Winter Fire: A Red Hot Winter Story Read online

  She shook her head helplessly. “I, er, I need the bathroom. Please excuse me.”

  Jesus Christ and holy fuck. Rachel was aroused. Garreth, the stupid fuck, had pulled her away from the table and fed her some crock of shit. Whatever the bastard had told her had worked.

  Rachel’s cheeks were flushed and her nipples poked at the black stretchy top she wore. She looked as though she were about to jump Garreth right there, at the bar.

  But she didn’t. Instead she stumbled off her chair and walked away. Headed to…?

  Jackson didn’t stop to check. Acting on instinct, he got up and followed her.

  She rounded a corner, in the direction of the kitchen. And bathrooms. And a door leading out to what had to be the back of the restaurant.

  A second before she pushed open the door to the Ladies’, he caught her back against his front and without saying a word, steered her towards the door leading outside.

  She gasped and twirled her head to see who’d taken her captive. “J-Jackson? What on earth?”

  He didn’t respond. Couldn’t. His blood boiled. Rage ran through his veins. It was one thing that she’d fucked his housemate when she didn’t know who he was. It was another thing altogether getting aroused by Garreth, in front of him, when the truth had been laid bare.

  The scent of rain hung in the air. Icy air ripped the breath from his lungs. It stung his cheeks and made his eyes water. He didn’t care. The second they were outside, he swung Rachel around, pressed her flat against the wall and crushed his mouth to hers.

  Holy smoke.

  Dear God.

  Her lips. Her full, ripe lips. Kissing him back. Pressing against his with the same urgency he felt. They did him in. Stripped away whatever self-control he had left. He swept his tongue inside her mouth, losing himself to her taste.

  Twelve years he’d loved her. Twelve years he’d tried to deny himself.

  Why? What for?

  So she could sleep with his housemate? Fall in love with someone else?

  No fucking way. Rachel was his. They’d both known it from the start. They’d both tried to deny it and never succeeded.

  And this here was the very reason they’d failed. The passion that flared between them was too real to deny. The love that blazed just refused to be extinguished.

  He pressed himself against her, chest to chest, groin to hips, thighs to thighs. His cock, already hard from watching Rachel with Gazza, now ached with repressed desire. He burned for her. Burned for them. Bled for what they should have together—but never could.

  Rachel was his. She was born to be with him. He was born to be hers. Distance and time had done nothing to dim that knowledge.

  She moaned in his mouth, ground herself against his erection.

  Frigid wind sliced over the back of his neck, but holding Rachel in his arms had him so fucking hot he barely felt it.

  Something wet touched his lips. Wet and salty.

  Tears?

  Though it almost killed him, he pulled away from their kiss and rested his forehead against hers, breathing hard. The ache is his groin increased, but he shoved it to the back of his mind. He brushed his thumb against her cheek and found it wet.

  “You’re crying.” The knowledge stabbed at his heart.

  “We’re resorting to this again?” she asked in a broken voice. “Stealing kisses out back? Where no one can see?”

  Christ, this wasn’t what he wanted. It wasn’t what either of them wanted.

  With all his heart, Jackson wished he could lift her up and carry her through the restaurant. Carry her openly, for everyone to see. Carry her back to the hotel and into his room. Make love to her without the guilt of knowing he was betraying his sister.

  “The way you were looking at Garreth… Fuck, Rach. You’re ripping my heart out.”

  “H-how was I looking at him?”

  He growled low in his throat. “Like he was breakfast.”

  Rachel swallowed audibly before murmuring something so soft he couldn’t hear her. “What did you say?” he was forced to ask.

  “Garreth wants to have a threesome,” she whispered. “Him, me and you.”

  Jackson groaned out loud. He couldn’t fucking believe Gazza had told her. He also couldn’t fucking believe how hard his dick was.

  “I-I said no. We couldn’t do that. Not to Jenna.”

  Jackson took a very deep breath. “You said no. But is that what you want?”

