The Lion, the Leopard and the Wolf (5 page)

Mac got up and considered looking through her things, to decide what she’d to wear tonight. She felt unusually sexy, but going out in a horse drawn sleigh after dark in Colorado warranted lots of warm clothes. She’d have to settle for keeping sexy to the underwear. The hot-pink, lace-edged push-up bra and matching thong would be her secret weapon below the long johns and sweaters. If anyone got that far tonight, they would have earned their reward after all.

Mac finished dressing and straightened up the mess she’d made of the bed with her afternoon fantasy. She’d just grabbed her coat out of the bedroom when she heard the tap on the door. She looked at the clock. Aaron was on time, maybe even a few minutes early. His gaze lifted to the safety latch when she unbolted the door. She recognized his disapproving expression beyond the door.

“Someone bothering you?” His attitude told her he suspected Trent had been there.

How did he know about Trent? She looked around for telltale evidence then decided to ignore his question.

Instead she opted to tease him with a sexy grin and her own question. “Should I put on my coat or will we be eating in?”

His eyes flashed at the double entendre without answering her question, “I made reservations for us downstairs. We’ll eat there first and then take our sleigh ride. Dessert will be later. You look good enough to eat.”

“Thank you, but I thought Trent was the wolf.”

Aaron laughed. “I didn’t say what I was or wasn’t. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.” He flashed his white, toothy smile and a focused gaze that made her think
predator
. Cat, big cat. That’s what he reminded her of—a sleek-muscled, golden mountain lion.

But she wasn’t feeling much like a lamb to his lion tonight. She returned his smile with a feline grin, bringing an obvious stir to his groin. When he wiped the sweat off his upper lip, she hadn’t missed that either.

“How’s the ankle?”

“Just stiff. I feel silly with this stupid cane.”

“Keep using it and give the ankle a rest, at least for now.”

He took her coat and an elbow as he escorted her down the one flight of stairs to the restaurant. “I’m starving and I’ve heard so many good things about your restaurant.”

“Well, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed tonight. I took the liberty of asking your friend for your favorites today when she called to leave you the message. I hope you don’t mind.”

For a millisecond, the conversation about her secret fantasy popped into her mind, and she prayed Celia hadn’t shared more than her taste in food.

“What? Are you upset because I asked her to choose from our menu for you?”

“Uh, no. just thinking about something else. Thank you. How very thoughtful of you. Although, I might have surprised you. I have been thinking about broadening my experiences and expanding my tastes, lately.”

“Good. Then, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in my selection for this evening.”

Something in the way he said it assured Mac he meant more than the dinner menu. “Neither do I,” Mac admitted frankly. All of her senses yearned for something different from the moment she first walked into this place.

She looked around when they got to the bottom landing. “Where’s Trent?”

He’s getting the sleigh ready and sulking. Shhh, I don’t want to talk about other men on our date.”

“Is this a date? I thought it was your retribution for my clumsiness. Tripping over a rug, which I might remind you was probably my own fault, is hardly cause for a date.”

“The rug should have been tacked down.” He looked concerned. “No matter. Retribution or not, it’s my pleasure to be with you.”

“Oh, you are so very charming, aren’t you?”

He smiled the smile that threatened to bring her to her knees. “I try.”

Dinner was perfect as promised, and not a thing put down in front of her had she ever tasted before. Everything smelled fresh, everything seemed different, and she blessed him for it.

“I needed this. How did you know?” she asked.

“I didn’t, I just guessed. At certain times in a person’s life, change can move them to a new plane. But they have to be ready for it. They have to embrace the change. You seemed to be there. Was I wrong?”

“No, you weren’t. I’m so ready for a change.”

“Then change is what I can offer. Come on. Let’s go drive Trent nuts.”

“Please, Aaron, I feel so bad about this.”

“Why, because he made you come screaming his name this afternoon?” There was no malice in his voice, no sign of jealousy, only a curious question.

She couldn’t help the embarrassed heat that crept into her cheeks. “Well, maybe that. But isn’t this all strange to you? It’s different for me.”

