On Thin Ice

by Cherry Adair

  "This is neither the time nor the place." An ache spread in her chest. "Everything out here is magnified unrealistically. Especially with all this other stuff going on."

  "This started long before the race and you know it."

  "I don't trust it," she said flatly, finding it hard to draw a breath as she damned herself for a coward.

  "Why not?"

  Because I'm terrified that, like Sean, the illusion of you will be nothing like the reality. "I just don't."

  He caught her chin in his hand and pressed a kiss to her mouth. "A few more days won't kill me," he groaned into her mouth. "Much. God. I love the smell of you. Snow, wet wool and the lemon fragrance of your hair."

  "You're nuts."

  "I like dancing with you like this. Look how well we fit together," he murmured, his voice thick. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. Back and forth. Back and forth, until her skin became hot and her body ached. "We have to do it on a real dance floor sometime. I want to see you in a slinky dress, something thin and clingy and short enough to show off your truly spectacular legs."

  Only their bodies moved now. Gently swaying from side to side. Lily felt breathless and giddy. High on cold air and hot Derek. "You've never seen my legs."

  "Yeah, twice. Our movie date, and then that day I came over to see Sean and you'd just taken a shower, remember?"

  "No." She'd walked out of the bathroom rubbing her hair dry, dressed only in her shirt and panties because she'd forgotten her jeans on the bed. Sean had kept her talking to him in the bedroom, almost intentionally delaying her while Derek sat beside the bed, his face impassive. His look had told her that he'd seen hundreds of pairs of bare leg and hers were no big whoop.

  "He wanted me to want you, you know."

  Lily stared up at him, trying to read his expression by the glow of the flickering fire. The dancing reflection in his eyes made him look slightly demonic. "What?"

  "He enjoyed knowing how much I wanted you."

  "You told him?"

  "No. But one of Sean's most remarkable traits was knowing how to read people."

  Sean's remarkable trait had been noted and despised by his wife. Because he read people so that he could con them, and the people he'd conned never knew they'd been hit. Herself included.

  "He was good at manipulation," Lily said flatly.

  "He's the last person I want you thinking about right now," Derek said dryly, brushing his mouth across her forehead again. "Just close your eyes and rest against me for a few more minutes while Rob plays. You need to rest tonight if you want to kick my ass tomorrow."

  "I'm beat." She tried to move out of his arms, then flushed hot and embarrassed when she realized that he'd let her go immediately. It was her arm about his waist holding them together.

  "Are you going to be an octopus in there?" Lily asked, jerking her chin toward the small tent.

  "I've never been an octopus in my life. Doesn't mean I won't want to hold you."

  Lily gave him a considering look for a fraction of second. "I'm really exhausted. Let's go to bed."

  Derek gave her a brilliant smile. A smile that shot straight inside her chest like a bolt of sunshine warming her from head to toe. Oh, God, Lily thought, feeling panicky inside, I am in such big trouble here.

  "Bless your heart, sweetheart," Derek said, still smiling. "I've been waiting for you to make that offer for years."

  "Dream on," Lily whispered back. Not exactly brilliant, but the best she could manage right now. Yep. Big trouble. She scrambled into the tent. It was going to be a tight fit. It did, however, give her pause that she was far gone enough to sleep beside the man who'd told her flat out that he wanted her.

  "Take off your boots," he told her, crawling in beside her feet first.

  "No way. My feet are already freezing."

  The firelight bathed the top of his dark head in a red halo. How fitting, Lily thought with amusement as she closed her eyes. Angel and demon. Two for the price of one.

  She listened to him zip up the entrance of the tent, enclosing them in a bubble of darkness. He settled down beside her, and pulled the sleeping bag more tightly around her head. "Warm enough?"

  His breath fanned her face as he leaned over her; she smelled the coffee he'd drunk with dinner and the toothpaste he'd just used.

  "Toasty."

  His knuckles brushed her cheekbone. She felt the warmth of his fingers trailing along her cheek, leaving a path of heat to her mouth.

  "I'm always amazed at how soft your skin is. Soft, and silky. The only time I've ever seen skin like this is on my nieces and nephews as babies. You glow as if you have a light on inside you."

