Page 50 of Heat It Up (Off the Ice)
Sofia laughs. I fight a grin but lose out in the end and finish my sausage and beer. The wind picks up, sending the flames into a frenzied dance, and raindrops splash on our skin. We’d been so busy talking and eating, I hadn’t noticed the storm clouds sneak in.
We jump up from the thick log we’d been sitting on. Sofia grabs our food and I douse the fire with the bucket of water. Then we hurry back to the cottage as the clouds release their load. The distance isn’t far but that doesn’t matter. We’re soaked within seconds.
While Sofia changes in the bedroom, I search for something to keep us warm and for something to occupy us. By the time Sofia emerges from the bedroom, I’ve hunted down playing cards, a flashlight, plus oil and matches for the hurricane lamps.
“Your turn,” she says, wearing a skimpy tank top and shorts with cartoon puppies on them. Her breasts press against the tight fabric and her legs are endless. My dick twitches against my zipper at the sight of her.
Shit. The beer and her outfit are making me want to rethink keeping our friendship simple.
She spreads a blanket on the couch. “I figured this would at least keep us warm.”
Compared to the fire in my blood from thinking about all the things I want to do to her, the blanket has nothing on it. And I suspect being under it with Sofia will only lead to trouble for me.
“I found some cards. We can play poker.” Except we don’t have any chips, and strip poker isn’t going to work. Not if we want to play for long. At most, she’s wearing four pieces of clothing—five if we count the blanket—and unless she’s a card shark in disguise, this game won’t last long before I have her naked.
Not a good idea.
She nibbles her lips like she did earlier. “I don’t know how to play.”
Yep, definitely not a good idea.
“Can you play Go Fish?”
She nods.
Okay, Go Fish it is.
While I fill oil in two hurricane lanterns and light them, Sofia lays out our unfinished meal on the coffee table. She then snuggles under the blanket. I go to the bedroom and change into my shorts and t-shirt.
When I come out, Sofia’s shuffling the cards. Her technique is a long way from Vegas ready. I sit next to her and shake my head at her offer to join her under the blanket.
Sofia deals the cards and we begin a heated game of Go Fish. The wind and rain battle against the windows and the roof. Thunder rumbles in the distance. Now we just have to hope the cottage stands up to whatever Mother Nature plans to hurl at us.
“Do you have eights,” she asks, not the least bit nervous about the weather.
“Go Fish.”
She makes an adorable face and pulls a card. We keep playing. Sofia wins the first five games. She might not be a card shark when it comes to poker, but damn the girl is good when it comes to Go Fish.
Growing tired of my losing streak, I remove the cards from her hands and place them on the table.
A sly smile breaks onto her face. “Does that mean I get my prize now?”
“What prize?”
“Well, I won five games. Five out of five. That means I’m the winner. So what’s my prize?” She holds her hand out to me.
I kiss the palm of her hand. But I don’t stop there. I keep moving up her arm, trailing kisses as I go.
She laughs. “Not quite what I had in mind, but it’ll do.”
It’s not what I have in mind either. I’m aiming for a much bigger prize. Something that will ensure the largest of carnival prizes shrinks back in shame. Her laugh is cut off as my mouth finds hers.
I knot my fingers in her hair and deepen the kiss. She doesn’t resist. She welcomes me in. Our tongues glide against each other and all I can think about is exploring her body even though that’s the last thing I should be doing. My free hand pushes away the blanket from her shoulder and my fingers glance down the thin straps of her tank top. She shivers at my touch.
“Are you cold?” I ask against her lips.
“No, I’m perfect,” she murmurs back.
