Cabin Glow: A New Adult and College Romance (The Billionaire Romance Redemption Series Book 3) (6 page)

“What is it?”

“Just wait a minute,” he instructed, training his own ears in that direction. When distant howls and laughs met his ear, he I nodded. “It’s other boaters.”

She had heard the same noise. “And they sound like they’re partying.”

She settled back down. Smiling, she kissed the tender skin where his neck and shoulder met.

“We can leave. Go somewhere else? I don’t want you disturbed.”

Abby pulled his arm closer and hugged it. “I’m not. You big…” she playfully nibbled a little on his throat, “strong…” she licked a path up the side of his neck to my ear, “irresistible…” she sucked his earlobe within her mouth, “hero.” She bit down and Andrew jumped.

“And you are saucy.” He kissed her cheek, and laced his fingers into hers.

“Absolutely,” she smirked back.

They lapsed into silence. The sounds of the neighboring boats disintegrated into almost inaudible chuckles and husky giggles.

Abby’s breathing became shallow.

“Did you enjoy tonight, Abby?”

“Yes. Very much, and I still am.”

“Good.”

“You?”

“Yes.”

She yawned and covered her mouth beside him.

“Tired?”

“A little.”

“Rest if you’re tired. We can go in if you’d like. We’ll be back at port in about thirty minutes.”

He covered her up with the blankets. Her breathing became more shallow still. He was almost sure she had fallen asleep.

ANDREW and Abby settled into the private jet after it took off in the early afternoon. They were on their way back to Lake Tahoe. The pilot came over the speaker and announced they could remove their seatbelts and move around the cabin if they desired. Andrew glanced across the aisle at Abby. She was giggling, a hand pressed to her stomach.

“I love flying!”

“Good. Then we’ll take many more trips.” He stood. Walking over to the bar lining one side of the jet, he stepped behind the counter and pulled out two glasses.

“Feel like a glass of wine?”

“Sure. Thank you.”

He ducked beneath the marble-top, and flipped through the wine list. “Would you like to try a vintage from one of my dad’s wineries?”

“Your dad runs a winery too? And yes. I’d love to try it.”

“Great.” He reached down and picked up the bottle. “My dad loves starting new ventures. And he enjoys wine. None of us were surprised when he came home one night and said he had found the perfect vineyard for sale in Santa Rita Hills. I still remember my mom rolling her eyes. It’s not that she didn’t support him. She felt he was already spread too thin with other commitments, and she knew how he poured himself into his startups at the beginning.

“Interesting. And very cool that your father works the businesses at the beginning.”

“He wouldn’t have it any other way.” He poured two glasses and took them over to her. “He’d be the first to roll up his sleeves for every one of his companies. I think he enjoyed that early period the most. But this wine idea, it was probably the hardest of them all.”

“How so?”

He sat in the chair beside her and took a sip. “The purchase was complex to begin with. It took months to close. I think it was some type of tax lien sale or a foreclosure. By the time it closed, the place had been sitting idle for almost two years. Your dad owns a farm, right?”

“Yes.”

“How large is it?”

“Two hundred acres.”

“Well imagine double that, in rows and rows of abandoned vines, broken supports, rusted out machinery in utter disrepair, and weeds as tall and thick as full grown corn stalks.”

“Wow.”

“The only redeeming quality of the place was the fermentation vats and the bottling room. They were pristine. Everything else was an overgrown, broken down mess. And my dad decides all four of us will work on it as a summer project.”

“What?”

“Yes.”

“Just the four of you?”

“The first week, yes. And some winery owner from France that he hired to show us the business. He realized the scale of what we had to deal with when after a week of toiling, the guy he hired threatened to quit. Told him he was crazy. My dad knew by the end of the week that the Frenchman was right. We had only managed to clear about half an acre in that time.

“After working from dawn to dusk for fourteen days and seeing the minute progress we had made, he hired fifty farm workers and bought all new equipment. Everything moved smoothly then, and by the end of the summer, the place was ready to go. He took a more hands-off approach at that point, and kept the French guy for two years until the place was operating smoothly. It’s been a profitable operation since. More wine?”

