Winter's Heart (15 page)

Clearing his throat, he turned to Fallon with a half-smile, “So, Flynn tells me you’re an actress.”

“I am,” she said proudly, her green eyes flashing with humor. Flynn was right when she told him Fallon had that spark. And just as long as the industry didn’t kill it, she could go far.

“Well, Flynn and I had a bet….”

“I know,” she interrupted, her lips curving in a wicked grin as she glanced at Flynn and stuck out her lower lip. “And it vexes me that she lost.”

“Yes, well,” he glanced at Flynn and saw the confusion and curiosity in her pretty eyes. He knew he should be focusing on Fallon but he wanted to see Flynn’s reaction when he told Fallon the news. “I talked to my director and if you’re willing….”

“Yes!” Fallon cried out before he could even finish.

Flynn’s eyes lit up with excitement as she mouthed
Thank you
. He nodded his head in acknowledgement and forced his attention back to Fallon. Chuckling, he said, “What if I were about to say if you’re willing to strip naked and wrestle with a bear in a vat of green jello?”

Fallon’s brows drew together in a slight frown as her lips parted and a soft
oh
came from them. “Then I guess I wouldn’t have been so enthusiastic?”

“I don’t want my daughter wrestling a bear, naked or not,” Daniel rumbled, though Winter could hear the amusement in his voice.

Exchanging a smile with the older man, Winter continued, “Anyway, as I was saying, there is a small role for you in the film. If you want it, it’s yours.”

She was silent for a moment but he could almost feel the excitement coming off of her. In a measured voice, she calmly asked, “Will it involve bears or nudity?”

“You’ll be fully dressed and there will be no wildlife,” he assured her, his eyes once again drifting to Flynn. Her smile was radiant and if he wasn’t careful, he would get lost in it. “So?”

“Yes!” she squealed again, clapping her hands together and bouncing in her seat. “Thank you!!” Twisting in her chair, she grabbed Flynn in a choking hug, “Thank you,
Flynnie!”

“I didn’t do anything,” Flynn laughed, hugging her sister back. Once again, their eyes met and he had to suck in a breath as he went under.

Turning back in her seat, Fallon faced him with eager anticipation, “Do you have any advice for me?”

“Work hard,” he told her, wishing someone had been there to guide him through the pitfalls of fame. He was lucky to make it through relatively unscathed. “Just remember that there are hundreds of other actors out there that are just as hungry, if not hungrier, than you so work hard, show up early and stay late. And know that fame is fleeting, so be careful.”

She absorbed everything he said as if his words were gospel.

“Well, now,” Daniel said, his voice rough with emotion. “I don’t know about any of you but I’m hungry for the dessert we brought up.”

“You brought dessert?” Winter asked, his eyes focused on Flynn.

“Well, my sister did,” she admitted, lowering her lashes to hide her expressive eyes. “She got Harry to make a cake.”

“Is it as good as his burgers?” He knew he should be asking Fallon but he was unable to focus on anyone but Flynn.

Leaning forward, her eyes sparkling, she purred, “Better.”

“Then let’s have some dessert,” he managed to say through a throat that was suddenly too tight. How did she manage to take his breath away so completely? And yet, why couldn’t he breathe unless she was near? Recklessly, needing to have her to himself if only for a moment, he asked, “Would you like to help me get it?”

“I’d love to help,” she beamed radiantly, pushing back from the table and standing up. “Lead the way, Mr. Mitchell.”

With a grin, he walked around the table and put his hand at the small of her back to lead her to the kitchen. The small touch wasn’t nearly as much as he wanted but it was enough for now, especially considering the curious eyes that followed them out of the room.

“I love how open your home is, Winter,” she said as they rounded the corner, escaping the prying eyes. Leaning closer, lowering her voice to a whisper, “And I especially love that the kitchen is hidden away.”

Sliding his arm around her waist, he pulled her against him, her light floral scent teasing his nose and reinforcing the fact that she was finally close. But with her family in the other room, it was a test of self-control, one that he was certain he was about to lose. “It does make for a decent getaway.”

