Page 30 of Next to You

I rushed through my sponge bath, shivering from the cold. Even if there were more than one bed here, it was smarter to share our body heat. The fireplace could only do so much to keep us warm.

The bed was made when I returned to the living room. Seeing her in it sent a surge of heat through my body. Now that I knew what it felt like to have her with me all night, I doubted I could sleep without her. It was probably ridiculous to think such thoughts, but they kept coming no matter what logic I employed to get them to stop.

“Get in.” She slid over and patted the spot she had just occupied. “I warmed it up for you.”

My body knew what it wanted. I ached to get into that bed, pull her into my arms, and let whatever happened happen. But I couldn’t allow that. Especially now that I knew for a fact we didn’t have any protection. Plus, we’d both had a couple of drinks as well, so I got into the bed and stayed on my side.

“Do you have a New Year’s resolution?” she whispered into the dark.

To finally kiss you.

To make you mine.

To never let you go.

My silence was an unintentional answer.

“You can tell me, Spencer.” The covers rustled as she turned to her side. “It’s not like birthday wishes. You can say your resolution out loud. You’re the one who makes it come true.”

“Not this one. Not yet, anyway. What’s yours?”

“Maybe mine should be kept secret too. I’ll tell you what it is when we get out of here.”

“Good idea. We need to be careful tonight.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not tipsy anymore. Touchy-feely Lucy would have gotten us both into trouble.”

“I’m not a touchy-feely man. But I like how it feels when your hands are on me—too much.”

“Spencer…” her voice was nothing but air between us.

“Are you okay? Are you cold?”

“I’m okay.”

I rolled onto my side to face her. Her hair shone like deep gold in the firelight, and her cheeks were a lovely pink. “You must be warm now; your face is turning red.”

“Stop it.” Her lips curled into a smile. “You’re too sweet. You’re making it hard to stay away from you.”

“No. It’s you. I’ve never in my entire life wanted a woman like I want you right now, But we can’t. I rolled over to my back. “Come here.”

I pulled her close, and she rested her head on my chest. My heart thundered beneath her cheek. She slid her hand into mine, and I interlocked our fingers, raising our hands into the firelight. The sight of them wrapped around each other solidifiedsomething inside of me, and I knew this wouldn’t end when we got out of here.

“How can this feel so right, so fast, Spencer? Is this real?”

“It’s real, sweetheart.” I turned, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “We should go to sleep before we go too far.”

Chapter 11

Spencer

Ifelt her moving restlessly against me.

She moaned, and it woke me up.

Something wasn’t right. I could feel it.

I reached for the lantern next to the couch and flicked it on.

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