable sounding dish.”

  Drake laughed and then they both hurriedly dressed. He started up the cook stove to melt snow, adding the instant noodles and sauce. Five minutes later, they were eating pasta and drinking tea.

  After dinner they cleaned the dishes together and tidied the small hut. Roxie sat down on the sleeping bags.

  “What I wouldn’t give for a shower,” she murmured.

  “I could make that wish a reality. There’s a wealth of snow right outside the door. Enough for a nice snow bath.” Drake grinned.

  “No thank you. I do believe I can wait another day.” Roxie looked at him and tilted her head. “Although I have heard that some actresses actually take a bath in a tub full of ice cubes. Supposedly this is a perfect anti-wrinkle treatment.”

  “You don’t need that; you’re gorgeous.” Drake complimented her and she blushed.

  “But if you ever get old and wrinkly, I’ll take off your clothes…,” he said and relished in her intensifying flush, “…and kiss every last one of your wrinkles, especially those hidden between those beautiful legs…” she pressed her legs together and her breathing became ragged, “…and then I’ll take an ice cube and take it to all the places where my lips have been.”

  “Now?” she asked with a husky voice. “Can we do the thing with your lips now?”

  Drake chuckled and obliged.

  ***

  After spending the entire night loving Roxie, Drake opened his eyes and snuck out to check on the weather conditions. A clear sky greeted him. The snow had stopped falling and the bright sun clad the landscape with a dazzling sparkle. A true winter wonderland. The kind you saw in movies and he half expected Santa Claus to dart around the corner with his reindeer. In July.

  Drake’s heart was filled with joy as he returned inside. Despite him agreeing to a non-committal relationship, it hadn’t felt like that. His emotions for Roxie were hard to describe, but they’d made the brilliant sex even better. He knew without a shadow of doubt that Roxie was the woman for him, now he just needed to convince her.

  For the moment, he would sit back and enjoy it while it lasted. After their discussion the day before he understood why she was so afraid to commit. He would show her that with him she’d never feel trapped. He was willing to give her all the freedom she required to be happy.

  “Hey sweetie, the sky’s clear. There’s still boatloads of snow, but we should be able to find our way down.”

  It was a bittersweet realization. He would miss having Roxie all to himself. If he’d been by up here alone, he would have attempted to reach the crater today. But it was Monday morning and Roxie had to get back to school. By now, everyone must be worried sick about her.

  For some reason the missed opportunity to make it to the crater didn’t bother him. Spending time with Roxie would more than make up for it. That thought was slightly unsettling, because Drake was known to be dedicated to his research. When’s the last time you ditched the opportunity to explore a volcano? For a woman?

  Never.

  His heart did a somersault. Or two.

  Drake leaned over Roxie and repeated his announcement, brushing her lips with his mouth as he tried to wake her. She stirred and her sleepy moan, got him all hot and bothered. Again.

  He deepened the kiss and when she grabbed his neck to pull him near, he lost his balance and landed on top of her. His shaft took it as a signal for more action and hardened in no time at all.

  “We only have time for a quickie,” he whispered into her ear.

  “Then get naked already,” she demanded and moved to let him inside the sleeping bag.

  Drake chuckled. Her face looked sleepy, but her eyes were filled with pure unabated lust. He undressed in three seconds flat and thrust into her warm center as soon as he’d climbed inside the sleeping bags. Despite the lack of foreplay she was wet and welcoming. Soon, his hard and urgent thrusts flung both of them over the edge into that blissful place where all seemed right with the world.

  As their heart rates came back down, so did the realization that their time on the mountain was over.

  “We need to leave. With the snow, it’s going to take us much longer to reach the Jeep,” Drake said and withdrew from the warmth of her body.

  Roxie nodded and got up as well. Once dressed, she helped him pack the sleeping bags and the rest of their stuff away.

  He checked his phone. Still no signal.

  They started down the trail, treacherous with banks of snow and ice. Drake took the lead, Roxie a few steps behind. He concentrated on each step on the slippery surface, but still stumbled and fell more than once. As did she, but never once she complained about the difficult descent. She definitely was a girl after his liking.

  The hike down took them twice the usual time and it was almost noon when they reached the Jeep. Drake looked at Roxie’s rosy cheeks and her sparkling brown eyes. She was soaked from her hips down, but still smiled.

  “I’m so grateful we managed with
out serious hiccups,” she said and his heart filled with pride.

  “Yep. You did amazing.” I love you, he wanted to add, but didn’t. His confession would probably scare her away. It was too soon for declarations.

  His cell phone sprang to life and one by one a dozen messages appeared on the screen.

  “Looks like we have a signal again.” He chuckled and pushed the button to call Carlos while he watched Roxie attempt to clear the mud from her shoes.

  “Drake!” Carlos shouted through the line.

  “Carlos, we’re fine,” Drake assured his friend, hearing the worry in his voice and knowing it was more than justified. “We just made it back to the base shelter. We didn’t have coverage further up.”

  “I figured that much. Did you hear about the snowstorm?”

  “We were right in the middle,” Drake said and thought about the time in the shack with Roxie. Heat flooded his system.

  “Where did it catch you?” Carlos wanted to know.

  “Halfway down from the second refuge to base shelter.”

  “Don’t tell me you hiked down in the storm? You should know better than that!” Carlos chided him.

  “Nah. We spent the night in a god-forsaken hut and the storm caught us there.”

  “I know that hut. It used to be a shepherd shelter when I was young, but it hasn’t been used in, what, twenty years?”

  “It sure looked like that.” Drake pressed the phone between shoulder and ear and began to stash their gear in the Jeep. “It snowed more than a foot and visibility was next to zero. We had to stay another night.”

  “Thank god, you’re safe.” Carlos chuckled. “Not that I was worried about you, dude, but about little Miss Teacher. I called school to let them know she was probably trapped in the snowstorm.”