“Come on, Dem.” He tilts his head, giving me those annoyingly sweet puppy dog eyes paired with his lips curving up slightly. “I’ll keep you warm.”
My arms cross over my chest as I stare at him. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t the least bit curious about it.
“I didn’t bring a change of clothes.”
“Wear mine.”
He has an answer for everything, doesn’t he?
I roll my eyes as he stands, watching as the water sloshes in the tub, and I can’t tear my eyes from his abdomen. The lines and ridges. I dart to his arms, the veins and the way his forearms flex. His thighs as he stands up straight, sopping wet and strong. God, I’m losing it. I’m about to cave and hop in the ice bath with this man, aren’t I?
Liam extends his hands to me, licking his lips as he does. “We’ll start slow.” The words do more to me than they should.
“Fine.” I exhale, slipping my feet out of the slides I was wearing.
Liam takes both of my hands into his and stands sturdy as I slowly—very slowly—dip one foot in.
I hiss the second my toes touch the water.
“Nope, don’t back out, keep going, come on.” There’s no pity in his voice as I feel his hands pull me a little closer to him.
With one leg completely in, I stop for a moment, taking deep breaths.
“Bring your other leg in, and we’re going to sit down together as soon as you’re in. Got it?”
I nod as our eyes connect and lift my leg over the side and into the water. Liam spins me effortlessly in front of his body, my back flush with his chest. His hands hold my hips as he lowers both of us into the frigid water.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, oh my god.” I shudder. “What’s the temperature?”
“About sixty degrees.”
“I-I need to get out,” I say, wiggling against him, but I feel the warmth of his breath against my ear.
“You can do this,” he says. His tone is low, voice hushed as he wraps his arms around me. “Focus on me, honey. My voice. Got it?”
I tilt my head back into him and nod. How the hell am I ice cold, yet burning hot at the same time?
“I’ve been thinking about last night all day,” he whispers into the shell of my ear. “You ruined me, Dem.” I sharply inhale as his hand glides between my legs and rests on my upper thigh. “But you know that, don’t you?” His lips feather kisses along my neck, and I’m completely under whatever spell Liam has placed on me as I close my eyes.
His hand squeezes my thigh, and I quietly moan at the touch.
“You like knowing how badly I want you.” I feel his breath again on my neck.
The water moves as he sits us up more.
“I-I do,” I admit. Because he’s right. The way he wants me drives me wild. It pushes me to extremes—like this moment now. I wouldn’t get into a freezing ice plunge for just anyone.
“Mmm.” I feel his chest vibrate against my back. “Good.”
I take a sharp breath in, counting to four, holding four, then releasing four as he holds me in place.
Barely another moment passes just as I’m getting comfortable and he moves his hand from my thigh, taps my hip and says, “Time’s up.”
I arch my neck, turning to face him as he rises to his feet, bringing me with him.
“What? That was it?”
He smirks. “That was three minutes. I already did ten before you got here.”
