A Touch Of Frost (Frosty’s Snowmen Book 1) Read online

  * * *

  Jack carried two mugs of steaming coffee to the living room and placed them on the upside down suitcase that served as a table. Elle hadn’t returned from the bathroom so he took a seat, grabbed the remote, and flicked through the channels while he waited. He stopped on a sports network that happened to be playing a motorcycle race. It wasn’t until he heard the commentator mention Roland that he realised it was the class Elle’s brother rode in.

  “Hey, Elle,” he called over his shoulder. “Your brother’s on TV.”

  She didn’t answer, but the race was so engrossing he sat on the edge of his seat. The bikes sped past the cameras, dipped low into the corners, jostled for position, and spun-off into the sand as they fought for the lead.

  He cringed when a rider took a header over his bike, turning cartwheels in the air before landing with a thud, the bike barely missing him as it performed its own gymnastics routine and crashed into a wall. Both had to be travelling close to three hundred kilometres an hour.

  “Shit. That’s gotta hurt.”

  “What?” Elle asked behind him.

  “Wait. They’re bound to replay it.” Jack used the remote to point at the screen.

  Elle watched for a few second. “This is a rerun of last month’s race.”

  “Did he win?” Jack asked.

  “Ricky?” She nodded. “Yeah. But it was close. Only a bike-length in it.”

  “Where is he in the standings?”

  “He finished the season on top.” Elle dropped down beside him. “He’s determined to outdo Dad.”

  “Tall order.” Jack couldn’t think of a harder task the guy could have set himself.

  “The competitive gene lives on.” She reached towards the mugs. “Which one?”

  “Left. Do you think he stands a chance?” Jack asked as he leaned over to grab his coffee.

  Elle took a sip before answering. “Everyone’s got a shot, but I think Ricky has a better than most chance. He’d got Dad’s DNA for a start and the best damn coach in the world.” She grinned.

  “Your dad’s helping him win?” Jack figured a good parent encouraged their children to succeed, but would someone as celebrated as Mark Roland want anyone, even if the guy was his own kid, beating his records?

  “Ha! Dad wants the Roland name stamped so firmly on the record books that no other name appears.” Grinning, she shook her head. “He’ll probably get his wish too.”

  “Yeah?” He liked the way she smiled when she talked about her family. Her eyes lit up and love seemed to pour off her like a tangible thing. Like you could reach out and touch it — hold it in your hands.

  “Yep. But I don’t want to talk about racing anymore. Switch it over to something else.” She waved a hand at the TV.

  Jack did as told and they were soon watching, of all things, When Harry Met Sally. They’d come in partway through and within minutes the famous ‘faking it’ scene was rolling across the screen.

  Neither spoke while Meg Ryan got off and Billy Crystal watched. This scene always made his confidence in his bedroom skills waver.

  “You know I’d like to say I’ve never had a woman fake it while in bed with me, but every damn time I watch this movie it makes me think I’m deluding myself,” Jack murmured.

  Elle laughed. “Odds are you haven’t, but I won’t say it’s not possible.”

  He grunted. “Thanks.” He sipped his coffee while Meg and Billy got back to their lunch.

  “There, there, Jack.” Elle patted his thigh. “I’m sure you’re capable of getting it right.”

  He narrowed his eyes and turned to face her. “You don’t sound convinced. Maybe I should give you a demonstration?”

  “Oh, no.” She leaned away from him, one hand warding him off. “That won’t be necessary. I believe you.”

  “No. I think I need to prove my manhood.”

  This time when she laughed he had to reach over and grab her coffee so she didn’t spill it all over herself. Once she’d laughed herself stupid, she took a few deep breaths before speaking.

  “There is nothing about your manhood that you need to prove, Jack. And if that society-snob of a bitchy ex-wife told you otherwise she’s a liar.”

  “Wow. You really did get the full version.” He set both their mugs down and leaned back.

  Elle shrugged. “Kandy figured I should know you’d recently had your heart, and possibly your ego, trampled on.”

