As I feasted on her lips, I drew two fingers up her slit, circling her clit, then going back down and pushing them inside her. Damn, she was fucking tight.

  I tore my mouth away and asked, “Baby, are you a virgin?”

  She nodded.

  Well, that explained it. I swirled my fingers in her hole, playing and stretching the muscles. Her muscles clamped around me, reminding me that she’d never been broken in there, and it made me even hotter. “Why is it turning me on that you’re a virgin?” I asked, perplexed by my body’s reaction.

  “Because you’re secretly a caveman,” she teased, then moaned when I pushed my digits a little deeper.

  “You think so?” I teased. “You might be right. The thought of being the one to pop your cherry, the only man to ever be inside your sweet pussy, to make you come, is intoxicating.”

  “So shut up and do it, then,” she panted, her tone annoyed.

  I chuckled. “Anything for you, baby. Give me your mouth.” She obeyed, immediately lifting her face to accept my kiss. I kept kissing her through the orgasm I gave her, swallowing her cries of ecstasy.

  When she began to come down from the high, I withdrew my fingers and sucked them clean. “So fucking delicious,” I grunted. “I’m going to need more of that. I think I’m already addicted.”

  “Umm…” Raven was still in a daze, and I didn’t wait for it to clear. I palmed her tits for a moment, then twisted and plucked her nipples, working her up again.

  “Caleb, please,” she moaned. Her plea went straight to my cock, and I felt my control slipping. I quickly flipped her around and pressed her up against the wall before dropping to my knees. I threw one of her legs over my shoulder and ate her sweet pussy until she screamed my name. I nearly fucking came right along with her but managed to beat my orgasm back.

  I pushed to my feet, shut off the water, and swung her up into my arms before carefully stepping out of the tub. Not bothering with towels, I slammed open the bathroom door and stalked to her bedroom, where I set her on the bed before covering her body with mine.

  My cock nudged her entrance, and I groaned. “Fuck,” I grunted, dropping my head into the crook of her neck. “This is going to hurt, baby.”

  “I don’t care,” she gasped as she rocked up, forcing me a little deeper. “Do it, Caleb,” she whispered in my ear. I was expecting her to say something filthy, but instead, she said, “Would it help if you thought about planting your flag and claiming this territory for yourself?”

  I burst out laughing, and she giggled along with me. “I—” My mouth snapped shut when I realized I was about to tell her I loved her. “Yeah, baby. That does help.”

  She tilted her head and studied me for a beat, then pressed her mouth to mine. I kissed her passionately as I pushed inside. She gasped when I breached her virginity, but when I paused, she clutched my ass and wrapped her legs around my waist.

  So fucking perfect.

  The only sound besides her moans and my grunts was the squeaking of the bed as I pumped in and out of her tight body.

  “So tight,” I grunted. “Good thing I’m claiming this hot little pussy because I’m addicted. It’s mine. You’re mine.” Suddenly, I needed her to say it. I raised my head and stared down into her beautiful face. “Open your eyes, baby.” When her lids cracked open enough for me to see her crystal blue orbs, I rasped, “Say it. You’re mine.”

  “I’m yours.” She didn’t even hesitate, and it broke the last thread of my control.

  My orgasm barreled through me with the force of a freight train, but I wasn’t going to come without her. Slipping a hand between us, I pinched her clit and punched my hips hard and fast. Then, just as I roared with ecstasy, she pressed her head back into the pillow and screamed.

  “Fuck,” I muttered when my heart rate began to slow. I had no energy, so I flopped down but immediately rolled to my side, bringing Raven with me. “Fuck.”

  “I agree,” she panted. “That was…” I cracked an eye open and grinned while I waited for her to find her words. “Like pumpkin spice and coconut hot chocolate.”

  I laughed at her interesting comparison. Something I noticed was a habit for her. So fucking adorable. “I hope you like that flavor,” I teased.

