Angel honked the horn as he pulled up, and Jared lifted a hand. But then two people got out of the car—Angel and Emily. Fuck. What did Angel do? He was screwing everything up. Jared didn’t have a game plan yet. Hadn’t figured out the right words. He was supposed to casually get advice from Angel on the drive up for his hypothetical friend. He wasn’t ready to be thrown into the deep end.
“Hi, Em,” Jared said in a surprisingly calm voice given he wanted to shake his stepbrother. “Angel, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Go,” Angel said to Emily.
“Hi!” Emily said with a bright smile as she passed him before heading over to his truck and settling into the cab.
“She’s all yours for the weekend,” Angel said as he put Emily’s wheeled suitcase into the flat bed of Jared’s truck.
Jared stomped over to Angel. “What the hell are you doing?”
Angel smiled serenely. “I told her, let’s see, what were my exact words? ‘Want to go skiing with Jared for a weekend in Vermont?’” He socked him on the shoulder. “Give you one guess what she said. And I know about Captain Cuddle. I’m doing it this weekend.”
“Vince told you?”
“Yeah, he couldn’t bear to leave Sophia. He’s going maternity clothes shopping with her and Mom.”
“Whipped,” Jared muttered.
“No kidding,” Angel said. “Have fun. Don’t come back a virgin.”
Jared snorted. “You know you crossed a line, butting in here. I’m thinking payback.”
“It’s for your own good, Dr. Bozo.” Angel slapped him on the back, turned, and left.
Jared took a deep breath and returned to his truck. He got in the driver’s side and looked over at Emily. “You ever ski black diamonds?”
“Just bunny slope,” she said, “but I’m eager to move on to something more exciting.” She slowly licked her lips in an extremely suggestive way.
“Why does everything out of your mouth sound like a proposition?”
“Because you’re used to getting propositions?”
“What about your ex?” What’s your emotional baggage on a scale of one to ten? Do you want me for more than my body?
She frowned. “What about him?”
He opened his mouth and shut it again. “Never mind.” He watched Angel pull away and then turned back to her and blurted, “Are you over Angel?”
She made a weird growling noise. “If I had ice water, I’d dump it on you again! How many different ways can I say I want you?”
He cupped the back of her neck, pulled her in, and kissed her deeply, a carnal promise of more. She moaned in the back of her throat, her fingers clutching his jacket. He kissed her for a long time until he was finally forced to pull away because his body was urging him to do more than he could in the confines of the truck. Her lips were pink, her brown eyes bright. She smiled, grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him back in for more. She finally let him up for air just as he was considering dragging her into his lap. He had to slow things down. They needed to talk about stuff.
“Emily—”
“I’m so turned on right now.”
He jammed a hand in his hair. “I’m not sure what you think this weekend is, but—”
“It’s a onetime, fun time, right?”
He started the truck. “We’re not spending the weekend. Just a day trip.” He couldn’t spend the whole weekend with her and say goodbye. He’d ski with her, kiss her, and then say goodbye. He was never going to be able to live up to her one-and-done expectation. He wanted her too much. He liked her too much.
She blew out a noisy breath. “Whatever.” Then she muttered, “Big ’fraidy cat.”
He pulled out into the road and hit the accelerator. “I’ll show you ’fraidy cat. I’m gonna dominate those black diamonds.”
She sighed.
“Don’t you have to work today?” he asked.
“I usually do. This is the first Saturday I’ve had off in two years. It seemed like a good opportunity for fun.”
“It will be fun.”
She fiddled with the radio, looking for a station. “I used to have a lot more fun in my life. I loved coasters and driving fast and parties, meeting new people.”
“Yeah? Me too.”
She found a Christmas carol station and left it there on Bing Crosby’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” It made the cab feel cozy and intimate. Her cinnamon and vanilla scent wafted over him, making him ravenous. For her.
She went on. “Then I sort of shrank my little world until I felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore.” She blew out a breath. “I really thought someone like you would be more open to having a good time.”
“I’m very fun. We’ll have a good time.”
“We’d better or I want my money back.”
He glanced over at her. “What money?”
“I paid Angel for his half of the room.”
“What? He would’ve let you have it for free. I’ll pay for your half of the room.”
“So we are spending the night.”
He eyed her. “Emily—”
“One night. I need to find the old fun Emily again. If you’re not up for it, I guess I’ll find someone—”
“One night.” She was not going to be finding some random hookup.
“Thank you.”
He glanced over at her with that catlike smile of satisfaction and felt a surge of raw desire. Okay, one night. Then they’d talk about stuff. Maybe taking the edge off his lust would help him think clearer. She had to understand this wasn’t just a hookup for him. She might’ve gotten the wrong impression because of his rep.
Except the more time he spent with her, the more his gut feeling was confirmed—he was the one looking for a commitment, and she was the one just in it for a good time.
~ ~ ~
Emily loved the view on the ski lift and the company. Though she had to admit, she was a little worse for the wear. The day started out so promising when she perched on top of her first ski run of the day. Half an hour later, she was bumped and bruised after falling on her ass too many times to count.