“This isn’t the same as anything you’ve ever done before. Change, right? Go with it, and see where it takes you. Trent and I are alright with it if you are. Don’t make this about us. Don’t worry so much. Okay?”

“Funny, Celia told me practically the same thing this afternoon.”

“What? That Trent and I are okay?” he teased her and chuckled.

“No, not that. That ‘go with it’ part.”

“Then it’s good advice from two smart people who have your best interests at heart.”

“Okay, if you say so, and...you’re sure about Trent.”

“Trust me, Trent is always cranky. He hardly ever smiles.”

“Sure he does...” She stopped herself before she finished her thought.

Aaron raised a brow. “He smiled. Nice work. It must have been when you shouted his name. He has a god-complex. Likes to hear his name called like the divine’s.”

Mac should have been annoyed to discover they’d been discussing her, but Aaron’s interpretation of the event made her laugh instead. “Shut up. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I don’t know why not. He said the expression on your face should be bottled as an elixir. He was pretty impressed. So why did you lock the door?”

Mac suspected they’d get around to that at some point. She decided acting impudent would be her best defense. “I wanted to rest. It seems your little competition is exhausting me. Pleasurable or not, there’s a limit.”

“Is there?” Aaron said nothing more as they climbed into the sleigh. The warmers and the blankets made the seats cozy. Trent had done a perfect job preparing the ride for her and his competition.

“There’s hot cocoa for later and a few snacks in the bag under the seat. Enjoy,” Trent grumbled.

They cuddled up in the sleigh, and Trent snapped a command to the horses. They were on their way. The moon overhead, only a few nights away from full, reflected brightly on the snow-covered ground. Icicles covered the trees from the warmer sun-laden days and the sleigh pulled along quickly over the iced path. The bells jingled on the horses’ halters, making music in the silver night.

“This is so beautiful. What a wonderful experience. I’ve never done this before.”

“Ah, another first. Today has been a day full of firsts, right?”

“Yes...yes, it has. What a wonderful consequence of twisting my ankle.” Mac smiled, and Aaron reached under the blankets and brought her body against his. She could feel his erection pressing into her leg. He bent over her to take the kiss she’d been waiting for since he’d picked her up in her room.

Although Trent couldn’t see them or what they were doing, she could feel his need as if he were sitting right beside her. Mac reminded herself of Aaron’s earlier words. Neither would be jealous of the other. But while Aaron kissed her, she felt Trent calling to her.

“I know this is your turn, but I can’t help feeling bad for Trent.”

Aaron went cold. “Do you want Trent here, now, instead of me? If so, just ask. It’s all right with me. I only want what you want.”

“No, not...instead...not without you. I’m not sure what I want. I do want you. But, I want Trent too. Somehow, someway. I’m so confused.”

Aaron smiled. He looked relieved. “Don’t worry then. As long as you want me.”

He resumed his explorations of her body, distracting her, cupping her between her legs. But, he kept outside her clothes, due to the dropping temperatures.

“This reminds me of a question I have for you.”

“Oh, what is it?” Mac already started breathing hard and wished she could shed her clothes despite the frigid weather.

“The piercing was a great surprise. I’m looking forward to experiencing the added sensation of intercourse with that bar rubbing against my cock. I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve been hard as a rock since I discovered it. Here, feel.” He moved her hand to his rock hard erection, and they both groaned. “God, I’ve been wanting you to touch me all day. Unzip me, let me out of these pants. I’m strangling. Take me in your hand. Rub me, Mac, please.”

She did as he asked and he moaned when she shared her little wish in his ear. “All I’ve wanted to do, since I saw you fill up your pants with this big boy, is take you in my mouth and taste you.”

“Don’t say any more. I’m ready to come now. If you want to taste me, now would be a good time. I’m ready to explode with wanting you.”

Mac put her head under the covers and tasted him. He was too large to take all off him into her mouth, but she licked and teased and sucked until she felt his cock lurch once, twice, three times and his cum spurted into her mouth. She swallowed and licked him clean as he held her tightly against him. The sexual tension in him had eased, but she felt stronger than she could ever remember.

“Ah.” She popped up, out from under the covers and admitted, “another first.”

