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  “I think we’ve got a little misunderstanding here,” Elise said, placing a hand flat against Corey’s chest. “I’m used to being in charge.”

  “Oh no, I understand perfectly. But I’m not one of your school chums. I’m a competitor.”

  “Oh, a competitor?” Elise asked, her smile becoming almost predatory. “Do we want to make this about our drive to win, because I fear you might be outmatched.”

  Corey’s mouth went dry at the sight of Elise so gloriously cocky above her. If she’d been commanding on the slopes, she was captivating now. It was almost a shame to have to prove her wrong, but that little “outmatched” comment had to be dealt with, and the time for negotiation had long passed.

  Sitting up with Elise still astride her lap, Corey cupped two handfuls of her firm ass and massaged while her mouth found a hard nipple straining beneath the tight-stretched lycra of her sports bra. Elise threw her head back and arched into her mouth, her long, blond hair dipping low enough to brush the tops of Corey’s core in the most scintillating tease of things to come.

  She used Elise’s momentary distraction to rid them of the barrier the bra provided and immediately went back to lavishing attention on her full breasts. Then, bringing her hands between them, Corey worked one of them downward until it slipped beneath the band of Elise’s boy shorts. Firm abs gave way to a soft swell, and Corey’s breath caught as she got closer to the place she’d dreamed of more than she should have. Elise’s hips rocked forward at the touch, and the heat radiating from her athletic form ratcheted up another notch.

  Sinking lower, Corey’s fingers brushed against sensitive skin. Elise gasped, letting her know she’d found what they both needed, and the tension faded from the hard muscles trembling against her. Elise melted into the palm of her hand, and Corey eased her slowly back onto the bed. Refusing to break the precious contact for even a second, she worked and stroked and teased while she extracted her legs from under Elise’s long form. Elise made no protest this time as Corey cupped one breast in her hand and used the other to peel off the final barrier between them. Then she settled her own hips between the meticulously sculpted thighs she’d long admired.

  Corey sought the blue eyes that had held her captive so many days and nights. She found them darker and heavy-lidded. Corey wasn’t even sure if Elise had the wherewithal to answer the unspoken question as arousal clouded all of their senses, but this wouldn’t be an act of conquest.

  “Elise,” she managed, “I want you.”

  “Yes.” The word came out on in rush of breath, and the long wait ended as Corey pushed inside her.

  Elise’s chest rose and fell with increasingly shallow breaths. She hooked a long, talented leg over Corey’s hip and pulled her harder against her center, while her body coaxed her fingers deeper inside. Corey sought their natural rhythm the way she might seek a fall line, graceful and instinctively as they crested and fell together. The earlier clash and struggle had long since subsided. Now they moved with athletic precision. Elise closed her eyes as her head sank into the thick, down comforter, but Corey couldn’t look away, not even long enough to kiss her again. She touched and rocked and stroked, but she couldn’t break the hypnotic spell of the woman beneath her. She wanted to watch her writhe, to memorize the sight of her beautiful body arched in pleasure, to see her always as she was right now, and yet continue to see her fully in every other minute from here on out.

  The full impact of that thought hit her squarely in the chest, as Elise tightened around her and shuddered. Corey rode out the release to the soundtrack of her own pulse as the images of Elise burned into her mind’s eye. The glares, the reluctant smiles, the ferocity of her hard-set jaw and the supple arc of her body bent to their shared will. Even as she remained fully inside of her, she couldn’t help feeling as if their reality was the other way around.

  • • •

  “God,” Elise exclaimed, as she stared up at the ceiling of Corey’s bedroom. “That was so much better than I expected.”

  Corey sat back on her heels, her features especially golden in light streaming low through the windows. “Um, thanks?”

  She laughed. “That’s not how I meant. You turned my brain to mush.”

  “Just your brain?”

  Elise rolled her head from side to side, then flexed the muscles in her arms and legs. “Yes, only the brain is mush. My biceps are pudding, and my thighs are more like Jell-O. I expected some wrestling, but I wasn’t prepared for a complete meltdown.”

