Page 27 of Saint

“Get on,” Nik said.

Mia slid her leg over the snowmobile and he climbed on behind her.

“Lean back,” he murmured, lips near her ear. His hard, warm body felt so good and he reached around and zipped her in against himself. She couldn’t have been more bundled up, but she could feel her wet shirt soaking through Nik’s flannel.

“I’m so wet,” she said, voice apologetic. For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then he turned the snowmobile on and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Just hang tight. We’ve got about a twenty-minute ride and it’s probably negative thirty right now.” He pulled the hood tight. “Just keep your head down.”

The ride to the safehouse was the most miserable experience of Mia’s life. Being wrapped up in Nik’s arms felt wonderful, but as soon as they picked up speed, she went numb. Icicles formed in her nose and her jeans grew hard and crusty with snow and ice. Flurries spun, pelting her face, and it was so ungodly cold, she could barely breathe. Each breath felt like knives were cutting into her throat and lungs. Just when she thought she was going to turn into a popsicle, Nik pulled the snowmobile up to a cabin and shut it off.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured and slid off the vehicle, keeping her in his arms and carrying her up to the porch. It was a good thing, too, because she couldn’t feel her extremities. Walking would’ve been impossible, and her chilled brain conjured up a horrible image of her frozen legs shattering the moment her feet touched the ground.

But Nik didn’t let that happen.

“Y-you can p-put me down,” she said even though she liked being bundled up in his coat like a half-frozen burrito.

“No.”

This time his one-word answer made her frosted lips turn up. Somehow, he managed to open the door and haul her straight into the bathroom. Eyes shut, shaking uncontrollably, Mia couldn’t think clearly.

“We’re gonna get you warm,” he promised, turning on the bath water. After adjusting the temperature, he unzipped his coat, releasing her, then shrugged it off. “C’mon, Goldilocks. Youneed to get these wet clothes off and soak in the hot tub. Need to get the blood circulating again.”

But, Mia didn’t move…couldn’t move. “I c-can’t.”

“I’ll help you.”

She watched as he reached for the bottom of her shirt and lifted it. The material cracked and crinkled, and she did her best to help him. But every movement hurt, like a thousand pins stabbing her as the numbness turned to painful tingles.

Without a word, he knelt down and removed her boots and socks. Then he undid the button on her jeans and slid the zipper down. “Hold onto my shoulders,” he said, voice gruff.

Lifting her arms, Mia grabbed onto his strong shoulders for balance as he tugged her frozen jeans off. Standing there in front of him in just her bra and panties should’ve made her all sorts of self-conscious and nervous, but she couldn’t think straight. The cold had scrambled her brain.

“C’mon,kotyonok, into the tub.” He held her hands, helping her step over the edge, and slowly helped her sit down in the warm water.

She was so damn cold and it felt like he’d lowered her into a volcanic hot spring. She hissed, fingers digging into his skin, refusing to let go.

“I know…it’ll feel better in a minute,” he said, voice low and reassuring.

Unable to relax, clinging onto Nik for dear life, she met his dark eyes. They weren’t black like she’d originally thought. This close, she could see they were an incredible combination of gray and black. A stunning, swirling charcoal that she could lose herself in.

His attention dipped and she belatedly realized that despite being black, her wet bra didn’t conceal much. Her frozen nipples were completely visible and had captured his full and undivided attention. Her panties must be like a second skin, too, but she couldn’t find a reason to care. Instead, she found herself arching toward him, giving him an even better look.

Clearly, her brain was still half-frozen and not functioning properly.

Steam rose from the water and she pulled him closer, tilting her head back, needing that sarcastic mouth of his on hers. Wondering what he tasted like, Mia yanked and closed her eyes as Nik’s mouth caught hers in a kiss steamier than the water she was half-submerged in.

Chapter Nine

Oh. My. God.

Mia’s heart thundered as Nik’s large hand raked through the wet strands of her hair, fingers tightening, pulling, forcing her head back, as his tongue plunged into her mouth. It wasn’t the kiss of a gentleman; it was a rogue’s kiss. One full of heat, dominance and experience.

Nik Valentine knew how to kiss a girl into oblivion.

Heat streaked through her body, and he was definitely helping her warm back up in more ways than one. Kissing him back, needing more, Mia curled her fingers into his shirt and pulled. Nik climbed over the side, joining her in the tub fully-clothed, and the water rose precariously.

Their mouths never broke apart. He continued to plunder, taste and explore. The tub wasn’t huge, and he managed to wedge a knee against her hip and the other between her legs. When his knee pressed against her center, she whimpered.

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