Deeper (The Real Fling) (12 page)

Val tilted his head. “I have quite a few plans.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Yeah?”

He nuzzled her cheek. His stubble, although light, tickled. “I am taking you out to dinner tonight.”

“No hot tub?” She pouted.

“After.” He kissed her softly.

Adriana tipped her head enough to get her hair to curtain the two of them from prying eyes. This was what was important. The two of them together. Not the opinions of anyone else.

Val held her hand, and they sat back and sipped their drinks in a comfortable silence. Val’s four friends excused themselves to go to the bar. The dark-haired guy she thought Jackie had picked up yesterday came over and sat down. He shifted his chair closer to Val and put his hand on Val’s shoulder. If it was him, then where was Jackie?

“Adriana, this is Joe.”

Joe appraised her in a friendly, but highly curious, manner. “Adriana.” He rolled her name over his tongue. “My pleasure.”

What was so freakin’ odd?

Val took Adriana’s hand.

“Where you been?” Joe squeezed Val’s shoulder.

Val cleared his throat. “Continental Divide, snowmob—”

“Joe, there you are.” Adriana stiffened as a high-pitched female voice called out from behind Val.

“I’m here, doll.” Joe waved the woman over and held his arm open for her.

The petite blonde slipped in beside him. She pressed her lips against Joe’s and sat on his leg. Then turned toward Val and Adriana.
Jackie.
Val squeezed Adriana’s hand, but she couldn’t move.

“Adriana,” Jackie squealed. “Oh my God.” She flew out of Joe’s arms and hugged Adriana. Adriana tried to pull back but Jackie’s hold was absolute. “I was so worried about you. I’m so happy to see you.” No way she knew Adriana emailed everyone. If she did, she’d attack, no matter who was around. Adriana drained her drink.

“You guys know each other?” Joe looked from one woman to the other.

Jackie hopped back into his lap. “Yeah, we’re on vacation together.”

“That’s a coincidence.” Joe winked at Val. Joe’s fingers trailed up and down Jackie’s side. She leaned back into him.

“I see you’re having fun.” Jackie winked at Adriana and boldly stared at Val. “Ha. And I was worried.” Jackie tipped her head toward Joe and kissed him.

Val’s upper lip inched up.

Jackie swung her head around and her eyes popped out. “Holy shit, you’re…”

Val spoke over her. “Worried? You have a strange way of showing it.”

“Huh?” Jackie’s head whipped back as if she’d been slapped.

“You abandoned her in the middle of a snowstorm in back country. You didn’t even try to find her. Who does that? Not a friend.” Val’s cheeks were flushed and his mouth snarled. He turned toward Joe. “And you were with her. You know firsthand how dangerous leaving someone back there is.”

“I would never have left her. I thought Jackie was alone,” Joe responded. “I’m sorry, man, I didn’t know.” He stared at Jackie.

“I didn’t leave her either. I included her. I told her to come, she didn’t. What did you want me to do?” Jackie’s normally high voice went up an octave.

“Not leave her,” Val spat out.

Adriana got up and walked out.

“Adriana, I’m sorry,” Jackie called out to her, but she kept walking.

A few minutes later, Val caught up to Adriana. She was walking toward his home, her whole body shaking.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” The sight of disappointment in his eyes crushed her.

Marshaling her emotions, she kept her voice steady. “It wasn’t worth it.”

His brows knitted together. “You are worth it. Worth way more.”

“This is my life. My fight. I would’ve set her straight, privately.” She couldn’t look at him. “This wasn’t the time, nor the place for it. I had every intention of talking it out with her, but I have to settle my work situation first, and I’ve got to travel home with her, or did you forget?”

Val scowled.

“But what you did, confronting her, it isn’t about me. It isn’t even about Jackie. It’s about you and some insult you received.” She waited for him to speak but he didn’t. She walked faster then stopped and turned toward him. “Why do you dislike her so much?”

Val ran his palm over his chin. “People like her suck the air out of a room. They don’t care who you are or what you’re going through, it’s all about what you can do for them. They’re parasites. The minute you offer nothing, they drop you to find their next meal.”

“I am not a meal.” She lowered her voice. “Who hurt you?”

He spoke slowly, as if he were remembering each gash. “No one and everyone.”

‡

Back in the chalet, Adriana
took off her boots and hung her jacket on the coat rack. She walked into the living room with her phone and flopped onto the couch, reading her mail. Most of the people she contacted had responded. There was also a mandatory meeting called for Monday morning at nine a.m. with human resources and her direct boss. Hot tears slipped down her cold cheek.

Susan, Jackie’s boss, had replied that she was sorry for the downsizing and had she known Adriana had all these wonderful ideas prior to the reorg, she would have championed her, but it was too late now that the plan was in motion. She promised Adriana a good reference and hoped Adriana would seek her advice in the future. Jackie had never gone to bat for her. Well…now Adriana knew for sure. Closing her eyes, she rested her head back on the couch. Her plan had failed.

Val kissed her head. She was so lost in thought she didn’t hear him approach. He was behind her. Cradling her face, he wiped her tears away with his thumbs and kissed her. When he released her, she slumped forward.

He came around the couch and kneeled before her. “It will work out.”

“How? It’s a disaster. I took a chance and got knocked out.”

“No. You seized an opportunity and realized this job was not for you. They do not appreciate you. It just means you have not found your place yet.”

“I was too late. They didn’t realize I could do it and now it’s too damn late.” She tossed her phone onto the seat next to her.

He kissed her forehead.

“I needed that job.”

“A job, but not that one in particular, right?”

Did she even want that job?
What am I going to do?

“You will find the right position.”

“How are you so sure?”

“You are strong. Smart. Irresistible.” He kissed her after each word. “I am sorry about before.”

