Fierce: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 4) (9 page)

“Of course he did. I’ll bet you call him still when you have to make decisions.”

I think about my phone call with Derrick last week about my dishwasher problem.
Shit, I really am high maintenance.

But then I think about Kelly, and my frown is replaced with a smile. Again I ignore Christian’s taunting and pick up one of his big suitcases. “Follow me.” The bag is heavy, but I refuse to let him know I’m straining and muscle my way through.

I lead him to one of the guest rooms as a thin layer of sweat coats my body. We enter a pale yellow room decorated with accents of birch furniture and forest green. I drop the bag with a grunt. “Why don’t you go get settled in while I deal with the dogs? The instructor party starts early, and people are probably already there, so we can leave in an hour or so.”

Christian’s eyes dance with laughter, but he just says, “Sure.”

So tempted to strut away, I force myself to walk normally back to the stairs.
I’ll show him helpless.

After I’ve fed the dogs, I let them out and go to my bedroom to decide what to wear. I think tight jeans with a little bling on my butt to draw attention to the curves, cowboy boots, and something colorful to peek out from my fleece. The party will be outside as well as inside, and it’ll be cold.

I pull out my usual ponytail and wet the crease down. Hot air from my blow-dryer blasts at me as I reshape my hair to hang down in soft waves. The idea that I need a man to help me make decisions stings. Without parents for the past decade, Derrick and I depended on each other at prep school and college instead of our aunt and uncle who gained custody.

While I bought this house and worked with the contractors to finish it the way I wanted, Derrick was a big part of the decision-making process. But I built it to be a home for both of us. And it’s only natural that when we were teens my twin would want to look out for me, right? I line my eye carefully with a deep plum pencil to make the golden-brown color pop.

I sigh. I make decisions. Christian is only seeing a part of me. I twist around to see how my butt looks and determine I’m ready. Time to go tell that irritating man what we’re doing tonight.

When I get to the kitchen Christian is picking at the fruit tray I had in the refrigerator. “Hey, that’s for the party.”

White light bounces off his belt buckle as he removes the tray from the fridge. He’s in jeans hung low with a western-looking belt and brand-new cowboy boots. The wrinkled button-down shirt gives him a sexy, casual look, but he’s still overdressed for the ski-instructor crowd. My evil side doesn’t want to tell him.

“Christian, you look great, but you’re overdressed.”

“Really?”

I nod. “Lose the fancy belt and cowboy boots.” I save the rest of my commentary for myself.
You could get away with the boots if they didn’t scream tourist in the fresh out-of-the-box way, and that belt isn’t working for a city boy. It needs some scuffing up.

He looks down at himself. “Oh, be right back.”

I snitch a strawberry, and the juice of it is sweet on my tongue as I chuckle to myself. Nobody’s ever had to help me with fashion choices. With that thought, I find my keys, driver’s license, and phone to put in my fleece pocket. The jingle of metal reminds me I need to make a house key for Christian tomorrow.

He comes back down in a pair of worn sneakers and a nondescript leather belt. The hint of aftershave wafts toward me, and I can’t resist teasing him about his freshly shaved face. “Much better. If only you had a day’s worth of stubble going, you’d be making reeling them in like fish.”

He takes the fruit tray from my hands. “Huh. Seems to me I managed to reel one in just the way I am.”

Cocky much? “
If you’re referring to me, you’re out of luck. I’m dating someone.” I pull open the garage door with a grin and say to the dogs. “Stay.”

A flicker of something that makes me think he’s angry passes through his eyes, but he recovers quickly with a taunt. “But I’m the one you’ll come home with.” He slips past me.

I recall my earlier conversation with Lori and banter right back. “Maybe.”

I’m disappointed I can’t see his reaction because he’s in front of me. But I think I may have hit home when he stops at the side of my Land Rover and asks, “Should we take two cars?”

I’m probably going too far, but I answer in the same matter-of-fact tone he used. “No, Kelly lives at the house we’re going to. If I decide to stay, you can drive yourself back in mine.”

