Seeing me shiver, she reaches out like she wants to put a stop to it. Chewing on her bottom lip, she looks around like she expects to find what she needs within her reach.
“Um, we have aprons I could offer if you’re cold.” She reaches behind her, untying hers. Offering it out to me, I snort and shake my head.
“I’d rather go without.” If it means pulling her attention toward me as much as I have, I don’t want to cover my top half.
“Me too.” Like a slip of the tongue, she stumbles on her next breath. “I-I mean, they’re stuffy and uncomfortable. Too many pockets.” She tosses the apron on another table before plopping down next to me.
A few seconds pass before she scooches closer. Close enough to tease me with her body heat. One more scooch, and she’s right where I need her.
“You’re warmer than any of those aprons.” Speaking my thoughts, I let the words flow. “I wouldn’t mind sharing some of your heat.”
While I was in the service, I spent plenty of nights freezing my ass off. My squad did what we had to do to stay warm.
“You guys cuddled for warmth, is that it?” She’s curious, poking for information as I bring up my experience.
I shrug a shoulder. “Did what we had to. Not like we could strike up a fire while we were spying on the enemy.” Clearing my throat, I pat my thigh. “They used to say I was a heater once I got warmed up.”
For a moment, she hesitates, considering my offer. Even if it’s so far left field that she wouldn’t want to cross a line, I can’t help but make the offer.
I can confidently say that she doesn’t look disturbed by the suggestion.
Leaning dangerously close, her warmth spreads across my arm.
My thoughts fizzle out as she stares up at me.
“I don’t bite.” Choking on the words, my gaze falls across her face.
She’s so beautiful, even in this poor lighting. The flashlight she has aimed up at the ceiling doesn’t hide her flushed expression or her innocent expression.
I shouldn’t push, but I wantmore.
“How much closer can I get without sitting on you?” Starting with a laugh, the sound dies off when my fingers tap my thighs.
Any fool can see this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Even if it risks all the progress I’ve made with her over the last few months through friendly conversations, I’m willing to see where this can take us.
I’ve dreamed of having her in my arms from day one. This is the first opportunity that has come my way to make it a reality.
At first, Kelsie doesn’t move. Rather, she looks confused, if anything. For too many seconds, I can see the wheels in her head spinning.
I’m already opening my mouth to take it back, to laugh it off like always, when, without warning, her palm slides slowly up my thigh.
The world stops. The rush happening outside turns into fuzzy background noise.
Her touch burns through the denim, searing enough that I forget how to breathe. This is happening. After all this time, all the restraint…
She’s not pulling away.
“Body heatisa good way to stay warm.” She’s murmuring to herself softly as she moves, settling herself across my lap. “I’ll tell my boss to add blankets to our emergency kit for next time.”
Fuck next time. I want to worry about the present.
Her weight settles against me in a slow, deliberate curl—sideways across my lap, her hip pressing into my thigh, her warmth seeping through every point of contact. She’s smaller like this, folded against me, yet she might as well be the only thing anchoring me to earth.
My hands hover at her waist, torn between crushing her closer and memorizing this moment before she realizes her mistake. Because this—her—is all that exists now. The way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks when she glances down, the nervous bite of her lower lip, the electric current where her skin meets mine…
The storm outside could swallow the world whole, and I wouldn’t even notice.
As she gets comfortable, I can see the moment another thought crosses her mind. It’s one that makes her stiffen up before I get the chance to fully enjoy what is taking place.
