Thunder Snow (Thunder On The Mountain Series) (10 page)

CHAPTER  EIGHTEEN

H
eading home from Boulder a few days later, I glanced at my watch thinking it must be later than I thought. Sam rarely closed early and I was surprised to see it was only 6:30 and all of the lights were out. Going the few blocks out of my way to drive past his house, not only was his car there, but also the car that had been in front of the Amber Rose when I had heard someone leaving through the back door. It was Morning Sun’s car, parked next to Sam’s. Was something wrong? Or maybe it was just a social visit? Had I missed something that was right under my nose?

When I got home, I was glad to see Jack’s car in my driveway. He kissed me firmly on the lips as I came into the kitchen and set down my coat. “Is it possible that something’s going on between Sam and Morning Sun?”

“Why would you think an off-the-wall notion like that?”

“Because the Rose was closed and Morning Sun’s car is in his driveway, that’s why.”

“Can’t imagine a less likely affiliation, but who knows? He’ll tell us in his own good time if anything comes of it.”

“Really, Jack, you can just blow it off like that? Don’t you want to know?”

“What shall I say instead, my love? That I know all about it? That they’ve been seeing each other for a while? Fact of the matter is, I have NO clue, and that’s not a subject I care to speculate about. Now go wash up before your meal gets cold.”

“Okay. I think it’s really sweet to think of Sam having a lady friend. But she’ll have to deal with me if she hurts him."

“You don’t even know if they’re seeing each other. Let’s deal with one day at a time, okay?”

“Oh, sure . . . you go right ahead and burst my bubble,” I said with a sway of my hips and a sassy wink.

“Burst your bubble? Are you kidding me? Have you SEEN Morning Sun?”

“Why, Jack Franklin, what a nasty thing to say. It doesn’t matter what she looks like.”

“It does to me. I sure couldn’t sleep with her.”

“You sayin’ you wouldn’t sleep with me if I wasn’t cute?"

“You’ve got better things to put in my mouth than words. Now go, or I’ll flip you with the edge of the dishcloth.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad.”

With a questioning look, he said, “It wouldn’t?”

“Of course not. Then you’d have to kiss it to make it better.” I headed off to freshen up.

“Thank you so much for the wonderful care you take of me. Today was long and exhausting, and there is no way I would have been able to fix myself something to eat if you hadn’t done it for me.”

“It is my pleasure to serve you, Ms. Weston. When you’re done here, you can take a long soak while I clean up and then I’ll give you a rubdown to help you sleep."

“Are you real?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do people like you really exist or are you a figment of my imagination? Am I going to wake up one day and find you’re a phantom? Did I want you so badly I conjured you up?”

With a sweet chuckle, Jack gently shooed me out of the kitchen. True to his word, the rubdown put me immediately to sleep. Sometime in the night I woke in his arms, having no memory of anything but warm oil seeping into my back with his ministrations.

I wasn’t sure what I had done to deserve him, but I was going to do everything in my power to keep him.
We were standing in the kitchen cleaning up the remnants of breakfast. I loved this time of day, the peace and tranquility of our mornings together, the camaraderie.

“Okay, it’s time. I gotta go help Sam get ready. He’s been telling me what he’s gonna say, and I keep telling him he only has five minutes, not fifty.”

“I’ll meet you over there sometime,” Jack said. “I have some work I need to catch up on. Seems I waste all of my waking hours figuring out your delights.”

“Waste? You really think of it as a waste?” I teased.

“Yeah, we can deal with the semantics of it later,” he said with the smile I had grown to love. “In the meantime, try to help him find the limits of what he’s going to say. He can sure talk your ear off given the opportunity.”