  "Derek—"

  "Your skin should be as tough as old leather, but instead it's as fine-grained as a baby's." His thumb brushed down to her mouth as his fingers cupped her cheeks.

  He turned her face up to his, and Lily couldn't help the lazy drift of her lashes as she opened her eyes. He was going to kiss her, and she wanted him to with every fiber of her being.

  The fire lit only the very tips of his black lashes, leaving most of his face in darkness. Lily shivered as his thumb rasped over her lower lip.

  He leaned over her. Their eyes met. Kiss me. Her heart trip-hammered in her chest. Plenty enough time for her to jerk her head away and be sensible. Kiss me. Lily watched him approaching until her eyes strained. She closed them as he lowered his mouth to hers. At first he merely brushed his lips back and forth over hers. His mouth was warm, and firm and smooth. She felt a hint of stubble as he grazed his mouth against hers in a languid sweep that made her breasts ache and her breath catch.

  His tongue, hot and moist, teased the corners of her mouth. Lily was surprised to hear her own ragged breathing as his tongue stealthily pried her lips apart. The taste of him was intoxicating. Hot and sweet.

  Oh, God. How could any woman resist this? How could she?

  He raised his head and her mouth felt cold. "Sweet dreams," he told her softly. He dropped an avuncular kiss on the tip of her nose, then rolled over.

  Lily stared at the back of his head and realized he'd cleverly never fully answered "What is it you want?" when she'd asked earlier.

  He needed sleep, goddamn it. These people moved at the drop of a fucking hat, but at least they'd gotten a few hours' shut-eye. More than he could do, he thought bitterly as he kept Lily in his sights as she trundled along in the valley below him. He had to stay awake to keep an eye on her until he could get close enough again. What the fuck had they been doing last night? Dancing? He'd like to have been a fly on the wall of that tent after they crawled in there together.

  Imagining what they'd been doing to each other had kept him warm for the first hour. The next three had been fucking purgatory.

  Fuckshitdamnittohell. They'd barely stopped to rest the dogs before they were off again. Didn't they ever fucking get tired? And as for food—Ten grand burning a hole in his pocket didn't make up for smelling their food from a mile away when he'd had nothing to eat but jerky for hours. He wanted pizza. Hot. Spicy. Dripping with gooey cheese. And a beer.

  The next stop, he promised himself. The very next time they stopped, he'd do her. Hell, fuck. Why not them? He'd kill 'em both.

  Then he'd go back home and take a nice long vacation. Somewhere tropical. Somewhere where the chicks wore string-bikini bottoms and went topless. Where their white teeth glowed against their tans. Yeah. Somewhere nice and hot. Somewhere with hot babes and cold beer.

  He scratched the back of his neck. They'd been traveling for fourteen boring fucking hours. They'd have to take a decent break soon. And when they did, he'd be ready.

  Sixteen grueling hours later and Derek felt as though he'd never slept. He had planned ahead and made a reservation for one of the four guest rooms at the lodge at the next checkpoint. Even though at the time he hadn't been sure if he'd even want to stop there. If nothing else, a hot shower and a meal he didn't have to defrost first held great appeal. Now he was glad he'd done it.r />
  Lily's face was pale. She was running on empty, and desperately needed a few uninterrupted hours' sleep. Naturally, she'd never admit it. Especially to him. And damned if a part of him didn't admire that stick up her ass, even if he did want to yank it out. A few hours in a warm bed would go a long way to revitalize her. Hell, revitalize both of them.

  Especially if he could talk her into sharing a bed.

  Not that he'd planned on that before. But now, with her here and the memory of the kiss still rattling through him, it was hard not to consider it. But first things first.

  He wanted Lily rested. Safe.

  Keep it casual and nonthreatening, he reminded himself as he fed his team. All he wanted to do was snatch her up in his arms, carry her upstairs and tuck her into his bed. He tamped down the clawing need.

  After the dogs got clearance from the volunteer vets, Derek checked in while Lily went to the bathroom. When she came out he handed her a key. She took it automatically, then frowned as she looked up at him. "I can't take your room."

  "I'm not that altruistic," he told her dryly. "We're both exhausted. I'm willing to share. And before you get all bent out of shape, there are two beds. I promise to behave."

