One Taste

by Cari Quinn

  “We’re heading through Syracuse if we stay on 90. They’re getting fourteen inches, and we’ve already been set back two hours with traffic.”

  He sighed. “I’m doing everything I can to get you there.”

  “I know. I just have a bad feeling.”

  “How far is Winchester Falls from Syracuse?”

  “Two and a half hours.”

  “We’ve got a ways to go.”

  She nodded, her phone clenched in her hand as she curled her arms around her knees. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  The tension in the car slowly grew as the thruway clogged to a standstill. Instead of the stony gray, the air went orange.

  “What is up with the sky?”

  She laughed. “Welcome to New York, Shane Justice. The sky gets iridescent like this when we’re really going to get slammed with snow.”

  Wednesday blurred away into gridlock traffic and the increasing potency of snow. He’d been in a few storms at ski lodges over the years, but nothing like the pummeling force of the Northeast. His windshield wipers couldn’t cut the ice-and-snow mix fast enough, and his headlights made the chaos of the flakes even harder to see through.

  Cars pulled off to the side of the road, and he was past an exit before he could even make out that one had come up. His shoulders were locked as tight as his grip on the wheel. It was two a.m., and they were still in central New York.

  “We need gas, Kendall.”

  She sat forward in her seat. “I think the next rest stop is in fourteen miles. Is that okay, or do we need to get off at the next exit instead?”

  He looked down at the needle. “Shorter would be better.”

  “The next exit is Rome. About five miles ahead, I think.”

  “Rome?”

  She smiled faintly. “Not even close to impressive.”

  “Well, if they have a gas station and a restroom, I’ll be happy.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  They did indeed have a gas station and restroom. A small diner sat across the street with three cars and lights blazing. Kendall had about all she could stand on the highway. What should have been ten hours had lengthened into sixteen, and they still weren’t close to home.

  The early nor’easter wasn’t surprising. In fact, she’d been expecting them to hit weather far more than they had. But here in her backyard, Mother Nature was giving her a hard time. As if she weren’t already a mess about Shane seeing the Heron for the first time.

  Maybe a blanket of snow would cover up the dingy landscape and turn it into a winter wonderland.

  She barely stopped the snort as they left the truck at the gas station and trudged across the street. The snowdrifts came up to her knees, and the whiteout was complete. There was no way they could drive anymore tonight.

  “Maybe we can make it in by the afternoon.”

  She nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll just give my mom a call. Who says we can’t have Thanksgiving on Black Friday instead? Not like we’ve got the funds to go shopping, right?”

  He frowned; she wrestled open the door against the wind and the quickly piling snow. “I’m kidding.” The blast of heat in the diner felt amazing. The rich scent of turkey and gravy and all the fixings cramped her belly. “Oh my God.”

  Shane took a deep breath as well, his eyes lighting with interest. “Is the diner taking pity on us?”

  A redhead came around the register. Her hair was just as wiry as she was. It stood out around her head like a singed dandelion with a reindeer antler headband pushing it all back. “Yes, we are. Come in out of that snow. We couldn’t get home, so we figured we’d bring the Thanksgiving dinner to anyone that managed to get in here.”

  Kendall stomped her feet on the mat inside the door and shook the snow off her hoodie. “Hi.”

  “Hello, hello. Welcome to Benny’s. I’m Benny. Sit where you like.”

  There were a dozen people scattered around the room in various booths. The only thing they all had in common was the pile of food on their plates and the hungry clink of silverware. Oh, and they all looked whipped.

  She collapsed in a booth by the window and put her head down on the table. “Everything hurts.”

  Shane sprawled into the seat across from her, his long legs invading her space. His knee bumped hers. “We’ll get back on the road as soo—”

  “No, we’ll just blow through another tank of gas idling on the highway. It’s stupid.”

  He covered her hand with his. “I’ll get you home.”

  She looked up. The man was a total pussycat under all the grump, and this just proved that. “I’ll talk to my mom and let her know we’ll get there when we get there.”

