Chapter 18
Since they both had the day off after the wedding, Kyle was hoping to sleep in. He’d done his best to satisfy his woman last night. And he’d more than risen to the challenge. Yet here it was, the sun barely up, and Fisher was snuggling up against him. Rubbing her hands up his back, over his chest. Down.
“Damn, woman, you’re insatiable.” He wasn’t complaining, though. Far from it, as she now ran her tongue across his skin.
“Mmmm. I guess I’m just making up for lost time.” Her lips were soft and warm on his skin. Her hands glided over his muscles, and her heated breath sent shivers up and down his spine.
“Do you think anyone noticed we didn’t stay for the bouquet toss?” He groaned as she wrapped her hand around his throbbing erection.
“I don’t care. This is more fun than some stupid tradition.”
“Can’t argue with you there.” He stretched out on his back as she kicked off the sheets and climbed on top of him. His body was fully awake as she straddled his thighs. She was absolutely in charge and he loved every minute of it.
“I think this is even better than coffee.” She moved ever so slowly, inching closer and closer. And he was powerless to stop her. Not that he wanted to. He never wanted to stop her from loving him with her body.
“You’re so beautiful.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Every inch of her glorious body. “So strong and sexy and—”
She slid down on top of him, drawing him in and cutting off his words. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as she started to move. Slowly. Deliberately. Powerfully.
Primal sounds escaped his throat as she rode him. Higher and higher. Deeper and deeper. He could drown in this. This bliss. This ecstasy. This powerful emotion that he dare not name.
Fisher threw her head back with wild abandon. With her eyes closed, she let out a cry that shook him, almost into oblivion.
Kyle grabbed her hips, holding her as he thrust deeper, higher, closer. God, he couldn’t get close enough. Not until she shattered around him. And shattered. And finally collapsed against him, breathless.
He could feel the aftershocks coursing through her. Still he held back. Was it possible to give her more?
Slowly, he began to move. Together, they rolled onto their sides. He reached down and stroked the place where they were joined. She shuddered. Oh, yeah. She wasn’t finished. He withdrew and she whimpered.
“Remember, good things come in threes. That was one.” He stroked her sensitive spot, slowly, wanting to build her back up. “That was just the first one.”
“Are you trying to kill me?” She moaned, lifting her hips.
“No.” He brought her closer yet again. “Just trying to love you.”
She made a sound, a cross between a moan and a purr and something he’d never heard before. But she didn’t move away from him, so he kept going.
“Please.” She shuddered once again. “I need you.”
He kept going.
“Inside me.” The tension in her voice rose.
Still, he teased.
“NOW.” Her demand shook the RV. He hoped it didn’t wake the whole campground, but he couldn’t worry about that at the moment. He had to fulfill her request. He was pretty sure his life depended on it.
Swiftly, he positioned himself over her. In one smooth motion, he entered her. He pumped. Once. Twice.
Oh sweet, sweet heaven.
The sounds that came out of her were unlike any he’d ever heard. And he’d done a damn fine job of pleasuring her over the last few weeks.
She shook beneath him. He trembled on top of her. Both of them lay there, utterly spent. Breathless. Shivering.
“I owe you one.” He flailed his left arm out, reaching for the blanket. Grasping the edge, he pulled it over them. “And I’m good for it. Or I will be, if I can ever walk again.”
She mumbled something unintelligible.
“Exactly.” He pulled her limp, boneless body against his.
He liked to think it was her way of acknowledging the feelings growing between them. It wasn’t just about sex. Sex had never been like this.
And he knew it would never be like this with anyone else.
He wanted to tell her he loved her. But she’d only begun to trust him. Last night’s confession had been a huge step in their relationship. He knew he couldn’t push her.
Besides, he had all summer.
He started to close his eyes. Maybe they’d fall back asleep. Then they could enjoy their day off any way they wanted. They wouldn’t even have to get out of bed. He still had some energy bars and bottled water in the RV.
Life was indeed good. It was very good.
A loud banging on his door startled him.
“Kyle, I know you’re in there.” Shit. He knew that voice. “Since you won’t answer your damn phone I had to come up here and drag your ass out of bed.”
“Who in the world?” Fisher asked, the sleepy satisfaction gone from her voice.
“My boss.” Kyle bolted upright. He reached over to the bedside drawer. He grabbed a pair of shorts.
“I thought I was your boss now.” Fisher sat up, the sheet sliding off her.
“He’s my former boss.” He tossed her a T-shirt. “And he doesn’t sound happy I’m not going back to work for him.”
“Oh.” Fisher slipped the shirt over her head.
“I’ll get rid of him. And come back to bed.” He yanked on the shorts and went to answer the door, closing the partition to the bedroom and bath behind him.
“Mr. Wilson, what a surprise.” Kyle opened the door. “Would you like some coffee? It’ll just take a few minutes to brew.”
“I had my coffee hours ago.” He did not sound pleased. “And how many times have I told you to call me JP? I’m not your high school principal.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, we were all up kind of late. There was a wedding here last night and this was my first day off in weeks.” Kyle motioned for him to come inside.
“So you did forget you were sent here to do a job?” JP stepped into the RV, making the space seem too small. “I still expect you to make the deal.”
“About that.” Kyle wished he had a big strong mug of coffee. Hopefully he could get this over with soon and he could grab a cup for Fisher, too. “I don’t think this is the deal you’re looking for.”
