Page 55 of Roughing It

“The fire is great, but now that I’m further away and in my pajamas, I’m freezing. I’m so used to central heat and air and cranking the thermostat up when the temps are this low.”

The mention of Blakely’s “pajamas” has me adjusting myself. It’s no wonder she’s cold, considering the slip of silk and equally tiny shorts she’s wearing. “Once you fall asleep, you’ll be fine.”

“Thanks for the helpful advice, asshole.”

I chuckle and climb into bed. Making myself comfortable, I rest my arms behind my head and consider the best way to explain how her filming me without my knowing makes me feel. However, my body has other plans, and my eyes droop. The hours spent chopping wood to get Blakely out of my system were reset by her blatant admission and flirting tonight. Thankfully, my solo time took care of the lingering tension, but now I’m tired.

Fighting off the fatigue, I clear my throat, ready to talk, but a noise I can’t place sounds in the dark. An animal? No. The fire? No.

Blakely.

“Spitfire, what’re you doing?”

“It’s m-my te-teeth.”

I run my hand over my face, a gesture I often do when dealing with my city mouse roommate. “You’re dramatic.”

“N-no. I’m n-not. I’m just c-cold.”

“Scoot closer, but don’t you dare put your icy feet on me.”

Without hesitation, Blakely snuggles up next to me, and the chattering of her teeth stops. Mere seconds later, her cold toes press into my calves. Little brat.

I whisper, “I might think this was a ploy to get closer to me.”

“We always end up like this anyway, may as well start this way, too. Now, shhh, time to sleep, Bear,” she whispers back, her eyes already closed.

“Before you fall asleep, we need to talk.”

Blakely presses her body to mine. “Can it wait till tomorrow? You’re so warm. I want to cuddle.” She skims her lips against my jaw. “Unless there’s something else—besides talking—you want to do.”

Fuck. Do I want to do more than talk? Of course. I want to ravage her gorgeous body. Leave marks all over her skin. Taste every inch of her, bite and bruise her in the best way. Despite a fuck-ton of kisses, I haven’t been able to take the next step. Despite craving her like nothing before.

There’s enough lingering doubt to keep me from taking things to the next level. Each kiss pulls me deeper, and if I go beyond that, I’ll end up hopelessly lost in the whirlwind that is Blakely Bradshaw.

I may have crossed the kissing line, but I’m holding firmagainst anything more—or at least trying to. Today’s show for the camera tells me it’s the right call. Don’t get me wrong. Blakely getting so worked up over me swinging my axe that she had to get a little release didn’t hurt my ego.Fuck, that was hot.

But she filmed us without talking to me. Her focus was on her viewers and her account. I was already wary of getting hurt like I did with Paige, but now I wonder if Blakely wants this or if it’s a ploy to grow her account. I need to sleep on this.

I need to know this is real.

My cock adamantly disagrees with me, though, and is aching to slide into her. I grab her wandering hand before it has the chance to slip beneath the waist of my joggers and press a chaste kiss to her knuckles.

“We can wait until tomorrow to talk. But don’t think you’re getting out of it.” My mouth captures hers before moving to her forehead. “Get some sleep, brat.”

She huffs but doesn’t argue with me, which I take as a win. Blakely is going to be my undoing.

But part of me welcomes it.

DAY TEN

From behind me, Blakely stirs. I stoke the fire and glance at her over my shoulder. She looks so cute, rubbing her eyes, hair all rumpled, pillow lines on her cheeks.

“What time is it?”

“It’s three. Go back to sleep. I’m adding more wood to the fire. Don’t want it to go out.”

“Did the temperature drop again?”

---