Author’s note
Thanks for the ratings and review. Enjoy the next chapter!
Sexual Awakening
Chapter Sixteen – Mount Templeton Part 1
“Scarborough? Cool name,” Jaimie said as they passed the sign in the main road of the small town. Catherine slowed down the speed at which she was driving their rental car in order to look at the charming buildings and the beautiful landscape that surrounded it.
“That means we’re almost there,” Catherine said with a sigh of relief as they drove down the quiet street, surprised when she saw that they have almost reached the end of the small town.
“I need to pee,” Jaimie announced suddenly.
“Me too,” Hilary chimed in.
“C’mon guys! We’re almost there, just fifty or so kilometres,” Catherine said pleadingly as she glanced at Hilary in the rear-view mirror and then at Jaimie who was seated at her side. She felt tired from the drive and was eager to bring their trip to an end.
“I can’t wait that long!” Jaimie announced and clenched her thighs together as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, “Pleeeeeeeasssseeeeee,” she said, and Hilary joined in with the begging.
“Fine, fine,” Catherine grumbled as she switched on the indicator to the right, turning into the small parking lot of a Sam’s Restaurant and Pub. Catherine and Jaimie got out of the car and she wrapped her coat tighter around herself, the frostiness in the air almost unbearable compared to the warmth inside of the car. They both shifted their weight impatiently as they waited for Hilary while she nudged Greg’s shoulder in order to wake him up. He grumbled sleepily as he opened his eyes, looking accusingly at her for waking him up. He yawned openly and rubbed his face before the two of them also got out of the car, and then they all headed towards the restaurant.
“Jeez, where the hell are we? Hickville?” Greg asked grouchily, and Catherine had to smile to herself at his grumpiness.
“No, silly, it’s
Scarborough. You know, right
next to Hickville?” Jaimie said jokingly and slapped his shoulder playfully when he rolled his eyes at her.
“It’s not that bad. It’s quaint,” Hilary said as she hooked her arm through Greg’s after they stepped through the doors of the restaurant.
“I guess,” Greg grumbled absentmindedly, clearly distracted by the delicious scent of bacon and toast that filled the room.
A few customers were scattered throughout the restaurant, some seated at the small round tables, some in the booths and one man was sitting at the bar, drinking by himself despite the earliness of the morning. There was a beautiful brunette standing behind the bar who smiled brightly at them as she poured the man a drink. She looked towards the side where there was a redhead with her back turned towards them, chatting animatedly to someone in the kitchen who was unseen to the rest of them.
“Annie. Customers!” the brunette announced. The redhead immediately spun around and turned her bright smile upon them as she hurriedly made her way over to them, grabbing a few menus on her way.
“Hello!” the waitress, Annie, greeted them excitedly, “Please follow me,” she said as she guided them towards the booth and placed their menus on the table.
“Where’s the bathroom?” Jaimie asked as her eyes scanned over the room.
“Oh, right over there. Be sure that you go into the one that says Doe and
not Buck,” the waitress said with a playful wink as she spun around and returned to continue her conversation with the person in the kitchen.
Jaimie and Hilary giggled and then hurriedly made their way to the bathroom as Catherine and Greg slid into the booth, where Catherine was sure an awkward silence would ensue. They really did not have a lot in common and he would always try to fill the awkward silences with fluff if Hilary was not with them.
“I should have asked her for coffee before she left,” Greg said as he glanced over his shoulder in the direction the waitress had gone, his eyes darting to Catherine and scanning her features in that strange manner that she could never pinpoint, “I wonder if it’s any good... The coffee, I mean... You never know how coffee is in places like this... Food smells good...” he continued.
“Yeah,” Catherine agreed, drawing his eyes back to her face before they darted to the table where he traced an invisible pattern, shifting uncomfortably in his seat as he glanced over his shoulder yet again.
The waitress seemed to pick up on his shifty movements and approached them even though Hilary and Jaimie had not returned from the bathroom. Her smile turned reassuring as she glanced from Greg to Catherine and then settled her gaze on the clearly nervous Greg.
“Can I get you anything, sweetheart?” she asked Greg.
“Uhh... coffee. Please...” Greg answered quickly and cleared his throat awkwardly, but then looked immensely relieved when Jaimie and Hilary returned and shifted into the booth as well.
“Tea for me, please,” Hilary said politely as she shifted closer to him until she was pressed tightly against his side. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and avoided Catherine’s confused gaze. She did not quite understand what it was about her made him feel as uncomfortable.
“Cappuccino, please,” Jaimie ordered.
“Me too,” Catherine added and then the waitress left in order to get their drinks.
“Did you see that guy at the bar drinking by himself this early? So sad,” Jaimie said as she glanced over Hilary’s shoulder, who in turn glanced over her shoulder in order to look at the guy.
“Yeah, and the bartender has a black eye,” Hilary said just above a whisper as she leaned closer to them.
“Shame...” Catherine said as she also looked and saw it as well. Catherine had only noticed how beautiful the brunette was before, but now she felt bad, wondering who would hurt a woman like that.
Catherine was drawn out of her thoughts when the waitress reappeared with their order, “Here you go,” the waitress said with her bright smile still in place, “Are you all staying in town or are you passing through?” she asked conversationally, holding the now empty tray under her arm as she looked at them. Catherine forgot how much more engaging people were in smaller towns compared to the city.
“Yes, we’re on our way to the ski resort,” Hilary answered politely as she added sugar to her tea.
“Oh! How exciting,” she said, “Your timing is pretty good, too. We had a heck of a storm last week, but the roads have now been repaired. The resort is always best in autumn – too busy in winter,” she continued.
