Page 24 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
“No,” I say firmly, surprising myself with the force of my response. “I’ll carry her myself.”
Despite everything, Emily clutches me tighter, her head resting against my shoulder.
Tanner gives me a curious look, while Axel just nods.
Jace’s face is a mix of concern and something else I can’t quite place. “Alright, if you’re sure,” he says, though his tone is laced with tension.
As I walk, Emily clings to me, her breathing uneven but steadying. Her warmth against me is almost too much to bear.
I suddenly know with more clarity than I’ve ever felt before. I need this woman.
If she weren’t freezing, I would have her in my arms forever.
Inside the lodge, the warmth is immediate, but my body is still fighting the heat of the arousal I’m trying to suppress.
“Thank goodness,” Collie exclaims, her gaze flicking to me and then back to Emily. “Let’s get her settled.”
“Actually,” I say. “I think she’ll be more comfortable in her room. But can you send some hot water or tea up to us?”
I don’t wait for my friends to follow me. Whether I do it instinctively or not, I don’t know. Emily is my only priority. I need to make sure she’s okay.
I carry Emily carefully up to her room. When we reach her bed, I lay her down gently, making sure she’s as comfortable as possible.
I help her shed her clothes. I’m determined to keep my gaze away, but the proximity is almost unbearable. All I want to do is stare. Actually, I want to do much more than just look.
Emily’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “You can look now,” she says softly.
I look up. She’s snuggled up in her blanket, her cheeks flushed from the cold and her eyes looking at me with an invitation that sends a jolt of electricity through my veins. She’s so close, I can just lean in and…
“Come here,” she beckons, her voice a gentle murmur that feels like a caress.
I hesitate, my mind racing. My gaze drops to her cold lips, imagining what it would be like to kiss her, to feel her body pressed against mine. My thoughts turn darker, and I can’t ignore the vivid images that flood my mind: the way she might feel beneath me, the sounds she’d make as I?—
I force myself to push those thoughts away, trying to focus on her comfort. But the truth is, I’m struggling.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman, and usually, I’m pretty good at keeping things casual and maintaining boundaries. Yet, here I am, feeling something intense and complicated for Emily, who’s barely more than a stranger to me. What is it about her that’s driving me nuts?
I move closer, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart and the heat pooling in my lower abdomen. As I draw nearer, my eyes catch on her bare skin peeking out from under the blanket, and my breath hitches. Her body is so inviting, and I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to touch her, to explore every inch of her soft skin.
Ben, get a grip,I think to myself.You can’t let this get out of hand.
“I can’t believe I let myself get lost out there. I should have been more careful,” Emily says, shaking her head.
“Snowstorms can make it easy to lose your way. A lot of people get turned around in conditions like this. You were just unlucky,” I say, trying to ignore her perfect, alabaster skin.
“Are you always this logical?” she says, a brow raised.
I shrug. Mostly. There’s nothing logical about how I feel about her.
But she seems to be reassured by my words.
“I guess,” she says, her tone more subdued. “I just didn’t expect to end up in this situation. It feels so…overwhelming.”
“Yeah, I get that. But you’re safe now, and that’s what matters. We’ll get you warmed up and settled, and everything will be fine.”
She looks up at me with those fuck-me eyes. “Thanks, Ben,” she says quietly. “For everything.”
“Is there anything else you need?” I manage to ask, my voice rough and unsteady.
