Crash and Burn Read online

  “Who would have thought an old, abandoned shack would be so romantic?” She slid her hand over his back, reveling in the ripple of muscles beneath all that warm, firm skin.

  “Seems like you and I are able to make just about anyplace romantic.”

  She smiled against his lips, remembering their bumbled attempts at romance inside their makeshift shelters. “Imagine what would happen if we went on a real date?”

  “I’d fly you to San Diego and take you to this amazing little Italian place—”

  “Nope. I’m never flying again, remember?”

  “You should,” he said, his voice gruff. “Don’t let one bad experience hold you back, Isa. You don’t seem like a woman to let fear win.”

  “I’m not,” she whispered. “But I’ve lived my life just fine on the ground until now.”

  “And now it’s time to spread your wings.” His hand slid around to cup her ass, hauling her up against him. “So I’d fly you to this amazing Italian restaurant in San Diego, right on the waterfront. If you like seafood, I recommend the Linguini di Mare.”

  “That sounds delicious.”

  “It’s got shrimp, scallops, and mussels in a spicy tomato sauce.”

  “Yum.”

  “We’d finish our meal with a plate of tiramisu,” he said. “Afterward, we’d go dancing. You like to dance, right?”

  “I love dancing,” she whispered, her eyes sliding shut as she visualized the picture he was painting.

  “We get our groove on, a little bump and grind on the dancefloor.” His hips had begun to move to an imaginary beat.

  “Yes.” God, yes.

  “We have a few drinks. What’s your favorite?” he asked, his hips still rocking against hers.

  “Piña colada with a pineapple wedge on top.”

  “If we’re going to drink piña coladas, then we’ll have to go for a walk along the beach afterward, let the saltwater breeze blow through your hair.” He trailed his fingers through her hair, and a warm sizzle rippled through her.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I can almost hear the waves crashing against the shore.”

  “We make out in the moonlight.” He brought his lips to hers for another heady kiss. “Like this.”

  Yes, yes, yes…

  “And then I’d take you to our hotel room overlooking the ocean, where I’d have a nice bottle of wine waiting, maybe chocolate-dipped strawberries too, and we’d put on some music in the room so that we could dirty dance the way you’d never dare in a crowded club.” He slid out of bed, tugging her up against him.

  They swayed together, and she could almost hear the music, taste the wine and the strawberries…

  “And once we were alone in our room, I could do this.” He tugged her shirt over her head, groaning low in his throat as he cupped her breasts in his big, warm hands. “Finding out you weren’t wearing a bra would be one of the highlights of our date for me.”

  “Then what?” she asked breathlessly, leaning forward so that her breasts pressed against his bare chest. The scrape of his chest hair over her sensitive nipples sent a bolt of lust straight to her core.

  “That’s where the dirty dancing part comes in,” he said, and she could feel him smiling against her lips. He slid one big, muscled thigh between her legs, and she whimpered.

  “Like this?” she rocked her hips, riding his thigh.

  “Oh yeah, sweetheart.” He lifted her so that his cock pressed between her legs, and he was so hard… “And we dance until we can’t dance anymore.”

  They moved together, swaying to the music only they could hear, their hips grinding together as their hands touched and explored. It was beautiful, and romantic, and hot. Somewhere along the way, her pants hit the floor, as did his shorts. He was naked beneath his shorts, but he made no immediate move to take off her panties.

  “I’ve been fantasizing about these,” he murmured, teasing her through the thin fabric.

  “Really?” She gasped as he slid two fingers inside her panties.

  “Mm-hmm. I love them almost as much as the pink pair.”

  The pink pair she’d sacrificed in their second makeshift shelter so that he could come into them. Desire shot through her at the memory. “Almost as much?”

  “After tonight, it may be a tie.” He thrust his cock against her belly while he stroked her with his fingers, and just like that, she came apart in his arms.

  “Nate,” she moaned as the orgasm slammed through her, leaving her breathless.

