Page 22

Veronica

Marmot

A nother day, another mudroom induced morning of waking up aching between my legs. I can physically feel how much my body wants to be with Tanner. Somehow in less than thirty-six hours, this part of me has gone from an afterthought and the butt of Collin and Lizzy’s joke, to completely alive. Longing not just to be touched, but for his touch.

I can hear Collin and Lizzy in the dining room, and this time I don’t even care that I’m running a little behind on my own schedule.

I reach between my legs and give myself the slightest tease, savoring just how much my body wants him. For the first time that I can remember in years, I’m not thinking of giving myself a release, but instead of waiting to be with him again. Craving him to take my body where it needs to go, where I want it to go. The thought of denying myself pleasure now, while waiting for the next stolen moment with him, is wildly thrilling. I grab my phone, sending Tanner a text.

Me: It’s the second day I’ve woken up wet thinking about you. I’d take care of these needs if I wasn’t going to see you later. ;) XOXO.

I’m startled as I see three dots appear, Tanner texting me back almost immediately.

Tanner: Mmmm. Save that thought for later. Horny Badger.

I palm my face, muffling a small giggle. I’m really never going to live that down. Hearing it from him though, like that, I almost love the nickname.

I edge myself a bit longer before finally getting out of bed. After getting dressed, I find Collin and Lizzy downstairs. It’s almost 7:30 in the morning and it’s another ski day. To my pleasant surprise, they’re ok with another quick breakfast today.

“So, V. What’s up? Grandpa’s lessons on getting up at the crack of dawn seem to be wearing off.” Collin calls from the dining room table. “I can’t remember the last time I got up before you and now it’s been two days in a row,” he boasts before biting into his bagel sandwich.

He’s not wrong to wonder. It’s very atypical for me, but for once, I sort of don’t care. I make up a half truth that’s hopefully good enough to not raise their suspicions.

“You know, I’m honestly just a bit more relaxed. I didn’t hear from Jeff at all yesterday, I’m enjoying the time on the slopes, and I’m just having fun.” Ok, so maybe a bit more than a half truth.

“I like this version of you, girl. I’m ready to see you let your hair down tonight a bit too, enjoy the hot tub, not have to worry about dinner.” Lizzy eyes me curiously, already grabbing a second bagel for another sandwich.

“What can I say? I’m at ease and feel at home in the mountains, I guess?” I shrug, looking back at both of them.

Checking my watch, it’s nearly 8:00 AM. Damn, we need to get going.

“Alright guys, time to take this show on the road. Tanner’s meeting us with coffees at the Tram Center in half an hour, remember? And it’s a fifteen minute walk so…”

“Ahh there she is, good ol’ V,” Lizzy says, smirking at Collin.

“Damn. I was just starting to like the new sleeping-in-V,” Colin chides, dipping his chin in agreement.

I’m pleased when we get to the Tram Center at 8:30 AM on the dot. As we walk up, I can practically feel my heart in my throat as I see Tanner standing there waiting, coffees in hand again. His now seemingly unmistakeable, imposing presence sends a wave of excitement through me, wondering what he has in store for me today. Instead of being a nervous wreck, consumed by uncertainty, I feel shockingly alive, wondering what the day will bring.

Tanner looks my way. He’s already got his helmet on, goggles resting on the brim of it. He wears a subdued grin, as he hands my coffee to me in his bare, ungloved hand, the one with SEND tattooed across the knuckles. This time I let my hand linger a bit longer on his as I take my drink from him, relishing in feeling our fingers touch.

“Thanks again, Tanner. I could get used to slope-side coffee service,” I say politely, trying to play it as cool as I can. That is as cool as I can while I’m secretly doing whatever this is with my brother’s best friend.

“No problem, Horny Badger,” Tanner says, grinning ear to ear. My face goes a shade of red that would give Big Red a run for its money. I’d be furious at him right now if it weren’t for those addicting green eyes and irresistible dimples.

Oh, and the orgasms.

Definitely those.

Collin and Lizzy predictably can’t control their laughter at my expense either. Jokes on you guys, I don’t see you getting any out here.

“Damn Chap, I don’t think we can ever let her live that down. Good one, bro,” Collin says, punching Tanner’s shoulder, as he grabs his coffee.

“You know, I think I’m starting to warm up to you . Well played. I might need to hold that nickname back to use against her sometime,” Lizzy says, taking her coffee and nodding at Tanner in approval.

Well, I guess that’s one way to throw them off our tail, Tanner. Well played, indeed.

“Alright guys, very funny,” I say. “Now can we get in line for the gondola? And don’t miss the car this time. Ok, Lizzy?”

“Damn. I guess Chill V was short lived this morning, Collin.” She looks at him, shaking her head.

The morning goes on like this on each of our lift rides, with friendly banter and jokes. Collin and Tanner are doing their usual thing, talking about what ski runs look good today, what bars we should hit for New Year’s Eve tomorrow, and just being themselves. Lizzy and I spend most of our chair rides gossiping about our mutual college friends back home and their lives. I still can’t believe Lizzy’s old crush Ivan is playing minor league hockey in Cincinnati.