He nods with a tight mouth. Yup, he’s not happy, and I shouldn’t feel such satisfaction. But I do because now he knows the rejection I felt when he wouldn’t kiss me.
Payback’s a bitch, Christian.

Chapter 14

The
drive over to Kelly’s house is quick, and Christian makes small talk, but he’s lost his playful mood. By the time we’re on the dirt road, I feel bad about how I acted. “There are lots of people I want to introduce you to. I’m glad you’re going to be on Peak 8. Everyone will like you.”

“I’m not shy, Nika. But thanks.”

We pull up in front of a large, log-cabin-style home. The wood has been left to weather naturally, and the trim is painted dark green. A big porch wraps around the house, and rocking chairs are set on it. I have to wonder if anyone sits in them but think it would be nice to have a couple on my deck.

The bass of music vibrates through me, and my cowboy boots clomp up the wooden steps to the beat as we approach an oversized door. I know to walk right in and push it open for us. We enter into a large room with people milling around. Christian is carrying the fruit, and I lead him to the kitchen.

A tall, lanky guy with sandy-brown hair turns to us. I say, “Jason, this is Gretchen’s brother, Christian.”

I turn to Christian. “This is Casey’s boyfriend.”

They nod at each other in an oddly testosterone-filled moment that makes me wonder if Christian and Casey ever had a thing. I’ll have to ask her later.

Jason hands me a Sharpie. “Here, mark your cups. We always seem to run out, and you’ll want to hang on to it.” I take the pen, and he says, “I’ll be on the deck with Casey.”

Christian sets the fruit down and brings me two cups. I pull the cap off, but he takes the marker from me and writes our names.
What the hell?
How am I supposed to do things for myself if you don’t let me?
It squeaks against the red plastic.

“Thanks. Let’s go find the keg.” We step out onto a back deck that is adorned with strings of tiny lights. It’s not quite dark, but they twinkle in the twilight. The chill in the air makes me slide my zipper up a bit and cuddle into the soft fleece against my skin.

Heather sees us right away and comes over. “Hey, Christian, right?”

He holds out his hand. “That’s right. And you’re Heather.” When she takes it, he captures her hand between both of his and holds it for a moment. Heather eats up the charm, and darn if she doesn’t get a little flustered. I know how that feels.

She says, “I hope you’re ready for training on Monday. We’ll work you hard.” She winks at me and I smile, but my stomach clenches a little.

Christian grins, showing off his killer smile, and says, “I look forward to it, especially if you’re the one telling me what to do.”

Seriously?
I’m not sure a night full of Christian flirting is going to be fun. Especially since he told me he reserved it for special people. Right. I need to pawn him off on someone else for a while and find Kelly.

Casey and Megan are waving from further down the deck, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I also notice they’re near the keg. “Excuse us, Heather. We’re going to make our way to the beer.”

Christian touches Heather’s arm and says, “Nice to see you again.” I walk off with the assumption he’ll follow.

When we get to the girls, Casey throws herself into Christian’s arms for a hug that lifts her off her feet. “It’s so great to have you here for the winter.”

“It’s going to be awesome skiing with you.”

When he sets her down she says, “You remember Megan, right?”

“Of course. Can I get anyone more beer?” He holds up our cups, but both girls decline.

I scan the crowd, looking for Kelly, because I’m comfortable leaving Christian with Casey. I find him grilling burgers on a supersized grill with Jason and Kaleb. Megan is watching me and says, “Go to your man. We’ll take care of Christian for you.”

“Thanks.” I approach Christian as he returns from the keg, and when I try to take my beer he holds on to it for a moment before letting go. Weird. “I’m going to mingle while you chat with Casey, okay?”

“Yeah, sure.”

The smell of beef increases as I get closer, and my stomach growls. I touch the soft cotton of Kelly’s worn sweatshirt and snuggle up to him. “Hey.”

