Page 28 of The Jellybean Dilemma

I nodded. I was aware of every bit of him pressing me into the snow. One of his legs nestled between mine, and our torsos touched. His arms framed my shoulders. My gaze drifted to his oh-so-kissable lips, so close to mine.

Somehow, I managed to ask, “You?”

His nod was distracted, his attention all on my mouth. I shifted beneath him, a thrill zipping through me as he drew even closer. Our lips met tentatively, as if he were asking permission. They touched for the briefest of moments before Greg pulled back. His wide eyes were stormy and his breathing ragged.

But I was done waiting. I’d been waiting all day, I’d been waiting for years, and I could wait no more. I surged up to meet him, one mitten clasping the back of his head, the other gripping his shoulder. He froze for a moment before his lips moved on mine. Then he slanted his mouth, deepening the kiss, as if he couldn’t hold back either. His arms tightened around me, devouring me with a passionate hunger.

I’d dreamed of kissing him, so many times, but this surpassed every single one of my daydreams. My chest felt like it would explode, desire coursed through me and I cursed every single layer between us. I had to wrench away, needing oxygen, and he rolled off, into the snow beside me. Our chests heaved as I stared up at the sky.

As far as first kisses went, he’d just ruined me for all other men. Talk about a dream come true. The feeling of his lips lingered, as if his essence were still there, and I savored every second. He stood up, brushing himself off, then he offered me a hand.

I shook my head, not ready to move yet.

He frowned. “You’re going to freeze.”

I stuck my tongue out. “Maybe I want to make a snow angel.” I moved my arms and legs back and forth the way I’d done so many years before.

Greg watched me with his head tilted to one side, pure amusement on his face.

“What’s so funny?”

He shook his head. “You’ll see.”

This time I took his offered hand up, studying my snow angel. Then I burst into laughter. “My snow angel got some action!”

A jumbled mess in the snow led up to where we’d landed. Greg’s knees, feet and arms dug in beside my imprint, but his footprints walking away sealed the impression that my snow angel really had gotten laid. Greg chuckled once more before turning to head up the hill.

I looked over my ridiculous creation once more, shaking my head. Snow angel’s getting more action than me. Sigh.

Greg’s back was to me when I began trudging after him, and it proved too tempting a target. I paused to ball up some snow, aiming carefully. When it hit his shoulder, he yelped, whirling around as I threw another one. Which smacked him square in the chest.

I laughed at his indignant expression, but it turned to a squeal as he tore after me, bending down to scoop up snow on the run. His shot hit my leg, just before I ducked behind a tree. I peeked out to find him gaining on me, so I raced around the tree the opposite way, tossing another snowball over my shoulder. This one missed completely.

I didn’t even make it to the next tree before he tackled me, both of us landing back in the snow, shaking with laughter. I squealed and squirmed, trying to get away.

“No way. You’re mine now.”

As much as I liked the sound of that, I had one more trick up my sleeve. I grabbed a fistful of snow and smashed it over my shoulder, into his face.

He hollered at the cold but didn’t loosen his grip. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that.” He gripped me tightly, pinning me down with his knees on either side of me.

All sorts of wonderful images of what we could do in that position sprang to my mind. I felt his hands on my neck. Then something cold and wet slid inside the collar of my shirt, down my back. I yelped as the melted snow dripped down my spine.

He leapt off me. “Don’t fight dirty, unless you can handle the consequences.”

I begrudgingly took his offered hand, only to squeal when he hauled me up on my feet and flush against him. He didn’t hesitate this time as his mouth crashed down onto mine, and my hum of pleasure was swallowed by him. My mittens rested on his shoulders as his arms tightened around me.

He broke away, stepping back with a smirk. I gaped after him as he started up the hill once more. I’ll take those consequences any day. As I followed after him, my wet shirt plastered to my back, but it didn’t even faze me. Not when my lips still tingled from his touch.

Thoughts of Greg’s kiss warmed me all the way to the house. We unloaded the toboggans, and I was about to go inside when he stopped me with a hand on my arm.

A serious furrow creased his forehead. “You’re not just arm candy, Rhonda, you know that, right? Not to me.”

I froze, desperate to hear the words of reassurance, especially from him.

“I let you invite yourself along because I needed a friend with me to even consider coming back here.” He yanked off his hat, running his hand through his disheveled hair. “Having you along gave me the courage to do that.”

Warmth shot through me at the admission.

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