ROMANCE: Tumble Into Love: A Diamond Creek Alaska Novel, Contemporary Romance (Diamond Creek, Alaska Novels Book 5)

by Croix, J. H.

  “So, how’s Darren?” Ethan asked, his eyes glinting with mischief.

  Risa rolled her eyes. “He’s fine. I’m meeting him for dinner tonight.”

  Jack arched a brow. “Well, well. Here I thought Ethan was making more of this than it was.”

  Risa flushed but managed not to take the bait. After they left, she climbed in her car. Her plan tonight was to get back in control with Darren. Oh, she’d meant what she said—she wanted to see him tonight. Like you’ve never wanted anyone before. Her subconscious stealthily interrupted, and she batted it away. No matter how much he unbalanced her, she could get this back on firm footing. She would be able to keep it light and fun and have more of the best sex of her life all at the same time. As long as she could do that, it wouldn’t matter if he ended up letting her down, or worse, ended up making her want more than she could have.

  Chapter 11

  Smoke bellowed out from under the hood of Risa’s new-to-her car. She’d turned down what she thought was Darren’s road too quickly to realize it wasn’t when the road went from pavement to dirt and no houses came into view. Right after she’d done a twenty-point turn to head back from where she came, the temperature needle on her dashboard climbed rapidly and her engine made a loud humming sound following by a pop. She climbed out and glanced around. The sky was dark with clouds, the air heavy with the threat of rain.

  “Dammit!”

  A magpie flew low with a burst of chatter before landing on a spruce tree nearby. Risa kicked at a tire before flinging her door open and grabbing her purse. She knew she wasn’t far from Trey’s house or Darren’s, but she didn’t know exactly where she was. She hemmed and hawed for a moment, trying to decide if she wanted to call Darren or Trey and Emma. Calling Darren meant he’d see her yet again dealing with car problems though at least this time it wasn’t an accident. The depth of her yearning to see him was so strong, she couldn’t not call him. If she called Trey and Emma, it could derail her entire evening. Though she planned to be in complete control, she didn’t want to miss out on seeing Darren. He didn’t answer, so she left a message that ended with a confusing attempt to tell him where she was.

  Why the hell did you leave him that message? Because he was going to see I called, so I might as well explain. You sounded like an idiot. Risa leaned against her car with a groan. She was talking to herself. That’s how idiotic she was. She shoved away from the car and walked back to the front, eying the hood. The smoke had slowed down, but she didn’t have it in her to open the hood and check. She prayed it wouldn’t rain.

  The road she’d ended up on had no houses on it and trees rising tall on both sides. A canopy of spruce interspersed with cottonwood and birch enveloped the road. Birds flitted in the trees. The air was cool, soft and earthy scented. The quiet was broken by the sound of a car. Darren stopped his patrol car in the middle of the road and got out. She soaked in the view of him. He’d changed out of his uniform and wore faded jeans that molded over his muscled legs. A cotton jersey shirt clung to his shoulders and chest—almost making her salivate at the thought of what was underneath. He strolled over to her car and grinned.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked, instantly annoyed at his amusement with her predicament.

  His grin merely widened. “You and cars don’t seem to get along too well. How did you end up here?” he asked, gesturing at the road.

  She looked up and down the road. “I thought it was your road!” She fought to keep from smiling but his grin was contagious, not to mention having him anywhere near her made her insides do a happy dance.

  He walked to the hood of her car and stared at it. After a long moment, he shrugged.

  “What? Can you tell what’s wrong with it?”

  He burst out laughing.

  She stomped over to his side. “This isn’t funny!”

  His brown eyes met hers. She fought against the stealthy curl of desire sliding through her veins.

  “Okay, okay. I don’t mean to make light of it. Three out of four times I’ve seen you, something happens to your car, that’s all.”

  She rolled her eyes and purposefully moved away from him, her plan to be in control already on shaky ground. For crying out loud, her car was overheated, it was about to rain, he stopped to help, and all she could think about was pushing him up against the car and kissing him. Annoyed as she was, he had a point, and she could laugh at the situation.