  She looked suspicious, but the fatigue dragging at her was helping him make his point. One last temptation. "How does a nice hot shower sound?"

  "Like heaven." She eyed him warily, but the glance didn't have any of her usual heat. "And that would be a solitary heaven."

  "Hey," he said, giving her a grin that had been known to bring women to their knees, "no ego problem with you, is there? Did I mention showering with a friend? I don't think so."

  "Okay then," she said with a slow, sweet smile that confused the hell out of him. "As long as we're clear on that, I'd love to take a shower."

  "See?" He quirked an eyebrow, and felt that smile through his body like a warm caress. "Wasn't so hard to be nice to me, was it?"

  "I can be nice," she said sweetly. "If you could be trusted."

  He gave her a wide-eyed-innocent look that didn't fool either of them. "Me? I'm harmless."

  She snorted.

  People milled around them in the lobby, but it was as if they were in their own private little bubble.

  "Why are you so skittish around me, Lily?" he asked softly. "Have I ever done anything to make you think I'd take advantage of you? Or done anything you don't want me to do?"

  Her eyes narrowed. "Skittish?"

  "Like Cosmos."

  Lily just stared at him. "Oh, please. You're comparing me to a mare? How flattering. And I suppose you think you're the man to break me to bridle?"

  Oh, he'd like to ride her, no doubt. But as to the other… "No. I'd never break you."

  She looked up at him, humor now glinting in her eyes. God, she was pretty. "But you consider yourself a stud, don't you?"

  "Now who's being flattering?" he teased. "I wouldn't exactly call myself a stallion."

  "I didn't say stallion," Lily pointed out with a laugh. "But now that you mention it, you consider yourself the biggest, baddest stallion of all, don't you? Fortunately I'm totally immune to your charms."

  "So you've mentioned. About ninety-nine times." He reached out and gently brushed her cold cheek with his fingertips. "Wonder who you're trying to convince?"

  Eleven

  The room was utilitarian, clean and warm. They each, rather symbolically, Lily thought, dumped a duffel bag at the foot of each full-size bed. "Dibs I shower first," she said, swamped by the overwhelming need to lie down and close her eyes. She pulled off her fur hat and tossed it onto her bed. Derek did the same.

  And they stared at each other.

  Lily realized, with frighteningly little alarm, that she was trapped between the two beds, a desk at her back, and a very large, very potent Derek Wright just two feet away.

  "Go for it." A wicked gleam lit his eyes and a small smile curved the lines of his mouth. He stood far too close. Damn him. He wasn't going to back up.

  "Go for what?" Him?

  "That shower?"

  Right. The shower. She'd just called it. One look into his eyes made her forget everything. Oh boy. This was going to be harder than she'd thought.

  Lily tried to look away, and found she couldn't. "Oh, yeah," she whispered. "Shower. I'm looking forward to it." His blue eyes were almost black as he observed her. God. Those x-ray eyes again. And, God help her, she was sure she felt the heat of his large body through both their sheepskin coats. Ridiculous, she assured herself. Pure fantasy born of serious sleep deprivation. But her pulse pounded in places she hadn't felt a pulse in years, and her breasts tightened.

  She'd woken in the early hours of this morning cradled in his arms, her head on his shoulder, his warm breath ruffling her hair. She pretended to be sleeping when she sensed he was awake. Coward. Instead of jumping up and beating him out of camp and getting on the trail early, she'd lain there in his arms. Content to drift and dream.

  Now hours and hours later, it was as if they had gone directly from the snug, warm intimacy of the tent to this pristine, well-lit bedroom.

  Holding her gaze, Derek slowly started unbuttoning his coat. He had beautiful hands, Lily thought. Broad palms, long fingers… Her mouth went dry, and her throat closed up with longing. She wanted his hands on her. God help her, she wanted his mouth on her, too. Her brain was frostbitten. Why else would she even think like this?

  Lord, it was hot in here! Lily started unbuttoning her own heavy coat, realized what that might look like and stopped, her hand on the top button.

  "Think I'm going to jump you?" he asked silkily, a wicked glint in his eyes.

