Falling, Freestyle (8 page)

And proof that sharing her was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done.

Chapter Six

Alpine Responsibility Code

Rule #6—You must have sufficient physical dexterity to safely ride all lifts…

The distant sound of Kane’s slightly off-key singing woke her. Either that or it was the violent shaking of the mattress as Jack threw himself beside her, wrapped his arms around her and tickled. Dara squirmed, attempting to wiggle free.

“Damn it, Jack, stop.” The quilt was toasty warm from Kane’s body and she didn’t want to lose the lazy sensation in her limbs. She’d forgotten how much she loved sharing a bed. No cold toes, cuddles all night long. Relaxed from their shower the previous night, she’d crawled into Kane’s arms and promptly fallen asleep. Waking in the night and rolling to find a warm body to snuggle against had been a little bit of heaven.

Still half-asleep, she lost the battle with Jack. Somehow he managed to pin her under his heavy body and she gave up, temporarily. She mock-glared up at his beautiful smile. “Jerk.”

“Hmm, good morning, sunshine. I see you’re bright and chipper today. Ready for a hearty breakfast? Porridge, eggs, kippers…”

Her stomach rolled. “Good Lord, that sounds disgusting.”

Jack grinned at her. “How about a chocolate banana smoothie instead?”

“Now you’re talking.” One of his legs nestled between hers and she savoured the weight of him against her body. Except for one thing.

“Think you can ease off my bladder there, big guy? I’m going to have an accident.”

Jack laughed and rolled, finishing with her on top of him. He nuzzled against her neck and cradled her close. “Sorry.”

“No worries. How long until the first chair starts?”

“An hour.”

“An hour? Sheesh, Jack, why’d you wake me so early?”

He tugged her against himself, naked except for a pair of plain boxers. “I need a little one-on-one time.”

His lips were gentle against her throat and the caress felt fabulous. “Where’s Kane?” she asked.

“In the shower.”

She dragged her fingers through his hair, loving the soft brush against her fingers. “You didn’t join us last night.”

He was quiet for a moment, his gaze scanning her face intently. “Wasn’t sure how well we’d sleep with three people in a bed. Besides, you and Kane were wrapped up together pretty tight.”

She pressed down on his chest, leaning away from him. “You watched us?”

“Just making sure you were all right. Last night—was everything okay with you?”

Was she okay? Even now the thought of the previous evening made her wet. There was certainly no problem with physical compatibility between either her and Kane, or her and Jack. “I loved it.”

His face softened, the concern written there easing.

Dara rested her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. Yesterday had opened her eyes to a side of Jack she’d never seen before. He’d always been her protector. Last night had taken the level of trust she had in him to a new level. Being restrained had been wicked-hot, made so much better by the knowledge she had absolutely nothing to fear. Not with Jack guarding even as he guided her through the experience. She hadn’t realized how much giving control over to another person would turn her on. Reading about it in her books was nothing compared to the reality.

She could get to like it. A lot.

Jack twisted them slightly, resting on his side, pulling his knee up while keeping her leg draped over his. The position opened her, the bottom edge of the oversized T-shirt she wore as a sleep shirt sliding toward her waist. The soft brush of his fingers over her hip and the swell of her butt sent a shiver up her spine.

He kissed along her jaw, over her cheek and up to her ear. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I need to know how you taste,” he whispered.

His hand continued to glide in slow even circles on her body, never moving any closer to her core. Dara threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled their mouths together, licking at his lips even as she opened her legs invitingly.

Jack laughed softly against her mouth. “You’re a demanding little creature, aren’t you?”

“Hmm, sometimes.”

“Me too.” He leaned back, putting space between their upper bodies. “Place your hand on my chest.”

His whole tone changed. It wasn’t cruel or harsh, but it was definitely an order. She dragged her fingers down his throat until she felt the muscular ridges of his chest. Her palm absorbed the heat radiating out from his bare skin. She traced small circles on his skin, relishing the opportunity to explore him so intimately.

His gaze trapped hers. “Don’t move.”

