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Twenty-One

Surveying the end of the boot room, Maya was beginning to regret taking on this reorganization project. Especially when everyone else was busy with their classes and couldn’t help.

On a sigh, she realized the task would be a lot easier if she could keep her mind on it rather than being distracted by delicious flashbacks from the previous night. And the what-ifs of the morning’s events, if she and Sam hadn’t slept in and been in a hurry to get to work.

A tiny seed of worry planted itself into the back of her mind. Was this happening too quickly after his long-term relationship had ended? It was fine for her—she didn’t have a recent relationship trauma to get over; her ending with Rich had been more of a gentle fizzling out. In any case, there had never been any drama between them. Maya was careful to cultivate a drama-free zone where her relationships were concerned, glossing over any minor disagreements rather than having to endure any serious debates.

She chewed her bottom lip. What if Sam needed more time to process the loss of his (toxic) relationship? Plus, work through whatever damage it had left? Maya hadn’t intended for the previous night to be when things moved on for them, as evidenced by her shortsighted choice in underwear. However, once she’d realized that was what Sam wanted, she’d let her libido run away with her.

What was more, she still hadn’t spoken to her dad about them. Instead, she’d chosen the coward’s way out and asked her mum to tell him, then she’d avoided speaking to him about it since. If she shied away from it, then maybe there wouldn’t be any fallout.

Lifting another set of boots, she got back to work. The sound of the boot room door opening and closing a number of yards away became apparent. Then there was a pause and a scraping noise, before Sam’s voice rang out.

His tone carried an edge of urgency. “Maya?”

“Down the back,” she called, her heart rate picking up.

What was wrong? Last time they’d had a conversation in this particular room, the bombshell of Cat’s deception had dropped, and Maya wasn’t sure she could handle any further revelations.

He appeared around the corner, helmet, gloves, and goggles in hand, with his ski jacket hanging open and a hungry look in his eyes.

Maya dropped the boots she was holding as he closed the gap between them, the contents of his hands falling as he lifted them into her hair, pushing her against the wall and ravaging her mouth with his.

Maya’s heart rate spiraled as he dragged his lips onto her neck.

“I nearly wiped out on the black run because I kept thinking about this,” Sam whispered in a husky tone as he kissed and gently bit her skin.

He must have come straight off the slopes to find her, and the thought of that sent her head spinning.

Sam slid one hand down over her chest, causing her to shiver with anticipation, then pushed it under her top. Thank God she hadn’t gone with the thermals today.

He trailed his fingers upward, leaving a wave of goose bumps in his wake. Then he brushed his touch over the thin material of her bra, causing the sensitive flesh underneath to ache. Maya arched her back, needing to bring him closer.

Lifting his head to mold his gaze with hers, he ran his hand to the fastener of her jeans, pushing them down along with her lacy underwear. Thank you, underwear gods, for my better choice in knickers today.

Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he sucked his fingers, making her heart pound in her ears and an unbearable heat pool low in her belly. Then he trailed his fingers between her legs, teasing, rubbing, and dipping them in and out. Her pulse accelerated, the delicious sensation building.

Maya took hold of his face as her breath came in ragged bursts. “What if someone comes in?”

He smiled, moving his mouth close to her ear so that his lips grazed her skin. “Then you’d better hurry up.”

Liquid heat shot into her core, and he ramped up his movements, responding to her moans until her climax began to roll over his fingers. She tried to breathe his name rather than calling it out, lest anyone outside the room hear her cries.

Maya collapsed against the wall as the waves slowed, Sam holding her steady and kissing her softly.

“I’ve got a confession,” he murmured.

“What?” she asked, trying to focus on him through her post-climactic haze.

He smiled. “I blocked the doorway with one of the shelves.”

Maya paused to take in what he’d just said, her thought processes still foggy from the amazing orgasm he’d just given her. She managed a laugh. “You could have told me that before.”

He kissed her neck. “It was more fun this way.”

“So, you’re telling me that no one can get in?” she asked, glancing toward the bank of boots that shielded the view of the doorway.

“That’s right,” he murmured against her skin.