Page 31 of Dad's Billionaire Buddy

Chapter SEVENTEEN

Carina

I'm given a reprieve while we eat a late lunch looking out over the gorgeous scenery and I'm pumped up with bravery or carelessness by some good wine.

“Eat. But not too much vino,” Jared tells me. “The effects are multiplied at altitude.”

“Time to face the nightmare,” I say, stealing myself.

I know Jared will pick me up if I fall and the prospect of being held in his arms softens my terror.

It's not so bad. Once I relax, I can actually point my skis downhill in a plow and grind down the slope to reach the bottom. Jared never leaves my side, even though he must be itching to get in a black run.

I can see he's a brilliant skier, his body is agile and powerful with a confidence that doesn't allow for failure.

“Am I holding you back?” I say and receive a kiss on my Rudolph red nose. “From catching some good runs, I mean.”

“Nothing is more fun than being here with you. I don't need any more adrenalin than that.”

“Yeah, I'm sure towing me up the hill on the end of your pole is really exciting.”

He tugs me into his chest and nuzzles into my hair, nipping at my ear lobe until I'm writhing with tickles.

“You talk dirty like that to a guy like me, you're gonna be in trouble, Darlin',” he growls against my skin so goosebumps rise all over.

“Oh, so you like having me on the end of your pole.”

“Nothing better in the world. And fuck, now how am I gonna fix my junk in this long underwear?”

I giggle, actually giggle like a kid because he makes me so freakishly happy. This is how it is. He's taught me to ski and taught me what love looks like. I don't know how I'm going to be when he's gone.

Other than devastated.

“Let me help you.”

I reach for him and he yanks his groin away from my eager mitts.

We're on the edge of the run, between some tall pines that Jared saved me from running into, but still people can see us. I'm laughing so hard as he squirms away from me, I lose my stance on the skis. Jared reaches out for me but too late, I've gone down on my butt and tugged him down to cover me.

“Really, Darlin', if you wanted me on top of you, you only had to ask. You know I'll always oblige you.”

“Always?” I mewl.

The laughter sticks in my throat as I pose the question that's been bugging me before I catch myself. Jared doesn't freak or look remotely disconcerted.

“Yeah. Always,” he replies.

His lips graze mine lightly, enough that he can pin my eyes under his as the tip of his tongue trails along my swollen mouth.

“But -”

Am I gonna leap this time? Face up to stuff and deal with it for once?

Jared's watching my angst with interest, giving me flashes of confidence-boost with his eyes, just like when he was teaching me to stay upright on two slippery planks of carbon fiber.

“Hmmm?” he prompts, his lips moving across mine so sensuously I can hardly think.

“How come you don't already have 'always'? No wife. No family?”

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