"This is embarrassing. Six-year-olds are skiing better than me." She looks out at the kids zipping down the beginner hill.
I lean down closer so she can hear me. "You're doing great, my love. Just focus."
She breathes out and slowly moves again.
Once she's halfway down the hill, I release my grip, and she glides faster, staying in complete control.
I follow, and when she nears the bottom, I notice she's trying to slow down before she topples through a bunch of little kids playing at the bottom.
"Fallon, turn!" I call out, chasing after her, knowing they aren’t paying attention.
She squeals, shifting her body to miss them.
I meet up with her just as she turns and catch her as she falls. But she takes me down with her.
"Argh," I mutter as her knee gets awfully close to my groin. "You okay?" I ask when she doesn't move.
"Can I please be done now?"
I bellow out a laugh. "Yeah, you’ve given me enough bruises, I think."
Once she's up, she clicks out of her skis, and I carry both pairs to the rental place.
"So overall, not too bad, right?" I ask as we wait to turn everything in.
She shoots me a glare. "Two out of ten, but we'll see how sore I am later."
"Practice helps."
She points at herself. "Not a fan of the cold, remember?"
"How could I forget?" I grin. "Luckily, our room will be toasty when we get back."
Fallon offers me a smile as we slowly walk back to the resort.
I’d keep her warm all night with my face buried between her thighs, but I don’t dare say that aloud.
Doesn’t mean I’m not thinking it.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
FALLON
As soon aswe’re back in our room, I sigh in relief at how cozy and warm it is.
The fireplace is on and two hot beverages wait for us on a tray. Thank God for turndown service.
Immediately, I grab the coffee and moan when I take a sip.
"Wow, this is good."
"It’s Italian beans, apparently. They have a great café, and the food is delicious too. You hungry?"
"Starving."
"Good, I got us a reservation in forty-five minutes. Then I'll show you around the resort."
My mind's already exploding with mental notes I need to write down, but I need to clean up and change, so I'll have to wait to write my thoughts down until later.