“Yeah, that’s what we’ve heard,” Hilary said and smiled at her.
“Anyway,” the waitress said, realising that they were not a very chatty group, “Can I get you anything to eat?” she asked as she pulled a notepad and pen from her apron, smiling expectantly at them.
“Um,” Catherine said, pulling out her phone and looking at the time, “We’re already running late,” she said as she looked at her friends.
“Uhhhh! Cath, just
relax! It’s a vacation! You already made us get up at an ungodly hour to drive here, so let’s just enjoy ourselves now? Besides, it’s not like his lodge is going anywhere,” Jaimie said and waved her hand dismissively as she opened the menu and looked through it. Catherine shook her head and sighed quietly, trying not to take offense. Jaimie was just a bit snappy, because Billy had cancelled on her at the last minute. Catherine quickly placed her order and then reached for her phone again, opening a message from Devon.
07:53 Whereabouts are you guys now?
09:25 Answer me as soon as you get a chance, the roads are dangerous.
10:31 Hey Dev :) We’re safely in Scarborough, just grabbing a quick bite to eat, then we’ll hit the road again. It’s beautiful! Can’t wait x
10:32 Okay. The ice is slippery on the mountain pass, please take it slow. See you soon.
Then, almost as an afterthought he added:
10:32 X.
Catherine tried to suppress her smile as she put away her phone. He was so dry over text, but she knew that he was missing her. And that he cared for her. And that he loved her – her heart started racing at the thought of it. She could not get enough of him saying it in the week that followed their first admission, but then the week after that was unbearable, as he was away on a business trip. She wished that her friends would understand that her eagerness to go to his lodge was so that she could see him.
“Ohhhh, that smile can only mean one thing!” Jaimie said teasingly as she nudged Catherine in the ribs. Catherine felt herself blushing and then shook her head, but there was honestly no use in denying it.
“I’m so anxious to see him,” Catherine said, but then paused when the waitress returned with their food. She had clearly heard Catherine’s comment and it was obvious that she was very curious to know
who Catherine was anxious to see, but she left it at that.
“Can I get you anything else?” the waitress asked, but then left them to eat in peace.
To Catherine’s relief, her friends finally got the message and then it did not take long for them to finish their meal, before they paid their bill and returned to the car. Even though the sun was shining, the air was still icy cold, and she knew that they would soon find out exactly how cold it was higher up the mountain.
Catherine heeded Devon’s advice and took is slow and steady as they ascended up along the mountain pass. She was envious of her friends who could enjoy the spectacular view of the forests and lakes, whereas she had to remain focused on the road, which now was covered with a light layer of snow that was becoming denser as they headed further up the mountain. It was quite anxiety provoking, as the road was narrow and it looked like a long way down the mountain... but she was not going to think about that. Soon the road curved away from the edge of the mountain and they continued ascending, a few buildings in the distance becoming clear. They followed the road and passed a sign that was lightly sprinkled with snow, boldly announcing ‘Templeton Ski Resort’.
“Jaims, can you have a look at the directions that Devon gave us?” Catherine asked as she looked around the town. There were numerous buildings, all elegant and well-maintained, some of which were hotels and guest houses, others restaurants and shops. The cars parked outside the buildings were all suited for the snow and the people who walked on the sidewalks either adorned designer outfits or sporty skiing gear.
“Where is it?” Jaimie snapped as she continued to frantically dig through the bags.
“It’s printed it on a white page,” Catherine explained calmly as she pulled the car to a stop at the side of the road in order to help her look for it, “Did you check the cubby?” she asked when Jaimie dug through her handbag.
“Yes, of course I did,” Jaimie said, but pulled it open in any case, revealing the white piece of paper neatly folded right on top, “Oh...” she said and gave Catherine an apologetic look as she folded it open so that both of them could have a look at it.
“Hmm,” Catherine murmured as she read the directions and then looked up, trying to find the landmarks Devon mentioned, “So it looks like we need to continue straight until we pass the Florence Hotel,” she said.
“Then turn right and look for a sign called ‘Digger’s home’ with a black spade, at which we turn left and follow to his house,” Jaimie completed as she folded the paper and then put it away. Catherine put the car in first gear again and then gripped the steering wheel tightly as she pulled away, leaning forward in her seat in anticipation.
Soon they reached the sign and then she turned into a narrow path that was lined by great evergreens on either side. Catherine expected a quaint-looking lodge similar to those that they saw at the resort and surrounding villages, but was then surprised by the large, modern house that appeared in front of them. Greg whistled quietly under his breath when he noticed it, whereas Jaimie and Hilary started chatting excitedly about what state of the art features they expected it would have. There were two cars similar to the one they rented parked in front of the house, and it made sense that Devon would not bring his sports car here, as it was not suitable for the terrain.
Catherine parked the car and quickly followed the others out of the car. The house was supported on stilts on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the beautiful valley below that was filled with lakes and trees that were covered with snow. She hugged her coat closer around her as they all took in the view, but then a chill run down her spine when she somehow sensed a familiar gaze on her.
Catherine turned around and saw Devon looking straight at her as he walked directly towards her. Her feet started carrying her towards him even before she registered, the snow crunching underneath her boots as she ran over to him. He took the steps down the wooden porch and opened his arms to her, after which she practically jumped into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his arms around her crushed her to his hard body as he returned her hug. She leaned back slightly in order to look into his dark eyes, which indicated such longing when he glanced at her lips. He lowered his head and started kissing her slowly, deeply. Catherine found herself moving her hands into his hair and returned his kiss equally as hungrily, almost protesting when he pulled back and looked at her with a serious look in his eyes.
