“What’s wrong with this outfit?” He glanced down at the deep V-neck in her plum-colored sweater.
“I am tired of the purple. I don’t care about my ex. He doesn’t belong in this week. I only packed purple shirts and jackets and mittens and beanies and I’m over it.”
“Mmm, okay. Do you need some alone time, or do you want company?”
“Depends. Will you be fun company or are you going to pick out a bunch of grey shirts for me?”
He laughed and ate another grape. “If you let me go, I’ll pick out zero grey shirts for you, and I’ll buy you pizza at my favorite place. They sell it by the slice. It’ll change your life.”
“You may come with me,” she said immediately.
“Is that all I have to do to get time with you? Bribe you with pizza?”
“Absolutely.”
She sipped down half of her drink and stood. “I have to go get ready really quick.”
“You can take the food to your cabins,” Roberto called from behind the bar as she pulled her purple puffer jacket onto her shoulders. “The tray is made to fit into your fridge in there.”
“Oh, heck yeah. Snacks for later. Thank you!” Birdie called as Lance gathered up the charcuterie board.
They tramped through the snow to Lodge 9, and he waited while she unlocked it, and then he handed her the food.
“Text me when you’re ready,” he told her. “I can drive you into town.” But he hesitated on the porch.
She set the food down on the bench beside the door and stood to her full, miniature height. “You want to kiss me again, don’t you?”
Lance lifted his chin higher into the air, and a smile confiscated his chiseled face. “Yes.”
“Well, what ifIkissyouthis time?”
His green eyes danced. “I would like that.”
Feeling shaky on her insides, Birdie stepped onto the porch and looked up at him, then pushed up onto her tiptoes and waited for him to lean down. When he did, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, closed her eyes, and kissed him.
He smelled like cologne and tasted so good. Her senses were overwhelmed with the scent of him, the taste, the feel of his warm touch, the sound of her hurried breath. His short facialscruff tickled her soft skin, and she moaned softly as he cupped the back of her head. God, this felt like flying.
She could go boneless right now, and she knew he would hold her upright.
He eased her back inside, and her body was on fire. The soft click of the door closing behind her sounded so loud in the quiet of her cabin.
The lights were off, but the muted light was filtering in through a couple of the windows. He eased her back toward the couch, but she was already fumbling with his zipper.
She didn’t want to go slow. She wanted everything, and his touch became more desperate to match hers.
Lance clasped her throat gently and leaned forward, wrapped a strong arm around her lower back, and lifted her up. Birdie wrapped her legs around his waist and clung to him as she parted her lips for him to slide his tongue inside.
Her head swam and every logical thought faded from her mind. All that existed now was her and Lance, and his addictive touch.
He carried her up the stairs to the loft, where her unmade bed was, and laid her on it. He didn’t allow a single inch between their bodies, and came down with her, full weight on her. He gripped her hair with both hands and rolled his hips against hers, and she was lost. Completely lost.
“I can stop,” he said on a breath between kisses.
“I don’t want you to. Make me forget everything.”
“Fuck, Birdie, I’m trying to do this right—”
“Do me right.” Birdie cupped his face and searched his eyes. “Fuck me right.”
