Untouched Perfection

by Mayer, Kristin

  “It’s only just begun.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Over an hour later, we made a left turn off the main road. There was a slight incline, and I tensed.

  Garrick squeezed my hand. “Joe’s an expert. We’ll be fine.”

  “Until tonight, I’d never been on icy roads before. I’m not a fan of the sliding.”

  Garrick put his finger under my chin and brought my eyes to meet his. “I won’t let anything happen to you. If I thought there was a chance this was too dangerous, I would change our plans.”

  “I know, and I love you for it.”

  “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

  We’d brought down the divider some time ago. In the headlights, the snow came down harder. Joe handled the SUV expertly. Winding around another corner, we turned into what I assumed was a driveway. I relaxed marginally. Hopefully, we were almost there. The driveway wound around a few bins until a huge house came into view.

  The car slowed. I estimated there were over thirty windows. Is this the cabin? No way. “Is this it?”

  Garrick looked out the window and smiled. “Yes. Our cabin for the next few days.” I laughed. He has to be kidding, right? “What’s funny?” he asked, concerned.

  “This is not a cabin.” I shook my head. The outside landscape lighting showed at least two stories. “It’s what? Ten thousand square feet?”

  “Twelve thousand. The guesthouse is another three. Is something wrong with the place?”

  I patted his knee. “No, nothing’s wrong. But this is not a cabin. Not hardly.” Twelve thousand square feet. What in the world does someone do with that much space?

  We pulled into the circular drive area and stopped in front of the huge wooden front doors. In the night with the lighting, it was picturesque—stone and reflective glass with wooden beams gave the place a cozy, ski lodge feel.

  “The real estate agent said cabin. So I went with cabin.”

  Good grief. What kind of houses does this woman normally show?

  Taking a deep breath, I broke our stare and looked back at the “cabin.” This place was perfect on the outside. At Christmas, I could see the house decorated for the season. I loved it already and I hadn’t seen inside.

  Garrick squeezed my hand. “Let’s go see if you like the place.”

  I already knew the answer. Garrick handed me a warm coat with a fur-lined hood. “This looks warm.”

  “I hope so. It’ll keep you from freezing here.”

  After I put it on, he asked, “Are you ready?”

  “I am.”

  The car door opened, and a burst of frigid air came in. “Oh geez, it’s gotten colder.”

  “We’re at a higher elevation. Let’s hurry.”

  On the way here, Garrick had mentioned Utah was experiencing an unseasonable cold front. I had never felt air this cold in my life. It was a far cry from the warm, humid air of Florida.

  We dashed up the porch. The door was unlocked, and I stopped before he opened the door. It seemed odd the house was left unsecured. “Is someone waiting for us?”

  “Security unlocked it. We’re completely safe, and we’ll have the illusion of being alone as long as we stay to one side of the house.”

  The door swung open, and I entered. Inside was magnificent—wood beams across the ceiling, stone walls, and cream furniture over black slate flooring. Exquisite. I loved it here. The decor was clean and simple yet warm and inviting.

  Garrick wrapped his arms around my waist as I stared at the crackling fire across the living room. “What do you think of our cabin?”

  I turned in his arms. “I love it. This place is perfect, and I haven’t seen it all yet. Thank you for this—all of it.”

  As I was about to take off my coat, Garrick stopped me. “There’s something we need to do first before we get settled.”

  “What’s that?”

  Garrick’s nose grazed mine. “Check off two more items from your bucket list. We’ll build a snowman tomorrow when it’s light outside.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Come with me.”

  The familiar giddiness I used to get when I checked off items flew through me. At the airport, I hadn’t been able to process everything as fast as it happened. When we got on the plane, for some reason I’d imagined we were headed somewhere along the East Coast.

  We walked across the living room, and I gasped. The back wall of the room was entirely glass.

  “The windows are one-way. No one can see in. The previous owners wanted privacy without sacrificing the view.”

