Chapter 29
Caden
The snow crunches under our boots as we race back to the forest clearing, the secluded section where hikers park their trucks surrounded by the white-tipped pines.
It’s Winter’s last full day in Carter Ridge and we’ve spent the whole morning hiking through the snow, but now it’s falling a little heavier so we’re heading back before it storms.
I keep Winter’s hand securely in mine, exhaling quietly as we approach the clearing, and then I jump down to the snow-covered lot, only a few feet beneath the forest’s incline.
I tug off my gloves, tossing them to the hood, and then I turn back to Winter as I catch my breath.
“Here, baby,” I rumble, tapping my shoulder so that she knows what to do, and she leans forward and braces her palms as I grip her waist and haul her down.
And then I’m pushed up against the truck as Winter’s mouth crashes into mine.
I chuckle in surprise, gathering her closer as she pushes up against me, and I smooth my palms beneath her jacket until I’m rubbing firmly up and down her back.
“Winter,” I rasp, laughing huskily as she rips open my pants, her padded snow-gloves making it harder to free my buckle from my belt. “We have to set off now or we’ll be stuck in the lot, waiting out the blizzard.”
“But it’s already started,” she whispers breathlessly, and I push my hair back as I search her eyes.
We’re protected in the clearing, with the evergreens taking the brunt of the heavy snowfall, but as soon as we hit the mountain pass it’s going to be a whole other story.
It might be a while before the blizzard passes but Winter’s right – it’s already started – and I’d rather keep her safe and wait it out in the truck than be on the roads in the middle of the storm.
The other hikers have left the lot and we’re shielded from the mountain road by the towering pines.
It’s just Winter, me, and the truck.
And we have the whole forest to ourselves.
I look her over, taking in her outfit, the protective outerwear covering every part of her body, and I tuck my hand gently around her nape, brushing her soft pink curls with the pads of my fingers.
Her cheeks are red, as is the tip of her nose, and she looks up at me from under her lashes, tugging pointedly at my belt buckle to show me exactly what she wants.
I clench my jaw and murmur, “Baby.”
We don’t have to do this right now.
We can wait until we’re back at the hockey house, after a hot shower, protected from the storm.
“It’s my last day in Carter Ridge,” she whispers, and my muscles flex at the lilt of her voice. “And then I won’t see you for at least a week. Not until you’ve finished the final and I’ve completed my race.”
I press closer, shaking my head. “I’m coming to see you straight after my game.”
We both know it’s a tight turnaround but I’m going to make it work.
“It’s okay if you can’t make it,” she whispers.
“I’m not missing my girl’s first rodeo.”
“Caden,” she says, hiding her smile.
I brush my thumb up her jaw. “I’m going to be there.”
The snow falls faster and I lift my hand, shielding Winter’s eyes as I gather her close.
And when she shows me those gorgeous dimples, I just can’t take it anymore.
I grab her hips, turn us around, and then I’m covering her mouth with mine, her soft whimper making me groan as I back her up against the door.
“Get in the truck,” I tell her breathlessly, fumbling for the keys as she giggles with excitement, and I can’t help but grin as I meet her eyes, bracing a palm on the roof as she rips open my jacket.
My chest heaves as she moves against me, slowly caressing her hands up the hem of my shirt, and I growl softly as we kiss again, unlocking the truck and tugging the door open.
“In the back,” I rumble, helping her in before I round the cab, grabbing my gloves from the snow-covered hood as the whiteout pelts through the canopy above.
I head back around and toss the gloves, dropping them into the truck beside Winter’s jacket, and I tear off my outerwear as she leans back on her palms, smiling coyly as she lifts her boot.
I smirk down at her as I discard my coat, ice melting down my nape as I envelop her ankle, and I tug her boots off one at a time as the snow starts soaking the back of my shirt.
I toss her footwear in front of the passenger seat and squeeze her thighs as she unbuttons her shirt, the soft material slowly revealing her cleavage and making it hard to think as I reach for my belt.
I work the buckle with clumsy hands and exhale roughly when Winter reaches down to help, her soft fingers brushing against my abdomen and making my muscles tense as I arch my neck.
“Thank you,” I rasp, breathing roughly as she frees my belt, and I work her pants down as she lifts her hips for me, tugging them away until her legs are bare.
“Let me get my shirt off,” I murmur, chuckling when she pushes my pants down with her feet, her thermal socks soft against my quads while I caress her calves and kiss her again.
