Page 228 of The One
Teo chuckles, shaking his head. “We’ll test the water tomorrow. During the daytime, when it’s a little warmer out here.”
Before I can respond, he takes my hand, his fingers icy against mine, and tugs me toward the door.
Yeah. Definitely time to go inside.
The moment we step into the lodge, I’m embraced by warmth. But the energy between Teo and me is cranked up a notch too.
The space in this lodge is a blend of rustic charm and understated luxury. A massive bed, draped in plush white linen, dominates one side of the room, its thick duvet inviting and soft.
Across from it, a sitting area is nestled between towering bookshelves, their dark timber full of stories waiting to be explored. A fire crackles in the stone fireplace, its golden light flickering over the thick, fur-lined rug spread out in front of it.
I can already see it, our bodies tangled there, moving together in slow, aching perfection. The image is so vivid it sends a sharp pulse through me, tightening my nipples into stiff peaks and igniting a burn deep in my core.
I drag in a steadying breath, trying to calm my now racing heart, but it only makes things worse. The air is thick with the faint scent of cedar and something undeniably Teo. It’s making any resistance impossible. Not that I want to resist. I’ve waited too long for this, imagined it too many times to count.
Soft music hums from concealed speakers. I don’t recognize the song, but the melody is slow, sensual, and setting the stage for what’s to come.
The golden glow of candles casts gentle, shifting shadows along the wooden walls.
It’s beautiful. Intimate. A world unto itself. A world made just for us.
Not giving the butterflies in my stomach attention, I set my champagne flute on the coffee table and reach for my jacket’s zipper.
“Allow me,” Teo murmurs, stepping in closer.
He holds my gaze as he pushes the thick jacket off my shoulders, the downy fabric rustling before it hits the floor with a quiet thud.
Cool air brushes over my arms, sending a shiver through me. It’s not from the cold, but from the way he’s looking at me. As if I’m the only thing in existence.
I’m still in my wedding dress, ivory lace and silk shimmering in the warm light, but the winter boots on my feet make me laugh inwardly. They’re white, of course. Because Teo thinks of everything.
He sinks to one knee before me, a simple act that sends my pulse skittering.
He unties the laces of my boots as if he has all the time in the world. As if undressing me piece by piece is something to be savored.
When the laces are loose, he slips one boot off, then the other, his touch grazing my ankle lightly but deliberately.
When he rises, his eyes never leave mine. My body tightens, charged and waiting. My breath catches, my fingers curling at my sides.
“My turn,” I whisper, barely trusting my voice.
I step closer, mirroring his movements as I push his winter jacket from his broad shoulders. It slides off easily, pooling at our feet. My fingers tremble a little as I kneel to untie his boots. He watches me, his expression intense, making my skin flush with heat.
When I rise again, I don’t stop. My hands find the hem of his knitted pullover, the one that replaced his suit jacket, and I lift it slowly, peeling it from his body. Beneath it, he’s still wearing the crisp white long-sleeve shirt from our wedding. Seeing the fabric stretched across his torso makes my mouth go dry.
The room seems smaller now, the fire crackling louder, and my heartbeat is echoing in my ears.
Teo’s breathing is heavier too, his chest rising and falling faster.
My hands go to the top button of his shirt, but before I can undo it, his hands cover mine, stopping my motion. They’re still slightly cold, and his fingers are trembling.
He lifts my fingers to his lips, kissing them one by one before pressing my hand over his heart. It drums hard against my palm.
My gaze lifts to his. His eyes burn with desire, but there’s something else there too. A flicker of nervousness, barely perceptible.
He shakes his head. “Not yet,dolcezza.” His voice comes out rough, and he clears his throat before speaking again.
“Let’s dance,” he whispers, pulling me closer to the fireplace and against his body. He grabs a remote and turns up the volume slightly.
