Cowboys & Angels (14 page)

Judging from the happy expressions worn by both Elle and Mary Lou, the men wouldn’t have to worry too much about being politically correct tonight. Pam’s champagne and good conversation had worked its magic and they were all smiles.

“I see you both have your guitars,” Mary Lou said. “Does that mean you’re finished for the night?”

Watkins nodded and sank into a chair next to Mary Lou. “Alex took pity on us.”

“Want some champagne?” Mary Lou handed him her glass, which was half-full.

“Don’t mind if I do.” He polished it off.

Mary Lou motioned to Trey, who’d remained standing. “Take a load off, cowboy. There’s plenty of champagne left. Pam ordered an ungodly amount of this stuff.”

“And Mary Lou has taught me her motto,” Elle said. “Never pass up a chance to drink expensive champagne.”

Trey gazed at her. She was adorable. And slightly sloshed. “Thanks, but I’m ready to call it a night. You three can have my share.” He wouldn’t assume she’d want to go back with him. He hoped, but he wouldn’t assume.

“You know, I’ve had enough champagne, too.” Elle pushed back her chair, picked up her silver purse and stood.

He smiled at her. “Then I’ll walk you home.”

“That would be lovely.”

Watkins laughed. “You two behave yourselves, okay?”

“Pay no attention to him,” Mary Lou said. “Go have fun.”

“Thanks, Mary Lou.” Trey tucked his arm around Elle’s waist, and his world clicked into focus again. “We will.” He’d been aching to hold her for hours. The time had come.

14

E
LLE
MOVED
DOWN
the hallway in a sensual daze. She was desired by a sexy man who turned her on. She had reservations about the future, but none about the present. After consuming a fairly large quantity of champagne, she was ready to live in the present, at least for the next twenty-four hours.

But instead of guiding her through the lobby and down to his room, Trey was heading up the stairs in the direction of her room. She glanced at him. “Where are we going?”

“I have a plan, if you’re willing to go along with it. How about packing up whatever you need for tonight and tomorrow morning and bringing it to my room?”

“You want me to stay in your room all night?”

“That’s the idea.”

She smiled. “I like it.”

“I was hoping you would.”

She climbed the stairs and wished they’d taken the elevator. She’d had enough of walking in these heels. “I can ditch these shoes while I’m at it.”

“Uh, for now, sure, but I was hoping that you’d put them on later, when we—”

“Trey Wheeler, you are a wicked boy.” Thoughts of stretching out in his bed wearing only her shoes sent a jolt of lust to all the places he’d soon be paying close attention to.

“Will you do it?”

“As long as I don’t have to walk all the way back to your room in them.”

“You can walk to my room barefoot and wearing a bathrobe for all I care. In fact, why not?”

“Sorry, cowboy. I’m not parading through the lobby in a bathrobe. It’s one thing for the entire place to know we’re having sex. It’s quite another to flaunt the fact.”

“Do we have to go through the lobby? Isn’t there a service elevator we could use?”

She hadn’t thought of that. She seldom took the regular elevator, let alone the service one. But the cleaning and maintenance staff wouldn’t be using it tonight, now would they?

As she pictured herself riding the service elevator to the main floor, which would bypass the lobby, another image came to mind. She’d never had elevator sex. Either she was very inspired by Trey or very tipsy on champagne. Maybe both. Ordinarily she wouldn’t consider such a thing.

“I’ll change into my bathrobe and we’ll take the service elevator.” She grew damp thinking about what she had in mind. The concept seemed clandestine and daring. No one would come along, but someone
could,
which made the sex more exciting.

They reached her door, and she was ready with the key. Now that elevator sex was on the docket, her adrenaline level had shot up. He might not go along with the idea, but she had a feeling he might. For this she might leave on the shoes.

Earlier today she’d scrounged an extension cord so that her Christmas tree was connected to the plug activated by the switch next to her door. That way she could turn on the tree whenever she walked in instead of using her bedside lamp. She’d become fond of the glow.

Trey followed her into the room. “Pretty little tree.”

“Thanks.” She grabbed a small duffel bag and threw some underwear and her ski clothes into it, along with her room key. Then she took some toiletries out of the bathroom and tossed those in, too.

“I thought you weren’t into Christmas.”

“I’m not really, but they give the employees trees every year, so it seems a waste not to decorate them.” She took the pins out of her hair and laid them on her dresser before pulling her dress over her head and hanging it up in the closet.

“You look good in Christmas light.”

She turned. The soft colors from the tree bathed him in a rosy hue that made her think of a fantasy cowboy. “So do you.”

