Page 36 of Snowbound with the Santas

We tremble together as one, hips rocking back and forth and hearts racing in rhythm.

I can’t believe we just did that. As the pleasure slowly seeps out of me, Rayne nuzzles backward into my hold and then she brings my hand up to her face. Her soft lips press into the middle of my palm, then she cuddles my arm to her and lets out the sweetest, most satisfied noise.

We stay like that, locked together and content in a bubble of heat. I’m so deep inside her that I swear I can feel her heartbeat with the tip of my cock, and there is no better feeling.

Sleep takes me quicker than I would like, robbing me of the desire to soak up her warmth and presence. My dreams are of her—her smile, her touch, her warmth, and the ache to see if she tastes as sweet as she feels.

They are good dreams.

“Come on,” barks a voice, dragging me from the comforting slumber. There’s the sound of a zipper and then the scent of bacon hits my nose. Then a sudden absence of heat around my soft cock.

My eyes snap open in time to see Rayne hurriedly pulling on her clothes, and then the flash of sunlight forces my eyes closed again.

“Come on,” repeats the voice. It’s Nick. How is he always so fucking cheery in the morning? “Up and at ‘em, Frankie. Archer will eat everything.”

The cold sweeps in to take Rayne’s place, and it’s sharp enough to force me up and out of the bag after I quickly adjust my boxers. I dress swiftly and then catch Rayne’s eye.

There’s a moment—a single, frozen moment—where I fear what her morning-after reaction will be. Did I go too far? Was it a dream and I was just humping her leg all night?

Rayne beams at me with a sunny, wide smile, and the sudden rise of tension in my gut eases immediately. She looks happy.

Really happy.

“Where do you even get bacon from?” she asks Nick after a sly wink at me.

“Archer works down the mountain in the summer,” Nick explains, pouring hot water into several cups and passing them out. “So he stocks up from the same supplier that the ski lodge uses. We’re just more careful about what we buy because we need stock to last.”

“Makes sense.” Rayne nods and hugs her cup in both hands.

She looks more beautiful this morning, I swear it. Last night still feels like some incredible dream, but that doesn’t stop a smile from claiming my face and staying there.

“Good sleep?” I ask, taking a seat by the fire and eyeing the sizzling bacon.

“Next time you fuck,” Archer says suddenly, pulling all attention to him, “try not to be so loud. Don’t want to cause a fucking avalanche.”

13

RAYNE

“Why, were you jealous?” The words snap out of me like a bullet before I even have a chance to fully process Archer’s accusation. Warmth floods up my neck and settles in my cheeks as Nick buries his face in his coffee and Frankie turns beet red.

Archer looks me in the eye for a few long seconds, then he stands and abruptly begins packing away the sleeping bags.

Last night was amazing. I don’t know if it was because we were in such a strange position that it almost didn’t feel real—like some kind of dream born from adrenaline, warmth, and the urge to be close to someone. It was a bold move that I don’t regret, but it does linger in my mind that Frankie was the first person I let touch me since Ashton.

It was oddly comforting too, that it was the act without having to look in Frankie’s eyes. If I’d done that, I’m sure my mind would have started to run rampant with thewhat ifsand ruined the whole thing.

Maybe I’ve been more starved for affection than I realize.

Archer, thankfully, doesn’t say anything in response. I only had that one shock one-liner, and an actual discussion would be far too embarrassing to have in front of them.

I sneak a look at Frankie, and he looks terribly apologetic. Then he begins an awkward conversation with Nick about how much longer we will have to hike. As they talk, it hits me just how echoey this cave actually is.

Clearly, my desperate attempts to stay quiet last night were useless if every noise simply bounced off the rocks and amplified tenfold.

Shit. I wonder what they think of me.

Archer quickly packs up the camp, Nick puts out the fire and scatters the ashes, and Frankie packs up the rucksacks, and then we’re back on the trail.

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