The mountain endless win.., p.1
The Mountain (Endless Winter Book 2), page 1
THE MOUNTAIN
Endless Winter Book Two
ELISHA KEMP
The Mountain © 2024 by Elisha Kemp
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For information contact the author at her website elishakempbooks.com
Cover art and design © Elisha Kemp
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, businesses or locales is coincidental and is not intended by the author.
There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice.
F Scott Fitzgerald
Contents
Content warning
Typos and Languages
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Want more?
Languages Glossary
Thank you!
About the Author
Also by Elisha Kemp
Content warning
This is a polyamorous romance containing some content that is not suitable for young readers, including violence, alcohol consumption, sexual situations and swearing (in English and French).
All main characters are over the age of 18.
There is also discussion of themes that might be upsetting for some readers, such as the main character working through the aftermath of non-consensual drugging and attempted sexual assault which occurred in book one. Some of the main characters also experience on-page discrimination, and recall previous instances of discrimination.
There is also recollection of previous cancer treatments. While this scene has minimal details and occurs in the past, we see how this incident affects the MC and it may be upsetting for some readers.
Finally, this is the second in a three-book series, and does end on a (relatively low-angst) cliffhanger.
Please do not hesitate to contact the author directly with any questions or suggestions for adding to the TWs.
Typos and Languages
The Mountain features characters who are ski and snowboard instructors from all over the world. They often speak in their mother-language, swear, and use a variety of slang (including slang from New Zealand, Australia, and France).
While this story is written in American English, non-American words are used where appropriate for the characters speaking. For example, the Kiwi characters would never dare call their mothers anything but ‘mum’, and our French character dutifully refers to his mother as ‘maman’. The Kiwis are also particularly confusing, calling the trunk of the car a ‘boot’, the kitchen counter a ‘bench’ and saying things like ‘sweet as’.
Non-English words are italicized, and there is a glossary in the back with some definitions. However, if in doubt as to the meanings of any slang or words used, use google, or contact me.
This book has been professionally edited and proofread. However, if you do spot errors, please contact me at: elishakempauthor@gmail.com or reach out via IG or FB. Please do NOT report it to Amazon (as that can result in this book being taken down).
Chapter 1
Lily
I never thought safety would smell like fresh cotton sheets and the lingering hint of male body spray, but it does. I press my face into the pillow, inhaling deeply as the too-bright lights turn the world pink behind my closed eyelids.
Safe. I’m safe.
“Of course I’m into her, you dick.”
Eddie’s voice sounds at once near and distant, echoing through the haze of my mind, but loud enough that I know he must be close by.
I think about the way he smiled, fresh powder dancing between us with our laughter. The way he attacked my shoes with his knife so I wouldn’t slip. His hand on Matty’s back, the softness of his voice as he brought Matty back from whatever darkness he’d fallen into.
I think about the way his face looked when he found me on that bathroom floor, my body frozen but my eyes seeing everything. My body feeling everything.
He’d looked like a man who would destroy the world for me and barely glance at the ashes beneath his feet.
Who says she has to choose? I’m pretty sure I’d heard someone say that moments before. Seth, maybe?
“Not like we should be arguing about this anyway.” Eddie’s voice is lower now, almost a rumble. “Since Lily is currently passed out.”
My lips part, the urge to protest his words almost instinctive. I’m not. I’m not passed out. I swallow, my mouth tasting dry and bitter, as if whatever drug Tom slipped me has left its mark there.
And then the meaning of Eddie’s words registers, slow and viscous, like sun-warmed honey. Of course I’m into her, you dick.
My heart stutters, an almost dizzying beat as the words rasp out from between parched lips, nearly unintelligible. “I’m not.” I’m not asleep.
I force my eyes open, blinking in an effort to bring my world back into focus. My eyes land on Eddie almost instantly, and I can’t help but smile at his look of horrified surprise, at the twin patches of pink blazing on his cheeks. Like he can’t stand the thought of me knowing how he really feels.
A laugh catches in my throat at the thought. It’s too late, I want to tease him. I know you like me. I think I’ve known it a little bit this whole time, ever since that kiss on the ice-coated steps outside the condo.
“Hey,” I say, offering him a wobbly smile.
Eddie has seen me at my absolute weakest. He’s seen me helpless, completely vulnerable. And he protected me. Fought for me. Kept me safe.
I don’t want to tease him. I want to give him the truth. All of it.
“I’m… I’m into you too,” I rasp.
His eyes widen, cheeks blazing as his lips part. I can’t help but laugh now, because the thought of giving him the truth is completely terrifying. And that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to tell him everything.
“I… um… I like all you guys actually. A lot.”