Pausing, she looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes. She reached up and lightly touched his cheek, her fingers burning all the way to his soul, as she said in earnestness, “That was a really nice thing you did for my sister.”

He tried to speak but sensation closed his airways. Clearing his throat, he confessed gruffly, “I did it for you.”

“I know,” she whispered, going up on her tiptoes and placing a soft, tender kiss against his lips.

Unable to hold off a moment longer, he swooped her up into his arms and deepened the kiss. Desire overwhelmed him and he stumbled forward a few steps until her back was pressed against the wall and he was pressed against her body. Her fingers pulled against his shirt and then her hands were on his skin and all of the blood in his body rushed to his penis. Lightheaded, he pulled back and growled, “I want you.”

“Yes,” she breathed, wrapping her legs around his waist and rubbing her sweet pussy against his erection.

“I promised you three months,” he said in a moment of lucidity even as his fingers tugged at the snap of her jeans.

“Three months, three minutes,” she breathed. “It’s all too long. Kiss me.”

With a groan, he obeyed her command, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and tasting the meat they had had for dinner. Slipping his hands into the back of her loosened jeans, he kneaded the warm flesh of her ass as he slowly rocked against her.

“No, Dad,” Fallon called out in an exaggerated tone, making the two would-be lovers jump apart. Furious color stained Flynn’s cheeks as she rapidly pulled herself back together. Winter made sure everything was back in place, realizing that her sister was giving them time because she must have seen them. “You stay here. I’ll go check and see what is taking them so long.”

Reaching up, he brushed a strand of Flynn’s hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, letting his hand linger. “You are so beautiful, Flynn Rogers.”

She smiled shyly at the compliment and his chest puffed up in pride and possessiveness. She was his.

At that moment, Fallon strolled around the corner, a hand over her eyes, “Am I interrupting anything?”

“We’re good,” Flynn said softly, glancing up at him one last time before pasting a smile on her flushed face. “Thank you, Fallon.”

The girl lowered her hand and glared at Winter with all that she was worth. “What the fuck are you doing? I mean, I knew something was up when the two of you raced off to the kitchen, leaving the butler with a baffled expression on his face, but I didn’t expect this.”

“It’s okay,” Flynn said calmly, trying to reassure her sister and failing. Her lips pressed together in a thin, frustrated line because she couldn’t explain the situation. But he could.

“Melissa and I aren’t what we seem,” he said, draping an arm around Flynn’s shoulders and pulling her against his side where she belonged. “Technically I am a free man, able to see or date whomever I want.”

“That’s not what everyone thinks,” Fallon said, still scowling as she shooed them into the kitchen.

“The world believes what we want them to believe,” Winter decreed, cringing at the haughtiness even he could hear in his voice. Heaving a sigh, he shook his head, “It’s complicated. But Melissa and I are not in an… intimate relationship.”

“Uh huh,” she said, clearly not believing him. Going over to the fridge, she pulled out a cooler and set it on the counter. Her shoulders were stiff as she pulled out a rounded cake container and set it down next to the cooler. “I can’t believe you almost took my sister up against a wall with her family sitting just a few feet away. I can’t believe you almost let him, Flynn. What the hell happened to my prim sister who has always been so careful about everything?”

Spinning around, she glared at the two of them, though Winter could see the hurt in her eyes as she looked at Flynn. Flynn audibly swallowed as she looked at him and then faced Fallon, “I seem to lose my head around him, Fallon. There’s no other way to explain it.”

“Oh,
Flynnie,” Fallon sighed, crossing the room and taking his Flynn into her arms and giving her a comforting hug as if he wasn’t there at all. “You foolish girl.”

Flynn laughed as she stepped out of her sister’s embrace. “Yeah, well, I love you, too.”

Shaking her head, Fallon grabbed the cake and brushed past him, seething under her breath, “I have my eye on you, mister.”

Chuckling as he pressed a quick kiss on Flynn’s lips, he had no choice but to follow Fallon back to the dining room. Stills was staring at him as if he had gone mad and perhaps he had. Motioning towards the cake, he grinned, “If you wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course, sir,” the older man said with alacrity, rushing forward and taking the cake from Fallon and setting it on the center of the table. With amazing dignity, the man sliced the cake into pieces and passed them out. Luckily, Daniel and Jeff seemed oblivious to the little altercation in the kitchen but Fallon kept a wary eye on him.