She smiles playfully, arching beneath me, and my chest expands as her shirt falls open, swallowing hard as I take in the sight of her laying on the blanket in the back of the truck.
I brace one hand on the back of the headrest, lifting up so that I can see her fully, and I shove my hair back as I steady my breathing, before reaching down for another slow kiss.
“One second,” I tell her quietly, and I kiss her again before dipping out of the cab, the snow pelting against my chest as I grip my fists around the neck of my shirt.
“Get back in the truck!” Winter laughs, and I grin down at her as I rip my shirt off. “You’re going to freeze!”
“Just needed the expansion room,” I tell her deeply, rubbing the snow off my pecs before hunching back in.
I climb in beside her, toss my shirt, and breathe out a laugh as she climbs up on top of me, getting one fist around the handle and locking us in with a final slam.
The snow slowly thaws down the hot skin of my chest and I chuckle huskily as Winter slowly licks a trail, hauling her higher so that I can kiss her lips and then I roll us over until I’m on top.
“Do you have protection?” Winter whispers.
I caress her waist and murmur, “Back pocket.”
And then I’m deepening the kiss as I grab my wallet and fumble inside.
I find the condom, push down my underwear, and roll it on as Winter arches beneath me, melted snow dripping down my abdomen as I release a grunt and fist my length.
I tuck my palms down the sides of her panties and kiss her deep as I toss them away, before settling my weight carefully on top of her and caressing my palms around her waist.
She traces her fingertips over my tattoos and I exhale quietly as I rub her heat.
“This okay?” I ask huskily, my voice deep as our bodies align.
And as soon as she nods her head, I grip her thigh with one hand and slowly push inside.
“Caden,” she whispers softly, and my chest heaves as she gathers me closer, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and not even caring that I’m soaked from the snow.
My quad muscles ripple as I hold my weight, keeping still as I brush her hair back.
“Can I keep going?” I ask her quietly.
She nods her head and whispers, “Yes.”
I move, holding my weight on my forearms, and I push slowly until I’m fully inside, growling quietly at the perfect sensation and caressing her neck as she tugs me down.
“Winter,” I murmur, my chest expanding as she kisses my mouth, and I grunt quietly as she bites my lip, tugging it slowly as I draw myself out.
“You feel so good,” I rumble, gripping her hips as I move again, pumping my cock nice and slow as the snow pummels softly against the hood of the truck.
“Caden,” she whispers, and my shoulders swell as she pulls me close, pushing her thighs back and sliding deeper as I bring her in for a blazing kiss.
I stroke her jaw, thrusting slow, and I exhale softly as she squeezes my pecs, before gripping her waist and pulling her into me, grunting quietly as the truck panels groan.
She tilts her head back, holding my shoulders, and I kiss my way down her neck as I pump my hips.
“I’m not letting you leave tomorrow,” I tease gruffly, chest expanding at the sound of her laughter, and then I’m groaning as she tugs my hair and forces me up so that I can kiss her again.
“Gonna miss you like crazy,” I rasp, hauling her against my chest and thrusting deep, my mouth on hers as the snow pounds the hood, and she grips my neck as she begins coming undone.
“Caden,” she whimpers, and I groan against her shoulder as she lets go, caressing her nape as I thrust inside of her, and losing my mind as I reach my peak.
“I’m there,” I pant, gripping her thighs and pumping hard, and then I’m grunting through my release as I kiss her throat and finally come.
My chest heaves as I gather her closer, settling heavily between her thighs as we catch our breath, and I rub my palms slowly up and down her back as the snow thumps relentlessly against the roof of the truck.
“Wasn’t kidding about not letting you leave tomorrow,” I tell her, my voice deep as I kiss her neck, and Winter giggles as I chuckle against her, wishing more than anything that I could keep her here.
“One more week,” Winter whispers, and my chest heaves steadily as I meet her eyes.
“One more week,” I rumble back to her, rubbing my palms around her thighs. “Going to finish this championship, and then I’m coming home to you, baby.”
One more week of hockey drills, the NCAA final… and then I’m hauling ass to Winter’s rodeo.
“And if I win, you get to bring me back to Carter Ridge with you after,” Winter whispers with a gorgeous smile.
And I can’t help but grin as I kiss her again. “Fuck yeah, baby. You’ve got a deal.”