“I missed you,” Devon murmured as he smoothed her hair back in that possessively gentle manner of his.
Catherine smiled at him as they looked into each other’s eyes, “I missed you too,” she said with a slight blush colouring her cheeks.
“I missed you the most,” Greg suddenly said in a high pitched voice from behind Catherine. She felt Devon’s laugh rumbling through him as he looked at Greg over her head. She stepped out of Devon’s embrace, but he kept his arm firmly around her waist as he offered Greg his hand.
“Wish I could say the same, man,” Devon said sarcastically as they shook hands. He then leaned closer to Jaimie and Hilary, placing a kiss on their cheeks in greeting.
“Wow, this place...” Hilary said in amazement. Catherine knew that Hilary was not Devon’s number one fan at this stage, but she was hiding it quite well. Or maybe she now found herself swayed by more evidence of his obvious wealth?
“Yeah,” Devon said as he glanced at the place, but then settled his gaze on Catherine, that secretive smile creeping onto his face, “It’s the first time I am staying here since I had it renovated last year,” he said.
“I’m so excited!” Jaimie announced as she jumped up and down on the spot, her mood apparently much improved. She went to the car and opened the back in order to retrieve her bags. Greg and Hilary joined her and they laughed and struggled as they attempted to carry all of the bags in one go.
Catherine smiled at Devon and wrapped her arm around his waist as well. He turned his head and looked at her, kissing her temple and giving her a tight squeeze.
“Whose car is that?” Catherine asked as she indicated with her eyebrows over his shoulder.
“It was sort of a last minute thing for Travis and Sam to join,” Devon explained as he turned her around and guided her towards the front porch where the door was still standing open.
“Oh... Cool,” Catherine said, trying to muster as much enthusiasm as possible. Travis she was enthralled about, but Sam still made her feel uneasy.
Devon chuckled quietly at her side as they stepped in through the front door, “I sense hesitation?” he asked as he looked knowingly at her.
“Not at all. I’m excited about this weekend,” Catherine said, this time impressing even herself at how believable she sounded.
“Where’s Billy?” Devon asked as they stepped into the foyer and then walked down the passage, but Catherine’s response was slightly delayed as she took in the beautiful artwork and clearly expensive finishes.
“...Um, he ditched her. As usual. I think this was his ‘last chance’, if I recall correctly,” Catherine said dryly as they rounded the corner and stepped into the kitchen.
Her eyes widened as she looked at the granite tops of the counters, her dream stove as well as various pots and utensils lining the wall. There was a large dining table, followed by a few steps dipping into the living area, where a large fluffy rug covered the floor underneath lush couches. There was a modern stone fireplace, behind which the large floor to ceiling windows revealed the veranda that overlooked the beautiful valley. She immediately spotted Travis and Sam leaning against the railing of the veranda, huddled shoulder to shoulder as they both looked over the valley while they chatted.
“I guess Jaimie will be happy that Travis is here,” Catherine said as she turned her head to smile at Devon. It looked like he wanted to clarify why, but was then interrupted when Jaimie gasped excitedly from their side.
“Oh my god oh my god oh my god!” Jaimie said as she let her bags drop to the floor, “Excuse me,” she announced as she strutted past them and headed outside, obviously wanting to assess the competition. Catherine would have felt better if Sam and Travis were together, because surely that would curb the jealously she felt? Did Sam arrive with Travis, or with Devon?
“I see what you mean...” Devon observed casually and Catherine followed his gaze, looking at Jaimie who had successfully wedged herself in between Sam and Travis, the latter laughing heartily at something Jaimie said. But then Travis turned around and headed inside with a big grin on his face.
“Cath!” Travis said and excitedly quickened his step as he came towards her, pulling her into his embrace and hugging her tightly.
“Hey,” Catherine said shyly as she stepped away from him, willing her blush away as she looked at his face, “You feeling better?” she asked, referring to the injuries he had gotten from the scuffle in Xtasia two weeks ago.
“Yeah, never better,” Travis said and then looked at Hilary and Greg, “Travis,” he said as he extended his hand towards them, after which they shook his hand and introduced themselves.
“Let me show you your rooms,” Devon said as he picked up the bags Jaimie had discarded and left Travis and Catherine standing alone in the kitchen.
“So,” Travis said.
“So...” Catherine said and turned her head to smile at him as she wrapped her arms around her middle.
“How have you been?” Travis asked as he sat down on a stool at the kitchen counter, swivelling around to face her and casually resting his elbow on the countertop.
Why would he be chatting to her if there were two girls outside who were interested in him? Well, at least one was definitely interested. “I’ve been great, thanks. Just been busy with my artwork for the exhibition,” Catherine said as she went to join him by taking a seat at the kitchen counter.
“Oh, yeah. Devon mentioned something about that. What have you been working on?” Travis asked as he grabbed a handful of nuts that were in a bowl on the counter, which crunched noisily in his mouth as he looked expectantly at her for a response.
“I’ve completed a few paintings... This last week I’ve been working on a sculpture, but yeah...” Catherine said and trailed off, also opting to eat a few nuts.
“Sculpture of what?” Travis asked as he stood up and walked the fridge, retrieving two beers for them.
“Um...” Catherine mumbled as he opened the beer and then handed it to her, “...Just a man...and woman...” she said evasively, not really knowing how to elaborate.
“Ahhhh...” Travis said and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“Nothing like that!” Catherine said and laughed, “They’re just...embracing,” she explained.
