by M. L. Guida
“What? Oh, yeah. It’s fine.” She licked her lips.
He had an urge to lick her now salty lips.
“Try it,” she urged.
Forcing himself to forget her lips, Eric served himself. The pizza tasted good, but he had a hard time eating with the blonde beauty across from him and his growing erection. God, this was such a waste of time. He wanted her back in the Underworld now to complete their vows and indulge in her every fantasy.
Somehow Eric got through lunch with her, without making another frightening or asinine comment again. At least Luke Kennedy never came back and he didn’t have to worry about fighting for Cassandra’s attentions. A half-eaten pizza slice remained on her plate. “Are you done?”
“Um, yes. Thanks for lunch.” Cassandra put on her helmet and goggles, and slipped on her gloves.
“Sounds like a dismissal,” he said.
“What? You mean you wanted to ski some more?”
“That was the general idea. I’ve never had anyone who wanted to ditch me until you.”
She licked her luscious lips. “I’m not trying to ditch you. I’m just feeling weird after running into Luke.”
“Why?”
“We were together for about six months and I guess I hurt him.”
She thought she hurt him? “Excuse me? I thought…”
She held up her hand. “Yes, I know what he did. I wasn’t exactly a loving girlfriend, either. I just could never commit to him.” She shoved her hands into her parka. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. Look Eric, I know I just had lunch with you, but I need to get my thoughts sorted.”
He tossed three twenty dollar bills onto the table. “Fine.” Now, what the hell was he supposed to do?
She reached for the bill. “How much was the bill?”
He slid it out of her reach. “He was a good waiter.”
“Ah, uh. Well, I’ll be seeing you.” She hobbled in her ski boots to the front door without looking back.
He chugged the rest of his beer and slammed his glass down. Damn. The wench had brushed him off. In the Underworld, women climbed over themselves to get to him, but here, he was a leper. Shit. What if Cassandra had ditched him to find Kennedy?
He jumped off his chair and darted out of the restaurant. What if he missed her? His magic had faded, since he used the last of it to appear in her dream. Maybe he should have saved more of it. Using demon speed, he raced to his skis.
Bent over, Cassandra fastened her boots and picked up her poles. Kennedy wasn’t around.
“I’ll see you around,” he said.
She jumped and fell on her butt. “How did you get here so fast?”
“I wasn’t far behind you.” He offered her his hand and she grabbed it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. He wanted to slam her to his chest and kiss her, but refrained.
“Thanks.” She brushed snow off her parka. “Well, I’ll see you around.”
He put on his skis and binders, and stooping to be a stupid school boy, he trailed behind her. Pathetic. He wouldn’t push himself on her, not unless he saw Luke. Cassandra got onto the chairlift with a group of girls. Her sweet scent drifted over him. A man and his young son made small talk with him on the way to the top.
He flew off the chair. She headed toward the Super Bee Lift. With demon speed, he skied through the trees toward the Super Bee. He arrived at the lift, but she had not arrived yet. He waited, hoping she came alone.
His heart sank. Billowing snow had painted her cheeks and nose with white pixie dust. She came with a tall male figure. Kennedy. Dragon fire burned in him and he wanted to challenge Luke for his mate, which was common practice in the Underworld, but this wasn’t the Underworld. This was Earth. Bound by human law, he had no intention of getting locked up, unable to free himself.
Kennedy and Cassandra skied toward the lift. So much for getting his thoughts together. Eric slinked behind them. He hoped they wouldn’t kiss or caress each other. He doubted if he could remain rational.
What they were saying? He needed the Wraith’s mirror.
The darkness grew inside him. He was turning feral. He needed distance. Any minute, he’d explode with anger and rip Luke apart.
6
Cassandra was surprised she didn't want to grab Luke’s shoulders and kiss him. Maybe Lilly had been right. Maybe she had been the player.
Snow dusted Luke’s cheeks. Sunglasses hid his beautiful eyes and made him more handsome, alluring.
