Page 24 of Breaking Bristol

“Yeah, for a minute…” I muttered.

“Then I’ll stand out here with you for a minute.”

I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her from behind. “Might last longer than a minute if I hold you.” She didn’t pull away or stiffen, and I took that as a huge victory.

“I hope so.” She leaned into me, and I dug my heels into the thin layer of ice so we wouldn’t topple backward. “You seem very prepared.”

“Been out here a time or two when we lost power for one reason or another. I remember how dark it got, how even with my dad, uncle, and br… and a bunch of wood to light up the entire cabin, it was still scary.” I tightened my arms around her without even realizing I’d done it. “I know you’re a strong woman, Bristol, and you can take care of yourself, but I couldn’t risk you being out here all alone.”

She turned around and peered up at me, her cheeks rosy and the tip of her nose already pink from the chilly air. Her eyes sparkled as they bounced over my face. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, baby.”

And then she shocked the shit out of me because she pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips to mine in a delicious kiss. It was soft and so, so sweet, but holy shit, it was hot. And it didn’t matter that it was negative temperatures. My entire body warmed down to the marrow in my bones, and I hauled her closer.

I tilted my head to get to the deep recesses of her mouth, and she wound her arms around my neck. I used both hands to cup the back of her head and finally feel her delectable ass. She dug her nails into my back, and her breath caught when I nipped her bottom lip. A groan pushed out of my throat at the feel of her against me, around me. Her tongue in my mouth was a fucking promise that I’d explode if she ever wrapped those lips around my cock.

She made a weird sound, and I opened my eyes to find hers big and wide. She leaned all her weight into me, her feet slipping on the ice like a cartoon character. Then we were both going down.

My arm cinched around her waist, and I braced with my other hand. She screamed as my back collided with the icy wooden planks, and I felt something of hers slam into my shoulder the same time my finger snapped.

I made sure she was steady and pushed her hair away to see her face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Are you?”

“Your cheek is all red. Is that what hit my shoulder?” I asked gruffly.

She nodded, and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“Making you fall, I shouldn’t have—”

“Oh no,” I interrupted her. “You definitely should have.”

She bit her plump lip, and I pushed my hand into the ice to sit us up, but winced when I felt pain radiating up my arm.

“What’s wrong?” she asked frantically as she moved off me.

I got to my feet and helped her up, keeping my arm around her waist until she was steady. “The hot dogs are burned.”

Her nose scrunched up at the smell. “Gross.”

“Go inside, and I’ll make more.”

She dropped her head, and I kept a hold on her until she was inside. Then I turned my back to the door and finally got a look at my hand. “Fuck.” My pinky was broken, and my ring finger sprained at a minimum.

I tossed the burnt hot dogs into the woods and put some more on the grill, then carefully grabbed my first-aid kit out of my truck while they were cooking.

Bristol stood by the counter when I came inside, the light of a candle glowing beside her. Unfortunately, it highlighted the swelling on her cheek. “Shit, sweetheart, that’s gonna bruise.”

Regret coiled through me as I set our supper and the medical kit on the counter beside her. I hated seeing a mark on her, and I gingerly probed her face, but she pulled away. “I’m okay.”

“Let me check.”

“Trust me, Matthew. I’d know if it was more than a bruise.”

My eyes closed, and I took a couple of breaths to calm the hell down at what that implied. She hadn’t mentioned an ex, but with the way she was on edge, things were clicking. How could anyone put a hand to her, to any woman? What kind of man could intentionally hurt this angel? The thought made me ill. I opened my eyes and gently kissed her. “Ready to eat?”

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