I swallow, then press my face against the pillow, squeezing my eyes shut so I don’t have to see the hurt on his face. I can feel his eyes on me though, can feel the other guys watching me, can hear their soft breathing, heavy and still with anticipation. When no one says anything, I add: “So you don’t need to argue about it anymore, okay?”
The silence is heavy, an aching, terrifying thing. I give a tremulous smile and reach my hand over the edge of the mattress. Matty had been there, at some stage. He’d promised to stay with me…
I give a sigh of relief when his hand clasps my own, warm and callused, but so gentle. “Oh good, you’re still here.”
“Always,” he rumbles, and I can feel the brush of his words against the back of my hand, like an oath. “Always.”
“I’m going to get you some water,” Eddie snaps, and then he’s scrambling to move past where Matty is lying on the floor. A pair of feet trots after him—Seth, I realize, though how I can tell just by his socks, I’m not really sure. And then the door slams shut behind them.
Well.
I swallow back the lump of disappointment in my throat, and squeeze my eyes shut against the unexpected burn of tears. I’m not sure what I expected, telling them all that I’m into them. But it wasn’t this… this awkward silence.
“Oh, ma puce.” Antoine’s voice is low and thick, and I look up just in time to see him clambering over Matty, then climbing onto the mattress until he’s pressed against my back, one strong arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Dieu merci, mais… you’re awake. You’re okay. Putain, I thought…”
“Shh.” The mattress groans, springs shuddering as Liam climbs in on Antoine’s other side. “Give her a chance to wake up first.”
“I am awake,” I grumble, then cringe at how annoyingly petulant I sound.
“Baby.” Matty presses my hand against his cheek, and I can feel the rasp of stubble against my palm. “I’m… you have no idea how happy I am to hear your voice.”
“Fuck. Same.” Liam clears his throat. “So fucking glad.”
And just like that, the hollow dread pooling in the pit of my stomach is gone, replaced by a rush of warmth, of gratitude. And also, a little confusion. Because, did they not just hear me tell them that I’m into all of them?
“Here. We got you some water.”
The door thuds against the wall, and I look up to see Seth rushing in, a glass of water clutched in his hands, Eddie at his heels. Seth drops to his knees, practically draping himself over Matty’s prone form as he thrusts the water toward me, barely giving me time to lift my head before he’s pressing it to my lips.
<
I nod, offering Eddie a weak smile, before trying to lift myself to my elbows. My arms tremble though, and my heart thunders wildly against my ribs.
“Let me help you.” The bed dips, and then Antoine is scooping me up, pulling me to a seated position, my back flush against his chest. “Is this okay?” he asks, his breath hot against my ear.
I nod, hands trembling as they wrap around the glass as I bring it to my lips. Seth, Eddie, and Matty stare at me intently, and even though I can’t see Antoine and Liam, I can feel them watching me. I close my eyes, take a long drink, and silently take stock of my body.
I’m exhausted, a little nauseous, and my right arm feels bruised and sore. I also have to pee. But mostly I just feel weak.
“How long was I out for?” I ask, lowering the glass to my lap. “And what happened?”
For some reason, I look at Eddie when I ask this question. Maybe because I remember him finding me, remember the look on his face as I lay sprawled across the bathroom floor. Or maybe it’s because he’s the only one meeting my eyes, his chin lifted with the defiant honesty of someone ready to tell an uncomfortable truth.
And that’s what I want right now. Truth.
“Tom drugged you,” he says, and even though his voice is calm, there is no missing the flash of rage in his eyes, or the way his jaw ticks before he hurriedly adds: “We stopped him before he could do anything to you.” His gaze flits to Seth, the hint of a feral grin cutting across his somber expression. “Terminator here might have had a role in that.”
Seth groans and buries his face in his hands—hands with cut and swollen knuckles, stained with what looks like blood. Eddie’s dark grin turns downright gleeful. “Don’t worry, mate.” Eddie clasps Seth on the shoulder. “You didn’t kill him. Came close, probably, but he’s alive. Who knows, maybe you did him a favor rearranging his face, since it was ugly as fuck to begin with.”
“So he’s able to talk, then?” Liam asks, and though I can’t see his face, I can practically hear the wry smile curving his lips.
Eddie nods, amusement falling. He shifts, reaching into his pocket, pulling out his phone. “I got him to admit what he did, and I recorded it.” He holds out his phone meaningfully, brown eyes fixed on me. Not on Liam, who asked him the question. Not on any of the guys. Just me. “You can listen to it if you want, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it. He just says what you’d expect—complained like a little bitch before admitting what he meant to do to you,” Eddie sneers in disgust, then pockets his phone. “But it’s there. In case you want to press charges or anything.”
