Deeper (The Real Fling) (15 page)

The day was gorgeous, sunny and warmish. The snow had stopped and everything glistened. It was in the mid-thirties, but with the low humidity that was warm. Later on they could probably lie out in the snow and catch a tan without getting cold. They got to the top of the mountain in about forty minutes. They had to truck sideways for some yards before they managed to get to the very ridge she flew off, but they made it.

“Ready?” Val studied her.

Now or never.
“Let’s go.” Adriana turned her skis downhill and concentrated on everything he’d said about balance and stance. The snow was to her knees, and her legs were shaking uncontrollably, but she refused to give up. Instead, she plowed into the snow, bombing straight down, not even turning a bit to slow up.

“Too fast.” He was at her side.

She shook her head and kept going.

Val was a tremendous skier. She couldn’t do a thing to shake him. It was like he anticipated her move before she made it. They made it the bottom in a fraction of the time it took the day before.

Adriana’s system buzzed with adrenaline. “That was sick.”

His gleaming smile nearly blinded her. “How did that happen?”

Hurdling toward the lift, she giggled. “I don’t know, but I want more.”

They traveled up to the top and raced down a couple of more times. She knew Val was letting her win, but it was a blast all the same. Adriana crouched into a tuck and went straight down. The trail was steep and blissfully empty. Curiosity was killing her, but she didn’t dare look behind her. He was a downhill racer who outweighed her, there was no way she was beating him even with a lead, but still she was dying to peek. Up ahead was the ski lift.

She was winning. “Oh my God.”

“Hello.” Val was right next to her, laughing. Here she was in the tightest tuck she could get into, and he was standing there exerting zero effort.

“Val,” she yelled. “I thought I had you.”

“You have me,
printsessa
.” He slowed up and let her win. Adriana could swear she didn’t even see him move his legs to slow the skis. Watching him ski was like Zen and the art of Val.

“No fair.”

He scooped her into his arms and kissed her. They got on the lift, flew up and down a few more times, then found an outside restaurant at the top of the mountain for lunch. The day was too pretty not to enjoy. Adriana secured a table.

“Buffalo burgers?”

“Really?” She stuck her tongue out.

“Yeah, they are amazing. Do not make that face until you taste them.”

“Okay,” Adriana agreed.

Val went inside to get their lunch. The view was stunning. Miles and miles of snow-capped peaks and valleys. She took some photos with her phone and sat back, enjoying life.

“Adriana?”

She turned slowly.
Crap.
“Go away.”

Jackie embraced her tightly. “I don’t want to fight with you.”

Adriana grimaced. “There isn’t anything to fight about.”

Jackie sat across from Adriana with her salad and soda. “Where is he? Is it over already?”

“Hardly.” Val came up from behind, laughing, and sat next to Adriana. He handed her a soda and her burger.

Jackie blushed scarlet.

Adriana picked up the bun and bumped him. He’d put extra ketchup and pickles on it, just the way she liked. He must have remembered from the first night together, and he got her extra-crispy fries. “Thank you.”

He nodded once.

Val took a bite of his burger and watched her.

“It’s good,” Adriana admitted. “But when have you steered me wrong?”

“Today’s our last day. Wanna ski with me?” Jackie sipped her drink.

Val eyed Adriana.

“What?” Jackie looked from one to the other.

Val didn’t say a word.

“If you’ve got something to say, then go for it,” Jackie challenged.

“Nope. I’m good.” Val winked at Adrianna and took another bite.

Adriana chuckled. He’d let it go this time, but Adriana knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from defending her.

“Valentin Barinov.” A young woman cautiously came over to the table with three girlfriends. They were giggling nervously.

Val sported his million-watt smile.

“Oh wow, it is you.” The woman hopped. “Would you sign my hat, please?”

“And our shirts.” The other two girls lifted up their sweaters.

“It’s so cool to meet you. Can we take a selfie with you?” The first woman was shaking, barely able to contain her excitement.

“Of course.”

One of the girls handed the camera to Jackie. They wrapped their arms around Val, and Jackie snapped the shot before they retreated.

Val shifted closer to Adriana until their legs were touching.

“Friends?” Jackie asked Adriana.

“Not.” Adriana sighed heavily. “Listen, too many things have been said and done. I’m glad I’m not going back to work. I need a fresh start.”