“I’m sure they are!” Travis said with a wink, bringing the beer to his smiling lips.
Catherine was about to keep trying to convince him, but then she felt Devon’s strong arms wrap around her from behind. He nuzzled and kissed her neck, breathing in her scent as he pulled her back against his chest.
“They’re just ‘embracing’,” Travis said. Catherine looked up to see that he was talking to Sam, a deviously teasing glint to his eye as he looked at her and Devon.
“Sam,” Devon said as he stepped away from Catherine and took the seat next to her, “You remember Catherine?” he asked as he rested his hand on Catherine’s thigh.
“Ah, yes! How are you?” Sam asked, her voice just as sweet as her face and the small wave that accompanied her greeting.
“Well, thanks... And you?” Catherine asked, but they were interrupted by Hilary, Greg and Jaimie rejoining them.
“This place is amazing!” Jaimie announced as she went to stand next to Travis, leaning over the counter in a manner that would give him a great view of her ass.
“Thanks,” Devon said, a small smirk curving the corner of his mouth, “You guys met?” he asked, gesturing to Sam.
“Yes! She showed us the Jacuzzi!” Hilary said with a bright smile. Catherine felt another pang of jealousy at the thought of Sam showing her friends around like the hostess.
“And the sauna!” Jaimie added. And another pang.
“Please. My ears can only endure so much screeching,” Greg said jokingly as he also retrieved a beer from the fridge.
“Yeah, yeah. I saw the way you were eyeing that hot tub,” Hilary said as she took the beer from his hand. He made as if to protest, but then did not even bother and rather just retrieved another beer for himself.
“So I think we should go hit the slopes,” Travis said all of a sudden.
“Ah, cool!” Greg said enthusiastically, “Can we snowboard as well?” he asked.
“Yeah, man!” Travis said enthusiastically.
“I’d rather go check in at a spa,” Jaimie said and rolled her eyes as Greg and Travis continued their conversation excitedly, “You joining us, Cath?” she asked.
“Um...” Catherine said hesitantly, turning her head to look at Devon, “Devon wants to teach me to ski... So let’s see how that goes, first,” she said with a smile.
“Bah,” Jaimie said dismissively, “How about you, Sam?” she asked.
“Oh, no. I haven’t skied here in so long. I’m excited to give it a go, just like old times!” Sam said and touched Devon’s shoulder as they smiled affectionately at each other, which resulted in a series of pangs deep within Catherine’s chest –
like old times? Now a spa day with her girls sounded much better than a snow day with Devon and his ex.
Catherine tilted back her head as she took a big swig of her beer, but no one noticed her sudden discomfort. Hilary and Jaimie argued about which hotel looked like they had the best spa, Greg and Travis were apparently enacting old snowboarding incidents, whereas Sam and Devon laughed about that time when they crashed into each other while skiing. Ha friggin’ ha.
Catherine put the empty beer bottle on the countertop and then pushed back the stool unexpectedly loudly, successfully drawing everyone’s attention to her. She smiled shyly as she tucked her hair behind her ears and then she scooted off of the stool, turning around to walk to the living room. There were no photographs or anything personal in the room, but rather it looked like everything was picked out of a catalogue. A very nice catalogue. She paused in front of the large windows and took her time admiring the beauty.
“Cath, did you hear?” Hilary suddenly asked from behind her.
“Hear what?” Catherine asked as she turned around to face her friend.
“We’re quickly getting dressed then heading down to the resort,” Hilary explained, studying Catherine’s features with a small frown. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
Catherine looked over Hilary’s shoulder to see that Devon and Sam were still talking animatedly, but as soon as her gaze settled on him, his eyes intuitively turned to meet hers. A small, devious smirk curved the corner of his mouth as he looked at her, and for a moment Catherine felt silly for being jealous, because that fiercely possessive look was only ever reserved for her.
“I’m just being stupid,” Catherine said dismissively, but saw that Hilary had followed her gaze.
“Oh, you also noticed that tactfully placed
‘like old times’ comment, did you?” Hilary said knowingly.
“God, I’m so glad it’s not only me,” Catherine said softly as she breathed out a sigh of relief.
“I don’t trust people who are that insanely sweet,” Hilary said meaningfully as she hooked her arm through Catherine’s and started guiding her towards the bedrooms that Catherine has yet to see, “So what’s the history there?” Hilary asked as soon as she closed the door to the bedroom she and Greg were sharing.
“...I have no idea... I just met her briefly at Travis’ concert, but never even really thought of her since then,” Catherine said as she started pacing back and forth.
“Travis’ concert?” Hilary asked instead, “Oh my God! I
knew he looked familiar!” she said excitedly, as if she only then realised that he was an up and coming rock star, “Anyway... not important right now...” she said at Catherine’s frown, “Yeah, I think you should find out very soon what transpired there,” Hilary said as she started unpacking her make-up and then combed her hair.
“You think?” Catherine asked as she started chewing her nail nervously, “But... Devon has not done anything suspicious. He looks at me like I am the only person in the room! Why am I being so silly?” she asked her friend almost pleadingly.
“You’re not being silly,” Hilary said reassuringly, “It’s just because you
don’t know what happened between them. If you find out, you’ll know what to expect and then you can deal with it.”
“...But how do I find out without coming across like a crazy jealous psycho bitch?” Catherine asked, only half-jokingly.
“Um... Well, it has to come across as if he brought it up... Like, you can ask him about something where you know she was involved,” Hilary suggested.
“Like how?” Catherine asked with a frown, struggling to think of a scenario.
