CHAPTER TWO
Ella
I was going to kill my brother.
He could have warned me that Cole Sutton was sex on legs. Would it have killed him to mention that his military buddy looked like a romance novel cover model come to life? “Don’t worry, Ella,” he’d said. “I’ve got a friend who can drive you around Hope Peak. Real professional guy.”
Professional. Right. Professional men did not make my knees weak with one growly word. They didn’t have biceps that flexed distractingly when they lifted your bags like they weighed nothing. When they caught you like you weighed nothing.
And they definitely did not look at you like they wanted to devour you whole while simultaneously wrapping you in bubble wrap.
I snuck a glance at him as he navigated through Hope Peak’s snowy streets. His profile was all sharp angles and masculine beauty, jaw dusted with dark stubble. A small scar cut through his left eyebrow, while a longer, more wicked looking one left a jagged streak down his left cheek. And his hands... Lord help me, his hands on the steering wheel were a religious experience. They were huge, scarred from combat, capable-looking in a way that made my imagination run wild. What would they feel like on me?
The good girl side of me instantly made herself known. Stop objectifying the nice man who’s just doing his job, Ella.
My bad girl side started whispering all the naughty things he could teach us.
Nothing about my medical training had prepared me for the way Cole Sutton made me feel. Sure, I could name every muscle group currently on display beneath his military style vest and shirt—trapezius, deltoids, pectorals. But knowing the anatomical terms didn’t stop me from wanting to conduct a very hands-on examination.
I pressed my thighs together in the passenger seat, trying to ignore the heat pooling low in my belly. This was ridiculous. I was a professional. A doctor. I’d seen plenty of attractive male bodies during my residency. But none of them had made me want to climb into their lap and grind against them like a stripper on spring break.
His hands flexed on the steering wheel, and my mind immediately cataloged the tendons and muscles in motion. Those hands could span my entire waist. Earlier, when he caught me, I’d felt the strength in them. I bet they’d feel incredible sliding up my—
“You’re staring.” His deep voice made me jump guiltily.
“I’m observing,” I countered, trying to sound professional rather than hormonal. “It’s what doctors do.”
One dark eyebrow arched. “And what’s your diagnosis?”
That you’re criminally attractive and I’m going to embarrass myself repeatedly over the next few weeks.
“That you’re...” I searched for a safe word. “Intense.”
He made a sound that might have been a laugh or a growl. Both possibilities did funny things to my insides. “I get that a lot.”
“I bet you do.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. “I mean... because of the whole...” Again, I waved my hand vaguely at his everything. It was code for broad shoulders, rugged features, thick thighs… package in between those thick thighs… “Security thing.”
Smooth, Ella. Real smooth.
His lips twitched. “The whole security thing?”
“You know what I mean,” I huffed, removing my knit scarf. I was suddenly very, very hot. “The scary capable vibe. Very professional and... scary. In a good way. A professional, scary good way.” I closed my eyes in mortification. “I’m going to stop talking now.”
His laugh was rich and dark, like expensive chocolate. “Don’t. You’re fascinating when you’re flustered.”
“I’m not flustered. I’m just...” Attracted to you. Terrified of traveling on snowy roads. Worried about living up to everyone’s expectations. “Cold.”
His expression shifted instantly to concern. He reached for the climate controls, and I tried not to stare at how his biceps bulged under the fabric of his shirt. “I’ll turn up the heat. You should have said something sooner.”
“The temperature’s fine,” I admitted. “I just... I get nervous. In cars. Since the accident.”
His voice gentled, though his eyes stayed focused on the road. “Jake just said you don’t like driving in the bad weather.”
I turned to look out the window. Strange how the snowy scene beyond didn’t frighten me. I felt as safe with Cole as I did with Jake. Maybe more so. When I didn’t say anything, one of Cole’s hands moved from the wheel like he wanted to reach for me, but he didn’t. The aborted gesture made my heart ache.
“I haven’t driven in winter conditions since. Can’t even ride in cars some days without panicking. Pathetic, right?”
“Nothing pathetic about being human.” His voice had roughened. “We’ve all got our scars.”
I wanted to ask about his. About the physical ones I could see and the emotional ones I sensed beneath his controlled exterior. Instead, I found myself saying, “You make me feel safe.”
