Chapter 26
Out on her balcony,she took in the yellow lights of her cabins.
Noa’s sister was in one, and she was undoubtedly on the phone arguing with her baby daddy about child support. In another one, Ginty’s childhood friend was most likely playing video games. In the other ten, the couples were getting ready for bed.
One light blinked out. That couple had probably just slid their naked bodies between soft, clean sheets. She could imagine them talking about the day, sharing conversations they’d had. A sweet tuck of hair behind a wife’s ear, a gentle sling of a knee over her husband’s thigh…it would lead to a kiss, a touch, an intimacy.
Lorelei was starved for it.
And not because she was alone. No, it was because of the man down the hall.
Beneath the shallow level of doubts and fears, trust had already grown roots. In the cabin, when he’d had no reason to pretend—he hadn’t been trying to woo her, just the opposite, in fact—he’d shown integrity. That was the whole reason he’d left his fancy sports agency to start his own.
She knew his character.
And she knew his heart.
They were bound not just by physical attraction, but by life experience. They’d both been blindsided and had to rebuild their foundations in life. They understood each other.
But even deeper than that, where it was pitch black and you could only rely on muscle memory and gut instinct, there was an absolute certainty this man was hers. Call it kismet, call it whatever you wanted, but they were meant for each other.
She was safe with him.
And that right there—that was the scariest part of all.
Because she’d believed she was safe with her mom, Cissy, and Landon.
But she wasn’t a coward. And Noa was right about communication. So, now that the house was quiet, she slipped her feet into her shearling flip-flop slippers and padded quietly down the hallway.
His door was cracked open, light spilling onto the floor. As she neared, she heard his voice. “I get what you’re saying. And I don’t put my situation above anyone else’s. I’m just telling you what I’m willing to do for mine.”
It was funny how he could fill her with pride and lust at the same time. A man with his confidence, who knew his mind, who made decisions and stuck with them…
That’s hot.
There wasn’t a shred of uncertainty in his tone. “At the end of the day, if neither of my options work for you, I’m willing to walk away. But I’m taking my clients with me.”
Oh, no. This is bad. He can’t give up his partnership for us.
She entered the room, mouthing, “No, no. Don’t do that.”
Sitting on the bed with one leg on the floor, and the other hitched in front of his laptop, he glanced over and waved her in. He motioned for her to close the door behind her.
“All right, well, thanks for the call?—”
“Hang on,” a man said. “Let’s talk about this.”
Was that George? She wanted to meet the man Booker considered a true friend, the one person who always had his back.
He grinned. “Sorry, man, my priority just walked in the room.”
Oh, my God.
Did he just say I’m his priority?
“I’ll give the three of you time to talk it over.” Before she could reach him, he’d clicked out of the conference call. After closing the laptop and setting it on the nightstand, he held out his arms. “Park that ass on my lap.”
She threw herself at him, and he caught her, enfolding her in his arms. She kissed him, going in hot and hungry. She couldn’t believe she carried doubts when he’d never given her a single reason.
She couldn’t believe she’d held back. Every time he’d told her he was all-in, or that he hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the cabin, she’d clammed up.
And really, what was she so afraid of? That he’d cheat like Landon had? That things wouldn’t work out between them?
If it didn’t, well, that was life. I came out of that whole mess stronger, healthier, and happier.
But imagine never trying with a man like this. It would mean settling for less.
Because no one was better for her than this man.
She scraped her fingernails through his hair, climbed onto his lap, and rocked her hips up against his hard ridge. “I’m your priority?”
“What?” He tilted back, giving her a confused expression. “Oh, did you think I said priority? No, I said room service. My room service just walked in.” He grimaced. “How embarrassing for you.”
She laughed, clutching his shoulders as he rolled her onto her back. “What’s embarrassing is how into me you are. I mean, gushing about me on a conference call?” She made a face. “Kinda cringey.”
“I’m into parts of you.” His hand skimmed up her stomach and over her breasts to cup her throat. And then, he kissed her. Hard, deep, and with clear intentions.
She wrapped her legs around him and swished her hips over his erection. “Which parts?”
He rocked up and back, his cock stroking over her clit. “Your smile.”
Excitement sizzled through her. “Oh, that ole thing?”
His hand slid under the waistband of her pajama shorts, and he dipped a finger into her wet core. “Your voice.”
“Yeah. I get that a lot. It’s won me an award or two.”
“Sassy.” While he fingered her in deliciously lazy strokes, he kissed her neck, licking a sensitive spot. “Your happiness. No matter what’s going on, your spirit shines through.”
“That’s because you’ve only ever seen me around you. You make me happy.”
