“I’m so cozy. I’m okay.” I snuggled into his pillow, inhaling the masculine, earthy scent. Preston ignored me and lifted the end of the blanket. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you don’t lose your toes.” He gently lifted my calf and slid a large pair of socks on my hot pink ones. “Are you sure you’re warm enough?”
“Get in here.” I sat up and patted the bed. “Stop worrying about me. You’re stressing about the cold, which I understand, but our body heat will keep us just fine.”
“You’re right.” He sighed and joined me in the bed, his body tense. “It’s so stupid how anxious I am right now.’
“No, it’s not.” I moved to my side and cuddled next to him. My head was on his shoulder, my leg resting on top of his. There was no room between us, and I liked it this way. “You went through a traumatic moment as a kid. That sticks with you.”
“We’ve had storms before, even lost power. This just felt different. I don’t know why.”
“It doesn’t have to make sense. Sometimes, the shit we went through as kids stays with us and chooses to come out in weirdways.”Like how I’m damn sure everyone will leave me.“Do you need anything? More socks, another blanket?”
“No.” His arm around me was like wood. Hard. Stiff.
“What will help you relax then?” Immediately, my thoughts went to the hotel where he’d also been tense for a different reason. I could slide my hands down his pants and help him out, but my stomach swooped at the idea. We couldn’t just hook up without talking about what it meant, and I refused to bring it up. “I can massage you, if you want.”
“No.”
His rejection stung, and I wondered if he was thinking about that night too. “We could play truth or truth?”
He snorted, his arm coming up behind me to tug me closer. “Wow, what a fun choice. Truth or truth, Jordan. What do ya pick?”
“The first one.”
“What would it take for you to ever go on a date with me?”
16
PRESTON
Isaid the words. I asked her the question. I couldn’t take them back and erase them. It happened, and I regretted it. The answering silence went on too long. Ten seconds at least. Then twenty of her breathing against me, her muscles tightening like she was preparing for an attack. She hadn’t shifted away from me yet, which was good, but she sighed, like my question pained her.
I hugged her closer, wanting to feel her breaths. Deep down, I knew if she said no, this would probably be the last time I held her like this.
“I-I don’t date,” she whispered after what felt like three years.
“I’m asking about me. What would it take for you to go on a datewith me?”
“Preston.” She swallowed so hard her throat clicked. “What are you doing?”
“I want to date you.” I kissed her temple, letting my lips linger on her. She smelled divine, forbidden, and delicious. Her silky hair was smooth and always smelled so good. Even now, messy and sweaty, I glided my fingers through her locks. Her body reacted to me instantly, her back arching into me. “I wantus to get dressed up and have a nice dinner. I want to touch you and kiss you.”
She trembled. “We c-can’t.”
“Tell me why.” I knew her in and out and loved her anyway. All I wanted was a damn chance, and this was the best one I had. We were snowed in and cuddling. There wouldn’t be a better option. She couldn’t run away from me or avoid me. We were stuck, and I used that to my advantage. “Give me one good reason why.”
“You don’t want to date me.”
“Pretty sure I do.” My stomach twisted with worry. She could say no, and I’d accept it. Try to move on, but after watching her play the game and talk shit to my brother, my brother’s taunts…I had to take the leap and try. “So give me a reason. If it’s legit, then I’ll back off.”
“Who are you to tell me if my reason is legit or not?” she sassed back, sounding more like herself.
“You’re forgetting I know you.” I let my lips graze the shell of her ear, and she sucked in a breath. “I want a shot with you. One shot.”
“We don’t have time. The season, my event. I don’t have time for a date,” she said, her words blurring together as she spoke faster. “So, nope. Can’t do it.”
“Jordan, I’m not saying right now. I’m saying soon, at some point.” I swallowed the desperation in my voice. I didn’t want her to know that I was dying. When Price asked me about dating, my stomach bottomed out. I wanted to date Jordan. “When we’re not busy, when we have a free night, and we both will. We live together.”