“I’m sorry, did you presume to tell me what it is that I want?” JP sat, leaning his elbows on the kitchen table. “Because I’m pretty sure I know what I want. I want this company.”
“It won’t work.” Kyle continued to stand. “The owners won’t sell. Trust me on that.”
“They’ll sell. You’ll make sure of it.” JP glared at him, his steely gray eyes boring into him. Waiting for Kyle to flinch.
“Look, I know I’ve never let you down before.” Kyle had always closed the deal. “But this time, I’m absolutely certain they won’t sell.”
“You’ll just have to find a way.” JP’s voice rose with impatience. “Sleep with someone. Do whatever it takes.”
The door to the bedroom opened. Fisher appeared with a shocked and hurt look on her face. She didn’t say a word as she slipped past him and out the door.
“I didn’t realize you had company.” JP watched her leave. Watched her a little too closely. “I can see now why you’re so distracted from your job.”
“She’s not a distraction.” Kyle felt like he’d been kicked in the chest. “And I think you should leave. We’re done. With this job. With all of it.”
“Oh no. We’re not done here.” JP blocked the door so Kyle couldn’t run after Fisher. “Not by a long shot.”
* * * *
Fisher knew she shouldn’t have listened to Kyle’s conversation with his boss. Not former, but current boss. And his job? Apparently it was to somehow buy Swift River Adventures. To make a deal by any means possible.
Including sleeping with her.
Damn. The man deserved an Oscar for his performance. She’d really believed that he cared about her. Maybe even loved her.
But no. It was all a lie.
He was here to screw over his brothers.
And her.
She ran toward her Jeep, needing to get as far away as possible from Kyle and the horrible man who sent him into her life. Into her heart.
“Whoa, where’s the fire?” Cody tried to get out of her way, but he wasn’t quick enough. She plowed right into him.
“Sorry. I just…” She looked down at her bare feet. She’d put on her dress from the night before, but she didn’t have her shoes. Just her purse. And, thankfully, her keys.
“What did he do?” Cody placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll kill him.”
“No. He’s not worth it.” Fisher felt hollow.
“Hey, look. I know men can be stupid sometimes. But I can see that he cares for you. It’s been obvious from the minute he got here.”
“It’s a lie.” She somehow kept her voice from breaking. Too bad she couldn’t say the same thing about her heart. “He’s just trying to get on the inside so he can somehow buy you out.”
“Like we’d ever sell.” Cody laughed, but she didn’t find anything about this situation amusing. “Especially not when things are going so well.”
“His boss seems pretty determined.” And rich. She could tell just by the clothes he wore. And the attitude. He had that attitude of someone who was used to getting what he wanted. Because he could buy anyone.
He’d obviously bought Kyle.
“You are determined. That’s one of the reasons we gave you this promotion.” Cody wasn’t listening.
“Not me. His real boss. The guy in the suit.” Fisher couldn’t compete with that. “I’d bet he flew a Lear jet up from LA.”
“Yeah, so?” Cody wouldn’t be swayed by a lot of money or flash. “When we started this business, we still rode the rapids in old bucket boats. Some of them were more patches than raft. But we worked our way up. Eventually we bought a couple of self-bailers. And just this last year we were able to purchase more state-of-the-art equipment.”
“Yeah. I know how hard you and Carson worked to get where you are.” Her heart broke, mostly because Kyle was missing out on a relationship with two really great guys. “But he resents everything you have. It’s personal.”
“Whoa.” Cody seemed shocked and maybe a little offended. “Just because he heard rumors that you used to have a little crush on me, that’s no reason for him to resent me.”
Fisher let out a heavy sigh. “First of all, it wasn’t a rumor. I did have a crush on you. A big one. And I told Kyle all about it. The first night we met. But that doesn’t have anything to do with why he wants to destroy you.”
“What are you talking about?” Cody finally dropped his it’s-all-good attitude.
“He’s your brother.” She still felt like she was betraying Kyle, but she couldn’t keep his secret any longer.
“My brother?” Cody just stood there, looking at her like she was nuts. “You’re joking, right?”
She shook her head. “He’s your brother. And he’s never forgiven you and Carson for taking his father away from him.”
“What?” He turned away from her, as if trying to come to grips with the news. “Wait, he thinks we took his father away from him? It was the other way around.”
“What I don’t understand is why your father didn’t bring him here when your grandparents died.” It was one of many questions she’d had.
“You don’t know my father.” Cody’s resentment bubbled to the surface. “He’s by far the most selfish man on the planet.”
“Yeah, well, like father, like son.” She saw the deflated look on Cody’s face and backtracked. “I mean Kyle. Not you.”
“Oh, Fisher. I’m so sorry. I know you really care about him.” Cody put a gentle hand on her shoulder. A gesture of brotherly affection. “And I really thought he cared about you, too.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shook him off. “I should have listened to you. I never should have hired him.”
“He’s a good guide. But then he was well trained.” Cody shoved his hands in his pockets. “It’s too bad I’m going to have to kick his ass.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Fisher knew Cody had her back, but even he couldn’t fix her broken heart. “But you could let him know that he can pick up his final paycheck whenever Lily can get it processed.”
“Damn. I really hoped this would work out for you.” He gave her a quick pat on the back. “I want to see you happy.”
“Hey, it was just supposed to be one night. So I still came out ahead, right?” She couldn’t let on how much she was truly hurting. Especially not with Cody. She was over him. At least she got that out of this whole mess.
She just wished she’d be able to get over Kyle as easily.