He lifted his head, the surprise reminding her how infrequently she shared her feelings with him. That was stingy and mean.
“My turn.” She noted the way her throat tightened, unwilling to let the words out.
She didn’t know why it was so hard to tell him. Well, of course, she did. Her ex had made a fool of her, letting her gush and say a million unabashed I love yous, all while he’d been secretly in love with someone else. The experience would forever be imprinted on her, but the only way to override it was to be bold. To open her heart to this deserving man.
She looked him right in the eyes. “My favorite part of you is your intensity.”
He crooked an eyebrow. “That’s a weird one.” His lips painted a trail to her cleavage. “Now, take your clothes off. I wasn’t done with my list.”
When he unbuttoned her top to expose her bare breasts, he gave one a shake. “Your tits.”
“Wait, that’s number three? Not my sense of humor? Not my wit?” She kicked off her flip-flops.
“No. Definitely not those.” He tongued her nipple, sucking it into his mouth. “Mm. Yeah. Your tits, for sure.”
“I love when you manhandle me. That’s my number two.”
“Good.” He reared up and flipped her onto her belly. She laughed as he pulled off her shirt. “Number three better be my cock, because that’s what you’re getting.” He yanked down her bottoms, smacking her bare ass before reaching into his nightstand drawer for a condom.
She kicked off her shorts. “I mean, it’s a good wiener, but it’s not my number three.”
“Did you just say wiener?” With protection in place, he leaned over her, his chest grazing her back. Hitching her hips, he slowly slid in. “Now, does that feel like a wiener?”
“No. And if I tell you you’re big and so, so hard, will you make it move faster?”
He chuckled, his breath hot in her ear. “Probably. Give it a go. Let’s see.”
“Oh, Slick.” She sounded out of breath. “You’re so big and hard.” Even while she sounded like a melodramatic actress, it was still true. He filled her completely.
“It’s never been like this before.” He kissed her cheek. “And I like it.” He pulled nearly all the way out, and then thrust back in, burying himself deeply inside her. “I like you.”
She could barely stand how good he felt, how desperately she needed the friction and the proof of his desire. “God, Slick.” She pressed her face into the duvet and arched her back, grinding her bottom against him. She loved his hunger for her.
He fucked her like he meant it, like he was telling her with his body exactly how much he wanted her. His finger dipped into her wet cove, finding her sensitive nub. Sensation exploded, making her hot and wild. Hiking up on her elbows, she met his thrusts. Her breasts shook, her hair fell around her face like a curtain, and she needed even more.
Abruptly, he pulled out and flipped her onto her back. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and slid back in. “Need to see you.” His greedy gaze took in her mouth, lingered on her breasts, slid down her stomach, and then locked on to the point where their bodies joined.
He lowered himself to kiss her sweetly, to lick into her mouth reverently. “You fill me, Hellcat. You make me feel whole.”
“Slick.” Her arms wrapped around his neck. “I feel the same way.”
“You do?” He sounded surprised.
“Yes. God, yes.”
He slammed into her. “Say it. I need to hear you say it. I need to know it’s real, and I’m not just making it up.”
“It’s real.” He was fucking her so hard now, he pushed her across the mattress. “It’s so real.” She clutched him, her ankles locking around his hips. She’d felt desire before, sure. But now, when lust collided with love, it turned explosive.
The seismic shift inside her body threatened to shatter her. Break her wide open, exposing a part of her she’d never seen before. Something soft, new. Tender. And, as much as it terrified her, she wanted to get to it.
Because it would make her vulnerable. And she’d wasted enough time thinking she needed to be tough, on her guard, and looking for those red flags.
But she couldn’t stop what was happening. She was unraveling. The bindings loosening. His breath gusted in her ear, and his grunts turned into helpless cries. They were merging, body and soul.
And it was exhilarating.
So perfect, hot tears streaked down her cheeks. She was crying out, barely able to withstand the pressure, the tension. And all it took to go up in flames was a tilt of his hips, a scrape against her clit…and then, she was flying.
Her head tipped back, her fingers dug into his skin, and her hips slammed up against him. Weightless, she soared across a universe of elation.
Slick pounded into her, losing all rhythm, all control. His hips swiveled as if trying to get closer, deeper. And when he came, he shouted her name. Lowering his head, his hands clamped on her hips and his thrusts tightened, shortened. Slam. Slam. Slam. His skin had a sheen of perspiration as his cries grew more desperate.
When he finally eased out of her, he fell to her side, pulling her into his arms as easily as if she were a rag doll. He kissed her cheek, licked the shell of her ear, and whispered, “Don’t leave me. Give me a chance to get it right.”