“Ummm, like... Well, you could casually ask something along the lines of, ‘
Oh, you guys have been skiing here before? Tell me
all about that’,” Hilary said exaggeratedly, making Catherine laugh, which at least relieved some of the tension she was feeling.
“That’s way too obvious,” Catherine said as she plonked down on the side of the bed with a frustrated sigh, but then flinched slightly when the door suddenly flew open, after which Greg and Travis stepped in. They both paused mid-step and frowned at the two of them.
“What the hell, Greg? What if we were getting dressed or something?” Hilary asked as she stood up and faced him with her hands on her hips.
“...Then...I would have asked Travis to leave!” Greg said jokingly, making Travis laugh heartily, whereas Catherine turned her wide eyes to her friend.
“You wouldn’t get me out of here even if you tried,” Travis announced as he patted Greg’s back, casting Catherine a wink.
“Gross,” Hilary said, but Greg and Travis were already preoccupied as Greg showed him his gear.
“Do you know which room is mine?” Catherine asked as she stood up and then made her way towards the open door.
“The last one down the passage,” Hilary replied as she followed her, “And this one is Jaimie’s” she said as she knocked softly on the door before entering the room.
Catherine walked down the passage, seeing a few bathrooms through open doors. She counted six closed doors in total and then found herself quietly knocking on the last door. She opened it and poked her head through, seeing Devon step around the corner with his shirt in his hands and his hair dishevelled, as if he had just taken it off.
“There you are,” Devon said as he threw his shirt on the bed and sauntered over to her. Catherine stepped into the room and quietly pulled the door closed behind her, but then she found herself pressed up against the door as he braced his hands on either side of her. She rested her hands against his chest and looked up at him.
“Were you looking for me?” Catherine asked as she looked into his eyes, loving his scent and the feel of his warm skin and chest hairs underneath her fingertips.
“I’m so glad to have you alone, at last,” Devon said as he leaned closer and rested his forehead against hers.
How could she remain insecure when he said things like that? Catherine wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck, loving the way their bodies fit together as if they were made for each other. She felt his hand in her hair, easing her head back so that she was forced to look at him. Then he covered her mouth with his and kissed her slowly, deeply and hungrily, as if he was a man starved. Catherine moaned against his lips and eagerly smoothed her hands over his naked back and into his hair, loving the bites and the way he cupped her face as the kiss became fiercer. They were breathing heavily and eagerly gripping each other tightly, but were then rudely interrupted when there was a loud knock on the door.
“We’re ready to leave!” Travis said from the other side of the door. Catherine was then drawn back to reality and became aware of their friends’ departing footsteps and laughter, realising that they probably had to join them. Possibly. Right?
“We should,” Devon answered her unanswered question, cupping her face and giving her a kiss that just left her longing for more.
He then stepped away from her and went to the walk-in closet, which is where he had stepped out of before. Catherine went to her bags that were laid out on the bed and also started unpacking the clothes, which she had acquired especially for this trip. She was glad to learn that not all snow gear is thick and chucky, and actually found a few flattering outfits that also promised warmth. She hoped that she took to skiing, otherwise it would be money unwisely spent.
“Let’s go,” Devon said as soon as he stepped back into the room with his skis held against his side, looking like a sports model in his black and grey outfit. Catherine gaped at him for a while, noticing the goggles atop his head pushing back his dark hair in a delicious manner, his posture accentuated by the clothes. “I’ve warned you about those looks, Catherine,” Devon growled as he stalked over to her.
“Sorry,” Catherine apologised immediately and returned her attention to the clothes that she had laid out on the bed, but she still felt hyperaware of his presence at her side as she quickly slipped out of her clothes and put on the grey and pink ski gear. She opted to wear the same boots, but also pulled out a wool hat and goggles. “I think they left the skis in the car?” she asked and risked looking at him again. She found that he was observing her almost interestingly, with an affectionate gleam to his eyes.
“I think so,” Devon answered as he continued looking at her. He reached out and cupped her cheek, leaning forward and placing a hard kiss on her lips, before he then stepped back and walked to the door. He opened the door and looked at her over his shoulder, raising her eyebrow when she still stood unmoving. Catherine quickly regained her senses and rushed after him, falling in a step behind him as he walked to the living room with his usual long strides.
“Hey, finally, they arrive!” Travis announced as soon as they stepped into the living room.
“You know, you guys can just say if you wanted some alone time?” Jaimie jokingly chimed in.
Devon merely shook his head and grinned in that unfazed manner of his as he walked past them and headed towards the front door. They all followed him and Catherine quickly retrieved her skis from the back of their rental, as Jaimie and Hilary were going to drive by themselves to the spa. The equipment for the rest of them ended up being too much for one car alone, therefore they ended up driving to the resort in two separate cars – Greg and Travis in one car, Sam, Devon and Catherine in the other.
Catherine felt very anxious for what lay ahead as she trailed behind Devon, the snow crunching underneath their boots as she struggled to maintain her balance while she awkwardly carried her skis. She managed to muster a smile and hide her discomfort when he glanced at her over his shoulder, after which he continued his conversation with the others about the different slopes. Travis and Greg quickly made their way over to a more advanced slope, but it was apparently too much to hope that Sam would follow them as well, who instead joined Devon and Catherine at the so called ‘Beginner’s slope’.
“Okay,” Devon said, the excitement in his voice and eyes now evident as he turned to face Catherine, “Sam, would you mind putting on my skis to demonstrate, then I’ll help Catherine with hers,” he said.
“Sure,” Sam said in her chirpy voice and she immediately went about putting on her skis. Catherine tried to follow the movements of her hands, but she ended up doing it so quickly. Besides, Sam’s skis were different to hers and looked much more complicated that the ones she bought.