  “I know you think we boarders crash into each other all the time, but I never take by brute strength what I can earn with finesse.”

  A low hum of contentment escaped her throat, “Finesse. Yes, that’s an apt description.”

  Corey straightened her shoulders, her grin taking on the cocky little twist that always drove Elise crazy.

  “Don’t look so pleased with yourself.”

  “Why not? I turned the ice princess into a puddle. How many people can say that truthfully?”

  “Not many,” Elise admitted reluctantly, then silently added, not any. The realization caused that disconcerting little twinge in her chest she’d come to associate with Corey. Normally she’d start searching for an excuse to distance herself from the emotions building in her, but with such a beautiful body nearly naked in front of her, she had other ideas about how she might reassert her own interests.

  Sitting up, she kissed Corey, their tongues intertwining as she raked her fingernails up her ribcage before tracing along the soft curve of her breasts. Finally she flattened both hands across her chest and pushed hard. Corey tumbled over backward until her head hit the lush pillows, her hair and tan skin standing out beautifully against the pure white sheets. Corey started to prop herself up on her elbows, but Elise shook her head. “Not this time. I’ve got your game plan now.”

  “What makes you think I’ve only got one game plan?” Corey asked cheekily. “I promised you multiple times and all the things. You didn’t think I’d bring any reruns, did you?”

  “I honestly didn’t think about this much at all.”

  Corey raised her eyebrows. “You have such a way of making your lovers feel special.”

  “Oy.” She shook her head. “That didn’t sound how I meant it at all. I only meant I hadn’t let myself fixate on this moment. I couldn’t. If I did, I’d have to admit how much I wanted you. No, that’s not it. I knew I wanted you, physically at least, but I could easily brush physical attraction off as stupid hormones or a momentary lapse in judgment.”

  “When you put it that way . . .” Corey grimaced.

  “I’m not good at all the emotional stuff. You said yourself, I’ve got an ice princess reputation. I haven’t exactly met many people who wanted to get past that, and even fewer who actually had the skills to do so, especially at a time when I had other things I should’ve been focusing on. If I let myself daydream about how good you are at kissing or what it might feel like have your hard body pressed against mine . . . .” Her eyes flicked over Corey’s torso once more, and her train of thought derailed. “Or run my tongue over those amazing ridges in your abs . . .”

  “Yeah. I see what you mean.” Corey’s hazel eyes danced with mischief once again. “Doesn’t sound like you let yourself think about me at all.”

  “Fine, maybe I let myself go there a time or two, but I couldn’t dwell on the possibilities. You have the potential to be distracting.”

  “I really do,” Corey admitted with another big smile. “But it’s me and you now. No one to interrupt. Nowhere else to be. You can let your mind or your hands or any other body parts wander wherever they want.”

  “Except you keep getting grabby.” Elise tried to sound stern, but suspected she failed. The prospect of having Corey all to herself, to do with what she pleased, made it hard for her to stay firm about anything.

  “I promise to try harder to behave, for a solid ten minutes at least.”

  “Oh.” Elise bent forward, letting their bar
e chests brush against each other lightly as she lowered her mouth to Corey’s ear. “Ten minutes will barely be enough to get started.”

  “I thought skiers were faster than snowboarders.”

  “We are, but we also run longer courses.” She ran her tongue along Corey’s neck and across her shoulder. “Don’t worry, though. I’m sure you’ll be able to keep up.”

  Corey opened her mouth, undoubtedly to make some smart retort, but Elise quickly kissed her, deep and hard, her tongue sweeping across Corey’s and using more than words to let her know playtime had ended.

  They made out for several minutes, mouths and hands growing bolder. She loved the way Corey’s muscles tightened under her fingertips, and took her time trying different types of touches on different areas. A gentle caress on her bicep, the flat press of her palm against her stomach, the little dig of fingernails into her back. Corey’s magnificent body responded to them all. She could play her like a fine instrument all night, if not for the mouth-watering temptation to taste her.

