Page 17

Veronica

Glowing

J ust as soon as I manage to get off the gondola and gain some vague sense of my bearings, Lizzy and Collin are unloading off the next gondola car. How the hell am I supposed to get through lunch with the four of us? Tanner really said act normal, as if nothing happened.

I just got tongued down, fingered, and given the most body shaking orgasm of my life, in a gondola. From Tanner. Fucking. Chapman.

We all toss our skis on the rack outside the Rendezvous Lodge, before heading to the cafeteria upstairs.

Shit. My legs are still jello.

Was it worth it to let him go down on me like that? Dumb thought, V. Yes, yes it was. God I haven’t come like that in forever, maybe not ever actually.

Now my legs are dead. That’s not going to help me on the two flights of stairs up to the dining room in ski boots, much less the rest of the day on the slopes.

Collin and Lizzy have already raced ahead to find a table in the old cafeteria. Tanner is lagging behind, but I see him gaining ground as I reach the first flight of stairs. My knees tremble watching him come up to my side on the stairs. That man just gave me the orgasm of my life on a ski gondola. Out of nowhere.

“Need a boost, Ronni? Looks like you’re struggling with these stairs.” He says as he wraps one of those strong arms around my waist, locking eyes with me, then motioning up the stairs with his gaze. With his arm wrapped around my waist, bearing the weight of my spent body, we make our way up the stairs, which is surprisingly comforting.

What is going on here between us?

As we near the top of the second flight of stairs, he drops his arm back to his side, looking at me with a sly wink before making his way over to the table where Collin and Lizzy are waiting.

I don’t think they saw me with Tanner’s arm draped around me. Thank god.

We reach the table and I’m ready to sit back down. My legs need a break and I plop down onto the bench with a thud as Tanner slides onto the bench next to Collin, across from me. I can still feel the wetness between my legs as I try to focus on what’s next, lunch with Collin, Lizzy, and Tanner .

“Remind me why we’re getting cafeteria food? Ski lodge food sucks,” Lizzy scoffs.

“Well, they have a captive audience, Lizzy. Not many options. Sorry it’s not up to your Aspen Valley standards,” Collin says, clearly teasing Lizzy.

I finally open my mouth, doing my best to follow Tanner’s sage advice and act normal .

“I could definitely use some food. I’m famished. It’s been a quad burning morning on the slopes with Tanner leading the way. Speaking of tired legs, would you mind grabbing my lunch while you’re up Tanner?” I look back to him, still not sure of what’s happening or what to expect next from this man.

“Sure, Ronni. I’m good on food but I’ll grab yours. I could use a drink though. Got a bit of a dry mouth. What can I grab you from the counter?”

“Chili in a bread bowl and a red Powerade. Thanks, Tanner!”

Are you serious? Taunting me right now? I start thinking about his mouth though. I’d blush if I wasn’t still already flush from that gondola ride.

I swear though, if men have anything, it’s… The. Fucking. Audacity.

As the three of them go up to get lunch while I man our spot at the table, I finally exhale and put my face in the palm of my hands, elbows up on the table. What the fuck, V? That was hot, but really, what the fuck is happening?

Tanner is the first one to get back, sliding my lunch across the table to me on a cafeteria tray.

“Hey there, you should eat up. Long day ahead of us.” I look at him, a soft smile exposes his dimples through his scruffy beard. It’s unreal how he can go from smoking hot rugged man to charmingly sweet and cute like this.

“Thanks, Tanner.” I want to say more, but Lizzy and Collin are already getting back to the table as he sits down.

Digging into our lunches, we reminisce about last night at the Fox.

“Wait, I had how many tequila shots?” Collin asks, a horrified look on his face.

“Um like, at least four or five. And that doesn’t even include the margs, Collin,” Lizzy says, taking alternating air shots with her hands to remind Collin what he looked like last night.

“Fuck me. I guess one of those nights every decade is fine. Glad that one’s out of my system,” he says.

“Yeah sure, Collin,” Tanner says, his deep voice sending chills to my core. “Next time can you just aim away from my shirt when you drink too much?”

Well played, Tanner.

“So V, what’s for dinner tonight?” Lizzy asks, looking my way. I swear it always comes back to food with her.

“Oh, right. Dinner. I was going to make chicken tacos. It’s already marinating back in the fridge.” That will definitely make my night simpler.

As lunch goes on, I realize my thoughts have slowed down. My mind isn’t racing from one idea to the next. I’m sitting here taking in the conversation with everyone, oddly relaxed.

Can this post orgasm bliss continue forever please? I guess I really did need that.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, interrupting my blissful moment. I guess that question is answered. Seriously?!

As I pull my phone from the chest pocket of my jacket to take a peak at what on earth it could be this time, I feel my heart stop.

It’s Tanner.

Tanner: Just wanted to let you know you’re glowing right now. You look amazing. Glad to see that smile.

PS - I still can’t get over how good you taste.

I look across the table at him, but he’s looking right at Collin, as they’re chatting about always keeping your ski tips pointed down hill. His fingers, those fingers , are resting just inside his lower lip, his mouth slightly open.

Is he… fucking tasting me?

“I swear, V. If that’s Jeff, I’m going to personally beat his ass when we’re back in the office. That dude needs a sanity check.”

Lizzy’s words startle me as I realize I’ve been staring at Tanner too long.

“Oh no, it’s not Jeff. Just one of those targeted ads from signing up for an email and text list. It’s crazy how fast they send those, like they’re reading your mind,” I say, hoping my babbling is enough to get her off the trail.

“Alright. So what’s left for the day? We skiing with the boys or just us this afternoon?” I’m torn. All I can think about is Tanner right now and the thought of being close to him for the afternoon sounds frighteningly good. But I feel like I need to spend some girl time with Lizzy after all.

“I’m down for a run with the boys before splitting off for some girl time. We’ll see them for drinks and dinner back at the condo.” Practical V is going to win this one.

After lunch, I still feel shockingly good though, my mind keeps going back to the gondola. That was so intense. So hot. My mind starts to think about Tanner in the mudroom and the magic of his mouth just now, when Collin interrupts.

“So remind me when we need to be back at the condo, V?” Collin asks from the other end of the table. At least he remembered there is a plan for the day this time.

“Lizzy and I will hit a run with you before some girl time on the slopes. Meet back at the condo around 5:00 for drinks and dinner. Sound good?”

“Perfect, V. Tanner and I will see you girls then,” Collin says as he stands up, putting his hand on Tanner’s shoulder. “Come on, Chap. Let’s grab our skis and meet them outside.”

As I watch them walk away, towards the stairs at the end of the cafeteria, I’m still taken aback by how tall and rugged Tanner looks next to Collin. His broad shoulders and chest, his athletic build, all still noticeable even through his loose ski jacket. With Collin busy looking ahead, Tanner looks over his shoulder, winking back at me.

Fuck my life. Just when I thought everything was dull and boring, apparently I’m into Tanner Chapman now.