Willow turned slightly to keep both men in her sight, though she did give Rome puppy eyes. His nostrils flared slightly and he edged back. The action made Willow frown and she barely refrained from sniffing herself. She showered that morning and since she hadn’t done anything more strenuous than sit on her butt, she knew she didn’t stink.
“I won’t let anything happen to her, Felix, you know that.” Ben responded, his tone a fierce promise.
Willow was no longer tricked by Rome’s sleepy, slitted-eye gaze. He might seem content, on the verge of napping half the time, but she’d seen it too much over the last several days, cooped up in the cabin together as they were, to know differently. She’d come to understand the look meant several different things, mainly to hide what he was thinking. Possibly now he was analyzing Ben’s ability and willingness to protect her while out of his sight. With a reluctant nod he said, “Half hour, no more.”
The taut set of Ben’s jaw evaporated as he rolled his eyes in a mock display of exasperation. “Yes, Dad. I promise to have her back before curfew.” He pinned Willow with a captivating grin, skimming her figure from head to toe. When his eyes flicked back to hers, something in that piercing gaze caused a small thrill to tremble low in her belly. “I have a helmet for you, Will, but you need to get a coat and gloves.”
Excited, Willow dashed inside, snatching what she needed from the hall closet before Rome could change his mind. Or herself, for that matter, since the idea of being alone with Ben was both nerve-wracking and highly appealing. She shrugged into the coat and gloves as she stepped back outside.
Under the agent’s watchful gaze, Ben secured Willow’s helmet before repeating the action for himself, hen swung a long leg over the seat. “Now you. Put your feet here.” He positioned her when she sat behind him by placing his hands on her calves. Even through the thick material of her jeans she felt the strength in those hands and wondered what they would feel like on her bare skin. She shivered, feeling girly and gooey.
And ridiculous. Like a teenybopper receiving attention from the boy on whom she had a secret crush. Only Ben was a long way off from being a boy, and Willow’s waking libido was all needy woman.
“Hold on to me.”
Hyperaware of their intimate position, her legs pressed around the muscled length of his, her chest close to his back, she struggled to breathe properly. She placed her gloved hands on his waist, fisting his jacket as he started the engine.
“Ready?” he called back to her.
“Ready.” The word ended on a breathless squeal as Ben shot forward, the momentum sending Willow’s butt backwards on the smooth seat.
Ben stopped immediately and curved one arm around, pressing her lightly on her back. “Like glue, Will.”
Inching forward, Willow did what she’d wanted to do since seeing him. She snuggled up to his back, re-aligning her legs behind his and wrapping her arms around his waist so they crossed over his abdomen. She swallowed her sigh of satisfaction.
“Don’t let go.”
Never she thought. Then they were off again. This time Willow clung to Ben like second skin, glorying in the feel of him in her arms, her breasts crushed against his back, the wind rushing by as they sped through trees as Ben took them deep into the forest.
Several minutes later, curiosity got the better of Willow and she eased her death grip on Ben to peer around. Unused to wearing a helmet, she clunked hers on Ben’s when he went over a small bump. “Sorry,” she shouted, feeling like a moron.
“Are you doing okay?” Hecalled back, sounding more concerned than irritated.
“Just can’t see very well.”
His chest rumbled under her hands in a low chuckle and he slowed. “Sorry. I was too anxious to get you alone. You can sit up if you want, but keep a tight grip on me.” He covered her hands with one of his, as if she needed the reminder, and gave them a squeeze.
Willow knew she was all leg, and because of the size and breadth of Ben’s torso, she couldn’t see over his shoulder. Now she straightened and was able to turn her head. Ben guided the snowmobile through a clearing, the dimming sun reflecting sharp and bright on the pristine snow. She might have felt bad about marring the smooth surface, but she was having too much fun.
Several more minutes and a zillion more trees passed before they came to a stop some distance from a dropoff. Ben shut off the powerful machine and they sat in companionable silence, gazing out over the valley that lay in snowy hibernation before them.
Willow scooted back when Ben raised his helmet. “I wanted to show you this. How beautiful winter can be up here in the mountains.”