I stare at him, my heart in my throat, my fingers tightening around the glass in my hands. Press charges. Just the thought of it has wild panic building behind my ribs.
“Anyway, he’s moving out today.” Eddie turns, giving Seth a meaningful look. “Should be gone in the next hour or so. He might need some help getting down the stairs though.”
Relief surges through me at his proclamation. “Really?” I say, a hopeful smile making my cheeks ache. “He’s leaving?”
“Shit yeah,” Eddie snorts, then shoots me an incredulous look. “You think we’d let that piece of shit stay here after what he did to you?”
I shake my head, gaze dropping to my knees. To the jeans I’m still wearing, the same ones I was in the night before, at the party.
Eddie rises to his feet, brushing his palms over his thighs. “You should rest.” He looks toward the small window, where dawn light filters through the blinds, thin and cold. “The guys will look after you. My sister said you’ll need lots of water, mild food, and rest—basically like a bad hangover.” He pauses, then turns to give Seth a conspiratorial grin. “You want to be my hired thug again?” he asks. “Help me light the fire under Tom’s ass and get him out of the condo?”
Seth’s forehead dips in consternation, his lips pursing. “I don’t know…” He scrubs one hand down his face. “I probably shouldn’t…”
Eddie gives a dismissive wave. “Come on. You’ll be fine. All you have to do is stand there and stare at him. Should be enough to get him moving.”
Before Seth can argue, Eddie is practically hauling him to his feet and pulling him out the door.
“Well,” I say when the door swings shut behind them. “That was…”
My voice trails off, my hands trembling so much that water spills onto my denim-clad knees. It suddenly feels impossible to meet Matty’s eyes, and I’m thankful for Antoine at my back, his arms keeping me upright, his silent, undemanding strength.
What do I say to them? What does someone say, in a moment like this?
Eddie’s words rattle around in my mind, the uncomfortable truth of what happened to me settling like ice against my bones. Of what could have happened to me, if these guys hadn’t been there. If Eddie hadn’t been there. And Seth.
Because I can remember—even if some of the memories are more dream than reality. I can remember Seth’s face, twisted with rage, his features almost unrecognizable. I can remember Tom’s muted cries, and the flecks of blood, stark on the white tiles.
“She’s shaking,” Antoine says, his voice low, the feel of it vibrating against my back. “What should I do?”
“Get her back under the covers,” Liam orders, and almost instantly Matty is leaping up, taking the glass from my hands, then helping Antoine pull me back into bed.
My bladder twinges in protest, the denim jeans I’ve been sleeping in all night suddenly painfully uncomfortable. I whimper. I want to be in my comfy clothes. My delightful gray sweats and a soft T-shirt—or even better, my pajamas.
Except all my clothes are in my room, and there is no way in hell I’m going in there. Not if Tom is still in there.
“Bathroom,” I say, pushing feebly against Matty and Antoine as they attempt to stuff me under the covers. “I need to use the bathroom.”
Matty’s blue eyes fly open with alarm, and he throws the blankets off me, nearly shoving Antoine in the process before bending down and scooping me out of the bed.
“Really?” I say, pulling back just enough to look up at him, but his jaw is set, the usual soft smile replaced by implacable determination.
“Eddie said to take care of you,” Matty says, with all the self-assuredness of someone following orders.
I roll my eyes, then instantly regret it when the walls start to spin. “Fine.” I tuck my hands under my chin, pressing my face against Matty’s chest. He smells good, the hint of some body spray mixed with sweat. It’s masculine and familiar and safe.
…
When I wake up the second time, the world feels like a better place.
I’m wearing Liam’s shirt and boxers, and the blankets are pulled up to my ears. A strong body cocoons my own, thick legs twining with mine beneath the blankets. The pounding behind my eyes is gone, the bitter taste on my tongue replaced with the lingering remnants of toothpaste.
I like all you guys a lot.
My half-drugged admission echoes in my mind, but it doesn’t seem so terrifying now.
“You’re awake.” Matty’s voice is a low rumble against my chest, and my eyelids flutter open to see his gentle blue eyes mere inches from my own. His breath fans against my face, warm and sweet.
Was he watching me sleep?
“Uh-hmm,” I agree.
Vaguely, I’m aware of another body pressed against my back, an arm banded around my waist, breath warm against my neck. Antoine.
After my trip to the bathroom, the four of us had climbed into Eddie’s bed. An impressive feat, considering it’s just a queen-sized mattress on the floor. I roll onto my back, twisting to look behind me, smiling at the sight of Liam sleeping pressed against the wall, with Antoine between us.
“How are you feeling?” Matty asks.
I turn to offer him a grateful smile. “Good,” I say honestly. “Better.”
