It Started with a Kiss (A Sequoia Lake Novel) Read online

  “Still not sure?” she whispered into the silence.

  “I might need another sample.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his back. “Sample away.”

  Ty groaned, and she was laughing as he kissed her, and man she had a great laugh. It filled the air and lit him up from the inside out until he couldn’t feel anything but her.

  Her joy, her passion, her zest for life. It was intoxicating.

  She was intoxicating.

  She tasted like campfire and wild nights, but she kissed like lazy mornings in tangled sheets and—man oh man—she locked those boots of hers low on his hips, encasing him between her thighs and bringing all of their good parts into mind-blowing contact.

  With a low growl, he took over, delivering a kiss that burned hotter than the fire roaring behind them. She must have felt the heat too because her hands fisted in his hair and she purred into his mouth.

  And holy hell, her mouth was a little slice of heaven.

  Everything inside him stilled, and a smile tugged in his chest. “Heaven. You taste like heaven.”

  Those eyes of hers slayed him. “I feel even better.”

  She reached for the zipper of her jacket, and Ty stopped her. “I’ve been wanting to do this all night. In fact, if I had a wish list, me getting you out of that jacket would be on it.”

  “Oh.” She leaned back, resting her hands behind her on his knees. The position caused her thighs to widen and her hair to slide across his legs. “What else is on your wish list?”

  Ty took her in. Hair loose and wild from the ride, she was flushed from heat, and her breasts—a place he’d spent hours fantasizing about getting up close and personal with—pushed provocatively against her jacket. So tight he could see the zipper straining under the pressure. Which caused some straining of his own—right below his belt buckle and a breath away from the promised land.

  Damn, Avery was sexy and sweet and so damn primed he could feel her body hum.

  “I’m more of a doer than a talker,” he said.

  “I like both,” she said, and he could see a hint of shyness tint her cheeks. “The talking and the doing.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Taking the smooth metal pull of the zipper between his fingers, he gave a gentle tug, parting it down the middle enough to see that she was indeed wearing a very pretty blue bra—and not much else.

  No amount of fantasizing could have prepared him for the up-close-and-personal. She was firm and high, with a perfect set of tens in a barely there bra that were from this day forward his personal favorites.

  “Angel, had I known there was nothing but lace under there, I would have had this off back in the parking lot.”

  “It would have made for a nippy ride,” she said with a grin. “And I had to leave the shirt at home. There wasn’t enough room in this jacket.”

  “So nothing beneath this? At all?” he asked, sliding his hands from her hips, over the bottom of the leather jacket, and slowly up to the underside of her bra—then higher. He heard her breath catch, and his chest did some sputtering of its own. “As for the next thing on my list . . .”

  Cupping her ass, he scooped her up and carefully laid her back on the blanket. She looked so ethereal lying there with her hair around her, the fire flickering off her silky skin. Unable to stop himself, Ty leaned and gave her a lingering kiss. Then another. And when she was panting again, straining to get closer, he made good on his word that he was a doer.

  He placed a kiss, wet and openmouthed, at the base of her neck, and she arched into him. Just like that, one touch and she was vibrating. Taking that as the best green light on the planet, Ty trailed little kisses down her throat to the creamy cleavage he’d been dreaming about.

  She smelled good. Like turned-on woman and toasted marshmallows good.

  Ty pulled the zipper down, nipping and teasing the thin patch of silky skin he’d exposed, until the jacket parted, leaving her in nothing but lace, moonlight, and—

  “Avery,” he said, his hand going to an angry scar that started below her sternum and ended by her hip. He lightly traced it, wondering if it hurt, then remembering the way she’d clutched her side at the bar, on their first hike, and this overwhelming protective urge roared in his head. “What happened?”

  “I had a surgery last year when I was sick. But I’m fine now.”

  He didn’t know how she could be fine because nothing about seeing that scar on her fragile body made him feel anywhere near fine. He knew enough about injuries and healing to make a calculated guess at the level of pain and recovery she must have gone through. The thought of it brought on a sense of panic and helplessness—mixed with a good dose of respect.

  Through his career he’d seen some hairy stuff, and nothing ever really affected him. Not like this.

  “I’m okay,” she assured him, but he heard something different in her tone. Uncertainty.

  She pulled the lapels of her jacket closed and tried to sit up. “But if you’re not okay with it, I understand. Some people might find it kind of shocking. At first I did too, but then I got used to it, but that doesn’t mean everyone will.”

  Ty had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that she’d heard it all before, in this kind of situation, and that more than anything tugged at his heart.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, looking her right in the eyes to be sure she understood what he was saying. “Everything about you is beautiful, so beautiful I can’t think straight from wanting you.” He pressed into her to show her the severity of his affliction. “You’re everywhere, lighting up my mornings, helping me through the day. I dream about you at night. You and that smile.”

  He kissed her lips.

  “And your eyes? They’re bright and warm and slay me at every turn. Plus, you have just the right amount of curves, so when I hold you it’s like you were made perfectly.”

  He unclasped her bra and slid it down her arms. Not letting her cover herself, he pinned her hand to his chest and took in the glorious sight. “Perfectly made. For me.”

