Chapter 20 Piper
Piper
Iwoke with strong arms around me and a warm body curled around me.
Mmm. I snuggled in, my face pressed against Everett’s neck, and breathed him in. I knew some part of me wanted to freak out, but I was a little groggy from drinking too much last night, and too warm and relaxed to care.
“Hey.” His lips pressed to my temple. “You have a headache?”
“No.” My voice was lazy with sleep. I ran a hand up his arm, gliding over his skin.
“I don’t get hangovers. I just move a little sluggishly until I’ve had three coffees.
” I cracked my eye open enough to register we were in my bed and both still in our clothes.
He must have carried me here at some stage.
“I’ll make you my famous Night After smoothie. It’s packed full of anti-oxidants. Perk you right up.”
“I have zero ingredients to make a smoothie in my fridge, Everett.” I laid my cheek against his chest. Outside, I could see the snow was coming down hard. The skiers would be happy. “What’s the time?”
“Six.”
Definitely time to get my day started. But honestly, facing calls, video meetings, and worrying about Chance didn’t fire me up all that much. I let out a gusty sigh. “I should get moving. I have a call with Hong Kong a bit later.” I started to sit up.
Those strong arms tightened, then he rolled, pinning me under him.
I looked up into his handsome face. Because I could, I ran my hands up his back. “You trapping me here, Murray?”
“Maybe. I like you here.” He ran his nose along mine, then his lips brushed my jaw.
Yes, I heard warning bells ringing in my head, but I ignored them.
I was pretty damn tired of fighting against the one thing in my life that actually felt good.
His head lifted, and we stared at each other. I slid my hands under his T-shirt, almost moaning aloud at the feel of warm, smooth skin. His hand skimmed down my side, then found where my shirt had ridden up. His fingers moved over my belly.
“This is probably still a bad idea,” I murmured.
“You going to give me the “we’re total opposites” speech, again?”
“I was thinking about it.”
His fingers danced over my skin, leaving goosebumps. “I don’t care what we are, I just know I like this.”
“Me too.” I moved, rocking into his hard body. I saw his lips curve, then his fingers toyed with the waistband of my pants. I was in a fog. A glorious, warm, Everett-induced fog. I lifted my hips.
He accepted the invitation.
His mouth took mine. The kiss was long and drugging. His tongue demanded access, and I opened for him. I slid my hands in his thick hair, moaning as I kissed him back. God, I really loved his hair.
Then his hand glided lower across my belly and dipped inside my loose pants, then inside my panties.
I gasped into his mouth. His fingers stroked where I was oh, so wet. I rocked against him, his fingers dipping inside me before they circled my clit. Pleasure, warm and insistent, sparked through me. Breaking the kiss, I arched my neck, not able to hold in my husky cries.
“So damn beautiful,” he said on a groan. “All wet and warm for me.”
“Everett…” My voice was a breathy moan.
He kept stroking. I felt his gaze lock on my face, like he couldn’t look away.
Then with a few more strokes and a pinch, I came. My release rocketed through me and I moaned loudly. Panting, I pressed my face to his neck, pleasure still shuddering through me.
He held me close. “Perfect way to start the day.”
I smiled. I couldn’t argue. Hell, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had an orgasm. I think my vibrator was gathering dust in my suitcase.
“Now you can start your day.” He patted my hip.
I lifted my head. “I don’t think so.”
His brows drew together.
I nudged my hip against the very hard cock jabbing into my belly. I was desperate to see it. I had no doubt it would match the rest of his gorgeous body. “Now, it’s your turn.”
His lips curled. “No, babe, I’m fine. That was all for you.”
My stupid heart squeezed. “You’re being a good guy again.”
“Babe, I am a good guy, you just haven’t realized it yet.”
Oh, I had. “You’re also very hard.”
“Something that won’t kill me. It’ll go away on its own.”
I ran my hand down his body, over all those firm muscles. “It just so happens I know another way it can go away. That will be much more pleasurable for both of us.”
“Piper—”
I pushed him back on the bed and straddled him so that I was on top. I pressed my lips to the bare skin at the base of his throat, then gripped the hem of his T-shirt. I pushed it up, and he lifted enough so I could get it over his head.
Oh, yum. His chest was all golden skin, taut muscles, but not overdone like someone who worked out in the gym all the time. More like a swimmer. Or a mountain man who liked the outdoors and worked with his hands. I nipped his pec, then moved lower, enjoying exploring all that warm skin.
