The Best Of The Year - Medical Romance. Carol Marinelli

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ a little rougher.

      Jack’s body let him know in no uncertain terms that it wanted in on the action, the ache ramping up to almost painful proportions. When she moaned again, his flesh jerked in a silent plea.

       Soon.

      Still beneath her panties, his hand slid from her butt around to the front and edged deeper, his fingers finding a familiar sweet heat...and damp readiness. He stroked over her, moving to kiss her mouth as those delectable little sounds increased in frequency.

      Making his decision, he pulled free, wrapped one arm around her thighs and slid the other beneath her shoulders. He swept her off her feet and onto the blanket, following her down.

      He kissed her hard and wet and long, feeling her arch against him.

      Off came the panties. One knee went between her legs.

      Anticipation roared through him as he slid a finger deep inside her, thumb going to that sensitive nub of flesh and stroking over it in gentle flicks that had him quivering with need.

      “Jack.” Her back arched again.

      That was all the encouragement it took for him to slide his body into the gap between her thighs and surge forward. He found her, just as he’d expected. Hot and tight and slick with her own need.

      He swallowed, knowing he’d waited too long. His body was tightly wound, full, ready to burst open at the slightest move.

      “Hold on, sweetheart, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

      Struggling to keep himself in check, he thrust again and again, concentrating on hitting that one vital spot at the top of her legs. Legs that wrapped around him, pulling him deeper and harder as she lifted her hips and plastered herself against him the second they made contact again. She ground and gasped and wiggled, eyes closing tight as that final wave of sensation swept toward them. It crashed over her first, the sudden tightening of her flesh around his unleashing a torrent inside him. He rode the crest a second or two longer before finally succumbing and tumbling headlong into the surf, allowing it to carry him all the way back to shore.

      He lay there for several seconds, not sure if he was stunned into immobility or if he’d died and rocketed straight into heaven. All he knew was that there was no place he’d rather be than right here in this woman’s arms.

      And that fact terrified him. Paralyzed him.

      Because one act had just cost him everything.

      In rushing to the finish line, Jack had lost much more than the fight with his body. He’d also lost the battle with his heart.

      * * *

      Jack had been quiet the whole ride back to the lodge the next day. They’d gone to bed the previous night, where he’d held her, looping his arm around her as they’d slept. But he hadn’t tried to make love to her again, unlike the previous time they’d been together.

      She wasn’t sure if she’d done something wrong or if it was just him.

      Part of her was afraid she’d appeared too desperate and needy, grabbing at him and giving herself that last burst of pleasure. But it had been too late to stop by that point. And he’d seemed to like it at the time, groaning encouragement into her ear and increasing his pace.

      But afterwards he’d seemed strange, rolling off her and staring at the ceiling for several long seconds. He’d recovered and pulled her to her feet, giving her a quick kiss on the mouth before offering to let her use the shower first.

      First. Not together.

      They’d eaten a canned dinner of stuff they’d found in the pantry, but the mood had been somber as they’d sat on the couch later, facing the fire, Jack’s arm around her.

      What had he been thinking?

      If she’d said something, he’d responded, but emotionally he’d seemed to have withdrawn.

      Today she’d treated a couple of patients, giving one teenager a lecture on helmet usage when he’d appeared with a lump on his forehead after falling on the slopes, and hugging a child who’d had a boo-boo on her finger—courtesy of a sharp pinch from a door. Neither were serious injuries.

      Unlike the weird volley of emotions that soared through her chest one second and fell into the pit of her stomach the next, only to bounce up and start the cycle all over. It was exhausting.

      She slumped in a chair in the dining room, picking at her salad. Ellory was off hiking by herself for the day. She’d left a note at the front desk that she’d check in with Mira later and that she hoped her outing with Number Five had been productive—and hot. She had a “feeling” about this one.

      So did Mira. And it wasn’t a good feeling.

      In fact, it was as ominous as the weather forecast for the coming week. There was the threat of the first big storm of the season. Moisture was gathering to the southwest and there was a high-pressure system in the northeast that was preparing to send a frigid blast of air their way. When those two forces combined, things could get dicey over the next five days. At just over twelve thousand feet elevation, Silver Pass was almost sure to get a large portion of that snowfall, if it arrived. Already the resort was busy preparing behind the scenes while trying not to worry any of their guests. The storm could very well peter out. She’d met with her dad this morning for breakfast, but he’d been distracted about the preparations.

      If only she could be just as diligent to prepare for any eventuality with Jack. But without even a vague forecast to go by, there was nothing she could do. Oh, she could tell him she was reneging on their deal, that she didn’t want to see him any more for the duration of his stay. But what if she was overreacting?

      A man’s shoes came into view beside her table. Her heart leap-frogged over itself as she jerked her head up, only to land with a clunk when she realized it was Robert. Great, just what she needed.

      “Mind if I join you?” he asked.

      She motioned to the chair across from hers. “Help yourself.”

      He set his coffee on the table and then dropped into the seat. “We never did get a chance to talk.”

      “About what?” Lord, she really didn’t want to rehash their whole breakup.

      “Your dad came out to see me a few hours ago,” he said. “Did you tell him about us?”

      “Yes. Why? Did he say something?”

      He shook his head, lips pursing. “No. He really just talked about how long to keep the slopes open, if this storm hits.”

      Leaning back, he ran a hand through wavy blond locks that had always reminded her of a Norse god. She could see why women were attracted to him. But he no longer did anything for her.

      “Okay, I’m not sure I understand, then. Are you worried?”

      “I just want to know exactly what you told him. Do I need to look for another job?”

      Ah, so that’s what he was worried about. With his snarky comments of late, maybe she should let him sweat for a while. But since she was finding out first СКАЧАТЬ