Sianna
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, after we wished Rayden’s grandparents farewell as they left for a weekend visit with some friends, I followed him and his sister into the living room where Tamara sat with her legs folded under her.
“So, what do you say, babe?”
I glanced at Rayden. They were waiting for my answer to an earlier discussion we’d started at the breakfast table that got hijacked by his grandparents’ trip down memory lane. “Isn’t there anything else I can do?”
“Between me, Kyra and Dad, we’ll teach you the ropes. I promise. It’s not hard once you get the hang of it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I groaned. “I’ll probably end up hanging from a tree or something. I’ve seen Ski Patrol,” I muttered, referring to an eighties comedy. Rayden was coaxing me into joining them at the ski slopes, and I’d never done it before.
Tamara’s laughter filled the room. “That’s just a movie. They’re made to look silly.”
“Yeah, and my superb skills would probably give them enough fodder to make a sequel if there isn’t one already.” Running a hand down my face, I shook my head.
“Come on, babe. It’ll be fun.” He gave my waist a little squeeze. “I’ll hold your hand. Promise.”
“And how would you propose doing that.” I rolled my eyes, and he grinned. “Fine,” I mumbled and stood, knowing I was going to regret this decision. My response got an excited yay from Kyra. “I need to grab a jacket.” I moved around Rayden.
He tugged my wrist gently. “While you’re up there, can you call my dad?”
“Yeah, I think he forgot we’re going out,” Kyra teased.
It stayed on the tip of my tongue to say no, but what reason did I have. Instead, I nodded. Slowly, I made my way upstairs. If there was one thing I’ve learned over time, it was that no matter how precise, perfect or diligent you were in planning something down to the nail, the universe was a master unto itself. It could mess up even the best-laid plans with a simple thing called fate. “Oh, Goddess providence, how fared thee today?” My cynical laugh ended with a deep inhale when I reached Drake’s door. I paused with my hand up and ready to knock. “Jesus, girl, you’re just calling the man,” I muttered under my breath and knocked.
“Come in,” his deep voice echoed through the dark wood.
Tentative fingers grasped the handle before I opened the door. I stepped inside, immediately blown away by the masculine décor. Bottle green being the prominent color and occasionally paired with charcoal, it spoke of charm and elegance I wouldn’t expect in a man’s room.
“Hello, Sia,” the husky greeting drew my gaze.
I blinked hard. Blood rushed to my cheeks. Every nerve responded like a well-placed magnet. With one shoulder against the frame, muscular arms folded across his chest, his body draped in nothing but a white towel knotted low on his hips, Drake filled the doorway to his bathroom. When my gaze lifted from the impressive ‘v’ peeking just above the edge of the towel, one dark brow rose. So damn sexy. Eyes, the color of silver dollars, stared at me before his square jaw worked a smile I could only label as dangerous. Not the terror kind, more like the ‘do you want me to fuck you now or later’ kind. My teeth sank into my lower lip at the thought. I needed to get out.
Flustered, my emotions skimmed annoyance and arousal. With a deep inhale, I turned my back on him, counted to three, and opened my mouth to speak. Only, warm knuckles drew a delicate line down the bare skin of my arm. His heat radiated through me, stalling my breath as I struggled to keep myself from leaning into him. My skin tingled, waiting for his touch. Yet, when his fingers traced a slow path down my arm once more, I shivered before his front pressed into my rear. One hand rested on my hip, drawing me tight to his body, his hard-on flexed against my lower back. Goosebumps littered my skin in dire contrast to the heated flesh.
“Still shy, Princess?” His voice, deep and enticing, triggered tingles similar to ice sliding down my spine.
