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“Winter, shit, I’m so sorry.” I’m pulled even tighter against his broad chest, and for a moment I let myself be comforted in his fierce embrace. “Do the others know?”
I shake my head, our eyes connecting. This secret is for him.
His eyes close as if he cherishes that knowledge. “Where did this happen?”
“Switzerland. We were off-piste, in unfamiliar territory. We had trackers but it all…it….There wasn’t time.”
Silence engulfs us, but it’s not a bad kind of quiet. I close my eyes and accept it. It’s restorative, calming, Brecken’s warmth making my bones languid with sleep. I could stay here, wrapped up in him for a long time.
My breathing slows, and before long I must drift off because at some point, I hear the bedroom door open, followed by a brief exchange of words between Roo and Brecken. But I’m so drowsy, I’m not sure if I dreamt it or not. Succumbing to sleep again, I relax into the comfort of strong arms around me.
Hearingmy name called in a hushed voice, my eyes fly open to find Brecken looking down at me with a concerned expression. “How are you feeling?”
I stretch. My mouth is dry and my jaw aches from earlier, but I bolt to a sit and ask, “What’s the time?”
“Not sure. About half eight?”
“Oh god, I better get up and sort breakfast.” Still braless, I scamper off the bed and find my clothes. Naked, Brecken rises out of bed. “For the love of god, please, get in the shower, because I can’t look at you right now and not want you again.”
With a smile playing on his mouth, Brecken sits on the edge of the mattress and just watches me dress.
“Balzer and Roo don’t give a shit whether you’re there or not.”
Balzer. That’s not the first time they’ve referred to Luca like that. As much as I like the nickname, it’s putting major pressure on my shoulders. It’s a constant reminder that I’m in a fledgling relationship with a hotel king.
“Maybe. But I should be, and I take pride in my job.”
“You take pride in yourblowjobs,” he husks, “‘cos I’ve never had one so good.”
Shoving my feet in my slippers, I toy with the idea of asking him why he likes to watch. About what that means. What it might mean for us. But I decide to save that for another time. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
In the kitchen, Luca and Reuben have sorted out some food and coffee. I know I showed them how to work the machine, but I still feel bad for not being here. “Sorry.”
They both rise from the table as I draw near. “Don’t be.”
“Do you need anything else?”
“No, but do you?” Luca asks.
I falter, unsure what he means.
He looks at Reuben, who reveals, “Brecken told us about your family, and your concern about skiing today.”
“No, I want to ski with you, I just want us to be careful.”
They both nod. “Of course.”
Slowly, Luca approaches and swallows me in his arms. “I’m sorry.”
I nod, enjoying his sweet gesture before we untangle. Then Reuben hugs me tight, his cologne of bergamot surrounding me. “Sorry too. Must be tough being on your own.”
“Yeah, it has been. I had a grandparent until recently, so it wasn’t like I was totally alone, but I guess, now, I am.”
“Not so fast,” Roo murmurs. “You’ve got us cranky arseholes to keep you company for a long time yet, Miss Harris.”
A laugh bubbles free as Luca makes me a coffee, just how I like it.
When a clean-smelling Brecken enters the room a few minutes later, Luca says, “So, I’ve got a question. The other day, we talked about boyfriends and your need for variety.”
