Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Sierra
“So," Adrian announced that evening after we'd warmed up and had lunch, vibrating with excitement, "we're going tobogganing!"
I looked up from my hot chocolate, confused. "What's that, exactly?"
The table went quiet for a moment before Estelle started laughing. She and I were both new to this snow thing. “Oh, we're both going to be disasters."
"Tobogganing," Jax explained with a grin, "is controlled falling down a hill on a wooden sled.”
"That sounds terrifying," I mumbled, but I was smiling. Everything here felt like an adventure waiting to happen.
"It's a good kind of terrifying," Isla assured me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Trust us."
And an hour later, we were staring at gear I'd never seen before, let alone worn.
Estelle and I stood helplessly in the cabin's entry, staring down an array of snow pants, thermal layers, and boots that looked like they belonged on astronauts.
"What is this?" I asked, holding up what looked like pool toys.
"Snow goggles," Connor chuckled, appearing behind me and gently taking them from my hands. "To protect those pretty eyes from the glare and wind."
"And this?" Estelle held up thick, padded pants.
"Snow pants," Jax explained. "They go over your regular clothes. You'll want every layer you can get on those sweet legs.”
It took the combined efforts of all three guys to get Estelle and me appropriately dressed. We were snow newbies.
Connor's hands were careful as he helped me into the unfamiliar gear, his touch lingering at my waist, my hips, anywhere he could find an excuse to steady me.
"There," he murmured when I was finally bundled like a marshmallow. "Perfect."
The tobogganing hill of choice was a twenty-minute drive through snow-covered pine forests. It was bustling with families and couples enjoying the afternoon beneath a sun that turned the snow into a field of diamonds.
But the moment we stepped out of the SUV, all conversations stopped.
The guys, muscular, tall, and dressed in sleek black and brown snow gear, looked like they'd stepped out of an action movie. Even bundled in winter clothing, their dangerous nature was unmistakable.
"Holy shit," a teenage girl whispered to her friend. "Are those guys for real?"
"That one looks like he could bench press a car," another woman murmured, staring at Connor.
"The blonde one's going to give me a heart attack," her friend replied, eyes locked on Jax.
"And the one with the bells looks like he'd be trouble," a third voice added, clearly referring to Adrian, who was currently adjusting his Santa hat and grinning at the attention.
Jax caught the remarks and flashed a slow, dangerous smile. “I’m a taken man, ladies."
The group of women actually giggled and waved, making Estelle roll her eyes.
“Indeed,” she huffed, swatting Jax's arm before pulling it to her chest. "You're spoken for."
"Damn right I am," he agreed, pulling her into him possessively and kissing her right in front of them.
A father herding his kids toward the hill did a double-take at Connor's imposing figure. "Jesus, what do they feed you guys?"
"Protein and violence," Adrian answered cheerfully, earning nervous laughter from the crowd.
"Adrian," Isla giggled, trying not to smile.
"What? I'm being friendly!"
The tobogganing hill was steeper than I'd expected, with different tracks for different skill levels.
Families with small children stuck to the gentle slopes, while teenagers and adults braved the more challenging runs that disappeared into darkness before curving back into the light.
"We'll start easy," Connor instructed, his hand protective on my back as we climbed toward the beginner slope. "Work our way up."
"Define easy," I muttered, eyeing the hill that looked anything but.
"Trust me, sweet girl. I won't let anything happen to you."
I kept getting distracted by how Connor’s breath steamed in the cold air and how his dark eyes kept finding mine with promises I didn’t fully understand yet.
The first run was us girls together, just like we'd planned on the drive over.
"Okay, girls," Adrian announced, gesturing to a large, flat sled. "All aboard the estrogen express."
"Did you just call us the estrogen express?" Isla asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Would you prefer the lady locomotive?"
"I would prefer you to hush and push us down this hill," Estelle laughed, sliding onto the sled with surprising dexterity for someone who'd never done this before.
I climbed on behind her, my heart hammering as Isla settled in behind me. The sled felt flimsy and unstable, nothing like the solid ground I was used to.
The guys pulled down each of our snow goggles and tugged our scarves up as we peered down the drop.
"This is either going to be amazing or we're all going to die," I announced.
"Both," Isla chirped. "Ready?"
Before I could answer, Adrian gave us a mighty push, and we were flying.
