Page 103 of Ice To Meet You

“Don’t panic. Iris is a cat person, too,anda responsible adult.”

As twilight crept through the open window, Matteo fell quiet. His chest rising and falling a little faster than before. “Es, can I ask you something?”

"Mhmm."

“Does it really bother you that I’m younger? I know it’s not by much, but back in Paris, you gave me the distinct impression you might be a little … embarrassed.”

I pulled him closer, intertwining my fingers through his. “You could never embarrass me. Me and my tiny shorts are the ones withthattrack record. I just need to get over my ridiculous obsession with what other people think.”

I laid a kiss against his chest. “Who cares if I’m sleeping with an incredibly handsome and ridiculously hot younger man? You might just be what I need to keep the wrinkles away. Better than Botox.”

He rolled his eyes. “You don’t have wrinkles.”

“But one day I will. Will you care?”

He scoffed, pulling a fur over my shoulders. “You’ve only got four years on me.”

“Almost five,” I whispered.

Matteo leaned in to kiss my forehead. “I don’t care if it's five or twenty-five.”

I giggled. “Steady. I’m not ready to retire quite yet.”

Matteo threaded an arm around me, pulling me close. His lips brushed my hair. “You’re perfect just the way you are. And I love that you’re talking about us having a future.”

He hesitated, his eyelashes closing for the longest beat. “I love you so much. And I understand if you don’t feel the same way, not yet, but I hope one day, I’ll hear you say it back.”

My belly flipped, and I blinked at him, the air leaving my body.Merde! I hadn’t told him. Under the onslaught of our glacier descent, all the gifts and miracles I could handle, and the distraction of bears and Claudette, I’d forgotten to tell him what’d burned in my heart for days.

“But I do.”

“Do what?”

“I love you. With all my heart. I’ve known for a while, but I guess I didn’t dare say it out loud.”

His smile faltered. “Why?”

I kissed his cheek, willing his dimples to return. “I needed to untangle my thoughts. What if I was just a fling for you? What if you woke up one day and someone younger and far sexier caught your eye? What if … what if people gossiped about us?” I turned away, flopping back on the pillow. “I know it might seem crazy to you, but I’ve always played it safe in life. This … us … it’s scary.”

He seemed to mull over my words, emotions flashing through his eyes. Finally, he tightened his fingers around mine. “You’re not crazy. But before I waste a good pot of honey, I need to know if you’ve come to your senses.”

I let out a giggle, facing him again. I gently ran my finger over his lips. “Oh, definitely. I love being with you. You make me so happy. The two of us are all that matters.”

He kissed the end of my fingertip, the softest glow in hiseyes. “And you don’t mind being painted as a scarlet woman for leading a younger man astray?”

I grinned. “Quite the opposite. I may get a new wardrobe—the redder the better.”

Matteo leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a slow, tender kiss. His warm breath sent a sweet ache through my chest, and I wondered how I ever doubted how perfect we were together.

When our kiss ended, I played with the smattering of hair on his chest, running my fingers over his skin. “So, am I officially your girlfriend?”

He gripped his lip with his teeth. “I guess you are.”

My heart swelled. “Do I get a T-shirt? A badge? Something with an M on it, at least. I could get a tattoo!”

He looked at me like I was an annoying child. “No. I like your skin just as it is. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure people know.”

“Fine, but I’ll only agree to come and stay here again if I get my own set of antlers on your headboard. I want to know I’m special.”

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