Her arms wrapped tightly around me. I knew it was because she was holding on for dear life as we whipped through the whiteout. But I hoped she enjoyed the feel of her body pressing against mine as much as I did.
And yeah, I felt terrible for thinking that.
But not quite as terrible as I should have.
She’d called me for help. Yeah, I’d been out looking for her all afternoon…
But she’d called me.
I should have been concentrating on the dim shapes illuminated by the snowmobile’s headlight, but I was too caught up in the warmth between her thighs. She clung to my waist so tightly that the shape of her breasts was evident even under her coat.
We hit a dip, crossing the snow-covered ditch, and her hands fell lower.
She stiffened and slowly moved her hand away.
But she didn’t let go.
The gray shape of the carriage house loomed in the distance. It was a full-on blizzard out here, with wind so cold it stole the breath from my lungs, but I still didn’t want this ride to be over. I contemplated turning in circles, the better to spend more time with Aria Jane pressed against me. More time enjoying the heat between those legs.
But her teeth were chattering, so I reluctantly pulled up to the door and killed the engine.
“Your place?” Aria asked, shivering. She held her injured shoulder gingerly.
“Looks like it.”
“Why didn’t you take me up to my place?”
“Because your place doesn’t have a fire going and a mug of hot chocolate already warmed up for you.
She blinked. “You made me hot chocolate?”
I held the door open for her. “I thought you’d be cold.”
She gave me an appraising look. Long enough to make me duck away from her gaze.
Did she think I expected something from her now? I hoped not. I was done assuming I knew what was best for her. Sure my cock had a few opinions on what was best. But I ignored it. An offer of hot chocolate was an offer of hot chocolate. Nothing more.
She scurried into the door, stomping the snow from her boots. “Well? These are ruined,” she chuckled, peeling them off her legs.
The loss of those boots should have triggered a national day of mourning. “They still look good to me?” I ventured hopefully.
“They’re all stained and water-logged.”
“That makes two of us.” I shivered as I peeled off my balaclava.
She rushed over to the wood stove and stretched out her hands. Drips of water rained down from her sodden hair and her cheeks flushed rosy pink.
I had never seen anything more beautiful.
I turned away from the vision in front of me and went to the stove. I’d left the hot chocolate on the warmer and it steamed comfortingly as I poured it into two mugs.
“Derek?”
“Here.”
Her fingers brushed mine as she took the mug from me. She laced her fingers together and took a long sip. My own mug was pretty scalding, so I knew she had to be frozen.
I ached to warm her up. To let her allow me to take care of her.
But how could I do that? Everything I touched, I ruined.
“What were you going to ask me?”
She swallowed and licked a bit of chocolate from her lip. “I was going to say thank you.”
I nodded once. “You’re welcome.”
“For rescuing me. You are a full-service caretaker.”
I looked away and then back at her, double checking to see that yes, her eyes were shining with amusement. “I like to be of service.”
“The hot chocolate was a nice touch.” I couldn’t stop staring at the shapes her lips were making.
“I like to add a personal touch to my care-taking service.”
“I wish you had a little extra something to put in it.”
I winced.
“But you wouldn’t have that, would you?”
“No.”
“You don’t drink anymore.”
“No.”
“Derek?”
“Mm.”
“I’m sorry I drank that beer in front of you.” She smiled. “Not sorry about the belch, though.”
I stepped towards her. “I don’t need alcohol to feel drunk around you.”
She lifted her chin as I brushed my fingers down the side of her reddened cheeks, then closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. “Derek?”
“Yes?” My cock was hard as a diamond.
A fierce light that had nothing to do with the fire burning in the wood stove blazed in her eyes. “Why were you spying on me?”
I ducked my head and stepped back. “I told you. Your grandfather asked me to find you. I owe that man…a lot. So I did it.” I swallowed. “It was just part of the job.”
“Part of the job? It’s your job to break into people’s stuff?”
“In a word?” I licked my lips. “Yes.”
“What the hell are you?”
“I’m a hacker, Aria. Hacker for hire, I guess. I do whatever job my employer sends my way. But in your case… I guess I went a little overboard.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“Maybe I was a little too… personally invested.”
“So you thought you’d break me up with my boyfriend?”
“Aren’t you happy I did?”
"He hurt me"
"I know."
"Don't say you're sorry I let him hurt me.”
"I didn't."
"You're not thinking how pathetic I am? Staying with him?"
"You left him. You left fame and fortune behind. That's not pathetic at all.”
Her eyes widened.
“You deserve so much better, Aria.” My throat felt tighter but the words still spilled freely. “You deserve someone who will care for you, who will watch out for you and protect you. You deserve someone who thinks you’re the most amazing woman on the planet.”
Her eyes were shining as she listened to me. She breathed in and out, delicately strong shoulders rising and falling. “Is there someone who thinks that?”
“There is,” I said, reaching out to play with a lock of her hair. “He just finished rescuing you.”
“You?”
“Me.”
“What if I don’t believe you?” she whispered.
I stepped closer to her. The heat from her skin put the fire to shame. “I’m telling you now. But you don’t have to believe me. I know you have no reason to trust me.”
“But I do,” she whispered. It sounded like she almost regretted it. “I do trust you.”
I stood up and held out my hand. “Come here.”
She did.