Buried Alive Read online

  Damn…she was stunning. She blurred out any other face around her. The moment my eyes were on her, I felt fire burn through my veins, moving me toward her as if she were a magnet.

  “Rhys?” The girl grabbed my arm, but I barely heard her. I tracked Hannah as she came toward the kitchen, setting the trays down on the dining table. She stopped, shoulders stiffening. Her head turned, and her eyes found mine as if she had felt the same pull, the same force, I did toward her. Our gazes locked, and for one moment no one else in the room existed but us. The sea of activity around us was nothing but an impression.

  Hannah’s stare dropped down to my arm, her lips pinching together. My gaze followed hers, seeing the other girl’s hand clutching me, her body pressed into me, as if we were more than the strangers we were. Then as though she was put on fast forward, Hannah whirled around and zipped for the door.

  “Hannah!” I yanked free of the girl, shoving through the crowd. “Hannah, wait!”

  She kept her head forward, having trouble wiggling her tiny frame around the horde of dancers. I stretched, clutching her elbow. “Stop.”

  She tried to jerk out of my grip, but I held on tight. She whipped around, fierce anger pumping from her eyes. “Let. Me. Go.”

  “No.” I grabbed her other arm, twisting her fully to face me. “Not until you talk to me.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  Anger blasted through me. “Are you kidding me?” I hissed, leaning over her. “The last time I saw you, my fingers were deep inside you.”

  A pink tinge flooded her from neck to cheeks, her gaze going to the side.

  “Why do you keep denying there’s something between us?”

  “Because there’s not.” Her lids narrowed as she tugged on my hold. “Go. The girl in the kitchen certainly wants you. Or go back to Carrie. Just leave me alone.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you I don’t want Carrie?” I growled, getting closer to her face. “I don’t want that girl in the kitchen.”

  “Could have fooled me.” She tried to pull away again. “It didn’t take you long after I walked away from you to invite Carrie over. What? An hour before you called her?”

  “What are you talking about?” Frustration squeezed my hands around her arms.

  “I saw you two together. In the hot tub,” she stated. Cool anger. “Not that it matters to me.”

  “Sounds like it.”

  Her jaw rolled, her lids tapering lower.

  “When did you see us?”

  “I came up to talk to you. To apologize for how I walked away from you earlier.” She swallowed. “But I’m glad I saw it. Told me everything I needed to know.”

  “Did it?” I pulled her in closer, my teeth grinding together. “So…you watched as I kicked Carrie out of the hot tub?”

  Her brows furrowed. Damn. Hannah could piss me off. And turn me on.

  “She snuck in. Surprised me.” Carrie had creeped into my house while I was relaxing in the hot tub. My mind had been distracted, going over every detail of the wine cellar with Hannah. I hadn’t even noticed Carrie had slid in next to me, her hand going straight for my goods. “Not more than five minutes later she stomped out of my cabin. If you took a moment, you could have caught that. But you wouldn’t want to, huh? You like having a reason to keep me at arm’s length.” I pulled her away from the crowd. “What’s your reason now? Come on, make it good.”

  She stared at me. Anger, lust, and hate were all there, her chest heaving, her lips flattened stubbornly together.

  “Run out of excuses?” I bent forward, heat from her mouth tracing my lips. She didn’t move, staying stiffly pinned in place.

  “Uh. Hannah?” Caleb’s voice jerked my head up. “We need to go. We have one last delivery.”

  Not tearing my gaze from Hannah, I said to Caleb, “You’re going to have to do it on your own. Hannah’s done for the night.”

  I was ready for her to protest. But she didn’t move, her eyes still on mine.

  “I’ll get you all the pot you want, Caleb. Just cover for her.” My gaze was latched to Hannah’s, heat curling around us.

  “Uh,” Caleb hemmed and hawed. “Hannah?”

  “Go,” I rumbled viciously, hoping my tone made it clear there was no more debate.

  In my periphery, Caleb jumped and scrambled for the front door, moving the fastest I had ever seen him.