  “Aren’t we in the middle of nowhere?”

  “Yes, privacy is important.”

  I thought about the time Garrick sat behind the one-way glass in Cameron’s office. The draw to look at it had been unexplainable. Garrick’s hands were on the door, but I stopped him. If I’d been successful… I hated thinking about the alternative. “Thank you for not giving up on me the day I tried to push you away.”

  Stroking my face, he said, “You are worth every gamble. I mean that.” The gold flecks in his eyes sparkled, and I felt how much I meant to him. I hugged him, burying my face in his chest and memorizing this moment.

  “Are you ready for your first bucket list check with me?”

  The simple question had so much weight behind it… like there was a commitment of forever laced in the words. If my suspicions were right, I wanted him to know I was right there with him. “Absolutely.”

  He opened the door, and the frigid air caused me to pull my coat a little tighter around me. The snow swirled about, creating a magical moment. At the end of the patio area, a significant amount of snow accumulated. The low lighting of the area gave a romantic glow. This was perfect—beyond perfect. It felt like we were the only two people on the planet in our solitude. The back porch had barely any snow on it. I leaned down to touch the floor. “This is warm.”

  “It’s heated to keep the snow from getting too close to the doors. We can come out here tomorrow and roast marshmallows in the fireplace out here.” Garrick pointed toward the left. A fireplace lay nestled in the corner, surrounded with furniture, which had been covered. I couldn’t wait to be out here.

  In my wildest dreams, I’d never imagined something so perfect. “I would love that.”

  Garrick led me out a little farther, and I glanced up at the sky, letting the snow dust my face. I stuck out my tongue and let the little cold spots land on it.

  Another check mark to my bucket list.

  Closing my eyes, I reveled in the absolute stillness of this moment—the perfection. A shiver ran through me, and I opened my eyes to find Garrick staring at me.

  “You amaze me, Knoah. With you, I feel like I’m seeing life for the first time.”

  “You brought me back to life, Garrick.”

  He leaned down and kissed me. Our tongues collided as the snow fell around us. Nothing else mattered but the feel of him against me. All too soon, the kiss slowed. He murmured against my lips, “You ready for another check mark?”

  “Never been more ready in my life.” My words held more meaning beneath the surface, and I hoped he realized it. It seemed we were dancing around our deeper thoughts, afraid to scare each other off.

  I let him guide me to where the snow had begun to accumulate at the end of the patio where grass began. Suddenly I wasn’t sure how to do this. I had no idea. People fell back, then moved their limbs. Or was that only how they did it in the movies? “What do I do?”

  He kissed my nose. “Fall back into the snow. Then move your arms up over your head and back down, and your legs out and in. I’ll be here.”

  The lights from the patio illuminated the area. I glanced back. “Have you done this before?”

  “Yes. We used to go to Colorado a lot as a family.”

  I glanced back again.

  “The snow is soft. It won’t hurt.”

  I closed my eyes, memorizing every detail of the moment—the wind lightly rustling, the coldness o
f the flakes landing on my cheek, the warmth of Garrick’s body being close. I said, “On three. One. Two. Three.”

  I fell back into the soft snow. He was right. I giggled as I moved my arms and felt the powdery fineness around me. “Oh man, it’s getting cold.”

  Crouching down, he held out his hands. “Grab my hands and I’ll pull you straight up. It’ll leave the perfect snow angel.”

  With ease, Garrick pulled me to a standing position. When I turned around, I saw the angel. It was perfect. “Another check mark,” I murmured.

  A gust of cold wind caused a shiver. “Let’s get you inside and warmed up.”

  “What about dancing for your bucket list?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  As we went back into the house, I wanted to pinch myself. Three check marks on my bucket list. Three. I wished I had it with me so I could put the date on them now.

  The warmth of the house greeted us. “Here, let me take your coat.”

  “Thank you.”

  On the table was my bucket list next to Garrick’s. “Where did you get this?”

