Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume VI Page 12

  Over the years, there were moments when he felt so close to Greta. But this was something different. They were both sober and acutely aware of the risk they were taking. And yet, it all seemed so right, so natural.

  Alex kissed her again and she arched against him, her breath coming in shallow gasps as his rhythm quickened and his need built. The instant he felt her dissolve into her release, Alex was there, following her over the edge.

  Wave after wave of exquisite pleasure washed over him and when it was finally over, he held her face between his palms and kissed her deeply. There were no words, only the silent understanding that this would not be the last time.

  4

  “IF YOU SPEND any more time in that tub, you’re going to start looking like a prune,” Alex said, standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

  Greta opened her eyes and looked over at him. A tiny thrill raced through her at his rumpled appearance. She’d been the cause of the mussed hair and the love bite on his neck and the sleepy look in his eyes.

  He wore just his jeans, low on his hips, the top button undone, and a satisfied smile on his lips. They’d been so incredibly good together last night, better than she’d ever imagined in all her unbidden fantasies.

  Their first time together had been so frantic, over before either one of them realized what they were doing. Regret had set in immediately, cooling the lust like a blast of Arctic air. But last night, they’d savored each sensation, taking their time to explore new experiences together before moving on.

  “I didn’t hear you get up,” he said.

  “You were dead to the world, so I figured I’d let you sleep. I think Thea is gone. Her car isn’t parked out front anymore.”

  She smiled. “We’re all alone.”

  He sauntered over to the tub. “Good,” he said. “I’ve got you exactly where I want you. All wet and naked.” Alex knelt down next to the tub, then kissed her shoulder. “She must have left the minute the plow came through.”

  Greta straightened. “I’m surprised. I thought she was more determined than that to get you into bed.”

  “Maybe she heard us last night and decided it was a lost cause?”

  Greta gasped. “We weren’t that noisy.” She paused. “Were we?”

  Alex chuckled. “Maybe just a little. I didn’t expect that. I mean, I’ve known you for years and I’ve never seen that side of you before. Never suspected it was…there.”

  “Did you assume I was some kind of prude?”

  “I just didn’t remember it being that way the first time we did it. It was good then, don’t get me wrong, but last night was…wow. Surprising, I guess.”

  “We were both pretty drunk that first time,” Greta said. “I’m not sure we would have done anything if we’d been sober.”

  “Do you regret what happened?” Alex asked. “Not then, but last night, I mean.”

  Greta shook her head. “No. I’ve always wondered what it might be like, given a second try at it…and a third and fourth. A chance to do it right.”

  He grinned and picked up a sponge from a basket next to the tub and dipped it in the water, then slowly began to wash her back. Greta sighed, pure contentment overwhelming her. This was how it was supposed to be, she mused. This was the way she’d always imagined a relationship with a man to feel like—comfortable, intimate, easy. Why couldn’t she have found this for herself?

  She’d dated lots of men, been intimate with some of them as well, but with Alex, it all seemed right, as if they…fit. Was it because they were such good friends? Or maybe it was because this was only meant to be a one-night stand. There were no expectations beyond the walls of this room to confuse them both.

  Greta silently chided herself. They’d made an agreement. In fact, she’d insisted on it. Just one night. If either of them was unhappy, that was it. Once they left the cabin, they’d go back to life as it was before. They’d be best friends. She drew a shaky breath, pinching her eyes closed. Could she do it? Could she ever look at Alex again and not see the naked man moving above her? Could she ever crawl into bed and not think of his hands on her body.

  “I love this bathtub,” she murmured, determined to occupy her mind with idle conversation instead. “I don’t have a tub in my apartment and I never realized what a luxury it is to just sit, surrounded by hot water. I think I’d come home from work every day and have a bath.”

  Alex slid the sponge down to the small of her back. “I have a big tub at my place. You’re always welcome to come over and use it.”

  “Mmm,” she said, leaning forward. “Be careful what you wish for. With your social life, I’m not sure you’d appreciate a naked woman turning up in your tub unexpectedly.”

  “I don’t think I’d mind so much,” he said softly. “Especially if that naked woman was you.”

  A shiver skittered over her arms, raising goose bumps. Was he just teasing, too? Or did he really mean what he said? Greta wondered. Was he thinking that this might continue, that there was something more than just a one-night stand between them?

  There it was again. Expectations. They always ruined the best of friendships. That’s what made Alex and Greta work so well. They never demanded anything of each other—except honesty. And loyalty. And complete and utter trust.

  But wasn’t that what made all the great romances work, as well. That and undeniable passion. After last night, they had that one down perfectly. When she thought about it, she and Alex had all the things she was looking for in a romantic relationship—except the romance.

  “A tub like this really isn’t practical,” Greta murmured. “I mean, it’s impossible to wash my hair.”

  “Sure you can,” Alex said. “That’s what that sprayer thing is for.” He reached out and picked up the hand spray from the bracket at the end of the tub.

  “That just gets water all over the bathroom,” Greta said.

  “No, it doesn’t,” he countered. “You just have to be careful. Here, I’ll show you.”