  The one hand still gripping her arm skated down, my fingers lacing with hers. Without a word, I tugged her forward, heading for the door.

  Of course we couldn’t get out without notice or drama.

  Carrie was the first person we bumped into, rage pinking her cheeks. “Are you kidding me?” She nodded down to interlaced hands. “You’re cheating on me with her. In front of my face.” Her group of friends twisted around to watch us; their allegiance to Carrie had them glaring and snarling at both Hannah and me.

  “I can’t cheat on you when we’re not a couple. We haven’t been for a long time.”

  “But you can fuck me? That’s okay?” She shoved at my chest, glowering at Hannah. “You conniving bitch. I knew you were after him the moment you walked into the room. So desperate you practically joined us that night. Better get used to the bed being full or being on rotation.”

  “Carrie,” I warned.

  “You think he’s going to be any different with you? He’ll be inviting the next waitress or housekeeper in right after you leave. And in the end, he’ll come back to me. That’s how it always goes. You are nothing more than a filler until he comes running to me.”

  “Carrie, enough.” I bared my teeth. “We are over. For good. We were nothing but toxic to each other.” I got into her face. “Look at me and hear this. We’re done.” I didn’t linger to see her reaction, tugging Hannah into me. She knew it was over. It was why she clawed so hard to hold on to me. She comprehended I was serious this time. We couldn’t go back. I had gotten wise and moved on.

  And it felt good.

  I slid around her, her friends gaping at us, Hannah following me silently out the door. I couldn’t deny what the girl in the kitchen had said earlier was hot. She was simply the wrong person to say it.

  I wanted to ring in the new year with Hannah riding me.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Hannah

  He was right. I was done with excuses. With running and keeping the world shut out, there were many reasons I shouldn’t be walking into his cabin with him, but none of them were strong enough to stop me. Even Carrie slurring out hateful comments and glaring at me as we walked by hadn’t teetered me a bit. Or the idea I could get fired for ditching work.

  None of it mattered.

  When I saw him in the kitchen, the whole world had disappeared. All I saw was him, and it made me realize how much I had missed him. I knew I was a goner and had been the first night I saw him.

  In the dark cabin, the banister and railing glowed with twinkle lights and illuminated the house in their soft glow. Rhys yanked on my arm, slammed the door, and pressed me back into it, his hands skating up my jaw. He stared down at me, raw hunger glinting in his eyes.

  He didn’t speak, but no words were needed. Both of us were on the same page. He stepped closer, the pulsing heat of his erection pushing into me. Breath caught in my throat. His fingers dug into my hair as his mouth claimed mine as though he was starving.

  I sucked in, feeling my every nerve ending come alive, blood zinging through me. My lips parted, kissing him deeper, my tongue finding his.

  He made a rumbling moan, the kiss turning even more fevered. His hand tugged at my hair, tipping my head farther back, the pulse of pain switching me from want to need.

  My hands tugged at his jeans, ripping the buttons from the holes. He groaned as my fingers dipped between his skin and the boxers, tracing the head of him, the tip already wet. Then I moved down his shaft.

  His hand clawed at my top, not even bothering to unbutton it. He ripped at the fabric, the buttons hitting the wo
od floor like bullet shells, and tugged the ruined shirt off my arms.

  I gripped him, pumping my hand down his length, his head falling back, a groaning noise emerging from his throat. I loved the power I felt in bringing this huge guy to his knees. He hissed through his teeth, pulling my hand away. “Not yet.” His eyes were wild and determined. He flicked the back of my bra, letting it drop to the floor. He took a moment to really look at me, then ran his hands up my stomach and cupped my breasts. He leaned over, taking one in his mouth. I gasped, my head pushing into the door. His tongue twirled around my nipple, his teeth nipping at it, sending wetness between my legs.

  He moved to the other breast, while at the same time his hands slid down and unbuttoned my black pants, his finger stroking the cotton of my underwear. My body felt on fire. Never once had anyone ever made me feel this way. His touch melted my numbness, but the abundance of sensation he brought forth was almost too much after years of suppression.