  Rachel didn’t answer. But her shaking body gave her away. Her breasts heaved against him, her nipples torturing his chest.

  “You want it, don’t you?”

  Her breath quickened, but she still didn’t answer.

  Something twisted in his chest. “You want to sleep with him and with me.”

  “I do,” she said at last. “God help me, but I do.”

  Fuck, how could more blood fill his dick? There wasn’t space. The pain was excruciating. “Do…” The words wouldn’t come out. He cleared his throat. “Do you love him?”

  She laughed, although the sound was not humorous. “I hardly know him.”

  “You know him well enough.”

  “We’ve slept together. I’m attracted to him. I don’t love him.”

  “But you want to fuck him. Again.”

  She caught her breath then released it with a hiss. “Yes.”

  “Alone? Just you and him?”

  “No.” There was no hesitation whatsoever in her answer.

  “You want me there too?”

  A soft moan escaped her mouth, as though she’d tried to contain it but couldn’t. “Yes.”

  “You want to fuck me and my housemate at the same time?” He didn’t know if he was angry beyond measure, or aroused beyond control. Probably both.

  She shook her head. “I-I want to fuck your housemate. I want to make love with you.”

  “Fuck it!” Frustration swamped him and he slammed his hand against the wall beside her head. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

  She cringed. “I shouldn’t have told you,” she said, instantly contrite. “I should just have kept my big mouth shut.”

  “No!” He shook his head fiercely. “No secrets between us. Ever. There are enough damned secrets in our lives.”

  She wrapped her arms around him, held him close. So close he had no hope of hiding the effect she had on him. He didn’t try.

  “I’m sorry, Jackson. So sorry. I wanted so much for this weekend to go smoothly. To pretend nothing had ever happened between us. That we were no more than friends.” She shook her head. “But I can’t do that. I can’t act like I don’t feel all of these things. Can’t pretend I don’t want to fuck Garreth again. Can’t pretend I don’t want to make love to you. Or that I don’t love you. Because I do. I love you. I am quite hopelessly in love with you.” The tears were back, falling down her cheeks. “And now I am going to walk away again, before we do anything stupid. I’m going to drive back to the hotel and lock myself in my room.”

  He wanted to stop her. Wanted to refuse to let her go, but knew better than that. Rachel was doing the right thing. She was walking away. She was doing it for Jenna’s sake.

  “Please, give Jenna my apologies. Tell her I had a headache or something.” She disentangled herself from his embrace. “Tell her I’ll see her in the morning.”

  With that, she fled back inside the restaurant, leaving Jackson empty and hollow. And so fucking aroused he ached.

  For several moments he remained where he was, rooted to the spot. Waiting desperately for his erection to subside. The freezing air helped, forcing blood away from his dick and to his heart in an effort to keep warm. His hands were blocks of ice and his toes almost too cold to wiggle.

  His mobile phone buzzed in his back pocket, and he fumbled taking it out, his frozen fingers barely able to hold the phone, let alone press the necessary buttons.

  A text message? At this time of night?

  And then he saw the sender’s name. And the message.

  “I’m g
oing after her. Tonight. Coming?”

  Chapter Six

  It was past midnight when the knock came, loud enough that had she been sleeping it would have woken her.

  But she wasn’t sleeping, she was curled in a ball on the couch in front of the fire, desperately trying to get rid of the chill. Rain had begun to fall outside, the drops pelting the roof, dropping the temperature even lower. Wind howled around the windows.

  Her silk pajamas gave her no protection from the cold. Funny that she needed the warmth of the flames, because inside she burned. Heat flowed through her, a persistent reminder of the arousal that would not quit. Of the lust she felt for Garreth and the love she felt for Jackson.

  Yet on the outside she shivered. Her skin was covered in prickles. She simply could not shrug off the cold. No, it wasn’t physical. It was an emotional chill. One that told her all her hard work, all her efforts to get over Jackson had come to naught.

  God help her, she still loved him. So much it hurt just to breathe around him. So much that had he been anyone else’s brother she would have thrown caution to the wind and gone after him. Chased him until she wore down his defenses and made him hers.