  Unconsciously she licked her lips as he shrugged off his coat, unveiling jeans and a heavy-knit navy blue sweater. He tossed the coat on the bed beside him. His chest was broad and solid. He smelled of damp wool and man, and Lily's internal organs did the happy dance at the delicious combo.

  She looked up into his smoldering blue eyes and shook her head. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course not." She was losing her mind here. This was Derek Wright, for God's sake. A woman, a sensible woman, didn't hold the gaze of a cobra moments before it struck. She shot it or ran like hell.

  There was nowhere to run. Her gun was in the duffel at the foot of her bed. Three feet behind Derek.

  "I need to go to the bathroom," she lied rather desperately.

  He smiled knowingly. The rat. "You went downstairs."

  Lily scowled. "So what? I have to go again."

  "Fine. I'll go down and see what I can rustle up to eat while you take care of business." He didn't move. "Any preferences?"

  "Lots and hot."

  Unfortunately, "lots and hot" could refer to a number of things that had nothing to do with food. Besides, she had something a lot more immediate to contend with than hunger. How had he gotten so close? The room was small but it suddenly felt like a closet.

  Of course he was enormous. Tall, broad—Oh, God, and they were supposed to sleep in this room? The beds were only a few feet apart. She couldn't do it. She really couldn't.

  Lily was willing to bet there wasn't a woman alive who could survive a night with Derek Wright and walk away unscathed. Physical impossibility. Even a nun would find herself tempted and Lily was no nun.

  Her body swayed toward him. As much as her instincts urged her to press closer, self-preservation ordered a retreat. Now if only there was somewhere to go…

  It was as if he could read her mind. Oh, Lord, she hoped he really couldn't. "Okay," she said and winced at how loud her voice sounded, even to herself. "You get food, I'll take a shower—" She inhaled sharply and blew the air out in a rush. "Then we'll get some sleep and hit the road bright and early."

  "Uh-huh."

  "Seriously." She took a step forward, holding out both hands to ward him off just in case. "You food. Me shower."

  "Deal," he said, his gaze locked on her mouth. Suddenly she yawned, a huge, unaffected, jaw-popping yawn. Derek's laughter broke the spell. "Okay, go
shower, then food, then a nice nap. Hit the bathroom, I'll be back before you know it."

  That's what she was afraid of. As soon as the door closed behind him Lily rifled through her bag for clean clothes, then stumbled into the bathroom, legs still shaky and pulse pounding. She locked the door behind her, which provided a flimsy sense of security. Not that she imagined Derek would rudely come in when she was showering, but she also felt certain that if he was so inclined, a mere standard lock wouldn't stand in his way. There was something moderately thrilling about the thought. For just a brief second—a flash of a second, really—Lily imagined Derek kicking in the door, scooping her into his arms and carrying her to bed. In her mind's eye he was more dashing than Rhett Butler, and the scene way more erotic than the constraints of a 1939 film.

  Chicken, she scolded herself as she turned on the shower then stripped. So much for trying to become proactive. That had all the earmarks of a woman not willing to make a difficult decision, and hoping the man would take that choice out of her hands. Shame on her.

  She shook her head at herself.

  The hot water felt wonderful on her cold skin, but she didn't linger. If she stayed under the spray she'd be asleep in minutes. Her tired brain extrapolated from there. Derek would have to come in and haul her comatose body, naked, out of the shower. Lily wasn't sure she could resist him right now. Even if she was in a coma. Trust didn't come into it. Her body and her brain weren't in sync on Derek Wright.

  He'd saved her life twice in as many days. Yet she still wasn't sure she could trust him. Unfortunately, she could deny it till the cows came home, but Derek turned her on. He always had. She touched her wet lips, remembering his kisses, and felt the tingle all the way through her body.

  She purposely turned the stream of hot water to cold and yelped as the first blast struck her breasts and belly. "Take that, you dimwit," she whispered, but she turned it quickly back to hot again. She'd been in the snow with him for days, for God's sake, and that cold hadn't kept her from feeling the attraction. A short blast of cold water didn't stand a chance. She wasn't immune to Derek's charm. And, God help her, she wasn't completely vaccinated to prevent reinfection either.