Take A Chance (Lake Placid Series Book 4)

by Natalie Ann

  “You didn’t let me last night,” she said, then put her hand in front of her mouth really fast, shocked she said that.

  “There you go. That’s what I wanted to see.” He smirked at her, then leaned down and kissed her quickly.

  She got it now. “I don’t have as much experience as you do with this.”

  “I like that you don’t. I like that I can teach you things. Remember, we’re supposed to be learning from each other.”

  She smiled bright. “We did agree to that, didn’t we?”

  ***

  “How are you doing over there?” Cole asked an hour later after he got Rene secured in the passenger seat of the chopper.

  “Good. Excited. I can’t wait. I love flying. Is this the same? Is this better?”

  He laughed over her excitement, glad that he made the suggestion and that she was more focused on this now. “It’s never the same. The conditions, the clouds, the sky, it all makes it different.”

  “I get that. I mean, I understand that. Every time I’ve flown I get a window seat. I love looking out at everything. Flying through the clouds is like dreaming. Sometimes I’d pretend I was floating way up high lying on the cloud, like a big fluffy bed looking down at everyone.”

  He could see that whimsical side of her thinking that. “This is a little more up close and personal, and we don’t get as high in the sky obviously. Put the headset on and you can talk to me that way. It gets loud in here.”

  She put the headset on, but it only slipped off her head. He grabbed it, adjusted the band, then gave it back. Once it was secure, she said, “Testing. One, two, three. Testing. I’ve always wanted to be in a situation where I could say that.”

  He looked over and grinned at her, surprised at how much he was enjoying the time he spent with her. Before, he’d bring women up in a chopper partially to seduce them, but with Rene, it was more about watching her learn. Maybe more about seducing her mind than her body. Somehow that thought made him feel like a nerd, though.

  “Now you can say you did.” He began flipping switches and checking all the gauges, then the chopper started to hum and his heart paced along with the rotating blades. The speed and rhythm of being one with the air around him.

  He loved the feeling of flying. The feeling of going through the air. There was a peace to it; even when nature was a bitch, there was still peace up here. Just him most of the time, with all this open space. One hundred percent in control.

  He pulled the controls back and lifted them off the ground, then heard Rene squeal with happiness. He’d never seen someone have such enthusiasm as her before over flying. It was a thrilling feeling for him. To share one of his loves with her. To give her something no one else had yet.

  Well, now it was two things he was able to give her, and that thought started to add a few more rapid beats to his heart.

  “How far are we going?” she asked.

  “Not far. We’ll just take in the mountains and the peaks. The scenery is nice this time of year, but not as nice as the summer or fall. Lots of white right now, so you don’t get to see as much of the changes in the levels below us.”

  “Can we fly over one of the ski mountains? It’d be neat to watch the skiers from above.”

  “Sure, we can do that.”

  “So do you use this chopper for search and rescue?”

  “No,” he said smiling over at her. “This is just a small chopper. There’s one at the trooper barracks that’s much bigger and better equipped.”

  “Are you the only one who can fly it?”

  “In Lake Placid, I am. There are a few more troopers that are pilots, but not close by. I get called out a lot to aid in other parts of the state, too.”

  She was looking out the window, then swiveling her head everywhere. The pure enjoyment and exhilaration on her face was contagious.

  “Hang on, I’m going to make a sharp right turn.”

  She reached up and gripped the bar, then giggled in delight. The last time he made that move was with Caleb, who was anything but thrilled over that. What do you know? Rene might be a little bit of a risk taker.

  “Oh, look at the skiers. This is just awesome!”

  He’d seen the sight enough to not be as enthralled by it, but it still made his heart lighter. Being in the air, being free like this, it was an experience very few people felt. He was lucky that he could feel it as often as he wanted.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket, so he pulled it out, then answered. “Yeah,”

  “McGuire. Sounds like you’ve got eyes in the sky right now. I hope at least.”

  It was the barracks calling. “Yep, over Whiteface right now. What do you need?”

  “Can you head toward Saranac? We’ve got some lost hikers. They’ve got spotty service and managed to get a message out and then we lost them. We’ve got crews on the ground, but your eyes could help.”

  “On my way. Send me the coordinates from their last signal.”

  “Roger out.”

  Cole turned to look at Rene. “We’re going on a search.”

  “A rescue or recovery?” she asked, almost bouncing in her seat.

  “Rescue, by the sounds of it. Lost hikers. You can be my co-pilot. How good is your vision with those contacts in?” he asked, laughing.

  “Very funny. It’s good enough.”

  “Then keep an eye out when I tell you to.”

  It didn’t take long before he was circling around. His gut told him to move to the north a bit. He always listened to his gut—the tiny feeling telling him where to go and what to look for—though he never told anyone that.

  “Okay, grab those binoculars and start looking to your right and ahead of you. Anything reflecting off the sun or any movements, let me know.”

  “This is kind of scary. I mean fun, but still scary.”

