Rising, Freestyle: Xtreme Adventures, Book 2 (17 page)

Nathan laughed and squeezed the air from her lungs with his hug. “It’s me. Can I come in?”

He managed to place her feet back on the floor only a second before being caught in a hug by Derrick. Melanie couldn’t stop her heart from racing. Nathan was back.

He’d left without saying a word.

She thumped him on the shoulder again for good measure. “You ass. What the hell were you thinking, running out on us?”

Nathan followed Derrick into the living room. “I was thinking you needed to move on, and so did I.”

He had a point, but Melanie was still pissed. “You could have said something before you disappeared.”

“And what’s with the magical appearance right now?” Derrick asked. He pointed at the photo album on the coffee table. “Were you in the delivery truck with the packages?”

“Sort of.” Nathan gave a sheepish smile. “I dropped off the book and I’ve been parked on the street up the road waiting until one of you picked it up. Felt like a complete ass every time one of your neighbours walked by and eyed me like I was a crook casing the joint.”

Melanie checked him over. He looked good. Trim and strong, still as dashing as ever.

But he didn’t make her body ache like he’d done before.

She glanced at Derrick. He smiled and held her hand, all warm and intimate in his. Both of them at ease. This was their home now, and Nathan was simply a good friend come to visit.

A deep sense of peace rolled over her. “Come on—I’ll make us coffee.”

Melanie led them into the kitchen and got the water going as conversation spilled around them. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but in the end, it seemed most of them came down to one thing.

Were they all happy?

Nathan sipped from his cup before pointing between them. “So, what’s up with you guys? One house, I hear.”

Derrick beamed. “Melanie’s moved in. I sacrificed my closet space to her shoe collection.”

Yeah, right.
“Damn, I forgot I was supposed to start leaving stockings on the shower rod.”

They exchanged contented smiles before Melanie tore her gaze away and returned to Nathan. “And you? The note said you quit
Rave
.”

He nodded. “There was a little more involved than that, but it’s okay. You don’t have to worry about them including you in the series either—that was part of the deal with me leaving.”

An icy cool wall of relief hit. “You’re serious? How did you pull that off?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Part of my negotiations. I can’t talk about the details, but I don’t want you to fuss, okay?”

“Do you miss working for
Rave
?” She didn’t want to have ruined his career.

Nathan snorted. “Not at all. The freelance I’m doing pays just as well, and now that I’ve bought a camper, I’m mobile and can work anywhere. Amazing how being able to travel freely makes it easier to get some assignments.”

“Sounds as if you’re even more footloose and fancy-free than usual,” Derrick teased. “Going to take advantage of better weather in the south and get away from the coming snow?”

Derrick continued to quiz Nathan on his plans, and Melanie simply soaked it in.

With her lover’s arm around her, Melanie was anchored in the warmth of her surroundings. She enjoyed the chatter as Nathan filled in the missing gaps from the past months, and his optimistic hopes for the future. Knowing that Nathan was going to be okay, finding a place in Derrick’s heart—her happiness was almost complete now.

There was only one more thing she wanted to accomplish, and it was time.

Somehow they ended up back at the gym, Chinese takeout boxes scattered again.

“Why do I feel like we’ve entered a time warp?” Derrick stroked her hair as Melanie leaned against his chest. He hoped she wasn’t going to suggest another round of sex in front of Nathan. He wasn’t willing to share her ever again, not even that way.

She giggled. “Sorry, no wild sexcapades this time.”

“Well, damn,” Nathan complained. “I had this new rope trick I wanted to show you.”

She stuck out her tongue and he instantly clicked a picture. “Will you stop that?” she demanded.

“Monkey.”

“Jackass.” Melanie scrambled to her feet. “I want to climb. Derrick, belay me?”

That wasn’t what he expected. “Right now?”

She was already scrambling into her harness. “Now.”

Derrick exchanged a confused shrug with Nathan, but went to grab his belt. Nathan gathered the remains of their dinner and cleared the floor, stepping out of the way to allow Melanie access to the wall.

She grabbed him by the arm on her return journey, hauling him close and hugging him fiercely. Nathan was stiff at first before returning the salute.

