Timeless aromas and feelings imprinted themselves in her mind as they made love in their cabin, sequestered away from the world.
The pressure and pleasure built inside her in time with his speeding heartbeat until she flew apart in his arms. The force of her orgasm sent her head pressing back into the bear rug. She held Broderick tighter, closer, taking every ripple of pleasure from the moment. And more. His shudder of completion sent a fresh wave through her, stronger than before.
So much. Almost too much. Making her wonder how she would ever be able to walk away from him a second time.
* * *
Not in a million years did Broderick imagine one day he would be sitting in sweats at his cabin retreat, sharing computer files back and forth with Glenna—who was currently rocking the hell out of her sleep pants and one of his T-shirts.
They had been crunching numbers for the past hour, preparing a plan for their parents to present to the board. Glenna sat with her knee tucked to her chest as she looked at the screen.
How in the world was he supposed to concentrate with this woman in the room?
After their frenzied lovemaking, he’d taken his time. They’d moved to his bed, where he’d touched and tasted every sweet inch of her luscious body. They’d showered together, the steam of the water and their passion mingling to fog the oversize stall. A shared snack had rejuvenated them enough that he would never again be able to stand in that kitchen without thinking about lifting her onto the counter. Finally, they’d both fallen into an exhausted slumber, waking long enough only to feed the baby and go back to sleep.
Being with her shook him. Rattled him right down to the core. More than he’d expected. He had to figure this out. How to be with her in the middle of their crazy family drama.
He took a sip of coffee, counting on the caffeine to provide focus and answers. Breathing in the spiced smell of the hazelnut coffee—Glenna’s favorite—he tried to focus on the low hum of the baby monitor. Still, remaining focused was hard.
He picked up an apple pastry from the plate and bit off a large bite, chewing thoughtfully.
“This financial merger is going to send us all through the ringer.” Glenna’s husky voice caressed him, spurring him to find the best fit for her in this new age of their merged companies.
He nodded, glancing at the various career positions on the screen. Glenna was organized and dynamic. Perhaps more of a public relations job would suit her?
“Also, about our parents… I’m still processing that.” Glenna rubbed her temples before scooping up a puffed pastry. She tore an edge off, popped it in her mouth.
“I sure as hell never saw that coming between the two of them,” Broderick agreed, wondering about the implications of his father and Glenna’s mother as a joined force in the business world.
“They kept their secret well. Maybe we can keep what we’re doing a secret, too?” Glenna teased, looking at him sidelong.
A rumbling laugh rolled up his throat. “We didn’t manage that before when our families never saw each other. I doubt we’ll be able to pull it off now that we’ll be working together.” He dimmed the light on his screen, then swiveled to really look at her. “Not to mention sitting at the holiday dinner table together. At least our discovering them in the shower kept them from eloping. I would have been sad to miss out on the wedding.”
“It’s still…strange. Thinking of the two of them together.”
He sipped his coffee, the java warming him. “Unexpected, that’s for sure. But maybe it’s a sign we should take a fresh look at what happened between us in the past. We’ve spent so many years avoiding each other. Hearing horror stories about the other family’s sharkish dealings.”
“I wonder how long they’ve felt this way?” Glenna’s voice trailed off and she seemed miles away from him as she turned to stare out the window.
“Is that your way of ignoring my question?”
She snapped back into focus, eyes narrowing as she tugged a hair band off her wrist and gathered her tousled locks on top of her head. It seemed that pulling that mane back helped her create distance. “It’s my way of staying on topic. Your question is another subject for another time. Back to our parents. How long do you think this has been going on?”
Broderick couldn’t help but ask, “You think our parents cheated with each other?”
“No—at least I don’t think so. Even considering it makes me…unsettled. But I wonder if they had feelings for each other. It’s upsetting to think back on my childhood and wonder if it was a lie.” She tore off another piece of the pastry and chewed thoughtfully.