But all she could think of was long black hair and the smell of cinnamon. She shouldn’t have lied to Eric, telling him she wanted to be alone when she intended to meet Luke.
He’d wanted to talk to her more, but not in a crowded bar with both Diane and Eric watching them.
This wasn’t right. She’d done it again. Toyed with him. “Luke,” she said.
“What?”
“I don’t think this is going to work,” she said.
“You’re not giving us a chance.”
“Luke, you broke my heart.”
“I know. I know.” Luke tapped his poles on his skis. “I was drunk, Cassandra. Pissed off.” He sighed. “I don’t want her. I want you.”
“You were just eating lunch with her.”
“I sat alone so she joined me. I wasn’t going to be rude. Jesus, it was just lunch.”
Lunch my ass.
“I know I shouldn’t have called you the Ice Queen, but when you arrived with that guy…”
“Luke, I’m just not sure I can trust you again.”
“You’re not giving me a chance to make it up to you.”
“I walked into the bedroom and found both of you naked. Diane rode you like she was trying to win the Kentucky Derby.”
“I told you I was drunk. She seduced me. You mean everything to me.”
“You never called me after New Year’s.”
“I was afraid you’d hang up on me.” He shook his head. “I should have known.”
“Known what?”
“I saw how you were looking at that guy.”
“What do you mean?”
“You looked at him like he was an Olympic skier, sweeping you off your skis.”
Lilly was right. She was hurling Luke into a dung heap. How could any man live up to the perfect, sensual man in her dreams? Every night she indulged in a sexual fantasy with a man hotter than the hottest romance cover model.
“Fine. I guess it’s over.”
“Luke, I’m sorry.” She wished their relationship could have been different, but Luke only approached her after he’d seen her with Eric.
“Yeah, whatever.” The chairlift approached the top. “Later Cassandra.”
A lump formed in Cassandra’s throat. If Eric had never skied with her or taken her to lunch, would Luke have approached her?
She got off the chairlift and skied down the mountain, not caring where she was headed. This time she took her time, trying not to think of Eric and Luke and admire the snow packed peaks instead. She swished past skiers and snowboarders until she got to the middle of the mountain and skied toward the Excelerator lift. One more run before she escaped back to the inn. A deep husky laugh caught her attention.
Oh, crap.
Eric was a few feet ahead of her talking to a woman, not just any woman, Diane. Shit, Diane moved on every man she met.
Diane leaned against Eric’s shoulder and laughed.
Cassandra blinked back tears threatening to fall. Where was Eric’s conviction of not cheating on his mates? No, this was her fault. She had pushed him away just like she had Luke. She turned to get out, but the crowded lift line prevented her moving and she didn't want people grumbling, drawing either Eric or Diane’s attention. She’d just ride the damn lift, ski down the mountain and go back to the inn.
Eric and Diane got on the chair lift. Cassandra's stomach tightened as she got on the lift only two chairs behind Eric and Diane. On the lift, Diane sat too close to Eric and leaned her head on his shoulder. Cassandra’s nerves sna
pped and twanged each time Diane’s flirtatious laughter reached her ears or her hand touched Eric's arm. She wished she could jump off the lift and get away.
Eric and Diane skied to the left. Cassandra flew out of the chairlift and skied to the right as fast as she could, darting past beginners, children and snowboarders. The wind chilled her and chapped her lips. Despite her resolution not to cry, tears stuck to her cheeks. She’d lost two men in one day. Must be a record.
At the top of Main Vein, she finally stopped. The last part of the run was always crowded and she couldn’t go at top speed unless she wanted to run into someone and lose her ski pass. She didn’t want to see Eric and Diane on the other side of her.
She bent her knees to ski down the mountain.
“Cassandra, wait.” Eric skied up to her. Alone.
“Oh, Eric.”
“Are you okay?”
“Um, yes, I’m fine. Why?”
With his gloved hand, he touched her cheek. Her heart somersaulted and warmth rushed low, pooling into a throbbing ache in her chest.
“You’re crying.” He scanned the mountain. “Where’s Kennedy?”
