Release: New Adult Sport Romance (Fire and Ice) (30 page)

He moves slowly toward me. “It was our last night, and at that point the cameras had been filming our every move for days. People had been telling me what to do and expecting me to do it.”

I move to the bed and climb up on it. His comforter is thick, and I sink into it and let it embrace my bottom and thighs.

Kaleb continues. “It was natural to do what I was asked and not think about it. One of the guys told me to take off my shirt, and I did. I was pretty drunk, and when Gretchen asked me to lie back so she could do a shot off my chest, I didn’t care.”

He sits on the bed next to me and takes my hands. “You have to believe me when I tell you I forgot all about it until tonight. If I’d known, I would have warned you. Gretchen would have, too. She thinks the world of you, Lori.”

I reach up and cup his cheek in my hand. He leans into it as I speak. “I believe you. I know you didn’t expect to see that in the movie. Just like I know nothing happened between you and Gretchen.” Relief fills his eyes. “I’m okay with this, really.”

He stares at me for a moment. I’m not sure if it’s to see if I’m telling the truth or because he doesn’t know what to say. He speaks. “I don’t deserve you. If that had been you on the screen?” He shakes his head. “I’m not sure how I’d be handling it right now.”

“You’d do your best to understand. Because you know how much I love you and you trust me to be truthful. I wasn’t even your girlfriend when it happened. Technically, you did nothing wrong, Kaleb.”

A low sound comes from his throat. I take a sip of my beer and continue. “My pride was hurt tonight, and I was jealous. Really jealous, and I let myself feel humiliated. But once I got past my insecurities, I realized I was being foolish. It’s just a movie designed to entertain.” A grin covers my face. “And boy did you. Did you hear those girls when you took off your shirt?”

Kaleb closes his eyes, and I see a flush in his cheeks. I lean close and whisper in his ear. “You’re hot. And now everyone knows it.”

I nibble on his earlobe and pull away to set my beer down on his nightstand. He wraps his arms around me, lays me down on his bed, and climbs over me. “All of it is for only you, babe.”

Chapter 52

We’re hungry for each other, and our kiss devours us. I want him so badly but can’t get past the noise of the party. His hand is hot on my skin when he reaches for the button on my jeans. I stop him. My entire body screams at me for doing it. I say, “People are downstairs. I can’t relax. What if they hear us?”

His voice rumbles with desire. “They won’t hear us, it’s too loud.” He pulls my sweater off and kisses his way down my chest.

“Is your door locked?” I hold his head before he can get to my breast.

Hot breath tickles me. “Yes.”

My hand stops pushing, and he takes my nipple into his mouth. I groan. “But…” I lose my train of thought and give in to my lust. I pull his shirt up, and he removes it. I let out an exaggerated gasp and then giggle.

“Should I find some tequila?” Kaleb asks as his eyes twinkle in amusement.

“Naw, I like you straight up.” I flip him over and lick my way up his chest. I stop when I get to his neck. “You should probably be downstairs right now. People want to congratulate you. Some of that footage was amazing.” I suck his earlobe and whisper. “You’re a great snowboarder.”

He gently pushes me away so he can see my face. “You want to go downstairs when I could be going downtown instead?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me, and I figure out what he means.

Heat rises to my cheeks. “Well no, but it’s your night.”

“And what I want to do is right here. But way overdressed.” He reaches for my button, but loud banging on his door interrupts us.

“Kaleb!” It’s Gretchen.

He groans. “If we ignore her, maybe she’ll go away.”

Gretchen yells louder. “Kaleb, open up. I need to talk to Lori.”

I grab my sweater and pull it over my head. “Get dressed. She won’t go away.”

He sighs and yells, “Hang on!” Kaleb pulls his tee over his head as he goes to the door. Before he opens it, he looks at me to make sure I’m decent. I nod.

Gretchen moves past him and sits next to me on the bed. “I’m a total jerk. I’m so sorry about what I did. I didn’t think. I was just hamming it up for the camera and didn’t consider the consequences.” Her face is clouded with distress. “Please don’t hate me.”

She chews on a nail, and I pull her hand out of her mouth. “I don’t hate you. It’s okay. I’m fine.”

“You’re not mad at me?” Her brow is furrowed as if she doesn’t believe me.

Kaleb sits behind me on the bed and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “No,” I say. “I was, but I realize it was stupid. I wasn’t even Kaleb’s girlfriend when you did that. I know it was great for the movie, and I get why they used it.”

“You do?” Gretchen shakes her head. “Can you hit me or something? You’re being way too easy on me.”

“Seriously, it’s fine.” I cuddle a little deeper against Kaleb’s chest.

“Cupcake, you’re pretty amazing.”

Kaleb kisses my neck and says, “Yes, she is.” He sits up and says to Gretchen, “And you need to leave now. I have plans for this girl.”

“Oh, no you don’t. You need to be downstairs. Duty calls.” She takes my hand. “C’mon and dance with me.”

She’s right. He should celebrate tonight. I turn and look at Kaleb. I mouth the word, “later” and drop my eyes to his crotch.

His eyelids lower and my insides flex. I turn back to Gretchen. “Give me a minute to pull myself together.” I slip into my boots and finger comb my hair.

“You’re fine, c’mon. The music is calling.” Gretchen starts to swing her hips.

“Okay, okay.” I say, “Keep your shirt on.” I wink at Kaleb.

She snorts. “That’s your boyfriend’s problem.”

“It’s staying on. Trust me; I’m not getting naked for anyone but Lori from now on.” Kaleb pinches my butt, and I squeal.

Gretchen prances down the stairs, and I dance along with her. She finds Cooper and drags him onto the dance floor with Kaleb and me. Cooper handles the challenge well, and he and Gretchen move fluidly together.

