“Grizz,” I whisper as the space between us evaporates. I raise my hand to his chest, the heat sinking into my palm and instantly warming my body, this time, in a different way, in an exciting and delicious way.
He reaches for me, his hand curling around my jaw. It’s gentle, but firm enough to keep me from looking away, forcing my focus on him.
“Don’t do that again,” he orders gruffly, and before I can answer or even breathe, his mouth crashes against mine.
It’s not soft.
It’s desperate.
As if he wants me to feel and taste the fear and frustration he’s feeling so that he doesn’t have to say the words out loud. My hands slide up around his neck, pulling him closer like he’s the only solid thing in the room, and my legs at any moment might give way.
When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard and his forehead is pressed against mine, our lips still brushing with every heavy breath.
“Next time,” he murmurs, his voice hoarse. “You wait for me.”
I could argue, rant, and rave about being able to look after myself.
But I don’t.
Because it’s nice, for the first time, to know maybe I don’t have to.
“Okay,” I agree, my nails scratching at the back of his neck, neither of us moving despite the growing storm raging around us, the wind howling loudly as if it’s a warning alarm.
Grizz exhales hard, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before stepping back.
“Stay inside,” he mutters, grabbing his jacket from beside the door. “I need to hurry and grab that firewood before we’re buried in six feet of snow.”
I just nod, reaching up to touch my swollen lips as he steps outside.
He’s swallowed by the raging winds, the door slamming closed behind him.
Maybe I should be scared of the storm out there.
But all I can think about is the one he’s left right here.
Inside me.
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 15 - GRIZZ
Seven loads of wood later and the visibility outside is almost nothing. The snow that’s been threatening to make an appearance all winter is finally falling, making up for lost time. My fingers are numb. Feet, legs, and arms are not much better, and looking over at Brynn, she's feeling the same. Her damp top clinging to all the right places. I asked her twice while I was getting wood to take a shower, but she didn't want to. Worried that Jovie would wake and I’d be outside.
“Come on,” I grunt, not waiting for her to answer before shepherding her into the bathroom. “Sit.” I'm not going to force her to wash away the day, but also, she doesn't have a choice. Thankfully, she puts up no objections, looking up from where she sits on the closed toilet seat.
Taking a knee, I work at untying and removing her shoes and socks. Her feet ice cold when I touch her bare skin. Standing, I remove the sweater I have on. A quick swipe of it over my head and I'm shirtless in front of her.
This is very intentional on my part.
I grabbed the first thing I could see to put on under the jacket when I went to get wood, not caring what it was as I had every intention of taking it off as soon as reasonably possible. I noticed the little whimper she gave me earlier. The way her eyes tracked across my chest as I moved about the room.
It took a number of years to cover my body with stories of my past. My nightmares and dreams laid out for everyone to see.
Her eyes flare when she takes me in. If it was possible to walk around shirtless all the time, then I would, just so I can watch her pupils dilate. It would be worth the frostbite.
“Wait. I thought it was a face, but it's not. There's two faces here?” She questions. Her hand reaching out, fingers barely tracing the outline of my tattoo.
“Humph.” My muscles tighten from the contact, my cock thickening in my jeans. Do I even try to hide the way my body reacts to hers? Surely she knows how much I want her? “It's an illusion. From afar, it looks like a skull or demon, but close up, you can see the two people…forever entwined," I whisper.
