In the Dead of Cold (25 page)

His shirt landed on the floor in a wet heap. Then she leaned up and kissed him, long and deep. She teased him with her tongue.

“Fuck, I love your tongue.”

“Smile at me like that again.” She reached down and wrapped her fingers around his invitingly hard dick.

He moaned at her touch. He smiled, although he wasn’t certain if it was the same smile he’d given her before. “Keep your hand on me, and I’ll do whatever you want.”

She stroked him, her expression filled with lust. “Promise?”

“You name it. Unless we should give your pussy a rest.” It was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Eat me?”

Before she had the chance to give him any other ideas, he lifted her in his arms, draped her legs over each of his shoulders, and pressed her back to the wall. His mouth covered her pussy in the next heartbeat. He plunged his tongue as deep as he could go.

Her sweet, tangy taste melted through him along with the warm water that rained down on him. Her groan filled the stall. She tried to rock her hips in rhythm with his tongue, but he held her fast. With his lips, he tugged on her clit, making her squeal.

Milo laughed. He explored her some more and tugged again on her clit. Like a well-performed drum cadence, he played her. Tongue-tongue-tug. Tongue-tongue-tug. He loved making her pussy quiver. Hell, if his tongue could come, it would.

Her fingers bit into his arms as she held on to him. So her pussy didn’t need a rest. Well, in that case, he’d show her what he enjoyed about her pussy. He loved holding her up, her soft, curvy ass beneath his hands, her legs draped over his shoulders, her pussy at eye level. His cock stood at attention, as if it reached to be up there too. In good time. Right now, he enjoyed letting his mouth do the fucking.

He tugged again and ran his tongue over her clit. Her hips bucked in reaction, and she came. Her sweet cream landed on his tongue, making his dick throb with need.

Slowly he lowered her, cradling her as he moved her down the wall. He sucked both of her nipples, one after the other, when they were at eye level. Then he lowered her a bit more and slid her wet, still-shuddering pussy over his dick. At the same time, he sucked on her bite spot. She gasped and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding him as he showed her how well he fit inside her again and again until she screamed and they came together.

When he set her on her feet, he had to help her stand. “What’s for the second course?”

“Sausage with biscuits and gravy?”

“Whatever you want.” He realized it would always be whatever she wanted. “Come on.”

He stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel. “Do you want me to order room service, or would you like to eat in the dining room?”

Jane shivered. He wrapped the towel around her and held her close as he rubbed her arms dry. He dried her breasts, squeezing her nipples as he did so.

“Can we get in your hot tub later?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s eat outside on the main dining deck again. I liked that. The sun is nice, and those portable heaters keep us warm enough.”

A half hour later, they were dressed and sitting in the sun, waiting for the biscuits and gravy they’d ordered. Milo held her hand, content to touch her. After all the blood he’d drunk from her the previous night, he made sure she drank lots of orange juice. She needed fluids to replenish her blood. “Do you know how beautiful you are in the sunshine?”

She blushed like she did when he made her come.

He leaned closer. “I love to make you blush. Get used to me saying that.”

The smile she offered him was small, hesitant. He could easily probe her thoughts, but her trust was still fragile. “What are you thinking?” he asked.

“I know Bart is your brother.”

She tightened her grip on his hand as if she thought he might try to move away.
Fat chance of that happening.
“Who told you? Mrs. M.?”

She shook her head. “No one. The pieces fell into place, and I put it together for myself. I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could say. I wish…”

He stopped any further words by reaching out with his other hand and cupping her cheek. “Thank you, but you don’t have to say any more. I wish for a lot of things too, but I can’t change the way he is. I lost him as a brother long ago. And even if he disappeared today, I’d spend the rest of my days hunting him because he put his hands on you.”

Before she could reply, August approached their table.

“Good morning. How are you feeling?” Jane asked.

Milo added, “Have a seat and join us.” He motioned the waiter to add to their order as August pulled out a chair and sat down.

“I don’t mean to interrupt.”

Milo grinned. “It’s hardly an interruption. It’s good to see some color back in your cheeks.”