  Dragging her lips across Corey’s neck, she paused only long enough to feel the flutter of the pulse point above her collarbone, then ran her tongue along the defined ridge before moving south again. She circled her mouth along Corey’s breasts and did nothing to hide her smile as Corey arched her chest up to deepen the contact. She might talk a good game about giving, but the little signs from her body betrayed her desire to receive what Elise had to offer. Gratified by the confirmation of their shared need, Elise bowed her head to the unspoken request giving Corey’s chest the attention it deserved. She got a thrill from the hum of pleasure that escaped Corey’s throat, enough to keep her in place a moment longer, but she couldn’t focus there for long with the abs that had distracted her for months mere inches away.

  Edging lower on the bed, she slid her mouth down Corey’s sternum to her upper abdomen. She ran her lips over the defined ridge, then placed a kiss on either side before tracing the dividing line the length of her stomach. As she neared the waistband of the dark boxers, Corey’s core tightened in anticipation, making her six-pack pop, and Elise groaned in pleasure. Easing back up, she traced the new definition with her tongue, tasting the first hints of salt across the toned torso.

  She explored every inch, every ridge, dipping into each crease of her obliques and teasing the individual sections of her abs. Whenever she’d dip low enough, Corey’s hips would lift off the bed only for Elise to reverse course, until finally Corey barely managed to strangle a growl. The noise twisted something inside of Elise, and she smiled both at their shared understanding that she could carry out this exquisite torture for as long as Corey could, and the realization she didn’t want to. Corey had been patient long enough, and while she envisioned coming back to this spot again sometime soon, it wasn’t the only place on the map of her body worth exploring.

  Sitting up on her knees between Corey’s legs once more, she hooked her fingers in the elastic waist of her boxers and slowly pulled them down. Corey eagerly lifted her hips to help the process along, then kicked the shorts to the floor with a heavy sigh of relief. Elise felt something more complex, equal parts arousal, awe, and honor. Corey’s body was sheer perfection, but the idea that she’d let down her playful guard and her competitive instincts to lay herself bare made Elise feel somehow unworthy. She had the unreasonable urge to stop and apologize for every snide remark, for every time she’d underestimated her or taken her company for granted. Thankfully, the need to touch her, to taste her, to make up for lost time rushed hot and heavy through her as well.

  Coming to rest between her strong legs, Elise breathed deeply, memorizing this view of Corey, open and anticipatory, one hand cocked behind her golden head, the other tangled in the sheets between them, her lids low over cat-like eyes, and her bottom lip caught between her teeth in an admirable show of restraint. Elise lowered her head and ran her tongue in delicate circles. Corey’s hips rocked in time to the rhythm she’d set, and together they molded in unison. The dance was beautifully natural, so intuitively right, Elise had a hard time imagining any time in the past when they hadn’t felt close or any moment in the future when they would be apart.

  Corey’s hand settled on the back of her head, but without even the slightest pressure as she sifted her fingers through Elise’s hair. She never groped or pushed, but neither did she shy away from showing her need. Her hips moved in ways to direct Elise toward their mutual goal, her fingers stroked and twitched their encouragement, her breath grew shallow amid little cues, of “Yes, right there.” She loved the way Corey brought her good-natured, self-assured characteristics even to this moment, but she wouldn’t mind testing those limits a little bit.

  Using her shoulders to urge Corey’s legs farther apart, Elise eased inside with one steady push. Corey arched almost fully off the bed. She tightened around her almost immediately, and Elise could sense the impending release. Pulling out slowly, she timed her next thrust with some increased pressure from her tongue, and Corey’s hips lost all semblance of a rhythm. Her own heart hammered in her chest, nearly as erratic as the ragged breath escaping Corey, her gentle words now reduced to incoherent groans and grunts. The only thing she could verbalize by the next press forward was her name, said in both praise and plea.

  “Elise.” Corey rose, fell, and called out once more, “Elise.”

  Then her thighs quaked and her core trembled as Elise did everything she could to stay focused on giving—or was it taking?—every last bit of pleasure she could before they both collapsed to the bed in winded, spent heaps.

