“I don’t think you’re selfish. In fact, I’ve seen quite the opposite,” she assured him.
He smiled and grabbed a pair of skis from the rack and placed them on the floor.
“I had our guys set up the bindings for you. Autumn gave me your information.” He grabbed a pair of ski boots and placed them next to the skis before helping her step into them and fasten them.
“So far so good.” He stood up and took a step back. “Now, let’s have you slide the toe end of your boot into the bindings and step down to lock them into place.”
Dina’s eyes widened. “Usually this is where I go down.”
“Not today.” He smiled and took her hand as she did as instructed, first locking her right foot into the bindings and then her left. Hearing the click was really gratifying as she balanced both feet in her skis without crashing to the floor.
“See? You’re still upright.” Sam’s smile was genuine, and she loved seeing the excitement run through his eyes. Even if it was only a matter of him being able to teach her better than her ex-fiancé, she’d take it.
“Okay, now slide your right foot forward and then your left up to meet it.” He didn’t let go of her hand as she pushed one ski forward and then the other. “You took your first step.”
Dina was actually surprised she’d had so much trouble getting into her skis before after how simple it seemed today. But the rolling mat of carpet was an entirely different ordeal. She eyed it nervously, and her knees began to tremble as she glanced back at Sam.
“Don’t be scared. I won’t let you go down. You’ve got my word. Now, move your skis again just like before.”
“I’m not scared.” She straightened up and started to slide her foot and that’s when one ski went out from under her. “Just intelligently cautious.”
True to his word, Sam somehow managed to catch her and keep her upright.
Her breathing was ragged, and sweat began to immediately roll down her back as she shook her head, trying to gather her nerve.
“That’s enough for me today.” She flashed a shaky smile in his direction and was met with a shake of his head instead.
“Not on my watch. I can tell you exactly what happened.” He moved in front of her, still holding onto her hand. “Give me your other hand.”
Begrudgingly, she gave it to him.
“You locked your knees and straightened your spine right when you made your move. You want to keep your body loose. Don’t lock your knees. Just kind of keep them bent as you move.”
“I’ll try.” She clutched his hands and moved forward, careful to not make any part of her body rigid.
“Perfect.”
Dina made it all the way to the intimidating carpet-covered monstrosity that seemed to be rolling backward at the speed of light. She took a deep breath in and blew it out slowly.
“The first thing we want to do is pie into it. Picture a slice of pie and let your skis form the shape as I slowly move you onto the ramp. That is your braking technique.”
“So it’s pretty important.”
“It is.”
Dina’s pulse started pounding and no words would come as he slowly moved her onto the carpet. She kept the points of her skis together but not touching and couldn’t believe she was staying in place and not flying down the carpet. What amazed her more was how he was able to walk backward in front of her and never miss a beat.
“See? You’ve got this.” He smiled, but she felt his hands start to break free, which only paralyzed her.
“Don’t let go,” she commanded.
“You’ve got this. I’m not doing anything. It’s all you right now.”
Not sure she believed him, she shot him a dirty look as he took his hands away from her.
“You’re still standing.” He beamed as Dina balanced on two skis, on a hill that was moving, and for the first time ever, she thought she might actually get the hang of this skiing thing.
She glanced down at the brown carpet continually speeding by her as she kept her pie form and finally let out a deep breath.
“Notice your knees are naturally bent, and you’re staying in position without much work.”
“I don’t know about that. My quads are on fire.” Dina grimaced and Sam laughed.
“Yeah. That tends to happen.” He watched her floating on the tiny mountain and couldn’t be happier. With other women, there’d always been an end game. He knew what he wanted to do and where things would end up, but with Dina he knew absolutely nothing about tomorrow, which kind of terrified him in a good way.
“Do you think we should stop while we’re ahead?” she asked, bringing him out of his fog.
“Probably a good idea. I don’t want you to tire out before dinner. I’m going to walk back up to the top, and I’ll bring you in. Don’t stop the pie.”
“Don’t worry a bit. I have no intention of moving a muscle. I’d like to live to see another day.” She stayed focused on the mountain in front of her and knew one false move and she’d go flying down the carpet where she’d either hit the wall or crash onto the concrete. Either way, it made her pie formation stronger.
Before she knew what was happening, Sam reached around her waist from behind and pulled her back onto the safety of the staging platform where she came to a gliding stop. Every muscle in her body felt like a noodle, but having his arms around her waist made her mind go to the crazy places again.
“It’s not just my quads that are on fire anymore.” She nearly slumped into him. “Even my shoulders feel like they had a workout.”
“Well, you had a lot on your mind trying to stay upright.” He brought his hands to her shoulders and slowly massaged the muscles. “One false move and you could have gone flying off the ramp.”
“Now you tell me that?” She laughed, feeling the tension from her body fall away as his fingers moved deeper. If it weren’t for the fact that she was on skis, she’d probably be in his arms right now, begging for a kiss.
