As soon as he lowers the phone, though, he begins charging at me, like a man determined.
I squeal and try to run, but he’s too fast. I blame my new snow boots and the too-soft snow beneath my feet for my lack of escape the moment Joel wraps a strong arm around my waist, pulling me to his body.
Even through the thickness of our outer layers, I feel the heat of his body against mine. We’re both breathing heavily, though we haven’t exerted ourselves that much.
“You’re going to pay for that,” he growls in my ear.
A full body shiver rockets through me.
“How?” My voice is breathless, almost choked with want.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he says before biting my right earlobe.
A sigh escapes my lips, and my legs begin to quiver in a way that makes me believe I might not be able to stand for much longer.
This man has me weak to the bones for him, and we’ve only been here for a couple of hours.
“Let me take you on that ride.”
I don’t have time to fully process his words before he lifts me off of my feet and sits me on the snowmobile once again.
I would be a liar if I said the way he was able to pick me up so effortlessly wasn’t a turn on.
“Wait.” I stop him with a hand to his chest when he goes to mount the snowmobile himself.
He pauses, allowing me to stare into his hazel eyes. The look in them would overwhelm me if I didn’t find it so protective, comforting. I lean in and press my lips to his.
Joel immediately receives and then takes over, parting my lips with his tongue and tasting me as if I was the finest drink he’s ever thirsted for.
What was meant to be a quick peck turned into something longer, deeper, lingering. Joel pulls a groan of want from me when he ends the kiss.
“Let me show you the rest of this place.” His voice is a mixture of wanton hunger and care.
It makes my nipples bead and press against my bra. Even as I wrap my arms around his middle and lean into him as he takes control of the snowmobile, the ache between my legs refuses to disappear.
‘I love you.’I mouth the words while laying my head against his back as we take off for this afternoon’s adventure.
CHAPTER 24
Joel
“We’re lost!” Ellyn yells as she looks here and there, as if searching for the right path to take.
Trouble is, there is no path. All that surrounds us are multiple tracks left by snowmobiles, footprints, and the occasional sled trail. Everything else is pine trees, snow, and mountains as far as the eye can see.
“I told you we should’ve followed that other couple. Now we’re lost,” Ellyn continues.
I squeeze my lips together to keep them from twitching. I suspect she would have a problem with me laughing right now.
Or with me reminding her of how beautiful she looks when angry.
“We’re fine,” I finally reply.
“How can you say that? I just heard you mutter ‘where is it?’”
The slight panic in her voice is what does me in. I approach Ellyn and take her hand in mine, tugging her to me. She stumbles a few steps right into my chest, just as I’d anticipated.
I catch her with my free arm around her waist.