The waiter stepped closer. “A double order of biscuits with gravy, and throw in some sausage and scrambled eggs with cheese with a cup of coffee and a large orange juice,” August ordered.

“Right away, sir.” The waiter dashed off to add August’s demands to their order.

“Thanks,” August said. Then he looked at Jane. “What I really came by for was to thank you. For helping me. Mr. M. told me what you did for me.” He reached over and took her hand in his. Then he touched his lips to the back of her hand.

Jane gave him a hesitant smile to hide her embarrassment. Milo wondered what she saw in August’s touch. Dr. Stevens?

“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.”

“Where’s Dr. Stevens?” Milo asked after taking a sip of his coffee.

“She had to get her kids off to school and go to work, but she plans to be back later.”

It was his turn to be embarrassed as he looked around. Milo thought he blushed almost as red as Jane.

“I never thought I’d meet her this way. I was shocked to wake up next to her.”

“Watch it, August. You sound like this is your first date,” Milo teased.

August met his gaze with a knowing expression. “It kinda is, isn’t it?”

Milo sobered and glanced at Jane. “Yes, it is.”

Their food arrived a few moments later, and they casually ate. Milo noticed both Jane and August were as famished and thirsty as he was. Milo downed three cups of coffee and two glasses of apple juice.

“Well, I’ve got to go.”

“You don’t need to rush off, do you?” Jane asked as August pushed back his chair.

“I need to do a bit of cleaning and rearranging in my apartment before Dr. Stevens returns,” August replied before departing.

“Well, he certainly looks better than he did last night.” She looked at Milo. “But then, so do you.”

Milo grinned at her. “You look pretty good yourself. But I’d feel better if you kept drinking your liquids. You’ve had a dehydrating few days.”

She smiled and finished off her glass of water for him. “I feel much better today than I have for a while, thank you. My shoulder isn’t as sore as it was yesterday. My knees and hands are healing well, and I think the bruises are fading. At least I can move without feeling them.”

“That’s good.” He held her gaze as he took a long, slow drink of his coffee. Drinking her in warmed him as much as the coffee did.

“It’s probably the time I spent in your hot tub.”

Milo chuckled. “We should probably spend more time in it today to make sure.”

He’d thought that putting the space of a table between them, sitting out in the sun, and being around other people would curb his need for her, but so far, it hadn’t. The thought of spending the day in the hot tub heated his blood to the near-boiling point. He wondered if Mr. M. would fire him if he made mad, passionate love to her right out here in the outside dining area on a table in front of everyone.

Then he mentally laughed, thinking of the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. M. Mr. M. would understand.

“I have a message for you, sir.” The waiter set a small tray on the table. It held a folded piece of paper.

“Thank you.” Milo reached over and took the small slip of paper as the waiter hurried away to another task. The message was brief but to the point.

“What is it?” Jane asked.

“I have to leave you for a while. Promise me you’ll finish breakfast, then go back to my suite.” He reached for his phone, ready to hit speed dial. “I’ll call Jacob and have a guard posted outside the door.”

“Fat good that’ll do, don’t you think?” Jane retorted. “I mean, last night I was in the boss’s apartment with the best security throughout the building and a guard outside the door. Bart still got in.”

He held the phone without dialing. “You’ve got a point.”

“I think I’d be safer, staying right here where there are lots of people. Maybe I could sit down in the lobby and read the newspaper. Or I could call my brother or my sister or my agent and tell them I’m here instead of at my sister’s cabin. I meant to do that before anyway. Even though I arrived here a day ahead of schedule, Tom will probably be wondering why he hasn’t heard from me.”

Milo was torn, then gave in. “All right, as long as you stay where there are people.”

“Are you sure you have to leave? Someone else couldn’t go in your place?”

He looked at her. “There’s evidence that Bart’s holed up in the stable.” He reached out and took her hand. “He’s my brother. I should be there.”

“What do you plan to do?”

