Page 27 of Wren's Winter

Or ever, I corrected.

“And you’re leaving soon. A little winter fling before you come back home and figure your shit out.”

“I’m not doing anything if he has a girlfriend.”

“Obviously.”

On the other end, there was a shout and knock.

“Hold on.” There was a muffled noise where she was talking to someone. I heard the word pub and a laugh. “Sorry, that was my flat mate. I’ll call you back later, Wren. Ta.”

We disconnected, and I set my phone down. From the small window in the loft, I could see the river in the distance, the snow-covered ground, stark in the midmorning sun. I had planned on checking that out anyway. A few minutes by the river might help. While I rarely tried out Autumn’s affirmations, maybe standing beside the river and being one with nature would calm my racing self-doubt. A minute or two of meditation or quiet thoughts or whatever it was that grounded non-anxious people did. I pulled on my boots.

Wrong path again. If I had stood on the other side of that tree, the ground wouldn’t have crumbled beneath me, and I wouldn’t have ended up waist-deep in near freezing waters. How Adrian heard me and got to my side so quickly, I wasn’t sure but was grateful nevertheless.

Now, standing in his living room, there was a chance this conversation was going in the wrong direction. He might not be attracted to me. There might be a girlfriend he’s lying about. There could be a million little reasons I was making a complete fool of myself.

But I was tired of putting myself second. Of wishing for more and settling for the bare minimum.

I let the blanket drop at my feet, stepping closer to him. Watched as his eyes flickered over my body, the hunger in his gaze. Letting go of the fear of rejection, I said those bold words. It took channeling all those sexy women in movies. Women who knew their worth. I could be that woman for a day.

“You.”

No sooner had the words left my lips than his mouth descended over mine. His kiss was hard and unforgiving, as his hand tangled in my hair. Despite being in the icy river less than thirty minutes before, my body was all fire. My arms wrapped around his back, pulling his body flush with mine. He was all hard lines against my soft stomach.

Waves of heat licked at my skin as his fingers moved from my hair down my throat. His thumb hooking into the strap of my bra as he moved down my body.

“I want you.” His words were hot on my ear. “I’ve wanted you from that first moment you stood on my porch.”

My core pulsed at his declaration. “I want you.”

His hands cupped my ass, squeezing it as his kiss deepened. Holding tighter around his neck as his grip tightened on my upper thighs. He wrapped my legs around his waist, and the center of me was flush with him. The thin fabric of my underwear and his sweatpants couldn’t hide the sizable length of him. Wrapping my legs tighter, I ground myself into him. With me around his body, he walked across the room.

I had never been with someone who picked me up like this before. A sensation of being completely overtaken filled me. Surrendering myself over to him, I kissed him harder. I needed more, harder.

His lips never leaving mine, he kneeled down on the rug. The soft fibers were at my back as he laid me down in front of the fire.

I was right about my fantasy the night before. He was taking his time, his touch tracing fiery lines over my body as he moved over me.

“Take off your shirt. I want to feel you.” I pulled at his hem.

“Aren’t you bossy?” He smirked at me.

“You don’t like it?” I asked.

“Birdie, you can boss me around like this any day. I’ll do whatever you want as long as I can touch you.”

In a single motion, he pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it to the side. His mouth was back on my throat, my collarbone, the top of my breasts. Sliding his hand behind my back, I felt my bra loosen. I didn’t even know that was something a man could do outside television.

“You’re good with your fingers,” I said, my legs falling open for him to lie between them.

From his spot at my bare breast, he looked up at me. A storm over his blue-green eyes. “You have no idea yet. But you will soon.”

Can a person orgasm from words alone? Words and his tongue on my nipple, teasing and nipping.

My legs wrapped around his waist, and he thrust against me. Even through the fabric, I could feel how we’d fit together. His mouth moved to my other breast, taking my nipple between his teeth and sucking hard.

A loud cry escaped me at the sensations, and the grip on his waist tightened. My hands reached behind him, running down his back to his ass.

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