  “It can be, but there’s a good chance we’ll find them. Hopefully they will stay put once we do. Most people start trying to throw up signals when they hear a chopper, so let’s hope these hikers do.”

  A few minutes went by and finally she said, “There. I just saw a flash.”

  He swung the chopper around and looked where she was pointing and noticed the same thing, then started to bring the chopper down for a closer look. He could only go so far with the trees and there was nowhere for him to land.

  The hikers were smart enough to go out into a clearer area and start waving their hands at least. “Wave back down to them, so they know you see them. I’m going to flash my lights on them too.”

  “Now what?” she asked.

  He’d placed his phone under his thigh after he’d hung it up. “Grab my phone, call the last number, and put it on speaker. I’m going to give the coordinates and then hang out here until they’re found.”

  Twenty minutes later, snowmobiles were seen approaching the hikers. Cole gave a wave and took off for home. “There, you got to help me out today.”

  “That was exciting. Is that what you feel when you do it?”

  He laughed. He never thought much of it. “I guess. It was a good ending. Not all can be. Rescue is much better than recovery. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that.”

  “Have you ever dropped out of a helicopter to rescue someone?”

  Her eyes were glowing right now with what looked like arousal. “I have in the Air Force. Not now. I’m flying the chopper, so I don’t normally drop out of it. Just hold the aircraft steady for others while they drop down and bring them back up.”

  “Do you bring up people in gurneys, too?”

  He should have figured she’d have a million questions. “I do. We do. How are you with emergency medicine?”

  “Not bad. It’s not my strong suit. I can do it and get through, but I always doubt myself. I like to process things. I mean, it’s to the point where my mind and body just kick in, which is good, but I don’t think I’d be wonderful in a rescue-type scenario.”

  “You’ll never know until you’re in that situation. Lake Placid
could always use volunteers EMTs, if you ever wanted to try.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll stick to what I’m doing right now. Maybe I can ride along with you again, though?”

  “Absolutely. Let’s get back home and have some dinner. I’m starving.”

  “Me too,” she said, only the look in her eyes made him think she was hungry for something more than food. He hoped so.

  Not Now

  They’d barely gotten in the door before Rene was pushing him back against the frame and attacking the zipper of his jacket.

  This was a new feeling for her. Sure, she’d been aroused plenty of times in her life, but never to this point. Never this much.

  “Whoa there, slow down,” he said.

  “Nope. Not going to. I think you did that on purpose.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Brought me up in the sky to get me all worked up,” she said, tugging his jacket off his shoulders and flinging it on the floor.

  “It wasn’t my intention, but I’m not going to complain about the results.”

  “I’d bet you’ve done it before.” She wished she hadn’t said that and hoped he didn’t answer in the affirmative.

  “What did I tell you in regards to talking about other women?” he said, leaning down and picking her up as she promptly wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “We aren’t in the bedroom,” she mumbled and then wondered why she couldn’t drop it. Maybe because he was her first and he’d been around so much. Or at least from what she was told. She was trying not to let it bother her, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t a teeny bit jealous.

  “It’s a rule regardless of the room I’m in.” He kissed her neck and started to move toward the stairs. “You’re putting a damper on things. Is that what you want?”

  “Doesn’t feel like a damper on anything between my legs right now.”

  “Wow, you’re a piece of work when you’re all hot and bothered.”

  “Is that a problem?” she asked as he lowered her to the bed.

  “Hell no. I love every minute of it. Don’t ever change.”

  “I never knew I’d be like this.”

  “I’m glad you discovered it with me.”

  She was too. She wondered if she’d be this way with anyone else, if it was built into her nature, or if it truly was Cole that brought it out of her.

  He came down on top of her, his body covering hers, and in that moment she knew it was him. His size, his strength, the heat, and the feel of security and comfort he provided all wrapped into one.

  “Let’s get these clothes off fast,” she said.

  He liked her boldness so she was going to continue with it. It seemed easier when she was aroused. Otherwise she thought too much about her words and got all embarrassed.

  “Can’t seem to wait, can you?” he asked, standing up and undressing fast.

  “Seems you can’t either.” She started to wiggle out of her own clothes just as fast on the bed.

  Before she knew it they were both naked, him on the bed and rolling her so that she was on top of him. Okay, this was awkward. It shouldn’t be, but it was. She wasn’t quite sure what to do.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Where do I start?”

  He laughed at her. “Anywhere you want. You gave me grief for controlling everything yesterday, well, now it’s your turn.”

  Made sense, she thought to herself, even if she wasn’t sure where to go next. “Where’s the condom?” she asked.

  “In the drawer,” he said, turning his head.

  She reached over and grabbed it, but decided to set it aside. “Maybe I want to play with you like you did me. Would you like that?”

  “That’s kind of a stupid question from such a smart girl,” he said, grinning, and her heart melted with the look in his eyes. Full of heat and something else. Something deeper that she wasn’t sure she wanted to know at the moment.

  “I can’t have you thinking I’m not smart.” She lowered her head and started to kiss his chest, running her hands up and down and all over the place.