“I’ll do what I can, but don’t count on it. Besides, he’s going to be the star of the show. I’ll just clip his wings a little.”

~~~

Poor Sam was droning on and on, and everyone in the room was starting to get restless. I appreciated his generosity to the town, but couldn’t he just be done already? My feet were aching from standing most of the day, and the wall wouldn’t hold me up too much longer. I thought it was cute that Morning Sun was sitting in the front row, hanging on every word he said. Maybe there really WAS something going on. That old reprobate. I’d ask him when I got the chance.
     My heart started racing even before Jack came up behind me and nuzzled my neck. I could hear the smile in his voice when he whispered in my ear “I have a bone to pick with you.”

“Promises, promises, big fella.” I whispered. “You take my breath away. Hot and moist with just a word. How do you do that?"

“I can still taste what I do to you.”

“Ok, so you can pick your bone with me tonight, but make sure it’s hard. God, I want you.”

“‘Railroad spike’ comes to mind. Just the thought of you does that to me.”

“Wish you could feel how wet your words make me,” my voice as low as I could make it.

“Just think about me being tight in you right this minute. Standing here with no one the wiser. Hard, hot, slippery.”

“I love what you do to me. I want to climb on top of you.”

“I love it when you’re on top,” he whispered in my ear. “It means you move the way that pleases you, and that pleases me.”

“Then imagine me going up and down, sliding back and forth, squeezing.” I tried to keep my voice low so none of the townspeople would hear me.

With an impish grin, I asked, “Do you think people would be shocked if they knew what we were talking about?”

“Nah, they know I can’t keep my hands off you. All of me wants to please you, all of you. You have me so ready.”

Candice was standing across the room. She winked and gave me a thumbs up. If it had been a secret before, it sure wouldn’t be now.

“What happened last night was one of the most fantastic things my body has ever felt,” I whispered. “I didn't know a woman could do that. I didn’t know the body could feel such pleasure and not die from the sheer delight of it.”

“Yeah, I have to admit my heart races at the thought of it. Makes me want to taste you all over again.”

I tried to keep from moaning out loud. “Doesn’t matter what time of day it is, I always want you. Nothing gives me the feeling you do. Sometimes I can’t catch my breath for wanting you. I want my mouth on you right now.”

“Oh, little one, don’t push me. We may shock these good town folk after all if you keep it up.”

“What matters is that YOU keep it up,” I said.

“Wanna see? You cause this problem often. You’re gonna need to take care of it soon.”

“I love it when you threaten me like that . . .”

He got even closer. “I want to describe what you do to me. I have never felt anything like it. Always there, always aware. Can you taste me? Can you imagine your lips around my rim? I want you now. I can feel you now. I need you now. So swollen for you.”

 
With a smile in my voice I said, “I am so ready for you. How do you touch my entire being with just a memory? With just a few words?” 

“It takes just a glance, just a thought, just a word, you do it to me all the time, angel,” he whispered. “We're gonna need to walk the walk soon. I’m getting pretty uncomfortable. Feel like a cord o’ hard wood.”

 “I’ll stay in front of you,” I giggled. “Let’s go.”

Wishful thinking it was. Of course they wouldn’t let their precious Jack Franklin just walk out of the room. Sam was done, but still it took 15 minutes for us to get out of the building. As Jack walked me to my car, he slowed down and turned me to face him. There were people all around, but he didn’t care. He took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. “Your eyes look like emeralds in the reflection of the parking lot lights.”

He put his arm around me and turned me away from onlookers. “You are always with me. There’s not much about you I don’t love," he whispered against my lips.

My heart stopped, then thundered. He had never actually told me he loved me, but I had no doubt. How could we have what we have and he not love me? It would just take time for him to say the words. He pulled me close and spoke as he kissed my neck. “Most of the time it’s not overwhelming, it’s just there. You are always just gentle on my heart."

His words were magical. I reached up to pull his face towards me so our lips could meet and realized we had an audience. Looking around, we saw that most of the people in the parking lot were watching us. As we grinned at our friends, the parking lot erupted into applause and cat calls and good natured fun.

“You gonna make an honest woman outta her, Jack?” inquired one well-meaning neighbor.

“She’s too pretty to let her get away,” offered another.

Everyone was laughing as they walked by, slapping Jack on the back. He took my hand and walked me to my car. “Please can we just go to your place now?” he leered.
 

“That would be nice. I think I can find
something for us to do.”

CHAPTER  NINETEE
N

W
e were standing at the expansive window in the living room looking out over Barker Reservoir at the snow falling sideways because of the wind. It was awesome, and the whitecaps were mesmerizing but angry. Jack's arms were around my waist and my head was leaning back on his shoulder when suddenly I pulled free and ran to the closet. I wanted to get my winter gear so I could try to capture the power of the storm coming in.

"And just where do you think YOU'RE going?" Jack drawled as he leaned against the doorjamb of my bedroom.

"Stay or come with me. I'm going to try to capture some of the magnificence that's out there," I said excitedly.

"I know better than to argue, but you’re not going alone. I'll get my coat." Within minutes we were bundled to face the elements and headed off for what Jack insisted would be no more than a fifteen minute outing.

"Quarter of an hour, no more," Jack shouted above the wind. He was wonderfully patient and indulgent when I got into one of my moods, and I wasn’t going to argue with him.

“Thanks, Jack!” I called, but I wasn’t sure he heard me. I loved this place. I wanted to experience all of it.

“Long ago I stopped noticing the things around me, stopped appreciating them,” he said reflectively, but loud enough for me to hear him. He was leaning against a tree behind me. “You make me feel alive on so many levels, and I see the world fresh and new when I look at it through your eyes.”

