“You want get out of here?”
She stands before I can finish the sentence.
Jodi
The walk fromPerfect Brewsto his truck is short, but it feels endless.
We step into the cold and Reid shifts instinctively, placing himself between me and the wind without saying a word. His hand rests lightly on my lower back, but he doesn’t crowd my space. He angles his body to protect me like it’s the most natural thing in the world. The gesture is so simple I almost miss it, but once I notice, I can’t stop thinking about it.
“Cold?” he asks.
“Not really.” My voice shakes, betraying me.
Snowflakes catch in his hair as he looks down at me, his expression softening all at once. Like he’s memorizing me. Like he’s about to do something irreversible.
“Jodi,” he says quietly.
I swallow, the faintest taste of chocolate lingering on my tongue. I can’t find the words to tell him how I feel. How I’ve never felt this way about any man. Never felt this intense pull toanyone. And yet, one look from him. One word from his lips is enough to make my body come alive.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the second I saw you standing on that road.”
My breath catches. I’m standing on a precipice, scared to fall, and yet also terrified that I’ll wake up and find that this has all been a dream.
“Why haven’t you?”
He huffs a laugh, low and rough.
“I didn’t want to scare you off. You deserve a guy who takes his time.”
“Reid,” I say, stepping closer until my boots touch the toes of his. “I don’t want another man. I want you.”
He searches my face like he’s double-checking. Triple-checking. His hands come up slowly, fingertips brushing my jaw, his palms cupping the sides of my neck gently.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispers.
I should slow this down. That’s the sensible thing to do. But standing this close to Reid, with his hands warm and steady on my skin, I feel something shift inside me. This isn’t just desire or the thrill of being wanted. It’s heavier than that. Quieter. The kind of feeling that settles deep and doesn’t ask permission before it starts rearranging your life. I know, with a sudden clarity that makes my chest ache, that once I give myself to him, I won’t want to walk away. And that realization doesn’t stop me. It pulls me closer.
I shake my head.
“I won’t.”
He kisses me.
Not hard. Not fast. Certain.
Warm lips pressing into mine, claiming without demanding, coaxing without overwhelming. The world goes quiet except for the sound of our breathing and the soft fall of snow.
I slide my hands into his jacket, gripping fistfuls of his shirt like if I let go, he’ll vanish.
He deepens the kiss and my knees go soft like jelly.
His arms seize me by the waist not letting me melt into the snow under our boots. Not even the powdered snow could cool my skin. I’m too warm, despite the thin fabric of my sweater.
“Easy,” he growls.
I’m dizzy. Burning with need for the first time in my life.
His forehead rests against mine. Our breath mingling in a steamy fog between us. His hands don’t leave my waist. They burn through the polyester like a claim.
