Page 5 of Melting the Ice

His laugh was deep and threatened to spark that stupid heat in me again.

“Don’t make fun of me,” he muttered.

“Ooh. Is it full of Transformers? Or a life-size cutout of Megatron?”

He shot me a glare.

“Fine, fine. I won’t make fun of you. Show me your secret room, Micahtron.”

“Could we stop with that nickname? I’m not ten anymore.”

I grinned. “No, you’re not, and no, we won’t. Don’t spoil my fun.” I rubbed my hands together. “Should I open the door? Would that be easier for you?”

He graced me with another glare.

“You know, if you keep that up, your face is going to stick that way.”

“Why did I agree to let you crash here again?”

I nudged my shoulder into his arm. “Because we’re family, and I’m fun to hang around with. I spice up your life, and don’t you forget it.”

“Spices give me heartburn.”

“Your joke attempts are cute. Come on.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the closed door.

“Shall I do the honors?”

“You’re making this a much bigger deal than it is. It’s just a room.”

“Pretty sure you’re the one who made it a big deal. Do you need a drumroll, or are we just going to turn the knob together?”

“Fucking hell, you’re such a pesky little sister.”

“And a true joy to be around,” I fired back, giving him my biggest smile. “Open, please.”

He turned the doorknob, and I pushed it open as he flipped on the light.

“It’s my relaxing space,” he mumbled.

There was no bedroom furniture, but half of the room was set up as a zen-like yoga space, with a tabletop fountain that would for sure make me have to pee if it was running and a few yoga bricks and mats. Some sort of fancy Pilates machine was against the wall. At the other half of the room, near the window, sat a large table with a partially finished puzzle.

I made my way across the room. “I’d forgotten your puzzle love.” I picked up one of the pieces that he’d set in a pile with ones of a similar color. The edges of the picture were all done, and it looked like he had just over half of the puzzle to complete.

“Stay away from my puzzle pieces.” He plucked the piece from my hand and put it back in its pile. Then he cupped his hands around said pile to tighten it up, and I tried not to snort.

I knew the room was meant for relaxation, but I couldn’t help but wonder how tightly he was wound to require such neat puzzle piles.

“I promise not to mess up your system.” I peered over the table. “Oh, this piece might go here.” I snagged a random piece, and he growled at me.

Fucking hell. That noise went right to my core, and I clenched my thighs. What would it be like to have him growl at me for a much more delicious reason?

“Josie.”

Pure raspy deliciousness.

I blinked a few times and finally focused, setting down the piece. “Okay, fine. Show me that couch.”

“You can’t really sleep on the couch. I’ll take it, and you can have my room tonight.”

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