  When he heard the telltale sniffle that announced the impending appearance of tears, he lightened the mood. He’d promised her a fun night, and he was going to deliver.

  “And that ass of yours, angel. Don’t even get me started. It keeps me up all damn night.” He slipped his hand beneath her and took a handful, and she laughed. It was watery but so damn beautiful.

  “And your laugh lights me up. And this here . . .” He trailed a finger down her scar. “This is a symbol of your strength, and if anything, it makes me want you even more. So all that’s left to ask is, do you want me back?”

  With a small nod, she said, “I want all of you.”

  “Thank Christ,” he said and lowered his head in a kiss that had nothing to do with a stupid challenge and everything to do with wanting to be inside of her since the first minute they’d met.

  He held her with a tenderness that was guaranteed to erase any doubt she might have had. And hopefully any voices from the past whispering in her head. Avery had this way of making people feel accepted for their truth, and he wanted to give her the same gift.

  He kissed her softly at first, wanting nothing more than to savor her all night. But before he knew what was happening, her hands were under his jacket and sliding it off his shoulders, hers hit the ground, and by the time she was tugging at his shirt, they weren’t kissing softly at all. The heat radiating off the fire was almost as intense as the big freaking hot ball of fire that raged between them.

  “Ty,” she said on a breath. “I hope ‘make love under the stars’ is on your list, because it’s not in my journal, and I can’t—”

  “I know, yours doesn’t work that way.” He took in her half-naked state and gave a low whistle. “Good thing mine does.”

  Her hands locked around his neck, and his went for the top of her jeans. The second his fingers moved against the warm skin of her stomach as he undid the first button, the anticipation si
zzled between them. With five more buttons to go, he got to work while she made short order of his shirt.

  His fingers reached the last button, and he discovered that, indeed, the panties matched the bra. He traced the edge of the lace, and she sucked in a breath. So he did it again, and this time her hips pushed into his hand.

  “Please tell me that’s on your list,” she moaned.

  “You mean this?” He delved his finger beneath the lace band to the very tip of her heat and applied the right amount of pressure to have her eyes sliding shut.

  “Yes,” she cried out.

  “Or this?” he asked, dipping even farther, and her hips flew off the blanket.

  “God, yes!”

  “I had to ask because I didn’t know if you meant this instead.”

  Ty tugged the loops of her jeans, sliding them down her hips, her legs, and off. On his ascent, he paused to give her three very wet, very open-mouthed kisses. One on her inner thigh, one on her hip, and the last one right on her center.

  “That!” she moaned. “Keep doing that!”

  “This?” He sucked her through the moist silk.

  “Please, yes!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “More than sure,” she said, and he grinned at the impatience he heard in her voice.

  He nipped at the silk, then pulled it to the side, giving himself complete access. “Because I can always do this if you want.”

  “Oh, I want, Ty,” she pleaded. “I want so badly I feel like I’m going to explode. The only thing I don’t want is to keep talking about it.”

  “Oh, but I thought you liked talking,” he teased. “And, angel, you’re not going to explode, you’re going to fly.”

  And with that Ty proved over and over again just how much of a doer he was. He kissed and teased, nipping until her breath became nothing but choppy gasps and moans. And when her breathing stopped altogether, he slid a finger in, then two.

  With a sweet cry, he felt her walls collapse around him, pressing so hard on his fingers he knew the second she let go, the second she couldn’t hold back because the pain turned to pleasure and she soared. He rode it out with her, wave after wave as she slowly came back down.

  But he didn’t let her get comfortable. Oh no, Ty wanted her to fly so long she’d forget how it felt to walk. So even as her final spasm hit, Ty pulled the condom out of his back pocket. The one he kept there in case he rescued a team of playmates—or ran into a woman he couldn’t walk away from.

  Until he’d met Avery he figured he had a better shot at the first, but now that he’d met her he was glad he’d come prepared.

  He pushed his jeans down as far as they’d go with boots on, then leaned over her, and when she opened her eyes, he asked, “Want to know what’s the top item on my list?”

  She nodded her head with a dazed smile.

  “Making you scream my name.”

  Ty entered her in one long thrust that had Ty’s eyes rolling to the back of his head. All of the flirting and buildup and tension had taken its toll, and all Ty could think of in that moment was, Finally.

  No more denying himself, ignoring the connection, or wondering how great it would be. Because she was here, in his arms, connected in the most intimate way, and it was better than great.

  It was amazing. The kind of amazing that happened once in a lifetime, where timing and anticipation, and maybe even the fucking stars, lined up to create a moment that couldn’t be matched.

  Careful of her scar, Ty slid one hand behind her head, and the other slid down the entire length of that gorgeous leg of hers, locking it behind her knee and pulling it up as he began moving, slowly to let her adjust to the pressure.

  “You okay?” he asked, because he was completely aware that, aligning stars or not, this was as comfortable as it would get. At least lying on the ground in the woods. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he didn’t want to stop either.