Jackie jumped on the last few words. “Me too.”

“Not the way you want it. We’ve had some fun but I can’t count on you when I need to and that’s not okay.” Adriana wiped her hands on her napkin.

“But I told you I would help you when we get back.”

“You didn’t help me. Susan confirmed it. You may have wanted to, but you didn’t. Doesn’t matter, I don’t want anything from you. I’ll find my own job and make new friends.” Adriana looked at Jackie pointedly. “It’s over.”

Red splotches stained Jackie’s face. Her eyes were a menacing steel color. “Don’t call me when he dumps you.” Jackie glared at Val.

Val stiffened but to his credit he didn’t say a thing.

“Yup, friends don’t say things like that.” Adriana shook her head.

Jackie got up, tossed her salad, and skied away.

“Okay?” Val’s voice was tender.

“Yeah. I’ve never broken up with a friend before.” Adriana took a sip of soda.

“She was not your friend.”

“No.”

Two of the guys from last night came by their table.

“Vally,” the taller of the two called out.

“Can we join you?” The other slid in before Val answered.

“Of course.” Val raised his soda to them. “Ed, Spence, this is Adriana.”

They both greeted Adriana warmly.

“Last night was off the hook. Great seeing you out, man. We’ve missed you.” Ed, the one across from Val, tapped his soda to Val’s cup. “You ready to begin training?”

Val clasped Adriana’s hand. “Still working that out.”

Ed glanced at Adriana, then Val. “I’m sure Doc’ll clear you.” Ed wolfed down his burger like he’d been denied food for a month. “Training’s not the same without you. Besides, you gotta give me a chance to take you down at the World Cup. Beat the Annihilator.”

Val snickered. “In your dreams.”

Spence bumped his shoulder into Ed. “Take human leaps, Ed. First you’ve gotta best me, and we both know that isn’t happening anytime soon.”

Ed gritted his teeth. “You guys suck.”

Spence put his arm around Ed’s neck and hugged him. “Come on, let’s play.” He turned toward Val and Adriana. “Wanna join us?”

“Sure.” Adriana squeezed Val’s hand. He squeezed back. They got up and Val tossed their garbage.

“Cool. Let’s go into the bowls. Maybe a little North Rim or Prima Cornice? They got fresh powder last night. Whadya say, Vally?” Ed wiggled his brows at Val.

“You all right with that?” Val whispered to Adriana.

“Absolutely.” She grinned.

They got geared up, and Adriana led the crew out. The drops were wicked steep, but she had it. There were no set lanes in the three-thousand plus acres of virgin snow. Val and Adriana skied down in alternating giant slaloms. There was no losing Ed and Spence. They were insanely good and if Val was better than them, then wow.

Val was inching ahead of Adriana, and she wasn’t about to let that happen. She put her head down, tucked in tight, and zoomed down. She was giggling so hard by the time they hit the lift she was about to pee in her pants. “That was a blast.”

“Again?” He leaned in and kissed her.

Ed had beat them all down. He slapped Val on the back. “Hey, I think you’re totally ready.”

“Ready for what? You to beat me?” Val raised his brows. “Never going to happen.”

Ed huffed and got on the ski lift with Spence. “We’ll see about that.”

*     *     *

Ed and Spence hung by
them for the rest of the afternoon and down the front-side of the mountain for the last run. At the base, Val took Adriana’s gear, and they slipped into the private area with Spence and Ed.

Adriana sat on the bench, laughing. “Even though I know you guys took it easy on me, that was so much fun.”

“You were great.” Spence grinned.

“Don’t play with me.” Adriana arched her brow.

“I’m not. I’m serious. You kept up with us and that’s not easy to do.”

“You guys slowed up for me.”

“Not totally.” Spence shook his head.

“He is right.” Val tucked his gear away and packed hers up. “You held your own.” Hands clasped, they said goodbye to the boys and took back her rental skis.

“Where are we off to?”

He stopped and embraced her. “I figured we would get a quick drink then head back and get ready for dinner. Is that good for you?”

“No takeout?”

The light in his eyes flickered wickedly as he thumbed her bottom lip. “I want to take you out for a proper dinner.”

“And more dancing?”

“Anything you want.” Leaning in, he dissolved her into him. “But I was thinking we could cuddle by the fire and chill after dinner.”

Adriana sighed.