Then, I shoved the waistband of his sweatpants down and his cock sprang free.
Unsurprisingly, I was right. His cock matched the rest of him. Long and gorgeous. I circled it and gave it an experimental pump.
“Fuck,” he said between gritted teeth.
The need on his face… My belly clenched. When was the last time anyone had looked at me like that?
I moved backward and lowered my head. I licked the tip of his cock.
His deep growl was music to my ears and set off more heat in my belly. I’d been planning to take things slowly, lazily…
But suddenly, I didn’t want that.
I wanted him to feel this crazy need that seemed to get worse every time I saw him. I sucked him deep.
With a curse, he thrust up into my mouth. I pressed one hand to his hard stomach, the other working the base of his cock. I licked and sucked. I lost myself in the pleasure of pleasuring him.
“Fuck, Piper.” His voice was a low growl.
He moved, pushing to sit up more. I looked up his body and realized he’d moved to give himself a better position to watch me. I swirled the head of his cock in my mouth, then drove down again, taking as much of him as I could.
Then with a tortured groan, he hauled me up. He wrapped his hand around mine on his cock, his other arm pulling me closer.
Together, we pumped his cock. I loved the hot look on his face, the desire burning in his eyes.
Then, with one more stroke, he came all over his stomach.
“Piper.” My name was a low groan.
He kept coming, and I kept pumping him.
Once he was done, he yanked me close, his mouth taking mine.
“Can’t remember the last time I came that hard,” he murmured. “Maybe never.”
“I’m glad.” I cuddled into him, feeling the best I’d felt in such a long time.
We stayed there, both content, watching the snow falling outside.
“You’re going to be late for your call with Sydney.”
I jackknifed up. “Oh, hell. And it’s with Hong Kong.” I sprang up. “I’m hitting the shower.”
“Go. I’ll sort breakfast.”
As I hustled through my shower, makeup, and dressing, I tried not to think about how good this was. Waking up with someone, pleasuring each other, sharing our time before we headed our separate ways.
I finished with my lipstick and smoothed my hands down my gray, pleated midi skirt.
I’d paired it with a cute, white blouse with pin tucks.
Because I was feeling so good, I slipped into my very sexy, strappy Gianvito Rossi stiletto sandals.
I couldn’t lose my head over this laid-back, protective mountain man.
We were both very different people, who wanted different things from life.
But for now, it wasn’t going to stop me enjoying him.
We could be…well not exactly friends with benefits, but colleagues with benefits. It wouldn’t get awkward later because I’d leave and probably wouldn’t see him again.
I felt a funny squirm in my stomach. Probably from drinking too much.
When I strode back into the living area, he was in my suite’s tiny kitchenette. Toast topped with avocado sat on two plates.
His gaze lit up, traveling lazily down my body. As he lingered on my shoes, he smiled.
“Have I told you how much I love your skirts?”
“No. You’ve mentioned your disdain for my heels plenty of times.”
“Only because I worry about your ankles. They do amazing things to your legs though.” He nudged a plate across the counter. “I made a quick trip to the kitchen. Your fridge was very empty.”
“I usually just start the day with coffee.”
He pushed a mug toward me. “Today, you get coffee and toast. Next time, I’ll make you my special smoothie.”
Again, I felt a burst of warmth at the two of us sharing breakfast…like a couple.
No, Piper, not like a couple. Like colleagues with benefits.
I finished eating and gulped down some coffee. “I need to go.”
“Same. Luckily, I have a change of clothes in my locker.”
We headed out, walking toward the elevator together.
Once we stepped inside, I turned to face him. “Everett…thank you. For last night. For being there.”
He yanked me into his arms. “Thank me properly.”
“I’m not kissing you. The security team monitor—”
His mouth hit mine.
And damn him, I kissed him. I pushed him back against the wall of the elevator and kissed him hard.
When he stepped back, he was grinning. It was smug. “Your lipstick didn’t even smudge.”
“It’s designed to do that.” The elevator doors opened and I lifted my chin. “Stay out of trouble, Murray.”
“You too, big city. You hear from your brother, get him to share where he is.” He grabbed my wrist, then his other hand touched my cheek. “Have a good day, and later, we need to go and check on the construction. The tent should be completed.”
My eyes widened. “Murray, it’s snowing like crazy out there.”
“It won’t kill you. You know people pay good money to come here and go out in it?”
I shuddered.
His smile widened. “See you later, and stay inside.”