“You like the snow?”
“No,” he said.
Astrid laughed.“Why not?”
“It’s a pain in the ass, and beautiful or not, it causes a lot of damage.”
“I never thought of it like that.”
“If it’s too heavy, it can damage the roof, cave it in.It’s cold, and it can bring stuff down.”He shrugged.“But when it’s not so deadly, it is beautiful.”
She looked at him.“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to look at snow the same way again.I love when it snows.”
“I hope you can look at me differently,” Lord said.
“Lord, don’t—”
“I’m an asshole.I know how precious you are, Astrid.You gave me your virginity, you gave me ...you.Blake was just being a friend, and I didn’t like it.I didn’t want him to know how important you are to me.So, I lied.You’re not convenient.You’re the only person I wanted to hire for this job.You’re the only person I want to be around, Astrid.I’m not your typical wolf.I don’t deal with packs.I like the ranchers because they fucking leave at the end of the day.”
“I’ve heard people say you should go crazy, or you should be rogue.”
“Some wolves can’t handle being away from packs.Even if they’re expelled from one, they either join up to another or make their own.It’s how it is.”
“You didn’t.”
“I don’t need to.The aging process has started for me, but I don’t care.I don’t feel crazy.I’ve just never felt the need to be around people.”
It was the most honest he had been with her.
“I’m not a wolf, but I’ve never been good with people,” she said.“I don’t really make friends.I don’t run with the crowds.”She shrugged.“I guess I’ve always done my own thing.”
She looked down at her empty cup of hot chocolate.Lord had finished it.She had put just the right amount of milk and chocolate, with just a touch of vanilla.
“I want to kiss you,” he said.
This made her head jerk up and look at him.
Yes, please, I want you to kiss me.I want you to ravish me, and touch me, and wipe that memory out of my mind.
I also want to tell you no.But I want you so badly.
Astrid didn’t say a word.
Lord reached out and touched her cheek.It was just a touch, the cupping of his palm against her face, and she nibbled her lip as he ran his thumb across the bottom.He pulled just a little on her bottom lip, and she wanted to moan at that touch alone.
She stared into his eyes.
And then, he got closer.
Her thoughts were driving her crazy, and she didn’t know what to listen to, but then it didn’t matter, because his lips touched hers and sent fire rushing through her veins.It was like her body had been waiting for the touch of his lips, and now nothing else would do.
Astrid stayed perfectly still, and at first her eyes were open, watching him.Then, as if they had a mind of their own, they slid closed.She reached out and touched his cheek as he deepened the kiss, and she melted against him.
He let out a little growl, and Astrid didn’t know who moved, only in the next second, on the window seat, she had straddled his lap.She cupped his face and kissed him harder, as he ran his hand down her back.
Lord went to her ass, gripping the flesh, and she arched against him, grinding herself onto him, and he let out a growl.She loved the way he kissed her neck.It felt so good, and she didn’t want him to stop.Her whole body was on fire with need.
The robe was gone, and her pajama bottom was ripped open.Buttons flew left and right.She wasn’t wearing anything underneath, and Lord pushed it from her shoulders, and it landed on the floor.