“Yes. Please. That’s fascinating, Andrew. I’m sure all that hard work paid off for you too.”

“I can’t complain. Looking back, I’m glad we weren’t coddled. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the fine, strapping man you see now,” he said with a wink.

He returned to the bar to refill their glasses.

As he placed the bottle on the counter, he noticed Abby had also left her seat. She was nowhere in the cabin. He then saw the light above the bathroom door was red. Occupied. He smiled.

After pouring more wine into the glasses, he recorked the bottle. He set it to the side, on an intelligently designed rubber-footed rack—no need for predicting the up and downs of flight. He lifted his glass and swirled the wine as he had done so many times, before sipping a bit of the dark red liquid.

“Great choice, Dad,” he said softly. The vintage was perfect. His father had fine taste. He took another sip. He moved both glasses to the low-lying table. It was set between the two leather chairs on the other side of the plane—his ‘living area.’ They were far more comfortable than the airline-regulated seating for take-offs and landings.

He leaned back, crossed his ankles and closed his eyes, waiting for Abby to join him. When he heard the click of the bathroom door re-engage, he peeked an eye open. He bolted upright, nearly upsetting the glass he had clutched in his hand.

Abby was naked. Stripped bare. Utterly nude.

She sashayed across the cabin toward him. He shifted in his seat, leaning forward to put the glass safely on the table before he ended up spilling it all over himself. Her panties—no, thong—dangled from her forefinger. She spun it lazily around and around. His eyes were drawn to the scrap of silk. Black polka dots on a white background.

She paused in front of him, lifting one foot to rest it on the table, giving him an eyeful of trimmed pussy.

“Want to play firefighter and Dalmatian?”

“What’s that?”

“Do me doggie-style, and I will play with your hose.”

It was a very good thing he had put down the wine. Choking on his saliva, he suddenly couldn’t seem to make his throat work correctly. He coughed and hacked as she waited for an answer.

“Uh…” he cleared his throat, a disconcerting squeak erupting from his mouth. “Uh, Abby? Everything alright?”

“Yes, Andrew.” She was all calm. Sexy. Way too creative, he decided on the spot.

He swallowed another lump. “Maybe later.”

The thong stopped spinning. She gathered it in a fist, and planting her fists on her hips, stuck out her chin and pouted. Her eyes went cold.

He hurried to continue, “Because right now, all I’m thinking about is hauling you up, bending you over that counter and thrusting into you.” He sure as hell didn’t want her pissed at him so soon on her getaway.

She broke into a full grin. “Deal.”

She held out her hands, and he placed his on them. She leaned back to almost a thirty degree angle, pulling him to his feet. When he was standing, she spread her arms out wide. She let the thong float to the carpeted floor and waited, eyebrow lifted. “Move it, big boy!”

He was only too happy to comply.

He swung her up into his arms. He kissed her cheek sweetly and walked to the bar. She wrapped her arms around his neck to hold on. It was already the best flying experience ever. There wasn’t anything the woman in his arms could do or say to make it any more perfect. He perused her body as walked. This was perfect. She was his ideal—in every way.

He turned her in his arms and placed her down gently to sit on the marble-top counter. He stood between her legs. She leaned forward and kissed his lips softly. He tilted her back, lowering his head to her delicate collarbone. She sucked in her breath when the cool stone touched her bare skin. Reaching across the width of the counter, she folded her fingers under the edge and clung to it. He dropped her legs and let them dangle. She playfully kicked like a child. Abby jumped off the counter and mounted it on her stomach, chest facing down, forehead on the marble, fingers clinging to the edge.

“Now I’m ready,” she teased.

Andrew groaned, and smacked her ass softly.

They stilled as soon as the smack finished echoing through the jet’s cabin. He had meant it lightheartedly, but the spark of arousal that followed shocked him as it coursed through his groin.

“God, Abby. You’re gorgeous.”

“Do it again, Andrew. It feels so good.”

And so he did. He didn’t even think about it. He just opened his palm and smacked her ass softly. She whimpered and begged for another, so he slapped it again. Her flesh heated under his hand and he couldn’t believe, she was asking him to do this, and enjoying it too. And was it ever making his cock hard.