  “My favorite,” she sighed. Then, to my surprise, she sat up and straddled me. My cock was still fully sheathed in her pussy, and it had barely gone down, so the movement sent a streak of pleasure through me, and I groaned as it swelled. “I thought it was supposed to take some time,” she mumbled. Then she beamed down at me and asked, “Can we do it again?”

  I started to laugh, but it turned into a grunted, “Oh, fuck!” when she rose and dropped back down.

  “Oooh, am I in charge like this?” she asked excitedly.

  “If you want to pretend that’s how it is, go ahead,” I teased.

  She raised an eyebrow before going up and down again, then staying still.

  I hissed and gripped her hips. “Never mind. No pretending shit.” Holding her firmly, I raised her and brought her down just as I bucked my hips. “Fuck, yes! So fucking tight. You feel so damn amazing, baby.”

  Her tits swayed enticingly as she bounced on my cock, and I sat up to suck and bite her nipples.

  “Caleb!” she cried out.

  She instinctively squeezed her inner muscles, and stars danced in front of my eyes. “Oh, yeah, baby. Keep clenching that pussy. Fuck, yes!”

  It wasn’t long before we both flew over the edge and collapsed on the bed. I tucked her into my body, spooning her as she drifted off to sleep. My mind began to clear, and though I fought it, I felt a sliver of regret that I’d taken her without coming clean first.

  Now that I’d had her, though, it wouldn’t matter. I’d already been intent on keeping her. But now that I’d reached heaven with her and…fucking her bare—no, I hadn’t done it on purpose. Nevertheless, it was done.

  I wouldn’t accept any other outcome than spending the rest of my life with Raven.

  Perhaps I should wait just until tomorrow. Give myself a day to make sure that I pushed her over if she was teetering on the edge of love. If she were as head over heels for me as I was for her, she’d have to forgive me. Right?

  Chapter 10

  Raven

  A pounding on my door jerked me awake, and I tried to jackknife up in bed. Except, a muscular arm across my chest pinned me down, and a heavy leg was thrown over both of mine.

  “Caleb,” I whispered, poking his arm. “Caleb, someone’s at the door.”

  He dragged his eyes open and frowned when he heard the knocking. When he looked back at me, there was sadness in his green pools. While I hated for him to be sad, I was thrilled that he seemed as unhappy as I was to have our alone time end.

  “It’s Colin. You need to let me up so I can answer it.”

  Caleb scowled in the direction of the front door. “No, stay here, baby. I’ll get it.”

  “But—”

  He speared me with a look, and I shut up.

  “No one sees you like this, but me,” he growled as he yanked on his jeans.

  Butterflies went swirling in my stomach, and I grinned while gesturing for him to go.

  The knocking stopped a minute later, and I heard the low murmur of voices. Sighing, I dragged my tired self out of bed. We spent all day yesterday talking and making love. Now I had aches in places I hadn’t even been aware existed. Completely worth it.

  I gathered clothes to take with me to the bathroom, and as I pulled socks from the bottom drawer of my dresser, Caleb came back into the room. His frown deepened when he saw the empty bed, and his eyes scanned the room until they landed on me. He crossed his arms over his sculpted chest, and his voice was all sexy and gravely when he said, “I wasn’t done with you.”

  I grinned, feeling euphoric and silently thanking Santa for the best Christmas ever. “You’ll never be done with me,” I told him as I approached the door. I was about to walk out when he grabbed my arms and stopped me.

  “Promise?”

  I smiled, but he looked so earnest and worried that I was solemn when I vowed, “I promise.”

  It was another busy day trying to keep a bunch of people with cabin fever happy. Plus, my staff were exhausted since there was no one to relieve them after a shift. So, Colin and I took turns making sure everyone had lunch and breaks.

  Caleb amazed me again by pitching in wherever he could, and I couldn’t believe how much he seemed to be enjoying himself. It made me hope he could be happy here with me. Part of me was still worried about what would happen after the storm, but the rest of me only cared that I’d fallen head over heels in love with him.

  Colin strolled across the Lodge’s main room, stopping at my side and leaning against the wall with me. “You’re quite happy today,” he murmured, flashing me a smile before saying hello to a couple walking past us into the restaurant.