The world became a blur of white, speed, and terrifying joy. Wind bit my face despite the goggles, my hair probably whipping Isla, but I couldn't stop laughing.
We hit a bump and went airborne for a heart-stopping second, all three of us shrieking with delight and terror.
Then we crashed into the soft snow at the bottom in a tangle of limbs and scarves, rolling apart with breathless giggles.
"That was incredible!" Estelle gasped, snow in her hair and cheeks flushed bright red.
“It was,” I agreed, already looking back up the hill hungrily.
The guys came down next, and watching them was almost as thrilling as the ride itself. Connor's powerful frame was coiled with controlled strength even as their sled spun and bounced down the slope.
They moved like they did everything else—with confidence and just enough recklessness to be dangerous.
Then they crashed at the bottom in their own heap of masculine laughter and playful shoving.
"Beginners?" Estelle scoffed. "We were clearly naturals."
"Clearly," Connor agreed, his eyes narrowing on me as he approached. "How did it feel?”
"Like flying," I admitted. "And like I might throw up. But in a good way?"
His laugh was warm and rich. "That sounds about right."
"Round two," Adrian announced, hauling the sled back toward the hill. "But this time, we're doing couples rides."
“Why?” I asked, though I should’ve known the answer.
"Much more fun that way.”
The obviousness of it hit me as Connor's hands settled on my waist, pulling me back against his chest. We were going to be pressed together, his body wrapped around mine, racing down a hill at dangerous speeds.
My mouth went dry.
This sled was bigger than I'd expected, designed for someone of his size, apparently. Connor settled onto it first, then held out his hand to help me down.
"Come here," he murmured.
I settled between his legs and immediately felt overwhelmed by him. His size, his strength, and the way his thick thighs caged mine. When I leaned back against his chest, I felt every inch of his powerful frame.
And something else. Something hard and warm, pressing against my lower back.
I gasped softly, and his arms tightened around me.
"Connor," I breathed.
"I know," he answered roughly. "Just... hold on tight."
"Mutual problem?" I heard Jax mutter to the others as they settled us girls in.
"Definitely," Connor replied grimly.
"Occupational hazard of dating gorgeous women," Adrian added with a grin that didn't hide his own obvious discomfort.
Jax was murmuring something in Estelle's ear that made her blush and squirm in his lap. Adrian had pulled Isla back against him, his hands spanning her waist possessively.
"Gentlemen," Jax called out again with a strained grin, "may the best man win."
"Good luck," Connor replied dryly. "We're going to need it."
"Speak for yourselves," Adrian laughed, "I plan to enjoy every second of this."
Then we were flying down the hill, everything else disappearing except snow, and Connor's body surrounding mine. Every bump pressed me harder against him, every turn made his arms tighten around my waist.
Despite the cold air whipping past us, his breath was hot against my ear. "You okay?" he asked as we hit a particularly rough patch.
"More than okay," I gasped, and it was true. The adrenaline, the speed, the feeling of being completely encased by Connor's strength and protection—it was everything.
When we finally came to a stop in a spray of snow, I was breathless and flushed, and not just from the cold. Connor's hands lingered on my waist as he helped me up, his touch burning through layers of winter clothing.
"Good?" he asked, his voice rougher than usual.
"So good," I managed, my legs wobbling slightly.
Around us, the other couples were having similar moments. Jax was holding Estelle close, both of them breathing hard and staring at each other with heat. Adrian and Isla were still laughing, but their eyes held promises that made me blush just witnessing them.
The crowd of onlookers had grown, families and couples drawn by the spectacle of three crazy looking couples making tobogganing look like… this.
"They make it look so easy," one woman sighed to her husband.
"Easy isn't the word I'd use," her husband muttered.
"One more run?" Adrian suggested, though his voice was strained with the effort of maintaining control.
Connor's hand was warm and possessive on my back as he guided me toward our room back in the cabin, the tension from the tobogganing still crackling between us.
The cabin's hallways were dimly lit with soft Christmas lights, making everything feel warm and cozy.
"Come on, sweet girl," he murmured, his voice rough in that way I knew. "Let's get you warmed up."
Our room was perfect—rustic and cozy with exposed wooden beams and a massive stone fireplace already crackling with flames behind a safety screen.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of snow-laden pine trees, their branches heavy with fresh powder that caught the last rays of fading daylight. French doors also led to a private balcony covered in a bed of snow.