  But he wasn’t anyone else’s brother. He was Jenna’s, and Jackson would never hurt his sister. No matter how much he might love Rachel, his first duty would always be to Jenna. Yes, he’d slipped more than once, even slept with her. But he’d rectified that mistake. They both had.

  Garreth had said something earlier in the evening that left Rachel with food for thought.

  You may be Jenna’s best friend, but you’re not the stupid kid who fucked up her life, and it’s not fair to assign that responsibility to you.

  Never had truer words been spoken. Rachel wasn’t that kid. But she was Jenna’s friend, and somehow, because she and Jackson were involved, Rachel now had the potential to become that kid. The person with the power to hurt Jenna. Which was of course nonsense, since Jenna was the last person in the world Rachel would ever hurt.

  Not for the first time, Rachel wondered how Jenna would react if she just came out and told her the truth. If she just confessed her love for Jackson. She’d be upset, no question about it. But would the hurt and disappointment persist? Would Jenna be able to overcome that initial burst of panic? Would she believe that no matter what happened, Rachel would always be her friend? Could she trust Rachel and Jackson enough to know they had no intention of hurting her, that they simply wanted to be together?

  It was a useless debate to have with herself. Jackson would never allow her to speak openly to Jenna.

  The knock came again.

  Rachel knew who it was. And she knew she was going to open the door.

  When she did, Garreth raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t sure you’d answer.”

  Good grief, he was gorgeous. “I’ll always answer when you knock. I’m just not sure I’ll let you in.” Rain fell steadily behind him, and the wind cut a path into the chalet, chilling her to the bone.

  “Let me in, sweet thing. You know you want to.”

  Shit, he was right. She did. She wanted to haul him inside, rip off his clothes and fuck him mercilessly. She also wanted to get the damned door closed so she could trap the heat inside and the cold out. “You sure you want to come in? Knowing I love Jackson this much?”

  “I told you this morning, it doesn’t bother me at all. And knowing it’s Jackson on your mind just turns me on more.”

  Her pussy jumped. Damn, did he say all the right things or what? “He’s not with you, is he?” She knew the answer would be no. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t hide the disappointment.

  “No.” Garreth shook his head. “I’m sorry. I was so sure he’d come after you.”

  She gave him a sad smile. “He has to put his sister first.” Rachel chewed on her lower lip. “Garreth?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I can’t do this.” She hadn’t been sure what her answer would be until this second, but now she’d voiced it she knew there could be no other choice. “I think you’re wonderful. I do. I also think you’re about the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.” She smiled a small smile, telling him in her own way that he was forgiven for keeping the truth from her.

  “But?”

  “But I can’t make love to you again. Not without Jackson. Not knowing who you are and how you fit in with Jackson’s life.”

  His eyes filled with the warmth she’d come to associate with him. “Ah, sweet thing. I never expected you to sleep with me without him.”

  “You, uh, didn’t?”

  “You and Jack are supposed to be together. I told you that. There’s no way you’d be disloyal to him with me now.”

  God, his insight was truly astounding. “Then why did you come here?”

  The wind shrieked around him. “Because I thought he’d follow.”

  Tears rushed to her eyes. He’d done that for her? For Jackson? “Damn it, Garreth. If I wasn’t already in love with Jackson, I’d fall for you like a ton of bricks. Even if your logic is somewhat twisted.”

  “Yeah, and if I wasn’t in love with someone else, I’d fall for you too.”

  They smiled at each other, a sad smile borne of mutual compassion. If two people ever understood each other, it was her and Garreth. “Would you like to come in anyway? I have wine and scotch in the bar fridge. We can drown our sorrows together.”

  Garreth nodded. “I’d love to.” He stepped inside and walked over to the couch.

  Rachel pushed the door shut and headed to the fridge. Before the door had a chance to latch, it was shoved open again, so hard it slammed against the wall.

