Page 134 of Ice Darling
The heck?
“Ah!” I bellow.
“Aaah!” The arm sleeves scream back as they continue smacking me.
I grab those windmilling hands and tug. To my surprise, Cordelia falls out of the closet.
I blink, hardly believing my eyes. Am I dreaming right now? Did I slip in the shower and pass out?
“Cordelia? What are you doing in here?”
She peeks at my chest and averts her gaze, blushing hard. “Your mom sent me to get a jacket for Gordie.”
“This isn’t Gordie’s room,” I inform her, my fingers tightening around her wrists.
“I figured. The lack of Hello Kitty paraphernalia clued me in.”
Despite her sass, I can tell she’s nervous. The pad of my thumb is right above her pulse point, and her pulse is hammering faster than a jackhammer.
“What were you doing in the closet?”
“I was about to leave, but you walked in and startedstripping, so I panicked.”
I stare at her beautiful face, note the blush spreading across her cheeks, and I can’t help it.
I laugh.
She blows a frustrated breath. “This isn’t funny, Viking.”
“It’s a little funny.”
Her mouth trembles, and she looks away to hide her smile, but I can see the way her lips arch up. I want to trace her little smile lines with my finger. I want to kiss both of those rosy cheeks. Take my time tasting those full, pink lips.
Reel it back in, Renthrow.
Water trickles from my ear and plops against her hand, drawing her attention back to me. Her eyes widen slightly when she looks up at my face, and I tighten my jaw.
Is it obvious? How attracted I am to her? How much she’s messing with my head?
I’m hungry. To touch her. To taste her. To stand close to her and breathe her in.
Move back. Give her room.
There’s no reason for me to be here, pinning her against the side of my wardrobe. Yet, the electricity heating the air between us makes me reluctant to back away.
I can tell she feels it too. I didn’t think it was possible, but her pulse is sprinting faster now.
You’re in dangerous territory, Renthrow.
My gaze darts to her mouth, and my voice scrapes my throat as I whisper, “You shouldn’t be in here.”
“You’re the one keeping me here,” she says breathily.
I look at where my fingers are wrapped around her wrist. “Seems so.” My eyes find hers. “Do you want me to let go?”
She chews on her bottom lip. Those Bambi-brown eyes meet mine with a mixture of yearning and hesitation. “It would be better if you did.”
I shackle her hands above her head, my voice lowered to a husk. “Probably.”