With his thoughts a million miles away, or rather, a few feet and slightly to the right, Winter bit into the cake and it was as if his entire life rushed forward and stopped in its tracks. With a moan, he looked at Flynn and asked, “Harry made this?”

“Like I said,” she grinned. A spot of color on each cheek was the only indication of what they had been doing, or about to do, five minutes before. He wanted to gather her up in his arms, carry her up to his room, and savor her but he kept his baser instincts under control. “Harry is a culinary genius.”

“I think I want to have his babies,” he said, knowing it was illogical and impossible even before the words left his mouth. But, holy fuck, the cake was ambrosia and sin and heaven all rolled into one. “Do you think he could make the cake for Storm’s party?”

“I don’t see why not.” But Flynn wasn’t looking at him; instead she was doing something with the cake. Slicing off a piece, she stood up and handed the plate to Stills. When the butler shook his head, she waved it beneath his nose and grinned impishly, “You have to try it, Stills.”

Reluctantly, the man took the plate and cut a tiny piece off. Almost delicately, he brought the small morsel up to his mouth and tasted it. His lips parted and his eyes widened in surprise. “My goodness, sir. If this is the cake for your son’s birthday, there will be riots in the streets.”

The entire table laughed, eating the rest of their dessert in companionable silence. Even Fallon seemed mellow, though she kept looking between him and Flynn as if trying to figure them out. He had thought he would feel guilt for talking about his status with Missy but he didn’t. Quite the opposite, he was glad he told Fallon a part of the truth because it gave Flynn someone to talk to about their strange relationship.

It was complicated and it was messy but he didn’t even care because it was Flynn.

They had stayed at the estate through the weekend, her dad and brother unable to talk about anything else but the pirate ship. Flynn could have sworn they were more excited than Storm, and the little boy had been pretty excited. Unfortunately, Flynn didn’t get any time alone with Winter because her sister always managed to pop up whenever they tried to slip away. While part of her was frustrated, the other part was grateful because she wasn’t sure if she was really ready, no matter how hot his kisses or tempting his touch. Oh, God, his kisses were really hot and his touch was so tempting!!

Spending a weekend with Winter made going into work Monday morning that much more difficult, though, because she found she loved spending time with him, even if they didn’t even kiss. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been so bad if she hadn’t had to battle traffic and the airport to drop her dad and brother off so early that morning. The rest of the week dragged by because there was only so much that needed to be done for Storm’s party and a lot that needed to be done as an assistant and she found her thoughts drifting to Winter at the most inappropriate times. If it weren’t for their nightly phone calls, she would almost think she dreamed him up. That was the problem with having a clandestine relationship: trying to find a time and place where they could be together, which was made even more difficult by the amount of time he had to spend on set filming.

Of course, Fallon was in seventh heaven, getting to go on set Thursday morning to run a few lines with the other actors so the director could get a feel for her strengths and weaknesses. She had come home with a dreamy smile on her face, telling Flynn that the director indicated he wanted to expand her role a bit because he had been so impressed. Needless to say, Fallon was floating a thousand feet off the ground and, in her eyes, Winter could do no wrong.

Winter had pretty much won over the entire Rogers family with that one sweet act.

Flynn had wanted to be there to offer her sister support but A.) that would have been unprofessional and B.) she had to work. Winter had been disappointed as well, telling her that he would make sure she had an open invitation to the set any time she wanted to stop by. It was an incredibly sweet offer, and one made with ulterior motives she knew. If she showed up on set, they’d be able to see one another and maybe steal a few moments to… kiss.

Now it was Friday and she couldn’t help but smile because she was going to be seeing him in a few hours. He had called before she left for work and told her that he had the entire weekend off and they could go to Catalina on his sailboat. She had never been sailing before so she was nervous as all get out but because it was with Winter she was also indescribably excited.

Ah, hell, she was old enough to give up her virginity to the man she loved.

