* * *
Dark
Shit, he hadn’t realized how cold she was.
He pulled her inside, turning the dial of the underfloor heating up to the max as he walked by, then sat her down on the over-sized couch.
He picked up a blanket from the side of the couch and covered her with it, then helped her take off her hat, her coat, and her gloves, holding her hands in his larger, warmer ones.
“Your hands are freezing.”
“I’m okay,” she said. “Not hypothermic or anything, don’t worry. I grew up in upstate New York, remember? I know all about cold.”
“You should have told me you were cold.”
She nodded. “I could have. But I was enjoying the walk too much.”
“Okay, let’s get your hands properly warmed up,” he said, lifting his sweater and T-shirt and placing her hands against his skin, gasping from the cold and from the intensity.
“That feels so good,” she said, moaning in appreciation. And damned if a different part of his anatomy didn’t perk up at the sound.
Then her fingers began stroking the hard muscles on his belly.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
“My feet are still cold.”
“I may be able to help with that,” he said, reaching over for her boots.
“Ah … could we go upstairs? I really don’t want to end up half-naked on your couch when your friends—“
“Are you going to end up half-naked?” he asked, his lips curling into a smile.
“Or I could leave,” she threatened, lightly, “if you keep making fun of me.”
He pulled her up into his arms, bringing her tight against his chest. Alexia squealed, her arms coming to grab at his shoulders.
“Relax,” he said, taking the stairs two by two. “I’m not going to drop you.”
“I know,” she whispered, leaning her face against his shoulder.
He was wowed by her trust—and suddenly determined to earn it.
He pushed the door to his room open and strode to the bed, intending to set her down gently, except instead of letting go, she tightened her hold on his neck.
“Hey,” he said, placing his arms on either side of her body to avoid crushing her.
“Come here. I brought you a gift.”
“I like gifts,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “Where is it?”
“In my back pocket,” she whispered.
“I’ve seen your back pocket. There’s no way you can fit—“ His hand found her pocket, touched a little square foil wrapper.
Fuck.
His cock stood to attention, recognizing the object.