  “I am.” My eyes found Caleb, who was playing ping pong—against four little kids. “But…”

  “I don’t think he’ll leave, Raven.”

  I looked at him with raised eyebrows.

  He shook his head, and his voice was exasperated when he said, “You still haven’t accepted that I know everything?”

  Laughing, I shrugged. “I’ll get it one of these days.” Pausing, I watched Caleb for another minute. “I hope you’re right.”

  Colin turned to lean on his shoulder, facing me, and I did the same. “It doesn’t take my omnipotence to see that he is hopelessly in love with you.”

  Warmth slowly spread through me like butterscotch hot chocolate. “You think so?”

  He nodded, then tilted his head and studied me for so long, I felt antsy. “Will you do something for me?” he asked solemnly.

  My brow knitted at the concern in his eyes. “Of course.”

  “Keep an open mind, okay. You’ve never been one to react on instinct without hearing an explanation. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of that, okay?”

  “Colin—” I shook my head, confused.“—What’s wrong? Has something happened?”

  “No, no,” he hurried to reassure me. “But you never know what the future might bring.”

  I stared into his green eyes and answered honestly, “I promise.” It didn’t make sense, but for some reason, I felt as if the two promises I’d made today would be important to each other.

  “Good. You know I want you to be happy. You’re amazing, and you deserve to have all your dreams to come true.” He raised an eyebrow and said with emphasis, “All of them.”

  “I know you do, Colin. What is going on? You’re acting like you’re dying or something.” I was mostly joking…

  Colin laughed and pulled me in for a quick hug. “You won’t get rid of me that easily.” He released me and winked, “And here comes Mr. Stupid Kisses himself.”

  Caleb grinned as he meandered up to us, and I cuffed Colin on the back of the head. “Didn’t I fire you?”

  He just smirked and stuck his hands in his pockets before strolling away. He’d only taken a couple of steps when I grabbed his arm to halt him. He glanced back at me, and I smiled softly. “You know I wish those things for you too, right? You deserve to have your dreams come true, too.” I knew he wanted a wife and a family someday, but like me, he’d been too focused on making the Inn and Lodge a success to worry about dating.

  Colin smiled, but it was a little brittle when he responded. “Oh, they will. There’s nothing I won’t do to make sure of that.”

  I was taken aback by his answer and the dark tone of voice I’d never heard from him before. But then his face cleared, and he was all smiles again.

  “See you later, lovebirds.”

  I met Caleb’s eyes, and he looked as surprised as I felt. He shrugged and shook his head. “No clue.”

  “Weird.”

  “So,” Caleb said as he slid an arm around my waist, attracting all of my attention because he always made it seem like we were the only two people in the world. “I just got spanked by four very tenacious kindergartners.” He spoke a little louder when he added, “Even if they are cheaters!”

  A burst of giggles came from the couches in the center of the room, and I couldn’t help smiling.

  “It was a pretty big hit to my ego.”

  I smirked and tilted my head. “Poor baby. How can I help?”

  “How about we go to an empty room, and you can stroke my ego until it’s all better?”

  Dropping my head onto his chest, I used it to muffle my hysterical laughter. I squeezed my thighs together at the same time, trying to squelch the rush of arousal that had flowed down to my cornucopia.

  “Is that a no?” he asked, sounding dejected.

  When I looked up, he was pouting like a toddler, sending me into another fit of laughter. “Come with me, babe. Let’s find you some Christmas cheer.”

  He brightened and straightened up, grinning salaciously. Then, taking my hand, he began to lead me in the direction of my office. We were almost across the room to the hallway when someone called out, “Hey! Preston Barrington! What the hell are you doing here?”

  Caleb froze, and his expression became panicked as his eyes darted between me, the office, and the person who’d been talking to someone named Preston.

  “Do you know this Preston guy?” I asked, looking around. “Should we find him? He must look like you.”