  “Fucking beautiful,” he said, holding her close until she’d regained her senses. “I love the sound you make when you come.”

  She made a sound? She probably should have been embarrassed, but she was too blissed out to care. And his hard shaft pressed against her belly already had desire stirring inside her again. Smiling, she stepped out of her panties as firelight danced over their naked bodies.

  “I need you so bad right now,” he said with a groan.

  “Then have me.” She dropped onto the bed, pulling him down on top of her.

  10

  “Our hotel room would overlook the beach,” Nate said, keeping the fantasy date alive as he kissed his way over every inch of Isa’s body.

  “Of course it would,” she whispered, gasping as he drew her nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue.

  “We’d have a king-sized bed, not that we’d need it since we’ll be on top of each other all night.” He let his hips settle on hers, his cock nudging against her, and sweet Christ, she was so hot, so wet. “One of those feather-top mattresses, so soft you could lose yourself in it.”

  “Yes.” She rolled her hips, sliding up and down his length.

  Sweat beaded on his brow. “And then I’d make love to you, Isa, if you were ready.”

  “I’m ready,” she whispered. “I’m so ready.”

  “Me too, baby.” He rocked his hips against her once, twice, then reached for the condom he’d placed beside the bed. He sheathed himself, positioning his cock against her entrance. With one long, slow thrust, he lost himself inside her. Her hot, tight body gripped him as he slid home. “God, you feel so good.”

  “Mmm…” She wrapped her legs around his hips, drawing him deeper still.

  “Christ, Isa.” He withdrew and thrust again, swamped with sensation. His body shook, his control ready to snap. He drew a deep breath, forcing back the need rearing inside him. He would not go off like a randy teenager thirty seconds after getting inside her.

  “Nate,” she moaned.

  He stroked inside her, slow and steady, while his body burned in the most excruciatingly wonderful way. Dipping his head, he kissed her, letting his tongue tangle with hers as their bodies moved together. With each thrust, he lost a little more of himself to her. Beautiful, wonderful, amazing Isa.

  “We’d leave the music on,” he murmured against her lips. “Something really sexy.”

  “Merengue,” she whispered, “or salsa. Spanish music is all about sex.”

  “I need to listen to more Spanish music.” He brought his hand between them, stroking her where their bodies joined.

  “I’ll play some for you.” Her thighs clamped around his. “Oh God, Nate…”

  “Come for me, sweetheart.” He kissed her, swallowing her moan. “Take your time and make it good.”

  “I’m so close,” she whispered.

  So was he. The orgasm building inside him was so big, he thought it might blow the top off his head when he finally came. He stroked her with his fingers while he pounded into her with his cock, loving every fucking second.

  She tensed. Her body spasmed around him, and she let out a breathless sound of pleasure. He kept moving, thrusting into her over and over as she came.

  “Yes,” she moaned.

  And just like that, he broke. Release pulsed through him in a series of blindingly hot waves, scorching him with the power of his need for her. He let out a strangled sound as he poured himself into her, then collapsed next to her in bed, comple
tely spent.

  “That was amazing,” Isa murmured, her arm wrapped tight around him.

  “Damn right it was.”

  “Nate,” she whispered, resting her face against his chest. “If we get out of this thing alive, promise me we’ll go on that date.”

  Reality slammed back into him, hard. “I’d love that more than anything, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

  “Why not?” she asked, disappointment dripping from her tone.

  He looked up at the ceiling. “This thing between us…well, it’s crazy and intense, and frankly, I want you so much I can hardly think straight, but in real life, I’m afraid I’d let you down.”

  “How?”

  “I’m married to my job, Isa. I work long hours, and I love what I do. I live it and breathe it, and it doesn’t allow for much of a social life.”

  “That’s a weak excuse.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

  “I’m just trying to be honest.”

  “And I appreciate that, but now you’ve warned me, and I still want that date.”