After a busy morning, her phone rang and she was surprised to see Melissa’s number pop up. Grabbing her tablet, she quickly brought up Storm’s party information in case there was a question as she answered, “Flynn Rogers speaking.”

“Flynn, just the girl I was looking for,” Melissa c
hirped in exaggerated eagerness.

“Melissa,” she said with a smile as she looked over her quickly expanding notes. “What can I do for you today?”

“I have just the hugest favor to ask of you,” Melissa started. “I have an appointment at eleven so I was wondering if you could meet with Winter instead. At the house, of course. At ten forty-five.”

Oh, crap! Panic hit fast and hard even though she had no idea how she had forgotten an appointment with Melissa. Looking at the clock, she saw that it was already ten and if she left immediately, she’d just be able to make it with no one realizing how badly she had screwed up. Clearing her throat to cover her bout of nerves, she croaked, “Of course.”

Melissa’s light laughter trilled in her ear, the sound a little forced. “Just let yourself in, dear. Winter will be waiting for you in the office.”

“No problem,” she said, gathering her stuff together and rushing to Diane’s office to let her know the change of plans and that she’d have to find someone else to help Siobhan. Thank God her sister hadn’t needed the car today otherwise she would have missed the appointment. She would have missed Winter!

Racing out the back, she threw her things into the car and took off, barely getting her seatbelt on as she pulled into traffic. A brilliant smile split her face and she was pretty sure she looked like a mad woman driving through the streets but she didn’t care because she was going to see Winter. A mad little giggle burst from her lips and she knew she had it bad when she couldn’t contain her joy.

Maybe they’d be able to spend some time together. Alone. Possibly naked. She could stay for a few hours because she was sure Diane would understand if she said she was
working on Storm’s party. As long as they mentioned the plans in passing she wouldn’t have to feel too guilty about her subterfuge.

She made it to the mansion with five minutes to spare. Standing outside the door, she ran her hands over her hair and down her skirt, smoothing out the wrinkles. Inhaling deeply, filling her lungs with much needed air, she tried to wipe the smile from her face as she slowly exhaled. Nope, not
gonna happen. She was going to see Winter so the smile was a permanent fixture.

Pushing the door open, she stepped into the light-infused and eerily quiet house and made her way to the office, ignoring the niggling sensation that she hadn’t really had an appointment with Melissa. And if Winter knew she was coming, why didn’t he meet her at the door?

With her hand on the doorknob, she took another moment to collect her scattered wits, shoving all of her questions away. Pushing the door open, she froze when she saw him. His back was towards her with a towel low on his hips and she had to remember how to breathe. His back was sheer masculine perfection, with the smooth muscles of a man who earned them. But he held himself stiffly and he didn’t even flinch when she entered.

Slowly, cautiously, she stepped closer and noticed that though he was wearing a towel, his hair was no longer damp and he looked like he was frozen and the slightest sound would break him. Tears clogged her throat because she knew without doubt that he was suffering. Without hesitation, she closed the distance between them and put her hand on his arm, “Winter, what’s wrong? What happened?”

He turned his head and looked at her with such hollowness, her heart clenched in her chest. “Flynn.”

“I’m here,” she whispered, stepping into his space, putting a hand on his chest, willing to offer any comfort he would take and not needing to know why he needed it. With a low, mournful groan, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and jerked her closer. As she put her hand up to brace for the impact, he grabbed that wrist, too, until her body was flush against his. Holding her gaze, he raised her arms above her head while he walked her backwards, until her back pressed against the wall. Until he was pressed against her.

His gaze caressed her face, singeing her skin with blue fire, before he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. He moved his mouth over hers before beseeching, “Kiss me, please.”

Without hesitation, she fell into the kiss, opening her mouth for his demanding tongue. She could taste the pain on his lips, feel it in his kiss, and she desperately wanted to take the pain into her body. The velvet roughness of his tongue moved over hers, exploring her mouth, her teeth, and she was filled with the need to give him everything he asked for, everything he wanted.

Shifting his grip so he held both of her wrists in one hand, he trailed his newly freed hand down her arm. Shivers wracked her body and she whimpered. He pulled his lips away long enough to whisper against her mouth, “Shhh.”