So, it was a really good thing she was on skis.
“Does that feel better?” he asked, taking his hands away from her shoulders.
She didn’t even realize she’d had her eyes closed as she murmured a faint yes before flicking her eyes back open.
“Good. I’ll step on your left binding and you just pull your boot out.”
“Okay. I can handle that.” She gave a quick nod and attempted to get a hold of herself as each binding popped, and she pulled her boots out of the skis.
“It might take a few days for your muscles to recuperate and then we can work on the next step.” He bent over, picked up her skis, and put them back on the rack while she managed to pull herself out of the boots.
“There’s more to it than that? I can’t just pie down the mountain for the rest of my life?”
“Well, it’s probably a good idea to learn how to turn.” He smiled. “And stopping is always helpful.”
“I guess you’re right.” She unhooked her helmet. “Turning and stopping are both good things to master before the snow starts coming down.”
He took the helmet from her, and she followed him down the stairs.
“Ready for dinner?” he asked.
“Beyond.” A dip of disappointment stirred in her belly as she thought about the time going by so quickly. “I’m starving.”
“You burned a ton of calories.” He glanced back at her. “You’ve got to keep your stamina up.”
“Why’s that? Have something else in store for the night?”
He turned around and his gaze locked on hers. “Like what?” The timbre in his voice sent a thrill through her, and she didn’t even know why. It didn’t hurt that he looked especially good tonight, which seemed to redirect her mind to exactly one place.
“I don’t know what you adventure types do up here in the mountains after a dinner date,” she teased. “For all I know, you go hiking in the wilderness and—”
“That wouldn’t be particularly safe in the dark.”
“
Well, what would be safe in the dark?” she asked, moving a little closer.
Sam let out a low grumble and shook his head. “I can think of a few things, but I don’t think either of us are ready for that complication.”
She narrowed her eyes on the handsome man standing in front of her, and she suddenly didn’t care about dinner. “I’m not sure there would be much complication, considering neither of us is looking for anything.”
“Is that so?” Sam closed the gap between them, circling his arms around her waist. “You think you can spend one night with me and just move on?”
Electricity was racing between them, and all she wanted was another kiss. Another possessive yet gentle kiss where she didn’t care about tomorrow and only let herself melt into the here and now. Something she hadn’t been able to do before.
“Isn’t that what you do?” she asked, nearly breathless as his piercing blue eyes stayed locked on hers. “No commitment means no expectation. I can go into this with no expectation.”
He drew his hand along her spine, pulling her into him even closer, and feeling her body press into his. They fit nicely together with her curves melding into his body. The thought of spending the night with her was tempting.
Beyond tempting.
But that wasn’t how he planned on this going with Dina. This was the first time he’d planned on going slow, taking it easy.
But he was a man and the thought of spending tonight with her was—
“You know my place is just up the road,” she whispered, tracing her finger along his jawline.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” His eyes darkened slightly as her eyes fell to his lips.
“More than anything.”
Chapter Nine
They each drove their own car to Dina’s, and she honestly thought that the drive might have calmed down the desire pulsing through her veins, but all it did was make her want to press on the gas pedal.
By the time she parked in front of her rental and jumped out of the car, pure excitement added to the mix of emotions churning through her. This was so unlike anything she’d ever done before. The shot of adrenaline that spiked through her made her mind spin as he pulled into the driveway.
She was really going to go through with this.
A one-night stand.
Or at least as close to one as she was willing to get.
She gave a quick wave to Sam and opened the front door, flipping on the lights and straightening up the mail on the foyer table as he walked in behind her and shut the door.
The moment he came into her home, she felt the familiar electricity zip through her veins again, and any possible hesitation was thrown out the window.
This wasn’t about walking down the aisle with Sam North someday or imagining a family with him as she’d done so many times before with other men she dated. She didn’t need to wait thirty days because she knew there wasn’t going to be a day thirty-one.
No. She knew none of that was possible with a man like him. He had too much fun being single, and Dina hoped some of that would rub off on her.
As she watched him walk into her small foyer, her heart skipped a beat as his eyes canvased along her body. He made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and to be honest, with everything she’d been through over the last year or ten, she needed to feel that way.
A corner of Sam’s mouth turned up as he stood in front of her; the desire only building the longer he didn’t touch her or make a move.
“You’re making this extremely painful,” she murmured, taking a step forward.
“What is it you want, Dina?” His voice lowered to a tenor that even made her toes curl as he brushed away a few strands from her face.
The sensation of his fingers gliding across her skin made her breath catch in the back of her throat. If her body responded to him like this merely by standing in the middle of the entry hall, she couldn’t even imagine what sleeping with him would be like.
“You,” she said so quietly he almost couldn’t hear her.
He moved closer, cupping her chin in both of his palms before sliding his fingers through her hair. She thought he was going to kiss her, but he was taking his time.
It had been a long time since someone had taken their time with her.