  With a rueful grin, she shrugged. “Fair enough. I do seem to have a pattern of car issues lately. Do you think I can try starting it again?”

  She looked toward the front of the car to see smoke still snaking out from under the hood.

  Darren walked to where she stood beside the car, resting one hand on the roof. “Nope. I was thinking about asking you to open the hood, but I realized that was pointless, which is why I laughed. I don’t know what’s wrong, but I definitely know it’s not a good idea to try to do anything with that much smoke coming out.”

  Risa’s brain filled with static at Darren’s nearness. She took a step away, only to find her back up against the car.

  “So does anyone live on this road?” she asked, grasping for anything to get her mind off of his chocolate eyes and those lips she knew felt amazing. Her eyes bounced away and landed on his well-developed chest. She could feel the heat from his body. Her heart pounded and heat swirled in her center.

  Darren looked briefly up and down the road before his eyes landed on hers again. His mouth lifted at one corner as he shook his head. “Nope. This is an old right-of-way. Some guy planned to build down here and had it paved halfway. Not sure what happened, but he hasn’t built anything yet. My road is another mile or so down the hill.”

  His eyes stayed on hers. Risa’s brain seemed to have stopped functioning entirely—other than thoughts about what it would feel like to kiss him again and run her hands over his body. Moisture built between her legs, her breath became short, and she couldn’t focus on anything beyond the heat of his eyes.

  Mentally fumbling, she forced herself to try to focus. “So, uh, is there someone I can call to tow my car? Or should I…”

  Her words were cut off when he put his finger on her lips.

  “We can call the tow place in a minute. First I need to do this.”

  His voice was low and gruff. Before she could formulate a thought, much less a response, he moved swiftly, bringing his lips to hers. His tongue swept inside, instantly wiping all thought clear. Lust streaked though her. Her mouth opened to his, and their kiss went wild. Darren turned to face her, pressing her against the car. The contrasting heat from his body with the cool metal of the car against her back escalated the flurry of feeling coursing through her.

  She forgot any plan to stay in control and abandoned herself into the moment. Tugging him against her, she gloried in the feel of his muscled body. Her pulse careened out of control. She slid her hands up under his shirt, just like she wanted, skating across his warm skin, over his muscles and around his back, the corded tension delicious under her hands. He tore his lips from hers, his hand stroking into her hair. He lightly nipped her earlobe, his lips traveling down the side of her neck, shivers chasing in their wake.

  She felt hot and achy, her clothes tight and constricting. She moaned in relief when he tore her blouse open, cool air hitting her skin. He stopped moving, and she opened her eyes to find his trained on her.

  “Dear God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered.

  Her breasts rose and fell with her breath. He lifted his eyes to meet hers, and she became more lost than she already was. The intensity and depth of plain desire in his gaze took her breath away. She scrambled, trying to gather her wits. But he seemed to slip in under her defenses simply by being close to her. She watched as his hand, strong and warm, came up to curl around her breast. He rolled her nipple, peaked tight under the lacy silk of her bra, between his thumb and forefinger. A whimper escaped her. His eyes flicked up. Holding her gaze, his thumb slipp
ed under the clasp between her breasts. With a snap, her bra fell open. Pinned in place by his dark eyes, she couldn’t look away as he lowered his head slowly, his eyes only breaking from her when his lips softly closed around a nipple. The touch of his mouth was electric, sending a jolt through her.

  She arched against the car, rolling her hips against the heated length of his cock. His lips alternated between soft dusting kisses, gentle nips and a sharp bite on her nipple. Yearning surged through her, escalating to a frenzy. Rain began to fall; the cool drops on her skin a balm to the heat inside of her. His lips made their way back up her neck to her mouth, coming against hers. He gentled their kiss by increments. When he pulled away, his mouth mere inches from her, she only wanted him not to stop. She gulped in air and met his eyes.

