She couldn’t hear what they were saying, and when Darius pulled out his wallet, she wondered what was going on. He returned to her side, pulling an enormous toboggan, a self-satisfied grin on his face.
“Come on, princess. We’re going for a ride.”
“On that? Together?” Nope. Not happening. She’d damaged herself enough for one day. No sense trying a new sled and getting hurt.
“Chicken?” he teased.
“Yup.” She absolutely was worried about getting hurt. Never mind the stress of sitting against him and rocketing down the hill. She’d spent all of last night dreaming of touching him. That was as close as she was going to get. End of discussion.
“It cost me twenty bucks to rent this thing. One run. Then I’ll buy you lunch.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Was that some sort of double entendre? No. Couldn’t be. Even Darius wasn’t that bold.
“Promise?” she asked warily. She didn’t really want to. But the idea of sitting on a sled with him filled an ancient, childish, fantasy. Her in front, him behind, his arms around her. She slammed the brakes on the thought. Not going there.
“Pretty please?”
The please did her in. Bad boy Darius Badeaux pleading? Never in her wildest dreams. Okay, maybe in her wildest ones. “Fine. You’re in front. I’ll take the back.”
“I’ll take the back, thank you. You can’t see over me. You need to be able to see where we’re going, in case something gets in our way.”
She scanned the hill. Except for the boys standing nearby, there was nobody around. Not a single person, or obstacle. He was making excuses. She squinted at him, trying to divine his thoughts.
“Fine. But if we crash, I’m blaming you.”
He sat on the sled, legs spread wide and patted the toboggan in front of him. “Right here, Princess Poppy. Your chariot awaits.”
“I hate that name.” She eased herself down in front on him, legs bent, feet tucked in. She kept a good six inches away from him, but he scooted forward, his chest pressed against her back. Dang. He smelled great. Minty, woodsy, and manly. He smelled like sex on a stick.Wait? Was that a thing?
Her attraction brought a blush to her face. She was grateful for the small breeze that carried the heat away before the flush could be become apparent.
He reached around her to grab the sled’s rope before folding his legs around her waist and shifting even closer. “Ready?” he whispered, his breath hot and sweet on her cheek.
She swallowed a lump of desire. “Yeah. Let’s get this over with.” She feigned reluctance. Honesty, she didn’t want to move from this spot. Ever. She could stay here all day, her fingers and toes were freezing, but her heart and libido were on fire.
“One, two, three.” A jerk of his body against hers shattered her composure and they exploded down the hill.
Wind raced through her hair; the front of the sled threw flakes of icy snow into her face. In his arms, she felt like she was flying straight to heaven. Their combined weight pushed the sled further than they’d gone alone on the discs, until she feared they’d hit the distant treeline past the bottom.
“Hold on,” Darius hollered. “We’re going over.”
Before she had time to process his words, they tipped sideways and slowed to a stop with his arms around her protecting her from harm.
Slowly, reluctantly, she untangled her limbs from his, despite her burning desire to remain wrapped in his arms. He lay on the ground, smiling up at her.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it? I kept you safe.” He leaped to his feet in one smooth motion, toboggan rope in his hand. He grasped her hand and led her up the hill. “Let’s get you someplace warm. You look frozen.”
Frozen? She was steaming hot inside her winter gear. His nearness, his embrace, had chased the chill from her and darned if she didn’t want to be back there again.
“Not so much cold, as hungry.” She laughed. Ravenous. But not for food. While she had no intention of going where her body wanted to take her, she could use some lunch.
“Come on. Let’s go to my place. I’ll cook you something,” Darius offered as they stood beside her car after returning the toboggan.
His offer surprised her. “I thought you were going to buy me lunch.” Did he have ulterior motives? She voiced the question aloud.
“Actually? Yes.”
“Not happening,” she declared, frowning at him.