His hand drifted over her collar bone and his fingers loosely circled her neck and she knew he’d be able to feel her racing pulse. With a slight smile, he deftly unbuttoned her blouse and as the material fell open, he flattened his hand against her stomach. The touch set off a flurry of butterflies as they each tried to get closer to the warmth of his palm. Slowly, oh so slowly, he dragged his hand higher until it covered her breast. A low moan of pleasure escaped from the back of her throat as his thumb moved over her hardened nipple. Heat pooled low in her belly where the butterflies fluttered and her entire body trembled.

She had to touch him.

Twisting her hand, she managed to free one arm. Her fingers moved over the curve of his cheek, the sharp line
of his jaw, along the rough skin of day-old stubble. She traced the line of his throat, loving the way the muscles moved as he kissed her. His shoulders were firm, strong, beneath her touch and she reveled in the feel of his hot flesh.

He sucked in a shuddering breath as her fingernail dragged across his nipple but he never broke the kiss. Instead, he kissed her harder, with more fervent passion, with abandoned desperation. She traced the rippling muscles of his corrugated stomach, the smooth plane of his flat belly, the edge of his towel. Drowning in the kiss, she tugged at the towel and felt it drop to the ground at her feet.

Despite the need building within her, she was still nervous. Taking the plunge, she ran her hand along the outside of his muscular thigh before she dragged it upwards towards his straining erection. She could feel the heat before she even touched him, a living warmth that wrapped around her hand moments before she wrapped her hand around his solid penis. Slowly, she stroked him from base to tip, smearing the drop of moisture over the bulbous head as he rocked against her hand.

His breathing was ragged, harsh, and she knew he was no longer lost in pain and misery. As she stroked him, he ran his hand over her ribs, the curve of her hips, the length of her thigh. His palm burned her as he dragged his hand up her leg beneath the material of her skirt. Her breath hitched as he brushed his thumb over her damp core and then his fingers were
there
, pushing past her panties and thrusting into her wet depths.

He still held her hand over her head, only now he turned his hand so they were palm to palm and their fingers entwined. His tongue fucked her mouth, his fingers fucked her pussy, and his penis fucked her hand. She was panting as her body tightened to the point of pain when he slid a second finger into her. He rubbed her in a relentless rhythm until her legs began to tremble and her heart pounded in her chest and her body vibrated with oncoming release. Tearing her mouth from his, she cried out as he took her to the edge and pushed her over.

His lips moved across her jaw and along her neck and she was falling as he drew her down to the floor. Her skirt was around her waist as he settled his weight between her thighs and her legs fell open in shameless invitation. His smile was pure carnality as he twisted his fingers in her lacy panties and tore them from her body, the slight pinch of pain only increasing the pleasure that was raging through her blood.

Then he was back, his erection burning her sensitive flesh as he slowly pushed into her, filling her inch by throbbing inch. Instinctively, she raised her hips to take him deeper, the ache of losing her virginity nothing compared to the need to have him claim her completely. As she moaned, he swallowed the sound when he took her lips in another fierce kiss. His tongue mimicked the motion of his body, pushing in and out as he worked his penis deeper and deeper into her sex.

Their hands were still joined.

With every thrust, she pushed against him, working with him until he was buried in the depths of her body. Being filled by him was an exquisite pain, the burn of being stretched too far fired the deep need within her to be fucked fast and hard. To be torn apart and utterly destroyed. Wrapping her legs around his waist, her free arm around his neck, she held onto the only thing that was real, the only thing that existed.

Winter.

Her muscles clenched as he thrust into her, over and over. Pounding deeper and deeper until she no longer knew where she ended and he began, until there was nothing but one body burning up in the atmosphere as they hurled through eternity. Ecstasy tore through her as his body stiffened and she felt the pulsing jets of his release deep within. His name exploded from her lips, “Winter!”

With a deep, vibrating groan, he collapsed onto her, crushing her with his weight but she didn’t care. A soft smile curved her lips as she stroked his damp hair, his broad shoulders, his luscious back. Her smile only widened as he turned his head and tenderly kissed her neck, his breath hot against her skin as he rasped, “Thank you.”