He clutched her firmly against his body and kissed her mouth with passion. “Thanks,” he said, “I’m honored to be a first. How was I?”

“You were delicious. I’d like to do that again. You smell fantastic, and even though I can’t take all of your length in my mouth, I’d really like to try to take more next time.”

“Christ!” Aaron exclaimed, then choked, his voice sound guttural. “Please, I beg you, stop.” He took her hand and put it back on his dick.

It was enormous and hard all over again.

“See what you’re doing to me?”

Trent’s voice boomed from the seat up front. “You? For God’s sake... You? I’ve already come in my hand up here twice listening to the two of you carrying on back there. I’m gonna have icicles on my balls at this rate. Have a little pity.”

Aaron burst out laughing as he rearranged his clothes. “You’re lucky you’re my partner, or I’d have to fire you for this invasion of a client’s privacy.”

Suddenly, something ran across the path in front of the horses. They shied and took off while Trent tried to control their flight. Aaron held Mac tightly against his body inside the sleigh. The horses ignored Trent’s commands and left the road.

The sleigh careened, first to one side then to the other, threatening to topple over or throw out the passengers holding on for dear life. Mac would always remember the frantic pace of the bells ringing with such contrast to the peaceful calm they’d sounded earlier.

* * * *

Mac strained against the weight she felt burying her in the snow drift. No matter how much pressure she exerted, something or someone had her trapped face down in the drift. She checked to see if she could move her hands, then tried to move her body. With one hand trapped beneath her, she used the other one by her face to dig out space in the snow to breathe. Then she started shouting for Aaron or Trent.

Please let them be all right.

She wiggled her body as much as she could to check for damaged body parts. Apparently she detected no broken bones. Everything appeared intact. Sore, stiff, trapped, but intact. She called out again with a muffled voice, buried under who knew how much snow.

The heavy weight on top of her groaned.

“Aaron, is that you?”

The groan came again, and the mass holding her trapped shifted a little.

“Aaron, try to move off me I’m suffocating under here. Trent, help. We’re here, under here.” If Trent was conscious maybe he could help get them out from under what Mac had come to realize was the tipped over sleigh. Somewhere she heard a horse whinny and another answer. Bells jingled. Funny the sound wasn’t pleasant like it had been before the sleigh turned into a runaway train.

She dug a larger hole for her face and kept calling out for help. Aaron had gone silent again, unmoving. Somewhere by her left arm she felt the snow move, then once more. She started digging frantically in that direction with her free hand until she broke through and grabbed the first thing she could. A large wet nose.

Air. She took a deep breath—air. Something warm and wet nudged her hand. Her fingers wrapped around a leather strap with bells. Mac laughed. The horse kept nudging her hand. “Now’s not the time for an apology, just pull me out. Back up—back, back, boy.”

Mac had no idea whether the horse understood or if it obeyed her command. Maybe it was a coincidence that he turned away and incidentally dragged Mac with him as she hung on to the reins for dear life. In any case, she was relieved to be free.

Still stuck under the sleigh, Aaron at least had a larger pocket of air without Mac taking up the space. She dug her escape opening wider to allow in even more air. Trying to rouse him, she begged him to wake up. No response. Frustrated from digging, she finally collapsed in a heap, breathing huge gulps of air deeply into her lungs.

Within moments the horse returned and nudged her again. She looked around to get her bearings, trying to figure out what he wanted. What did he expect from her when she could still hardly move?

“Trent, where are you?” she called. She scanned the area before rolling to her stomach and struggling to her knees. She tried to stand. When the horse nudged her again, she toppled over. “Not a smart move if you’re really looking to help,” she said as she glared back at the horse. Her ankle still felt stiff, and now she could add a few more bruises and bumps to her list of complaints.

The horse whinnied, this time getting her attention. He snorted and pushed her again. Then he headed into the dense forest along the trail they’d just plowed through. Mac followed the horse, not wanting to stray far from Aaron, but hoped she would find Trent somewhere around in better condition. She wished she’d had the presence of mind to grab her hat as she dragged herself out from under the snow drift but now all she could do was pull her turtleneck sweater higher around her cheeks.