Dara smiled and pressed her open hand to his skin and froze it there. He stared into her eyes, observing, evaluating. Her pulse kicked up a notch as the endless circles he’d been making on her hip changed and he slid his fingers under the edge of her panties. It was the work of a moment to tug them to the side. A finger parted her already wet curls—just being with him had made her needy. Made her ready, and when he slid two fingers deep into her sex, she moaned aloud.

All motion stopped.

His voice whispered tantalizingly over her skin. “I’m sorry. I forgot to warn you. No noises either. Understand?”

She blinked and squeezed her lips together.

“Good girl.” He slid his fingers in and out a few times, nicking her clitoris with his thumb on every thrust. Dara concentrated hard to remain still, to not pump her hips toward his hand to add to the intensity.

Suddenly his fingers left her and she bit back her protest. She was nowhere near done. Empty, aching. He brought his hand up to his nose and breathed deeply, moisture glistening on his fingers.

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Fabulous. I wonder if you’re as sweet as I think you’ll be?” Jack flipped his hand around and brushed his fingertips against her lips, the scent of her arousal strong in her nostrils as he painted her lips with her own cream.

Then he kissed her. Nibbles and licks, tiny bites to her lower lip before dragging it into his mouth and lapping all traces of moisture away. A heavy pulse beat in her core, along with a throbbing desire to be filled, but she remembered to stay still in spite of the temptation to rub against him. As he kissed her, he returned his hand to cup her mound, holding her firmly, but without enough pressure for her to reach a climax.

She was painfully close from only his kisses.

His tongue thrust into her mouth and she suckled it happily, imagining it plunging instead into her heated core. Wishing there was something filling her up. The kiss went on and on, and all the while she was conscious this was
Jack
she was kissing—her friend, her confidant. He held a piece of her heart, and now he seemed to have found the key to her body.

He drew back, breathless, eyes dark with desire, pupils dilated. He stared at her for a long moment before speaking. “You are very sweet. Thank you for sharing with me.”

When he moved to separate them, she shivered with dismay. Oh my God, no, that wasn’t it, was it? Dara opened her mouth to protest, then paused. He smiled. “You can talk.”

“You’re not going to stop, are you?” Damn, was that her voice? That whining child?

He examined her face, and she wondered if it revealed exactly how hot he’d made her. How close to the edge he’d brought her with a very simple touch. “Anticipation will make the rewards ahead even sweeter, Dara. I choose to wait. Can you?”

The sexual heat raging inside made her want to scream no and demand he bring her to a climax. The woman in her wanted to please him. She’d loved being restrained last night at his suggestion; perhaps this was something else he could teach her.

She lowered her eyes and took a deep breath. “Yes.”

Jack lifted her chin and forced her to look at him. He shook his head gently, tenderness in his gaze. “I don’t want you cowering before me or hiding your eyes. I may like to call the shots, but you are my equal in all ways. You can always say no. Understood?”

A smile broke free. That’s the Jack she knew, looking out for her even as he whipped her world into a frenzy. A shot of mischief skipped through her and she rolled on top, catching him by surprise.

“Understood.” She leaned closer and kissed him hard, ignoring the urge to grind her sex against his rock-solid abdomen.

He sat up with her in his arms and tousled her hair. “Come on, sweetheart, it’s time to get ready for the day.”

When he pushed her toward the bathroom, she went with a final kiss to his cheek, a smile lingering on her lips.

An hour later Dara was still smiling.

“How many runs you think we can we track up before we lose the fresh powder?” She flipped her goggles onto the brim of her helmet. The sun dazzled her eyes, crystals catching and reflecting back on every turn. There weren’t many skiers out yet, not this early on a Friday.

“If we keep heading higher, we’ll be good for the whole morning.” Kane and Jack bumped fists then slid forward to wait their turn for the chair.

“Remember there’s only double chairs on the top half of the hill.” Dara didn’t want to be separated from either of them. She leaned her hip casually against Jack’s side and he snuck a kiss from her. The cold air contrasted with the warmth of his mouth and made her lips tingle. She hadn’t intended on doing anything physical with the guys while they were on the hill, but they had other plans. They couldn’t seem to keep their hands off her. Every time they stopped she got pulled against one or the other of them and kissed thoroughly.