“You do not like that plan?”

“I like it. Lots.” Her emotions were trying to crush her.

Val inched her chin up. “Here and now,
printsessa
.”

She bit her bottom lip. Val looked as sad as she felt, but his smile never wavered. He kissed her, then took her hand, and they went to happy hour.

The bar was bustling. People were starting to look familiar. They all seemed to know Val. With no available tables, Val and Adriana stood outside on the deck, sipping their drinks.

“Hey, you two.” Joe joined them. “How’s it going?”

Val shook Joe’s hand. “Joe trains with the US team too.”

“He’s the star.” Joe bumped Val. “The rest of us are just the grunts.”

“Do not let him fool you.”

“The way you’ve been healing, man, it’s nothing short of a miracle.” Joe bowed his head then smiled at Adriana.

“He’s got a quick metabolism.” She winked at Val.

“You ready to get into hard training?” Joe sipped his beer.

“Thinking about it. The last couple of days have been good. I had forgotten how much I love skiing.” Val’s genuine smile took her aback. She saw the little boy in him.

“Awesome. If Doc clears you, we can start on Monday. I’ve been waiting for something to do.” Suddenly Joe’s face turned somber. “Adriana, I’m sorry about the other day. I had no idea you were following us. Cardinal rule, never leave a skier alone.”

“S’Okay. Fate stepped in.”

Val kissed her temple. They stayed a little while longer, then walked back to the chalet.

Upstairs, Val turned on the shower and they got undressed. “Want to share?”

Adriana giggled. “How are you figuring we’re making it to dinner?”

“We will.” His lips grazed her throat, sending shivers down her spine, one vertebrae at a time.

She pressed into him, memorizing the way he fused into her. The way he smelled and tasted and,
oh God… felt.
She had to capture it all, burn it into her memory. They had so few minutes left.

Trembling, Val rested his head on her forehead. “Alone at last.”

“Mmm.” Adriana ran her hands up his naked chest. He had the softest light, downy hair. “Can’t believe we finally are.” Her nose was pressed to his chest, and her fingers were splayed across his back as he rocked her in his arms. After who knows how long, he inched her chin up and kissed her once again. “Come on, the shower should be ready.”

Adriana arched her brow. “Is that all?”

Holding her hand, they padded into the bathroom. His ass was high and round and his legs were steely. He resembled the statue of Atlas in Rock Center. But it wasn’t his arms outstretched holding all the heaviness of the world, it was his heart.

“Adriana?” He spoke without turning around.

“Hmm?”

“Are you staring at my ass?”

She laughed. “As if you wouldn’t do the same?”

Abruptly he turned in the middle of the bathroom and embraced her, nakedness on nakedness. Adriana giggled. Val touched her cheeks and kissed her.

She inched on her toes, trying to grind into him. Every ounce of her was begging for him. He backed into the water and took her with him.

“My hunger for you is insatiable.” He nuzzled her neck. “I cannot get enough.”

“Me too. The more I get, the more I want.” She stood under the spray.

Val poured gel on her and gently massaged her shoulders. Working the knots out of her muscles, he kneaded her biceps, neck, and down her back. Her lower back was especially tired. How Val knew that was beyond her, but he manipulated it and got the kinks out.

“Feels good.” She leaned into him. His erection slid between the top of her ass cheeks. His hands wrapped around her, palming her breasts, strumming her peaks while he sucked her neck.

“Val.” She squirmed against him.

He turned her toward the spray. His left hand held her breast and rolled her nipple, back and forth while his right hand went lower, finding her clitoris. Water pelted her, hitting the tips of her nipples and throbbing pearl, amplifying his touch and making her thrash against him.

“That feels…” she whimpered. “I could come just like… Mmmm.”

He plunged his finger inside of her. “Look how wet you are, baby.” Val took her earlobe in his mouth. His mouth was nowhere near her nipples or clit, but she felt it all over.

“For you.” She reached around to touch him, but he was fast. “I want you inside of me.”

He poured shampoo on her scalp. “Later. First, I wash your hair.”

“No way,” she grumbled. “Not fair. You tease me. Lather me up like that and then…”

“Close your eyes or this will hurt.” He scrubbed her head. “My
printsessa
.” He kissed the base of her neck and massaged harder. When he was done, she embraced him but he angled his hips away from her. “We do not have a lot of time.”