He slips an arm around me and gives me a quick kiss. “Hey yourself. Hungry?”

“I am. Are you going to make me the perfect burger?”

He keeps his arm around me and flips burgers with his other hand. “Of course. How do you like it cooked?”

I duck out from him so he can work and answer, “Medium rare please.”

Kaleb bumps me with his hip. “Hey there, knuckle-dragger.” It’s a slang term he uses for snowboarding based on the racers that lay their boards so far on the edge that they can drag their hands along the snow, and it makes me smile.

I ask, “Where’s Lori?” Meat sizzles on the grill, and a flame jumps up when Jason smashes a burger flat to cook faster.

“She’ll be here later. She had to work until seven.”

Kelly plates up a burger for me, and Jason says, “Eat with your girl, we’ve got this.”

I take the dish from Kelly, and he grabs one for himself. We wander over to a picnic table that has condiments and various sides set out. I set my beer down, and ketchup squirts as I put some on my burger.

When we’re done filling our plates, Kelly walks me around to the side of the house. It’s quieter away from the crowd, and he leads us to two rocking chairs. He says, “Here, hold this,” and hands me his plate. He drags a small table over and arranges the chairs so we can each put our meal down.

I perch myself on the edge of a chair and place our dinners on the small table. “Good plan. This smells delicious.” I lift my burger and take a bite. Hot juice from the beef drips down my chin as the flavor satisfies my tongue. “Mmmm.”

Kelly wipes my chin with his napkin and brushes my lower lip with his thumb. I stop chewing and look at him as I melt into his touch. He moves his hand so that he’s tilting my face up toward his. I gulp down my mouthful and set my food down. Reaching around his neck, I pull him in for the kiss he invited.

It’s a hungry connection, and the beer flavor of his mouth melds with the salty residue of meat in mine. By the time we’re done I’ve lost my appetite for dinner because I have something else in mind.

I say, “Dessert first, I like it.”

Kelly grins and lifts his hamburger. “Glad to hear it, because I’ve been thinking about the taste of you all day.”

My heart flutters at his words. “I’ve been thinking about you too.” I reach for a chip.

“I hear you worked at the Kids’ Castle today.” Ketchup and mustard splat onto his plate when he takes another bite.

“I did.” I drink from my cup.

“I’ll bet you whipped that place into shape. You’re so organized.”

“How do you know that?”

Kelly looks at me as if he’s figuring out how to answer. “I spent a lot of time watching you last year, remember?”

“Oh.”

My cheeks heat up, and Kelly says, “Even if I didn’t, I could tell by your neat little piles on your plate.”

I glance down to see what he means. Then I look at his food just piled on in a haphazard way. “Oh, that’s just so wrong.” I shake my head and reach over with my fork to separate things.

Kelly grabs my hand. “Don’t make me mess you up.” His tone is suggestive, and moisture pools in my core.

I speak quietly, “I think I might like that.”

He takes my hand and squashes it onto the contents of his plate. I let out a squeal and try to pull away but he holds tight.

“Ewww, now I have to wash my hand.”

“No you don’t.” Kelly begins licking food off my palm, and the sensation races through me.

When he gets to my fingers, he slips one into his mouth and sucks as I let out a little moan. My eyelids fall shut. “What are you doing to me?”

He pulls the finger out and says, “Whatever you want.”

Oh, God.
He goes back to licking, and I melt. I want that mouth all over my body, and then I want to return the favor.

When he’s finished, he sighs. “We’ll have to pick up where we left off later. I need to get back to cooking.”

He stands and takes my plate while I grab my beer. We walk to the large garbage can set out on the edge of the deck, and after he throws away the remains of our dinner, he takes my beer and sets it on the railing next to his. Pulling me against his body by my hips, he presses me against his groin. When he kisses me in a way that leaves me speechless, his erection gets hard against my belly and I grind against him a little.

Hot breath sends shock waves through me when he whispers. “I want to taste more of you tonight. Wait for me?”