Finding Hope

by Krystal Shannan

  ***

  She was right. She wasn’t his. He barely knew her, but he wanted her. God, he wanted her.

  Her blue eyes sparked, and she stood there so determined with her arms crossed bravely over her chest. How had this little slip of a blonde gotten so far under his skin?

  “What’s the plan?”

  “Change clothes, grab the yarn I brought. It’s in the pink bag in my suitcase.”

  “Why do you have yarn?”

  She gave him a sheepish grin. “I knit to relax.”

  A vision of her surrounded by nothing by skeins of yarn invaded his mind. He smiled.

  “Don’t laugh at me. My grandmother taught me.”

  “I wasn’t laughing. Why do we need yarn?”

  The elevator opened on the third floor, and they stepped out.

  “To use as markers. Any kind of string or ribbon will work, but yarn is easier to attach to trees. It clings to anything. The most dangerous aspect of searching in a snowstorm is getting lost yourself. And, this mess doesn’t appear to be letting up at all.” She waved her hand at the window toward the end of the hall. “There won’t be any tracks to follow, and our own tracks will quickly be covered as well.”

  She stopped at 310 and slipped her hand into her cleavage. A plastic key card emerged.

  Her quick wink told him he’d been caught staring. She walked through the open door and paused, waiting for him. Surely she didn’t expect him to watch her change clothes?

  “I can wait here while you change.”

  “If I’m going to get out of this dress, I’m going to need an extra set of hands. It took three of us to put it on.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I saw that look!”

  She hurried into the room, and he followed her. Addison raised her arms above her head and stood in the center of the hotel room, waiting.

  The curves of her body were making him crazy. The dress clung tightly to her breasts and hugged her flat stomach. The back of the dress accentuated her round ass in all the right places, and the only thing he wanted to do was run his hands all over her.

  “Adrian.”

  He snapped his gaze away from her ass. The expression in her blue eyes meant business.

  “You are just so—”

  “Save it and get me out of this dress.”

  “I’ve waited years to hear a woman say that,” he answered with a grin.

  “You better keep your hands to the zippers, mister,” she snapped back. She may have sounded snappish, but Adrian could hear the same heat rising in her voice he was trying to tamp down in his own.

  Crappy timing!

  Adrian approached cautiously under her warning glare.

  “Where do I start?”

  “There’s a hidden zipper on both sides of the dress and another down the back.”

  He reached for the seam under her left arm and found the tiny zipper. It slipped from his fingers three times before he got it to slide. The dress gaped, and he had to keep himself from slipping his hand inside to caress her white skin.

  “They don’t make these dresses easy, do they?”

  “Nope.” She twirled to the right.

  The next zipper was easier to find, and it slid from under her arm to the top of her hip. The dress pulled away from her body even more, allowing a better view of the lacy black bustier she was wearing beneath it. Her breasts were beautiful and round. His fingers grazed down the length of her ribcage. A quick intake of breath followed the touch, and she froze in place until he pulled away his hand.

  He took a deep breath. “Was there another?”

  “Y-yes.” Addison turned her back to him. “About halfway down the dress in the middle.”

  Adrian ran his fingers down the middle seam in the back of the dress. He pulled back a small tuck and found the zipper tag. A gentle tug got it moving, and it slid slowly down the curve of her ass and stopped at mid thigh. He stifled a groan at the sight of the black lace panties that matched the bustier.

  “Done.”

  The zipper was down. His hands were off her body, but he could still see glimpses of her bare skin through the openings in the dress. He rubbed his left hand from his chin up the side of his face. His body was keyed up, and his pants were uncomfortably tight. “I better go change too. You good from here?”

  She turned to meet his gaze and nodded.

  “Thank you.”

  Her face was flushed. Good. At least he wasn’t the only one feeling aroused. He smiled and then turned to leave.

  “I’ll meet you in the lobby,” she called as he closed the door behind him.