Jared rode the ski lift next to her, his arm and leg pressed snugly against hers. She wasn’t sure if that was intentional or not, but she liked it. She was ready to get hot cocoa and sit in the lodge the rest of the day, but she felt kinda bad for him. They still hadn’t made it past the bunny slope.
They got off the lift, and she faced the small hill with grim determination. Then she just stood there, frozen in place, unwilling to risk more falling on her ass.
Jared appeared at her side. “I thought you said you did bunny slope before.”
“I did.”
“When?”
“When I was, uh, twelve.”
“So, it’s been…how many years?”
Eighteen years, but who’s counting?
“I’m going to get it soon.” She pushed off and headed straight down, picking up speed faster and faster; then she remembered Jared said she should keep her knees apart at a slight angle. She tried to do that and started to wobble. Jared swerved expertly in front of her and held her up, skiing backwards down the hill, guiding her down with him.
“Thanks!” she said breathlessly. Skiing was a lot more fun when she wasn’t falling on her ass.
“You got it,” he said. He glanced over his shoulder at the terrain and maneuvered her safely to the bottom of the hill. “Want to go again?”
“Yeah, it’s fun when you’re keeping me upright.”
They did several more trips down the hill like that. She was having fun, but she had to wonder what Jared was missing out on. “It’s not very exciting for you,” she said when they reached the bottom of the hill. “If you want to go on some black diamond runs, I don’t mind. I’ll just hang out in the lodge and drink hot cocoa.”
“Hey, you paid for an exciting ski weekend and that’s exactly what you’re going to get. Come on. We’re almost ready for Jane’s Intermediate Hill.” He grinned.
<
br /> They got on the ski lift, and she looked over at Jane’s Intermediate Hill that had a bunch of little kids skiing like demons down it. “You really think I’m ready?” she asked. “They’re going so fast. It must be a higher slope.”
“No.” He laughed. “You show no signs of improving, but it’s fun to ski down with you.”
She gave him a quick kiss. He gazed into her eyes and kissed her back. The hard press of his lips felt so good she almost missed their stop. He pulled her off and set her straight toward Bunny One.
“Maybe I can move to Bunny Two by the end of the day,” she said halfheartedly.
“Maybe,” he allowed. “Let’s see how you do when you don’t have me to hang onto.”
Her butt hurt a lot. “I like hanging onto you.”
“Then we’ll stay on Bunny One.”
By sunset, Emily was exhausted and ready to warm up in the lodge. Jared agreed though she knew this wasn’t the exciting ski weekend he’d envisioned with Angel. Hopefully, she could make it up to him later. They settled side by side into overstuffed chairs with steaming mugs of hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire.
“I heard the hotel has several nice restaurants,” she said. “I looked it up online.”
Jared stared into the fire. “Maybe we should head back.”
Her jaw dropped. “It’s a five-hour drive!”
He kept staring at the fire. “All the more reason to get a move on. We can grab a bite at a rest area on the way home.”
She lowered her voice. “Are you…not attracted to me?”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Come on. You know it’s not that.”
“Do you know what this night could mean to me?” she whispered. “It would help me finally move on.”
He narrowed his green eyes. “Move on from what exactly?”
“From the scandal. I want to know I can still have fun with a man without commitment.”
He was quiet for so long she wondered if she’d said the wrong thing.
“What if I don’t want you to move on?” he asked, gazing into the fire.
“What do you mean? You’re actually looking for a relationship? Dr. One-and-Done?”
“Forget it,” he muttered.
She put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. Did I misunderstand? I thought…well, I thought this is what you do. Hook up with nurses on the weekend in the service of Venus?”
He set his jaw and met her eyes with a hard look. “That’s right. So let’s get to it.”
She hopped up, excitement humming through her. “Okay then! Let’s go!”
They made the short ten-minute drive to the hotel and checked in. But when they got to the room, Jared didn’t do anything. He just sat on the end of the queen-sized bed, elbows resting on his knees, looking at the floor. She really hoped he wasn’t still holding back because of Angel. She was so over him.
She dropped to her knees in front of him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and kissed him. He groaned and pulled her up, standing with her, and then kissed her like his life depended on it. Urgent, hot, deep kisses that were completely unlike any kisses they’d had before. Her knees went weak and she clung to him, her fingers gripping his wide shoulders. He palmed her ass and ground her against him as he kissed her senseless. He pulled back only long enough to pull her sweater over her head and then expertly flicked open the front clasp of her bra.
“Gorgeous,” he murmured, gazing at her breasts before claiming her mouth again, his hot tongue thrusting inside as his hands palmed her breasts. He rolled and tugged her hard nipples, causing an aching, throbbing need lower where she desperately needed his touch. He slipped the bra straps from her shoulders and tossed it to the side.
“Jared,” she said on a moan, tugging at his shirt, running her hands under it, reveling in the heat and strength of his rippling back muscles as he leaned down to capture one aching nipple in his mouth. He used his tongue and teeth on the rigid point and she slid a hand into his hair, holding him there.
