She eyed the front door, every bone in her body yearning to escape this situation. Accepting that she couldn’t,for now, she joined him in the kitchen, sternly refusing to stare at the towering body clad in cargo pants and one of those thin insulated sweaters that cost a small fortune.
After a long glance, he nudged his chin at the fruit that needed cutting.
They worked in silence for all of a minute before the madness threatened again. ‘How long could you expect this to take? You’re supposed to be good at all of this.’ She waved the knife and then stopped when she saw his pointed glance at it. ‘I’m not going to attack you if that’s what you’re afraid of.’
One brow lifted. ‘Not at all. But whatyouneed to be worried about is what I’ll do if you injure yourself.’
‘What will you do? Put me over your knee and spank me?’
Oh sweet heaven.
She stopped breathing. Wished fervently with every atom of her being for the flames engulfing her face to devour her whole and leave her in a pile of ash at his feet.
They lapsed into silence, a state he was terrifyingly comfortable in all through breakfast and the rest of the long, snow-laden day.
Lotte was almost grateful when he bit out a terse goodnight just after sundown and climbed the stairs into his bedroom.
Bundled up on the sofa bed—which he’d pulled out and dressed in fresh sheets and blankets while she was brushing her teeth—she twisted. Turned. Then groaned her frustration. The temptation to demand her phone was strong. But adversely, she was thankful for its temporary absence. As much as she loved interacting with her followers, she would’ve found it a strain to remain upbeat. Especially in light of a threat she’d hoped,prayed, wasn’t serious but had proved otherwise.
Unable to remain still, she jumped up, paced the living room, then desperate for further reprieve, she threw on her coat and faux fur–lined boots and stepped out of the front door.
The snow had stopped several hours ago, and the midnight sky was clear enough for the carpet of stars to twinkle brightly overhead. Stepping off the porch, welcoming the soothing crunch of fresh snow beneath her feet, she sucked in what felt like her first full breath since forever.
Only to yelp in alarm when a strong arm closed around her waist and lifted her clean off her feet.
‘Wait! What are you doing?’
‘I should be asking you the same question,’ Valenti replied icily as he marched back towards the cabin. ‘How far did you think you were going to get? Let me answer that for you. Not very far.’
Her mouth gaped. ‘What? You think…?’ She laughed at the absurd inference. ‘I wasn’t running away. Regardless of what you think of me I’m not stupid enough to cast myself into an icy tundra in the middle of the night.’
He set her down on the porch and glared icy bullets at her. ‘Then why were you out there?’
‘Because I can’t sleep! The bed is lumpy, it creaks and…and there’s an awful draft.’ She sounded like a shrill petulant toddler. And in some ways that was what she was because it was the role he’d cast her in. So really none of this was her fault.
Come on, really? What next? You’re going to blame him for how gorgeous and Insta-worthy he looked silhouetted against the snow? How strong and virile with his piercing silver eyes and lock of inky black hair falling over his brow?
She cringed at the mocking voice as she marched back into the cabin. Refused to turn when she heard him shut and bolt the door. Refused to witness the pity or irritation at her tantrum.
Until the distinctive creak spun her around.
‘Wh-what are you doing?’ she stammered, something distinctly hot and disturbing stirring in her middle as she watched him slide into the place she’d been only ten minutes ago.
‘Solving another problem for you. I’ll take the sofa. You take my bed.’
Her jaw dropped as she stood frozen, unable to take her eyes off him.
‘It’s the middle of the night, Lotte. Take my bed. Or don’t.’ He reached out and flicked off the lamp next to the bed, plunging the room into semi darkness. His body’s outlineright theresent shivers through her. Keeping her immobile for far too long watching the steady unperturbed rise and fall of his chest.
Eventually registering that it was decidedly creepy just standing there staring at him, she stumbled away and on shaky legs, climbed the stairs. Sensation rapidly resembling anticipation sizzled through her blood as she approached his bedroom.
In the doorway she stopped, swallowed at the sight of the rumpled bed, the image of Valenti sprawled between the dark sheets sending fresh waves of heat through her. Telling herself she hadn’t asked for this bed but would happily take it in recompense for Valenti’s misconception of her, she shed her outer clothes, leaving only her nightshirt, and crawled between the sheets.
It was mildly infuriating to welcome the deep comfort of Valenti’s bed. To sigh with almost embarrassing contentment as the residual warmth he’d left behind engulfed her. As she took a deep breath of his incredible smell and shamelessly burrowed into the nearest pillow.
If she’d hoped the change of bed would calm her restless mind, she was wrong. Her body sinuously stretched from one comfortable position to the other, a different madness taking over. One that teased her with blush-inducing flashes. Of Valenti. In bed with her. Not a single combative word between them.
Instead hot, seductive words that made her writhe faster, moan longingly and…
