His voice was filled with pride, something she knew was missing in her own siblings' voices when they discussed her. "How often do you see each other?"

"If you'd asked me when I was still at home, I'd have said too damn much. My dad worked long hours and I had to be mom, dad, brother, enforcer." He grinned. "I'm glad those days are over."

She ran her gaze over his fond smile and something within her softened. It was her guard, she discovered. She was losing it. "You're a man who's used to being needed. A man used to the weight of responsibility. So how come you're not married? Or in a relationship?"

"My work isn't really conducive to that. The hours alone would drain a relationship dry. And though most women claim they're attracted to a man with a dangerous profession, the reality is they're not. It's a lot to ask of someone, and I just haven't asked."

So he saw love as an obligation, something no one understood more than she. Love was an obligation, and it was also a pain in her ass.

"So what holds you back from being involved?" he asked. "Your own fierce independence? Or the wall you put up when someone gets too close?"

"Nothing holds me back from anything."

"That's right. You're fearless." His fingers were stroking her, lulling her, and she realized she'd settled back into the crook of his shoulder, against his side, as if she belonged there. Her hand had fallen low on his flat belly, rather shockingly possessively, as if she had the right. She stared at her hand on that vulnerable spot beneath his belly button, so flat and sinewy and male, and wriggled her fingers, thinking that it was his own fault her mind was wandering back to sex. He should have gone running when he had the chance. Instead, he'd stayed to talk, to cuddle, and he'd have to face the consequences… She slid her fingers down.

"Mmm," rumbled from deep in his chest. With the denim already unfastened, leaving his waistband loose, she reached the pot of gold with no trouble at all, laughing softly, triumphantly, when he turned out to be already hard. "Again, Lily?"

"Oh, yes." She stood only to strip her jeans back off before she fell on top of him. "Again."


***

Logan woke up to an affectionate tap on his bare ass. He was sprawled facedown and sideways across Lily's bed, with all the bedding wadded on the floor. Lifting his head, he squinted into her light brown eyes?

Vague images of her beneath him, over him, panting, by turns demanding and whimpering, turned into vivid memories, and he grinned.

"Oh, no, ace." Fully dressed, she backed up. "We're done."

Normally he'd be chomping at the bit now that he was awake, needing to get to work, but he didn't feel like chomping at anything but Lily's gorgeous, curvy bod. "Come here."

"I've gotta run."

Hmm. Seemed Lily was doing all the chomping at the bit for the both of them. He pushed himself up, but she put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't get up, I just wanted to say goodbye." She blushed, which intrigued him given all they'd done to and for each other in the long hours of the night. "I didn't want to just leave you a note."

"I appreciate that."

She stood there in her loose black cargo ski pants and a snug red turtleneck, looking like winter personified. He sat up on the edge of the bed and pulled her between his spread legs, wrapping his arms around her middle, putting his head on her chest and hugging her.

For a moment her hands fluttered at his shoulders, then she slid them around him and squeezed. "Last night was…"

Tilting his head up, he smiled at her. "Was…?"

"Nice."

He laughed, watching her mouth curve-the same mouth that had been crying his name in a desperate mantra only a little while ago. "Nice? Last night was nice?"

"Okay, it was pretty damn amazing," she consented. "And wild fun to boot, which is always a pleasant surprise. But I'm not sure it's something we should repeat."

"Why not?"

Something flashed in her eyes. Unease? Fear?

What the hell was that about?

And then he got it.

She was afraid she couldn't keep it to just fun, not with him.

"Look, this was supposed to be a good time for what's left of your vacation," she said cautiously. "Even a great time. But that's all I've got to give."

"How do you know a good time isn't all I have to give, as well?"

"Is it?"

He watched her hold her breath, looking ready to bolt if he so much as said boo.

Or admitted that hell, no, it wasn't enough. "Yes."

"Promise?" she whispered.

"Do you ask that of everyone you sleep with?"

She let out a disparaging sigh.

"Do you?"

"No."

He found that fascinating. Hell, she was fascinating. He slid his hands down her pretty damn amazing body, cupping her sweet ass, nuzzling his face between her breasts. "I'll see you later."

