Page 22 of The Christmas List

When the air horn sounds, I blow out a breath, take one last look at Josie, tightening my grip around her fingers, and then we jump.

The second we hit the water, the air wooshes from my lungs. It’s so cold that it steals the breath from me, a shock to my entire body so powerful that I’m almost frozen in place for a second.

And then I kick my feet as hard as I can, pulling us to the surface because I’m not letting Josie go.

We break through the top of the water, both of us sucking in air, trying to fill our lungs, but damn, it’s so cold it hurts.

I pull her to the water’s edge and grab her by the waist, hoisting her onto the edge, then pull myself up, even though it feels like I’m frozen fucking solid. Somehow, the air hitting our already cold skin makes it even worse. Josie’s teeth are chattering so hard I can hear them.

“C’mon,” I murmur, pulling her into the tent and back under the heaters as I attempt to gather our clothing, my hands shaking from the cold. Opening the towels, I quickly put onearound Josie’s shoulders and wrap her up before putting mine on. “Let’s go to my truck, get warm?”

She nods. “O-okay.”

I toss my boots to the ground and step into them before bending over and scooping her into my arms bride-style, ignoring the layers of puffy jackets and clothes that are piled between us and the adorable squeak that tumbles out of her.

“W-wyatt! P-put me dow-w-n.” She’s trembling so hard that she can barely get the words out.

Of course, I don’t listen because I’m not letting her freeze to death while walking to my truck. Instead, I just chuckle, my arms tightening around her body as I say, “Sorry, honey, can’t do that.”

We make it to my truck, and I deposit her directly onto the passenger seat along with the clothes, then walk around to the driver’s side and slide into the seat. After I turn the truck on, the first thing I do is crank the heater all the way up, full blast.

Josie’s using her jacket along with the towel that’s now damp and thus not offering much in terms of warming her up, so I turn to her. “C’mere, Jos.”

For a second, she hesitates, shaking her head and pulling the jacket tighter around her.

I sigh. “Josie, you’re freezing. Come use my body heat because I can’t stand you shivering over there.”

And because there’s nothing more that I want than to have her in my arms again, in whatever way I can get her.

Finally, she huffs a sigh and throws the jacket to the floorboard. “Only because I’m freezing. That’s it, Wyatt.”

I can’t stop the grin that curves my lips. “Sure, honey. Whatever you say.”

Whatever she needs to tell herself to make herself feel better. I’ve got no qualms; I know exactly why I want Josie Pearce in myarms, and if it wouldn’t scare her off like a wounded animal, I’d lay it all out for her.

She shoots me a pointed look that tells me to behave without actually saying a word before she pulls her towel off, letting it fall to the floor, and then climbs over the console of the truck into my lap. My arm circles her shoulders, pulling her against my chest, where, after the briefest moment of hesitation, she sinks into me with a content sigh.

I can’t help that the first thing I notice is her taut, hardened little nipples pressing against the thin fabric of her bikini top. Fuck, I can almost make out her entire nipple, and I’m nearly aching to reach out and trace the wet fabric with my tongue.

I swallow, trying to push down the heady pull of arousal tugging at the base of my spine, but I know that it’s useless.I’ve got her in my arms, perched on my lap like a present ready to be unwrapped, those tiny little red strings begging to be untied so much that trying to convince my dick that I don’t want her is utterly pointless. It’s a battle that I’m already losing as my gaze travels down her body to the small triangle of fabric between her thighs.

Fuck.

Josie lifts her gaze to mine, and the air seems to crackle between us as she blinks, heat flickering in her dark eyes. The tip of her pink tongue darts out to lick her lips, and the movement makes my dick twitch beneath her.

I watch as a swallow slides down her throat, her lips parting on a breathless hitch when she feels my erection hardening.

I can’t fucking help it. The girl of my goddamn dreams is nearly naked in my lap, finally in my arms, and I’m hopeless in fighting this undeniable pull between us. A man is only so strong, and Josie Pearce is the biggest temptation I’ve ever faced.

She’s always been the thread that’s unraveled every part of me.

That never changed.

When she draws that plump pink lip between her teeth, moving her hips almost indecipherably, we both suck in a hiss as her ass brushes against my cock.

Her hooded gaze moves over my face as she lets out a trembling breath.

I can almostseethe moment that the decision clicks behind her eyes, and she’s whispering, “Fuck it.”

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