“Okay...” Catherine said hesitantly once Sam finished and stood upright to face them again. Catherine cautiously repositioned the skis on the snow and then stepped into the left one, after which she bent over and reached for the strap, but could not attach it before Devon was on his knees in front of her.
“You don’t want these to be too tight, they just need to be snug,” Devon said as he loosened the strap and then reattached it for her, making sure that it was secure before he turned his handsome face up to look at her, “Try moving around with the one ski first,” he said as he stood up and dusted the snow off of his pants.
“Okay...” Catherine said and hesitantly lifted her foot with the ski off of the ground, taking a step forward. Devon chuckled at her side and she slapped the back of her hand against his chest, “Don’t laugh at me!” she said, shyly casting a glance at Sam who also giggled.
“Then don’t lift your feet,” Devon said, his amusement evident in his voice, “
Glide,” he said, after which Sam gave a very graceful demonstration.
Catherine turned her eyes to Devon and bit her lower lip before she nodded her head slowly and attempted to ‘glide’, but she almost immediately lost her balance. Luckily her right leg was free to support her, as well as Devon, who immediately grabbed her right arm and in order to stabilise her.
“That was a thrust, not a glide. Try again,” Devon said and released her arm. Catherine sighed and looked at them from the corner of her eye, noticing that Devon was still standing close to her in case she decided to fall. Which seemed very likely.
“Don’t be afraid to fall,” Sam said suddenly, “It’s going to happen a few times, then you’ll get used to it,” she said and smiled sweetly at Catherine.
“Alright...” Catherine said and turned her eyes ahead, “Glide, not thrust...” she murmured under her breath. She still held her weight on her right leg, but then very carefully shifted her weight forward and displaced it to her left leg, after which she successfully glided a few centimetres. She cast a proud grin at Devon over her shoulder, then attempted a few more times, gliding forward on the snow like a slug. “Um, so, how do I turn?” she asked when she was a few metres away from them and looked at them over her shoulder. Devon picked up her ski from the ground and then he and Sam came towards her.
“First try skiing with both skis, then we can work on turning,” he said as he kneeled down in front of her and helped her with her second ski.
Catherine was focused on Devon’s movements, looking exactly how he attached it, but then she became aware of Sam’s eyes on them. She turned her eyes up to see that Sam was observing Devon was a slightly stunned expression on her face, as if she could not believe that Devon was doing what he was, but this expression vanished as soon as she realised that Catherine was watching her.
“Okay,” Devon said, drawing their attention back to him, “So now that you have both skis on you can use the ski poles to help with stability and to propel yourself forward,” he said, “But remember that it is also about how you use your weight, so lean forward when you want to move forward,” he said and smiled at her.
“Lean forward...” Catherine repeated and did as she was instructed. This time it went easier and she tried moving her legs first together, then separately, until she finally got the hang of it. She did not realise how far away she had moved from them until she glanced over her shoulder, “Um...” she mumbled to herself, before turning her head to look at them, “So
now can you teach me how to turn around?” she called, and heard Devon chuckling as he walked over to her.
“You’re doing great, babe,” Devon said encouragingly when he reached her, resting his warm hand on her shoulder.
“Thanks,” Catherine said as she smiled at him.
“Okay, so when it comes to turning, you want to keep the tips of your skis facing the same direction as you turn. So you lift one foot, then the other, kind of waddling like a penguin?” he said and grinned at her when she giggled at his explanation.
“Let me try,” Catherine said and then did what she was told, managing to turn around and face Sam again, “That wasn’t so bad,” she said, but then she suddenly felt herself moving backwards. Her eyes widened and she looked around frantically, not knowing how to stop her legs from moving further apart as she slight slope carried her backwards.
“Use the poles,” Devon said and Catherine immediately dug the poles into the snow, after which she thankfully came to an abrupt halt, albeit in a very awkward spread-eagled position. She tried to correct her posture, but the skis kept going in directions that she did not want it to. She looked up at Devon and met his amused gaze pleadingly, but he merely crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her, “It’s best if you figure it out yourself. To learn, you know,” he said.
“Devon!” Catherine said pleadingly as she tried once again, but this time only managed to get her stomach muscles aching as well. He finally moved closer to stand behind her and stepped on the skis, repositioning it with his feet as he pressed his hand on her back in order to straighten her spine.
“It takes quite a lot of core strength to ski,” Devon explained as he moved to stand in front of her again.
“Yes, I see that now,” Catherine mumbled, but then gasped when Devon cupped her chin and turned her face towards his.
“I didn’t take you for the type to give up easily,” Devon said, a slight smirk curving the corner of his mouth. Catherine looked into his eyes and found herself returning his smile.
“I’m not giving up,” Catherine said determinedly and then propelled herself closer to him. Devon quickly stepped out of the way and then she felt very pleased as she moved forward, the movement now more practiced, but the slight slope she was moving against making it more difficult.
She turned her face up to smile victoriously at Sam when she reached her, but then the next instance she somehow found herself flat on her back. The air was knocked out of her lungs and her goggles that were around her neck hit her chin when she fell down, then she lay stunned and stared blankly at the clear blue sky overhead. All of a sudden Devon’s concerned face appeared in front of her, as well as Sam’s.
“Are you okay?” Devon asked suddenly as he reached out and pulled loose the strap of the goggles which were now basically strangling her. Catherine looked from him to Sam and then back at him before she regained her senses and nodded her head.
