The Future of Our Past (The Remembrance Trilogy) (31 page)

“Mmmm…I love that.” She licked my upper lip, our kisses slowing and softening as she spoke against my mouth. She could drive me insane, fully clothed in a damn Eskimo suit. The desire for her never lessened, and I was glad of the torment. “And, I’m
so
mean to you…” She kissed the line of my jaw and bit my chin playfully.

“Why are you up so early…and wearing so damn many clothes?” I complained as I nuzzled the side of her neck, pulling at her turtleneck with my teeth. I groaned in frustration, rolling off of her onto my back. “Gah!!”

She burst out laughing. “Ryan, get your ass out of bed. I thought we were going skiing today. It’s eleven o’clock, for God’s sake. Or were you planning to laze around in bed the entire day?” She’d moved onto her side, propping her head up on one arm while the other hand slowly slid down my chest and lower, below my navel.

I turned my face toward her and crooked an eyebrow. “Don’t start something you aren’t prepared to finish,” I teased, grabbing her hand, bringing it up to my mouth for a kiss. The sunlight reflected off the diamonds on her bracelet to send a spectrum of colors scattering around the walls. I kissed the inside of her wrist reverently. “This looks perfect. I love seeing it on you.”

“Yeah, it’s like a brand,” she said softly, her gaze suddenly turning serious. “Is that what you intended?”

I grinned and brushed my fingers lightly along her jaw. “Something like that. Is that okay?”

“It’s perfect. It’s a miracle that I never thought would come true.”

I leaned in, kissing her soundly on the mouth, but not letting myself give in to the passionate play I was craving. “You’re stuck with me now; the good, bad and the ugly.” My stomach growled loudly and Julia’s eyes widened, a throaty laugh bursting from her chest. “What are you feeding me for breakfast? Some vixen totally sapped my strength last night. I doubt I can make it to the ski lift, let alone get down the mountain. My legs are still shaking and I’m
starving
.”

Julia smiled as I pushed up on my forearms and then got fully off the bed. “Yeah, yeah. You’re in horrible shape. I can see that. Breakfast is served, milord.” She got up and bowed dramatically. “As soon as you put some clothes on that fine ass.”

My heart swelled as I watched her leave the room. My face hurt, I was smiling so much, but I couldn’t stop. In fact, I wanted to laugh out loud. Being with Julia was pure happiness and the only thing I really needed.

I quickly pulled on some long johns and jeans, wool socks and a navy turtleneck sweater. “Julia? Baby, did you wear long johns under your clothes? If you didn’t bring any, I bought some for you,” I called down the hall as I dressed.

She poked her head around the edge of the kitchen into the hall. “Wow. So we skipped the newlywed stage and went straight to our 25th anniversary?” She smirked and the dimples in her cheeks grew more pronounced. “You’re buying me long underwear, now? How
sexy
. What’s next? A vacuum cleaner? Thanks, Hon.”

I walked down the hall toward the luscious smell of freshly brewed coffee and bacon. Julia had taken the parka off and was flipping pancakes on the stove. She had glasses of orange juice, butter and maple syrup on the table. “Mmmm…This smells delicious,” I said as I sat at the table, just as she plopped three huge pancakes on the plate in front of me. My eyes shot up to hers.

“What?” she asked and raised her eyebrows. “You said you were hungry, right?”

“This is a mountain,” I said, but grabbed the butter and began to spread it between the cakes and then poured a generous amount of syrup over the top until it was dripping down the sides of the stack. I grabbed a piece of bacon off of the plate in the center of the table and took a bite, watching Julia ladle more batter onto the griddle on the stove.

Contentment settled over me and filled me to bursting. The woman I loved was making me pancakes in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. And we were completely alone. It was perfect.

“I’ll apologize in advance since I’ll be on my butt more than my skis. You’ll probably have to carry me down the mountain!”

I smiled and dug into the pancakes. “These are really delicious, honey. Thank you. You won’t be on your ass,” I scoffed and shook my head. “We’ll start on the easier slopes until you get used to it, I promise.”

“Oh? You mean like last time when you and Aaron tricked me up onto the black runs?” She was remembering the last trip. Aaron and I thought it would be fun, but it ended with Julia being taken down the side of the mountain by the ski patrol in one of those sleds. She was so pissed that she hardly spoke to me for three hours. Three whole hours. I smirked at the memory.

“Yeah, laugh it up! You weren’t the one on your damn back! I looked like a complete idiot!” She was trying not to laugh. I could see it on her face and the way she was biting her lower lip, both were turning up at the corners despite her effort.

“You were adorable,” I teased. “I mean, considering how mad you were. All spitting fire. I thought you were going to deck me when you got out of that damn thing.” I couldn’t help it; I burst out laughing. She’d stormed past me into the lodge at the bottom of the run, as fast as she could in the bulky ski boots, so furious that tears of frustration had come to her eyes. I felt a lot of regret afterward, but looking back on it, it was damn funny.

Julia was sitting across from me, pouring syrup on a pancake on her plate. Her hair was pushed back by the ear band she was wearing, making the contours of her bone structure more pronounced. She looked up and laughed. “I suppose it
was
funny, but I was upset at the time. Don’t even think about pulling something like that today! I’ll be denying you more than my words.”

I leaned forward and took her hand in mine. “Nothing is worse than not being able to talk to you, Julia. Don’t you know that?”

“Hmmm, so I can hump your brains out, but as long as I keep my mouth shut, you’ll be in agony? Is that what you’re asking me to believe?” she asked flatly.

The happiness inside pushed out in a deep, breathy laugh. “Yes. Exactly.”

“Uh huh.” She grinned, tongue in cheek, and then got up to clear the table.

