Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
TATE
“Kayla and Lyle saw us kiss, so we got the most awkward part over with,” Josie explained.
I chuckled. “True.”
After we were both in the truck, she added, “You’re more used to seeing them all the time.”
“You’ll get used to it.” I leaned across the console to kiss her again. “Nice to see you.”
I felt her smile against my lips when I drew away. “Was everything okay getting my car out?”
I pulled out of the parking lot. “Your car is safe and sound and ready to go. The only bad news I have is the place that installed the heater is located in Anchorage, and they can’t get out here to look at it for two whole weeks.”
“Two weeks!”
I caught her eyes as I turned onto the road. “I’m sorry. It’s winter, and they’re booked pretty solid. Is that gonna be okay?”
Josie was quiet for a few beats as I began driving. “Can I stay with you?”
I considered trying to play this cool for a beat, but I opted for blunt honesty.
“Last night was incredible.” I flicked her another glance, and she was looking right at me.
I kept going as I brought my eyes back to the road.
“And I’m not just talking about sex although that was definitely incredible.
” I heard a soft snort escape from her. “So if you wanted to stay with me every night, that’s more than fine with me.
We’ll have to be discreet around Kara. I told her I’d be sleeping on the couch. Fortunately, she’s a solid sleeper.”
I reached over, catching her hand where it rested on the console. She laced her fingers through mine and squeezed. My heart gave a spinning kick as it lunged into a rapid beat.
“I agree on all counts, but are we going too fast?”
My lungs felt tight, and emotion lodged in my throat. I definitely hadn’t expected Josie and what was happening with us.
“I hope not. But if you need me to give you space, I will. No matter how much I try to get them to fix the heater faster, I’m not so sure they can get here sooner.
I’ll take a look at it tomorrow. I didn’t have time today.
Maybe I can figure it out. I can also ask Beck to come take a look. He’s pretty handy.”
When I glanced over, I caught Josie’s eye roll. “You can ask Beck, but don’t you dare tell him about us.”
“Josie, I just kissed you in Firehouse Café. Beck is going to find out. He’s your cousin, though. Why does it matter if he knows?”
“It’s Beck,” she said, her tone heavy with sarcasm. “You know Beck. He’s nosy as can be. Not in a bad way, but more in a loving way. He likes to know what’s going on and always has an opinion. Thank God, I love him.”
I chuckled. “He is nosy as hell. Around the station, he’s the equivalent of the office gossip. Of course, he’s married to Maisie, who runs dispatch. She gets the scoop on everything before anybody else in town. They’re both awesome, though.”
Josie laughed softly. “I know they are, and I love them both. So yes, I want to stay with you. But if things get weird, I don’t want to have to go crash at my parents’ house because then they’ll get even weirder. My point being, let’s ask Beck if he can figure out the heater.”
“I’m pretty sure things aren’t going to get weird.
” I really meant that. This thing with Josie just felt right.
It felt beyond good, but I trusted it. I trusted it was going to be okay.
In part because I’d known her forever and she’d always been a good friend.
We leaned on each other after we got screwed over together. She was as loyal of a person as I knew.
She squeezed my hand. “I think you might be right.”
I kept driving, relieved it wasn’t snowing again tonight. Not because I minded the snow. I actually liked it. But I wanted to hold Josie’s hand and not worry much about the roads tonight.
“Can I change the subject?” Josie asked after a few minutes of quiet.
“Go for it.”
“Did you mean what you said about Marley, the woman from the ski place in Diamond Creek?”
“Absolutely. Here’s the deal. I’m not that involved in the planning.
I own the land and the pretty run-down buildings, but no resort exists.
The buildings are the equivalent of an old-school rec room where people hung out at the base of the slopes way back when.
There are four slopes. The Cannon family will invest to build the resort, and they’re coordinating with the family who owns Last Frontier Lodge for the planning, and that’s it.
I met Marley Hamilton because I skied there a few times.
She’s awesome. You’ll really like her. She’s already told me we need to hire someone to help build the website and do all that.
If you want to do that, let’s make it happen. ”
Josie squeezed my hand again. “I’d love it. And honestly, I would absolutely love to be part of this project because skiing is my favorite thing to do.”
