“You’re shivering,” he declares, a hint of anger in his tone.
“It’s probably because of the tissue paper sack trying to pass as a sleeping bag.”
“Can you crawl out for a second?”
He helps me unzip myself and has me stand off to the side while he does some kind of trick and zips our sleeping bags together, making one big bag, then he repositions our sleeping pads beside each other.
Well, now…this is cozy.
“Climb in,” he says, but I don’t have the energy to move. So he scoops me up, depositing me on one side so I can crawl in. I’m lying on my uninjured side, facing the middle of our big sleeping bag, when the most delectable thing happens. He places a water canteen and the lantern nearby before he removes his boots and slips in beside me.
I swear, if he spoons me, I’m turning into a puddle right herein this couple’s snuggle burrito, and I’m making a deal with the canyon to keep us here forever.
There’s a pang in my heart because I know he’s taking care of me, but I can sense his resolve to put distance between us on every other level.
I’m still shivering when he scoots in closer, and I think he’s about to wrap me in his arms to share his body heat, but he stops with a foot of space between us and places a hand on top of the blanket, awkwardly patting my shoulder.
“What is that?”
“I’m trying to warm you.”
“By petting me like a dog?” I protest, my teeth chattering. “Bella got more warmth from Edward’s cold, glittery limbs. I need Jacob vibes right now.”
He swallows hard. “I don’t wanna hurt you.”
I nearly scoff. While that’s probably part of it, he mostly doesn’t want to get too close and muddy the line he’s drawn between us.
Well, I’ve got news for him.
“Jack, will you please just hold me?” I breathe, feeling groggier as the pain meds kick in.
He sighs.
“I was promised spoonage,” I add with a silly smile, allowing my lids to close.
“By whom?”
“By you, when you made this mega blanket. There was an implied understanding that you intended to warm me up. And I’m still cold.”
“I don’t think snuggling is a good idea, Willow.”
I hum. “Nope. I like it better when you call me Lo. Nobody else calls me that. And I think snuggling is one of the best ideas I’ve ever had.”
Somewhere outside, a bat squeaks, and my heart dropswhen it seems like he’s not going to move. But then his voice pulls me out of the cold sleep that gripped me. “Can you move to this side?”
I roll to my back and begin shuffling closer, and he lifts his body over mine, taking extra care not to touch my arm. But we both freeze mid-shuffle, and the man is basically planking above me.
“You have yummy muscles.” I blurt out, making him groan.
“You’re not making this easy.”
“Easy is boring.” I lift hooded eyes to his face, aching to trail a finger along the cords on his neck. Before I can reach up to do it, he slowly lowers himself on the other side.
And I see something in his eyes that says he wants me, too. I won’t let those walls get in the way. I’ve never met a man who’s captivated me this way and called to the depths of who I am. Giving up so easily would be one of the biggest regrets of my life. And this is one thing I willnotbe giving up on easily.
With a smile on my face, I shimmy over just a smidge, rolling onto my side so my back is to him. “Bring those biceps closer, Mr. Russel.”
“Is that the pain meds, or do you seriously think my name is Jack Russel?” he asks, his gravelly voice sending a shiver down my toes as he presses his delectable body heat against my back.