As usual, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. As much as I wanted to go skiing, I wanted to stay inside and keep her all to myself even more.

“You’re very beautiful today. Thank you for breakfast, my love.” I walked up behind her as she rinsed the plates and wrapped my arms around her. My mouth found the sensitive skin behind her ear. I knew she found the gesture particularly arousing. “It was almost as delicious as you are. So let’s get the hell out of here before I forget what I’m supposed to be doing.” She arched back into me and turned her face toward mine, clearly wanting me to kiss her. I turned her in my arms and cupped her chin with my hand, tilting her mouth up to mine. “I love you,” I said softly as my lips took hers. I kissed her deeply, my tongue sliding into the sweetness of her mouth and I groaned when she slid her hands up to fist in my hair. I didn’t want to leave…If we never left here again, I’d be fine.

“Jules…” I breathed as I rested my forehead against hers, passion raging between us. I’d never get used to it. “Uh, you turn me on like crazy.”

She didn’t speak, her hands, still clutching at the nape of my neck, urged my head back down toward hers. Her nose nuzzled near the corner of my mouth and I wanted nothing more than to kiss her for hours. I kissed her gently once more and brushed my knuckles across her left cheekbone.

“Mmmm…Ryan,” she whispered against my mouth. “I love you.”

I kissed her on her temple and ran a hand through my hair. “Honey, we need to leave now or we never will, okay?” I swatted her on the rump and summoned the strength necessary to move away. “Come on, let’s get a move on. I can’t wait to see you conquer the slopes today.” I flashed a bright smile and went to get our shoes from near the door.

“Don’t get your hopes up. You know how I hate to disappoint you,” she admonished and rolled those gorgeous eyes. I shook my head in disbelief, while the corners of my mouth lifted slightly and my brow furrowed.

“Not possible. If you spend the entire day on your ass, you’re perfect just as you are. Got it?”

“You’re so graceful, it makes me feel like a klutz,” she moaned.

“Well, obviously, I won’t be today. I don’t have my own skis. Rentals won’t be the same.”

“Oh,
poor baby
! I feel so bad for you, Mr. I-Can-Do-Anything-And-Everything! How will you manage rented equipment?” she mocked.

I put my arm around her head and started rubbing the knuckles of my other hand on the top of it as she squealed in protest. “That’s enough out of you. I think I owe you a face full of snow!”

Okay, so I was doing pretty well. I didn’t fall too much and I was even starting to enjoy myself. My knees weren’t hurting like I remembered and I was actually having fun. Honestly, I’d been dreading the skiing part of this vacation, but Ryan loved it so much, I wanted to at least try for his sake.

Colorado was beautiful. The Rocky Mountains rising majestically in all directions, glistening with fresh powder and the scent of evergreen and blue spruce hung in the air. The sky was a brilliant blue, with cottony clouds floating in its endlessness. The sun reflecting off of the snow made me thankful for my sunglasses.

Ryan was waiting at the bottom of the run as I skied the last fifty yards. He looked gorgeous, but what else was new? The sun was shining brightly and reflecting off of Ryan’s hair, giving it a golden, multi-tonal cast. He flashed me a bright smile as I glided toward him. I forgot what I was doing and was having trouble stopping. I was going to plow right into him.

“Ryan! I can’t stop! Move so I don’t hit you!” I called, but he just threw down his poles and held his arms open, laughing the entire time.

He cupped his hands over his mouth and burst out, “Julia! Don’t worry! I’ll catch you!”

In my panic, I was losing my balance as I rushed toward him. It was like an old movie, everything moving in slow motion, yet there was nothing I could do to stop. He was still laughing when I finally made contact. His arms wrapped around me and our bodies collided with a thud. I think he could have stopped me, but fell backward into the snow, taking me with him. I landed on top of him, breathless.

“Ugh! I’m sorry!”

He was laughing his head off. “I’m not!”

“Hey, Julia! I’ll save you!! How about a drink at the lodge?”

I rolled over and tried to figure out where the voice was coming from. Ryan’s mouth set as he pulled himself up, his skis still attached. Mine had come off my boots and he grabbed the front of my parka, pulling me up after him to set me on my feet as if I weighed nothing.

Two guys on the lift above us were calling down to me.

“Hey, dickhead! Am I invisible?” Ryan admonished with a grin.

“Oh, aren’t you her brother?” one of them called back, joking and playing along.

I flushed as Ryan brushed the snow off of me, paying extra attention to my ass.

“Hardly!”

“You’re gorgeous, Julia! If you change your mind, 7 PM in the lodge lobby!” the other yelled down.

I started giggling and waved up at them as Ryan took me in his arms. “That’s funny, is it?” He brushed some snow out of my hair with a gloved hand. I wanted to laugh, he was so adorable. I bit my lip and nodded.

“Yes. I think it’s hilarious,” I choked out and then burst out laughing. It warmed my heart to see his jealousy, even if it was only a little bit.

“Oh, really? Flirting with those guys is fun, huh?” He lifted me up, dumping me back in the snow and falling back on top of me.

“Ahhhhh!” I screamed in surprise.

Ryan’s warm breath rushed over my face as he spoke and nuzzled the side of my face with his nose. His voice lost its laughter. “I think I let you up too soon. Kiss me,” he commanded.

He shoved his goggles up and bent to take my mouth with his as he pinned me in the snow.

I cursed my gloved hand when I couldn’t feel his hair under my fingers, so I slid my arms around his shoulders. I loved this man so much I couldn’t put it into words. Every touch, the easy teasing between us, how he looked at me…all of it meant
everything
. I sucked his lower lip into my mouth and he licked at my top one, before his mouth devoured mine, his tongue teasing mine into passionate play. We both forgot where we were until others began hooting and whistling.