Once again, on her pleas for more, he flattened his hand across her backside. She arched and moaned, tossing her long hair back and forth.

That was enough. He was ready, and now she begged for him to spread her and come inside. He ran his hand between her legs and felt her moisture. She was ready, too. He let her go just long enough to undo his belt buckle and zipper, and let his dress slacks fall to his ankles. He stroked down her ribs to her hips and then her thighs. Holding them apart, he moved into her space.

He entered her slowly. The feel of her warm buttocks on his thighs was amazing; incredible. The tight squeeze of her inner folds surrounding him caused a bubble of intense emotion to form in his chest. His eyes began to water. He felt himself falling into some new place, some better place.

As he withdrew and entered Abby a second time, his lips parted and he spoke without thinking.

“I love—” He stopped mid-sentence.
Did I mean it
? He slid into her again, his knees weakening and his heart leaping. Yes. He meant it.

He pulled apart from her and helped her up from her stomach. He had her sit on the edge the counter and moved between her legs. He had to tell her face to face; eye to eye.

“I love you, Abby.”

She pressed her forehead to his. “Andrew, I love you, too.”

A hush fell over them. The only sounds were the hum of the aircraft. He was ready to give her everything, and committed then—he would set about to show her just how much he loved her.

ABBY looked out from Andrew’s private jet when it landed in Reno. They were on schedule. The weather was mild. The sky was clear. They disembarked and were driven to the chopper waiting to fly them to the cottage. She was lightheaded. Probably from the wine. Or maybe she was on an emotional high—Andrew had told her he loved her, and she had said it back to him. And she meant it.

The route to his cottage seemed somewhat familiar, but from their bird’s eye view, everything was a little different. For one, there was no need to navigate the mountainous roadway. Also, the ride took mere minutes. It was a timely reminder that under normal conditions, they really weren’t too far apart.

When she saw his cottage from the air, it took her breath away. The place was not just Andrew’s home; it was their refuge from certain death that night, and would always have special significance for Abby, and probably her friends too. It was also the place where her powerful connection to Andrew was forged.

They landed safely on the helipad and Andrew helped her off the chopper.

“Ready for a relaxing long weekend?” he asked as they walked up the front steps together.

“Definitely.”

She noticed the Persian rug wasn’t in the hallway, when they walked in. “I would have offered to help clean up, but it looks like your housekeeper made it here already.”

“Yes. She has a key. She was probably here yesterday.”

“Okay.”

Andrew carried her bags through the main hallway. He stopped at her guest room. “So. First question. Would you like to stay in the guest room, or do you prefer…to stay with me in my room? It’s totally up to you, if you need space, or don’t want to hear me snore or anything…”

Abby thought about it. Having her own room had perks, but so did staying with him. “What do you prefer?”

He turned and wrapped his arms around her waist, looking down at her. “Stay with me, of course. If you’d like, use the guest room to put your things. How is that?”

She popped up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. “Sure. Your room. If I need extra space, I’ll use the guestroom.” She was going to end up in his bed a lot anyway, or he would be in hers. There was no point fooling herself with feigned decorum.

“Great,” he said, picking up her bags and carrying them to his room. “This section of the closet has lots of room, and those five drawers are empty. Will that be enough?”

“Yes. It’ll be plenty. I only brought the one piece of luggage. That other bag has my laptop and school stuff. Actually, where can I set up my laptop?”

“The library will be perfect. I’ll show you. Would you like a tour of the house? You may not have gotten very far when you were here last.”

“That would be nice,” she agreed, smiling. “That way I won’t get lost at every turn. Here, I’ll bring that bag with me.”

“I’ve got it.”

“You know, I’m all better now.” She flexed her biceps. “See these guns? I’m strong. You don’t have to carry my bags for me.”

“Okay you carry the bag, and I’ll carry you,” he joked.

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Alright. Go ahead. Spoil me. Carry the bag.”

“Good. As long as I’m around, you’ll be well taken care of, Abby. It’s best you get used to it. Follow me, young lady.”

