Crisp mountain air whipped against her face, bringing clarity to her head. The coolness stung her heated skin, covering her in goose bumps. Loneliness started to take hold of her heart. God, she missed men. The intimacy of kissing, holding hands, waking up next to a warm body. And talking. She missed long intimate conversations.

Another round of waterworks burned the back of her eyes, threatening to break. Not gonna happen. With each step, her feet ground into the saturated earth, pounding out some of her frustrations.

There’d been only one man who checked all the boxes in her life and he was just jacking off in the other room. Left to pleasure himself because she was too afraid to let her guard down. Too stubborn to even consider believing his bullshit.

She’d drawn a definitive line in the sand that day and her pride wouldn’t dare cross it. No matter how painful her heart hurt. No matter how excruciating the longing. No matter how agonizing the fear of never knowing.

Blades of tall grass tickled her legs and the pungent smell of sulfur permeated the air. She took off her rain boots and laid them sideways on a bench cut from a log. She unbuttoned the flannel shirt and slipped it from her shoulder, placing it atop the boots to stay dry.

Though the mineral springs were natural, the pond had been designed to mimic the natural landscape and rock formations of the dramatic Montana mountain range. Carrie Ann gradually made her way down five huge granite steps placed precisely at one end of the pool to simulate the curves of an outdoor amphitheater. Mist swirled and eddied around her. The chilly vapor pulled her tender pink nipples taut.

Smooth rounded pebbles felt good on her feet. The water, silky and clear, teased along her collarbone as she gingerly waded deeper. The luxurious healing water lapped at her chest promptly relaxing her stiff, sore shoulders.

Carrie Ann crossed the pond, back-and-forth, with a lazy breast stroke. The change in her body temperature and release of fatigue caused her to feel light-headed and weak. Needing some cool air, she perched on top of a rectangular boulder, rising from the pool nearly flush to the water’s surface. Blood rushed to her skin, covering her body in a pink glow from the neck down. A clear indicator she’d been in the hot water too long.

Her body felt relaxed, muscles loose and warm, but her mind spun wildly listening to the low groans of thunder in the far off distance. Lifting her feet to the edge of the boulder, she laid back, using her locked hands as a pillow. Her knees knocked, waggling her legs to and fro. God, he looks so good. Carrie Ann stared skyward, mesmerized by the ominous clouds moving quickly overhead, comparing them to her life.

“What the hell…” A short scoring pause. “Are you doing?”

A high pitched sound of surprise whooshed from her lungs. Carrie Ann jolted upright, half falling, half leaping, into the pond with a splash. All thoughts scattered from her brain and her pulse went crazy. Her petite hands flew to her breasts, barely covering her dark pink nipples. The beating of her heart, hard and steady, forceful inside her chest.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

Aspen shrunk to her belly hearing her loud shriek.

“Are you just trying to fucking kill me, Carrie Ann,” Summer grumbled, his voice holding a savage note. He scowled, glowering in disbelief. “I saw the top of your head bobbing in the water, but I assumed you had a bathing suit on.”

His eyes lingered with ravenous interest, drifting over her full, lush, buoyant breasts.

Feeling vulnerable with nowhere to hide, she put on her invisible cloak of distain and slogged up the steps. Marching by him, she found it nearly impossible not to drink in the sight of his exquisitely masculine form in tight ocean-blue trunks.

He looked sexy-as-hell, every inch carved and defined, like a scene straight from a James Bond movie. Minus his grey fluffy robe, opened and untied. The blue speedo-like suit left nothing to the imagination. Not that she needed to use her imagination. She didn’t even need to close her eyes. Carrie Ann knew exactly how stunning he was. Every single inch of him.

Dodging left, he moved in front of her. His hands immediately found her shoulders, stealing her breath.

“Please don’t go, Carrie Ann.” His tone was soft and urgent, sending a tingle to the pit of her stomach. “It’ll be difficult, but I’m sure I’ll manage.”

Standing before him partially nude, a heady rush of sensation sprung to life, warmth seeped to her bones. “Maybe you should’ve packed my top along with my bottom, that way I could’ve stayed out here with you.”

He touched her chin and lifted her face upward. “You packed your things.”

“Whatever. It’s not like you haven’t seen them before.”

Summer skewered her with a harsh stare. “Stop acting like you don’t feel the connection we share.”

“That was a long time ago, Summer. You don’t know anything about me anymore.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong Red. I know exactly who you are. What you want. What makes you happy. You need a man who will want you for exactly who you are. Independent, hardworking, passionate, fun, bossy and as stubborn as the day is long…in Alaska.” In spite of his seriousness, she almost smiled. “You also need a man who’s confident enough to put you in your place occasionally.”

“Don’t forget faithful,” she stabbed, whirling her back to him. Her breasts on display to the great outdoors reaching for her shirt. Thrusting each arm into the oversized sleeves, she busied herself with the buttons. High strung emotions caused her fingers to tremble, hindering her progress. “That man doesn’t exist.”

She heard him make a scoffing sound as he latched his fingers around her wrist, turning her to face him. Her heart spurred into a frantic beat. His grip so gentle and caring that she had no chance at resisting him. The soft cotton fabric of her shirt listed open all the way to her navel and below. The slope of her full breasts fully exposed, yet he seemed enthralled with her face.

“Our connection is far more than physical. We share a closeness, an intimacy that stretches beyond that of past lovers, Carrie Ann. Our bodies, our energy, we vibrate on the same frequency.” A familiar strain in his tone, low and ragged, flooded her with memories of long nights filled with passion and companionship. “Your laugh reaches the darkest, dustiest corners of my soul and brings it to life. When you’re near me my heart feels fuller. My breath comes easier. My smile…fuck…I can’t wipe it off my face when I’m near you. I connect with you on every level of my being, Carrie Ann.”

“What are you? Some kind of inspirational relationship guru now?”

He ignored the dig. “You make me fall for you…every…single…time just by the way you look at me.”

Battling the oncoming waterworks burning the back of her eyes and nose, she willed her defenses, regarding him scornfully, “You just want a blow job or…or a fuck for the night.”

His eyes broadened. Her crudeness surprised him more than it shocked herself.

“Well, I do love the vision of your mouth wrapped around my cock.” He moved closer, coasting his fingers along the ridge of her jaw. “And I most certainly want to fuck you senseless.”

“I’m sure you’ve knocked sense into plenty of women.”

“Carrie Ann, I’ve never wanted to fuck another woman the way I want to fuck you.”

Her lip curled, repulsed by his words. Summer was visibly shaking. She started to pull away from him, but he gripped her arms.

“You’re also the only woman I can really talk to. And the woman I want to look into the future with. Plain and simple, Red. I just want you. Inside, outside, upside down and fucking sideways.” The demanding but gentle squeeze of his fingers around her biceps, drew a rush of breath from her lungs. A flash of belligerent male triumph ignited fire in his eyes. Apparently he was happy to have finally made his point. “Carrie Ann, you’re the only woman I want in my bed when I wake up every morning.”