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The two couples who’d left minutes before had taken the safest path to the base.
Leia chose a more challenging route, which she’d tracked when the helicopter turned to land. It held a steep drop about halfway down, one that most skiers would think twice about before using. She didn’t dare look behind her even though she could hear the faint swish of Noah’s skis as he came after her.
She veered to the right at the last minute, tucked her knees beneath her, held her breath and careened off the edge.
Noah’s “Shit!” ripped through the clear frigid air.
She laughed, knowing he’d left it too late to follow her shortcut. She landed hard, her teeth jarring as she absorbed the shock and fought to stay on her feet. Luckily, almost twenty years of experience came to her aid. Memories of skiing with her father flashed across her mind.
Logan Michaels had loved skiing. Aspen had been his favorite winter playground, followed by Val D’isere. He’d taken her along each year. By the time she’d turned ten, she’d transitioned to yellow runs.
Unfortunately, his vow to have her on a black run by the time she was thirteen never materialized.
She blinked hard at the tears that prickled her eyes and shoved the accompanying pain back beneath the heavy blanket she’d thrown over her memories. She’d mourned her father—as much as it was possible to do when her life had been turned upside down after his death.
Besides, now wasn’t the time to revisit the past.
The growing sound of skis prompted her to speed up, pushing even harder against the power of the man behind her.
She flew over a small outcropping of rocks and felt momentarily free as she soared mid-air. Her landing was smoother this time, and she slammed her skis harder into the snow. A small copse of alpine trees stood between her and the finish line.
She hated skiing through trees. Despite her skill and agility, she was very aware that one wrong move and it would be over. She forced herself to reduce her speed despite the fire of the challenge burning in her veins.
The other worrying thing was the reckless promise she’d thrown at him on top of the mountain. She’d never warmed a man’s balls before, never mind with her tongue. But no way was she about to confess to Noah King that she’d only had two sexual experiences in her life. The first had been clumsy and embarrassing.
The second had been life changing…
She had to win.
But if she lost… being kept on the knife-edge of orgasm for hours on end couldn’t be so bad… could it?Yes, it could. She’d foretasted that insanity on the plane and that had lasted barely twenty minutes.
God, she would lose her mind if he kept her in a heightened state for even one hour.
The shush of skis drew closer. Digging deep, she ignored the burn in her thighs and raced through the trees. Bursting into blinding sunshine, she spied the billowing flags that signaled the end of the run.
The group made up of guests and crew stood to one side. One or two turned to watch them, and Leia saw their excited gestures.
Too chicken to check how close Noah was, she pushed herself harder.
The whole group had turned to look and most were shouting encouragement.
“Come on!”
“He’s right behind you!”
“Give it up, baby. I’m going to win.”
That he had to raise his voice told her he wasn’t as close as she’d thought. She ventured a quick look over her shoulder and saw he was at least ten meters away.
“No chance in hell, King,” she shouted.
His teeth bared in pure intimidation before she whisked around and gave it everything she had.
Her skis skidded across the finish line just as the tips of his swept into her eye line. Leia punched the air to applause and turned to see Noah shaking his head, his eyes narrowed on her face.
“So, you like winning.”
“I like teaching cocky guys a lesson or two every now and then, yes.”