  He was built just right. Not ripped or defined, but not lean either. He was toned and thick and full of power in her eyes. Effortless almost. There were no six-pack abs that a model had, but there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him.

  After she had her fill of his upper body, she slid down and started to eye another target. One that she’d been thinking of more often than she should be.

  With no hesitation at all, she lowered her head and went to work.

  “Jesus, Rene,” he said, his hips coming off the bed as she gripped him with her hand and tasted him fully.

  She kept going, kept working him over and around, licking, biting and sucking, exploring every nook and cranny she could. His groans were increasing and she felt a moment of pride that she could make him feel this way. That she could make him react this way.

  “I told you the only thing—” He’d put his hand across her mouth when she started to speak, cutting her off.

  “What are the rules?” he said.

  She smiled at him. “I thought those were your rules.”

  “No, both of us. Stop talking. Just go back to what you were doing.”

  “Gladly,” she said, and did what he suggested.

  She knew he was close, she could tell by his body, if not by the noises he was making. She was ready to go in for the kill—to bring him right to the point he had her yesterday—when he reached down and pulled her off.

  “Not now. Not this time,” he said, then placed the condom in her hand. “You wanted to put it on yesterday. Now’s your chance.”

  She took it out of his hand and opened it up, then started to concentrate hard and figure out the best way to do it. “Do you have a preference on a certain way?”

  He choked out a laugh. “Rene. Just do it.”

  So she did, rolling it on slowly, dragging it out, loving the feel of him under her hands. This was some type of power to have.

  When he was fully covered, she moved her hips and settled herself, just dying to slide down and feel him again. Hoping it felt as wonderful as it did the day before.

  He placed his hands on her hips and guided her over him, then eased her down. “Does that hurt?’

  “No,” she said, trying to adjust.

  “Then why did you wince? Are you sore from yesterday?”

  “Not really. It’s all good.” Because it was. Just a moment of discomfort and now it was gone and there was nothing but elation.

  He moved his hands away, and said, “You’re on your own now.”

  “I don’t want to be, though.”

  “What do you want then?” His voice was thick with arousal and it was a powerful feeling once again to know she had the ability to do this to him.

  She picked his hands up. “I want you to touch me.” Then placed them over her breasts.

  Sitting there for the moment, she just took in the feelings around her. From his large hands massaging and squeezing, being a tad bit rough even, to the heat of him below filling her to a point of bursting. She never knew it could be this good.

  “You can stay just like this if you’re tender. I’m good with it.”

  His boyish grin made her giggle. “It’s good like this for me, too.”

  “Touch yourself,” he said suddenly.

  “What?”

  “You said you do. You said you liked it. Show me what you do.”

  “I can’t. You’re watching,” she said, feeling her face heat up.

  “Of course I am. I want to see you do it. That’s half the fun.”

  Was it? Could she bring herself to do that? When he lifted his hips up slightly sending himself deeper, she let out a little groan. Then his fingers started to pinch her nipples and she was slowly losing any inhibitions she had.

  Hesitantly, she slid her hand down and started to lightly touch herself where she always felt the most sensation. Just the slight touch had her squeezing him inside o
f her, making his hips rise again.

  Yeah, this was good. No, this was better than good. This was mind blowing.

  “That’s it,” he said. “Just do what feels the best.”

  “It all feels good,” she said, letting out a little whimper.

  “Yes, it does,” he agreed.

  So she pushed her shyness aside. Not that she had much of a choice because right now everything just felt way too good. His hands on her, his strength filling her, her own hands going to work. Yeah, life was just blissful at the moment.

  But all moments needed to come to an end, because this one was building, and not just for her, she could see. His eyes were all heavy lidded, and his breathing had increased.

  She was rocking back and forth now, against his hips, against her hand, anything she could do to get to that point where he’d sent her last night.

  “Keep it up, Rene. Bring me there with you.”

  “I’m trying. Oh my God, it never felt this good before when I touched myself.”

  “It’s not the same, that’s why.”

  “It can never be this good again,” she said, her voice rising, her body cresting, and before she knew it, her hips were moving faster than she ever thought possible.

  He moved his hands and held her still and tight against him, let out a groan and she felt him pulsing inside. Everything that was coiled so tight before was now bursting through until she had no choice but to collapse on his chest.

  ***

  Several hours later they were lying in bed for the night. Rene was on one side, Cole on the other. Even if he wanted to sleep, he couldn’t. She was tossing and turning and keeping him awake.

  “Everything okay?”

  “What?” she asked, turning over to look at him. “Yes, why?”

  “Because you can’t seem to stay still. Is my bed that uncomfortable?”

  “No, it’s not that. It’s just I’m not used to sleeping with someone,” she said.

  “It shows. You don’t have to stay way over there on that side if you don’t want to. Find a comfortable spot.”

  She hesitated a moment, then said quietly, “I don’t want to come off as clingy. That’s your side and I’m staying on mine.”