“So good,” he murmured before shifting to her other breast, bending her back over his arm so she could do nothing but cling to him as his tongue rasped over her, and then he took her in more fully, suckling hard, making her ache.
He lifted his head and captured her mouth again in a rush of possession as his thick muscled leg wedged between hers. She was lost in sensation, already hot and wet and ready.
She tore her mouth from his. “Take me,” she half begged, half demanded.
He didn’t need any more encouragement than that. He undid her jeans and yanked them down, her panties followed, and he slid his fingers into her hot, wet folds as he kissed her again. She fumbled for the button on his jeans, her fingers trembling as he stroked her and then thrust his fingers inside. It had been so long, too long. She whimpered as her knees went weak.
He released her mouth and trailed hot kisses along her jaw down the side of her neck before letting her go long enough to turn her in his arms so her back was to his front. He cupped her breast in one large hand as he kissed the side of her neck and up to her ear, his tongue running along the sensitive shell.
“Jared, get naked.” She tried to turn in his arms, but he snaked his other arm around her waist and held her in place.
His words ran hot over her skin. “I want to play with you first. If I only get one time, it’s gotta last.” He was referring to his Dr. One-and-Done status, but suddenly she wanted a lot more than once.
“You can have…” She trailed off as his hand delved between her legs. Her head fell back against his shoulder as the sensations overwhelmed her. He was shockingly in tune with her as he played with her, his other hand caressing her breast. He stroked firmly and then lightly, then in teasing circles while she panted breathlessly until all of the sensation centered on that one spot made her breath catch as she climbed, aching and rocking with his rhythm, right to the edge of release. He stilled his hand and held her firmly. She grabbed his arm, trying to make him move, but he merely chuckled.
He nipped the side of her neck. “You’re a lot of fun.” Then he dropped his arms from her body.
She turned to face him, torn between frustration and a desperate need for more. She grabbed for his shirt and peeled it off him, taking in golden skin and muscles defined she was sure from the physical work he enjoyed. She ran her hands over his chest and rained kisses from his neck to his shoulders, down further to his chest and the light dusting of hair leading to the bulge in his jeans. She knelt in front of him and kissed the hard bulge through his jeans.
He pulled her back up. “Not so fast.”
He kissed her again, pulling her flush against him, his hands sliding to her bottom and squeezing gently. She moaned in the back of her throat, still a little sore from falling today but also loving the feel of his warm hands. He kept kissing her as he maneuvered her toward the bed. The back of her knees bumped the mattress. He broke the kiss and gave her a small shove so she landed on her back. She went up on her elbows, intending to slide up further on the mattress when his large hands on her hips stopped her.
“Lie back,” he said in a husky voice.
She immediately dropped back and reached for him. “C’mere,” she purred. “Get those jeans off.”
“You’re getting off first,” he said, spreading her legs open to him.
“Jare—” Her breath caught as he knelt down, pulled her to the edge of the bed, and set her legs over his shoulders. “Oh!” His hot mouth took her in one intimate kiss, and then he set about making her crazed. His lips and tongue brought her to the edge again and again. She bucked wildly as he pushed her hard and then slowed things down again, pulling her back from the edge with a soft touch, the release she needed just out of reach.
“Don’t stop!” she gasped.
He lifted his head, gazed into her eyes, and licked his lips. “You taste so good.”
“I’m so close.”
He grinned. “I know.” He turned and kissed her inner thigh. “Maybe three times you were
so close.”
“Yes!” She gripped his hair and pulled him back where she wanted him. He nuzzled in, and she let out a long moan. The slow climb started again as his mouth worked its magic. She lifted her hips, open and needy. He obliged, amplifying the pleasure as he slid a finger inside her. “Yes!” she shouted as everything in her coiled and tightened. He pulled away.
She went up on her elbows and glared at him. “I’m going to scream if you don’t—”
He tapped her hard nub with one finger, making her gasp. “You’ll thank me when I finally give it to you.”
“Please,” she begged, lifting her hips. She’d never begged a man to take her before, but he made her feel desperate.
He ran his finger lazily up and down her sex, tracing the edges of where she needed him. “Please what?”
“Please give it to me.”
“Give you…” He dropped a kiss just an inch higher than she needed. “What exactly?”
“Make me come!” She fisted her hand in his hair and pushed him down. He sucked gently, and arcs of electric sensation radiated out from the center of her world, traveling down her legs to her toes. She loosened her hold on him and threw her arms to her sides. He kept going, the gentle waves of pleasure radiating through her, making her moan softly as she floated in a haze of sensation. And then he slid his fingers inside of her, stroking her gently on the inside as he lapped at her. She tensed as she climbed that peak again, half afraid he’d stop, but he intensified his efforts, his fingers thrusting as his mouth closed firmly over her, and she exploded with a harsh cry as he kept going, letting her ride every last wave of pleasure until she had nothing left.
She was vaguely aware of him shifting her legs off his shoulders.
“You ready to thank me yet?” he asked, sounding entirely too boastful.
She half moaned, half laughed. “No.”
“No?” he echoed. She heard the rasp of his zipper, and then his jeans hit the floor.
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