Page 34 of Crystal Iris #1

“Did you mean it—giving me Mona—that way?”

“I did.”

“But Hoyt, we barely know each other.”

“I knew it the first time I laid my eyes on you.”

“I’m going home soon.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

I need to change the subject. “Have you thought about Alaska?”

“Jo wants to leave tomorrow. Are you coming?”

“Are you sure you want me there?”

“I’ve always been sure about you.” He stands up and starts undressing right in front of me.

I sit up. “What are you…?”

“I’m taking a shower. Care to join?”

I wasn’t expecting the invitation. He keeps undressing, walking toward the bathroom completely nude.

Perhaps I’m still… drunk? I ask myself as I follow him.

He’s already under the water when I walk into the bathroom.

“Is that music playing?” I ask, looking around.

“I have a speaker in here.”

“In the shower?”

“Had it installed when I did the remodel.”

“Remodel?”

“I tore down the wall between my old bedroom and my father’s. I wanted more space and decided to extend this bathroom.”

I’m still looking around when he opens the shower door and says, “Firecracker?”

I look at him.

“Will you let me… undress you?”

“You mean…?”

“Get in here!”

I walk in the shower, fully clothed. I laugh as I get under the water, soaking myself. Hoyt pins me on the shower wall and starts to kiss me immediately. It’s a hungry kiss, his tongue moves with the same intensity as his hands.

I can feel his naked body against mine and I want to feel all of it. My hands are exploring every inch, every indentation of the muscles in his back, his arms…

He lifts my shirt and his mouth finds my neck as soon as it’s off. I’m not sure if it it’s my body or the prism that throbs. His lips feel hot on my skin and I notice that the water is mildly warm. He unhooks my bra and his mouth finds my nipples. My entire body heats as he bites them lightly.

And then he moves to my pants. They don’t come off easily. “Fucking yoga pants,” he says as he struggles. He kneels to remove them from my ankles and his mouth finds my stomach. I shiver at the feeling. His mouth continues to kiss my body as he pulls my underwear down with his fucking teeth .

He’s an inch away from licking my sensitive spot when I pull him up.

“It’s my turn. To return the…pleasure,” I say, lowering myself to him.

He grunts before I even put it in my mouth.

I move slow at first, tasting every bit, licking his entire length.

I move around doing the same thing on all sides before taking all of him.

His hands are in my hair and I continue my movements, adding my hand for pressure.

I can feel him losing control and I tease him, gently scraping with my teeth.

I move back and forth until he releases himself.

He pulls me up and holds me under the water.

When his hands move down my body I stop him.

“The water,” I tell him. “It’s too cold now.”

“I’m going to kill Johanna,” he says, turning it off.

I look at him confused.

“She must have used all the hot water.”

I kiss him again, until my lips go numb, until I’m shivering.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do when you leave for Boston,” he says as we dry ourselves and lie in bed.

“Let’s not talk about that yet.”

We sleep with the soft mountain between us again.

I’m packing my bags, and instead of heading to Boston, I’m packing for Alaska. I don’t know how long we’ll be gone. I’m not even sure I’ll be back here before I have to go back to work. I sit down on the bed, and Johanna finds me in the room.

“Hoyt told me you’re coming with us,” she says, spotting the suitcase.

“Do you mind? Be honest.”

“No. I think it’ll be good for us, to get to know each other a little more.”

“Really?”

“I do.”

“In that case, I’m happy to come.”

“Don’t know what to bring?” She looks at the mess I’ve made.

“Not really. I also don’t know if I’ll be coming back here before I…”

“Bring enough for a few days. We can send your stuff back if we end up staying longer.”

“Sounds good. Thank you.”

She starts to turn around when I ask, “What’s the deal with Hoyt and Maeve?”

“I’d tell you, but I think you should ask him. It’s…”

“Let me guess, complicated?”

“Right.”

“I just… left a serious relationship. I was actually engaged.”

She comes back and sits down on the bed. “And you don’t want to jump into something else?”

“I don’t think I could handle it, in case it didn’t work out.”

“Him and Maeve are old history. And I can tell he’s crazy about you. I mean, I haven’t seen my brother this happy—like, ever.”

“And you think it’s because of me?”

“I know it is. Still, you need to do what’s right for you. I’m not the best at relationship advice, though.”

“Did you… talk to Sawyer last night?”

“Yeah, he hates me.”

“I doubt that.”

“He does. He’ll never forgive me for leaving like that.

I had to lie to him too. I didn’t want Hoyt coming after me—not until I figured out if my mother was alive.

Luke’s death… Hoyt took it personally. I couldn’t bring something like this up and—if it turned out she was gone—break his heart again.

He likes to take care of everyone, but I know he’s the one who needs it. ”

She gets up and says, “I gotta finish packing too.”

“Thank you. For talking to me.”

“Of course. I know my brother can be hard to open up to… I’m here if you need to chat.”

“Thanks.”

I’m standing by the fence of Mona’s ring. She looks scared, but to my surprise, she comes closer .

I look into her eyes… and somehow, she looks back at me. Straight into my soul. How do horses do that?

I run my hands through her soft mane. “I’m not leaving you,” I tell her.

“I’ll be back soon. You can trust them, you know—they only want to help you.

” I give her a big hug. “One day,” I say, “we’ll ride all the way to that mountain over there, just me and you.

But for that, we both need some practice. ”

“She doesn’t even let us get this close. I think she likes you,” Hoyt says, walking toward me.

“The feeling’s mutual. But she did let you touch her when she arrived.”

“She was still drugged.”

“Are you guys ready to go?” I ask him.

“Jo is in the truck waiting.”