Dina sank her teeth into her bottom lip as she felt his hands cascade down her back. He was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body as his eyes stayed on hers, taking everything in about her.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” he whispered, lowering his head and bringing his mouth down to hers.
Feeling his lips move against hers sent her into another orbit as she pressed her body into him. Feeling every dip and ridge he had to offer made her hands roam freely and explore what she’d been thinking about since she first met him so many months ago.
Their kisses intensified as he circled his arms around her waist, hoisting her into him. Still kissing, she giggled as she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he carried her to her bedroom. She couldn’t believe she was not only going through with this but loving every second.
Dina unwrapped her legs from around him and slid onto the bed as he helped move her up into the pillows, his arms caging her in as he went. It wasn’t until he was hovering over her that she realized how truly big Sam North was. She knew he was well over six feet and extremely muscular, but his body could swallow hers whole, and she wasn’t that small of a woman.
“You’re a really good kisser,” she told him as his eyes darkened a shade.
She ran her fingers under his wool sweater, feeling the heat roll off his bare skin before pulling the sweater over his head and tossing it to the floor.
Seeing the definition of his build made her almost giddy with excitement. She’d certainly picked the right man to have fun with, if she did say so herself.
Bringing his lips back to hers, she let out a moan of delight, which only made a low growl of desire leave his lips before he began tracing his mouth down her jaw to her collarbone. The sound alone nearly undid her as his fingers quickly worked to unbutton her pink plaid shirt.
His lips followed the path of his fingertips as his mouth slid along her bare skin. Desire consumed her every thought as he unhooked her bra and his mouth trailed down to her breasts.
The ache of wanting more pulsed through her as if parts of her were on fire. She slid her fingers along his waistband before unfastening his jeans, which he quickly shook off and she did the same.
His hands floated down her belly and between her thighs to her center where every gentle stroke and circle of his thumb nearly brought her to the edge and back as his mouth found hers once more.
Dina circled her arms around his waist, feeling all of him press against her belly and igniting another wave of longing as his fingers slowly pulled away from her. His lips left hers, and she heard the sound of foil tearing, but before she had a chance to open her eyes, his open mouth slid along her belly, creating a mixture of chilled warmth as he teased her gently before nudging her thighs.
Her hands skated along the dips and curves of his abdomen as she guided him to kiss her. He pressed his forehead to hers, and she opened her eyes to see him watching her as her body begged for more.
“You’re sure about this?” he asked softly, as his fingers moved along her collarbone, and she felt every inch of him against her.
“Dammit to hell, Sam. I don’t need to be protected. I want this,” she said it with a smile, and he let out a low laugh as he brought his mouth back to hers.
There was no doubt about it. She didn’t need to be protected.
Tasting the sweetness of her lips only made Sam’s desire roar to life as he nudged her thighs a little more and moved into her. Hearing her moans as he slid deeper made his world rock a little harder as he felt her clasp around him.
He’d never felt a woman respond to him like this and could barely hold on as their bodies swayed in a unique rhythm all their own.
When she wrapped her legs around his waist, he nearly shuddered a release but was determined to give her more, sliding his fingers between her legs as her breathing became more ragged with each movement.
Being with Dina Romano was pure ecstasy.
He knew he was ruined for life as her cries of release echoed into her small bedroom. He felt her body shudder into his as he pushed into her one last time, feeling every nerve in his body explode into a heaven he didn’t know existed until he met her.
Their breathing melded into one another’s after several minutes of quiet. He rolled over and brought Dina into him, the curves of her naked body fusing perfectly with his.
“That was some ski lesson,” she whispered, curling her body deeper into his, which only made him harden once more.
“I’ve never had one quite like it.” He pulled her in closer and she giggled.
“Now, that I find hard to believe.”
“Swear to God.” He laughed and felt her body tremble as she tried to hold in her laughter. “It’s true.”
“Whatever you say, Mr. North.” She curled her one hand around his and grabbed the edge of the comforter with the other and tugged it over both of them. “But I have to tell you that you made my first one-night stand absolutely incredible.”
His eyes blinked open, and he turned her over and moved on top so he could look into her eyes. “I’d hardly call this a one-night stand.”
She shrugged underneath him, and he brought his lips down to her ear, brushing away her hair with his fingers.
“This isn’t just a one-night stand, Dina,” he murmured before his mouth found hers and they started again as if he had to prove he wasn’t ever going to be finished with her.
Before the sun had a chance to rise, Sam was in the kitchen making them pancakes, omelets, and sausage while he let Dina sleep.
He’d never experienced what he did last night, and he certainly never hung around to cook breakfast.
Any expectation he’d had about sleeping with Dina had been shattered to smithereens last night. Everything about her fit into him perfectly. They were so in synch in every possible way. Hearing a woman giggle during sex was such a turn-on, only he never knew it because it had never happened before, but it was so freeing and natural.
A Little Secret About Love Page 7