“I’m fine,” Catherine said as she pushed herself up on her elbows. Devon shifted back and offered her his hand, but she shook her head and then awkwardly managed to pull herself up with considerable effort and the use of her ski poles.
She dusted herself off before then putting on the goggles, not wanting to have another near-strangulation-incident during the falls that were sure to lay ahead. She noticed that Devon was still looking concerned as he watched her, but she tried to smile reassuringly at him as she continued practicing her gliding. Sam was moving around on the snow more restlessly, apparently having had enough of the beginners for now, but Devon stuck around Catherine and gave instructions and guidance when necessary. He seemed to be pleased with her progress and then went to put on his skis as well, after which she could see him and Sam in the distance, doing slopes that appeared too easy for them, but at least meant that he was still close to her if she should need him.
Catherine took a breath and then she attempted her first real slope. It went surprisingly well, in spite of her falling and almost being the cause of a collision. She just got up, dusted herself off, apologised profusely and then tried again. After which she then fell again. And again. And a few more times after that. She fell so many times, she managed to try out every single technique in order to get back up again. Hell, she probably invented a few techniques along the way. By the end of it all, she felt cold, sore and bruised, her muscles ached where she did not know she even had muscles.
And on top of all of that, Devon had a huge grin on his face and looked exhilarated when he and Sam rejoined her, where they found her standing up unsteadily and dusting the snow off of her clothing for the umpteenth time that day. His happiness annoyed her, which in turn just made her feel guilty as well. Perhaps the spa would have been a better option.
“The last try looked good,” Sam said encouragingly, slightly out of breath from her last successful endeavour.
“Thanks,” Catherine said, knowing that she was just being pleasant. There was nothing good about her last attempt, other than it coming to an end.
“Do you want to try the next one?” Devon asked as he pushed his goggles to the top of his head. Her eyes snapped to his in surprise, for he clearly did not realise how she was feeling.
“I’m stiff and sore, and I can’t feel my butt,” Catherine snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She looked into his eyes and her breath caught in her throat when she recognised that familiar, dangerous spark igniting in his eyes, “I mean...” she added quickly, nervously, “You guys go ahead...” she trailed off, noticing how his eyes narrowed fractionally on her.
“No,” Devon said, his tone of voice neutral and his expression surprisingly impassive, “Perhaps it’s best if we head back,” he said as he bent over and started unclasping his skis.
Catherine stared at the top of his head as he busied herself, swallowing hard as her eyes darted to Sam, who looked slightly confused and annoyed, “Y–you guys go ahead,” Catherine insisted, “I’ll just... I’ll get a hot chocolate or something?” she suggested. Devon stepped out of his skis and then picked it up, the snow that had gathered on it gently falling to the ground as he positioned it under his arm.
“I think I’ll join Travis and Greg,” Sam said when Devon said nothing and just kept his eyes fixed on Catherine, who was frozen in position.
“Okay,” Devon said, still not taking his eyes off of Catherine.
“I’ll see you later...” Sam said and cast a sympathetic look at Catherine before she turned around and went to the more advanced slopes.
Catherine watched Sam leave and found herself unable to turn her gaze back onto Devon’s, afraid of what she mind find. She bit her lower lip nervously and felt her cheeks burning, even though the rest of her was numb with the cold. Eventually she could not handle it anymore and then bravely turned her eyes to his, feeling a shiver rake her body when she met his fiery eyes.
“I’m sorry I snapped,” Catherine blurted out immediately, but he merely raised an eyebrow at her, “...Jeez, Devon. You’re making me feel even guiltier... Why don’t you just go to the advanced slopes, I’ll go to a coffee shop somewhere?” she said, her tone of voice higher than usual due to her anxiety.
“I’d prefer to be the one to warm up your butt, instead of a comfortable cushion and an overpriced cappuccino,” Devon said in a low tone of voice that made the hairs on the back of Catherine’s neck stand up. Her mouth fell slightly agape and she stared wide-eyed at him when his words sank in. “Take off your skis. We’re going,” Devon said sternly, leaving no room for argument.
Catherine nodded her head slowly and then bent over, clumsily removing the skis with her gloved hands. When she eventually unclasped the buckles and stepped out of the skis, she barely had enough time to pick it up before Devon grabbed her hand and started guiding her towards the car. She struggled to keep up with his fast pace, but did not dare ask him to slow down. They got into the car without a word and Devon did not turn on the heater, but Catherine did not complain about that either, for she knew that her punishment would only increase. Instead she sat quietly with the seatbelt holding her against her seat, trying to resist the shivers. She wrapped her arms around herself and kept looking at him from the corner of her eye, but he had his eyes fixed on the road and looked surprisingly calm and collected as he drove to the lodge.
Devon pulled to a stop in front of the house and then glanced at her before he got out of the car. Catherine quickly followed suit and she heard the car beeping as he locked it before they walked across the wooden porch to the front door. He unlocked the door and keyed in a password for the alarm, before they stepped in and he closed the door behind them. He turned around to face her and she felt her heart rate pick up a beat when their eyes met.
“Are you still cold?” Devon asked as he took a step closer to her.
“Yes...” Catherine said and resisted the urge back away from him. His predator-like appearance, the dangerous glint in his eyes and determined look on his face actually managed to excite her more than scare her.
“Good,” he almost-growled as he paused in front of her and started taking off his gloves without breaking their gaze, “Take off your clothes,” he ordered softly as he placed his gloves on the small table at the front door.
“...H–here?” she asked hesitantly, instinctively crossing her arms over her chest, but she immediately dropped her arms to her sides when his dark eyes glanced accusingly at her arms.
