Sunshine Over Snow (Summer Lake Seasons Book 3) Read online

  Roxy was relieved to be out in the fresh air. She was still struggling to decide how she felt about him holding back like that. She wanted to be glad that he would rather take it slow, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

  He took hold of her hand as they walked the short distance to the end of his street. Instead of turning the corner to follow the path toward town, he led her down another path that disappeared into a stand of trees.

  She looked up at him with a smile. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see in a minute.”

  And indeed, in just a few minutes, they emerged on the other side of the trees, and to her surprise, they were standing on a long thin stretch of beach.

  “Wow! I didn’t even know this was here.”

  “Not many people do. I’ve been coming down here since I was a kid. It’s like my own private beach most of the time. I’m usually the only one here, but I don’t mind sharing it with you.” He leaned down and dropped a kiss on her lips.

  “Aww, aren’t you the sweetest?”

  He swaggered his shoulders. “I’m doing my best.”

  They walked in silence for a while along the water’s edge. It was getting colder, and the sky almost had the look of snow.

  “Are you okay?” asked Logan. “Do you want to go back?”

  “Not yet. It’s so pretty out here. Unless … Are you cold?”

  “I’m fine. I was just thinking about you.”

  “Do you come down here often?” She hadn’t thought of him as being the kind of guy who would come down to the beach by himself.

  “I do. I try to get down here most days, either before work or afterward. It’s peaceful. It helps me clear my mind.”

  Roxy hadn’t ever thought of him as someone who had so much on his mind that he needed to clear it. “Is work stressful?”

  “It can be, but I love it. I landed on my feet when Nate offered me the job. It’s a lot of responsibility, but I enjoy it.”

  “What did you do before?”

  “I paid my dues. I went down to LA and worked in construction there.”

  “Wow. I didn’t know that. I thought you’d always lived here. What made you come back?”

  “I missed the place. I wasn’t made to live in the city. This is my home; it’s where I’m from, where my people are.”

  “Your people? How many of your family are still here?”

  “Like I said, my folks are in Arizona, one of my sisters lives in the city, she was the one who helped me find work down there, but my other two sisters are still here.”

  Roxy nodded, surprised that she hadn’t even known that about him. “Is it weird that we’ve hung out so much over the last couple of years and yet know so little about each other?”

  “I don’t think so. We’ve only really connected through our group of friends, and most of them don’t have family here. In fact,” he grinned at her, “most of you are imposters.”

  She laughed indignantly. “You think of me as an impostor?”

  He slung his arm around her shoulders. “No, not really. I’m glad you’re here. But you only came here for the job at the Lodge, right?”

  “I did. I guess I’m like you. I’m not made for the city either. I was working at a big hotel in LA, but I was miserable. I’d been up here a couple of times for weekends away, and when I saw that they were advertising for people to work at the Lodge, I applied straight away. I already knew I loved it here.”

  “Was it a smart career move for you?”

  She gave him a puzzled look. “I don’t suppose it was. I was in the fast-track management program in LA. I could have worked my way up and done well. It’s different here. Angel is the general manager, and I’d guess that she’ll be here for life. That means the most that I can aspire to is to be her second-in-command. So, as far as a career move goes, it probably wasn’t the smartest. But as far as I’m concerned, it was a great life move.”

  He stopped walking and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. There was no mistaking the desire in his eyes as he looked down into hers, but there was something else in them, too. Something she didn’t understand.

  “I hope it was.”

  She gave him a puzzled look.

  “I hope that coming here will turn out to be a great life move for you.”

  A shiver ran down her spine. She didn’t want to let herself believe that he meant what she thought he did. It sounded like he was talking about them getting serious. But she was probably just letting her imagination get carried away. Him asking her to be his girlfriend was as serious as it got for him. She knew that.

  She sagged against him as he cupped the back of her head with his hand and claimed her mouth in a deep, slow kiss. She snuggled closer against him, wanting to feel the warmth of his body—and hoping he might get the message about just how much he was heating hers up.

  He lifted his head and searched her face. “I want you, Rox, but it’s up to you. We should head back to the house. It’s too damned cold out here, but when we get there, I need you to decide if it’s time for you to go home.”

  She held his gaze for a long moment. Her mind was struggling to remember all the reasons that it would be better to go home. Her body wasn’t interested in whatever those reasons might be. Instead, it was straining to get closer to his, feeling as though waves of electricity were zinging through her, zipping from her taut nipples that were crushed against his chest down to the place between her legs where the heat and anticipation were building.

  “I understand if you say you want to leave.”

  She shook her head slowly. “I don’t.”

  He smiled and turned her around to face the way they’d come, then stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, marching her back toward the trees.

  She laughed. “What are you doing?”

  Shivers chased each other down her spine when he spoke next to her ear. “Taking you straight home before you change your mind.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Roxy looked nervous when they got back to the house. Logan took her coat and hung it in the hallway next to his. He closed his arms around her and hugged her to his chest. All the way back, he’d had visions of undressing her right here in the hallway just as soon as they made it through the door. Now that they were here, he knew he had to take it slower than that. She was tense, and that wasn’t how he wanted this to go.