  Jack laughed. “I’d thank her, but she’s got it wrong.” He held up a hand. “My fault. I let my family believe Annabelle walked and, while she did, she thought packing an overnight bag and going to sleep at her parents’ house would bring me to heel, not get her divorced.”

  He watched Elle closely. The last thing he wanted was for her to think badly of him, and even though he was comfortable with the things he’d done after Annabelle had closed the front door of their house that night, not everyone saw it the same way he did.

  “Basically I discovered my father-in-law was involved in business dealings with some of the country’s worst criminals. The kind that always seem to have a get-out-of-jail-free card whenever chargers are pressed.” He sighed. “I had access to files that not only incriminate several of these men, but also the man Annabelle believed should get away with the illegal activities he was embroiled in.”

  “You turned the bastard in.”

  Jack nodded, a smile curving his mouth. “Yeah. And right after that I filed for divorce. I’ve seem my ex a grand total of twice since that night. Both times she tried to beg, then blackmail me into helping her father beat the charges. She has no idea I was the one that gave the authorities the information that will put him and several of his associates away when it finally goes to court.”

  “Do you need to appear?” Her forehead wrinkled.

  “No. I supplied the evidence through my access to the firm’s computer files.”

  “His lawyers won’t subpoena you? As a hostile witness? You know, to discredit you or something.”

  Her concern warmed him. He’d liked her before, but her genuine worry on his behalf added to his uncharacteristic instant attraction and he knew, no matter what she said about him being on the rebound, she was way more than that for him. “No. And if they do, I have nothing to hide and nothing to lose by testifying.”

  She tilted her head and watched him. What she was waiting for Jack wasn’t sure, but he didn’t have time to think on it further because she launched herself into his arms and slanted her mouth over his.

  When they came up for air, he nipped at her bottom lip. “You said we weren’t going to sleep together.”

  “I know.” She arched into him. “You know what they say about women.”

  Jack nibbled her jaw. “What do they say?”

  “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.”

  “Wait.” He leaned back so he could look at her. “You’ve changed your mind about sleeping together?”

  Elle grinned, a sexy, naughty grin that sent a shudder through his whole body and a burst of heat to his throbbing groin. “Brace yourself, Jack, you’re about to rebound.”

  Chapter 5

  Elle’s back hit Jack’s bed and the man himself came down on top of her. They still had their clothes on, but hands and fingers were already tugging and shoving the barriers out of the way. She yanked at the buttons on his shirt, two of them springing off before she could work them free.

  “We should have done this before we fell into bed,” Jack said as he ripped the shirt off his shoulders and tossed it aside.

  “Hindsight.” Elle helped him lift her top over her head. “Always 20-20.”

  “God. Look at you.”

  She glanced down, but all she saw was her plain cotton bra and modest B-cup breasts. “Um…okay.”

  Jack ran his fingers on the round puckered ridge of scar tissue on her right side. “What happened?”

  Ah, now she got it. “Came off a bike.”

  He raised one eyebrow. “And wha
t? Impaled yourself on a fence post?”

  She smiled. “Good guess.”

  Both his eyebrows shot up. “For real?”

  Elle sighed. “Yeah. I was 25 and still racing when it happened. Ended my run at the record books.”

  “How bad?”

  She knew what he was asking, but she didn’t want to go into details now of all times and she’d survived. That was what counted. Not how it had happened. “Can we get back to what we were doing and talk about this later?” she asked and reached for the button on his pants, slipping it free before he could protest.

  His hands grabbed hers, held her still. “How bad?”

  Rolling her eyes, she said, “Bad enough to put me in hospital for a few weeks and end my racing career. Now can we get back to rebounding ‘cause I gotta tell you, Jack, you’re killing the mood here.”

  “But you could have died.”

  Okay. They absolutely had to stop talking now. She pulled her hands from his grip and worked his zipper down. “I didn’t. I’m very much alive.”