  “I haven’t seen you since…fuck. I think it’s been at least four years.” The stranger walked right up to Caleb and clapped him on the back.

  “Blane,” Caleb said through clenched teeth.

  The Blane guy threw back the rest of whatever had been in his tumbler, and I had a suspicion he was a little tipsy. “This is usually your kind of digs. Did you get tired of the big ski resorts around the world and decide to slum it at a hole in the wall?”

  He laughed, but Caleb’s hand tightened around mine, and he glanced at me, his expression apologetic. “It’s the other way around,” he started to say, but Blane cut him off.

  “Unless you’re here to scope out the place before Barrington Inc. plows over the owner and takes it. A little small for you guys, though, isn’t it?”

  I gasped, completely lost as to what the figgy pudding this guy was talking about. Well, not completely, but I was doing my best not to put the pieces together. There was no way Caleb worked for the company that had been harassing me to sell.

  “Caleb?” I asked softly, hoping he would flatly deny it.

  When he met my gaze, his green eyes were flooded with guilt.

  I yanked my hand, and he held on a little tighter for half a second before letting me go. Shaking my head, I took a few steps back.

  “Caleb?” Blane asked, scratching his head. “Oh, dude, that’s right. Sorry. I forgot only your parents and the bigwigs call you Preston.”

  Again, I gasped, stumbling backward this time. “Your name isn’t Caleb?”

  “It is,” he insisted as Blane said, “Nope.”

  “Everything alright over here,” Colin inquired as he stalked up to our little group.

  “He’s—” I gulped. “He says Caleb isn’t who he says he is.”

  My eyes were wild when I looked at my friend, and the second I clocked his neutral expression, I knew.

  “You knew?” I rasped, my throat suddenly dry as the desert.

  “Yes, but let me—”

  “No.” I held up my hands, waving them in a motion to tell them not to bother. “I can’t believe this. You’re my best friend, Colin.” I looked at Caleb-Preston-whoever he was. “And you… you’re supposed to be…” Tears well in my eyes before slowly rolling down my cheeks.

  “I am,” he insisted, taking a step toward me.

  “No, you’re…I don’t even know what—or who—you are. But I know you better stay away from me.”

  Caleb held out a hand. “You promised, Raven.”

  “I’ve heard enough of an explanation to know I don’t want to know anything else.”

  I spun on my heel and ran across the room, through the Inn’s lobby, and out back to my cabin. We’d salted again not long before, or I might have broken my neck since I could barely see through the big, wet flakes. By the time I reached the cabin, I was covered in snow, and since I’d run out of there without my coat, my clothes were a sopping mess.

  I didn’t care, though. Once inside, I shut and locked the door, then threw myself down on the couch and sobbed.

  I guess I’d ended up on the naughty list after all.

  Still, this is unusually cruel, Santa. No cookies for you next year.

  Chapter 11

  Caleb

  “Fuck,” I snapped as I turned to go after Raven.

  Colin gripped my bicep, and I whipped around swinging. He ducked and let me go. “I’m not trying to stop you, Caleb,” he snapped. “I just want to tell you. I figured out who you were that first night. I saw how you looked at her, so I decided to keep it to myself. But, I better be right. Because if you don’t fix this and I lose my best friend, I will kill you. Do you understand?”

  I felt a little bad for almost hitting him when I realized he’d allowed me the opportunity to fall in love with Raven and make her fall for me before she found out. I nodded. “Thank you.” I didn’t wait for his response before sprinting after Raven.

  The snow hadn’t let up for days, and the wind still whipped it into a frenzy, but when I ran outside, I could still make out Raven’s cabin and saw her go inside.

  When I reached it, I wasn’t surprised to find it locked. I was wearing sneakers, and as I paced in front of her door trying to think of a plan, the snow soaked them through. Without a coat, all the fluffy moisture landing on me melted into my clothes, making me shiver as the cold permeated all the way to my bones. But I barely noticed those things because my heart hurt, and the sounds of her crying ripped my chest open. “Raven? Please open the door.” I tried cajoling first.