  Adrian smiled when Addison appeared in the lobby with an armful of yarn. She dumped it on the floor and took the bright red parka the hotel clerk was holding out to her. She was adorable. Bits of blonde hair poked out from the hood. But, her form-fitting jeans were the best part of the ensemble, though he had to give her extra credit for the nice snakeskin boots peeking out from beneath the hem.

  She took charge right away, passing out yarn to the three other couples who’d volunteered to search. They were the only other people he could find who had packed winterish footwear. One couple was from Michigan, and the other two were from New York. He borrowed another heavy coat from one of the hotel employees.

  She turned to the small group. “All right, be sure you attach the yarn to the trees to guide you back to the front terrace. Just wrap a little around a branch or tree trunk and pull it tight to snap it off.”

  Everyone nodded.

  They stepped through the lobby doors, and the icy wind cut into his face like a razorblade. God, it’s cold. Snow whirled around, making visibility only ten or fifteen feet. And everything was covered in snow. The cars, the buses, the trees were banked in several feet of snow.

  Richard and Carol, along with several others were standing in the parking lot shouting the boys’ names.

  “We have to move fast,” she said, gesturing to the dark cloudy sky.

  Her eyes were calculating and focused. All the emotions from earlier had vanished. She would have made a good cop. Compartmentalizing was a big part of the job.

  They flipped on the flashlights the hotel had found and he led the way. She followed, attaching the yarn to a twig or branch every five feet or so. It felt as though they were barely moving. The wind was against them, and the snowdrifts were sometimes up to his thighs. He glanced behind him. Addison was moving easier since he had already broken the trail.

  His face burned. It shouldn’t be this cold. Actually, he couldn’t remember it ever being this cold in Nashville. He flexed his fingers and rubbed his gloved hands together.

  “John! Jacob!” Adrian bellowed. The thickly falling snow cut his voice off in seconds. How were they ever going to find the boys? He could barely see anything.

  “John! Jacob!” Addison called out from behind him.

  A few minutes later he felt a tug on his coat. He turned and Addison was holding up the end of the yarn. She motioned that they needed to go back. He nodded.

  Her pace was unbelievable. He didn’t know how she moved so quickly through snow. Wasn’t she exhausted? And cold? His leg muscles burned from pushing through the drifts, and she was hauling ass, half leaping along the trail like a white-tailed deer. She stopped and waited for him at each point where she had tied off the yarn. His jeans were soaked and as cold as ice. Hers had to be the same.

  In a matter of minutes they had reached the terrace.

  “We need to adjust by about ten degrees west.” She pointed into the trees a few yards from where they’d just emerged.

  “Okay,” Adrian answered. “Do you need to rest for a minute?”

  “No, we need to go. The boys have been missing too long.” She grabbed another color of yarn from the stack by the door.

  “Let’s go.” He trotted back across the snow-covered lawn and entered the trees where she had indicated. A few yards inside the tree line, he noticed a bit of bright red fabric sn
agged on a branch. “Addison! Look!”

  She smiled and then turned away, hollering the boys’ names. He did the same. A surprised yelp made him turn. Addison had disappeared into a snowdrift and was sliding down the side of the hill.

  Oh my God! “Addison!” His heart lurched. “No!”

  He struggled to maintain his balance and followed her trail down the side of the steep hill, praying she hadn’t hit any trees on her way down.

  “John! Jacob!” Her voice carried up from the bottom of the slope.

  Thank you God. If she was hollering for those boys, she must be in one piece.

  “Hello?” A faint voice came from his right.

  “John! Jacob!” he bellowed. “Keep hollering! We’re coming.”

  Adrian continued to push through the snowdrifts. Addison popped up a few yards away and was moving toward the boy’s voice too.

  “Help!” The small voice was getting louder.

  Finally he saw them. Both boys were huddled at the base of a large oak tree. They had continued to climb up and pat down the snow as it had fallen. Smart boys.

  “Thank God, we found you,” she cooed.

  “We’re sorry,” John cried.