It’s been a beautiful ski day to this point. The sky is a stunning shade of brilliant blue, without a cloud to be seen for miles. It’s in perfect contrast to the granite mountains and the endless white snow covered slopes.

A truly picture perfect bluebird day.

Without fresh snow overnight, we stick to the groomer runs except for a couple excursions off the side where Tanner manages to score us some stashes of untracked powder from the days before. As we get closer to lunch time, we head down to Marmot chair, an old and very slow two person chairlift that goes up to the mid-mountain lodge where we’ll get lunch again today.

Tanner is the first to get in line for the chair, the fastest one down the run as usual. At the last second, I zoom past Collin and Lizzy to get in line for the chair with Tanner, taking the first one up. As we get on and we’re moving along, I look back at them, sticking my tongue out and making jazz hands at them.

“Snooze you lose! We’ll see you at the top!” I yell back at them on the chair behind us, catching my breath from racing to get past them in line.

I’ve been dying all morning for just a few seconds alone with Tanner. Not sorry guys.

“I was hoping you’d do that.” Tanner’s reassuring, deep voice immediately gets my attention back and away from them, now solidly out of earshot.

“So… what’s the plan today, Tanner?” I look into his eyes, placing my hand on his. Our bodies are shielding us from the view of Collin and Lizzy on the chair way behind us, not that they could see anyways.

“Plan? That’s your department, Ronni,” he says with a smirk.

“Very funny. But really, no crazy plans for the chairlift?” I ask, knowing the answer is no as we aren’t hidden inside of a tinted glass gondola, but still somehow hoping he has something in mind.

“Nope. I just wanted to sit next to you. Talk and enjoy the day.”

I look into his eyes, taking in his smile, those dimples. Ugh. I just don’t know how I’ve never seen this before, all these years I’ve known him. He’s fucking gorgeous, a timelessly beautiful man. And I think he’s obsessed with me.

“Alright. So, carryout and hot tub tonight? Should be fun.” That gets me a sly grin with an uncharacteristic look of caution in his eyes. No, not caution. Maybe fear? It’s still so new to me to see anything other than quiet calm and confidence in Tanner, but I feel like I’m becoming a quick study.

“I’m actually both excited and incredibly terrified,” he says, lowering his gaze to our hands on his thigh, squeezing mine tighter.

Damn, I was right on with that one. Terrified . I guess I am a quick study in the emotions of Tanner Chapman.

“What?” I let out a laugh. “Why? What on earth do you have to be terrified about?”

“Fine. I’ll tell you, but no more laughing, alright?” He looks genuinely embarrassed for some reason.

“Promise,” I say, my curiosity now piqued.

“Ok. So do you remember your twenty-first?” He asks, the look of caution still in his eyes.

“Umm yeah, how could we forget that?” I try to contain my laughter. Seriously, how could I forget. We talk about that night every time we’re out here, and Collin and I still talk about it back in Ohio.

“Well, what about the day after? Do you remember that?” His face is still oddly serious.

My mind drift backs. The river? I do remember that day. We were so hungover, but it was a beautiful day, just the three of us. I don’t remember anything out of the ordinary about it though. Just a laidback day swimming in the sun, out behind his cabin.

“Yeah, we were all swimming at the river. Why?” I’m trying to contain the eager curiosity. Why this day so many years ago? Why is it triggering him like this? I’m dying to know what has Tanner running through shades of embarrassment and caution.

“Ok. Good. You do remember. Well, for all these years I can never get the image of how fucking sexy you were that day out of my mind. Your bare stomach, your shorts hanging off your hips. Your nipples were showing through your Teal Tigers crop top you were wearing all summer. That image has been burned into my brain for years and would come back any time I hear their songs.” He finally looks back at me, the caution in his eyes now replaced with desire.

Fuck. He’s been this into me for that long? I can barely remember what I was wearing that day. It’s actually kind of hot hearing him describe it this way. The way he remembers everything, every little detail like he has a little Veronica library in his brain.

“Damn. Good memory. But you’ll get to see me in a little bikini tonight. So why are you terrified?” I’m still curious, obviously.

“Because I had a raging hard on all day and I was terrified that you or Collin would notice,” he says, shifting awkwardly on the chairlift, clearly uncomfortable.

“Ohhhhhhh. Now, that’s why you sent us to go get the truck while you were still in the water, isn’t it?” I look back at him, the look of caution has faded completely.

“Yeah. Exactly,” he says, the look of desire and confidence in full control of his expression now. “And now I’m excited that you’re going to look just as fucking good tonight and I’m terrified that I’m going to have to hide my hard cock from Collin and Lizzy all night in a cramped hot tub.”

He looks into my eyes. I can practically feel how much he wants me right now. I squeeze his hand and lower my voice.

“I guess it’s my turn to have images of you burned into my mind. Remember, I woke up wet the last two mornings, just thinking of you.” My voice is hushed and slow, clearly having the impact I wanted. I feel him shudder and squeeze his thighs together.

“Careful now, Tanner. Don’t get yourself too worked up. Don’t want you having to hide that at lunch too.”

“Fuck me.” His voice is muted and raspy, practically a groan. “It’s going to be a long day and night, isn’t it?”

I hope so.