  Rain fell steadily. His lashes spiked with the moisture, raindrops rolled down his face. She tilted her head back, savoring the cool water as it fell against her face. Looking back at him, a frisson of awareness stole up her spine. She didn’t know what this was between them, but it was beyond her experience. Touching him was like breaking the surface of water after too long underneath. She felt alive, exhilarated, relieved and shaken all at once. It wasn’t mere physical attraction, and that made her feel exposed. On the heels of that feeling, her heart ached to turn to Darren to soothe her. That’s what he did to her—stole her senses, scrambled her thoughts, and made her forget how much she needed to be in control. A shiver raced through her, the cool air chilling her, her bare skin pebbling in the rain.

  His chest rose and fell against hers in a deep breath. He held her eyes steadily in the rain, reaching up to brush a drop of rain off her lashes.

  He cleared his throat. “Let’s get out of the rain before you get too cold,” he said gruffly.

  She couldn’t seem to find words, so she nodded. He stepped back and hooked her bra together before efficiently buttoning her blouse. She closed her eyes, trying to stop the trembling inside and the fear crashing through her. You can’t want him this much. It’s not sane. Don’t be stupid and fall for someone again.

  “Risa?”

  His voice broke through her thoughts. Her eyes flew open, colliding with his, which were warm and steady.

  “Let’s get in my car and call the tow truck from there.” He tugged her gently away from her car.

  She followed him through the rain, sighing when he closed the door for her. Inside, she was glittering, sparks of passion dancing through her veins. Her emotions were taut—pulled tight like a string with the depth of her want for Darren, a force she couldn’t harness, tempting and terrifying beyond measure. Once he was in the car, he quickly made a call, assuring the tow truck driver they’d wait until he was there. A soft silence fell around them when he ended the call. Rain pattered on the roof while Risa wondered how it could feel so...right to be with him.

  ***

  Darren looked across the room at Risa where she stood by the front windows looking out into the rain. Her dark hair was still damp and tousled from the rain. Her blouse clung to her generous curves. He’d planned to take her out to dinner, but she’d waved it off, commenting she was too wet to go out. So he’d scrounged through his pantry, only to have her nudge him with an elbow before taking over and rustling up a quick pasta dish with seasoned olive oil and the fresh tomatoes he only happened to have because Sylvia had brought some in from her garden for everyone at the station.

  Risa stood with her hands tucked in the pockets of her fitted jeans. As with her blouse, the denim hugged her curves tightly, reminding him of how phenomenal it felt to curl his hands around her lush hips. She’d been slightly subdued since those earth-shattering moments by her car in the rain. He’d only meant to kiss her briefly, just to have a taste of her lips, before calling for the tow truck and taking her out to dinner. But the second his lips met hers, thought had fled on the heels of sensation surging and burning through him. It unsettled him because he wanted her in a way he’d never experienced. He told himself he wanted to chance to get to know her and didn’t want this to be purely physical. And yet, the draw was so strong, it completely took over when he was near her. Flitting in the back of his mind when he could think at all, he scrambled to keep purchase. He hadn’t spent an entire night with a woman in years…until the other night with her in Anchorage. His habit was to leave long before dawn, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to roll out of bed and leave Risa sleeping there alone. Being with her felt too damn good. He felt lucky to come out of it without waking in a cold sweat, without her looking at him with questions in her eyes—like his girlfriend at the time of the accident. She’d spent a few nights with him after the accident—each time looking at him with concern and a tinge of pity, which he could hardly stand.

  But Risa…she was the first woman who tempted him to reconsider anything. He thought perhaps he would have appreciated the no-nonsense approach he sensed from her at first—that she only wanted a casual fling, no strings. Instead of having the sense to appreciate it, he wanted to see inside her heart and understand why she was so guarded. She masked her reserve with boldness. And you’re damn crazy to think like this. You can’t let her matter this much. She’s got her own baggage, and you’ve got more than enough to carry on your own. If she gets a clue of how heavy your baggage is, she’ll turn tail and run. Or worse, she’ll pity you.

