“At least something about you is consistent,” she taunted, resting her hand against his chest.
He clasped it with tender care. “You’re freezing.”
“So warm me up.” It was a dare, one she hoped he’d accept. She hated to be so transparent, but it felt like eons since he’d last touched her like this, and sheneededhim. Her entire body fluttered with desire and, god, she wished she could read him half as well as he could her. She wished she knew why he pushed her away only to pull her back closer than ever. Did he only want her when it suited him? Was she falling into a dangerous pattern?
Her worries must have been etched across her face, because he paused with his lips only a hair from hers. “What’s wrong?”
“I just wish I knew what you were thinking,” she admitted.
“I’m thinking” – he kissed her slowly, hungrily – “that you drive me mad. All the time. I could barely work this morning thinking of you.”
“Keep talking,” she whispered, softening into him finally.
He kissed her again, tongue heavy and slow in her mouth. “I’m thinking that I don’t feel very casual anymore, and that’s a problem.”
“Is it?”
His hands roved the back of her thighs, encouraging her to rise. She hitched herself onto him, legs wrapping around his hips. His features were sombre as he nodded. “In case you haven’t noticed, I lost my mind today.”
“I’m good with you losing your mind over me.”
He sighed. “Harper. You’re not going to be here forever.”
That was true, though it was hard to remember what her life had looked like before coming here. Meeting him. She’d been looking forward to going home and bragging about her wonderful trip. How productive she’d been. How excited she was to pursue a new career. Now, the thought of leaving at all made her deflated and numb.
She pushed it all away, cupping his jaw in her hands. “So why can’t we just make the most of it? We have time.”
He hesitated as though there was so much more he wanted to say. She understood. She was afraid, too, to give too much of herself and end up regretting it when it was time to say goodbye. Kenzie had already stolen so many pieces of her. Would there be any of her to salvage if she left more with him?
But with Fraser it was different, she convinced herself. She already knew that this was going to end, which meant she could prepare for it. He couldn’t break her heart. He could only crack it, and cracks healed. It was worth it to feel what she felt now. Alive, desired, confident in her own skin for the first time in her life.
Fraser flashed her a ravenous grin. “Making the most of it sounds like a decent idea.”
She expected him to put her down – surely his arms ached by now – but he was unwavering as he carried her towards the stairs, and then up them. His strength left her tingling all over. It had been a long time since anybody had made her feel dainty, and she couldn’t pretend she didn’t enjoy it.
They fell into a bedroom with exposed brick walls and forest-green accents. She was glad for the mess around them, the abandoned jeans pooled in a corner and the dresser top scattered with toiletries. It was good to know he wasn’tcompletelyperfect, even if he felt terribly close to it in this moment.
She giggled as he laid her on the bed, and his smile grew wide. Unbridled. Her fingers dug into his jumper to keep him there, keep him close, and he parted her legs with a nudge of his knee.
“You still want me to warm you up?” he asked huskily.
Harper’s core pulsed with anticipation, and it was an effort not to clench her thighs against him. “Yes.”
“And how, d’you think, should I do it?” Gently, he traced up the seam of her thermal leggings. Suddenly, she hated being so covered.She needed to feel him properly. Needed to get rid of all the things keeping them apart.
“Use your imagination.” She slipped her hands beneath his jumper.
He jerked back from the cold, chuckling as he grabbed her hands and locked them above her head. “I’m not sure I want you touching me with those blocks of ice.”
When his fingers inched towards his belt, she gulped. Was he going to…?
He unfastened the buckle with one swift swipe, yanking the leather from the loops of his jeans one-handed while the other kept her wrists pinned on the bed. It might have been the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. Sexier when he asked, “Is this okay?”
She pouted, fighting against his grip with a squirm, though secretly, she wanted nothing more than to let him take the reins. “What if Iwantto touch you?”
Fraser nudged the waistband of her leggings down, brushing the cool leather belt against her stomach. She bucked her hips, letting him unveil the rest of her. Her leggings were thrown behind him, rendered useless.
“There’ll be plenty of time for that later.” Ducking, he peppered kisses along the fabric of her underwear. “Fuck, Harper, do you know how many times I’ve wondered what it would feel like to be inside you? Nobody’s ever done this to me before.”
