Cabin Glow: A New Adult and College Romance (The Billionaire Romance Redemption Series Book 3) (4 page)

ABBY woke up in the middle of the night. Andrew was asleep, resting peacefully. She got up and went to the bathroom.
What the hell is happening to me?
She smiled as she asked herself the rhetorical question. Something about the man sleeping in that bed turned her into a person she did not know. She loved it. His touch alone made her shiver. In fact he didn’t even need to touch her and she was needy and hyper-aroused around him.

In a matter of days, she had gone from being able to do without sex for months and months, to wanting him almost every waking moment. She smiled at the thought. She had become a raging animal chock-full of sexual need, and now, she wasn’t sure she could do without their physical closeness.

When she and the others had driven back to San Francisco, she knew she would miss him. But back then—and that
then
was only twenty-four hours ago—she was certain she could survive at least a few weeks without him. She imagined they would text each other, send each other emails, talk on the phone, maybe even a bit of phone sex and a few sexting rendezvous episodes, so the weeks could go by between visits. After tonight, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

She enjoyed his company, even without the sex. Her mind and body were bonding to Andrew at their deepest levels. She hoped he felt the same way. She had a strong sense that he did, after all he did ask her to be his. She felt it in her heart; she was his. There was just still so much more she wanted to learn about him, and to share with him about herself. That was one of the things about moving quickly and having such a strong physical attraction to each other—there was never enough time to talk.

She considered the possibility of forcing a longer separation the next time they were apart. He would eventually go back to Lake Tahoe, and she had her placements that were starting the next week. Maybe she could ask him to wait a couple weeks before they saw each other again. That time apart might be good for the both of them.
Who am I kidding? There’s no way I can do without him for two weeks.
She sighed, wondering if that was a bad thing after all.

She wouldn’t dare mention the ‘L’ word. Deep down, she already loved him. Still, she was happy to wait until that word came from his lips first. It was one of the pieces of sage advice Abby’s mother had given her in her final days. Thinking back, she remembered rolling her eyes when her mom doled out her wisdom about love and romance. She told Abby she would just know when it was the right guy; and he would pursue her; and protect her. Her mother said the pursuit was the only way for a woman to be sure a man had serious intentions. And she also told her the man had to say that word first.

It was funny; not only did Abby roll her eyes, she had also told her mother that premise of love sounded antiquated, sexist and not fit for a woman in the 21
st
century. Her mother had shaken her head weakly, and told Abby, “
You’ll see I’m right, and you’ll have to take back all your doubtful words, Abby. But by then, I’ll be gone
.

A wonton tear fell from Abby’s eyes as she looked at herself in Andrew’s bathroom mirror. Her mother was right. That time had come, and was playing out with Andrew, just as her mother had told her. She washed her face and dried it off on a hand towel, before going back to bed. She silently wished her mother could be there to tell her she had been right. Letting out a labored breath, she headed back to bed.

Andrew was still asleep when she climbed in under the sheets beside him. As he had mentioned he was a light sleeper, and probably needed the rest, she didn’t wake him. Instead, she looked at his sharp, handsome features in the dim light coming in from outside. His eyes rolled under his eyelids. He was in REM sleep, and probably dreaming. She closed her eyes as her tiredness came over her, and slept.

***

ANDREW turned in his sleep. He remembered Abby was beside him. It had been so long since he had had a ruinous nightmare. He wasn’t sure how long it would last before the next one came, but he was grateful for every day that passed. He remembered the last one he had. It was so vivid, he had sat up in bed, opened his eyes, and felt he was still living through it. His body had been shivering from a cold sweat, and his throat was raspy and almost hoarse from screaming Emma’s name.

If ever there was a time for these nightmares to end, it was now. He couldn’t bear the thought of having Abby even conceive of the pain those dreams produced. He briefly considered seeing a therapist again. Now that some time had passed. He would be around Abby a lot; he could try again. It was a much better proposition, to deal with it proactively instead of forcing some of the grief on to Abby. She didn’t need it, she didn’t deserve it, and she had her own problems to bear, as far as he was concerned.

He got up and went to the bathroom. Abby was still asleep when he came back. He crawled in to bed on his side, kissed her forehead, and settled in. They both had things to do the next day, so he did not disturb her restful sleep. He lay on his back with his arms folded under his head. He looked up at the ceiling. He wasn’t tired enough. He tried to relax, willing himself to not have a nightmare while Abby slept in his bed.

It was sure to become one of those self-fulfilling prophecies. Whenever he wished so hard for the nightmares not to come, that was exactly when they would. He decided if he had to, he would stay up the rest of the night. His mind drifted to one of the more difficult memories. Like most people who’ve been to trauma, there was a part of the mind that seemed to block out some of the worst elements of the trauma, simply to protect the person from truly reliving the experience. It was no different for him.

