Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six (8 page)

Cade concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. He was numb all over, but he couldn’t stop the shakes. His entire body, arms, legs, hands, and fingers shook and hurt, and he was getting tired. One of his legs dragged, and daggers shot through him every step he took.

Red stayed close to his side. His fur was entirely white, covered from head to toe with snow. Icicles formed on the lower fringe where an Irish setter’s fur hung below his body.

He couldn’t tell how long he’d been walking, and when he reached for his phone, he couldn’t find it. Had he dropped it thinking he’d slipped it into his pocket? Or were his fingers too frozen to function?

He was cold. Too cold to look for it. He just wanted to sit and curl up into a ball. Hold onto his dog and stop the shaking. The damn shaking that cost his team the Super Bowl—that made him lose control of the bike.

Keep moving
, Andie’s voice sounded in his mind.
Keep moving. I like you. Keep moving.

She said she liked him, but did he love her? Why’d he let those words slip? He’d never known what love was, and he wasn’t the type of man who went all mushy. He’d kept his feelings in check. He had to when he never knew when he’d have to move or be assigned another family to stay with. So why had it felt so natural to say,
I love you, Andie
? It wasn’t something he threw around, and he definitely wasn’t sure what it really meant. Hopefully she didn’t hear him. Maybe he’d only thought it, not spoken it out loud. He couldn’t give her the right kind of love if he’d never known it before.

Cade stumbled forward, not knowing where he was going, except to go downhill. Down, down, toward what? Civilization? The parking lot.

He wasn’t sure what that noise was. A lawnmower or a wood chipper. He walked toward it, but the sound shifted so he turned around.

“Red? Red?” he called. Where had that dog gone?

Cade lost his footing and tumbled down a ravine. When he stopped, he was flat on his back. The rays of sun blinded him because his goggles were long gone, probably slipped off his helmet.

The sky was bright blue, so blue it was unreal. Was that what they called cerulean? He could almost hear angel voices and harp strings. It was that kind of peaceful. Yet something was missing, a flash of red, a woman’s laugh, her freckles dancing on her pert ski jump nose, those jade green eyes. Where was she?

A cloud of red pounced on him, and a warm tongue lapped at his face, slobbering. Hot breath fanned his face, followed by sharp barks in his ear.

“Okay, okay.” The pain returned, and Cade swiped at the wiggling distraction. He’d rather have the woman, but a dog would be all he’d ever have. “Good boy, Red. Good boy.”

Yes, he’d appreciate what he had. Half-full, right? He had Red, and he wasn’t going to overreach for that other redhead and ruin everything. However, if he didn’t try, he’d never know. Never know a life with her, a chance to love and be loved. A gamble worth risking his heart for. Because even ugly babies deserved love. And since he’d never given anyone his love, he had a lot to give. He couldn’t let her down without trying.

Woof. Woof. Red tugged at his collar, trying to help him up.

“I got it. I’m not a quitter,” he mumbled through frozen lips. “I’m going back. Not quitting. I’ll win the Super Bowl someday. I’m going to get the girl. I have a heart. A good heart, and no one’s keeping me down.”

Slowly, his joints and bones screaming with pain, Cade struggled up the slope after his dog. His knees gave out after a few steps, and he dropped to all fours. He had to stay with his dog. He couldn’t let Red get lost. He didn’t want to die. Now that he’d found Andie, he couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t miss tasting his cake and eating it too.

Woof. Woof. Red bounded toward a whirring sound. Cade crawled faster. He tried to stand, but he kept falling. Hand over hand, he pulled himself up.

“Cade. Cade. Thank God. Oh, thank God.” Andie jumped over him, pulling and tugging.

“Miss, miss, don’t move him,” a man’s voice said. “I’m calling in for a rescue sled. We have to put him on a backboard until we check him out.”

“I’m okay. I can walk.” Cade pushed himself to his knees. No way was he going to be a wuss dragged out of there like an invalid. “I got it. I’m okay.”

Shivering and aching, he climbed to his feet and fell forward. Andie caught him, along with the rescuer. The man looped his arm over his shoulder and helped him to the snowmobile.

“My dog, don’t forget my dog.” Cade needn’t have worried. Red hopped onto the bike carrier that the snowmobile dragged.

# # #

“You didn’t pack a change of clothes?” Andie slid the keycard into their room at the ski lodge. It was located at the edge of the resort and included a kennel where they boarded Red. Cade was on massive pain killers and in no condition to drive back to Itasca, so he’d gotten a room for the night.

Cade stood behind her, still shivering in his wet clothes. “You didn’t tell me to. The concierge said they left warm Turkish robes and towels for us.”

