Page 19 of Married to Her Yeti
Nima shook the popcorn pot, kernels beginning to pop, as he called over his shoulder, “Sounds good to me.”
After the popping stopped, Mari asked, “Did you just make stovetop popcorn?”
Nima leaned into the living room, the pot still in his hands. “Would you rather have microwave popcorn?”
She slowly shook her head. “No, no I would not.And if you ever need caregiver references, I’ll give you glowing reviews.”
Smiling, Nima ducked his head and stepped back into the kitchen to transfer the popcorn into a bowl. He wouldn’t be half this attentive to anyone else.
She added, “Would you please sprinkle kelp seasoning on the popcorn? It’s in my spice cabinet, front lower shelf. It’s become a favorite.”
Only in Alaska. Nima found the jar. “Kelp with nutritional yeast?” When Mari confirmed that’s what she wanted, he dusted the popcorn with salt and seasoning and then turned the kitchen light off before joining Mari in the living room. If they’d never broken up, would they have been doing this every weekend?
“Stovetop popcorn is hardly a resume builder,” Nima countered, handing her the bowl before he settled himself under Mari’s feet and the blanket.
“It’s the entire package,” she said with a wave of her hand. “You prepared a healthy homemade dinner, carried your patient to the bathroom, slept by her bedside, cut and stacked firewood. And you’ll maintain traditions, like eating pizza on a night when most people are enjoying elaborate meals.”
“There’s a time and place for everything.” Heshrugged, trying not to notice how warm he was—must be the blanket he now shared with Mari—or how she braced her good foot against his thigh, just like she had when they’d been dating. He pushed those memories from his mind as he moved his arm to the back of the couch. Seemed safer in case his hands took a little... wander, like they would have in the old days.
“Well, I really appreciate your help.” She took up the remote control. “Ready for the gingerbread soldier?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he said, fingers flexing as she readjusted her injured leg, pressing it directly against his sensitive sheath. Since he’d wrapped her ankle in an ice pack and bandage, she couldn’t realize where she touched him. Nima let out a slow breath, trying to ignore the teasing pressure from Mari’s foot—at least it was cold—and how her intoxicating scent swirled around him. He reminded himself that she had called him her caregiver.This is not a date.
Tell that to his cock.
Mari couldn’t rememberthe last time she’d curled up on the couch with a date to watch a movie.
Wait.This is not a date.
Nima was her friend and caretaker. But then why was she more focused on the sexy yeti supporting her injured ankle than on the TV screen?
The gingerbread soldier, an actual prince—no surprise there—had whisked the heroine off to a small, make-believe European country when Mari adjusted her position. She paused, then slowly wiggled her toes. Something long and hard pressed against the underside of her foot... near Nima’s sheath. Had his dick dropped?
She shifted again, picking a half-popped kernel from the bowl while surreptitiously watching him. Her focus was on Nima rather than the movie’s royal Christmas ball preparations. He’d relaxed one arm on the back of the couch, far enough away that his fingers didn’t touch her. His other elbow rested on the arm of the couch. Both hands were safely above the blanket they shared.
Was poor Nima feigning interest in a low-budget holiday movie to please her, all while sporting a raging hard-on? Was it wrong that she wanted to test her theory? What if she moved her foot to do a littleprobing? She dipped a finger into the bowl, rubbing it in lingering salt before licking it off as she watched him from the corner of her eye.
Yes, of course it was wrong. He’d done so much for her, and she’d be tormenting him only to confirm that he was aroused. She was the one who’d gotten off last night through her damn pants. Plus, it could hurt her ankle to use her foot as an investigative tool.
A moment later, Nima’s nostrils flared, and he glanced in her direction. Mari’s breath hitched as realization dawned. She’d become wet thinking about his dick dropping, and he knew it. Well, fuck. After ten years apart, she’d almost forgotten about the powerful, animalistic sense of smell yeti possessed. The thought of Nima scenting her now made her even wetter. Great...Really, body? Really?
No way she’d acknowledge she was hot for him. They shouldn’t repeat last night. She paused the movie. “I need a bath. I haven’t showered since yesterday.” She’d wash any arousal down the drain until she was scent free, like afriendshould be.
Nima sat up, his arm coming off the back of the couch and nearly landing on her leg. But no, he didn’t touch her. Instead, he seemed to fake a stretch and returned his arm to the couch. “Right now?” Hegestured to the TV. “Christine doesn’t have a gown for the ball, and she has to meet the queen in one hour.”
Mari’s lips twitched. She would have been hard-pressed to name the main character. He was paying more attention to the movie than she was. “Yeah, right now. Please? We can watch the conclusion tomorrow.” She ran a hand through her messy hair. “I’ve been in bed all day. I’m gross.”
Ever helpful, Nima carefully moved her feet aside before he rose. “I’ll start the water.”
“Would you add a capful of bubble bath? It’s on the edge of the tub... or under the sink?” As herhusbandwalked away, she couldn’t help but watch his powerful ass flexing in his jeans. “Thanks.”
Husband. They’d been married for ten years, but she’d never thought of him that way. If things had turned out differently in Nevada, where would they be now? Would Nima still be her husband? Would they have kids? When she was younger, she always imagined him at her side as they grew old together. It was impossible not to wonder what could have been. But those thoughts led to regret and sadness. She quickly brushed them away to focus on the present.
As the tub filled, Mari made her way to the bathroom on crutches. Nima removed her ankle bandagesince it hurt for her to lean forward to unwrap it. She assured him she could handle the rest on her own and ushered him out the door. She undressed, then paused, staring at the tub as vanilla-scented steam beaded her skin. How was she supposed to lower herself into the water without tweaking her injuries?
Finally, she gave up. “Hey, Nima?” she called through the closed bathroom door. As his footsteps grew louder, she blurted, “I’m naked,” so he wouldn’t barge right in.
“Okay, good to know,” he said from the other side of the door, a hint of humor in his voice. “That’s an important step in bathing.”
