Page 12 of Cold Snap

Over the next little while, Baz fires off a lightning round of questions while I try to ignore the pressure of his erection directly between my butt cheeks. I feel like I'm on some odd game show.

I tell him I was born outside of Kansas City, then my family – just my parents and I, no siblings – moved east toward these mountains, and we bounced around the area. Now they live about three hours north, but I didn't move with them a year and a half ago because I wanted to live on my own for a while. I mention the few friends with whom I keep up via video calls.

My only hobbies, I explain, are cooking, baking, and readingaboutcooking and baking. Plus some romance, adventure, and a few cozy mysteries thrown in there too.

"Mmm, you're a cozy mystery yourself." His rough voice is so deep against my ear. "I love that you're so fixated on food. That's one of the most important things in life, and you've made it into an art form."

Shifting slightly in his arms, I turn to glance back at him. "What about you? What do you do when you're not here eating and reading all day?"

His chuckle is a deep rumble, and he twists his hips to pull his erection away from me. "I've been very fortunate," he says slowly. "My grandfather bought up a ton of property ages ago. He gave some to my brother and I. Then when he passed, there was quite a cash inheritance. I invested it well, built a house on the land, and now…" He shrugs, then rubs the tip of his nose against mine. "I make enough on the investments to live quite nicely, while I maintain the forest."

"So like…lumberjacking?"

"Not as in chopping down truckloads of trees for timber or anything like that. I cut down dead trees, or trees that look like they're about to fall in a bad spot. Some of that I chop up for firewood, the rest I sell or trade for this and that. I keep the trails on an adjacent property clear. Moore has me keeping an eye out to clear non-native species so they don't take over. And work on my house, of course. There's always plenty to do."

"No wonder you just want to sit and read during your vacation. Rest up."

His biceps flex slightly, squeezing me. "Not too much. I need to keep my strength up in case you like a big, strong man."

Turning all the way over so I can face him, we shift our legs, getting comfortable again. "Maybe I'm not sure if I like big, strong men."

His bottom lip sticks out in a hugely exaggerated pout. "But you like me, right?" As I nod slowly, a soft grin spreading across my face, his palm runs from my ribs, along my side, then slowly around my hip and down my thigh in a long caress that makes me shiver from head to toe.

His dark eyes burn into mine, as if he's trying to see into my soul. "What?" I finally ask. He shakes his head, so I pokehis bicep gently. "Tell me. You're in my room, in my bed. I'm declaring this the honesty zone. Come on, what was that look for?"

He smiles, and I'm positive he's about to kiss me again. Instead, his lips brush the shell of my ear as he breathes, "I'm all for honesty, but I might need a couple of secrets, angel. How else am I going to make you fall in love with me?"

My breath hitches, making him smile even more. "I don't know how to play it cool," he says softly. "I don't know how to play games. But if this is the honesty zone, then I'll just say it. I want you. I think we'd be great together. I'm already falling for you."

"But…but you're the kind of guy who…" I trail off, too distracted by the way his palm is swirling around my hip, then up my side again to tease my breast through my shirt and bra to be able to complete my thought.

"The kind of guy who never knew what he wanted, but now that he's seen her, is never going to let her go? Yeah. That's me. I'm that kind of guy."

"You know what I mean."

His eyes widen. "Ireallydon't." He hesitates. "What are you looking for in a man, Rosa?"

"I've never looked for a man."

"But if you were. What would your dream guy be like?"

You, you weirdo.

I can't tell him how badly I want to give in to this bizarre fantasy of simply meeting and falling for each other immediately. My head shakes, and he raises his hand to guide my lips to his. He's so tender with me, kissing me softly, giving me time to sink into the moment and wrap my arms around his shoulders.

"I want to be everything for you," he whispers. "I want to make you happy. Give you everything you need."

My breath is uneven, my thighs twitching as my body feels more alive than it's ever been before. Baz looks over my shoulder at the clock. "How much longer do we have?"

"Maybe fifteen minutes. Then I should get the dough started for…" I squeeze his shoulders. "Whatever secret things you're having for dinner tonight."

"You seem a bit twitchy, angel." His hand slides across my stomach, untucking my shirt as his fingertips dance against my lower belly. "Am I turning you on?"

I can't answer, but he must notice my flushed cheeks and shaky breath.

"Can I relax you before work? Make you feel good, get all of that restless energy out?"

Some people might be more coy. Draw some lines. Suggest that we take our time.

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