Alphas in the Wild (25 page)

She slipped her hands into his. He shut his eyes and murmured a silent prayer, hoping Gunter had found peace. “Ready?”

“Um-hum, could you dig around in the outer compartment of my pack for my dark glasses?”

“Sure.” He gave them to her. “If you hand over your goggles, I’ll tuck them in your pack. Also, I don’t think we need the rope anymore.”

“Agreed.” She fed it to him to get the kinks out. He coiled it and draped it around his torso.

As they moved downhill, his groin tightened in anticipation. Soon, very soon, he’d sink himself full length inside Tina’s body. Her warmth would close around him and... He rolled his eyes and pushed his more-than-erect cock to a less cramped position, grateful she was ahead of him in case his tired body got the better of him, and he came just from thinking about her. The way things were looking, it was a distinct possibility.

It was close to two in the afternoon when they got to their tents. The day had shaped up to be sun-drenched and warm enough he was sweating under all his layers. They’d been awake for thirty-two hours, most of that moving. Only the thought of holding Tina again, of making love with her, kept him from falling on his face.

Tina beat him back. She’d lengthened her sensuous, long-legged stride after telling him she had things to attend to. He bent to unbuckle the straps holding his crampons to his boots and placed them next to Tina’s on a canvas mat outside the mess tent. He hadn’t needed the metal spikes once they got off the steep section right below Nido de Condores, but hadn’t wanted to stop to take them off, either. So long as there was snow to walk on, crampons weren’t a problem.

Tina had snow melting in the big pot over the white gas stove. She grinned when he ducked into the mess tent. “Glad you didn’t take all the fuel. I worried about that while I was walking back. It’s been days since I’ve had a bath. I can smell myself.”

He dropped his pack by the door. “Guess you’ll want me to clean up too?”

She clapped her hands together. Her blue eyes sparked with mischief—and lust. “I have a splendid idea. How about if we wash each other? It can be sort of like foreplay.”

Craig threw his head back and laughed. “Good God, woman. You’re still just as warped as ever.”

“That’s a good thing. Right? Water’s close to tepid, and the stove’s made it warm enough in here, it’s almost bearable.” She ran her tongue over her lips. “I’d love to watch you undress. I’ll turn off the stove so you can close the door. Oh yeah. Shocked the crap out of me, but Xavier was still here. I bedded him down with a full sack of feed.”

“Great. Means we can actually pack up everything and move it back to Estancia in one trip tomorrow.”

Tina snapped her fingers. “You’re stalling. Clothes. Off. Now.”

“Hey! You’re the one who brought up the mule.” Suddenly self-conscious, Craig felt heat rise to his face. Tina had always had a frank, open sexuality that probably scared a lot of men away.
Good thing,
an inner voice piped up.
Means she didn’t get snapped up by someone else.

“Um, sure. Let me get my boots off first.”

He perched on one of the three-legged camp stools and peeled off his mitts. He undid the Velcro strips holding his gaiters together and started on the buckles of his plastic glacier boots. The inner boot layer had laces so it took a while. He levered first one and then the other off followed by two layers of socks. He wriggled his toes. “Mmm...feels heavenly to get those clodhoppers off.” He glanced at Tina and smiled.

She made hurry-up motions with both hands. “Surely you’re not going to stop there. I may be taken by your raw sexuality, but feet were never my thing.” Tina carried the steaming kettle closer, along with some cloths, and set both on the mess table. “Here, sweetie, let me help.” She bent her head and kissed him. The kiss was sweet and sensual—lips and teeth teasing him—and much too brief. He made a grab for her, but she sidestepped him. “Uh-uh. That was just a pre-appetizer.”

“Umm.” A sound like a big cat on the prowl rose from his throat, surprising him. “When do I get the main course?”

“After you get those clothes off.” She crinkled her nose. “I’m still waiting to see more than your toes.”

Craig laughed. It felt wonderful to be with Tina again. Practical, pushy, sexy as hell. What a combination. “Towels?” He winked at her. “It’s not bad temperature-wise in here, but we won’t want to stay wet for long.”

“I found a couple of them, plus fresh long johns for us both and our camp slippers. They’re all in a pile over there.” She pointed to a mounded heap on the only other table in the tent.