All the attention was making her feel a trifle giddy.

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep you warm.” Kane wiggled his brows at her as they settled on the chair and lowered the safety bar.

“Let me hold your poles,” Jack offered, and she handed them over. She twisted on the seat, trying to get comfortable for the long ride up. She leaned on Jack, his right arm that rested along the back of the chair the perfect height to support her head.

Kane pulled off one glove and stuffed it in his pocket. “Lift her leg for me, will you, Jack?”

“What are you doing— Oh my God, are you insane?” Dara found herself spread-eagle, her left leg hitched overtop of Jack’s, her right resting on Kane’s knee. Jack had snuck his right ski under hers and somehow pulled their limbs into a tangle without losing their skis in the process. “Bastard. You know the rule. Drinks for the rest of the trip are on you if they have to stop the chair so we can get off.”

Jack whispered in her ear. “Oh, I don’t think we need to stop the lift for at least one of us to get off. Ready to finish what we started this morning?”

Oh damn.
“You’re not serious…”

Kane reached for her. “I love your ski pants. I was telling Jack earlier that seeing you in those things always gives me a hard-on.”

“They’re just backcountry overalls— Hey, no way!”

Kane paused, his hand under her coat as he played with her zipper. “You want me to stop, I will, but there’s no need. The fifteen-minute ride to the top is long enough for a bit of fun.”

Dara sealed her lips as she scanned the slopes below. They were right out in the open, the dangling chair in full view of anyone who happened to ski past and look up. Of course, there were so few skiers out she doubted anyone would bother looking to see what was happening—they’d be more intent on the uncut snow before them.

The sheer naughtiness of what Kane proposed sent an extra thrill through her. This was part of what she’d asked for in her excuse, wasn’t it? Sexual experiences she would never have thought of? It was also part of finding out what the guys were like when they weren’t simply being buddies to her. Dara took a deep breath and deliberately relaxed back against Jack. “Go for it.”

Kane smirked as he leaned over to kiss her. He tugged at her zipper and she sucked in her belly. Her bibbed overalls were designed with one zipper set that reached from waist to the top of the bib, and a second set that slid downward. She supposed if she were a guy she could have used the lower escape hatch as a quick-release method. She’d never dreamed of this possibility.

Kane adjusted the zippers until her pants were open just enough to allow him to sneak his hand under her long johns and into her panties. He stroked through her curls and she jerked at his touch.

“Shit…your fingers are cold!”

Behind her Jack shifted and she twisted her neck to look at him. “Kiss me,” he demanded, taking her mouth with his.

Erotic overload in three, two, one… Jack had turned her on in the morning without giving her release. All the attention and kisses for the past hour had been more than enough to keep her motor running on high, and now, between Jack’s lips and the teasing rub of Kane’s thumb against her clit, she was ready to have a meltdown. Kane’s cool forefinger slipped into her sheath and she cried out. Jack swallowed the sound and thrust his tongue into her mouth. The whole encounter seemed too fabulous to be true. The chair continued its ascent, the wheels overhead on the long support arm squeaking every time they rolled past a tower. Cold air snuck in with Kane’s hand, adding a layer of tension and unfamiliarity to the situation.

Kane added a second finger, the additional stretch drawing her closer to the edge of orgasm. He changed the angle of his hand and a violent rush of pleasure overtook her. She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned. “Oh my—yes, right there. Don’t stop—don’t…ohhhh.”

“Sweet spot?” Jack asked, his warm breath tickling her ear.

“Seems that way.” Kane voiced his approval. “Right about…here.”

Bright spots floated before her closed eyes and she panted for breath. She’d been longing for this since Jack had left her aching this morning. “Screw…the play…by…play. Kane, please. A little more.”

He pressed on her clit on the next pass, repeating whatever mysterious trick he played internally, and it was enough to set her off. She leaned back and enjoyed every second of her orgasm, letting her guys support and hold her up. Her passage clutched Kane’s fingers, a sharp streak of pleasure racing from her core over her entire body. He stroked her labia softly as he withdrew his fingers, circling her wet slit again and again until the tremors ceased.