  “No!” Greta replied. “I don’t want to wash my hair now, I was just commenting that it—”

  “I’ll wash your hair for you and then you can—”

  “I don’t want my—” Greta stopped herself. If she had any worries that things had changed between them, she could put them aside. They’d gone right back to bickering at the first available opportunity. “All right,” she said. “Show me how it works.”

  “It would work a lot better if I got in the tub with you,” he suggested.

  Greta drew a quick breath, hearing the desire beneath his practical suggestion. “Sure.”

  Grinning, Alex stood and skimmed off his jeans. He was already getting hard and Greta took the opportunity to catch a glimpse of his body. He didn’t do much for exercise except run a few times a week. Alex’s body hadn’t been toned in the gym. Instead, he spent his time in constant movement skiing, biking, skating. If it could be done outdoors, Alex found time to do it. Added to the calories burned in the bedroom, it was no wonder he looked so good.

  He sank into the water, sitting opposite her, sighing softly as he settled himself in the tub. “This is nice. But it would probably work better if you turned around.” He grabbed her waist and before she knew it, Greta was sitting between his legs, her back resting against his chest.

  She felt her pulse quicken as his erection pressed against the small of her back. Why bother with her hair? Why not just forget the silly foreplay and get down to business. They only had a day to rid themselves of all the simmering desire. And the only way to do that was to indulge in a few more really good orgasms.

  “Tip your head back.” He turned on the sprayer and warm water sluiced through her hair. A moment later, the scent of almonds filled the air as he began to work the shampoo through the wet strands.

  Oh, she could really get used to this, Greta mused. It was the ultimate luxury and she felt her body relax as he gently massaged her scalp. “You’re good at this,” she said. “You must have had a lot of practice.” Th
e moment the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to take them back. But she couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous of all the other women who’d come before her.

  “Nope. I’ve never washed a woman’s hair before,” Alex said. “But how hard could it be? The instructions are on the bottle. Lather, rinse, repeat.”

  “No repeat,” Greta said. “I don’t repeat.”

  “Good to know,” Alex murmured. “I’ll remember that for next time.”

  As he rinsed the soap from her hair, he slipped his arm around her waist and cupped her breast in his palm, teasing at her nipple with his thumb. She sank back against him, losing herself in the sensation.

  Greta tried to imagine them in a real relationship. Would they ever leave the bedroom or would every waking hour be spent in passionate pursuits? An image of the two of them tearing at each other’s clothes in Alex’s office flashed in her head.

  “I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured. “It’s strange.”

  “It is?”

  “I’ve seen you at work every day for the past seven years, but I never really saw you like this. Naked and soft…and willing.”

  He slid his palms over her belly, dipping beneath the water and sending tingles of anticipation up and down her spine. It hadn’t taken him long to learn what made her ache with need. His fingers found the spot between her legs and Greta moaned.

  Why was it so simple to give in to him? Was it the trust they shared as friends? Alex was the only man she knew who would never intentionally hurt her. Doubt pierced her hazy thoughts. Was she sure of that? He’d walked away from a long string of lovers without a second thought. What made her think she would be any different?

  She wouldn’t be, Greta thought to herself. And she could accept that as long as they remained friends afterward. That would have to be enough. Because she had no doubt that all this passion would fade when they finally got back to the real world.

  * * *

  WHAT BEGAN IN the bathtub ended in a tangle of expensive Egyptian-cotton towels on the bathroom floor. He brought her to the edge again and again and she begged him to finish the job, even though she didn’t want it to end. Greta knew that this might be the last experience they shared. She wanted every move, every sensation to be burned into her memory.

  She’d never invite another man to her bed without thinking of Alex and what he had done to her body. Alex pulled her leg up along his hip and slowed his pace. God, he was the most beautiful man she’d ever touched. Why hadn’t she realized this sooner?

  Something had shifted between them, as if they’d both experienced a seismic sexual awakening. It hadn’t happened four years ago, so why was it happening now? What had changed between them?

  Her orgasm took them both by surprise. One moment she was whispering his name, her breath soft against his neck and then she was crying out in pleasure, her body spasming beneath his. He was caught unprepared and his reaction was almost primal. With a low groan he drove into her once more and then lost himself in the sweet sensations.

  When he was finally completely spent, he pulled Greta into the curve of his body, hugging her to his side. “This is a nice way to begin the day,” he said.

  “I usually start with a bowl of oatmeal,” Greta said with a laugh.

  “Really?” He considered the fact for a moment and grinned. “I like that. Something I didn’t know about you.” He paused. “But are you saying my performance ranks right up there with oatmeal?”

  “No! But if this was the way I started every day, I’d never get to work.”

  “What if it was?” Alex asked. “Haven’t you ever thought about it? You and me, together? Every morning?”

  “No,” Greta lied. In truth, she had, but she’d been smart enough to push all those thoughts to the back of her mind. It was a matter of survival for her. Falling for Alex wasn’t a possibility because she’d believed he wasn’t interested in her romantically. But now, all that had changed. He’d admitted that there was something between them, something more than friendship.