  She didn’t want to spend Thanksgiving without her mother, but that didn’t seem to be an option. Again, one more option out of her control. This was not a habit she was looking to make.

  Benny slid a plate of rolls and butter on the table and two large glasses of water. “You two want the special?”

  “If it tastes as good as it smells, then yes.”

  Benny cackled. “You got it, sugarplum.” She turned to Shane. “And you, hot stuff?”

  Kendall snickered when he simply raised a brow. “Don’t mind him. The special for us both.”

  “Coming up.”

  Kendall sipped her water, then broke open a roll. Yeasty goodness made her mouth water. “I could eat our tires I’m so hungry.”

  Shane grunted. “I could eat.”

  Twelve hours in a snow-covered box was wearing on both of them. Conversation had been at an all-time low. Just directions and road conditions updates between them. Shane was driving remarkably well for never having dealt with a nor’easter. But then again, there wasn’t much that Shane didn’t do well.

  A few minutes later Benny brought back steaming plates full of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and corn with a liberal dose of gravy over the entire thing. Kendall’s mouth watered before it landed.

  “Eat up, my darlings. I expect empty plates and room for pie.”

  Kendall grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

  They both dug in, and conversation was a low murmur in the room. Benny kept a table full of kids happy with construction paper, crayons, and hand-shaped turkey headbands.

  The giggles of the kids and the tired murmurs of families finally dissolved the last of her bunched muscles. When Benny came back with the check, they both left a huge tip and got directions to a hotel.

  So they’d make it home a little later than expected. At this point all she cared about was a bed. “There’s no point in trying to make it through this snow. If we let them salt and plow, it will be a faster drive.”

  “Won’t that take forever?”

  “Not around here. We’re used to the snow. It’ll be gone by morning.”

  He crowded in on her, dragging the backs of his knuckles along her midriff. “A bed sounds good to me.”

  She slid her nails up his forearm, holding him against her middle. “Very good.”

  They trudged across the street to the truck and had to push four inches of snow off the windshield. Fortunately the hotel was close. It still took ten minutes to skid their way there even with Shane’s powerful truck.

  “Shower,” she mumbled as she hopped out of the truck.

  “I’ll grab the bags. See what you can get us for a room. Big bed.”

  She nodded, too tired to tease him about the use of that big bed. Right now she just wanted to wash the grit out of her eyes and collapse for five straight hours. When she walked into the lobby, a perky blonde smiled from the check-in desk.

  “Hello. Can I help you?”

  “Do you have any rooms with a king-size bed?”

  She nodded, and her fingers flew over the keyboard. “Just yourself?”

  “No, my…” Hell. What was he? Friend? Lover?

  Shane came up behind her, rubbing her back absently. “For two.”

  “I’ve got one for you.”

  “That’d be great,” Shane said.
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  She sagged against him as the woman asked for the particulars. Shane slid his arm around her and placed a credit card on the desk when the front desk woman rattled off a price.

  Kendall gave the woman a tired smile, and then they both staggered off to the elevator. Neither of them said anything when the elevator opened. In fact, the silence was so complete she swayed into Shane.

  He hooked an arm around her shoulders. “Come on, sleepy. Let’s get you into a bed.”

  “I shouldn’t be tired.”

  “Oh yeah, why’s that?”

  “You’re the one who did all the driving.”

  “Dark truck and a long day? We’re both tired, babe. Let’s just get some sleep, and we can do the last leg tomorrow.”

  She let him lead her to the correct door. Shane dropped their bags as soon as they got inside.

  “Shower.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Kendall gave him a tired smile from doorway. “Thanks for everything you’re doing to get me home.” Before he could wave her thanks off like he usually did, she closed the door and turned on the shower.