Milo thought about his last encounter with Bart when he’d frozen. He fucking hoped that didn’t happen a second time. If Bart ever put his hands on Jane again… Milo didn’t think he’d freeze the next time. He wished to hell he didn’t have to kill his brother. But he’d been truthful when he told Jane Bart had stopped being his brother a long time ago. There was no way Milo could tell Bart to behave and he’d agree. Too much time had passed. Bart had slipped too deep down the path of degradation. “Hopefully the right thing,” he finally replied. “I have to do something. After the few encounters you’ve had with him, do you think there’s any chance of changing him into something good, so we don’t have worry about him killing anyone else?”

Jane hesitated a moment before she replied. “No.”

“Neither do I.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No more than I am.” He stood, moved around the table closer to her, and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Do me a favor. Stay inside and in the public area. I’d feel better.”

He started to move away, but Jane refused to let go of his hand. He turned to face her.

“I…” Then she stopped. “Be careful.”

He looked deep into her gaze, knowing what she longed to say. He should say the same thing. He should pour his heart out to her and tell her he could never live without her. “I will. You’ll be here when I return?”

“Of course. Where else would I be—besides the lobby?” Then she offered him a small smile.

A moment later, he slipped his hand from hers and was gone. He hoped he could soon tell her she was safe. He tried to call Mr. M. to let him know where he was headed, but there was no answer. So he was forced to leave a written message at the front desk. Then he found James.

Chapter Twelve

The lobby was alive with activity.

People sat at small tables, talking or watching the big-screen television on the far wall where ski jumpers filled the screen. Everyone enjoyed hot cocoa or hot cider or the continental breakfast, which was still being served. The large area held a mixture of aromas—chocolate, waffles, bacon, perfume, and fresh, clean mountain air.

In the gift shop, Jane finally bought a book she’d been meaning to get for some time. She sat down at one of the small tables in the lobby near the fireplace. But when she opened it in anticipation, she discovered that she didn’t feel like reading. Her hands were antsy, and she needed to move. She also needed to check in. Jane reached into her purse and pulled out her cell. She called her brother, Tom, first to let him know where she was and second, so he would know that she was staying at a resort instead of Marie’s cabin. She was pretty proud of herself for sounding casual and normal and not letting on that a vampire was out to get his hands on her. Or that she was sleeping beside a vampire, and that he made her cry with passion. She called her sister next but got Marie’s voice mail and left a quick message.

Her next call was to her agent, Stanley, but he didn’t answer either. She left him a voice mail as well. “Gosh, Stanley, what kind of an agent are you, not answering your phone when your favorite and best client calls? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I’m staying a while at the Moonlight Resort. I decided to stay here instead of Marie’s cabin. I’ve already gotten some skating in and spent some time out in the sun. Who knows, maybe I’ll hit the slopes in the next few days.” At least that wasn’t a lie. She felt better now. “You can call me here—”she gave the number of the resort as well as Milo’s suite number—“or on my cell. Talk to you later.”

She ended the call and looked around, still wired and anxious, wishing Milo would come back or call. Her heart pounded, thinking what could be happening with Bart. Was he dead? Or was it another dead end? Surely, no one would underestimate Bart again.

She took a deep breath and let it out, doing her best to calm her frazzled nerves. As she put her cell back into her purse, she noticed that she had a few small tricks tucked in there.

Three kids sat at a nearby table, drinking cocoa and hot cider.

“Hey, kids, want to see a trick?” she asked.

She could tell they were leery of a stranger, yet they turned their attention to her and watched her with anticipation.

She made a bright red scarf disappear. As they grinned and giggled and watched with wide eyes, she made it reappear, now connected to a string of colored scarves all tied together with knots. Their laughter grew, and their applause drew the attention of others. Next she made a bouncy red ball disappear, and what reappeared was a larger blue ball, which she handed over to one of the boys.

“Let me see,” a second boy demanded.

“No, it’s mine. She gave it to me.”

Jane now had a small audience.

“Can you please do that scarf trick again? I didn’t see all of that,” a little red-haired girl requested.

Jane obliged. There was more applause, and a few adults stopped their conversations to watch. She looked straight at a quiet girl about seven who had yellow braids. “And what is this you have hidden behind your ear?”