  “Do you want another beer?” he asked.

  “I thought …” Her cheeks flushed, and she didn’t meet his gaze.

  He rested his chin on top of her head and hugged her closer. “Are you in a big hurry? I didn’t realize you wanted to go straight at it.”

  She chuckled. It felt good to feel her move in his arms like that. She was relaxing.

  “Don’t worry. I haven’t changed my mind, but I’d rather just let it happen. Now that we’re back here, now we know we both want it to, I imagine it’ll just develop naturally.” He winked at her. “Unless you’re the kind of girl who prefers a set schedule? Five-ten get back to the house. Five-twenty, clothes are removed. Five-twenty-five, insert tab A in hole B?”

  She laughed and slapped his arm. “No. That isn’t what I had in mind. You’re right. Now that we’ve cleared the air, we can just relax and see what happens. So, yes, I would like a beer.”

  He went to get them from the fridge and stopped in the doorway to the living room on his way back from the kitchen. She’d taken a seat on the sofa and had her legs curled up beside her. She looked relaxed, at home—his heart thudded to a halt; she looked like she belonged here!

  She met his gaze with a smile. “What’s up? Am I not supposed to put my feet on the furniture?”

  He came in and set the drinks on the coffee table. “I was just taking in the beauty.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to bullshit me. I’ve already told you that I’m …” She dropped her gaze, looking embarrassed. For some reason, that turned him on. He was used
to women who openly told him what they wanted. Her hesitation was so much sexier than that.

  He raised an eyebrow as he sat down beside her. “That you’re what?”

  Her lips quivered into a smile. “You know, you don’t need to make me say it.”

  “Maybe I want to hear you say it.” His cock strained in his pants, dying to hear her say that she wanted him.

  “You don’t need to say all the right things to get me to sleep with you; that’s what I mean.” She picked up her drink and took a big gulp. “Though, I might need a bit of Dutch courage.”

  “I’m not trying to say the right thing, Rox. I’m telling you what I see. You’re beautiful.”

  She shrugged. “I’m okay. I’m not exactly your usual type, though, am I?”

  He didn’t want to go there. He didn’t want to talk about the girls who were his type—especially since that had more to do with their willingness than their looks.

  “Come on, I’m not a small girl, we all know that. You usually go after model types, pretty faces, perfect bodies.”

  He needed to make her stop. He couldn’t stand to hear her compare herself unfavorably to the girls he hooked up with. That was all they ever were—hookups. He put his arm around her and moved her so that she was sitting with her legs across his lap. “They might be pretty, but you’re beautiful.” He allowed his fingertips to graze the side of her breast and felt her body react to the slight touch. “You have the perfect body. Perfect for me.”

  She looked up into his eyes. He’d half expected her to protest, but she didn’t, so he continued, allowing himself to rest his hand on her thigh and slowly move it up. “You’re gorgeous, Rox. Don’t go thinking that I didn’t want you from the first time I met you. The only reason I didn’t do anything about it was because you were too real. You called me out on my shit right from the get-go.”

  She nodded. “I’m not calling you out on it now.”

  “I’m not feeding you shit. I’m telling you the truth.” He leaned closer and sucked her bottom lip. “Whether you believe me or not.”

  Her arms came up around his neck. “I want to believe you.”

  He nodded and nuzzled his face into her neck as he spoke again. “It’ll take time, I get that. I don’t mind. I’ll show you, time and time again.” He trailed his tongue over her collar bone and loved the way her breasts heaved in response.

  “You mean that, don’t you?”

  He hadn’t expected her to question him again, and he smiled when she did, moving his hand farther up her thigh as he nipped at her neck. “I do, but I’m getting the impression that words aren’t going to be enough to convince you.”

  Her fingers tangled in his hair as he kissed his way down between her breasts and finally allowed himself to close his hand around one of them.

  “Oh,” her voice was low and breathy.

  “I think I need to show you.”

  “I think you do.”

  He looked up into her eyes and was pleased to see that they were glazed with lust. He had a feeling that they matched his own.

  She cupped his face between her hands and brought him up to kiss her. The hunger with which she kissed him back urged him on. He was an expert at maneuvering a woman to where he wanted her without ever breaking the kiss, and in no time, they were lying on the sofa, his hand just underneath her sweater, his fingers itching to remove it and her bra so he could finally hold her plump breasts.

  She offered no resistance as he slipped his hand up her back and unhooked her bra, and she moaned when he slid his fingers underneath it. Her nipple was a taut peak that he circled with his thumb, drawing a moan from her that made him even harder.

  He got rid of the sweater and the bra and then pulled his own shirt up and off. She lowered her head and kissed his chest, making him close his eyes and reach for the zipper on her jeans. A few moments later, only her panties and his shorts remained. He watched her face as he dipped a finger inside her panties.

  “Are you sure?” He had to ask again.