  She spent a full ten minutes under the spray, letting the heat pummel the tight muscles in her shoulders. By the time she was done, the room was a steam bath, and she felt human again. Taking a few extra minutes to blow-dry her hair seemed a little decadent, but she did it anyway. When it was smooth as water down her back, she finally shut off the blow-dryer. She couldn’t stand the thought of putting her dirty clothes back on, so she tucked the towel under her arm and opened the door.

  The room was dark, save for a sliver of light from the streetlamps. Shane was on the bed, his feet still on the floor as he lay sprawled in the center of the bedspread, sound asleep. The poor thing had to be exhausted.

  She reached into her bag and pulled out a T-shirt and slipped it on, draping the towel over the chair. The idea of waking him pained her, but she knew he’d regret it if she let him stay like that. Instead she bent and took off his boots.

  Not a flicker of movement. Just the gentle rise and fall of his chest. She tugged his socks off and moved up to his jeans. He had two layers of shirts on, and that would require way too much moving. Instead, she unbuckled his jeans and peeled them open.

  The beam of light slid across his flat belly and highlighted his zipper.

  Really? Did she need a beacon to show off exactly what she wanted? It was time for them to be in bed, and he was tired beyond measure. Resolutely she peeled his jeans down to his knees, and still he didn’t move.

  Feeling better that she’d conquered the lust-brain half of her consciousness, she slowly maneuvered his plaid button-down shirt off. When he moaned lightly, she moved to his side and sat cross-legged until his breathing returned to its slow cadence.

  She could barely make out his features in the limited light, but his jawline was finally relaxed in sleep. The feel of his soft beard under her knuckles made her heart turn over. She brushed her thumb along his full bottom lip. The light puff of breath against her skin felt like a caress.

  Overtired and still achy, she shouldn’t want him. But she did—good God, she wanted him. This could be the last time. Everything could change tomorrow. She pushed his shirt up, smoothing her palm over the silky hairs on his belly that led to his chest. Widening her touch, she felt the firmness of his pectoral muscles and up to the tight bunch of muscles at his shoulder that flowed into his neck.

  She straddled his chest and gently pulled his shirt over his chin and face. He gasped under her and automatically raised his arms to help her take off his shirt.

  “Sunshine?”

  She smiled into the night. “No one else better be undressing you.”

  He snorted and sat up. She slid down his torso to his lap and felt him wake up all over. Her hands rested at his neck, letting her fingertips sift through his hair. The rumble of his moan burrowed into her chest and wrapped around her heart.

  “You smell like…” He nudged his nose into her hair and behind her ear. “Christ, you smell good. Whatever it is, I want to eat you alive.”

  She laughed. “Peppermint.”

  “I do love candy canes.” He coiled her hair around his hand and pulled her head back. He used his teeth on the column of her neck. A caress of lips and teeth with a hint of the tip of his tongue.

  He scooted back on the bed, dragging her with him. Her shirt sailed over her head and off the edge of the bed, and then his mouth was there. On her. He cupped her small breasts in his hands and took long pulls on each nipple until they were so distended she was afraid the pleasure would drive her mad.

  She reached between them and cupped his sac, then curled around his shaft. “Inside me. Just like this. Nothing but us.”

  SHANE PUSHED HIMSELF into her hand. The thought of sliding into her without any protection, without any barriers, was enough to suck the last of the blood out of his brain and put it firmly in his cock.

  Just once? Hell, he knew he’d want it all the time.

  But he couldn’t say no to her here in the dark.

  Insulated with shadow and silence—even the scent of her was different—there was no way he could say no.

  He rolled down his boxers and moaned when she took him in hand, leading him into her swollen heat. He dropped onto his back, his chest arching with each inch that she took. She rose over him, her head back in pleasure as she rode him.

  He splayed his fingers over her belly; he ground the heel of his hand over her mound. Part of him wanted to reach for the light. To watch them coming together. With each fisting clasp of her body, he wanted to see his cock disappear into her again and again. But there was something to be said for the darkness.

  She couldn’t see just how gone he was.