Andrew held her hand, and took the bag in the other. He led her further down the hall to the library. It was a massive room, with an open concept design, vaulted ceilings and bookshelves on three walls of the perimeter. There was a large, modern office table and chair on the open wall, which had floor to ceiling windows, and a desktop computer on one side of the desk. At the center of the room was a large boardroom table with eight leather office chairs around it. Two comfy leather lounge chairs in one corner completed the room décor. It was bright, roomy, and had a studious feel. Abby could see herself spending hours in the room.

“This is lovely,” she said.

“Glad you like it.” He placed her bag on the desk. “The drawers may be full, but I can make room.”

“I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Awesome. And the Wi-Fi password is in the top drawer on the left. My dad uses the desk a lot when he’s here. I’ll show you the rest of the place.”

She followed him through the house as he showed her around. There seemed to be no end to the place. Thankfully, there were only two wide, connected hallways on the main floor, making it easy to navigate. He took her upstairs afterward, going room to room until he stopped at the one at the end of the left hall.

“This is my sister Joy’s room. Well it was. I think I mentioned she hasn’t been here for a while. I think you two are the same size, and her closets are packed to the rafters with brand new clothes she never wore. I’ll get you some things from Carringtons after the weekend, but if you need anything, just help yourself in here.”

“Thanks. I think I brought enough, but good to know. And don’t buy me any more clothes for the cottage. I’ve got tons that you already bought me, remember?”

“Okay. I’ll try.”

They went back downstairs to the living room. “So what would you like to do first?” he asked.

“I should probably get some seminar readings out of the way for a few hours.”

“Sounds good. I think my staff in New York would like to hear from me today. I haven’t checked in for a few days. I’ll be in my office.”

He kissed her cheek at his office door and she went the rest of the way to the library. It was easy to set up her laptop at the office desk. Within minutes, she had logged on and began to tunnel through the work she had missed.

***

Abby stopped a few hours later to take a short break. She had made significant progress. She felt ready to tackle more, after she had a bite to eat. Looking at the time, it was almost five in the evening. She decided to prepare dinner. Andrew’s office door was closed when she passed by. The kitchen was empty when she got there. She checked the fridge and pantry to plan the meal.

***

Abby was finished cooking when Andrew came in. He walked up behind her and massaged her shoulders. “Smells good.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s for dinner?”

“Linguini and meat sauce.” She smiled and turned to him.

“I could have helped.”

“Well you still can. I was looking for basil in the cupboards, but no luck. Do you have any?”

“I think so.” He disappeared in the pantry and came back with a glass filled with fresh basil. “Here you go.”

“Thanks! I’m not sure how I missed it.” She took a few sprigs and rinsed them out. “Now sit.”

“I can set the table.”

“Already done.”

“How about wine?”

“It’s chilled and ready.”

“I feel a little guilty, having you cook like this, Abby.”

“Why?”

“You’re my guest.”

“Yes, but you want me to feel at home, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. And I want to do this for you, Andrew. Think of it as a thank you gesture.”

“No need to thank me.”

She relaxed her face, and motioned to the bar stools with her head. “Go on. Sit and relax, and watch chef Abbs serve her secret recipe.”

“Alright.” He sat at one of the place settings and faced her.

She pulled out two serving bowls and began to fill them with pasta, then the sauce.

“Do you enjoy cooking?” He asked. “Or is it more of a chore?”

She placed the serving bowls on the table, and went looking for serving spoons. “I think I enjoyed it more when I cooked for Dad and me, or when family came over. It’s less fun cooking for myself. How about you?”

“It’s a chore. But I have to eat, so I do my best. I can usually manage four meals a week. I cook on days when the housekeeper isn’t here. She usually makes me a few dishes, and in enough of a batch so I’ve got leftovers.”

“Nice.”

“Beats frozen dinners for sure.”

“I can imagine.” She placed the two serving spoons in the dishes. “Alright. Dinner is served! Hope you like it.”

“I’m positive I will. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she answered, sitting on the opposite side of the table. “Let’s eat.”