No matter what point the dream started at, it would always end the same way, and it would always block out the most violent milliseconds. It would end where his attention shifted from bewilderment over his bleeding, near-severed arm. The reel of his mind would seem to race forward to where he was screaming, demanding that the paramedic help Emma and the other driver, instead of him.

My arm can wait! I don’t need an arm! Save her! Do something about Emma!
He would shout at the paramedic. But in his dream, it always felt as though they couldn’t hear him, like he had lost his voice. They only attended to him, as though Emma and the other driver were invisible. And he would wake up screaming her name as he saw the life drain out of her.

Sometimes, the dream would be his complete fixation on the blood as it dripped out of his arm, and the dangling flesh that hung below his elbow. That crimson pool that spread out on the ice beneath his feet; it would leave him dazed and paralyzed. Thinking back to the actual event, he had been mesmerized by his arm for way too long. As far as he was concerned, that loss of time was what caused two fatalities that night.

This is why he didn’t care when the outside world wanted to place the blame squarely on his shoulders. In fact, he went along with it. He believed them; he agreed with them. It
was
all his fault, and that was something that he would never be able to shirk. No therapy could be that good, to make him feel it was an accident and his shock was legitimate. His state of shock after that accident killed two people. He would never stop blaming himself for it.

He got out of bed and threw a robe on before heading to the kitchen for something to drink. He was so angry at himself.
Why?
He asked inwardly again. He could drop to his knees with his fists to the heavens right there in the kitchen. He could swear and hit something too, except Abby was in the next room. He had to pull it together for her. After his drink, he walked to the guest room at the other end of his hotel suite. He was sure the nightmares would come. After letting this wayward line of thinking go rampant for so long tonight, there was no way he was going to have one beside Abby.

ANDREW woke up at the crack of dawn. He could barely sleep the rest of the night. His restless mind and body tossed and turned for hours. He woke up in a cold sweat twice before. Sighing heavily, he put his robe back on. He went back to his room to wake Abby. She was sitting up, reading messages on her phone when he walked back into the room.

“Good morning,” she said as she stretched.

“Good morning, Abby. Had a nice sleep?”

“Excellent,” she answered. “How about you?”

He hesitated. “Not too bad.”

“Do you have trouble sleeping a lot?” She asked, getting off the bed to snuggle in his arms.

He stiffened up for a split second. The woman was direct. He didn’t know how to answer, without getting into the details of Emma.

“Sometimes,” he answered briefly.

She looked up at him, and caressed the side of his face with one hand. “I’m a good listener, you know? You can tell me anything. Remember, I may be young, but I’ve seen a lot. And I know firsthand that sometimes, it feels better after you share.”

He held her close, but didn’t reply. He wasn’t ready. Still, he was glad for her effort.

“Are you hungry?” He finally mustered.

“Starving,” she answered pulling away gently. “But you know what I need more?”

“What’s that?”

“Two things, really. I’ll let you in on the first one.”

“And what might that be?”

He pushed the robe off his shoulders. “First, a heaping dose of Andrew all over me.”

He smiled, letting the robe fall. He gathered her in his arms and fell back into bed with her, holding her firmly so she wouldn’t get hurt on the way down. She pulled at him so he would roll on top. He did. Abby stretched out, opening her legs as his fingers danced across her face. She was naked underneath him. A morning quickie—that was what she wanted. And this morning, he was ready to deliver.

He shifted over to relax beside her and slid his hand down her stomach. His fingers caressed lower and she moaned, anticipating the coming pleasure. His thick, strong digits went to work. Doing the things only he could do to her was worth a little lost sleep. He found her clit and circled the sensitive flesh with a delicate pressure of his fingertips. He took the nub between his thumb and forefinger and pulled a teasing rhythm. It was a rhythm he was looking forward to re-creating with a slightly different part of his anatomy.

She moaned again. He moved lower still, and caressed her lips, one after the other.  She silently told him she wanted him to touch her elsewhere. She shifted on the bed, trying to get him to the right spot. Chuckling behind her ear, he ‘tsked’ at her impertinence. She growled. He knew what she wanted, and still denied her temporarily.

If this was a quickie, they had a difference of opinion on its meaning.

He returned to her clit. She panted and whimpered as he built the tension. Slipping back to her slit, he plunged a finger inside, curving it to stroke and tap against her G-spot. She bucked. Her eyes rolled back in sheer ecstasy.

He eased another finger inside and she groaned, tilting her pelvis to what may have been a new, better angle for her. She cried out. He stroked sloppily in her wetness, hoping he was giving her everything she could hope for or ever want. She met every thrust with a lift of her own.

“Andrew…” she purred. Her legs were shaking uncontrollably.

“Yes?”

“Your. Cock. Now.” She ground out through clenched teeth.

“Get on top,” he whispered.