  As their breathing returned to normal, Elise hesitated to join her back at the head of the bed. The feelings she experienced needed to be sorted out, compartmentalized. The attraction wasn’t new. She knew where it belonged. The fondness, the desire to feel close to Corey wasn’t disconcerting at this point, either. She cared for her, convenient or not, and she’d at least made her peace in that area. But the wonder, the awe, the desire to make up for lost time and project into the future didn’t mesh with either of their needs to live in this moment. Then again, worrying about future consequences didn’t do much for the moment, either.

  Pushing herself up, she noticed the last hints of orange had faded from the jagged mountain horizon. Dusk had fallen, and as she glanced back at the beautiful body beside her, she realized she might be falling, too. She’d hoped having her would sate the need, but she now suspected, in the case of Corey LaCroix, that there may be no delineating between the conflict and the cure.

  “Come here,” Corey said, her voice rich and deep with the remnants of her arousal, or maybe a resurgence of it. Corey opened one arm wide, and Elise settled with her head on her shoulder. Corey pulled the sheet over them both, but from the rapid beat of her heart and the way she worked her skilled fingers down along the curve of Elise’s hip, it became clear they’d only entered phase two.

  As Corey slid her palm over her stomach and back up to cup her breast, Elise gave a little hum of contentment. With those hands on her once more, there was no future to contend with, as least not one far enough away to be worried about now. Any problems they’d created would still be there tomorrow, but tomorrow felt a long way off as she pondered all the prospects of one gloriously long night with Corey.

  Chapter 14

  Dreams of Elise had filled the few hours between their collapse and the morning sun streaming between the Adirondacks. The scent of Elise’s shampoo filled her senses even before she opened her eyes, bringing with it the slow realization that her Christmas wish had been answered. She smiled, still in the semi-slumber stage before fully waking.

  “How do you do that?” Elise whispered.

  “Do what?” Corey rolled onto her side and let her eyes flutter open.

  “Start smiling before you’re even awake?” Elise asked, her blue eyes paler and brighter than ever in the early morning light.

  “I’m not sure I do every morning, but it’s Christmas, and Santa gave me what I wanted.”


  Elise’s mouth quirked up. “Are you sure Santa gave you what you wanted? Because I think I may have had something to do with filling those requests.”

  Corey pushed up onto her elbow to view the full line of Elise’s long body under the thin, white sheet. “You’re a lot better to wake up to than Santa.”

  “I should hope so,” Elise said, her tone light and playful. “I probably spend more time in the gym than he does.”

  “Probably.” Corey closed the gap between them and kissed her, slowly easing Elise onto her back and climbing on top of her. A few sore muscles protested, but her libido egged her on. Pressing up on fully extended arms, she stared down at the stunning woman beneath her. “Have I mentioned lately how awesome that whole gym thing is working out for you? ’Cause, wow.”

  Elise placed her hands on Corey’s hips and pulled her down more fully on top of her. “You’re doing pretty well in the wow department yourself.”

  They kissed again, rolling back onto their sides, legs intertwined, but as they got going, Corey’s stomach gave a low growl.

  Elise pulled back. “Are you hungry?”

  Corey considered her answer. Her hunger existed on multiple levels, and she couldn’t yet decide which one she most wanted to fill.

  “Please say you’re hungry,” Elise said.

  “Why?” Corey laughed. “Are you?”

  “Famished,” Elise said dramatically. “You held me captive since like three o’clock yesterday without anything to eat.”

  “Oh, I’m a terrible hostess.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far. You made up for the lack of food in other ways.”

  “And to be fair,” Corey added, “your mouth was busy for a great many of those hours.”

  Elise rolled her eyes, but she smiled. “Fair point.”

  “Still, I’ll never let it be said a stay at Chateau LeCroix can’t meet all your needs.” Corey sat up against the will of every nerve ending begging her to stay pressed against Elise’s naked form. “Let’s venture to the kitchen, where I happen to have an assortment of pastries, fruit, juices, and maybe even a bottle of champagne to start the holiday right.”