“You don’t have to do anything to keep me, Slick. I’m here. I’m all yours.”
The next morning, Lorelei watched him sleep.
Sunrise broke over the mountain, sending golden streaks into the room, landing on his strong back, his surfer blond hair, and a profile that accentuated his strong, masculine features. High cheek bones, a straight nose, and that mouth. My God. Full, expressive lips that conjured fantasies about long, deep kisses.
He’s such a handsome man.
Last night, they’d both set down their armor. They were going to make this work. And if she felt a trace of fear about their future, she knew it would disappear in time. Because he would prove himself trustworthy.
And even if he didn’t…
No, no. Don’t go there.
That’s stoking the embers of fear.
Don’t do it.
“I can hear you.” His voice was sleep-roughened and sexy as hell.
“Would it help if I hold my breath?”
“Sassy,” he muttered. “Your thoughts, Hellcat. I can hear you overthinking.” He rolled onto his back, drawing up the sheet.
She pulled it back down, and he grinned, grabbing his semi. “You want Stevie to walk in and see this?”
“Stevie’s at my parent’s house. You think I’d have sex with you if she were here?”
“Parents are allowed to have sex.”
“Not when Daddy roars like he’s wrestling a monster.”
He cracked one eyelid. “And Mommy shrieks like a banshee.” He yanked up the sheet.
She pulled it back down. “I like you naked.”
“And what if Noa walks in? I have a duty to my client. One look at my cock, and she’ll leave him standing at the altar.”
“That lil wiener?” She scrunched her nose. “I don’t think so.”
Tossing the sheet back, he rose, and in one agile move, straddled her. “I thought I fucked the sass out of you. Looks like I left a little bit behind.” He reached for a condom.
She smacked his hand. “There’ll be none of that when I have a houseful of guests, and the chef’s working on breakfast. Can’t you smell the bacon? It’s luring them onto the deck.”
He sniffed. “Sorry. All I get are your pheromones.”
“Slick.” She laughed and drew him to her. How can it be this good? Honestly, she had to stop bracing for the rug to be pulled out from under her.
“Now, tell me what you were thinking about.” He fell onto his back beside her, clasping their hands together.
“I mean, you basically told your partner you’d walk away from the agency.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, what would you do? Start your own in New York? I mean, you can’t base an agency in Calamity, Wyoming.”
“Why not? The Bowie brothers run a world-class training center for winter sports here, we’ve got an NHL team… It might even make sense. And what does it matter where my office is based when I spend most of my time traveling anyway? But look, I’m in a strong position. I pitched my idea, and we’ll see what they say.”
“Were they at least open to it?”
“Not really. They said they had difficult situations as well, but they were still honoring the contract. Basically, having a kid is the reason we put the contract in place to begin with, and if they can adhere to it with their personal issues, then why can’t I?” He turned thoughtful. “Caleb called last night because he couldn’t believe how far I’d taken it.”
“What does that mean? What did you say?”
“I told them the contract only applies to partners?—”
Oh, no. She knew where this was going. She closed her eyes. “You did not.”
But he ignored her. “So, I said I’d demote myself to associate.”
“Slick. No. You helped build the agency. You love what you do.”
He tipped her chin. “You’re going to have to trust me on this. I’m a problem solver. And every solution requires weighing the stakes. What’s the highest stake here?”
“Stevie.”
“That’s right. And if I don’t make changes, then I’ll see her a few times a quarter. The visits will be rushed, and I’ll be just some guy who passes through her life. We’ll never form the father-daughter bond she deserves.”
“I’m so glad you get that. When I was a little girl, it was all I noticed. Dads holding their daughters’ hands, carrying them on their shoulders, watching them in dance class. One summer, at songwriting camp, my roommate saw her dad walking toward her, and the smile on that man’s face? The way he broke into a run to reach her? It hurt like nothing I’ve ever felt. I want Stevie to have what I didn’t.” She squeezed his fingers. “I just don’t want you winding up resentful because you gave up the career you worked so hard to build.”
“Right now, we pool our commissions. That makes us cooperative and not competitive. So, if I leave the firm, they might feel like they’ve had a big enough hand in managing my clients that they’re not willing to let them go. But again, we’ll have to wait and see.”
“So…are you saying you’ll move here?”
“If this works out the way I want, I’ll be in the city at least one week a month, so I’ll hang on to my apartment. But one thing is nonnegotiable—I won’t do anything that jeopardizes my relationship with you and Stevie. I won’t compromise our family.”
Family.
He wanted to be her family.
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
“More than anything.”