They were both grinning like fools when he stepped away.

Derrick was in the middle of checking the straps on her harness when Melanie caught him unaware. The gentle touch of her lips to his cheek was accompanied by her fingers tangling in his hair. She tugged until their lips connected, then continued the light blessing of their mouths together.

It would be easy to do this all night long.

When she pressed her hands to his chest, it was to both push them apart and to keep them together, her fingers clutching the front of his shirt. “I love you.”

A rush of happiness hit like a rockslide, making his knees weak. “I love you too.”

“On belay?”

Oh man.
Would he ever get used to her high-energy mood swings? Derrick adjusted the rope, taking up the slack and pulling his head back into the game. “Belay on.”

Melanie grabbed the wall, stepping up to lift both feet clear of the floor. “Climbing?”

He’d support her as high as she wanted to go. “Climb on.”

One move followed another. Deliberate. Cautious, yet not. She tested her grip before releasing each previous hold, but she didn’t take the simplest route up the wall. She reached and stretched, using her muscular legs and flexible core to attempt challenging holds.

Nathan stepped behind him and spoke quietly as if afraid to disturb her. “What’s she doing?”

Derrick shrugged but kept his eyes locked on her rising body. “Proving something to us? Something to herself?”

“She doesn’t have to prove anything to me.”

Melanie didn’t even hesitate as she passed the fifteen-foot marker, progressing one hold at a time. Pride swelled inside Derrick at her fearlessness. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Halfway up the wall she paused. “Take.”

“Got. Fabulous work.” The poise she showed highlighted how far she’d come in the past five months.

“Oh, I’m not done.”

Derrick waited, watching her peer down at him from her perch. “What’s up, sweetheart?”

She flashed a grin on them both. “Give me slack. I’m climbing the rest freestyle.”

Shit
. “Melanie…”

“Do it. I’m good. Really I am.”

He paused. Assessing. Looking into her bright eyes, her confident face. It took a lot for him to release his own fears. “As you wish.”

She blew him a kiss before facing the wall resolutely. “Climbing.”

Derrick forced himself to obey her request—mostly. She wouldn’t get hurt. Worst-case scenario, if she did slip off a hold, the rope he still controlled would halt her before she’d fallen far. He wasn’t strong enough to let her completely free, so he cheated, just a little. Gave her a loose rope, but took up the extra slack to make sure the most she could fall was less than five feet.

It wasn’t a case of not trusting her skills, but loving her enough to care even when she didn’t ask him to.

“She’s beautiful when she’s climbing.” There was a note of awe in Nathan’s voice.

“She’s beautiful all the time,” Derrick corrected.

And when Melanie reached the top of the wall and sounded the bicycle horn mounted on the ceiling, Derrick fought back tears.

“Take.” Sheer delight tinged her voice as she called out.

Derrick tightened up the extra rope to secure her in position. “Got.”
For now. Forever.

Far above them, a loud shout echoed off the walls as Melanie cried out her victory, both hands raised over her head. She spun in a lazy circle as he lowered her to the ground and into his arms.

“I did it.” The words brushed past his cheek as she whispered in his ear. “I really did it.”

Derrick squeezed her close in spite of the ropes and harnesses tangled between them. She’d more than accomplished her goal. She’d risen above her fears, and he was going to enjoy every moment of watching her face the future.

Together, they could rise above any challenges that came their way.

About the Author

Vivian Arend has hiked, biked, skied and paddled her way around most of North America and parts of Europe. Throughout all the wandering in the wilderness, stories have been planted and they are bursting out in vivid colour. Paranormal, twisted fairytales, red-hot contemporaries—the genres are all over.

Between times of living with no running water, she home schools her teenaged children and tries to keep up with her husband—the instigator of most of the wilderness adventures.

She loves to hear from readers:
[email protected]
. You can also drop by
www.vivianarend.com
for more information on what is coming next.