  “It’s okay, honey. Let’s get you both back to your parents. They are worried sick,” Addison answered.

  “Thanks, Miss Addi,” answered Jacob.

  He touched her shoulder. “You start up the slope. I’ll follow you with them.”

  “Okay. Come on boys.” She turned and started climbing.

  The twins scrambled after her, only needing an extra push here and there to help them up the hill. He followed behind the three of them, making sure they stayed focused on following Addison’s bright red coat.

  Chapter Eight

  Addison struggled through the snow. The snow hadn’t let up at all, and she was re-breaking a lot of the trail. Her jeans clung to her skin like ice, and she couldn’t feel her feet at all. The numbness was probably the only reason she’d slipped off the trail to begin with, although she seemed to remember something pushing her. It didn’t matter now. Thank God she had, or they never would have found the boys.

  She wrapped the yarn around her wrist as she moved forward. The ball was getting larger and larger. They had to be getting close to the resort. The wind bit her face like a thousand stinging bees. Addison fell forward and clambered on all fours a few steps before regaining her footing.

  “Addison?” He called out.

  He’d seen her stumble.

  “I’m okay,” she answered over her shoulder and waved. Warm bath. Just focus on the warmth that is coming. “You keeping up, boys?”

  “Yes!” both boys answered in unison.

  Finally, the tree line broke away, and she saw the faint outline of the resort in the distance. The bright porch lights shined through the dark, snowy night like lamps from heaven.

  “We are almost there.” I can make it.

  One step in front of the next, slowly but surely she made her way to the terrace. The boys passed her by and ran into the lobby ahead of her. Am I moving that slowly? So tired.

  The hotel doors opened, and squeals of excitement assaulted her ears. The room seemed hazy, and the voices were garbled. What is wrong with me?

  “Addi! Adrian! Thank you! ” Carol called out.

  “Addi, what’s wrong?” Missy asked. “Adrian, catch her!”

  Her body was shaking. She tried to speak, but no words would form. It was as though her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. Then the lights faded to black.

  Her skin was burning. Addison opened her eyes and screamed. Hot water cascaded over her body. She struggled against Adrian’s hold. One of his arms was wrapped around her waist, and the other was tightly wound over her shoulder and down between her breasts. His fingers were splayed, gripping the side of her ribcage.

  Tears poured from her eyes as the numbness left her feet. Feeling returned like thousands of fiery pinpricks. She sobbed and wailed, continuing to struggle. He was a giant compared even to her five-feet-ten-inch height. Not a chance in hell of getting loose unless he wanted it that way.

  “Shhhhhh. Addison. It’s all right,” he cooed into her ear. “You’ve got to warm up.”

  She looked down. Bra and underwear. Check. How the hell did he get those wet jeans off of me?

  The water began to feel good, and she wiggled her toes for good measure. All the feeling had returned, and her sore muscles began to relax. Her libido also began to realize Adrian was completely bare except for his boxers. And wet cotton did not conceal much.

  Her bottom rubbed against his growing erection. His arousal encouraged hers to roar to life. The death grip he had her locked in relaxed, and she turned in his arms so they were facing each other. Hot water streamed down on her shoulders, running down her back and her front. Her nipples bunched against the lace bra she was wearing, and she shivered in excitement. The chill had fled and was replaced by a burning fire. She ran a hand up his torso and circled one of his taut nipples, teasing until he growled.

  “If you keep doing that, we are not staying in this shower.”

  Addison glanced up and met his smoldering gaze. He was looking at her as though she were a delectable dessert. She stretched and pressed a kiss to the side of his neck. Adrian leaned his head forward and latched his mouth onto the hollow of her neck, just above the edge of her collarbone. Addison moaned in appreciation.

  A few moments later he’d made short work of her bra and was hunching over, laving her hard, pebbled nipples. She gasped when he scraped his teeth against the tender flesh. His hard erection rubbed against her thighs as he moved. She wanted out of the shower and into a bed…or against a wall…or wherever he felt like putting her.

