“I can’t think of why not,” he commented, lightly squeezing my hip. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay, and I guess there are a lot of things to do inside if we’re snowed in.”
“Mhm.” After taking another sip from his mug, he said, “I’m glad I thought to pick up some hot cocoa mix earlier. This is great.”
I pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “I agree. I think I prefer this over a nightcap.”
Wes made a noise of agreement, placing his mug on the nightstand once he’d finished. When I did the same, he wrappedhis arm around my shoulders and tugged me close, gently pressing my head to his shoulder.
For a little while, we stayed just like that, the only sounds being the quiet flick of his finger on the e-reader as he turned a page, and our combined breaths.
I almost closed my eyes, content to fall into the cozy hold of sleep while surrounded by my man, his warmth, and his scent. Luckily, I managed to keep my eyes open until he finally began to feel the drug’s effects.
His hand slackened around me, and he slowly placed the e-reader down on the blanket.
“Ro…”
“Yeah?”
“Love you,” he mumbled, well on his way to the land of unconsciousness.
“I love you too,” I murmured as his body began sinking further into the pillows. “Sleep well, babe.”
I waited a few minutes, then quietly asked, “Wes?”
No response.
I tilted my head back just enough to look at him.
His eyes were closed now, lashes resting against his cheeks, his breathing deep and even.
Out.
Completely.
A flicker of something uncomfortable twisted low in my chest, and I exhaled slowly. “It’s fine,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s just one night.”
Carefully, I untangled myself from him, easing his arm down onto the bed so it wouldn’t wake him.
I stood, stretching out the stiffness in my limbs before moving quietly around the room, in search of boots, my coat, gloves, and a hat.
I paused once, just at the edge of the bed, gazing down at Wes. “I’ll be back before you know it,” I whispered.
Then I turned and left.
The biting cold nipped at my face when I stepped outside after going down to the first floor of our building. Snow crunched under my boots as I moved, the quiet of the resort further muted by the banks of white.
Since it was late, most people were inside, leaving only a few lonely stragglers out on late-night walks. Because of the hour, these wanderers kept to themselves, unwanting to start up a conversation with a stranger in the darkness.
Perfect for me.
I kept my head down and hands shoved into my pockets as I made my way toward the edge of the property, toward the road I’d memorized earlier.
Every step away made it easier to breathe, easier to think.
That tight, restless feeling under my skin started to uncoil as relief was finally within reach.
The town wasn’t far. I could already see a few scattered lights breaking up the dark.