  A furious Jackson stormed into the room, looking menacing. Water dripped from his hair and jacket. His cheeks were scarlet, and his chest heaved as though he’d run all the way here from the restaurant. His eyes blazed with fury.

  “You are not fucking doing this,” he roared. “No way. No how. Do you understand me?”

  “Jack,” Garreth nodded at him, calm as anything.

  “You,” he pointed at Garreth. “You don’t get to touch her one more time.”

  Rachel gasped.

  “And you—” He turned to glare at Rachel “—You don’t get to fuck him. Ever again.”

  Rachel gaped at him. “What—”

  “I told you,” he raged. “You are not fucking doing this. Not without me!”

  “Not without…” Rachel let the words trail off as their meaning registered. She lost her breath.

  “Finally come to your senses, asshole?” Garreth asked.

  Jackson tore off his jacket. It landed in a wet pile on the floor. “Don’t asshole me, you prick. I told you all along. She’s mine.” He yanked his sweater over his head and shook his hair out. Droplets splashed around him.

  Rachel blinked. “I am?”

  His hands stilled on the buttons of his shirt which he’d begun to open, and his expression softened. “You know you are, Rach. You always have been.”

  Her heart pounded.

  Garreth stepped up behind her and pressed himself to her back. “She wasn’t yours last night,” he told Jackson. “She was all mine. Every last naked inch of her.” His cock, which he’d strategically positioned snugly behind her butt, shifted. It grew with every word he spoke.

  Jackson’s eyes flashed dangerously.

  Garreth wrapped an arm around her waist and pushed her pajama top up, exposing her belly. He dragged his hand over her stomach, igniting all sorts of fires inside her. She looked at Jackson, felt Garreth’s touch on her naked flesh and groaned.

  Garreth had been right. Jackson, thinking Garreth intended to sleep with her, hadn’t been able to stay away. He’d come after her. She could have kissed Garreth.

  She did kiss him.

  She twirled around his arms, held his face in her hands and pressed her mouth to his. His lips parted to meet hers instantly. Even with his tongue sweeping into her mouth, she could feel his lips curving into a smile.

  She smiled right bac
k.

  Until Jackson interrupted the kiss with one furious word. “Enough!”

  Garreth pulled away an inch. “Go to it, sweet thing,” he whispered. “Make him yours.” He gave her a gentle push, and she lost her balance and toppled over.

  Jackson caught her, spun her around and kissed her. So forcefully she couldn’t breathe. But that was okay. What was a little life-saving oxygen when the man she’d loved forever kissed her as though his very life depended on it?

  He kissed her and he kissed her and he kissed her. And when Rachel began to think she might pass out from the sheer pleasure his mouth induced, he kissed her some more. And she kissed him back, cherishing every second.

  An eternity passed before Jackson pulled away, before he looked over her shoulder at Garreth and nodded. “This is it. The last night we share. Ever.”

  “Then we best make it worth our while. And Rachel’s.”

  Rachel smiled. Oh, this was going to be worth all of their whiles. She put her hands on Jackson’s shirt and finished off the task of opening his buttons for him.

  Jackson shivered beneath her touch, and his hand tightened in her hair. “Enjoy it, Halt. After this you don’t get to touch her again.”

  Let the men argue it out. Let them iron out all the creases. She just wanted to touch them. Both of them. Rachel pushed Jackson’s shirt off, showing his lean, muscled chest. She pressed her lips to one of his nipples and then the other, making him groan out loud.

  She smiled at the knowledge she and Garreth shared. They’d already accepted the fact they wouldn’t touch again. Tonight, now, was simply an added bonus for both of them.

  Rachel turned to face Garreth, still smiling, and he winked at her. She went to work on the buttons of his shirt too. The six-pack covering his stomach made her mouth water. Both of them, Garreth and Jackson, looked ridiculously good shirtless. Two hot-blooded males, filling her room.

  She could hardly wait for them to dispose of their pants.

  She leaned in to lick one of Garreth’s nipples and he brushed his hand through her hair. “Oh, yeah, sweet thing. Just like that.”