  “Adrian, please.” Her body ached from the very center. It had been so long. She was more than willing to overlook her hesitations about getting involved with someone from out-of-town. Adrian Colter was sexy and available right now. And right now is what she needed. She could deal with leaving later.

  A deep growl vibrated against her neck where he was kissing. He lifted and carried her from the shower to the bedroom and left her dripping in the middle of the hotel room.

  What the hell?

  Seconds later he reappeared with two towels and began drying her off. He was meticulous and sensual at the same time, gently lifting each breast and kneading it with the towel. Satisfied with the front, he threaded the towel between her legs and massaged the sore muscles in her thighs and calves. His fingers rarely touched her skin, and when they did, rivulets of heat shot straight to her sex. The anticipation of his next touch was making her pant.

  I might actually just collapse on top of him right now.

  His hands were firm, but gentle. Her tired muscles reveled in the attention.

  How is this the same man who irritated the crap out of me this morning?

  He was completely forgiven. Whatever had been said, whatever had been done, was history. She closed her eyes and sank into the moment. To have a man take such care with her was something she’d never experienced.

  It’s just a one-night stand. Don’t get used to it, Addison.

  The towel dropped. His fingers slipped beneath the waistband of her wet panties. Her eyes popped open, and she was surprised to find him kneeling in front of her, staring up. The desire in his eyes was exciting. Arousal slicked the folds of her sex. He tugged the panties to the floor, and she obliged him by stepping out of them, receiving a smile that melted any resolve that might have remained opposed to this rendezvous.

  “I want to taste you, Addison.”

  A shiver coursed through her body at the need in voice. He ran his fingertips across her bare mound and parted the lips, revealing her sex to his gaze. Heat surged to her face. Adrian leaned forward. She stopped breathing as he caressed her slit with his warm tongue. The sensations were overwhelming. He dipped his tongue into her pussy and slowly meandered his way up to her clitoris. No one had ever pleasured her this way before.
Billy had expected her to service him, but there had never been any reciprocation.

  Oh my God!

  She held her breath, the sensations overwhelming her. Her body thrummed with need, and an ache was building deep in her core.

  He pulled back for a moment. “Breathe, Addison.”

  She gasped for the forgotten air. Her legs trembled as he wrapped his arms around her thighs and pulled her back to his mouth. A moan escaped her lips when he swirled his tongue around her clit. The teasing movements were driving an orgasm up fast and hard. The tension built inside her body like the string on a crossbow. She shuddered and ran her fingers through his dark, wavy hair.

  Addison fisted a handful of his hair. “I… please, Adrian.” Her breath was coming in short pants. She needed to come. Badly. Her toes curled into the carpet, and she leaned into his mouth, but she couldn’t crest. Something was missing. A growl of frustration slid from her sweaty body. Tremors rippled through her, but the release wouldn’t come. Her body hurt.

  It was her fault. She couldn’t get out of her head.

  “Breathe, Addison.”

  She gasped, shocked that she had been holding her breath again. How did he know?

  Thoughts about sleeping with Adrian rushed through her mind. A one-night stand wasn’t her thing. Why was she doing this with him? What would he think of her? How would she feel about herself once she left and went back to Montana? God, why can’t I just enjoy this small moment of pleasure?

  One of Adrian’s hands left her thighs. He was sliding it up to a breast. He cupped it and kneaded before beginning to roll the nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She gasped when he pinched just a little. The nipple responded and instantly hardened. At the same time his fingers were torturing her nipple, his mouth continued to torture her sex.

  Suddenly the licking changed to sucking. He pulled her engorged clit into his mouth hard. His fingers clamped down on the nipple he’d been playing with and a sharp pain shot through her. She growled through a scream. Her body convulsed and shuddered. The biggest orgasm she’d ever had rippled through her, burning from the inside out. Muscles tightened. The sensations seemed to shatter her hold on reality. It was glorious.