She moved once more, with the faintest tilt of her head, and her voice, low and blurred with sleep, reached me through the quiet. “Why are you awake?”
Because you’re here.
I swallowed. “Habit.”
She made a small, sleepy hum in reply, one I felt more than heard, and then her breathing evened again.
The fire continued to crackle softly. Snow shifted against the windows. And I stayed still, pretending it was just body heat that kept me close, pretending I wasn’t already half-gone.
“Silas,” she breathed, and there was more in her words than just drowsiness this time. “Silas—” Her hips twitched, seeking something that I wasdyingto give her.
“We can’t,” I whispered into her hair, refusing to let go.
“Why?” Her words were practically a whimper as her hand found mine, holding my fingers against the warm skin of her breast. “Please.”
“This isn’t what you want,” but my thumb found her nipple, tweaking itgently.
I could live off her responsive sound alone.
“I’m a big girl.” Her hand slipped behind her, palming my erection through my sweats. “I think I can decide what I want, Silas.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest as her hand gripped me through the fabric. The heat of her palm seared me, even through the thin material. I knew I should pull away, stop this before it went too far, but my body refused to cooperate.
Instead, I pressed into her touch, a low groan escaping my lips. “Fuck,” I muttered, burying my face in her neck. “You're playing with fire.”
She arched back against me, her hips rolling in a slow grind that had me seeing stars. “Good thing we’re snowed in,” she whispered,her voice husky with desire. “I’m getting cold, Silas. If you’re all the fire you’re claiming to be…”
I passed my thumb over her hardened nipple, teeth grazing her pulse point. “Colette,” I bit back a moan as she arched into my hand. “Colette.”
“My name’s Cole.” She bit back, rocking her hips backwards.
The remainder of my control snapped. I tugged on her shoulder with my free hand, rolling her onto her back, andunderneathme. “No, it’s not.” Her eyes were hooded, lips parted on a pant.
I leaned closer, relishing the way her eyes fluttered closed. But I wasn’t leaning in for a kiss. I pressed my lips to her throat, sucking gently on the sensitive skin.
“Arms up, little menace.” I tried not to growl, but every bone in my body was strung tight.
But she stayed still, fingers digging into my arms, a sly smirk ghosting her features. “No,” her response came quickly, “You’re not in charge.”
“Fuck yes, I am.” I nipped the skin of her jaw, causing a yelp to force its way out of her mouth. “You don’t have to listen, but Iwillgive you what you’re asking for. Is that what you want?”
As I pulled back, I saw her eyes roll. “Unfortunately,” she breathed, her hands moving from my arms to my hair. “Unfortunately for me, you’reinsanelyhot, and I want you to fuck me senseless.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking for, Colette.”
“Cole,” she corrected, tugging on my hair and pulling a groan from my lips. “Shut up and do something useful with your mouth, Silas.”
“You’renot in charge,” I snapped back, but I couldn’t help the way my hands moved to the hem ofmysweater, and pulled it upwards, putting her breasts on display just for me.
It was embarrassing how my words failed me at that exact moment. She was…perfect. The soft curve of her stomach, the perfect, plump shape of her tits — it was like every dream I’d never had, laying bare in front of me.
“Fuck,” she shivered, “I could use some of that fire right about now, hotshot.”
My lips hovered just above her peaked nipple as a laugh escaped me. “It’d be a goddamn Christmas miracle if you showed even alittlebit of patience, Colette.”
“Fuck,” she whimpered, “Silas Reed has a mean?—”
CHAPTER 14
