Chapter 20
PARKER
It was just lunch.
Sandwiches. Homemade chips. Drinks.
There was nothing remarkable about the lodge bar, or the meal. Except…
I couldn’t remember a day like this one. A meal like this one. Ever.
Sure, my senses were heightened after that last run. Kissing Delaney, knowing she was as into me as I was her. Of course it would be a rush; the unparalleled excitement of getting to know someone for the first time always was. But not quite like this.
I hadn’t lived thirty-one years without being able to sense a difference between other women and the one that was currently putting on her hat beside me. We talked about our families, comparing notes about brothers and sharing the kinds of things people do when they are learning about each other.
I managed to keep my hands off her the entire meal; not because I didn’t want to touch her. The exact opposite, actually. I wanted to hold her hand, kiss those soft, full lips, so damn much that Delaney might think it was all I cared about.
Did I want to be with her?
Yes. So fucking much it was almost painful.
But I wanted to get to know her more.
“You look so serious all of a sudden,” she said as we geared back up for a few more runs. Agreeing to head back soon with the snow coming down pretty good now, and that beautiful house just waiting for two people to make use of it, we headed back out toward the lift.
The dirtiest thing I can think of.
Obviously, I couldn’t exactly say that to her. Even though Delaney asked for it, we weren’t a couple. Had never done anything more than kiss yet.
“Just making sure you remembered our bet,” she said as we skied down toward the lift. With the snow really coming down, the mountain was all but empty. Some diehards remained, scattered around the lodge with a few dotting the ski hills here and there.
“I remember,” I said, wishing it was the only bet on the table. The other one, with the guys, was never far from my mind.
We boarded the chair. I pulled down the safety bar. Then, leaning over into Delaney’s ear, I lifted up her hat.
Tucked strands of hair behind her ear before I kissed it, gently.
“When I finally get you in my bed, cupcake, which I will… only after you beg me for it… I am going to spread your thighs so wide, I won’t even need to use my fingers to open your pussy for me.
But I’ll use them anyway, my thumbs gently folding you back until my ultimate prize is revealed.
I’ll use my tongue to make you call my name so loud the neighbors can hear.
When you come, I will lick every last fucking drop until you are so spent that you can’t even lift your head from the damn pillow. ”
I pulled her hat down in place. Kissed her nose.
Winked at her and then lifted the safety bar. One step ahead of her, I helped Delaney ski off. As I suspected, or at least hoped, she was a little wobbly coming off the lift.
“You good?” I asked, letting go of her waist and adjusting my poles.
“Honestly? No.” She did the same, Delaney skiing to my side. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“You did ask for dirty,” I said. “Of course, if that’s not something you’re into?—”
“Are you kidding me right now? What woman isn’t into… that?”
“This ski trip definitely took a turn.” I grinned. “And I like it.”
“You and me both,” she said, taking off toward the intermediate hills.
We made it two more runs.
By the time Delaney and I got into the truck to head back, I was half tempted not to wait. If it hadn’t been the middle of the day, I might not have, but public sex was Cole’s thing, not mine.
“I can honestly say”—Delaney turned up the heat on her side—“that was the most enjoyable ski trip of my life.”
“Same,” I said, wishing we could be transported back to the house. Thankfully, it was a short ride.
“Not that I want you to drive faster in the snow but…” Delaney said when we were just a few minutes away.
I looked at her, thinking the same thing.
“I really, really… have to pee.”
Laughing, I stepped on the gas. “That’s not what I thought you were going to say.”
“No? What were you thinking?”
I turned onto the road that would take us to the house.
“I was thinking you were impatient to get into the house so you could tear my clothes off.”
“Did you now?”
When I pulled into the driveway, Delaney didn’t waste a second. Before we were barely parked she was halfway up the stairs. Laughing, I closed the truck door and followed. There were a few inches on the ground already, and it was snowing hard. It was a good thing Cole took off when he did.
Moving Delaney’s boots to the side, I took off my own, hung up my ski jacket and noticed the bathroom door just off the kitchen was closed. She must be inside.
“Delaney,” I called in. “I’m heading up to change my pants. Will be right back down.”
“OK,” she called back.
Putting on a dry pair of sweats and socks, I headed back downstairs.
No Delaney.
Figuring she must have gone up to change herself, I went to work.
Started a fire. Poured wine. At lunch she’d confessed to being in a “red wine mood,” and though it wasn’t my go-to drink, I didn’t mind it either.
The others had left the food and drinks when I assured them it wasn’t a problem for us to pack up.
Pia had brought enough red wine for a week, so by the time Delaney came back downstairs—this time in matching peach sweats and a cropped sweatshirt, hair up in a messy bun—her wine was waiting on the kitchen counter.
“Is this some kind of dream?” she asked, approaching. “The snow.” She gestured outside where it was coming down hard now. “A fire. Wine.”
Before she could take a glass, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me.
“You forgot one thing,” I said. It was the first time our bodies were flush against each other. Reaching behind her neck to pull Delaney closer, I groaned with the sheer pleasure of having her so close.
“What’s that?” she asked, her arms wrapping around my waist.
“Me,” I said, just before claiming her mouth. Immediately opening for me, Delaney gave herself completely to the kiss.
Her breasts pressed against my chest as I pulled her closer. Her fingers gripped the back of my sweatshirt as I broke the kiss to taste more. Her neck, behind her ear, down to her collarbone and lower. I would have lifted her sweatshirt off and kept going if she hadn’t jumped.
I pulled away.
“What’s wrong?”
She pulled her phone from her pocket. “It scared the shit out of me. I have no idea why the ringer is on. Must have bumped it skiing or something.”
Delaney’s lips were fuller than usual, swollen from our kiss. Her cheeks flushed, she looked both adorable and hot as fuck.
As always.
I stepped back, already regretting the words I was about to say.
“As much as I would absolutely love to ravish you,” I said, reaching for her glass, “maybe we should have a drink. Enjoy the view while it’s still light out.”
I handed Delaney her wine and took my own.
“Why, Parker Scott,” she said in a not so good Southern accent, “are you getting shy on me?”
“Miss Delaney Thorton,” I answered with an accent of my own. She laughed. Mine was even worse than hers. “I don’t get shy,” I said. “If you’d like me to carry you upstairs right now and fuck you until sundown, just say the word.”
Delaney’s free hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my. The language on you. And here I thought you were a perfect gentleman,” she said, her accent mildly improving.
“Oh, I’m a gentleman alright. But not between the sheets, darlin’.”
Her lashes fluttered, Delaney a model of decorum.
Sort of.
“Whatever do you mean, Mr. Scott?”
“I’ll gladly show you,” I said. “After drinks. And dinner. And another round of the hot tub.”
Her bottom lip extended into a perfect pout. “That does seem like such a long time from now.”
Smiling, I raised my glass. “The anticipation of pleasure is often better than pleasure itself.”
She clinked glasses with me, and we both took a sip of wine.
“Wise words,” Delaney said, her fake accent fully intact. “I do hope they’re true.”
“Not mine. Shakespeare’s. And I mean to prove to you later this evening that they are very, very true.”
“Quoting Shakespeare? You are just full of surprises, Parker Scott.”
“I’m just gettin’ started, cupcake.”