His beautiful words touched my heart, but then I remembered our mission. “If you’re only giving me fifteen minutes, I am using every one of them. Save your sweet talk for later so I can show you how much I appreciate it.”

I rushed ahead, but could hear him having no problem keeping up with me. "Not so fast, angel, your wings transport you much faster than we mere mortals can move."

He was close enough to see me in the blinding snow, but stood silently so I could capture the picture of the fox who had not yet noticed my presence. It was getting colder by the minute. Jack thought I would try to fight him, but I knew we wouldn't be able to stay even the allotted time. After the fox moved on, I stood up slowly. I had been frozen in place and it was an effort to move again. Jack came up behind me and had to yell above the rising wind to tell me we would have to head back.

I knew he was right. I lifted my hand in acknowledgment, but didn't want to tell him my lips were too frozen to even reply, even though my face was almost completely covered. Everything was so new. Part of me wanted to get closer to the water in this storm. But I wasn’t going to be foolish. I turned to follow when, without warning, a bobcat leapt in front of me from its hiding place. Startled, I slipped on an icy rock and fell backwards. Although he was only a few feet away, I hit the ground so fast that Jack couldn’t get to me in time to break my fall.

In the mere seconds it took for him to reach me, the snow had already started covering my supine body. I could see the relief sweep through him as I opened my eyes and looked at him.

“Do you hurt anywhere?”

“Other than my pride? I’m feeling a little bruised, but I’ve known worse.” I tried to make light of it. “If you can help me up, I’ll come meekly with you. And you had better enjoy that, because that’s the last time you’ll ever hear me say it.”

“You can’t be
too
hurt, your tongue is still sharp.” Gently he helped me to my feet. When he saw I was moving gingerly, he picked me up, against my protestations, and carried me the short distance home. Closing the door behind him with his foot, he set me down on the couch and started tearing off my clothes.

“Now is probably not the time to get rough with me,” I teased, but as I saw the determination on his face, I fell silent.

Before he removed the last of my clothing, he had his clothes on the floor in seconds and had scooped me up in his arms and was pulling back the covers of my bed.

“What are you doing, Jack? How can you possibly want to . . .” My voice trailed off as his piercing gaze stopped me cold.

“Nothing will get you warmer faster than body heat.” He removed the last of my clothing and settled us under the comforter, my freezing skin against his already warming body. He rubbed my arms and back as he held me close. “What was I thinking to let you get out there? I should have my head examined,” he whispered.

“Of course I’m glad you were here, Jack. If you hadn’t been and I had been alone, you know I would have gone out there by myself."

He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a growl. Before he could reprimand me, I pledged, “I totally understand how foolish it was to get out in this. You have
my solemn vow that I won’t do something like this again. ESPECIALLY if I'm on my own.” As he rubbed life back into my frozen limbs, I had what I thought was a brilliant idea.

“You’ve been involved in building. How much do you know about structural support?”

He smiled his indulgent smile and said, “I can change a light bulb,” as he tucked my head under his chin to give us both some body heat.

“No, listen. You know how they have a ‘crow’s nest’ on a pirate ship? Well maybe daddy could build one off the loft.”

I felt his chest rumble and leaned up on an elbow to look at him. He immediately pulled me back to his chest and I continued.

“We could make it out of glass with a small, sealable opening. That way I would be able to put my lens out of the opening without having to face the raw elements that hit so quickly at this elevation. What do you think of THAT idea, Jack?”

But Jack wasn’t going to be pulled into the discussion. His eyes were closed, I was fully cocooned in his arms, and he lay silently with the hint of a smile on his face.

“I love the way you indulge me,” I teased. His smile was like a pat on the head, telling me to be a good girl and get some rest.

As warmth revisited my body, sleep overtook me. Jack’s body temperature had risen as well, and I was where I loved to be, securely wrapped in his arms. I nuzzled his neck as I drifted off, and my last conscious thought was telling him I loved him. I didn’t care anymore. He was the center of my existence, and I didn’t care if he knew it.

I didn’t know how long I had been asleep when he started kissing me awake. I could feel his arousal against my leg, and I was momentarily diverted with the thought of how quickly things could change . . . one minute I’m frozen in the snow, and then I'm being seduced in a warm bed by my very own rescuer.

“In my whole life I didn’t know you could feel this way about another human being,” he said. "I keep thinking about that cliff; wanting to meet you there, that place only you and I will ever be able to visit in the quiet of our mind. I want you as though I’ve never had you.”

Even if he hadn’t been touching me, his words would have stirred me to passion. I rolled over on top of him, kissing him as though my life depended on it. I wanted to see him, to look at his face that was so pleasing to me as I took him inside of me, as I rocked over him, sending unimaginable sensations into every pore in my body.

“How do you want me, Jack? What can I do to bring you pleasure? What do you see when you close your eyes and imagine this?”

In short, breathless words, he guided me, touched me, bringing us both to the brink. Just as we both reached our climax, the thunder started rumbling down the side of the mountain. Sated, Jack ran his hands through my hair, bringing my lips down to meet his.

“Thunder Snow,” I said, nuzzling his neck. “Did you know that one of the reasons that it rumbles like it does is that the snow works as a sound suppressor? All of the reverberation is enclosed in just a small space.”

Holding my face with both of his hands, he said, “As long as I live, whenever I think of Thunder Snow, I’ll think of this moment.”

Life was good.