  His mouth moved from my breast, kissing down my stomach. Lowering himself to his knees, his fingers drew off both my pants and underwear, along with my shoes and socks. His eyes drifted to the scars tunneling down my right hip, noticing them this time, but his attentiveness quickly drifted away, taking in my nakedness.

  He was still fully clothed, while I stood before him completely exposed, his heated gaze roaming over me following his hands. He grabbed my thighs and spread them open, quickening my breath.

  “I’ve wanted to taste you for so long.” He grabbed one of my legs, pulling it over his shoulder, his lips grazing my inner thigh. His tongue licked farther, and I dug my nails into the door. He slipped two fingers inside me, slowly pumping them as his tongue worked my core.

  Oh god. One hand dug into his soft hair, tugging as my hips began to move, wanting more. He pulled his fingers from me, moved down, and slid his tongue deep into me. A strangled growl rose out of my throat. He grabbed my hips, holding me to him as he sucked and licked me with a fierceness which made my legs shake. He relentlessly devoured me, my body quickly burning with an orgasm.

  Cries I never heard myself make came from my throat. Now I dug my nails into his scalp, my body rocking against his mouth so intensely my vision blurred and my muscles started to shake.

  “Rhys.” It was more a warning as my climax built up. He shoved my leg higher, his tongue faster. A cry caught in my throat as my body convulsed around him, pleasure ripping through every cell in my body. He nipped down on me, hurtling me into another plane of reality. He held me against the wall, my legs wanting to give out as my body jerked with orgasm.

  I heaved in air as I came back down, my nerves twitching with ecstasy. “Damn.” I inhaled with a gulp, still feeling I wasn’t quite in my body. Sadly, the few orgasms I’d had with Matt and my one-night stands came nowhere near this.

  He didn’t need his ego any bigger, but now I could understand why all the girls tweeted about this. Why so many more wanted to be part of the club.

  He slid my leg to the ground, kissing me again before he rose over me, a smug smile on his face. “You taste fucking amazing.” He licked his lips, gripped my hips, and pulled me in. “I want you on my tongue all the time.”

  I inhaled sharply, my breasts rubbing against his shirt. He gripped my face and kissed me deeply, sparks racing up my spine. Instantly, my body was ready for more, vibrating with need as his mouth claimed mine. My hands ripped at his shirt, tearing it over his head before his lips took mine again, igniting lust through my bones.

  I shoved his jeans off and tugged down his boxer briefs, my mouth never leaving his. He toed out of his boots, pulling me with him as he stepped out of clothing, quickly taking off his socks. My hands ran over the dent in his ass and the V-line by his hips, enjoying every inch of this man’s body before I took his cock in my hand.

  He swore and tipped his head back as my hand worked him. “Jesus... you just touch me and I’m ready to come all over.” He gritted his teeth.

  With a smile, I leaned over, my mouth sliding over him.

  “Fuck!” He gripped my ponytail, his hips jerking. I took him in my mouth, humming, causing more noises to rise from him.

  “This is going to be embarrassingly fast if you keep doing that,” he groaned. His hand was still knotted in my hair, his fingers curling at the pulsing spot between my thighs, creating a desperation in me to feel him. “Stop.” He choked out, standing me up. “I want to be inside you now.”

  “I’m on the pill.” I couldn’t believe I was doing this, me the leader of safe sex, but I was tired of the walls, the barriers, and numbness. I wanted to feel him. Completely. “I’m clean. Always use a condom.”

  “Me too.” Desire spun in his dark eyes as he took in what I said. A brutal kiss burned across my lips, kissing me so deeply, making me respond in kind. Short needy breaths blended together as he picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His cock slid between me, hinting at entering, but only rubbing against me, forcing more air from my lungs.

  “Now,” I growled into his mouth.

  Boom! Crackle. Colors sparkled and danced outside the windows, fireworks spreading over the night sky, glittering light into the room.