She rubbed her cheeks on her shoulder and half laughed. “Why? He didn’t do anything.”
He scowled. “Then why are you crying?”
Diane pulled up next to Eric. “There you are. I thought I lost you.” She glanced at Cassandra. “Oh, Hi Cassie. Lose something?” Diane’s mission was to seduce or steal any guy Cassandra had. Now, that mission was Eric.
“No.”
Not waiting for Eric’s response, Cassandra darted down the mountain, not caring how fast she went or whether she lost her pass. She wanted to go home. At the bottom of the lift, she undid her bindings and stepped out of her skis.
“Cassandra, will you wait?” Eric held his skis.
“How did you get here so fast? Where’s Diane?”
“I don’t know. I ditched her.”
“You did?”
He lowered his voice. “Why have you been crying?”
Not wanting to fall under his magical spell again, she shrugged, forcing her tears back. “Just a bad day.”
“Are you leaving?”
He sounded disappointed, but she didn’t want to play these games anymore. She wanted off the board. “Yeah, I think I’ve had enough skiing for today.”
He tilted his dark head. “Going back to the Inn?”
“Yeah.”
“Could you give me a lift?”
“What?”
“I’ll buy dinner.”
“Dinner? No, you don’t have to.”
“Come on, Cassandra. I don’t want to take the damn bus back again. We’re going to the same place.”
He was just using her for a ride. Great. She wanted to say no. “All right.”
He smiled. “Good, I’ll take you to your favorite restaurant.”
“Eric, I just want to stay in my hotel and read a good book.”
“No, I insist. Somehow I feel I owe you,” he said. Red glittered in his eyes.
She shook her head. She imagined it. “Fine, but I want to be home early.”
On the shuttle ride back to the parking lot, Eric stood next to her, bumping into her when the bus lurched. Just his slightest touch turned her into a pool of slush.
As they walked to her SUV, he leaned closer. “Is your Pathfinder far?”
Alarm bells rang in her head and she shivered. “How did you know I drove a Pathfinder?”
“You must have mentioned it.”
“No, I didn’t. Okay which one is it?”
“Excuse me? You want me to guess which one is yours?”
“Yes, I do. Or I’m not taking another step.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He scanned the parking lot. “The black one.”
She followed his gaze. Behind her silver Pathfinder, was a black one. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she was too damn tired. She hit the keyless remote and the lights flashed on the back of her SUV.
“Ah, so I was wrong,” he said.
“I’m sorry.”
He clasped her arm and turned around. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the shape of his mouth or his deep eyes. He cupped her cheek, his thumb feathering her jaw line, his fingertip traveling up her chin to her lips. “Don’t be.”
Her heart quickened as he bent his dark head. His mouth parted, his lips skimmed hers, titillating all the way down to her toes, and she opened hers. His tongue followed with a warming caress. She revealed in the familiar taste, tender, silky, seductive.
Fire raced through her bloodstream, flaming her desire, despite the chilly air. Her stomach clenched. Sparks ignited and the full meaning of chemistry seized her. There was nothing else, not the cold, not the other skiers, but only his mouth claiming hers, whirling her into another world she had only dreamed about. And he tasted like cinnamon. She was lost and, her wall of doubt crumbled. Her legs wobbled and she reached for a nearby bench. He pulled away. “Let’s get to the damn car.”
Eric gathered their skis and poles and tossed them into the back of the SUV.
Still reeling from the kiss, her hands shaking, not able to ditch the feelings he had awakened in her, she undid her boot buckles and put on her suede boots.
Eric watched her stand. She fumbled for her keys and dropped them in the snow.
He snatched them up. “Would you mind if I drove?”
She didn’t know him. How could she trust he would take her to the Inn? “No, I want to.”
He frowned, but handed her the keys. “As you wish.”
She slipped into the driver’s seat and he got into the passenger side. She grappled with sticking the key into the ignition.
Eric chuckled. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?”