  Sliding one hand beneath his briefs, Elle wrapped her fingers around his erection. The hiss of breath through Jack’s teeth made her smile and tighten her hold.

  “Oh God.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. “Feels so good.”

  She dragged her fingernails lightly down his length and a ragged moan broke in his throat. “Like that?” Elle asked, her gaze glued to his face, watching his every reaction.

  “You have to ask?” He spoke through clenched teeth and she smiled, doing it again. “Enough.”

  Before she could blink he was off the bed and stripping out of his remaining clothes. And while Elle really wanted to get naked with him, she couldn’t stop staring at the erection jutting out towards her. Rolling to the side, she reached over, but missed when he sidestepped her.

  “Nuh-uh. Clothes off first.” He was all prowling male perfection as he walked over to the bedside table and opened the top drawer.

  Elle got to work on her clothes. She wanted him back on the bed. Now.

  “Damn.”

  She glanced up. “What?”

  Jack held a box in his hand. “I’ve only got a ten pack. That’ll never be enough.”

  His crestfallen expression made her laugh.

  “You think it’s funny?” He tossed the box onto the bed.

  “Ah…”

  “If this is a rebound, I want it to last, and ten condoms is nowhere near long enough.” Jack crawled onto the bed, coming over her and making her lie back until he hovered above her. “I wonder if the local pharmacy delivers.”

  She smiled. “I’m sure if we run out, we can get inventive.”

  “Oh, we’ll get inventive all right. And running out of protection won’t have a damn thing to do with our creativity.”

  He bent forward and dragged his tongue along her collarbone. The moist heat sent a shiver through her and goose bumps dancing across her chest. Her nipples puckered, the buds aching to be touched. Jack was either a mind reader or on the same page because he trailed his lips over the slope of her breast and wrapped his warm lips around the hard peak and sucked.

  Her body bowed as pleasure shot through her. He cupped her breast, squeezed and stroked, while his tongue worked to drive her clear out of her mind. She couldn’t hold back the moans — the whimpers — or the desperation for more clawing at her insides that had her gripping his head and holding him to her.

  “More.” She lifted her hips and pressed her aching sex against him. “Jack. Please.”

  She didn’t normally beg, didn’t climb to the edge this quickly. Then again the whole evening had been foreplay. Elle didn’t think either of them would last long this first time.

  His hand left her breast, skimmed down her side and over her hip. “You still have your underwear on.” Warm breath floated over her wet nipple causing it to tighten further. “We should do something about that.”

  He moved down her body, his lips brushing over her skin in his journey south. She held her breath. The feather-light touches made her quiver. The building anticipation made her shudder, the slow inching down off her undies made her moan.

  Jack sat back and she bent her knees up to help him remove the last barrier between them. He tossed them over his shoulder without looking and it was one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen. His gaze focused on her and the devilish grin that stretched his mouth had her trembling in need.

  “You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to getting my mouth on you.”

  She didn’t have to process his words before it did exactly that.

  He eased into it like he was savouring his favourite dessert. Long sweeps of his tongue, gentle sucks with his lips and… God, the man knew what he was doing.

  “Jack.” His name was a plea.

  “Mmm…” He sucked on her clit and thrust a finger inside her.

  Her hips bucked. “Jack.”

  “Right here. Let go for me.”

  “I want… Need…”

  “I’ve got you.”

  And he did. With a knowledge of her body that shocked her, he sent her soaring.

  * * *

  Jack held on as Elle rode out her orgasm. He wanted inside her so badly his teeth ached, but he wanted to make her fly again. Lightening the pressure, he stroked her through her climax and back up again.

  “No. God. Can’t.” She panted.

  “Yes. Jack. Can.” He grinned up at her.

  Face awash in pleasure, she met his gaze with her glazed one. Her pupils were huge black orbs. Her lips parted and wet where she’d obviously licked them. “Jack.”

  “Still right here.” He moved up her body while he kept playing her with his fingers. “I’m not going anywhere. Not done by half.”