  Rhys broke the kiss, his iris reflecting the sparks. Carrying me, he pushed through the French doors, the chill of the air skating over my hot skin. Our lips claimed each other’s hungrily as he propped me against the railing. I squeaked, my bare ass going through a layer of snow; the pain of the cold seemed to draw more pleasure from my nerves. He clutched my thighs, spreading them open. My fingers wrapped around him, both of us watching as I brought him to me and slid the tip of him in.

  Our eyes met. Then he thrust into me, my mouth opening in a cry as he filled me. Holy shit. He paused, letting me adjust to his size. He slipped almost all the way out before he slammed in again as if someone ignited my nerve endings, pleasure burst inside. My legs tightened around his waist, his hands on my ass pushing me into him so deeply I had to bite into his shoulder, only doubling his speed. My body was completely railroaded by desire, and I returned his thrusts with my own.

  “Fuck!” he bellowed, pumping his hips deeper into me, hitting a spot that made me arch my back.

  “Harder,” I screamed.

  Fireworks from the village burst overhead, falling down like shooting stars, dancing hues off our skin. The hint of an orgasm already appeared. My body wanted to chase it, but more of me wanted this to last forever.

  The sharp cold of the snow, the heat of our bodies, the feel of him driving in deeper, making me claw at him. “Rhys…”

  Boom! Pinwheels of fire lighted the sky, the sounds of celebration rang in the air over the valley, almost mimicking the sensations happening in my body.

  He suddenly stopped, pulled out of me, and set me on the ground. Before I could protest, he flipped me around, bent me over the railing. He tore the band from my hair, letting my locks fall down my back like a curtain. He clutched a chunk of it, tugging my head back, the other hand grabbed my hip as he thrust back inside me, the different angle setting new nerves alight. I gripped the rail, pushing back into him as he slammed into me, burying himself inside me.

  “Oh. God.”

  My vision hazed, my head spinning, the power building up felt similar to a nuclear bomb inside me. Out of the side of my eyes, I could see the party from the cabin below as most people had come outside to watch the fireworks show. They could look up and easily see us.

  I didn’t care. If anything, it twisted my desire higher. I leaned over more, my nails gripping the wood.

  “Rhys,” I called his name, feeling myself start to climax. He reached around, holding me to him as his fingers rubbed my clit. My mouth opened, my body clenching around him.

  Everything in me burst like the lights in the sky, and I cried out something even I couldn’t decipher. I heard him roar as my body tightened around him, pumping with him. His hips shoved me against the railing as I felt him twitch and explode inside me, sending wave after wave of pleasure
through me.

  “Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Happy New Year!” A choir of people screamed from below as Rhys continued to move against me.

  The pyrotechnics hit their finale, spouting overhead in designs of gold and white.

  Rhys snaked his arms around my middle, his chest heaving, his body warming mine. “Happy New Year.” He nipped my ear, still inside me.

  “What a way to bring it in.” I leaned against him, loving the way he felt as he grew hard inside of me. “Seriously?”

  “I’ve been in you since last year. Why stop now?”

  I smirked. “Can’t say you don’t have stamina.”

  “I should be in the world record books.”

  I turned around, breaking our contact.

  “Dammit.” He growled, pulling me into him. “Now I have to start over.”

  “I’m here to support your dreams.” I grinned up at him, still wobbly and lightheaded. Everything the other women had bragged about him was true, even understated. No wonder they kept coming back to him. No one could ever come close.

  I was seriously screwed. There was no way I could go back to being numb. And no way anyone else could make me feel this way.

  “It’s freezing out here.” He rubbed my arms, grinning arrogantly. “Come upstairs so I can do that properly.”

  “That wasn’t proper enough?”

  He bent over, his breath running along my neck, his voice low and gruff. “Not even close.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Hannah

  I padded into the kitchen in search of coffee. His T-shirt felt soft against my tender skin. I needed a serious dose of caffeine in my system to get through the day. I poured the ground beans into the machine. Memories of the night before flickered in my head. I tapped on my bottom lip, a smile curling my mouth as I waited for the coffee to be ready. Every muscle ached and my eyes burned from lack of sleep, but in the most amazing way.