Page 26 of Ice Melts

She closed her eyes a moment and then said, “But I don’t want this night to end.”

His heart warmed him down to his toes. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I wish it could last forever.”

She didn’t answer for long enough that he rose. But before he could turn to leave she said, “Let’s make it happen Jenkins.”

He laughed. She was definitely mostly asleep.

As he closed the door behind him, leaving her to sleep, he acknowledged that there was a lot to work out and a lot he didn’t know, but he’d discovered one thing for sure. He didn’t want to let her go.

A voice behind the door called him back.

He opened it a crack, putting his head back in. “Did you call me?”

“Get back in here.” She sat up in bed.

He laughed. “What are you doing? I thought you were asleep.”

She held her hand out and as soon as he was close enough, she pulled him down into the bed.

He shifted so that he was not directly on top of her, seemed too soon for those kinds of make out sessions, but he did wrap an arm around her back and adjust himself so that her face was close enough to kiss, their mouths sharing the same air, just in case that’s what this was about. “And what can I do for you?”

“I don’t know. I just like you right here.” She lifted her chin so that her mouth was perilously, deliciously closer. “Don’t go.” The whisper tempted his lips as it breezed over them and then shuddered through him.

He closed his eyes, counted to ten, needed more numbers, but couldn’t leave her waiting so he lifted his chin further and pressed his lips to her forehead. “You don’t know how much I want to explore this little situation right here.” He rested his forehead on hers. “But I think what you really want is someone to hold you.” He twisted his body and curled it around hers, enveloping her into his arms.

She snuggled in close and totally relaxed into him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He tightened his hold.

Within moments she was breathing steadily again. He was pleased that he’d resisted her offer and hadn’t let anything more physical happen between them. But he would never tell anyone that had been easy.

In fact, Travis knew he was not going to sleep any time soon.

As soon as he was sure he wouldn’t disturb Sarah, Travis pulled away and tip toed out of the room, straight outside intothe icy wind. The snow was still coming down hard. They weren’t going anywhere for a few days. After a few more deep breaths of the frigid air, letting it blow all around him, icing his skin, he entered the house again and found his way to his bed.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Sarah woke to the sound of the wind howling against the cabin walls. She buried her face deeper into the blankets, trying to remember why she wasn’t in her own bed, in her own apartment. It hit her at once—the snowstorm. The lake house. Travis. In her bed. She gasped and pulled the covers over her head.

Her eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the frost-covered windows. The old wooden beams of the cabin’s ceiling stretched above her, the air inside thick with the comforting scent of woodsmoke and hot cocoa.

Hot cocoa.

The thought alone was enough to get her moving.

She swung her feet over the edge of the bed and shivered as they touched the cold floor. She regretted that they didn’t turn the heat up past ‘rugged mountain man survival mode’ last night.

Grabbing a thick pair of socks, she padded her way toward the kitchen, pulling her sweater tighter around her.

Travis was already up, leaning against the counter, stirring a pot on the stove. His hair was still messy from sleep, and he was wearing an old hoodie and sweats, looking infuriatingly cozy.

“Mornin’,” he said, flashing her a lopsided grin.

Sarah grinned back, trying to ignore that face that he had been snuggling in her bed only hours before. “Did you make hot cocoa?”

He gestured to the steaming pot beside him. “Freshly brewed. Extra cinnamon, because I’m thoughtful like that.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Youarethoughtful.” She stepped closer and grabbed a mug. “Which means you want something.”

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