  Darren shook his head sharply and strode to join Risa by the window. Rain fell steadily, graying the view. The mountains loomed dark in the fading light and rain. Wind whipped across the bay, roiling the water with whitecaps. He heard a soft sigh and glanced at Risa. When she turned reflexively toward him, her dark brown eyes flashed with feeling, which she immediately shuttered. He couldn’t halt the wish to peel away the layers she hid behind.

  “It feels like fall is almost here,” she said, her words dropping like soft pebbles in the quiet room.

  His eyes locked to hers, he nodded. “It is. Almost here, that is. There’s not much of a fall in Alaska. But you know that. One day it’s summer, the next day it’s fall with winter days on the way.”

  He forced his eyes away and looked out the window. A raven flew by the window, calling through the rain and landing on the bough of a spruce tree. He heard Risa’s breath and turned back, just in time to see her tongue dart out to moisten her lips.

  Lust jolted through him. He swore and swatted caution away. “Risa,” he rasped, his voice husked with want.

  Her eyes held his, vulnerability flashing through them, but she lifted her chin and held his gaze. He moved slowly, bringing his hand up to thread in the silky fall of her hair. Her breath came out in a soft exhalation as he stepped closer to her, the heat of her body a magnet for his. As he leaned forward, he slipped his hand down to cup her cheek, his thumb stroking the line of her jaw. Her eyes darkened, her chest rose and fell in a quick breath. He tried, oh how he tried, to kiss her gently. He failed…utterly and completely. The second his lips met hers, it was as if a flame twined around them. He stroked deeply into her mouth, savoring how quickly she opened to him. She pressed up against him, the feel of her breasts against his chest intoxicating. Any intent he had to draw this out, to make it slow, was lost in the maelstrom of desire that washed around and within them. He needed her like the air he breathed.

  He moved swiftly, lifting her in his arms. She gasped and her eyes flew wide. In two quick strides, he lowered her to the couch and stood. Her dark hair framed her face, her lips bright red in the gray light. He reached over and switched on a lamp nearby.

  He couldn’t think. All he wanted was her skin bared to him. He tore his shirt off and leaned over, resting one hand on the back of the couch while he trailed the back of his other hand across her cheek, down her neck where her pulse fluttered, and into the vee of her blouse. He methodically unbuttoned her blouse and flicked her bra open, groaning when her breasts spilled free. He forced himself to hold back because he wanted to see all of her. No words passed between them—only the give and take of the living,
breathing force shimmering around them. Her nails trailed across his chest, her palm cupped his cock—so hot and hard—through the denim of his jeans. Her jeans were torn off, and his were kicked off. She sat before him on the couch, nothing but a scrap of bright blue lace covering what he wanted most. He hooked his thumb under the edge and dragged her panties off.

  Risa’s eyes were wide and dark. Her breath came in fitful gasps as he knelt in front of her and slid his palms up her calves and thighs, firmly pushing them apart. He sensed a hesitation in her and glanced up.

  “Don’t,” he whispered.

  “Don’t what?” she asked, her voice raspy.

  “Be nervous. This…” he paused and gestured between them “…is something you never need to worry about.”

  He couldn’t think, perhaps if he could, he’d notice he was in way too deep, in fact he’d crashed through every barrier he’d put up and was skidding past them. But at the moment, he didn’t care. All he cared about was making sure she knew that whatever this was between them wasn’t something to fear.

  For a split second, her eyes flashed and then a smile curled one corner.

  He slid his palm up to cup her mound, savoring the feel of her hips rolling against him. His cock throbbed, desperate to feel her around him again. But first…he slid a finger down, a soft stroke in her folds, so wet. He couldn’t hold back and slipped that finger and then another into her channel, which pulsed around him as he stroked. A whimper escaped her. He finally claimed what he wanted with his mouth. She arched into him with a cry when he circled her clit with his tongue. He took his time, drugged by the sound of her pants and gasps, the evidence of her desire. He didn’t stop until she cried out, arching and shuddering against him.

  He moved swiftly, snatching a condom out of his jeans that lay in a rumple nearby. As he moved to shift into her, she suddenly stood and turned, shoving him down on the couch and straddling him.