Look for these titles by Vivian Arend

Now Available:

Granite Lake Wolves

Wolf Signs

Wolf Flight

Wolf Games

Wolf Tracks

Forces of Nature

Tidal Wave

Whirlpool

Turner Twins

Turn It On

Turn It Up

Pacific Passion

Stormchild

Stormy Seduction

Silent Storm

Falling, Freestyle

Coming Soon:

Paradise Found

Black Gold

Rocky Mountain Heat

Rocky Mountain Haven

Never venture out of bounds without a buddy—preferably two.

Falling, Freestyle

© 2010 Vivian Arend

Dara's past four incredible years have been lived to the fullest. Along with her best friends, Kane and Jack, she’s left no local wilderness unexplored, no ski slope unchallenged. Yet lately she wonders why they’ve never seen her as more than a buddy with breasts. When—or if—either man will cross that unspoken line.

It’s a line Kane eyes harder every day. Since high school, he and Jack have shared everything. A condo, vacations—and their best girl. Kane’s ready to get serious about his wilderness school and outfitter business, and that includes putting down roots. Preferably with Dara.

Wary of the men who’ve recently been sniffing around Dara, Jack has a growing sense that he or Kane better make a move soon, or they’re going to lose out on their perfect match. Question is, who does she prefer…and who’s going to bring their easygoing trio to an end?

Overhearing the boys arguing over her, Dara’s floored—and torn. Choose between them? No way. Drastic measures are called for, a plan for their annual holiday getaway that will clarify her feelings once and for all—or lose everything in a sexual storm of whiteout proportions.

Warning: Old friends turned lovers can get into the most trouble—exhibitionism, bondage, spanking. Anal sex, oral sex, unauthorized use of ski safety harnesses, icicles in the hot tub… The author apologizes in advance for any melted monitors.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Falling, Freestyle:

Alpine Responsibility Code

Rule #5—Safety restraints must be used at all times.

Dara stood erect, her breasts like some kind of missile system. Cocked and fully loaded, they aimed forward, barely contained by the wisp of fabric on her skin. It was the sexiest thing she owned and she felt more naked in it than if Kane had insisted she come to dinner in the nude.

She’d packed the scanty lingerie with uncertainty. Heck, she’d bought it during her mad planning session for this getaway, trying to think of what the guys might find attractive. It wasn’t her usual attire—having a string up her butt was not what she’d choose to wear most days. Besides, it was scary how much the shop had charged for mere inches of material.

It was all worth it when she saw the expression in Jack’s eyes as Kane led her around the corner. His hands skittered over the utensils he was placing on the table.

“Oh sweet thing. Where have you been all my life?” He gave her one of his exaggerated winks.

Suddenly she was comfortable again. These were her buds, her “cuddle in the dark because there’s a lightning storm outside the tent” friends.

Her lovers as of an hour ago.

There was nothing to fear from them, not even clad in the most come-hither outfit in the world.

Kane seated her carefully, taking the chair on her right. Jack sat on her left and they all filled their plates with the pasta and aromatic sauce.

Jack placed a piece of bread on her plate and she wrinkled her nose. “Garlic bread?”

Kane pointed with his knife. “He made Caesar salad too. We’re all goners, so you’d better eat some in self-defense.”

“Garlic breath. Ugh. I guess we’re not planning on doing anything else tonight.”

The expression in Jack’s eyes shot down that idea immediately. Dara took a deep breath and turned her attention to the table. She couldn’t maintain his gaze, not yet. Not when he seemed to look straight through her and see what she really wanted.

Which wouldn’t be so bad if she knew herself.

Their lovemaking before supper had made it clear she was physically compatible with both the guys. Now she needed to concentrate on her real agenda. Who did she want the most, not just in the bedroom? Who did she have the best chance at forever with?

She reached for her fork and stopped in surprise. “Umm, Jack? The food looks great, but you forgot to give me any utensils.”

“Didn’t forget.”

Okay, now he was getting annoying. She pointed beside her plate. “Hello, nothing to eat with.”

His fingers encircled her wrist and tugged her arm toward him. Jack laid a thin black strap over her skin and smoothed the Velcro fasteners together. The band formed a loop around her wrist, like a sports-watch strap. A longer section, with a locking clip, extended five inches toward the floor. She stared at him in confusion, attempting to pull her hand back. He closed his fingers over the strap and trapped her in place.