Kaleb dances behind me, and I wonder how I’m supposed to keep myself from grinding my butt into him. We’re inches apart, and my entire body can sense his presence. The music makes the floor vibrate under our feet.

He leans down and whispers in my ear. “We have to stop, or I’m going to take you right here in front of everyone.”

I turn to face him. “Okay, let’s go get some air.” But I know my eyes taunt him with the idea of sex on the dance floor.

Kaleb takes my hand and leads me out to the porch. The cool evening temperature is welcome on our heated skin. A couple of snowboarders I don’t know well stop him. I watch as they fawn over him, and his ego eats it up. Yeah, Gretchen was right. We needed to get down here. He deserves to shine.

When we move away, I say, “You don’t have to hang on to me. I’m fine if you want to mingle alone.”

He pulls me into a hug so I have to lean my head back to see his face. He asks, “Am I boring you with the snowboard talk?

“No. I like hearing it. I just don’t want you to feel like I’m needy tonight. I’m okay.” I put my hand against his chest and let his warmth spread over my fingers. They ache to touch his skin instead.

“I’m afraid to be without you.” He squints his eyes and looks around in an exaggerated fashion, as if he’s being followed. “Some girls can be assertive, and I need you to protect me from those wandering hands.”

This makes me giggle. “I’m pretty intimidating. I see your point.” I use my finger to trace the logo on his shirt. “I’ll stay with you on one condition.”

“Anything.” His eyes are dark, and I almost forget what I’m about to say.

I step away and cross my arms. “You give me my damn poster. It’s not fair that all the girls in Breckenridge have a picture with their name on your chest and I don’t.” I pout dramatically.

His narrows his eyes at me. “Okay.” He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a Sharpie. I hear a pop as he pulls off the cap with his teeth and it clatters when he spits it out. He lifts his shirt and writes on his chest. In a messy scrawl it says “Lori, Forever and Always, Kaleb”

Tears spring to my eyes. My hand goes to my mouth and I say, “Oh my God.” I hear a girl’s voice say, “Awww.”

Kaleb lets go of his shirt and drops the pen. It rolls across the deck as he lifts me up by my thighs. I wrap my legs around his waist and hold on to his neck.

He says, “You get the real thing. I’m yours forever.” He nuzzles into my neck.

I let a tear roll down my cheek. “That won’t come off for days. You’ll have to keep your shirt on at the gym.”

He stops kissing my shoulder to speak. “I don’t care who sees it. Maybe I’ll get it tattooed on.”

“Hmmm, what will your wife think?” His scent makes it hard to think clearly.

Hot breath makes my insides quiver when he whispers in my ear, “Maybe she won’t mind.”

Chapter 53

Kaleb wasn’t kidding about the wandering hands. Girls can’t help themselves, and if the tables were turned, these same girls would call it sexual harassment. He also didn’t joke about using me to fight them off. As soon as he’s accosted, he pulls me in front of him and hugs me as if I’m chest armor. It was funny at first, but now both of us are annoyed.

Actually, I’m getting pissed. The girls are getting drunker and more obnoxious about their desire to manhandle my guy. “It might be time to get you out of here,” I say. “Brandy was about to grab lower than your chest.”

“Yeah, let’s go up to my room.” He pulls me by the hand as we weave our way from the deck toward the great room.

The bass of the music flows through my body and awakens my smoldering desire. I’m anxious to get Kaleb alone and pick up where we left off earlier. When we walk by the dance floor I notice people doing a lot more than dancing right now. A flash of Gretchen’s hair catches my eye. She’s making out with Cooper. I knew something was going on there.

We approach the steps, and a couple is just beyond the rope in a state of undress and finding pleasure in each other’s flesh. We walk around them, and they don’t even notice. Their moans make my core pulse quicker. “You locked your door, right?” I ask.

“Yes. I always do when we have parties. I don’t want strangers in my bed.” The upstairs level is sweet relief to my ears. Sound is muffled, and the quiet wraps around my body in a soft embrace. I hadn’t realized how loud the party was until now.

I lean against the wall while he unlocks his door. He’s a little drunk, and it takes a couple of tries to get the key in the lock. I’m a little drunk too, so I resist the urge to take the key and do it for him. I’d rather watch his long, smooth fingers move anyway. My skin aches for his warm touch, and I want to burrow into his inferno of a body.

The door opens and he yanks me inside with a burst of energy. He shoves the door shut with his other hand the moment I’m through. He lets out his sexy growl, and it sends a primal signal to my brain.

“Oh goodness, I love it when you do that,” I say. I reach for his waistband as he whips off his shirt. We strip him naked first. After a night of watching other women trying to take what they need from Kaleb, I’m inspired to do the same. Only I know he’s more than willing to give it to me.

He tugs on my sweater, but I step back and shake my head slowly. “I want to look at you. I want to see what’s for my eyes only.”

I start at his feet and move my gaze slowly up his body. He trembles a little at my stare, and when I linger on his arousal he lets out shaky sigh. “This is so hot.”

I step close and trace the words he wrote on his chest. “This is what I find hot.” He grabs the hem of my sweater, and I lift my arms to let him pull it off. A low rumble comes from the back of his throat. I step back from his reach and unbutton my jeans. Slowly I pull the zipper down so it reveals my panties and teases him. I wiggle my hips and let them drop to the floor in a whoosh of denim. I turn around and lift my hair. “A little help here?”

Kaleb’s fingers practically sear me as he unhooks my bra and then slides his hands around to cup my breasts. I lean back into him and moan. He gets down on his knees and flutters kisses on my lower back and pulls down my panties. I have no doubt they’re moist with my juices.