  “You’re stubborn,” he said with a grin, drawing her in closer. “And I love that about you. I like pretty much everything about you, Isa, and I couldn’t stand it if I hurt you. I used to think I could be the man you want me to be, but since my divorce, I just…I don’t believe in marriage and happily ever after anymore.”

  “You’re divorced?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What happened?” she asked softly.

  “She cheated on me.” And he couldn’t believe he’d just blurted that out. No one outside his immediate family knew what had gone down between him and Kathy. How could he tell people that she’d been so dissatisfied with him she’d turned to another man? The betrayal still burned like a freshly formed scab in his chest.

  “Oh, Nate. I’m sorry.”

  “So am I, but…what I’m trying to say is that I don’t plan on getting married again.”

  Isa thought Nate was a man who’d had his heart broken and his trust shattered, but how could he let his ex-wife’s betrayal convince him that he’d never fall in love again? That was absolutely ridiculous.

  “I don’t remember asking you to marry me,” she said in a joking tone, trying to lighten to mood between them.

  He smiled, his arm tightening around her. “You know what I’m trying to say.”

  Yeah, she did. She just didn’t quite believe him. “Just because you’ve buried yourself in work since your divorce doesn’t mean that will never change.”

  “Maybe not, but I love what I do. Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed about owning my own company. I’m living my dream.”

  “Even if it means picking up random women in hotel bars for the rest of your life?”

  “Yes.”

  She didn’t respond to that because the man who’d just taken her on the most romantic (virtual) date of her whole life didn’t seem like a man who could be satisfied with a lifetime of meaningless one-night stands. Or could he? She remembered the impersonal businessman who’d greeted her when she boarded his plane four days ago. He’d wanted nothing more than to deliver her and Maya to their next stop in Reno and be done with them.

  Maybe life-and-death situations made people act out of character.

  And maybe she ought to quit thinking about the future and savor this night with Nate before the ugly reality of their situation reared its head again in the morning. For tonight, they were warm and dry. Safe.

  “Thank God for this cabin.” She rested her head against his chest.

  “Yeah.” His heart beat strong and steady beneath her cheek.

  “I don’t know if I could have handled another night in the woods,” she said softly.

  “Sure you would have. You’ve handled everything life has thrown at us so far, Isa, and you haven’t even complained.”

  “I was just about to start complaining,” she said with a smile.

  “Like hell.” His cock was hard again, pressing against her thigh.

  “And you, lugging around the extra weight of those condoms without even telling me.” She wiggled closer, bringing their bodies into alignment.

  “They were really weighing me down,” he agreed, rocking his hips against hers.

  “Nate,” she whispered as desire blazed inside her. “I’m so glad for tonight.”

  “Me too, sweetheart.” He kissed her slow and deep.

  Their bodies moved together as they touched and teased, building the heat between them to a slow burn. There was an unspoken urgency in the air, the need to make this moment last because they had only one condom left. So they kissed and touched, groping and stroking until she was about two seconds away from coming on his fingers. “Now, Nate. Hurry.”

  “Won’t hurry, not with you.” He reached over and grabbed the second condom packet from the shelf behind the bed. He ripped it open and rolled it over his hard length.

  She climbed into his lap, and he settled his hands on her hips, lifting her so that the head of his cock nudged against her entrance. Her body clenched in anticipation.

  “Finally,” she gasped as she sank onto him.

  “You can say that again.” Nate laughed roughly, his hands sliding down to cup her ass.

  She sat still for a moment, just savoring the feel of him inside her and the crazy-hot sensations rolling through her. “It’s so perfect.”

  “Fuck yeah.” He bent his head to kiss her again. “But you can start moving any time now. I’m dyin’ here.”

  She lifted her hips at the same time something scratched at the door of their cabin. Seriously? She grumbled as desire and fear warred for dominance inside her. Could a bear get through that door if it wanted to? “What was that?” she whispered.

  “Not sure,” Nate answered, frozen beneath her.

