"Don't stop."
He kisses me like he's starving. His hand slides under my shirt, finding bare skin, and I arch into the touch. When his thumb brushes the underside of my breast, I gasp against his mouth.
"We're in public," I manage.
"Behind a gazebo in a snowstorm." His mouth moves to my neck, teeth grazing. "No one can see."
His hand cups my breast through my bra, and every reason this is a bad idea flies out of my head.
"Oh my GOD. My EYES."
We break apart to find Ben standing there with one hand dramatically covering his eyes, the other holding a container of cookies.
"Are you decent?" he calls out. "Please tell me you're decent."
"We're in public, Ben!" I try to sit up but River's still half on top of me, both of us covered in snow. My face is on fire.
Ben peeks through his fingers, confirms we're both fully clothed, and drops his hand. He's trying not to smile but also looks mildly horrified.
“How long where you standing there?” River asks.
"Long enough to be traumatized. I can't even leave the house without one of you being all over my sister." He shakes his head. "First Seth, now River. What, is Grayson gonna be making out with her tomorrow?"
River finally moves, standing and pulling me up with him, keeping his arm around my waist. I'm pretty sure my face could melt the snow around us.
"We were just—" I start.
"Making out in public where anyone could see?" Ben supplies helpfully. "Yeah, I noticed."
"Hey." River sounds remarkably composed for someone who was just caught with his hand up my shirt. "How's the cabin?"
"Don't you 'how's the cabin' me." But he's fighting a grin. "Mom sent cookies. Said you were out here helping."
"Speaking of," I say, brushing snow off my jeans, "you should go help Tessa."
Ben's easy expression shifts immediately. "Nope. Hard pass."
"What?" River looks amused. "The big tough mechanic is afraid of a five-foot event planner?"
"She scares me," Ben says without shame. "She gets this look when decorations aren't perfect. Like she's planning your murder but making it look accidental."
"She's not that bad," I protest, leaning into River's warmth.
"She made me re-hang the same banner four times last year because it was 'slightly askew.' Invisible to the human eye, Bea." He shudders. "You guys can handle her. I'm delivering cookies and leaving before she spots me."
He hands me a container and walks away muttering, "Gonna need so much therapy..."
River pulls me back against his chest, his arms wrapping around me from behind. "Your brother's terrified of Tessa Lang."
"Can you blame him?" But I'm laughing, leaning back into him.
He presses a kiss to my neck, right where a claiming mark could go, and I shiver.
We make our way back to find Seth and Grayson finishing up. The banner is perfect, the lights are fixed, and Tessa looks satisfied.
"Have fun?" Grayson asks, taking in our snow-covered clothes. He pulls me away from River and into his arms, brushing snow off my hair.
"Loads," I say cheerfully.
