Chapter 23
K reston
“Are you still scared?” His voice was quiet as he sensed her tension.
“Terrified.” Sadie appeared to relax when his hand found her bare waist under the water.
“Me too, but it’s okay,” he confessed. “The best things in life should scare us a little.”
His lips found hers and he nipped them, no longer able to hold himself back. The heat from his kiss could easily ignite and set them on fire. Their first kiss had been tentative. This one was nothing like that. Instead, this kiss was cast-iron certainty on both their parts.
Kreston cradled her face with the same gentle confidence as he approached everything. His fingers smoothed over her skin, exploring the map of her to memorize. He slid his lips down the side of her neck, and she tilted her head back, allowing him to have anything he wanted. He nibbled his way back to her lips for another passionate tongue exchange.
When he lifted off, Sadie licked her lips. “Thanks for the taste of extra rum. The halibut tasted good, too.”
Kreston laughed. “It’s Alaskan breath. Fish and booze. The perfect combo. And yours tastes sweet from the salmon.”
“Let’s move this operation inside, where it’s dry and warm, shall we? ”
He loved this suggestion, planning to ravish her the first chance he got. He’d show her a million-and-one reasons she should stay. He’d surrender himself completely and unconditionally. He didn’t want to do all the taking...he prided himself as a giver.
Kreston stepped out and wrapped himself in another white terrycloth robe he’d found in her closet. He lifted hers from a deck chair and stood behind her, holding it open when she stepped out. He quickly wrapped it around her and spun her around to face him.
He gave her a light kiss, then spoke against her lips, “It’s mother-effing cold out here. Let’s get inside.”
They beelined for the sliding glass doors, then Sadie made for the bathroom. “I have to shower to rinse off these hot tub chemicals.”
When he removed his robe, her eyes froze on his bare-chested physique. He suppressed a laugh, loving the amazed look on her face. He didn’t know what was going on in that head of hers, though, so he checked in.
“Everything okay?”
“Better than okay. Be out in a minute.” She hurried into the spacious bathroom and closed the door.
The shower turned on, and Kreston impulsively stripped off his drenched boxers and opened the bathroom door. He slid the curtain aside and nearly passed out upon seeing her slick, naked body. Her hands busily shampooed the hair piled on her head, and his eyes immediately went to her sizeable breasts, standing at attention in a ‘hello, big boy’ greeting.
“Mind if I join you?” Kreston stepped in, and the surprise on her face was priceless.
“Do I have a choice?” she sputtered through the water, spraying her face.
“Thought you might like your back washed.” He waggled his brows. “Plus, I believe in conserving water, since I also needed a shower.”
She sputtered. “You’re a smooth-talking politician, aren’t you, Mayor Collins?”
Kreston was anything but in his mayor mode at the moment. Right now, he was a man on a different mission. He soaped a washcloth and drifted it up and down Sadie’s back, loving her little squeaks and moans.
“This is absolute heaven,” she croaked out, dropping her head back.
He slid his lips along her throat while massaging her skin with the soapy washcloth. Kreston worked his way down each leg, then pressed himself to her back and reached around her waist to massage the front of her. He took his time massaging each breast, treating them with reverence.
“You know how to charm a girl.” She twisted to face him. She took the washcloth from his hand and did the same for him. He turned his back to her, and she rubbed the washcloth over his soapy skin, fingering his back muscles with her other hand.
“This is fun,” he murmured, turning to face her.
She moved the washcloth around his chest and stomach but stopped short of going lower. He sensed she was shy about their being naked together, so he took her in his arms and drew her under the pelting water. “Have you ever been kissed in the shower? I mean, really, truly kissed? ”
She gazed up at him, shaking her head. “My ex never enjoyed showering together.”
“Well, I do.” He grabbed hold of her and kissed her with as much passion as he could summon, which wasn’t difficult since Little Kreston stood straight up, saluting the two of them.
She looked smitten when he released her, encouraging him on his quest to make love to her like no other man ever had. The mention of her ex had caught him off guard. He knew then she wasn’t completely over that loser, and resolved to help her forget him.
“I can’t believe how long I’ve missed out on this.” She turned off the spray and motioned for him to step out. “After you, Mister Water Conservation.”
Before she could reach for a towel, he offered her a neatly folded one.
“Thanks, Mayor Collins.”
He loved tending to her needs. But then, that’s who he was. The last thing he expected was to find someone like Sadie in Polar Creek—much less to fall for her—and now they were naked together. Today was a crucial turning point in this relationship. He wanted, no, needed this relationship to have staying power.
He thought for a moment, hesitating. “Sadie, are you sure about all this? With me, I mean? I don’t want you to do anything you aren’t comfortable doing.”
She poked her head out of the curtain, beaming at him. “You mean like stepping naked into the shower with me? It’s a little too late for that, buddy.”
Kreston glimpsed her heart-shaped derriere, and Little Kreston noticed it, too. He cleared his throat and swallowed. “Like I said, I believe in conserving water.”
She snorted. “As if you need to conserve water in Alaska. Good grief, you guys are swimming in water up here with millions of lakes and rivers. Not to mention an endless snowpack like a frozen Pacific Ocean.”
Sadie’s relaxed attitude told him everything he needed to know: all systems were a go for launch. He chuckled to himself and stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom, closing the door behind him.