Page 9 of Snowed in with the Mountain Man

I slide in first, back to the wall. He hesitates, then joins me, his large frame making the space seem tiny.

We lie stiffly, not touching, both staring at the ceiling. The absurdity bubbles up again.

"Well," I whisper, "this isn't how I pictured my first night in my new mountain paradise."

His low chuckle surprises me. "No?"

"Shockingly, 'trapped in blizzard with taciturn mountain man' wasn't on my vision board."

"Taciturn?"

"Would you prefer 'laconic'? 'Reticent'? I have more synonyms."

"I prefer Aiden."

That makes me laugh. "Noted."

A violent gust rattles the cabin. I flinch. Without comment, Aiden shifts closer, his heat radiating like a beacon.

"Try to sleep," he murmurs. "Tomorrow we'll figure things out."

"Thank you," I whisper. "For everything today. I'd probably be a Phoebe-shaped popsicle without you."

He's quiet so long I think he's asleep. Then, softly: "You're welcome."

I close my eyes, listening to the storm and Aiden's steady breathing. Despite everything, I feel strangely safe.

four

Aiden

Iwaketothesound of chattering teeth.

For a moment, I'm disoriented. This isn't my cabin. Then it rushes back—the storm, the stranded city girl, the emergency arrangements.

Phoebe.

She's trembling beside me, curled into herself, fighting for warmth that the sleeping bag alone can't provide. The cabin's temperature has plummeted; I can see my breath ghosting the air even in the loft. The fire must have died down faster than I anticipated.

I check my watch: 2:17 AM. The storm still rages outside, wind shrieking around the cabin's edges like something wounded and angry.

Her shivering is getting worse. Hypothermia's a real danger, especially after her exposure during our trek to the cabin. Her body temperature had dropped too low and hasn't fully recovered.

There's only one solution, and it's going to make things complicated.

I hesitate for just a second before shifting closer to her back. Slowly, deliberately, I curve my body around hers. Spoon position. The most efficient way to share body heat.

"Shhh," I murmur when she stiffens slightly. "You're freezing. Body heat."

She relaxes marginally, either from understanding or simply too cold to protest. I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her closer until her back is flush against my chest, her ass nestled against my thighs.

My cock springs to life immediately, hardening against the soft curve of her backside. Fifteen years since high school, and my body still has the self-control of a teenager. I try to shift my hips back, but there's nowhere to go in the confines of the sleeping bag.

"Sorry," I mutter, embarrassment burning hotter than the embers downstairs.

But instead of pulling away, she presses back against me. Deliberately.

"Don't be," she whispers.

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