“This smells so good.” He took a bite. “Mmmm. Tastes great too.”

Abby dug in too. She thought of asking him more about himself, but was worn out from the flight and her readings. They had a quiet meal, with the odd small talk as they ate. When they were full, Andrew insisted on clearing the table.

“So tell me more about yourself, Abby.” He asked as he filled the dishwasher.

Abby smiled. The kitchen had to be the place Andrew was most at ease to talk.  “There isn’t much about me that you don’t already know. I’m a pretty simple nut. What would you like to know?”

“Anything you’re comfortable sharing.”

Sitting on the stool, she watched in amazement as the man moved about the vast off-whiteness of his stocked kitchen with the grace of a panther in the wilds of Africa.

“Cat got your tongue?”

She had been staring at him, and forgot what he had asked. “Sorry. A little distracted. What was the question again?”

“Oh, nothing. Can I interest you in some dessert?”

“
Now
you’re talking.”

“I make a mean ice cream sundae.”

“Okay. Yes. I’d love one.”

She held her gaze on his sexy ass as he reached for the ice cream in the freezer. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and dark sweat pants. It’s only then she noticed he had changed after the flight. God, he was the epitome of manliness, no matter what he wore. Even while wiping off counters and soaking pots and pans. And making her favorite food—dessert!

He prepared the sumptuous looking ice cream sundae with adeptness. Chocolate sauce, whipping cream, and a cherry on top.

Cherry on top. That got her thinking.

With his back to her, she began to unbutton the front of her dress shirt. He was humming as he swung open the freezer door and rifled through the contents to find who knew what. From what she could see around his hulking frame of the sundae, it was the largest and most all-encompassing sundae she had ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Meanwhile, she stripped off her top and bra and slipped out of her jeans. She tiptoed up behind him and wrapped her arms around his thick, ripped stomach.

He froze. “Hun?”

She smirked at his use of pet-name. They hadn’t been together for a week, but it sounded so natural. It only made her feel warmer toward him.

“Yes?”

“Are those your breasts in my back?”

“Yes.”

“And, against my thighs… am I feeling…”

“Yes,” I answered for him.

He turned in her embrace, looking down at her. Looking down at her breasts, actually. His eyes dilated and darkened. All thoughts of the sundae melted away as his heated gaze swept over her.

“You are almost naked.”

“Yes.” Stating the obvious was a great sign. It meant he wasn’t thinking, he was reacting. And with a man this hot acting on impulse, things always led somewhere brilliant. Somewhere inspired.

Tonight, like on the plane, was no exception. He placed his hands on her shoulders, then stroked down her sides and cupped her buttocks. He hauled her up against his chest. She laughed and stretched her arm back to the kitchen as he stalked out with her, and took her to his room.

“No more dessert? That’s going to melt.”

“This was your idea, remember?”

“Yes. Awww crap. My idea.”

“We can go back if you want?” he said.

“I’ll just run back and put it in the freezer.”

On the way there and back, her libido ratcheted up a few notches. In his bedroom, now standing to face him, she leaned up and kissed him hard on the mouth. His hands reached up and fondled her breasts. She slipped her hand down past his waistband to reach for his member.

“You make me so hard, Abby,” he groaned, pulling away to remove his clothes and the rest of hers.

He picked her up again and carried her over to the bed. He lowered her slowly, and Abby spread her thighs apart and pulled him between them. She wrapped her legs around his waist, groin to groin. The heat of their bodies warmed her to the core. His hardness sat wedged between them, digging into her stomach. It was the best feeling of her life. As he hardened even more, she worshipped his mouth. Worshipped this man she loved.

Her tongue swiped through his mouth and tangled with his tongue. As his hands massaged her breasts, she sighed into his mouth. He growled in return. Yanking free, he combed his fingers through her hair and held on at the base of her neck. At that point, he proceeded to seduce her throat, whispering words of adoration into her flesh. He licked down the length of her neck, nibbled along her collarbone, kissed his way back to her ear, and sucked her earlobe between his teeth. She was a puddle by the time he finished showing and telling her just how much he was enjoying her.