“You are safe with me. I’ve got over ten thousand hours of winter driving experience. Elite’s safety record is perfect.”
“You memorized your hours?” The tension eased slightly as I focused on that factual detail.
“Jake said you would appreciate the data.”
Don’t fall for the hot security guy, Ella .
Too late.
Now, my naughty side was finally showing up after all the years of feeling nothing towards the opposite sex. When, I grumbled at it, I could do nothing about it.
Cole was definitely off limits for so many reasons. The first and foremost was the fact that he knew my brother. Which meant he’d have absolutely no interest in teaching me the meaning of all those medical terms I’d memorized in med school.
Of taking my V-card. And I wasn’t talking about giving him a valentine.
I was a virgin. I’d concentrated on academics for so many years of my life, I wasn’t sure if I knew how to do anything else.
I glanced at Cole again.
Well, that wasn’t entirely the truth. Yes, I was lacking in practical experience, but my imagination was definitely filling in all the good parts.
Every shift of the car brought attention to how sensitized I was, how desperately I wanted him to touch me. My breasts felt heavy and my nipples tight against my bra. I was achingly aware of how wet I was, how empty I felt. I’d touched myself before—I was a doctor, I understood the importance of knowing one’s own body – but it had never felt like this. I’d never felt like this before. Felt this consuming need .
And I’d just met him. He was my brother’s friend. My professional driver. I shouldn’t be imagining him pulling over and climbing into the back seat with me.
But, oh how, I imagined doing just that.
Reprieve from my lustful thoughts came in the form of the majestic Hope Peak Lodge. It rose before us in all its rustic luxury and mountain charm. I tried not to collapse against him as he helped me from the vehicle or wobble on shaky legs as he escorted me inside. But his hand against my lower back was sending sparks through my entire nervous system. Once I was checked in, he escorted me to my room. My thoughts went to other, hotter reasons why we might be riding an elevator to a hotel room.
He inspected the room with military efficiency, every inch the security professional despite the look in his eyes when he saw the king-sized bed. My thoughts took a downward turn when I thought of the times he’d probably taken a woman to a hotel room—for the very reason I was imagining him taking me.
“Everything okay?” He frowned as if sensing the change in my mood.
“Yeah,” I tried to smile, but it didn’t quite work. “Just tired I guess. I’m not used to traveling.” And I wasn’t. While airplanes didn’t hold the fear that cars did for me, it was still upsetting on some level. The lack of control.
“The front desk has my number if you need anything.” He must have seen the look on my face, because he held out his hand. “Give me your phone.” He handed it back and I saw where he had added himself to my contacts.
“Thank you.”
He walked to the door, one hand on the handle, but still hesitated.
Trying to put us both back at ease, I did what I did best. I deflected. “Hotel security protocols are quite fascinating from an epidemiological perspective. Did you know that—”
“Ella.” His voice held a rough edge.
Was that the usual sound of his voice, or was he, too, affected the same as me? “Yes?” I answered.
“Stop talking facts unless you want me to show you some very hands-on security measures.”
I guess that answered my question in spades. Score one for the shy, curvy doc. But I wasn’t quite that brave. Yet. “That would be highly unprofessional.”
“So is the way you’ve been looking at me.” His smile left me in no doubt that he was feeling some of the same spark of awareness between us. “Get some sleep, little doctor. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
“For my first driving lesson?” The words came out small, betraying my nervousness.
He caught my chin, tilting my face up. “Baby steps. We’ll start with breakfast.”
This man was dangerous in ways that had nothing to do with his tactical gear.
“Thank you,” I managed, trying not to lean into his touch. “For making me feel safe.”
Something flashed in his eyes, too quick to catch. “Always.” His thumb brushed my chin before dropping his hand. “Lock up behind me.”
I watched him leave, already missing his presence. Even the way he checked the hallway before stepping outside made my insides warm. My brother’s friend or not, Cole Sutton was definitely going to be hazardous to my composure.
And hopefully, my virginity.
A seed of an idea started to form.
On an intellectual level, I knew the way I was reacting to him was simply attraction to a good-looking male. But it wasn’t something I’d really felt before. Oh, I’d been curious about sex, but not enough to actually want to try it with someone.
Now, I needed to go change my panties.
There was just something about Cole Sutton that made me want to turn in my good-girl card.