  “I brought it from our room. I wanted you to be able to check them off here.”

  This man was amazing, thinking of my every need before I knew it. I took the pen and made a check with the date. “I want you to sign your name beside mine.”

  Garrick’s eyes lit up, knowing how special this was. No one else’s name was on my checklist. Dylan had completed items with me, but I’d never asked him to sign his name. Without hesitation, he put his initial beside the date. “I’ll be forever part of this now. I want you to sign mine, too.”

  I grinned. “Forever.”

  We gazed into each other’s eyes and I saw his darken. Garrick wanted me. My core grew warm, ready for him to touch me.

  “I need to be inside you. Now.”

  “Please.” It had been too long since I felt him inside me.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  From the far side of the room, Joe cleared his throat. “I need a moment of your time, Mr. Shaw.”

  No. No. No.

  Garrick looked torn.

  Joe wore slacks and a shirt; the sleeves were rolled up to his forearms. There was a tightness to his eyes. “I apologize for disturbing you. It’s important. I’ll be in the office.”

  I refused to let anything spoil this moment. If this had to do with me, I would get the details later. Right now, I wanted my bubble with Garrick. “I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes. I promise.” I touched his cheek and felt his whiskers rub against my hand. “I want to stay in my bubble for now.”

  He smiled softly, understanding. “Our bedroom is up the stairs and to the left. It’s at the end of the hall.” He gave me a quick kiss. “I’ll make this fast. Be waiting for me.”

  “I will. Hurry.”

  Garrick walked me to the bottom of the stairs and remained there as I turned the corner down the hall.

  Finding my way up to our room was easy. The corridor only had one door. Actually, it was a large set of double doors at the end of the hall. I was stunned as I walked in. The bedroom was larger than my last apartment. I turned in a circle as I tried to take it all in. Windows framed one entire wall of the room. It gave a voyeuristic feel. One-way glass, I reminded myself.

  I bit my lip, thinking I wanted to experience more, sexually, with Garrick—push the limits of what we had done. Not be afraid to try something new.

  The crackling fire on the far side of the room added the perfect ambience. Making love in front of the fire was another must. I’d never had sex anywhere but a bed. Why, I wasn’t sure. It had just never happened.

  I noticed our suitcases had been placed neatly against the wall. Oh, I should change. I rummaged through them to find a surprise for Garrick. Until my surprise gift arrived from Sawyer yesterday via courier, I owned no lingerie. This was elegant yet sexy at the same time.

  In the bathroom, I slipped out of my clothes and put on the sheer black teddy. The straps were made of jewels, which sparkled in the dim light. The sides of the thong matched the straps. Never in my life had I worn something so… revealing.

  I let my blond hair down to settle around my shoulders. In the mirror, my nipples were easily visible, standing out against the fabric. I thought about Garrick seeing me like this, and the clenching within me begged for some sort of relief.

  My hands inched up my stomach and stroked the outer portion of my breast. Watching my hands roll my nipples between my fingers was erotic. Between my legs, my clit pulsed. I pushed my hands down into my panties and moaned as I touched myself.

  The feeling was electric. I rubbed harder while I pinched my nipple. “Oh, Garrick.”

  “I’m right here.”

  My eyes shot open, and I froze in shock.

  He was behind me, shirtless and barefoot. “Keep going.”

  The low, deep command had me nearly melting on the spot. I met his gaze in the mirror with a shy smile. His hands settled on my hips. “Don’t stop. Keep doing what you were doing.”

  The sound of a tearing condom wrapper filled the room, and I rubbed myself again, feeling the familiar build. Between my legs, I felt Garrick’s hardened length. “Spread your legs a little bit. I won’t let you fall.” I spread them. “Now lean forward just a tad.”

  He stroked the head of his cock against my entrance, teasing me.

  “Garrick.”

  “Rub your clit, sweetheart.”