  A high-pitched whine came from the other side of the door.

  Oh my God. She lurched out of bed as Nate swore from behind her. “It’s Maya!”

  “Don’t open that door unless you’re sure,” he warned.

  She slipped into Nate’s T-shirt and walked to the window. Sure enough, Maya’s gray face and front paws came into view. Tears sprang into Isa’s eyes. “It’s her! Oh, Maya.”

  She flung the door open, and the dog bounded inside. Isa latched the door behind her and crouched to gather Maya into her arms. “I’ve been so worried about you!”

  Maya licked her face, her tail wagging so fast, it was nothing but a blur in the dim light of the fire.

  “Hey, girl.” Nate crouched beside her, having buttoned his shorts before joining them.

  And dammit, Maya sure had showed up at the worst possible moment. But Isa was so glad to see her that she could forgive the wasted condom. She checked the dog for any obvious signs of injury, but apart from some burrs matted into her fur, Maya appeared none the worse for wear after two days on her own.

  “You must be starving.” Isa walked to her backpack, retrieving the bag of dog food. She placed a handful on the floor and looked around for something she could use as a water bowl, but she and Nate had dirtied all the available containers making their supper. Then again, Maya would probably love to drink out of a bowl with SpaghettiO residue in it. She poured a little bit from her water bottle and set it down.

  “Can’t believe she turned up,” Nate said, watching Maya scarf down the dog food.

  “Maybe staying put for a little while let her catch up to us.”

  “Could be,” he said with a nod.

  “I’m so glad.” Isa restrained the urge to hug the dog while she ate. It had been slowly driving her crazy, wondering what had happened to Maya, if she was still alive, if she was lost or hurt. To have her back with them only served as a further morale boost.

  She and Nate had arrived at this cabin wet, starving, exhausted, and demoralized. Now, they were refreshed and more determined than ever to make it home safely. They’d come too far to consider any other alternative. They sat together on the bare, wood floor while Maya ate and dr
ank. Nate tended to the fire. The night outside was dark and quiet.

  “Guess it’s time for us to turn in,” she said. They needed to take full advantage of this opportunity to get a good night’s sleep, because who knew what tomorrow would bring. But she was still restless and unsatisfied. If only Maya could have waited just a few minutes longer to show up…

  Nate nodded, walking over to check that the door was securely latched. Then he turned toward her. “Just one bit of unfinished business to take care of before we sleep.”

  “What’s that?” she asked, her voice gone breathless at the look in his eye.

  In answer, he dropped his shorts. “We’ve been awfully good at improvising without condoms so far. Why stop now?”

  11

  “We do improvise without condoms really well.” Isa giggled, snuggled against Nate’s chest as they lay tangled together in the aftermath of yet another mind-blowing orgasm.

  “Now we sleep.” He tightened his arm around her, sated and satisfied in a primal way, but also fiercely protective of the woman in his arms. He wished he could whisk her home to safety tomorrow, that they didn’t have to wait around and hope that search and rescue found them.

  “Mm-hmm.” Her eyes were already drifting shut.

  He pulled the blankets over them and motioned to Maya to join them in bed. The dog curled over their feet. The cabin was comfortably warm thanks to the wood stove, with a flickering glow from the fire. Right then, this abandoned little shack felt like the Four Seasons.

  With Isa in his arms and Maya at his feet, he slept deep and dreamless. When he woke, the sky outside was just beginning to brighten with dawn, and he felt like taking on the world. Amazing what a little bit of food, some great sex, and a good night’s sleep would do for a man.

  He slid out of bed without disturbing Isa and went outside. Maya followed him out. The dog trotted off into the grass to relieve herself, and he headed behind the nearest tree to do the same. The scent of smoke hung heavy in the air again this morning.

  That was not good news. He walked down to the stream to splash some cold water on his face. The sky glowed orange to his left, while the sun peeped through the trees to his right. For a moment, he could have sworn he was watching two sunrises.