Chapter 64
Piper
The cold mountain air touches my skin, and I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with it.
I love it.
After the disaster that was last night—the drunk man who tried to drag me out of the bar while rambling God knows what—it’s exactly what I need.
Hunter stepped in before it could become something worse.
And I don’t feel remotely sorry for what he did to him.
He lost his temper again.
But that man had every intention of taking what he wanted regardless of whether I was willing to give it.
And if it hadn’t been me, it could just as easily have been another woman.
We ended up going back to the chalet alone. The others disappeared somewhere in the chaos after they spotted those men at our table, and we never regrouped.
We took a taxi back.
By the time we arrived, the place was quiet. Whether nobody was home or everyone had already retreated to their rooms, I couldn’t say.
Hunter slept in my bed.
For all the distance we’re supposed to keep, we’ve somehow reached the point where we’re sharing one.
After breakfast this morning, we headed up to the slopes. We rented skis, well, most of us did. Adelaide and Isaak opted for snowboards.
I adjust my woollen hat, tug my goggles onto my forehead, and attempt to get my hair under control.
I glance at Hunter.
He’s watching me.
“Come on,” Adelaide calls before pushing off down the red slope on her snowboard.
Isaak follows immediately and, within seconds, falls into place beside her.
A laugh escapes me as I push off on my skis.
I sense Hunter behind me at first, but it doesn’t take long before he’s right beside me.
He’s an exceptionally good skier.
We spend the next while making our way up and down the slope with Adelaide and Isaak.
We lost the Bellanti sisters, Arlo, and Milo after the very first run.
By the time we reach the base of the mountain again, I’m already heading back towards the lifts.
Just as I think about them, I spot Ophelia a short distance away, her cheeks pink from the cold, with Arlo standing tall and stoic at her back as they wait in line.
We end up taking the same lift up.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this view,” I say as I tug off one glove with my teeth, pull out my phone, and snap a few photos of the snow covered pines below.
“Neither will I,” Ophelia says with a soft sigh.
Once at the top, we slide off and make our way towards the runs.
I pause at the lip of the slope, look over my shoulder, and shoot Ophelia a small smirk.
Then I point to the left, towards the black run.
Ophelia’s eyes move between the slope and me, a hint of hesitation crosses her face.
I push off before any of them can make up their minds.
Adrenaline races through me.
And for the first time in a long while, I feel alive.
Besides ice skating, this is my favourite thing in the world.
I used to spend every ski season in the mountains with my mum.
The memory makes my heart squeeze, but it’s a pleasant ache.
Before, it only hurt.
I sense Hunter behind me and look over my shoulder.
To my surprise, he’s coming down the black run as well.
I didn’t expect him to follow me onto it.
“Eyes ahead,” he growls as he reaches me.
I can’t help but smile.
By the time we reach the bottom, Ophelia and Arlo aren’t far behind.
I laugh.
“You did it.”
“Halfway down, I was convinced agreeing to that was a terrible idea,” Ophelia says. She looks back towards the slope. “Turns out it was actually fun. I’d do it again.”
Arlo shakes his head at her.
We join the queue for the lifts again, and when we reach the top, we find Adelaide and Isaak with Octavia and Milo waiting nearby.
“I’ve worked up an appetite. There’s a restaurant up here, looks decent.” Milo says, rubbing his hands together.
At the mention of food, my stomach rumbles.
Hunter’s head snaps in my direction.
A strange look appears on his face. He looks almost irritated.
“You’re hungry,” he states, his expression darkening. “Why the fuck didn’t you say something?”
I laugh at his expression.
“I suppose I’m hungrier than I realised.”
“You should’ve said something,” His jaw tightens. “I’d have fed you.”
“Well, let’s go inside. Now you have the chance.”
We follow the rest and prop our skis outside before stepping into the restaurant.
Warmth immediately wraps around me.
A fire crackles in the hearth, and little by little the cold leaves my body.
We have dinner, and for the first time, nobody seems interested in starting a fight.
Nobody argues.
It’s so unusual that I find myself appreciating it.
Maybe because I have a feeling it won’t last.
In fact, I have the distinct impression that everything is going a little too well at the moment.
Like this is the calm before the storm.
Not just here.
In my life too.
Right now, I’m doing what I love with people I care about.
And Hunter is here.
Hunter, who makes me feel things I shouldn’t, things that feel too good. And I’m not just talking about the physical side of it.
I’m talking about him holding me through the night, waking up beside him in the morning.
The way, for a few precious hours, everything feels uncomplicated.
By the time we’ve finished dessert and a hot cup of tea, the last of the cold has disappeared from my system.
We pull our jackets back on and step outside. I collect my skis, and clip my boots back in.
“One last run?” Adelaide asks with a smirk. “I might let you win this time, wouldn’t want to bruise your pride too badly.”
She pushes off on her board and disappears down the mountain.
Isaak looks at the rest of us with what, for him, is the equivalent of an eye roll.
“As if I haven’t been letting her win all day.”
Then he pushes off and follows her down the slope.
Once we’re back at the base of the mountain, we return the skis and make our way to the car park.
“A deal’s a deal. You’re driving with me. Don’t argue, viper.”
Isaak holds the door open for Adelaide.
She shoots him a murderous look before climbing into the car anyway.
I head towards the other vehicle just as Hunter opens the passenger door for me.
After I slide inside, he circles around and takes the wheel.
We wait for Ophelia and Arlo to get into the back, and a few moments later we’re on the road.
I’m exhausted, barely able to keep my eyes open.
I feel Hunter watching me.
In fact, he seems more interested in looking at me than the road.
When I turn towards him, I catch a soft expression on his face. It looks completely out of place on him.
“Today was fun.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. You needed this,” he replies, as serious as ever.
“Watch the road. I’d rather not die.”
I let my eyes close for a brief moment.
“As if I’d ever let anything happen to you. I’ll protect you with my fucking life.”
I hear him say it over the music playing in the car.
Or maybe I don’t.
Maybe I’m simply too exhausted and already asleep. Maybe I dreamt it.
I hope I did.
Because he can’t possibly mean that.
For him, this is just sex.
Because if he really cares about me, even a little, he’ll only despise me that much more in the end.
And I’m not sure my heart would survive that.
Actually, scratch that.
I’m certain it wouldn’t.