“Now, Catherine,” he said sternly. She immediately took off her gloves and placed it next to his. She reached for the zip of her jacket with shaky hands and pulled it down quickly, another shiver raking her body as the air of the room invaded the relative warmth of her clothing. She shrugged off her jacket and then let if fall to the floor, casting a questioning glance at him before she then continued to remove the rest of her clothing, until she stood completely naked in front of him. Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment, her skin covered in goose bumps and her nipples stood almost painfully erect from the cold.
Devon’s eyes leisurely scanned over her body, his dark eyes hungrily taking in every curve whilst his body remained taut with reserve. She felt a shiver of anticipation run through her body when he turned his eyes to hers again and she was surprised at how much she craved his touch when he reached out to rest his hand on the back of her neck. He then started guiding her down the long passage in the direction of the kitchen, his footsteps quietly hitting the floor as her bare feet silently padded alongside his.
She was shivering slightly as she obligingly let him guide down the passage towards their bedroom. He closed the door behind her and then walked over to the fireplace that was in front of the windows, before he pressed a button and then suddenly a fire started crackling, creating a cosy feel to the room. Catherine craved the heat of the fire, but all she could feel was the cool air kissing her skin while she stood still and waited for his instructions.
Devon turned around to face her and his eyes scanned over her body at an achingly slow pace before he held out his hand to her, gesturing for her to come closer. She immediately walked over to him and paused in front of him when he rested his hand on her shoulder, feeling immensely relieved by the heat she felt radiating from the flames.
But then Devon stepped away from her and she watched him almost longingly as he removed his jacket and slung over the back of an armchair. He was observing her interestingly as he rolled up the sleeves of his jersey, exposing his toned, tattooed forearms as he crossed his arms over his chest. He kept studying in that quietly calculating manner and she wondered if she was supposed to approach him or not, but thought that it was safer to see what he would do.
Catherine felt very tense by the time that Devon finally stepped towards her again, standing in front of her before he then reached out to her and rested both of his hands on her shoulders. Catherine breathed out slowly and tried her best to relax her muscles as Devon smoothed his warm hands over her cold skin. She loved his warm touch and his hands left an electric trail wherever it touched, making her feel strangely drawn towards it and fearful of it at the same time.
He also smoothed his hands down her back, pulling her closer to him, but not allowing her the full comfort and warmth of his hard body. She could feel his warm breath trailing over the skin of her neck as his hands dipped lower and cupped both of her butt cheeks, which were still numb from her repeated falls in the snow. He groaned softly as he kneaded them in his large hands, spreading them wide and exposing her every once in a while. His fingers would sometimes brush over her asshole and dip lower to teasingly move over her pussy, but never did he slip his fingers into the only warm part of her body.
Catherine braced her hands against his chest, her breaths coming in short and rapid as he teased her with his touch, but then he suddenly fisted his one hand in her hair and brought his other hand down on her butt cheek, the loud slap and her startled gasp ringing through the quiet room. She flinched when he suddenly spanked her ass again, but then she bit her lower lip and pinched her eyes closed, enduring each spank with a tense and fearful eagerness. Her hands were fisted in his shirt, her shoulders tense, but she loved how her skin tingled and suddenly flamed wherever his hand harshly met her skin. She was silently bracing herself for the next spank, but was then surprised when nothing happened. Apart from his chest heaving slightly underneath her palms, he had ceased all movements. She hesitantly lifted her face in order to meet his gaze, finding that his lips were slightly parted and his eyes burning with intensity as he looked at her.
“Brace your hands against the ledge of the fireplace,” he ordered quietly. She did not hesitate to do what she was told and found herself stepping out of his embrace, his arms almost reluctantly falling away from her. She turned towards the fireplace and the stone was cold to the touch as she braced against it and lowered her head, her eyes fixed on the dancing flames as she heard him quietly moving around as he took off his clothes.
Catherine took in a sharp breath and closed her eyes when she felt Devon’s naked body pressing tightly against hers from behind, his skin and breath warm against her skin. He cupped her breasts and grinded his hips against her burning ass, while his stubble gently scratched her neck as he kissed and bit it. He pressed his hand against her lower stomach while he guided the head of his cock to her pussy, both of them moaning softly as he entered her from behind. He slowly started moving his hips while his hands left a warm trail wherever it touched as he leisurely explored her body, which now felt like it was on fire. He gradually increased the speed of his thrusts and covered her hands with his, lacing their fingers as he continued fucking her from behind. Catherine eagerly pressed against him and moved in unison with him as she felt him guiding her closer to the edge with every thrust.
The room was filled with the sounds of their skins slapping against each other and their laboured breathing over the faint crackling of the fire. Devon smoothed his hand down her stomach and started rubbing her clit as he whispered deliciously decadent things into her ear. Catherine pinched her eyes closed and completely surrendered to him and the sensations he enticed, lowering her head and shaking violently when he made her come. Devon groaned softly and pressed his hand down on her lower stomach as he joined her, pushing his cock in all the way as he came deep inside of her.
He lazily and breathlessly kissed her neck and shoulder as they continued standing joined together in front of the fire. He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her tightly against his chest and she leaned her head back against his shoulder in order to look into his eyes, which looked surprisingly intense.
“...I love you so fucking much. Even when you defy me,” Devon murmured quietly as he looked intently at her.
Catherine did not know how to respond and merely smiled shyly at him. Devon’s eyes softened slightly as he returned her smile, before he then leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on her temple. He took her hand and guided her to the bed, after which they both got in under the covers and he held her possessively close as they both drifted off to a contented slumber.
