31. Emma
Thirty One
Emma
T he effervescence of champagne bubbled through my veins, a lingering high from the wine festival. As the last guests retreated to their rooms, I bid goodnight to Mel, my newfound partner-in-crime. “Let’s hang out tomorrow before you leave,” I suggested, still riding the wave of confidence the day had brought.
Padding barefoot to my cabin, I decided to indulge in a late-night soak. The hot tub beckoned, promising to soothe my aching muscles after a day of pouring, schmoozing, and navigating the minefield of social interaction.
I slipped into the steaming water, sighing as it enveloped me. My iPad balanced precariously on the tub’s edge, the glow of my current guilty pleasure - “Cinderella is Faking It” - illuminating the darkness. The heroine’s witty comebacks made me grin, reminding me of the banter I’d shared with Ridge earlier.
A soft ping drew my attention. Speaking of the devil…
His response was instant.
The heat that had nothing to do with the water rushed through me. I squirmed, suddenly aware of every inch of my bare skin.
My breath caught. I could almost feel his calloused hands on me, rough and tender all at once. But two could play at this game.
I shivered, imagining his lips grazing my skin.
God. The water suddenly felt too hot, too confining. I squeezed my thighs together, trying to ease the ache building there.
I dropped my phone, splashing water over the side of the tub. This was getting dangerous. Deliciously, maddeningly dangerous.
Images flooded my mind – Ridge’s teeth grazing my neck, my collarbone, lower… I shifted restlessly in the water. I whimpered, unable to help myself. This man was going to be the death of me.
He was already here? The steam from the hot tub curled around me like a lover’s caress, but even its warmth couldn’t calm my racing heart. I carefully set my iPad aside, making sure it was safe from any errant splashes, before rising from the water. Snowflakes danced beyond the windows, a stark contrast to the heat that flushed my skin.
Wrapping myself in a fluffy towel, I padded towards the back patio door. My breath caught in my throat, anticipation building with each step. We’d done this dance so many times before, our secret rendezvous an open secret among the vineyard workers and even my mom. Still, the thrill of it all never faded.
I reached for the door handle, a teasing comment about his tardiness on the tip of my tongue. But as soon as I cracked it open, Ridge was there, his presence overwhelming my senses. Before I could utter a word, his lips claimed mine in a searing kiss that stole my breath and scattered my thoughts.
With a swift movement, he slipped inside and kicked the door shut behind him, never breaking our connection. My fingers found the zipper of his snow jacket, urgently pushing it off his broad shoulders. I tugged at his Henley, desperate to feel his skin against mine. As soon as the shirt cleared his head, his mouth descended to my neck, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
We stumbled towards the hot tub, a tangle of limbs and desire. Suddenly, Ridge spun me around, his strong hands on my hips guiding me forward until I was bent over the edge of the tub. I braced myself, palms flat against the warm surface, my body trembling with anticipation.
“What was that you were saying, little flower?” His voice, low and dangerous, sent shivers down my spine. I could feel the heat of him pressed against me, a stark contrast to the cool air on my damp skin. “Something about me not lasting five minutes?”
His dark chuckle reverberated through me, stoking the fire in my core. “Let’s see if you can last longer than that, baby.” His lips brushed against my ear, his words a sensual promise. “If you cum before five minutes, I’ll tie you up and edge you all night long.”
My breath hitched at the threat—or was it a promise? With Ridge, the line between pleasure and torment was deliciously blurred, and I was more than willing to dance along its edge.
My breath caught in my throat, a mixture of anticipation and desire coursing through my veins. Ridge had a way of blurring the lines between pleasure and torment, and I was all too willing to dance along that razor’s edge.
“As if, Cowboy,” I teased, my voice breathy despite my attempt at bravado. “I’m sure you’ll be tired before we even make it to the bedroom.”
In an instant, his hand was in my hair, gently but firmly pulling me back against his broad chest. The sudden movement caused my towel to fall away, leaving me bare and vulnerable in the cool night air. A soft moan escaped my lips, betraying my arousal.
“You just love poking the bear, don’t you?” His voice was a low rumble against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I nodded, unable to form words as his free hand trailed down my side.
“You want me to punish you?” The question hung in the air for a heartbeat before his palm connected with my exposed skin, the sharp sound echoing in the quiet night. The sting bloomed across my flesh, a delicious contrast to the gentleness of his caress that followed.
“Count for me, baby,” he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.
Another strike landed, and I gasped out, “One.” The next followed swiftly. “Two.” By the third, my voice was a breathy whine. “Three.”
Ridge’s lips pressed against the curve of my neck, trailing soft bites that soothed and inflamed in equal measure. “It’s okay, baby,” he murmured, his words a balm to my heated skin.
With careful movements, he guided us into the hot tub. I hissed as the warm water enveloped us, the sting on my skin intensifying before mellowing into a pleasant warmth. Ridge settled me sideways in his lap, my bare side pressed against his chest.
His hands roamed freely, exploring the sensitive skin of my inner thighs. Each touch was electric, bringing him tantalizingly close to where I desperately needed him, only to retreat at the last moment. The push and pull of his teasing had me squirming in his lap, seeking more.
“Take your iPad,” he ordered suddenly, his voice husky with desire. I reached for the device I’d set aside earlier.
As I settled back into Ridge’s lap, I became acutely aware of his arousal pressing against my thigh. The contrast between the cool iPad in my hands and his warm skin sent a shiver through me.
“Set a timer for five minutes,” he whispered, his voice strained with barely contained desire. I complied, my fingers trembling slightly as I tapped the screen.
“Now, I want you to tell me about the book you’re reading. Can you do that?” His fingertips grazed my thighs in slow, torturous movements that made it hard to concentrate.
“Yes,” I breathed, trying to gather my scattered thoughts.
“Good girl,” he murmured, the praise sending a flush of warmth through me.
I took a deep breath, willing my voice to remain steady. “So, this book is about Del and Beck. Del went for an interview to be a teacher at this school where she met Cordelia and—” A gasp escaped my lips as Ridge nibbled my ear, his fingers brushing teasingly against my most sensitive areas.
“Continue, baby,” he urged, his breath hot against my skin. “You stop, and I’ll increase the timer by 30 seconds.”
I struggled to focus on the story as waves of pleasure threatened to overwhelm me. “And they exchange dresses, which leads to Del being mistaken for Cordelia. That’s where she meets Beck, who’s trying to marry Cordelia to get her hotel empire…”
My voice rose higher as Ridge’s talented fingers worked their magic, finding all the right spots that made me see stars. I arched my back, feeling the crescendo building within me, but desperately trying to hold back. Surely five minutes couldn’t be that long?
“Beck tries to get Del to date him, where he learns…” A loud moan interrupted my narrative as the sensations intensified. I nuzzled my head into Ridge’s neck, seeking an anchor in the storm of pleasure.
“You want to cum, baby?” His taunting words contrasted with the soft caress of his hand on my back.
“Yes…” I whimpered, barely able to form coherent thoughts.
“Why don’t you cum, baby? Fall apart for me like the good girl you are.” His whispered permission was all it took.
The dam broke, and pleasure crashed over me in waves. I clung to Ridge as my body shuddered, his gentle kisses on my head grounding me through the intense sensations.
As the aftershocks subsided, I hazily glanced at the timer, my heart sinking as I saw 3:26 still remaining. The realization of what this meant sent a thrill of anticipation through me.