  “I want you inside me.” Her fingers clutched at his shoulders pulling him closer.

  “Want that too.” Tipping his head in the direction of the box beside her head, he said, “Get a condom out.”

  She quickly tore at the box then a foil packet. With a sexy grin she removed the protection and held it between them. “I’ll do the honours.”

  Before Jack could think about how dangerous that would be, Elle had her hand around him and the condom positioned over his crown. “Shit.” He groaned. “Make it quick.”

  “Patience. Patience.”

  He growled. “You’re out of luck ’cause I’m all out of that.” Jack pulled his hand from her pussy and covered hers — the one making slow, torturous progress down his shaft. With a quick stroke, he had the condom on. Circling both her wrists with his hands, he pinned them on the pillow beside her head. “Now. Where were we?”

  Jack flexed his hips and dragged his cock through Elle’s slick folds. She moaned and rocked against him. Fire licked at his groin. His balls tucked up into his body and pressure built in a heavy drugging heat that let him know he needed to move things along or he’d be embarrassing himself like a first timer.

  “Damn, Jack.” She dug her nails into his arse cheeks. “Never took you for a tease.”

  He chuckled. “Now who’s impatient?”

  “Jack.”

  She drew his name out and he laughed at the narrow-eyed look that accompanied it. “Don’t worry. I’m done playing around. Time to get serious.”

  Her eyes popped wide. “After that orgasm I’m a little frightened of what get serious means.”

  Jack rocked back and lined himself up. “Nothing to fear except exhaustion.”

  She cocked one eyebrow. “That’s quite an ego.”

  “Well I do have something to prove.”

  “Oh?”

  “The first one wasn’t faked. No way you could pretend to come that convincingly.”

  Elle’s cheeks flushed red. “Ah, no. Not faked.”

  He wove their fingers together next to her head. “Promise me you won’t.”

  Her gaze searched his for long seconds. “I doubt I’d ever have to think about it with you.”

  Leaning down, he
fused his mouth to hers. He thrust his tongue inside and, when he had her full attention, he drove his hips forward and sank his cock all the way in one plunge.

  She moaned into his mouth and he swallowed the sound to keep her pleasure inside him. He wanted to always hold her pleasure this way, wanted to give her things no other guy had, wanted to turn this into more than the rebound sex she insisted it would be.

  Her body squeezed around him and his eyes crossed. She tilted her hips, pushed up, then lowered, fucking him from below. He couldn’t fight the need gnawing on every frayed nerve a second more.

  Bracing on his knees and elbows, he pulled back and thrust forward over and over and over. His arms shook and his glute muscles trembled with exertion. She strained under him, writhing and moaning as he powered into her with little finesse and a small amount of desperation.

  He was so close to losing it. So close to tipping over that edge that he had to lock his jaw and think of anything but how good it felt to be inside Elle. Only she surrounded him. Her scent, her flesh, her heat. All of it wound around him — through him — until the razor edge was there.

  Right there.

  “Elle.” Jack called her name as the first spasm broke.

  Not wanting to go without her, Jack slipped a hand between them and found the swollen knot of nerves that would give him the thing he sought — Elle coming around him.

  It didn’t take much, she was already strung tight, and when he stroked and circled her clit, slick with her cream, her body jolted. Her softness clamped tight on his cock. From crown to root, her pussy gripped him then fluttered in a rolling wave of clutch and release.

  His rhythm fractured, every part of him out of control for a split second before he collected his wits once more and continued to drive his body into hers as their orgasms took them.

  Jack collapsed forward, his arms barely holding his full weight off Elle. He didn’t want to get off her just yet, wanted to stay buried in her pulsing heat forever. What little strength he had would soon drain away and he’d be force to move or crush her beneath him.

  “Wow.”

  He smiled. “Yeah.”

  “No. Seriously. That ego. Earned.”

  Turning his head he opened his eyes and looked at her. Her face was flushed and damp, her lashes lay against the smooth curve of her cheeks, and her lips were parted, a little puffy from their kisses.