She huddled up to him and stroked the side of his neck. “You, me, Turkish robes, sounds decadent.”

No matter how she fought her feelings for Cade, she was sunk the moment he’d said he loved her. Whether he’d remember or was caught in a moment of delirium, Andie figured she’d ride the moment like her mother said.

Cade’s grin split his face wide open. “I’ll take decadent over almost dying any day.”

“I’ll make it up to you. It was my bad taking you on a black diamond trail. Let’s get you in there and warmed up.” She pushed the door open and sucked in a gasp.

The view of the side off the mountain was like a scene out of a movie. The sky was incredibly blue, and the mountain gleamed white over the tops of the trees. Skiers like tiny dots wove back and forth down the steep slopes.

“Are we in the right room?” Andie stepped aside to let Cade in. “This view must cost a fortune.”

“I got it.” His wink was more like a wince, but he managed to quirk a grin at her. “Told you I’m a celebrity.”

“And I told you I’m a nuclear physicist.” She waggled her butt in front of him while she set her backpack on the rack in front of the closet. “Let’s check this place out.”

Andie wandered into the expansive bathroom. Instead of being decked out in marble and chrome, it was rustic, with tiles like glazed pottery, bright turquoise mixed with brown. The fixtures were distressed copper, and the tub had a simulated water pump spout complete with handle.

Horseshoes were tacked over the toilet, and the walls were knotty pine.

Cade massaged her shoulders and pressed his front against her back. “Think you could fall in love with a place like this?”

“Definitely. That tub’s big enough for two.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. She shouldn’t assume he’d want to take the relationship a step further. After all, he’d almost lost his life, and he had to be sore despite the muscle relaxers and pain killers they dosed him with.

“You know what I want?” Cade nibbled his way from her hairline to her ear. “To hear you moan my name, to feel you shudder and tremble deep inside, and to hold you under the blankets and know that you’re mine. When I thought I was going to die, my biggest regret was not losing my money or a stupid game, but not having seen the glow spread over you while I make love to you, over and over, all night long, and missing out on a life with you.”

“Cade. I want you too.” She opened her mouth, and his lips crashed into hers.

Cade’s brain hollered for him to stop. What did he know about love and relationships? When had he ever treated a woman as more than a plaything? How would he ever know if he’d be able to make her happy and give her the care she deserved? He wanted to know love, and Andie seemed like a wholesome target, someone who grew up with both parents and wasn’t out to score or play games. But could he be good for her? Or would he end up hurting her, despite his promise?

His body and heart had other ideas. Andie was so beautiful, and not just that, she wasn’t shallow, she was real, caring, warm, and honest. And right now, his hands were full, massaging and teasing tiny moans from her as he fondled her tantalizing breasts. Hurriedly, he unzipped her jacket and shrugged it off her shoulders.

He could no more control himself around Andie than the earth could control the sun. One flash of her fiery hair, one sniff of her happy, sunshiny scent, and he was up and ready, no matter how bruised and battered he was or how many muscles he’d pulled and strained. His cock was likely the only part of his body that didn’t hurt, which was lucky, damn lucky.

Breaking the kiss temporarily, he tore her sweater over her head. His heart and dick jumped at the same time while he lifted her onto the bathroom counter.

Perfect, pink nipples peeked from behind a skimpy black lace bra. Licking his lips, he moved the lace aside and freed one of her sweet breasts.

His tongue was upon her, flicking and sucking as she wound her fingers over his head and pressed him against her. She was hot, so hot and ready, her skin tinged with pink, and her scent sultry and arousing.

He yanked her pants down and sucked in a sizzling breath. Her milky fair skin glowed under the slinky black lace panties. His cock raged, and his balls ached to be inside her.

“Andie.” He placed her hand on his hard on. “I can’t wait.

“Me either, Cade.” She lowered his boxers and shoved her tush to the edge, her legs wide open.

A wicked thought almost had him creaming. Hooking his index finger, he moved the lace aside and teased her with the tip of his cock.

Andie threw her head backward, her mouth wide open. Her moan was so throaty, it drew shivers down his spine.

He was inside her, gloriously wrapped in her wet, slippery heat. Tight, and so snug. She felt so good. Too good.

Her eyes widened, the green clear and pure with joy and lust. He held her gaze and touched the tip of her nose with his. “Andie, this is us, me and you.”

“Yes, us. The first time.”

“First contact, first love. I want to hold this moment forever. Not let you go. Never leave you.”