“Sheesh. You put me to shame. Is there ever anything you don’t see to?”

Tina knelt in front of him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She laid her head in his lap. “I figure I owe you since it was me who cheated us out of seven years we could have been together.”

Love surged through him. It set a small sun blazing in his chest. He laid his hands on her head and massaged it through her thick hair. “You don’t owe me a thing, sweetheart. I’m just glad—” His throat thickened, making the words hard to get out. “—you’re here with me now.”

“Me too.” She snuggled into his hands and then pushed to her feet. “This is delightful and romantic, but I need to see more skin.”

He snorted. “It’s the whole doctor thing. I always suspected you guys went to medical school because—”

“Hush.” She swatted him and then unzipped his shell jacket and tugged it off his shoulders. Next came the down inner jacket and vest and the straps holding his avalanche transceiver to his body. Tina fingered a small hole in his wool long john top. “Never did sew much, did you? I can take care of things like this now.”

She drew her fingers down his torso. Her touch sent tongues of exquisite sensation pinging against his skin.

“I don’t want you for your domestic skills,” he growled, grabbing the bottom of his long underwear top and yanking it over his head.

Tina took a step back and gasped.

“What?” He grinned ruefully. “Do I smell that bad?”

She shook her head. “I’d forgotten how gorgeous you are. Most blonds have fair skin, but yours is like sun-kissed copper.” She reached a hand and moved it from his neck down the muscled lines of his arm. A trail of fire followed her movement. Next she ran her fingertips from his chest over his flat stomach. Her breathing quickened right along with his.

She fumbled at the catches holding his over pants in place. “Stand up.” Her voice was husky with desire. He remembered how she sounded when she wanted him, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

He pushed to his feet. Tina had his pants in a puddle on the floor in record time—all three layers. He stepped out of them, all too aware of the raging hard-on curved against his stomach.

She started with his balls and traced a delicate path the length of his cock with her index finger. “Not fair,” he gasped. “You still have all your clothes on.”

“You have the most incredible penis.” She ran her finger up him again and licked her lips. Her gaze never left him. Desire and love blazed in the depths of her eyes. “I swear it’s even bigger than I remember. Most men would sell their soul to be hung like you.”

His cock throbbed. If it swelled any more, it would burst. He wanted to rip her clothes off and take her right there, up against the wall of the mess tent. His heart beat hard against his chest. He reached for her, but she ducked out of the way again.

“Wash first. Rinse really, since there’s no soap. Even that will be an improvement.” She dipped one of the small cloths into the hot water, wrung it out, and swiped it gently down his face. “Clean your hands,” she said, wiping the rag over her own face. “We’ll get our hands and faces before we contaminate the water with our bodies.”

A laugh pushed its way up from his belly. “Do you ever stop being a doctor?”

She shrugged and laughed too. “Probably not. Better get used to it.”

She ran the cloth under the water. “Turn around. I’ll start with your back.”

“Hey,” he protested. “If we’re going to wash each other, how about getting your clothes off first? I want to see you naked too.”

“Sure. In a minute.” Warmth laved its way down his back. Her hands felt so good on his skin, it was all he could do not to say to hell with the bath. She squeezed his butt cheeks as she rubbed the warm rag over them, and his cock throbbed. God, he wanted her. The cloth worked its way between his buttocks and down his upper thighs. Water dripped on the canvas floor of the tent. Something warm settled in the small of his back. Her mouth.

“No fair.” He spun around and grabbed her just as she straightened.

“Sorry.” She threw him a coquettish look. “Couldn’t resist. You have the most perfect—”

He crushed her against him, dipped his head, and kissed her. Her arms wove around him and held on tight. She opened her mouth, and he plumbed it with his tongue. She’d always had a spicy, exotic scent. It intrigued him and made him hotter than hell. Cinnamon, vanilla, and something unique to her that he didn’t have a name for.

He pulled away. “Got to get these clothes off you,” he muttered thickly. He unzipped her outer jacket and tugged it off. She wore her avalanche transceiver atop her down inner garments. He unsnapped the straps. It joined her jacket on the floor. The soft curves of her breasts came into view once he’d unzipped her down jacket and pushed it off her shoulders. Her nipples were already peaked. He yanked her long john top out of the way, bent, and settled his mouth atop a breast. She moaned. He sucked harder. Her hips bucked against him just before she twirled out of his embrace.