She opened her eyes, turning onto her side to grin at him. He learned quickly; this was her favorite position. She peeked under the sheets, staring at his erect cock with eagerness.

She hurriedly positioned herself on top of him, as though she expected him to change his mind. She straddled his legs, and dipped down to kiss his mouth, his eyes, his throat, his chest, his belly. She mouthed the words “thank  you” and he almost burst out laughing. She took his cock in her hand and stroked him, and he swelled even further. She pumped him until he was as close to climax, probably building him up as much as he had done to her a few minutes before. No matter what, they were going to come together; he promised himself.

She lifted one leg until his cock was poised right under her pussy, and penetrated herself with him slowly. She sat down, achingly slow. It must have been payback. He could tease her, so she definitely could tease him back. He chalked it up to fair play and let her have her moment.

Pressing his hand firmly onto her ass, he pulled her in tight and moved deeper inside her. His cock throbbed against her tight channel. Abby shivered. Her body shook as wave after wave of pleasure spiraled out from where their bodies were joined, tightening around his cock each time she came.

He rocked her back and forth, and felt his cockhead hit yet another depth in her core. Her clit rubbed against his girth. She was coming again. Andrew roared as she rode him harder and faster. It was an incoherent noise—even for him—borne of pure thwarted desire.

“Please come for me, Andrew,” she begged. No sweeter words had ever been spoken.

She curled her body over his willing, raging cock, lifting her hips up and down, forward and backward. She ground her hips down against his groin. He glanced up between their bodies. He saw nothing but moist pussy against the base of his cock. They were complete.

Her inner walls clutched his cock even more tightly. He started to explode. The surge of electric, tantalizing sensation—the final breaking point—grasped his body, and he shook, anticipating his release. Her pussy contracted again around his cock and kept him buried deep, as his own body took over. His hands dug into her hips and held on tight, lifting his thighs and ramming his cock as deep as possible inside.

She was screaming now, yelling her pleasure to the rising sun. Her moved up a one hand to her long blonde hair. He admired her. Her back was arched; head and neck thrust backward. Her breathing was heavy, hoarse. Her voice was raw, the scream scratchy.

When he erupted, his entire body bucked. He had to grab her waist to keep her from being knocked off her perch. He shuddered through his own, extended climax, with Abby rocking gently on him, cradling his waist and enjoying the afterglow.

She collapsed across his chest. He couldn’t be happier.

***

Andrew turned to her when he found his strength again.

“What was the second thing?”

“What?” she asked sleepily.

“You said there were two things you needed.”

“Oh,” she answered, rolling to her side to face him. “I need a seriously long run this morning. My body is aching for a good sweat, after those few days with my busted ankle.”

“There’s a gym downstairs, with several treadmills. You can work out before I get you home. How’s that?”

“I have a better idea.”

“Really? And what would you like to do?”

“Do you want to put on some running gear, swing by my place, and hit the boardwalk with me? In my neck of the woods?”

“Sure. Sounds like fun.”

“And I promise, I won’t show you up too badly,” she teased. “I know you musclebound men can’t limber up enough to stretch those legs out like this lean gazelle you see resting beside you.”

“Hold on there.” He laughed. “You should know that this musclebound man limbers up every day on his home gym treadmill, between pumping the iron. And on the odd elliptical from time to time.”

“That I’d like to see,” she joked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“What, are you a betting woman?”

“Me? I never bet for real money.”

“Then what would you like to wager on?”

“I can think of a few things.” Abby was such a tease. He was getting hard just thinking about what she would bet on. “How about dinner? I’ll make you dinner from scratch tonight if you run farther and faster than yours truly.”

“That sounds fair. And what if you win?”

“I’ll do whatever you want to do to me.”

“That sounds like a win for me, either way.”

“We both win, to be precise.”

“Okay. I accept. So… anything?”

“Anything.”

“I should warn you. You’re taking a big risk.”

“Try me.”

“Okay. Fair enough. If you beat me, after your seminar tomorrow, you are going to fly back to Lake Tahoe with me, and stay with me there until Sunday.”

She looked at him and smiled.

“I told you, you’re taking a big risk, Abby.”

“I accept.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I was willing to stay there until Sunday when we were trying to figure out the best plan for everyone to get back here. Why wouldn’t I go back now?”

“Awesome.” He leaned in and kissed her soft lips. “For the record, I may cheat and let you win this time.”

“No fair, big guy.”

“How does that saying go? All’s fair in war and wagers?”

“Funny. By the way, what were you going to ask me at dinner last night?”

“Oh yes. I almost forgot. Two things actually, one of which you’re already agreeing to do as part of our bet. The other was whether you were interested in going out on the yacht tonight. We won’t go into the open water, just a leisurely cruise around the Bay for a few hours.

“That sounds magical. I’d love to.”

“Great. I’ll set it up.”

“Let’s get ready. I gotta be at my seminar at ten this morning. ”