  How easily she’d driven him to that edge of lust and tipped him over into love. Loving her wasn’t smart, and it wasn’t well-timed, but it was one of the truest things he’d ever known.

  Kendall fell forward, her hair a curtain of moonlight in the near dark. He banded his arms around her back and held her tightly. The tremble of her body and her hitching breath gave him the last bit of permission to finish. Needs denied for so long and the precious perfection of her welcoming body killed what was left of his willpower.

  He drove his cock into her. The warm, wet glide of her pussy along with her sharp scent was all he needed. He came inside her. The mix of their scents and the overwhelming exhaustion slapped him in the face, and he collapsed under her.

  With just enough presence of mind to make sure Kendall was okay, he rolled them both onto their sides. He buried his nose in her neck and soothed her with a light stroke down her hip.

  The next time he truly woke, sunlight spilled into their room, and they’d created a cocoon of warmth under the blankets. Naked, sated, and still a little drunk on lack of sleep, he dozed again.

  Sometime later she slipped away from him to go to the window, drawing the curtains wider. Propping his head on his hand, he yawned and was struck dumb by Kendall in full sunlight.

  He rolled out of bed and slid an arm around her. She smiled up at him. “Quite the view.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Her smile broadened, and she leaned back against him. “The snow, Shane.”

  “That’s impressive too.”

  She turned in his arms, and he kissed her. He wanted nothing more than to drag her back into that huge bed and use it properly, but they needed to get on the road. “Why don’t you order up some breakfast, and I’ll take a shower.”

  “Good idea.” She stepped away and grabbed a menu.

  After showering and managing to hack down his steadily growing beard with his electric trimmer, he opened the door to the scent of bacon and syrup. Following his rumbling stomach, he snagged a pancake off her plate and wrapped it around two pieces of bacon.

  “Hey now!”

  He grinned around his mini-sandwich. “Smells awesome.”

  She nodded to the other plate with a cover on it. “That’s yours.”


  “I’ll take that too.”

  She caged her mug with her fingers. “You’re not stealing my coffee.”

  He looked down at her coffee, if that was what she wanted to call it—it was practically white with cream, and he was pretty sure there would be a layer of sugar at the bottom. “That’s all right.”

  “Don’t sneer at me, Oscar.”

  He hiked his towel on his hip and sat down. The domesticity felt good and right. He was pretty sure he’d be happy sniping over breakfast with her every morning of his life. The fact that it didn’t scare him into jackrabbiting for the door like it usually did was one more tick in the future-looking-bright column.

  She was right; the plows had been out, and the road was wet with salt and melting snow. Already the sun was beaming down and cars were on the road. Maybe they wouldn’t lose the entire Thanksgiving.

  In fact, a new plan was forming. With the B and B becoming part of his future, perhaps he could find a space for himself on the property and work on his furniture during the downtimes between helping Kendall with the Heron.

  She probably wouldn’t need that much help from him since she was so self-sufficient. They wouldn’t step on each other’s toes, and just maybe a steady future was ahead of them. He was actually looking forward to it.

  He packed them up as she finished in the bathroom. She came out in his oversize thermal shirt and a tight pair of jeans. With her hair slicked back in a tail, she looked fresh and ready to go.

  “Ready, Sunshine?”

  She tucked her hands into her back pockets with a distracted smile. “Yes.”

  “Did you call your mom?”

  “I will in the car.”

  He nodded, unsure why she was so restless. “Everything good?”

  “What?”

  “You good?”

  “Oh, yes. Of course.” She flashed him her fake smile and picked up her knapsack. He followed her out the door with a frown.

  The drive was quiet. The snow blanketed everything in a fresh coat of white. Branches sagged under the heavy, wet snow. One thing he’d noticed driving into the Northeast was that the roads all seemed to look the same.

  There was no artistry to the thruway, just endless exits and state troopers dotting every third speed trap between the east- and westbound traffic. The closer they got to Grafton State Park, the tighter Kendall curled into herself.