“No, I…I…I can do it.” The key slipped into the ignition and the car started. Before she could pull out of the parking space, Eric leaned over, slipping his hand around her neck, pulling her toward him, toward those mesmerizing lips. The tender, teasing stroke of his lips on hers flamed her desire. His tongue explored every inch of her mouth and she indulged in discovering his velvet-soft interior. He swept away her dream, replacing it with reality, demanding she respond to him, taking her response, all hunger and desire. His kiss was better than any kiss she’d had in her dream.
She leaned closer reaching for his shoulders when her elbow hit the steering wheel. A loud honk broke the kiss.
Cassandra jumped. Eric laughed. He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “You’re so beautiful. So very beautiful.”
“We better get going.” She fumbled to put the gear shift into drive.
He grabbed her hand, spreading warmth through her, and he held her with his determined gaze. “Cassandra, please let me drive. You’re shaking.”
She wanted to say no, but she couldn’t form a single thought. She wasn’t sure she could drive and at least if he drove, she could focus. “All right.”
He smiled, leaning closer again. He kissed her, his tongue pushing open her mouth, devouring her, leaving her breathless. Her mind whirled at the sensations as her body responded, wanting to feel his lips on her neck, sucking and biting her skin. He released her and opened the door. Cassandra sat in the driver’s seat, trying to gather some rational thought. Her door opened and Eric led her to the passenger side. The drive was a blur.
He pulled into the Galena Street Inn parking lot and turned off the ignition. He handed her the keys. “I'll meet you in the lobby at six.”
He got out of the car and got his skis and out of the rear. Cassandra leaned toward the wheel and glanced in the rearview mirror, still clutching the keys in her hand. He nodded at her and headed into the Inn.
Cassandra managed to answer. “Oh, yes, fine,” she said. What just happened? Cassandra cursed again. She wanted to relax in the hot tub, take a hamburger back to her room and finish reading Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Bad Moon Rising. But no. She had not only let Eric talk her into driving him back to the inn, but had agreed to go
to dinner with him.
The clock seemed to be ticking faster and faster. She rolled her eyes at her weakness as she brushed her hair. She lost all sense around Eric and was surprised at how upset she’d been when Diane hung all over him. It had hurt worse than it had with Luke. Why was that? She’d known Eric less than a day. Had he uttered a seductive incantation?
Applying the last bit of mascara, Cassandra cursed herself for being so wish-washy. She stepped back. Make-up failed to conceal her raccoon eyes, since she’d forgotten to put sunscreen on her face. Too much drama today. She inspected her clothes, straightening her white pearled sweater. Her faded jeans were worn at the knees and her brown suede snow boots were old. Why had she agreed to go? Face it. Because, if not the genuine thing, he was the closest she'd ever seen to her dream man.
She grabbed her parka and purse and headed out the door. Attraction compelled Cassandra to Eric, but she didn’t trust it. It wasn't real, an illusion. Luke was real, but unlike Eric's kiss, Luke's never swept her into a whirl of sensations.
She strode into the lobby.
Eric stood in front of the fireplace, staring into the roaring fire. The light shone on his long black duster jacket, giving it an eerie, smoky, glow. His hair was pulled back into a loose queue and showed a sparkling diamond stud in his right ear. He was a dark pirate stepping out of the past. A slow smile spread across his face as he flicked his gaze over her. Shivering, she hesitated.
He held out his hand. “You look lovely, Cassandra.”
His smooth voice unsettled her. She forced her legs to move. She lifted her unsteady hand and took his. Eric’s grip emitted strength and power. Warmth spread through her, heating her skin from her fingers down to her toes. Ignoring the sultriness blanketing her body, she pretended to be interested in the quaint paintings as she allowed him to lead her out of the lodge.
They walked a block before Cassandra found her voice. “Where are we going?”
“Boatyard Grill.”
He'd done it again. Read her mind. The Boatyard Grill was her favorite restaurant in Frisco. How did he know these little bits of information about her? Was it a coincidence or something else? Had he been following her on the internet or stalking her back home? He’d be hard to miss. Eric wasn’t the kind of man who could blend in with the masses, not with his striking looks.