  Was he in love with her? Perhaps lust was a more appropriate word, she mused. Greta knew him well enough to read the signs. After meeting a girl, there was always a period of intense infatuation for him, when any woman, no matter her faults, seemed like the perfect mate. But as time went on, the thrill waned and he moved on. For her own well-being, Greta needed to be prepared for the worst. “You hate oatmeal.”

  “That’s not the point,” he said. “What I’m saying is, I’d like to think about us having breakfast. Not just today. But maybe tomorrow. And next week. And next year.”

  Greta scrambled to her feet and picked a towel off the edge of the tub to wrap around her naked body. She stepped to the mirror and ran her fingers through her wet hair. “You always think that way when you first meet a woman,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean it will last.”

  “I haven’t just met you. And don’t go comparing yourself to the other women in my life. You’re different.”

  “We’re both attractive adults with healthy sex drives. And we’re both single and looking. But that doesn’t mean anything. It’s just…hormones.”

  Alex sat up and pulled a towel onto his lap, watching her as she moved around the bathroom. His brow was wrinkled with worry and she could see him trying to read her mood. Maybe she shouldn’t be so pessimistic, but it was hard to be anything else when she was dealing with a guy who went through women like socks.

  He joined her at the mirror, the towel wrapped at his hips. Slipping his arms around her waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder. “So what do you want to do?”

  “I think we should get dressed and go in to town for breakfast. And then we should go back to Denver.”

  “That’s not what I was talking about. I was talking about us.”

  “There isn’t an us,” she said.

  “I think there might be,” he said. “And I don’t want to go back home. We have the cabin for the weekend. I think we should stay. The wicked witch is gone so why not take advantage of our good fortune?”

  She turned around to face him, staring up into his oh-so-familiar eyes. She wanted to kiss him, to soothe all her doubts and insecurities. It would be so easy to believe him, to play along with the fantasy. But the risk was all hers to take. “I’m not going skiing,” she said.

  “Then, I’m not going skiing either,” he said.

  “Isn’t that why you came here?”

  “My plans have changed,” he said. “I want to spend the day with you. What do you want to do?”

  “I guess we could go into town and walk around. Maybe do some shopping.” Shopping was Alex’s least favorite pastime. “I guess I wouldn’t mind skiing, if you’d ski with me.”

  “All right,” he said, his expression brightening. He gave her a quick kiss. “Let’s get dressed. We’ll have some breakfast, hit the slopes and then have an early dinner in town. And we’ll fit some shopping in there, too.”

  He walked out of the bathroom, leaving Greta to her own thoughts. The less time they spent shut up in this cabin, the better. There was only one activity available to them here, and though she could imagine a week in bed with him, she wasn’t sure it was the best thing for her body or her heart. In the outside world, she’d have a chance to put this tangle of feelings into perspective.

  Greta could see him getting dressed in the reflection of the mirror. Her gaze followed his movements. Muscles rippled on his back and her eyes dropped to his backside. He was an incredibly sexy man, from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

  What would it be like to have a man like Alex in her bed permanently, to wake up with him every morning and to fall asleep with him each night?

  “Hurry up in there,” he called, turning to face her. “We’re burning daylight. And you don’t have to spend an hour fixing your hair. It will just get messed up anyway.”

  She shook herself out of her idle contemplation. This was the real Alex Hansen. Impatient, focused, self-absorbed. Since he
loved skiing, he was sure she’d love it too. “What should I wear?”

  “You can wear my ski pants,” he said. “Since we’ll be skiing on the beginner runs, I can ski in jeans.”

  She walked into the room and he held out the pants. “I don’t think those will fit,” she said, examining them more closely.

  “They might be a little baggy, but they’ll keep you warm and dry.”

  She smiled to herself as she got dressed. How sweet of him to think that they’d be too big for her. She was worried they weren’t made for a woman with curves. To her surprise, they fit just fine.

  “You’ll need warm socks,” he said. He grabbed a pair from his duffel, then sat her down on the edge of the bed and grabbed her foot.

  “I can dress myself,” she murmured.

  “I know you can. But it’s more fun if I do it.” He picked up her foot and pressed his lips to her instep. “I always thought you had pretty feet. Some women have kind of gnarly toes, but yours are really sexy.”

  “Oh, please. If the only sexy part of my body is my feet, it’s a wonder you’re attracted to me at all.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Alex replied as he slipped the wool sock over her toes. “If you recall, I haven’t seen a whole lot of the rest of your body. I’ve been left to imagine what’s under the clothes.”

  “You saw my body that night we spent in bed four years ago.”

  “I remember as much about that night as you do,” he said. “I’d worried that it would probably ruin our friendship, but then it didn’t.”

  “It was a silly thing to do,” she said. “We could have wrecked everything.”

  “And what about now?”

  “We’re different people. Older and wiser.”

  He stared down at her foot, gently massaging her arch through the thick wool of the sock. “You’re right. We are different.” Alex smiled as he looked up at her and for the first time in their friendship, she didn’t know what he was thinking. Greta searched his face for a clue to why he was smiling. Had things begun to change already?