Sprinting, I chase him, gaining on him quicker than I thought I would. At the same moment I catch up to him in the front yard, he turns. Our bodies collide once more, and we fall into the snow together. My lungs burn from the cold air as I try to catch my breath, but I’m laughing too hard and so is he.
Rolling to face him, his warm eyes find mine, and electricity pulses between us. The snow sticks to his hair and coat, and I run my hand through his brown locks, knocking some of it away.
“Aldrin,” he says, returning the gesture and tucking a fallen strand behind my ear.
“Huh?”
“My middle name is Aldrin. What’s yours?”
“Elise.”
“That’s pretty,” he says, rolling closer to me so that our bodies are snug up against each other. I’m completely lost under his touch. His hand caresses the side of my face, and the other wraps around my back.
“Claire Elise Nuttall, I’m going to kiss you now,” he whispers, causing me to smile.
“Everett Aldrin Nuttall, I was really hoping you would.”
His mouth takes mine in a heated kiss, warming me down to the tips of my toes.
Need builds in my core, overtaking me. I moan into him and roll my body up on top of his. Straddling my legs across his hips, I grind downward. His hands rake through my hair and then move down my back, finding my ass and squeezing it firmly.
“Fuck, I missed this,” he says against me.
I moan as he rotates his hips upward, creating the perfect friction between us.
“Me too,” I pant, before our mouths connect again.
The world around us melts away, and I completely forget where we are. It doesn’t matter—all that matters is that I like the way his hands feel on my body and how his mouth feels on mine.
Chapter 31: Two Truths And A Lie
Everett
Kissing Claire takes me by surprise every time it happens. Even here in the snow, our tongues tangling and our hands exploring each other’s bodies, we should be freezing, but I feel completely content and warm with her on top of me. She brightens everything she touches and sets my body on fire. I’m quickly learning just how incredible she is—a fact I already knew but love rediscovering.
She’s sexy as hell when she gives me shit. Stunning when the sun hits her hair just right and makes it almost sparkle. Her smile and laughter are addictive, and I shouldn’t be falling this hard, this quickly, but I like who I am when I’m with her here.
At this point, I feel like I’ve been edging myself. Her soft skin in the shower the other day, the innocent kisses and touches, her sapphire eyes that draw me in, her smart mouth, this kiss. Fuck, this kiss is everything.
I’m wound so tight that I don’t think I’m going to be able to restrain myself much longer, but I’m trying my best to show her who I am without sex being involved.
Sitting up, she begins to laugh as she looks down at me. A shiver runs up her spine. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose are pink from the cold, blush covers her neck, and her lips are swollen from the kisses we just shared. “We’re soaked,” she says, brushing some of the snow from my hair.
“I always did have that effect on you,” I tease.
“I meant from the snow.” She playfully swats at my chest. “I’malso freezing, so can we maybe continue this inside where it’s warm?” Her teeth begin to chatter, and she pulls her jacket a little tighter across her chest.
“I have a better idea.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Care to take a dip in the hot tub?”
Her eyes glimmer with desire, and she stands. Reaching her arm out, she helps me up off the ground, and we both dust the wet, half-melted snow from our clothes.
Without any warning, I playfully throw her over my shoulder and take off toward the backyard.
She lets out a loud laugh and another shriek as I almost trip over a dip in the ground. And just like I do every time I’m with her here, I feel free.
