No Fantasy Required by Cristal Ryder Page B

Tauni made a point of looking at both of us and she rubbed my ankle lightly.
    “Well, maybe we’ll have the opportunity to get together when we all leave here.”
    “That would be nice. We should definitely try to.” Tauni placed her empty glass down on the cedar table.
    I had the uncontrollable urge to say something. I thought quickly and with the obvious staring right at me. “Why don’t you join us for dinner?” I glanced back at Brian and searched his face to see if he minded. Maybe he wanted a private dinner with just the two of us, or was I looking for approval?
    “Fine with me.”
    “I would like that. Thank you.”
    Suddenly I was famished. The cocktails mellowed me and piqued my appetite, for more than just food too.
    “Well, I think I shall leave you both to enjoy the fire and prepare for dinner.” Tauni stood up gracefully. “Meet you in an hour or so?”
    “Perfect.”
    Tauni leaned down and gave us both a kiss on the cheek. Then she disappeared down the snowy path. I hadn’t noticed before how pretty it looked but did as I watched her leave. Sparkly lights that wound through the trees lit the path piled high with snow on either side with a magical glow.
    After she left we sat for a few more minutes, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the wood smoke tang on the crisp mountain air. I watched as other couples left the deck and made their way back to the lodge.
    I snuggled up to Brian and he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I grew a little impatient to be on our way. “Maybe we should think about heading back and getting ready?”
    “Whenever you want to, sparky.”
    Anxious to get going, but not ready to leave just yet, I enjoyed the fine buzz and being curled up next to Brian in the wonderful mountain air. I rested back against him, cozy and comfortable within his arms. “This is nice. We’ll go in a minute.”
    The fire died down to coals and most of the guests had left the deck. No one lined at the bar and the bartender busied himself with wiping down the counter and putting the bottles back on his cart to wheel down to the main lodge. It was time to go.
    “Oh, I’m so comfortable.” I stretched and I sat up. The warmth of Brian’s body next to mine was a stark contrast to the cool I felt as we separated. “Come on, baby, time to get ready.”
    “Give me a pull.” Brian reached up his hand. I grasped it with both my own and pulled back with all my weight, helping him to hoist off the lounge.
    I felt very energetic all of a sudden and dashed away down the path. But not before I scooped up some snow and tossed it at him. I wanted to egg him on into a little fun play.
    “You’re asking for it.” Brian called after me. He was hot on my heels. I knew I couldn’t outrun him, but I tried and then my feet slid out from under me. I found myself almost headfirst in a drift between two trees.
    “Ha! See, gotcha.” He piled on top of me and held me down in the snow. “Serves you right.” The corners of his eyes crinkled from his smile and a deep sense of contentment seeped through me. How I loved this man.
    I wound my arms around his neck and he didn’t need encouragement. His face dipped down to mine and our lips touched in a very tender kiss. Soft and sweet. We clung together, our noses cold against each other’s cheek. But it heated us, as it always did. Slowly our sweet and tender kiss turned into a passionate and deep one. I met his tongue with my own and we held tightly, the bulk of our coats buffering us from each other’s body. But he pressed his hips to me and I could barely feel his erection through the clothing. It always thrilled me to know how little it took for him to get hard for me. He would have to stay that way for a little while and I would have to stay hot for him too. Both of us on a razor’s edge of passion until later.
    He pulled away. “Come on, baby, we’d better get ready. We could have a busy night ahead of us.” And he winked at me.

Chapter 9
    Nerves.