“Now I wish I had a Christmas tree in my room, so I could make love to you in this light.”

“But you have that big ol’ bed and I don’t.” She unfastened her bra and stepped out of her panties, but left on the shoes.

“God, you’re beautiful.”

“It’s the light.” She pulled her fluffy white bathrobe off its hanger.

“It’s way more than the light, but those colors reflected on your skin are amazing.” He glanced at the bathrobe in her hand. “Don’t put that on yet. Give me a minute to look at you.”

“Trey, I feel silly just standing here.”

“You’re not silly. You’re a goddess. I’ve always been so intent on the sex that I haven’t stopped to admire you. Humor me.”

She let out a sigh of surrender. “Good thing I’ve had all that champagne or I’d be even more self-conscious.” As long as he was going to study her, she might as well give him her best pose. Shoulders back, breasts out, stomach in.

“Wow.”

Okay.
Now that she’d gotten past the first few seconds of this, she realized that posing for him was turning her on. She was aware of his gaze traveling over every inch of her body, and she grew warm and achy as he continued to look.

His low chuckle sounded sexy and intimate. “Are you liking this better now?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Your breathing has changed and your nipples are erect.”

“Maybe I’m cold.”

“Or maybe you’re hot.” He drew in a ragged breath. “But even if you’re not, I sure am. Either we leave or we make use of your little twin bed.”

“Are you prepared for that?”

“Sweetheart, I’ve been prepared since that first night with you. I never leave home without those little raincoats. So which will it be? Stay or leave?”

“Leave.” When she put on her bathrobe, the soft terry made her skin tingle. She tied the belt and picked up her duffel bag. Walking reminded her of how damp her thighs were. “Let’s go.”

“Weren’t you planning to take off those shoes?”

“Eventually. I’ll leave them on a little longer.”

“I won’t argue with you on that. Watching you strut around in those shoes and knowing you have nothing on under your robe will be all the foreplay I’ll need between here and my room.”

She smiled as she thought about what would happen between here and his room. Up to now, he’d been the one with all the ideas. She would show him that she had a few of her own.

She directed him through another set of double doors on the second floor, and they were once more in the guest area. Fortunately, the hallway was empty. She’d rather not encounter anyone on their way to the elevator. After they reached it, they’d be fine. It opened not far from his room on the first floor.

“If anyone comes along, we’re heading for the pool,” she said.

“This place has a pool?”

“It’s set up as an indoor pool this time of year, but in the summer, the glass canopy slides back. Or so I’m told. I’m never here then, so I haven’t seen it that way.”

“If this is primarily a ski lodge, what goes on in the summer?”

“Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, fishing. Serenity has tennis courts. There’s an arrangement with one of the local stables if people want to ride.”

“A bunch of summer sports, then.”

“Exactly. But I don’t do summer sports.”

“Why not?”

She glanced at him. She knew why he was asking. Obviously there were jobs here in the summer for those who were into those things. “I love the challenge of skiing. I love the thrill of it. And I’ve put a lot of time into learning how to do it well. The summer activities seem tame by comparison.”

“Makes sense.” He was silent for a moment. “What about hang gliding?”

She couldn’t help laughing. “Since I’ve never done it, I doubt I could get a job teaching it.”

“Not right away, but I just—”

“You’d like me to find a summer job here.”

“I would. I realize that’s a lot to ask, but the plain fact is I wish you didn’t have to leave in April.”

“I know.” She doubted that he really wanted to have this discussion now. She certainly didn’t. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, but...could we not talk about that tonight?”

His quick glance told her he realized they might be veering into difficult territory. “You’re right. This is not the time or the place.” His smile returned. “Or the outfit. A guy would have to be pretty dumb to talk about serious things when a woman is wearing shoes like yours.”

She let out her breath in relief. “You like these shoes, huh?”

“Love ’em.”

“Good. And look at that. Here’s the service elevator.”

“So it is. We’re making progress.” He stepped forward and pushed the button.

A current of excitement ran through her body, setting off little tremors of anticipation. He had no idea, poor man, but she was about to blow his mind. The doors rumbled open to reveal a spacious, utilitarian interior. Bright lights illuminated bare walls and no handrails. It was a stark cube, and all the more exotic to her because of that.

Trey gestured her forward. “After you.”

She’d thought about her presentation ever since the idea had come to her. Sashaying into the elevator, she dropped her duffel to the floor and turned around to face him. As he stepped in and the doors began to close behind him, she untied her robe. Opening the lapels, she flashed him.