  I increased the pressure as Garrick barely pushed in and retreated. His fingers touched my nipples. The familiar rise started within me. “Don’t wait. I need you inside me.”

  I felt the head of his cock enter me. Sweet relief. I arched backward, and he entered me completely. Finally, the fullness again. It was only when we were connected that I felt whole.

  “Rub harder.”

  The additional friction skyrocketed the familiar build. Garrick picked up the pace and rolled my forgotten nipple between his fingers. He pumped harder into me, our eyes locked, wild with need.

  So close, I was so close. Still watching me, Garrick tasted my neck, grazing his tongue over my birthmark. It was erotic seeing him move within me, touch me.

  “Oh, Garrick.”

  I crashed over the edge and felt him stiffen within me. “You make me forget everything but you, Knoah.”

  Chapter Forty

  The morning sun peeked through the windows, and I cuddled closer to Garrick. We’d made love in front of the fire for most of the night. It had been magnificent. This time Garrick made me orgasm twice before he entered me.

  “Morning, sweetheart.”

  I stretched a little more. “Morning. Are you sore from sleeping on the floor?”

  Checking myself, I realized I was fine. The special soft floor in front of the fire in the sitting area of the bedroom was comfortable to lie on. It felt like I had been on a mattress all night.

  “Not at all. This floor works well. I imagine the previous owners had this built for this exact reason. I think I’ll have this done in our apartment.”

  Laughing, I playfully hit his chest. “You don’t have fireplaces in your Florida apartment.”

  He ran his hand down my back and cupped my ass. “I think I may add fireplaces, too.”

  “I wouldn’t object to either. I’ve never done what we did in the bathroom or made love in front of the fire before.”

  For a second he stopped stroking my back. “I like being your first. I crave it.”

  “Me, too.”

  Garrick shifted so we were on our sides, facing each other. By his grin, it was as if I’d given him the Christmas gift of a lifetime. “I’ll never take that for granted.”

  “I know you won’t. Today we get to check off more items. I can’t believe you remembered to bring our bucket lists.”

  Earnestly, he watched me. “I remember it all. You’re it for me, Knoah.”

  A shiver ran through me. I wanted that more than anything. “I
want to be it for you.”

  With each passing declaration, we danced closer to the next level of commitment. Is he ready? Am I? We would know when it was time and nothing would hold us back. Nothing worth having came easy. Futures changed in an instant, and I would treasure each moment of happiness I had.

  Beside us, Garrick’s phone vibrated like crazy, and he released me. “Hello. Yes. Give me a few.” He ended the call. “I need to go see Joe. Do you want to come?”

  “Is this about me?”

  “Yes.”

  I hated that answer. The only thing I wanted was this mess to be behind us. “Is it about what happened last night?”

  “Yes, but if you want to stay in your bubble, I’ll make it happen.”

  I thought for a second. “No, I’m ready to know.”

  After quickly dressing, we headed downstairs and across the house to another office. I nodded to a few security men we passed along the way. Joe sat at a mahogany desk with several laptops open in front of him. He looked up from the screens when we walked in. His face was unreadable.

  “What did you find?” Garrick asked tersely.

  “Navarro bailed Mr. Wade out of debt one week before you two met. One day after Knoah had dinner with the family at Le Chef in Orlando, which is one of Navarro’s businesses.” Joe turned to me. How did he know we were at Le Chef? That had been my precelebratory birthday dinner with the family. “Do you remember anything out of the ordinary from that night?”

  Christopher and Tonya were involved with the mob? It made me sick to think they’d gotten themselves entangled in such a dirty web. I would have helped them financially if I’d known. But those thoughts were to be sorted through another time.

  I thought about Joe’s question. Nothing had seemed out of place. At one point, I had felt uncomfortable, but I’d thought it was a figment of my imagination. “No, nothing I remember. We were all together the entire time. It was a family dinner to celebrate my birthday.”

  “Okay, watch this and see if anything jogs your memory.”