Adriana nodded.

He took her hand and led her up the stairs.

Val put the shower on. The bed was made, the fire was set up, and her duffle bag was straightened up. “Was someone here today?”

“The cleaning lady. She comes in every day. Fills the refrigerator. Makes the bed and cleans. Is something misplaced?” He walked over with arms akimbo.

“No, I just thought things weren’t the way we left them.”

He began stripping. “The shower is ready.”

“You go. I want to lie down.” She curled up on the bed.

Val kneeled down beside her and brushed his fingers along her cheek and head. “A shower would do you good.”

She closed her eyes and he put the cashmere throw on her.

*     *     *

Adriana awoke to Val kissing
her temple and petting her head. “Wake up, baby.”

She bolted up into a seated position. “How long have I been out?”

Val sat across from her. “A couple of hours.”

“Oh, no. Dinner. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Are you hungry?”

She scrunched her face. “No.” Naps always upset her stomach. “Are you?”

“Not really.”

“I’ve gotta take a shower.” She got up, took off her pants, and eased off her sweater, while Val went into the bathroom. She followed him into the bathroom. He had started the shower for her.

“How are you?”

“Thanks for letting me sleep.” Standing on her toes, she kissed him.

Sweeping his thumb across her bottom lip, he traced his tongue along the edge of her mouth. “Those lips. So soft. Adriana, you are exquisite, inside and out.” Dropping his hands to her hips, he swayed with her, in time to something playing lightly through the speakers. “You do not need these.” He unhooked her bra and let it slide off and then crouched down and removed her panties, kissing her abdomen and the hollow just inside of her hip bones as his hands clutched her ass.

“Val…” She backed away. “The shower.”

“Okay.” He retreated with a sigh, shutting the door behind him.

The shower was invigorating and seemed to reboot her. Everything would be okay. She’d get another job, hopefully quickly.

Adriana entered the empty bedroom refreshed. Val must’ve been downstairs. The reddish purple coloring on her bruised shoulder was turning a yellowish green color. It was definitely healing. She got dressed in a stretchy black camisole, under a sleeveless white tunic and black leggings.

She descended the stairs looking for him, resolved to relish every minute before reality crashed in on her.

Rising from the couch, he walked over and kissed her neck. “I would tell you that you look beautiful, but you are always gorgeous to me.”

“I’d tell you that you look handsome but…” She wriggled her brows. “You know that whole cocky thing.”

“You are very mean to me.” He hugged her to him by the waist. “Are you up for going out?”

“Sure, where?”

“Dancing?” He was dressed in dark jeans and a light blue button down that set off his eyes.

“But you don’t dance. Remember?”

“I will make an exception for you.” He devoured her with a soul-stealing kiss. Clinging to him, she wanted nothing more than to lose herself in him and never wake up.

Val rested his forehead to hers and inhaled. “We better go now, or we will not leave.”

He got their coats and they left. Their short walk to Vail Village was silent. She tried to concentrate on the present and not worry about what would be.

There was a huge crowd around the door of the club, but once the doorman saw Val, he waved them over and opened the velvet ropes. Val and the bouncer shook hands, bumped shoulders, and Adriana and Val were in.

Adriana hugged his arm to her. “Tell me again how this isn’t your home. You know everyone.”

Val tensed for a quick second before he ushered her in.

The club was a hot, pounding, loud, gyrating jumble of bodies bouncing up and down. Lights were flashing all different colors, in time with the thumping of the bass. The mood was high. Freestyle house music was blaring through the speakers. As much as she loved to dance, it took Adriana a few moments to acclimate to the tornado that was the darkness, noise, and sweaty bodies bumping and grinding into one another. Val got her a drink, and they settled in by the bar in the far corner, somewhat away from the masses.

Joe was there, without Jackie, along with a dozen other guys and a few gals that were part of their group. Some of the crew she remembered from lunch yesterday and others from happy hour earlier. They were all good-looking, sickeningly so, but no one was as hot as Val. Hers wasn’t the minority opinion; he’d caught the attention of every woman in the place. But Val seemed unaware, only paying attention to her.

By the reverence the others showed him, he was king. His friends and the staff at the club seemed bewildered to see him and genuinely interested in meeting her. Intrigued, even. Why were they so damn fascinated by her?

Before she could ask, he tugged her onto the dance floor. They swayed to the music, finding their groove. The guy definitely had rhythm, but hell, that was no surprise. With knees bent, his hands on her lower back, he pressed her body to his and rolled his frame back. Undulating and twisting, he had her moving in ways she wouldn’t have thought she could.

Adriana giggled.

“What?” He flicked his chin at her.

“You’re such a liar.”

He fluttered his lashes at her.

“You said you couldn’t dance.”

Winking, he pivoted her around and pressed his hand on her abdomen, forcing her into his pelvis. Adriana fell back, molding into him. They rolled and circled as one, in time to the music. His mouth was on her neck, stealing a kiss every now and then. Snuggling her, his hand moved up and down her stomach. His thumb was right under the swell of her breast while his pinky played with her belly button.

He teased the edge of her breast, but never broke that invisible boundary, no matter how much Adriana wished he did. He strummed her like Jimmy Page made love to a guitar. Each stroke, a note played deliberately, inciting mania, passion, rapture. Lathering her up like he’d done in the shower, higher and higher, until she was on the edge, squirming for release.

Turning in his arms, she gazed at him, biting her lower lip.

His mouth quirked wickedly. “
Printsessa
?”

Adriana pressed into him. His lips were velvety and supple, slipping inside, she lingered until she could feel the rumble resonate through him. Her fingers slipped through his hair. Lips locked with his hands on her hips, they swayed to the music in their own world.

He whispered, “Soon,” sealing his promise with a kiss as they left the dance floor.