  “Yes, but I’m waiting for the me screaming your name part you promised.” She laughed, then lifted her leg, resting it low on his back.

  Slowly, she lifted her hips off the ground to lock her leg all the way around his back, so when she lay back down she brought him with her.

  Pressing his mouth to her neck, he said, “I always make good on my promises,” then slid all the way inside of her.

  When she sighed with pleasure, he pulled back—all the way back—only to give a nice thrust that kicked up the friction and had her moaning. Not his name, but they were getting there.

  She moved with him, faster and harder, and harder still as if she was reaching for more. And he wanted to be that guy who gave her more, he really did, but he also didn’t want to hurt her.

  “I won’t break, I promise,” she whispered, then captured his mouth. His hands were doing some capturing of their own as he braced her against him until they were so close their bodies could only move as one.

  He kept the pace slow but upped the pressure to the breaking point, moving them from amazing straight into mind-blowing, and finally she did this twist of the hips that was off the charts and had him desperately close to blowing. The muscles in his arms strained from holding back, his sanity started to fray, and he was so close—so damn close to not just giving her more.

  But giving her everything.

  “Oh God,” she moaned, her eyes squeezed shut as she bit her lower lip as if that was the only thing keeping her from shattering into a million stars.

  “Look at me, angel,” Ty coaxed. “Open those pretty eyes.”

  She did and that was all it took. Her breath caught and body coiled tight, matching his. And with one last thrust she threw her head back and shouted, “Oh God, Ty!”

  Oh God indeed. Hearing his name rip from her lips was the biggest turn-on of his life. His body stiffened, his heart slammed against his ribcage, and he exploded. So hard the world spun and his arms buckled and he knew that once wasn’t going to be enough.

  Nope, he’d fallen for a woman who wanted all of him. And damn if he didn’t want to give her everything he had.

  CHAPTER 14

  It was a perfect afternoon in the Sierras, Avery thought as she made her way down the stone pathway toward the boathouse, a special to-go lunch from Irene’s kitchen in hand—prepared with love for one Dale Donovan. The lavender was in full bloom, casting a purple glow across the meadows and scenting the air with the first hint of spring.

  Today was a day to celebrate. Caroline was getting prepped for tomorrow’s surgery, Brody was busy fielding calls from senior volunteers—most of them ladies who wanted to know what Brody would be searching for—and Avery was still feeling the afterglow from the best night of her life.

  Ty hadn’t just given her an experience, he’d opened up and given her a part of himself. An important—and heartbreaking—piece to his life. She knew he was leaving and that this too would eventually end, but she wasn’t going to let an expiration date stop her from experiencing everything she could.

  And she had experienced a lot last night. She smiled every time she thought about it, which was so often her cheeks were sore. So was her body—but in the most delicious way.

  Feeling relaxed and a bit giddy, Avery stepped onto the dock. The wood planks shifted under her feet as the water lapped against pylons and shoreline below. A few feet from the boathouse she heard voices.

  Loud, angry Donovan voices.

  She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but their tone was enough to have her sneaking behind a stack of kayaks for a better view. She still couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their body language was enough to tell her this wasn’t going to end well.

  For anyone.

  Normally, this would be Avery’s cue to step in and defuse the situation. Her job was to manage the office and clear away the falling debris caused by Dale’s erratic temper. Today, she had been expected to bring him a warm lunch since Irene was at her knitting class. What she hadn’t expected was to mediate an argument between her boss and a guy who, as of
recently, knew what her O-face looked like.

  The smart move would be to leave family business between the Donovan family and head back up to the office to finish her day’s work. She was already taking off an hour early to go to the hospital. Nothing could cap off her perfect day better than giving Caroline her crown.

  Avery had never been good at taking the smart path. She’d spent her whole life trying to follow her heart. Especially when two people she cared for were headed for an argument that would end with a world of hurt. So she positioned herself right outside the doorway and perked up her ears—in case there was an opening for her to help.

  “This lodge has been hosting Senior X-Treme on this weekend since my dad was running things,” she heard Dale shout.

  “I know, and I understand why you’re upset,” Ty said, and Avery could tell he was working hard to keep his tone gentle. “But this year we are overbooked, down a guide, and we have Cal-SAR coming next week. So unless you want to fail that inspection, we have to reschedule.”

  “Why?” Dale asked. “I can handle it, been handling this lodge and this trip for over thirty-five years.”

  Avery didn’t want to stick her nose in when it seemed like Ty was handling things pretty well, but she couldn’t help but inch closer to press her ear to the wall.

  “Fern Falls requires ground transportation, and since you can’t drive—”

  “I am an excellent driver,” Dale argued.

  “Not according to the State of California. Plus, I already talked to Mr. Fitz about rescheduling for after SAREX.”

  “You’ve only been here for a few weeks and already you’re making a mess of things.” Dale’s tone was clipped and accusatory. “What will people say if I don’t show up?”

  “I don’t know, Dad.” Ty’s voice took on an edge that was not good. “That you should have hired a new guide three seasons back?”

  Avery’s hand flew to her mouth, and she silently shook her head, as if the motion could take back Ty’s last words.