Page 135 of Ice Darling
“Probably.”
I inch forward. “I need more than that.”
She licks her lips, and a whirlpool of heat roars to life inside me. Not even the water plopping from my wet hair can cool me down.
“I don’t know what you mean.” She tilts her chin up as her nostrils flare.
I adjust my grip on her wrists so only one hand is keeping her hands above her head. Then I place my free hand on the wardrobe door, caging her in as I lean down slightly.
“Be clear,” I demand.
Her eyes, darkening by the second, flit to mine. “You’re the one who told me you wouldn’t let go.”
Memories of stopping her bike earlier fill my mind.
Cordelia inhales deeply through her nose. “Don’t.”
I take that as permission and move toward her lips.
Her head tilts up in anticipation. Her heavy breaths mingle with my own.
Closer.
Closer still.
We inch toward each other and toward that line of no return.
My nose brushes against hers.
Her lips part for me.
The door bursts open, and Gordie shrieks, “Daddy! When are you coming down? We’re going to be late!”
I freeze in shock.
But Cordelia doesn’t suffer from the same immobility. She shoves me so hard, I stumble to the left. A moment later, I hearthe thud of the closet doors shutting just as Gordie stomps into sight.
She slams her tiny hands against her hips and tilts her head to the side, letting her ponytails swing.
“Why don’t you have on a shirt, Daddy? We need to go.”
“Good things shouldn’t be rushed, pumpkin. Remember?” I walk to Gordie and pat her bum as I usher her out of the room. “Just wait a little longer.”
Gordie spins around and stares at me in a way that reminds me of Mom when I used to sneak out as a teenager.
“Daddy, why is your face so red? And why are you breathing so hard?”
I ignore both those questions because the answers are too damning. “Tell Grandma and Miss Potts to wait in the car. I’ll be right out.”
Thankfully, Gordie is easy to distract. “Okay. Can you tell Delia to come out too?”
“What?” I blanche.
“Grandma said Delia is having alone time in the bathroom, and I shouldn’t bother her right now. But we need to go now.”
Mom said that, huh? Seems like Cordelia might not have “accidentally” found my room. It’s more like she was directed there.
“Wait in the car, pumpkin. I’ll get Cordelia.”