"Promise me, Logan."

He bit the inner curve of her right breast, smiling when she shivered. "I promise to see you later."

"Logan."

He sighed. "Fine. I promise you're a good time, and nothing but a good time."

"Okay." She backed up. "Okay, then." Beneath her tight red turtleneck, her nipples were two taut points, begging for his attention. Her eyes revealed the arousal, and also a huge relief.

He felt the arousal, too, but not the relief. "Let me walk you out."

"No, that's all right."

He frowned when she turned away and moved to the door, shutting it behind her without a backward look. "Wow," he said to no one. Flopping to his back on her mattress, he studied the ceiling. Hard to believe it, but she wasn't being coy or playing with him. She'd said what she meant and meant what she'd said.


Fun, wild sex only. Nothing more.

Any red-blooded male would be dancing. He was dancing.

And if a small part of him wished things were different, he could keep that to himself. After all, he was only here for a few more days. Then it'd be back to his world.

Sans Lily.


Chapter 9

Lily glanced at her watch-7:30 a.m.-and tried not to imagine what she could be doing right this minute if an hour ago she hadn't looked into Logan's eyes and panicked.

God, it had felt good lying in bed with him wrapped around her like a pretzel, all sleek skin and hard sinew and easy sexiness. But she'd gotten up. Leaped up and out the door was more like it, mostly because she hadn't wanted to. She was going to have enough trouble not getting too attached for the next three nights, she didn't need to lounge around and relive the mind-blowing night.

And it had been mind-blowing, she'd give him that. She'd always equated sex with the subtle quenching of a thirst. A nice little treat, a release of the need, the end. At least until the next time she got thirsty.

Nothing about last night had been a nice little treat, an easy release of need. In fact, she felt more needy now than she had before, even though they'd hardly slept, unable to keep their hands-or mouths-off each other. Just thinking about it made her body hum.


What she needed now was to clear her head, and there was only one way to do that. On the slopes. She'd spent a few moments at her desk. She'd checked on the cafeteria. Everything seemed to be running smoothly. The bar was dark, and so was the shop, which wouldn't open for another hour. No one would be in their offices yet, and with no emergencies lurking, she went to her ski locker. She'd catch a ride up on a snowcat with her patrollers, who'd be out checking on the mountain and the conditions.

Then she'd take a run, get some very cold air burning through her lungs, and she would not, would absolutely not, daydream or fantasize about one incredibly sexy Logan White.

"Going to take in a few runs?"

She jerked in surprise and found the incredibly sexy Logan White standing there in the flesh. His hair was wet, as if he'd rushed out of the shower, and if she wasn't mistaken, he smelled like her mango-melon shampoo and matching soap. He wore his ski pants, but in concession to what looked to be a warmer, sunnier day than yesterday, wore a SAR T-shirt layered over a long sleeved T-shirt, no jacket.

When she just stared at him, he smiled a bit grimly and stepped closer, lifting a finger to her chin, which alerted her to the fact her mouth had fallen open.

Then he kissed her right on that mouth. "I thought about you in your shower. When I went back to my room for fresh clothes. When I breathe. How about some company?"

She opened her eyes and cleared her throat. It'd been just a little kiss, insignificant when compared to what they'd already shared, and yet it jump-started her heart the way the steepest hill on the mountain would have. Or maybe it was the fact that he'd searched her out. "Okay."

He cocked his head. "You look surprised. You didn't think I'd want to spend some time with you?"

"You just spent some time with me." Naked. In bed. Driving me out of my mind with your fingers, your tongue, your teeth- She had to lock her wobbly knees and ignore the heat building between her thighs. "I guess I thought you'd be done."

He just looked at her for a long moment. "Maybe I'm different, Lily."

"Are you?"

"Does that scare you?"

"I've told you. Nothing scares me."

"You're such a liar." He cupped his palm around the nape of her neck, nudged her into him so that he could kiss her again. His mouth was warm, familiar now, and this time when he lifted his head, her body was throbbing, her thoughts were spinning, her world, completely off its axis and…and he laughed.