  She nodded breathlessly and took him by surprise when she slid her hand inside his shorts and closed her fingers around him. “I’m sure.” She stroked the length of him. “I want you; I want this.”

  He wanted to go slowly to make sure she was okay, but she was pumping her hand up and down now, making him close his eyes and relax into it; it felt so good. But no. He moved his hips to the side, freeing himself from her grasp, and pushed her panties down.

  He slid to the floor and kneeled there to get rid of the panties, then held her knees apart and kissed her thighs. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he worked his way up. Her muscles trembled under his fingers when he finally trailed his tongue over her opening. She was already soaking for him.

  “Logan!” she breathed.

  He reluctantly lifted his head. “You want me to stop?”

  She shook her head rapidly. “Don’t you dare!”

  He chuckled and dipped his head again. He slid a finger inside and felt her tense, her muscles clenching him tight, making him realize he wouldn’t be able to hold out for long. He needed to feel her do that around his cock, not just his finger.

  He needn’t have worried about this taking too long. She began to rock her hips and let out low moans. “Oh, Logan, that feels so good.”

  He moved his hand and his tongue in time with her, not sure who picked up the pace, but knowing for sure as she gripped his finger and his hair tighter and tighter, that she was close.

  “Oh, oh, oh! Logan! Yes!”

  He thrust his finger deeper and deeper as he felt her come, lapping her with his tongue and taking her taut clit in his mouth to suck harder and harder until she finally stilled.

  “Oh, wow!”

  He looked up at her, and the sight of her flushed face above her heaving breasts deterred him from giving her the breather that he’d planned to. He got rid of his shorts and sat on the sofa beside her, pulling her into his arms to kiss her, then fondling her amazing breasts as he drew her on top of him, straddling his lap.

  She gasped as his cock jerked against her. He gasped too, flooded with need as he pushed into her wetness.

  She put her hands on his shoulders and held his gaze as he moved his hand between them, touching her, opening her up to receive him.

  He cupped her breast and took her hard nipple into his mouth, closing his eyes as she wrapped her fingers around him and guided him into her. She was moving so slowly, driving him crazy, and then she thrust her hips, impaling herself on him. She was so hot and so tight that he cried out her name as he pushed deep inside.

  That seemed to ignite her, and instead of the slow, gentle start he’d planned to restrain himself, he thrust deep and hard, rising up to penetrate deeper and deeper and in rhythm with her wild ride. She grasped the back of the sofa above his shoulders and let her head fall back, moaning as she took him. He held onto her hips to pull her down deeper and mouthed her breasts, making her scream. The tension was building at the base of his spine, sending out ripples of building pleasure each time he thrust inside her. He wasn’t going to last long, but she was already ahead of him. She started to tighten around him and move faster still, encouraging him to let go. He reached his climax deep inside her, and she screamed again as she joined him, their bodies moving together in a frantic coupling that made him tingle from his toes to his scalp as he came. He saw stars behind his eyes as the pleasure crashed through him and into her, and then washed back over him again and again.

  Eventually, she slumped down with her head against his shoulder, breathing hard.

  “Oh, my God! What did you do to me?”

  He nibbled the side of her neck, making her body quiver and sending aftershocks through him.

  “I just gave you a little preview of things to come.”

  She lifted her head and looked down into his eyes. “A little preview?” she asked incredulously.

  He grinned. “That’s right. We’re just getting started, babe.”

  “I
don’t know about started. I think you just finished me off.”

  He chuckled. “For now, maybe.”

  She dropped a kiss on his lips, and he realized it was the first time she’d kissed him without waiting for him. “I like the sound of that.”

  He ran his thumb over her nipple and loved the way it stiffened in response. “Good, because you’re going to get used to this if it’s up to me.”

  She smiled. “I’ll happily get used to it.” Her smile faded. “Hopefully, I’ll get better at it, too.”

  He frowned. “Better? You can’t beat perfection, and if you’re telling me that wasn’t perfect …”

  She made a face and rolled off him. “I know you’re used to women with a lot more experience than I have.”

  “Don’t, Rox. They were just fun. That was just sex. It didn’t mean anything. With you … this … it’s different. Better. So much better. It’s more than just physical. It means a lot.”

  She searched his face for a moment and then nodded and got to her feet and picked up her clothes. “I hope so. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  He frowned as she disappeared into the powder room in the hallway. He supposed he couldn’t blame her for being wary of him and questioning his intentions, but he needed her to know; this was real for him.

  ~ ~ ~

  Roxy couldn’t help smiling at herself in the mirror in the bathroom while she cleaned up and got dressed. It had been a long time since she’d had sex—and she didn’t think she’d ever had sex as good as that. He was amazing! She’d assumed that he would be—he’d had enough practice. She frowned as she zipped up her jeans. She needed to stop thinking like that—stop thinking about the fact that he’d been with so many women. It didn’t make her feel good—about him or about herself. She needed to learn to trust what he said about this being different, about her being different. She wanted to, but like he’d said himself, it would take time. Her smile was back at the thought that if he wanted to prove it to her over and over and over again, he wouldn’t get any complaints from her.