Page 36 of High Velocity

“No, not too cold, It’s beautiful out. Can I get you a drink? Beer, hot chocolate?”

I picked up some cocoa and mini marshmallows for rocky road brownies I was thinking of baking, but they’ll work for hot chocolate as well.

“Sure, I’ll have a hot chocolate.”

He pulls me toward him for a peck on the lips before he lets go of my hand and rounds the house to the back, while I go in through the front door.

Ten minutes later, I walk out onto the deck with two mugs in one hand and a blanket in the other. A fire is roaring in the pit at the edge of the deck, and Jackson is stretched out on one of the loungers, staring into the flames.

“Give me those.” He reaches for the cups and sets them on the deck beside his chair. “Come sit with me,” he then adds when I’m about to pull up the second lounger.

He pats the space between his legs and I barely even hesitate, sitting down between them and letting myself lean back when his arms circle around me. Then he takes the blanket and spreads it over us. Next he hands me my cup and I take a sip, feeling a slight sting of nostalgia when the rich flavor hits my taste buds.

“It’s good,” he confirms, drinking his own.

After we’ve set down our mugs, he pulls the blanket up under my chin and tucks his arms underneath.

“Comfortable?’ he asks, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.

“Yes.”

So comfortable, in fact, I could easily fall asleep like this.

But then one of his hands slides up my belly, lightly cupping my breast. The feeling of need spreads through my body like a warm liquid. Suddenly I want his hands and other parts all over me.

“Still okay?” he whispers by my ear.

I twist my head so I can look at him. “Very much so.”

My eyes catch on his strong lips and I reach up, catching him behind the neck and pulling him down to me. The instant I kiss him, his hand claims my breast, and I moan softly into his mouth. When, moments later, his other hand slips into the front of my jeans and between my legs, I’m already wet.

Somehow, I’m not surprised to find out Jackson is selfless in his focus. My orgasm comes embarrassingly easy—probably from a prolonged period of no action—but any attempt I make to reciprocate is foiled.

“Just relax,” he mumbles, his arms tightening around me.

By the time the fire has burned out, I’m half asleep, wrapped up in a warm cocoon under the blanket, and limp as a noodle. I don’t even have the strength to protest when he helps me inside, walks me to my bedroom door, and presses a kiss to my forehead.

“Get some sleep.”

The dog brushes past my legs and jumps on my bed, getting comfortable on my pillows.

“He’s already settled in,” I point out. “You could stay if you wanted.”

He brushes a strand of hair off my forehead.

“Tempting. Unfortunately, I bumped into Jonas when I went to pick up Ash, and we’ve been asked to join a search for a missing couple of teenagers near Eureka. He wants to head out at daybreak.”

He glances over my shoulder at the bed, where his dog is already asleep.

“But if you wouldn’t mind looking after Ash for me?”

Twelve

Jackson

We found the teens holed up in an old hunting shack near Independence Peak.

Two starry-eyed kids trying to live out a Romeo and Juliet fantasy, almost getting themselves killed in the process.

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