His gasp echoed off the walls. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Hit the stop button, cowboy. Then unzip and come on over here. I have something for you.”

He whirled and smacked the stop button, but then he slowly turned back to her. “Are you serious?”

“Would I kid about something like this?” She cupped her breasts and fondled her nipples. That moment when he’d stared at her in the room had made her bolder. “See what a little champagne can do to my inhibitions?”

His set his guitar case down. “And I thought all we’d get was an elevator ride.” He sounded short of breath.

“I have a different ride in mind.” She slid one hand between her legs. “Care to mount up?”

Unfastening his belt and unzipping his jeans, he came toward her. “I’m going to find out what brand of champagne that was and order a case of it.”

She licked her lips. “I did enjoy the bubbly.”

“And now I’m going to enjoy you.” Pulling a condom out of his pocket, he handed it to her. “Since this is your party, I’ll let you do the honors.”

“Be glad to.” She ripped open the foil.

He planted one hand on either side of her head, caging her in as he leaned forward. “Put it on tight. This could get wild.” Then he began playing with her mouth as he told her in great detail what he was about to do to her. After sucking on her lower lip, he used several four-letter words to paint a picture of his intentions. He ran his tongue over the bow of her upper lip and continued the litany of earthy predictions. He nibbled and promised. He lapped and suggested.

By the time she’d rolled the condom on, she was frantic to have him. Her breasts quivered with each breath. “You’re ready.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m so ready.” He hooked his arm under the back of her knee. Leaving one hand braced against the wall beside her head, he raised her leg, probed her slick heat and pushed inside, groaning with satisfaction.

She was pinned to the elevator wall by his cock, and she loved it. He felt so damned good there—right there. “What was it you said you were going to do to me?”

“Lady, I’m doing it.” He drew back and thrust forward again with firm deliberation. His hot gaze bored into her. “And I intend to keep doing it until you beg for mercy.” He shoved in tighter, pushing her back against the wall. “I feel as if I could climb right inside you.”

Her heart beat wildly. “Go ahead.”

“Believe I will.” He began to move, and each stroke drove deep, touching her core, ratcheting up the tension.

She gasped with pleasure.

“Like that?” His eyes sparked fire.

She stared right back at him, unflinching. “Yes. Bring it on.”

His breath caught. “Oh, Elle.” With a noise that was nearly a growl, he surged forward, pounding into her without pause. The liquid sound of his cock driving into her created an echo that made the tiny cubicle resonate with passion.

Delirious with the untamed force of his body entering hers over and over, Elle surrendered to her orgasm with panting cries of delight. He kept going, and she came again, breathless with wonder.

“Now,” he muttered.
“Now.”
And he shoved her back against the wall one more time. As his cock pulsed within her, he lowered his head, and his gasps were punctuated with several colorful swear words.

Long seconds later, he lifted his head and looked into her eyes. A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. “You continue to surprise the hell out of me.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“That was outstanding.”

“I thought so. That’s the first time you swore while you were coming.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Guess I did. I was out of my mind.” He glanced around at the elevator. “I think it was partly the acoustics.”

“The
acoustics?
”

“Yeah. The way the sounds bounced around in here seemed to amplify the sensation, sort of like a sex rock concert.”

“Oh, my God.” She started to laugh. “So this is what it’s like to have sex with a musician. They’re into how it sounds.”

“Of course.” He looked surprised that she hadn’t figured that out. “I love the sound of sex. There’s the moaning, the fast breathing, the lapping, the sucking, the incredibly erotic noise of my cock slipping in and out of your—”

“I get it.” And her body wanted it again. The stirrings were unmistakable. “But we need to untangle ourselves. I’m losing feeling in my leg.”

“Can’t have that.”

Putting everything to rights again took some doing, but they eventually managed
.
Fortunately, Trey was the kind of old-fashioned guy who carried a handkerchief in his back pocket. He said usually he carried a bandanna. The handkerchief was for special occasions like weddings.

“And having sex in service elevators?” Elle winked at him.

“Apparently so. I’ll add it to my list of must-haves whenever I’m with you. Gotta make sure I have at least one condom and a handkerchief. Then we can do it anywhere.”

“What a concept.”

He gazed at her. “I know. Now I’m wondering what other places have interesting acoustics.”

“So we’re back to the acoustics?”

“Well,
yeah.
” He pushed the button and the elevator started back down. “Creaky beds are good. I’d love to find a set of those old-fashioned springs. A creaky old bed with metal springs, inside a small room with tile floors and no curtains, would give you a sexual symphony. I’d love to try that.”