Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
It wasn’t that she wasn’t exhausted, for she was. It had everything to do with the man she lay against. Bradford.
“You’re thinking awfully hard over there. Are you cold?”
Damn it! His voice was sex. Pure sex. Struggling with the need to squeeze her thighs together, she bit her lower lip.
I’m definitely not cold.
“Just waiting for my mind to slow down.”
His long muscular body stretched out against her as he shifted closer. “Want some help expending energy?”
She closed her eyes and allowed the calming cadence of his voice to flow over her.
“I was debating getting up and dragging the mattress from the only bed that isn’t under a pile of snow and bringing it here.”
He hummed as he pressed tighter against her back. Then he draped an arm over her waist and flattened his hand on the outside of her shirt. A moan nearly slipped free, and she gulped hard to keep it contained.
“You’d rather sleep on a mattress that’s been exposed to the elements and God knows what from animals as opposed to lying here with me?”
“I was just thinking that there are creatures that could be potentially picked up from you so it doesn’t so much matter if I can be more comfortable.”
Bradford chuckled. “I’m completely critter free, darlin’.”
She relaxed into him and looked at the fire before shutting her eyes once more. “To be fair, I don’t know any man who is going to admit they’ve picked something up.”
He spread his fingers against her belly, and she couldn’t ignore the zap of electricity that moved through her when he brushed his nose against her neck.
“If you really want the mattress, I’ll help you move it.”
Back and forth his fingers moved against her, and even through the clothing, she swore his heat marked her. Singed her. Branded her.
Her body relaxed, her mind releasing its hold on her, and with each breath she took slumber intermingled with desire and crept over her.
* * * *
Iris woke later, this time chest to chest with this man she’d not only rescued, but believed she wouldn’t ever forget.
Tight to him, his large strong arms around her, anchoring her close to him, she couldn’t recall a time she’d ever felt so safe. Regardless of the situation they were in. And the last thing this was, was safe.
She yawned and shifted in his embrace, moving until she felt a bit more secure in breathing so she didn’t kill him with her morning breath. She rolled away from the temptation of his lips and the desire she had to nip that plump lower one before sucking it into her mouth. The fire was dangerously low, and she knew she had to crawl out of the warm cocoon and address that issue.
Bradford grunted and splayed his hand across her belly, yanking her tighter to him with a single move. She bit her lower lip at the insistent press of his substantial erection into her ass.
“Don’t go,” he mumbled. “Stay, baby.”
That alone served as an icy reminder that this man was a playboy and she needed to keep her distance. She frowned and decided it was time to chance the freezing temperatures. Reaching for the edge of the covering, she closed her eyes briefly to remind herself this shit was going to be very cold.
Bradford cupped her breast and toyed with her nipple. She swallowed a moan of pleasure and struggled with the urge to just relax back into him and allow whatever he was thinking about to continue. But the logical side of her refused to be nothing more than a metaphorical notch on some guy’s bedpost.
Iris took a deep breath and gripped the cover’s edge tighter, preparing to climb out when… Holy shit! When did his hand get under her layers, holding her bare breast?
Gah, she hated how her body clenched and slicked in preparation for something more. This time the moan slipped out, and she gulped hard. His hand was large and callused where it held her breast, and he wasn’t letting her go.
She didn’t want to be let go.
He pulled and tugged on her nipple until it peaked. His thumb skimmed back and forth over the tip, increasing her desire with each pass.
Nope. Absolutely not.
Grasping his wrist, she removed his hand from where it felt all too right under her shirt and got out from the bedding before she could give his action any more thought. The cold air was a shock, and she sucked a deep breath as she shuddered.
Piros lay near the fire but lifted his head when she neared. She paused to give him some love before moving on to the task at hand. Coaxing the slumbering fire back to life, she rubbed the back of her neck as she rocked back on her heels.
With a quick check to her watch, she frowned. Too early. Too fucking early. But she was up now. She shrugged into her coat and boots before snapping her fingers at Piros, not that he needed to be told to accompany her.