She squeezed him deep inside, kissing his cock with her walls, and even though he tried to hold still, he couldn’t. He’d never felt this way inside a woman. Never so close, so connected, like he’d given himself and become a part of her—belonged to her.

He moved inside her, reverently, feeling each stroke, a promise, a vow, an oath he’d never let go.

Leaning forward he cupped her buttocks and slammed deeper, clutching her as his body took over, pistoning her into a frenzy of sexy moans and grunts.

She tightened her hands over his shoulders, and he bucked into her with all his might, the pleasure screaming from his cock through his entire body. Every nerve exploded with fireworks, and he didn’t even have to hold back. Andie was clawing and squeezing him with powerful pulses that pushed him right over the edge of extreme ecstasy. He was cartwheeling and tumbling head over heels in an avalanche of glowing white, with Andie’s passion filled face firmly stamped onto his soul.

“Mine,” he cried as he came with the most powerful climax he’d ever experienced. Instinctively he knew why.

He was in love.

# # #

Andie clung to Cade as the spasms echoed in their bodies. She’d never ever expected this earth shattering moment where all the stars had lined up. From almost losing Cade, to finding him alive and not seriously injured, to making love.

Because that was what it was. Love. He’d said it. She was his first love, and oh, how she’d nurture it, protect it, and make sure his heart was safe with her.

She caressed him from the top of his head to the surprisingly soft skin at the nape of his neck, unable to get enough of him. His solid shoulders, his chest, the ropes of muscles over his thick neck, and the perfectly hard abdominals.

All hers. All precious.

Carefully, Cade lifted her from the counter and placed her on the surround of the bathtub. He swept her long hair off her face. “How about we try those Turkish robes after a hot, steamy bath?”

“You must be sore.” Now, her gaze traveled over his beautiful body, noting the bruises and scratches.

“There’s only one part of me that’s not sore, at least not yet.” He laughed and turned on the water.

Soon, the tub was full of fragrant bubbles.

“After you,” Cade said, holding her hand.

They slipped in together, and he turned on the jets. He groaned, a smile of sweet contentment on his face. “How’d I get so lucky?”

“I reckon it’s because you fell off a mountain.”

“Is that what a guy has to do around you? Fall off a mountain? If that’s the secret, I’d gladly fall head over heels every day for you.” He pursed his lips, and she met him halfway, kissing him.

Her body was plastered on his chest, and she straddled him as naturally as mounting a horse. As she moved over him, her tongue dipped into his mouth, and the muscles inside of her clenched deliciously, still flexing to the afterglow of his last invasion.

His cock rose under her and jammed between her legs. Holy hot dog on a stick! He was huge, a monster, and he was ready again?

If she hadn’t had him inside a few minutes ago, she wouldn’t have believed he would fit. She grabbed him greedily, her fingers barely closing around him. He was big, like Goliath. A huge warrior, and yet, she had him like putty, a very hard putty, in her hands.

She gripped him harder and felt him tense. His eyes were still closed. Lazily he sucked on her tongue, a smile tugging on his lips.

Backing away for breath, he said, “If you don’t stop, I’m going to have you again, but this time, you’re going to be doing all the work, riding me, riding me hard, and I’m just going to lay back and let you take the reins.”

“Sure thing, outlaw.” She lifted herself and dangled her breasts over his mouth.

Greedily, he grabbed them and sucked and twisted, and he was all fingers and palms and lips and tongue as she sank over him, surrounding him and hugging him to her core.

An exquisite sensation fluttered all over her as the water jets sent millions of tickling bubbles over every sensitive nerve while Cade’s shaft filled and completed her.

He held his hips still, tense as she worked up a rhythm, her hands clutching his shoulders, lifting and lowering herself. Her insides ignited, clenching with tremors building.

Her thighs burned as she bounced up and down, slick and wet over his giant sized cock. But she was giving as good as she got. Cade’s head was thrown back, the veins in his neck bulging, and his eyes closed, his mouth open, panting and groaning.

She could feel him expanding inside her, and she rode him faster, harder. Grabbing his head, she locked her lips on his, invading his mouth with her tongue while he gripped her hips, helping her. His fingers dug in as she ground her clit against his pubic bone. Pressure mounted and she was loving him, crying in surrender, giving up all semblance of control right as she shattered and screamed his name into his mouth.

Cold chills swept over her arms and shoulders while heat blossomed inside, swelling and pulsing in cadence with Cade’s hard, finishing strokes.

“Oh, Andie, Andie, love me,” he muttered into her wet hair, his fingers tangled and his breath in hard, wild rasps.

“I will. I promise you.” She collapsed over him, breathless and full of awe.

Carpe diem.
Seize the day. The best day ever.