“They would love to have somebody like you be the face of Willow Brook’s resort. It’ll be fun.”
Josie’s eyes crinkled at the corners with her smile. “It will be.”
I picked up Kara from daycare and got back to my place.
Josie helped prepare a quick dinner while Kara did her homework at the kitchen table.
I tried not to think too hard about how good it felt to have a mundane evening like this with Josie here.
After Kara went to bed, Josie leaned up to kiss me in the kitchen, murmuring, “Thank you for taking care of my car and giving me a place to stay.”
When I felt the curve of her smile against my lips, my heart kept kicking hard and fast, and I returned the grin. “Anything for you,” I whispered before claiming her mouth in a deep kiss.
The next few moments were a fumbled rush. Our kiss got wild and messy, and I stumbled as I turned Josie’s hips against the counter. She gasped into my mouth, letting out a whimper when I tugged at the buttons on her blouse.
“Fuck, sweetheart,” I murmured as I stepped back.
“We could do that,” she teased, yanking at her shirt.
The race was on to get our clothes out of the way. I cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples to tight little peaks, gratified at the way she panted and cried out.
Hearing Josie beg me revved my engine like nothing ever before.
She stumbled when she shimmied out of her jeans. I lifted her onto the counter. She was bare naked, and the core of her was pink and glistening. I was down to my jeans hanging open with my cock jutting out.
“Please, Tate, hurry.”
“Just a minute,” I whispered as I pushed her knees a little farther apart and leaned down, dropping hot kisses on the inside of her trembling thighs.
I teased through her slippery folds, keeping my eyes on her as I sank two fingers deep and pumped them in and out. She clenched around my touch and bit her lip with a moan.
“I’m going to make you come now and then again when I’m inside you.”
Her answer was a ragged whimper. I leaned closer and brought my mouth to her sex. I fucked her slowly with my fingers as I tasted her. I drew my fingers out to tease her with my tongue, savoring her tangy, salty flavor. She shuddered, her hands curling around the edge of the counter.
I plunged my fingers inside her again, thrusting deeply and circling my tongue around her clit. She cried out, trembling.
I slowly straightened, watching as she dragged her eyes open. She looked so sultry and sensual. My release was already threatening, and she hadn’t even touched me.
I stepped closer, curling my fist around my length. I was just about to fill her when reality slammed into my brain. “Fuck. I need a condom.”
I started to step away, but she grabbed my hand. “We’re covered. I have an IUD.”
“Are you—”
“I’m absolutely sure. If you are,” she added hurriedly.
“Oh, there’s no doubt about that.” My voice was gruff.
I stepped between her knees, notching my crown at her entrance.
The second I felt the slick kiss of her on the head of my cock, I almost came instantly.
I clenched my teeth, scrambling for control.
I slid my palm around her waist, nudging her closer to the edge of the counter until her legs dangled around my hips.
“Tate…” she whispered against my lips.
“Yeah, sweetheart?” I was dragging this out, and I knew it, but every second with her was pure pleasure. “Tell me what you want.”
“Fuck me,” she ordered, her eyes dark.
In answer, I filled her in one deep thrust. Her name was a guttural whisper as I sheathed myself in her rippling core. It was all I could do not to come instantly. I needed to bring her over the edge once again.
I looked down. Her plump clit poked out with the way her legs dangled down and her hips thrust forward from the angle. I brought my hand down between us, lightly pressing the flat of my finger against it.
“Right here?” I asked, my eyes still on hers and my lips moving against hers.
When she nodded, I gave her just a little more friction as I drew back and filled her again, hard and deep.
I couldn’t stop my release this time when I felt her begin to clench around me.
It felt like lightning jolted through my entire body, electricity lighting up inside my mind when my release poured into her.
I barely remembered the aftermath of my climax.
My mind gradually flickered into awareness.
My hand rested on the soft curve of her hip.
We were pressed tightly together, and she had one foot hooked around the back of my knee with her head curled against my shoulder.
I could feel her breath gusting over my skin.
My other arm was around her waist, holding her close. I never wanted to let go.
I wasn’t ready to say it out loud, but I knew I was falling for her—so hard and fast. I only hoped she was spinning through the air with me on the fall.