Page 61 of Smoky Lake

He glanced over at her, amused by her outrage. “You doing okay?”

She turned to him with a smile so brilliant it was a good thing he was wearing his new aviator shades. “I am so good, you have no idea. My only worry in the world right now is that we won’t find a hotel that’s safe enough.”

“Really? You’re not worried about the people who blew up the Institute?” he teased. “Not poor Victor? The CDC?”

“They can all kiss my ass. All I want is you.”

Had he ever heard the gentle and compassionate Ani say “kiss my ass” before? He liked seeing this side of her come out. Ever since John had shown up at the Reel Inn, she’d seemed different. More free. More…kiss my ass.

If he got the chance, he’d kiss any part of her he could get his hands on. They just had to find a place to make it happen.

Carlo Creek. A pizza joint snuggled at the foot of a mountain in Denali National Park, with beer on tap. And rooms to rent. Oh yeah.

He swung into the lot and parked behind an alder bush, then watched the highway to see if anyone followed suit. “I think we’re clear. Stay here, I’ll find out if they have a room.”

“Maybe the third hotel will be the charm,” she said lightly.

And it was.

Minutes later, they were alone in a room the size of a postcard, with a postcard-worthy view of a creek flowing through lush pushki growth. Mosquitoes swarmed outside the window screen. He’d pulled the Subaru behind the B&B, completely out of sight of the highway. With the door shut, shades drawn, for the first time in hours he felt confident saying, “I think we’re safe.”

Ani put her finger to her lips. They both went still. The tumbling water of the creek nearly drowned out the sound of chatter drifting from the outdoor terrace of the pizza pub. Such a happy sound—people eating dinner together, enjoying each other’s company while the creek added a burbling lullaby. Civilization and wilderness coexisting.

The only light in the room came from the daylight filtering around the edges of the window shades. The space felt like their own secret cave. Magical. Private. Safe. A place where everything was possible because incredibly, after some crazy twists and turns, and two vehicle purchases, they’d made it here. This radiant dark-haired goddess with the flower in her headscarf was here with him, gazing at him with eyes that trusted, and tempted.

Ani unzipped her jacket and tossed it aside. Underneath, she wore a clinging black top that plunged low enough to reveal the mouthwatering curves of her cleavage. Everything about her was so sumptuous and golden, even in this cave of a room. Her bare skin picked up the light peeking from the window shades and cast it through the room. She glowed.

As he watched, she gingerly extracted herself—arms, then head and torso—from her top. They hadn’t really been naked before, so he’d just caught bits and glimpses of her. Now he feasted his eyes on every luxe curve and shadow of her body.

Even though he was still clothed and she was nearly naked, somehow all the power in this situation rested with her. He sensed that she wanted it that way, that she wanted to be…adored.

He could do that.

When she was completely naked, he strode toward her and dropped to his knees before her. That shadow between her legs pulled him like a puppet on a string. He had to taste her. Had to glory in her curves and heat and wetness. He dove in the way a bee might bury itself in a flowerhead and feasted.

When she was gasping for breath and digging her hands in his hair, he backed her onto the bed. As she sprawled there, legs akimbo, breasts swelling, a lustful picture to file away in his brain, he stripped off his clothes. Remembering the box of condoms, he opened the carton and brandished one in the air.

“Got you, you little fucker,” he told it. Goofy as hell, but right now he felt silly and filled with light.

Ani bent one knee up and crooked her finger at him. “Need help getting it on? I’m a doctor.”

“Not really a pediatrician thing, is it?”

She smiled lustfully. “You got me. I just wanted a chance to feel you up.”

“Oh, you’ll get that. Never fear.” He was already erect just from the taste of her, and it took barely a few seconds to roll the condom on.

She watched with hazy eyes. “I forgot what a sexy move that is. Is it always that sexy?”

“Protection is sexy?”

“I guess it is. Or maybe it’s just you. You’re sexy.”

“Sure glad you think so.” He gritted his teeth at the sensation of the condom on his penis. Maybe it was a good thing that the pleasure was going to be just a little dulled. If it wasn’t, he might come the second he felt her heat surround him.

As it was, it took every bit of his concentration not to. He took her slowly at first, easing in, familiarizing himself with her satiny heat, letting her adjust to his thickness. It didn’t take long. A few moments later they were grappling each other with greedy hands and legs, rolling over so she was on top, then him, then her, their hips pumping and grinding.

He felt as if he’d been starved for her ever since he’d set eyes on her on his brother’s porch. That one moment had sparked a hunger he had to satisfy. But now that he was inside her, he thought it might never be satisfied, that it would burn and grow and deepen…

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