Page 9 of Wilderness Daddy

Stop!

I pull away roughly, my last thought knocking some damn sense into me. “Stop!” I demand, attempting to hide my shiver.

He releases me and I feel absolutely bereft without him. He turns his attention back to the fire, lighting it.

“You need to get out of those wet clothes before you freeze.”

How can he turn it off so easily? One minute he’s molten lava and the next an iceberg.

“You can forget about getting me out of my clothes, Landon Steed! It’ll be a cold day in hell when that happens!” I spit the words, feeling my face flush with anger and embarrassment.

He shakes his head and I growl, “What?”

“Do you take meds for your multiple personality disorder?” He sighs forcefully. “I meant you getting out of your wet clothes—alone.”

“Well, you were pawing me again,” I say petulantly. He points at a doorway.

“Bedroom’s there. T-shirt’s on the bed; should fit you like a dress, and it’ll have to do.”

When I don’t move, he crosses his arms. I frown. He cocks a brow. My jaw shifts to the side in challenge. He takes one step forward and I take one back.

“I’ll get a new key from the front desk.”

“The hell you will.”

“Well, I’m not walking around here in a skimpy shirt.”

“You walk back, you’ll freeze and I’ll have to follow you to make sure you’re okay and that’ll piss me off. And you won’t be walking around in a skimpy shirt cause you’re gonna get that sassy ass into the bed as soon as you change.”

“You seem to like being pissed off,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him, ignoring the zing of desire at being told to get in his bed.

“You seem to like pissing me off.”

“Ditto.”

“I’m going to count to three, little girl, and then I’m taking off my belt.”

“Try it.” I hiss. “I’ll call the police this time.”

“One...”

Gritting my teeth, I stand my ground.

“Two...”

Not a muscle moves but my stomach dips and tingles scatter across the skin of my bottom.

He reaches for his buckle and I haul ass.

“That’s a good girl,” he says, causing my insides to feel like mush.

His tee fits perfectly and smells like him, as does his bed, and being wrapped in both of them makes me feel as if I’m cocooned in his embrace. Even the throbbing between my legs can’t keep my lids from slipping closed. I’m asleep before I know it.

* * *

Thankfully Landon’sgone when I wake up to a garish ringing because if he were there I’m positive he wouldn’t approve of my language or the clock radio flying into the other room.

There’s a new key for me on the nightstand with a note that reads, Your key. Don’t be late. I don’t know if he found my original key or if he got me a new one, but I’m thankful. Having to put on my wrinkled, still-damp dress to go to the lobby would have been a brutal walk of shame, but explaining where I slept would be worse.

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