“There’s still your front to wash,” she admonished, breathing hard. “And all of me.” She slid her top off and dropped it onto the heap of her other clothes.

He reached forward with both hands, filling them with her breasts. “Your body is incredible,” he murmured. “A goddess would be jealous of it.”

His cock was on fire. It wanted her, had to have her. His balls ached, desperate for release. Reluctantly, he let go of her breasts. He jimmied the washcloth out of her hand, rinsed it, and ran it over her back and shoulders and breasts. He stood closer than he had to so his cock could brush against her. He followed the line of the cloth with his mouth, lingering over her sensitive nipples. She pushed against his touch and moaned.

“Hurry.”

He glanced at her feet. Good. Her boots and gaiters were already off. He dropped the washcloth into the cooling water and undid her pants. Her breathing had a hitch in it. She put her hands atop his and helped him push her bottom layers down her hips. She stepped out of the tangle of fabric, made a grab for the cloth, and ran it down the front of his body. When she wrapped it around his cock, he felt as if the top of both his heads were about to explode.

“Careful. It’s been a long time.” He was so crazed by lust, it was hard to get the words out.

“Here.” She thrust the cloth at him. “Do me.”

He rinsed the cloth in water that had developed a grayish tinge and ran it down her hips and between her legs. She writhed against his touch. Craig couldn’t help himself. He switched the cloth to his other hand and plunged his fingers inside her. She was hot and wet and oh-so-ready. He met her gaze. Her eyes had darkened to a midnight blue. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips parted.

“If you keep doing that,” she panted, “I’ll come.”

Craig gazed around the mess tent to see how they could keep their bodies off the floor. He moved the pot of water and scooped an armful of clothes, scattering them on the table. “Your bower awaits, my love. We can get fancier later on in the tent.”

Tina’s mouth split into a wicked grin. “Looks great!” She wrapped her arms around him and pressed the full length of her magnificent nakedness against his body. She turned her face up, and he kissed her, burying his tongue in her mouth. His hands gripped her ass, and he pulled her hard against him. Her full breasts flattened against his chest. She moaned and rubbed her nipples back and forth, her fingers tightening on his shoulders.

He thrust his cock between her legs. She writhed to bring her clit in contact with him. Wet curls and the feel of her, hot against his hardness, sent shivers up his spine. They’d fucked standing up before—in closets and in theaters. A heat haze from lust descended, enveloping him. He couldn’t wait any longer.

He repositioned himself to slip inside her. She rubbed her pussy against him and then disentangled her limbs and pushed by him. “My legs are too shaky to stand,” she murmured. He thought she’d lie on the table, but she bent over it. The rounded globes of her ass separated tantalizingly. Her gleaming wet pussy shone through its tangle of red curls.

He groaned and wrapped a hand around himself to guide his cock inside. As her body closed round him, he gasped with pleasure. He couldn’t believe how good she felt, all heat and liquid snug around him. He took a breast in each hand, tweaking the nipples the way he knew she liked. She thrust her hips back against him. Not subtle, his Tina. She wanted him to fuck her hard and fast.

He let go of her breasts, settled his hands around her waist, and drove himself into her. She cried out. The sharp flare of her pelvis pressed against his hands, and she met him stroke for stroke. Her muscles clenched and clenched again. He wanted to make it last, but he was too keyed up from not having had her for so long.

The climax started in his balls. They tightened against his body, and semen arced out of him. The ecstasy was so intense, it was almost painful. It had been over a year since he’d made love. Her muscles milked him, and he realized she was coming too. He thrust over and over until her body quieted.

His legs trembled. He didn’t understand why he was still hard.

She squirmed beneath him and butted her ass into his belly. “Let’s finish this in bed.”

He stepped back and pulled himself out of her body. It wasn’t easy since his cock wanted to take up residence and never leave.

He glanced muzzily around the tent. Light was fading from the day. “How about if we have a quick meal first? We’ve scarcely eaten anything since we left here yesterday.”