Page 20 of The Very Naughty List

“What you dared me to do.”

“I didn’t dare you to do anything,” I insist, squirming a little in his grasp but trying to keep my voice down so that we won’t draw more attention than we already have.

“Like hell you didn’t.”

When we get to his car, he sets me down and stands in front of me. My back is up against the cold metal side of the back passenger door as he reaches into the front seat to pull something out. His body is practically pinned against me, and I feel as if I’m shaking all over.

“Here. Put this on.”

He hands me one of his shirts and starts to pull it over my head before I can protest. I’m tempted to put up a fight just for the principle of it, but as he slips the oversized shirt over my head and tugs it down, it’s hard to regret the extra bit of warmth the additional layer offers. Plus, it’s surprisingly soft and smells just like him. Although I’d never admit this to him, I find myself wanting to pull it even tighter around me and never take it off.

“There, that’s better.”

Sebastian nods. He seems a bit more satisfied now that I’m covered up. And even though I know that the whole jealous display he just made was a fake one, likely for the benefit of all the guys gathered at the lake who will run their mouths until word gets back to Dylan… I still liked it. My heart flutters a little at the idea of Sebastian Cooper being that jealous of other men for looking at me. Jealous enough and possessive enough that heliterally covered up my ass with his hand as if claiming it as off limits for anyone else to see.

“You ready?”

His question jars me back to reality.Fuck. We still have to do that part.

“Right, the plunge.”

It’s time for everyone gathered here to race into the water, and I suck in a deep breath as we walk back over to join them, studiously avoiding people’s curious glances.

I’ve got no coat, no boots, and just a T-shirt and scant bikini with bare feet in the snow. I’m fucking freezing.

I watch as Sebastian sheds his coat, his arm and chest muscles flexing with the movement. He tosses it aside, leaving him in just a pair of swim trunks and a shirt. Suddenly, I don’t think I feel the cold anymore, even though my toes are numb.

He extends his hand out for me to take. “Come on, we’ll wade in together.”

“Wait, aren’t we supposed toplunge? Isn’t that kind of the whole point?”

“I admire your courage, but let’s take this slow. My brothers would never forgive me if I gave you hypothermia before they had their chance to go on dates with you.”

I give him a suspicious glance. I’m sure they don’t carethatmuch, but I guess I should just be glad he wants me to live through this.

We walk into Lake Monroe together. Like they do almost every year, the event organizers have opened up a large section in the ice that covers the lake, allowing us access to the freezing water. As soon as my foot sinks into it, a shock of cold streaks up the inside of my leg like a lightning bolt.

Sebastian wraps his arms around me as we slowly walk in deeper, the frigid water surrounding us.

“Just breathe,” he reminds me, and I let out a gasping exhale.

By the time we’re up to our chests, we stop walking and face each other. He holds on to me, and I press my whole body against his out of the sheer need to combat the freezing lake water. I can feel his warm breath at the side of my neck as I bury my face against him, and his strong arms wrap around my back in an unwavering grip.

“Breathe with me,” he murmurs again. “You’ve got this.”

I nod, my teeth chattering and my entire body screaming at me to race for the shore. But I don’t, and as the two of us breathe together, our chests rising and falling in sync, pressing harder against each other with each inhale… I start to feel less cold.

Taking one last breath in, I lift my head to look up at him. He’s gazing down at me, our faces only inches apart.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’m ready.”

He nods. “One…”

“Two…”

“Three.”

At the last word, he tightens his arms around me, holding me close as we both plunge the last bit into the water, dunking our heads beneath the surface. The shock of it hits me all over again, and we both resurface like monsters emerging from the deep, gasping for air as we make unintelligible noises. We race toward the shore, one of Sebastian’s large hands wrapped around mine.

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