“Come on.” He broke away from her abruptly, before he lost that ability. Hanging on to sanity by a thread, he shoved open a door to a fire stairwell, sucking in deep breaths of cooler air as he drew her upward with him. “We can talk upstairs.”
He palmed the keycard for his room and toed open the door to the third floor, holding it wide for her. Rachel hurried past him, her blue skirt swishing as she moved, everything about her a sweet temptation. He matched her step, guiding her toward his suite, his brain struggling to work past the attraction. To think his way through it. She couldn’t possibly mean what he thought she meant.
Except, as he turned the handle to admit them to the living area decorated in Adirondack furnishings and green plaid accents, Rachel stepped inside with a determined sense of purpose.
It was apparent in the set of her shoulders as she shrugged out of her cape and the lace jacket she’d worn over her dress. More apparent in the way she plucked a pin from her hair and sent dark waves cascading over her shoulders.
Speechless, Gavin closed the distance between them, any reason why he should refuse drying up like dust on his tongue. Steadying her—or maybe himself—by holding her upper arms, he drew her closer. He took his time falling captive to her heated blue gaze tracking his every movement. Finally, he cupped her chin and tilted her head, perfecting the angle for a taste.
Everything about her was exquisite, from the peppermint glide of her tongue along his to the fresh apple fragrance of her hair. Little satin flowers slid out of the dark mass as he raked his fingers through it, letting the silky strands glide over his hands.
The back of her neck was so soft. The skin above the zipper to her dress even softer. His hands skimmed all over her, learning the ways she liked to be touched by the way her breath caught on a sigh or her teeth captured her lip.
He’d burned to touch her for days, but he’d been prepared to get on that plane tomorrow without giving himself the satisfaction. Knowing he might not be able to keep his promise to his team with her siren’s voice in his ear, her laughter—her happiness—a sound he could grow addicted to.
She slid off his tie, her fingers stealthily unfastening buttons, gliding over bare skin. Pressing a kiss to the center of his chest, she folded his shirt back and off his shoulders, taking the tie with it.
He walked her backward through the suite, grateful he’d left the living room lights on so he could see where he was going…toward the separate bedroom with a king-sized bed that housekeeping had helpfully turned down for the night. He swiped aside the chocolates on the pillow before she tumbled onto the mattress with him in a tangle of limbs and hair, her soft giggle floating over him.
Rolling her to her side, he kissed away the straps of her dress, letting them slip off each shoulder with a gentle nudge. She helped him at first, wriggling and arching to free herself of the rest of the dress, but when he insisted on taking his time, she lay back and watched, her hair spilling over the ivory sheets.
He couldn’t get enough of her taste, her scent. By the time he had their clothes off, they were both breathless. Ready. He could see her well enough in the light from the outer room through the half-open door, her cheeks flushed pink. A surge of protectiveness slammed him, the need to keep her safe and please her overriding his own pleasure.
Overriding everything. Shoving off the bed, he stalked into the bathroom and found a condom in his shaving kit, a prank gift from the younger guys on the snowboard cross team who thought nothing of one-night encounters. For Gavin, it had to mean more.
No question, with Rachel, it meant everything.
The knowledge socked him square in the chest as he returned to the bedroom to find her tucked in the sheets, hugging the pillow beside her. He didn’t know what it meant. But he hadn’t wanted this night to end. Had been ready to trade anything for a chance to explore the attraction.
And now? She was giving him the most precious gift he could have imagined.
“Are you sure about this?” He needed her to be one hundred percent certain.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything.” Relinquishing the pillow, she held a hand out to him.
Returning to her open arms, he touched her all the ways he’d been dreaming about, spinning out the pleasure until her breathless pleas in his ear threatened sensual retaliation unless he followed her sweetly explicit directives. Gavin caved to her every wish, burying himself deep inside her, moving, kissing her beautiful face until they both cried out with release.
Light-headed from the rush, he held her for long moments afterward, caressing her shoulder, waiting for his heart rate to slow. His breathing to return to normal. He hoped he’d be able to make some sense of what had just happened. For now, he kissed her hair, inhaling the scent of her shampoo and wishing he could have her with him always.
Always?
He’d never felt as close to another woman. Ever.
And as sense slowly returned, he knew what they’d shared wasn’t about one night. He had feelings for her before this and now, a new tenderness for her threatened to pull him into uncharted terrain. Normally, he was so careful with relationships, keeping things light and easy.
With Rachel, that hadn’t been possible and that rocked him. He was grateful for the quiet, needing a moment to figure out his next move as she tucked closer to his side under the sheets. He had to get on a plane tomorrow. He’d promised his coach. He was committed to the team.
What had he been thinking to forget about all of that and indulge himself with a woman he truly cared about? A woman he…
His gut clenched hard as he struggled to name the feeling, knowing damn well what it was but unwilling to admit it, even to himself. Somehow, labeling it gave the feeling more power, especially when he had no idea what Rachel wanted from him. She was a free spirit and a strong woman. She’d been able to walk away from him eight years ago without a glance back, just like everyone else he’d let get close. What made him think he could trust her now to do anything different?
Even now, his legs buzzed with the need to get up. To race down a mountain and clear his head while the cooling snow spray showered his face. He couldn’t snowboard in the dark though. He’d have to wait until daylight, but then—wedding or no wedding—he knew the mountain was the only place where he’d find his answers. The only spot where he could think.
So until dawn, he would lie right here, beside this incredible woman he cared about far too much, and hope he hadn’t already taken the biggest fall of his life.
Chapter Eleven