Page 16 of Melting His Grumpy Heart
“Nothing elaborate. Just something to acknowledge the season.”
Jake looked genuinely puzzled. “Why?”
He fixed Ru with that penetrating gaze again, making Ru feel as though he was under a magnifying glass. He forced himself to hold eye contact, and not shuffle from foot to foot.
“Because it’s Christmas? Because it might be nice? Because I’ve spent the last month actively avoiding all things festive in London, and now I find I actually miss it a bit?”
Jake tilted up his chin as his eyes narrowed. Was this how he used to look at the raw recruits under his command? Ru felt a hot flush creep up his neck, painfully, excruciatingly aware of the way his body reacted when pinned beneath Jake’s uncompromising scrutiny.
“What did you have in mind? It’s not like we can pop to the shops for baubles and tinsel.” His lips curved slightly as he spoke, drawing Ru’s attention to their full shape, the way the lower one was slightly fuller than the upper.
“We don’t need shops.” Ru forced himself to focus. “We could bring in some greenery. Holly, and… erm, other stuff.”
Jake arched a brow. “Other stuff? Like what?”
“I don’t know. I’m a city boy, remember? Ivy? Mistletoe?”The stuff you kiss under…
“We can get all that easily enough. I would’ve been bringing in greenery in any case, but not for Christmas.” Jake glanced the window, his expression thoughtful. “The storm’s let up for now, so we could collect somestufffrom the wood. The holly’s thick with berries this year, more so than usual. Plus, it’d be good to get out even if it is frigging freezing.”
The unexpected, easy agreement, sent a warm ripple of pleasure through Ru’s chest, settling low in his stomach. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Wouldn’t have offered if I minded.” Jake got to his feet and stretched fully, arms raised above his head.
The movement caused his shirt to ride up again, revealing a more substantial strip of toned abdomen and a trail of dark hairthat disappeared beneath his waistband. Ru swallowed hard, heat flooding his face as he forced his gaze away.
“But we do it properly. Full gear, and we stay within the boundaries of the property. You do exactly what I say, and when. No argument. The storm’s only paused, not finished. You clear on that?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do anything you say.” Ru laughed as he gave a mock salute. Jake’s eyes darkened, his pupils dilating. Ru’s skin pulsed hot and cold. God, did he have some hitherto unknown subordination kink? “Erm, yes, of course. It’s all about being safe…” He swallowed the last of his coffee.Erggh, stone cold.
“Right.” Jake’s voice was rougher and more gravelly than Ru had heard before. “Let’s get you properly kitted out.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ru found himself in the utility room, being methodically outfitted for their expedition. Jake had told him to ditch the jeans and jumper in favour of a pair of thermal leggings and matching long sleeved vest, leaving him for a moment to make the change. Ru’d caught sight of himself in the mirror and grimaced. Calvin Klein didn’t have to anything to worry about.
“Raise your arms,” Jake ordered, holding out a thermal mid-layer that looked far too small even for Ru.
“There’s no way that’s going to fit. I didn’t realise you ran survival courses for kids.”
“It’ll fit, and no I don’t.” Jake glared at him through narrowed, heavily lidded eyes. “And what did I say about doing what you were told?”
Yes, Daddy…The words bubbled on Ru’s tongue.
“Arms up!”
Ru shot his arms into the air. Jake guided the stretchy fabric down over Ru’s raised arms and torso, tugging the garment into place, hands brushing down Ru’s sides through the thin material, every touch sending a bolt of electricity straight to Ru’s core. Jake’s fingertips lingered at his waist, adjusting the fit, but the contact made Ru catch his breath.
“Told you it’d fit.” Jake’s face was close enough that Ru could feel the warmth of his breath, could smell the distinctive scent of him, of woodsmoke and warm spices, all of it making Ru want to lean in closer. “This goes next.” Jake held up a thin fleece. “It doesn’t look much, but it’s made for sub-zero temperatures. The layers trap heat between them and are more effective than one thick layer.”
As Ru slipped his arms into the offered garment, Jake’s hands smoothed over his shoulders, travelled down his arms, glided down his sides. Every touch was sure and confident, yet gentle, and all Ru wanted to do was whimper.
“Next it’s the outer layer, appropriate head gear, and boots.”
“At this rate, I’ll be a survival expert myself by the time I—”Leave.The word burnt through him.
Jake paused, a dark glint in his eyes Ru couldn’t quite identify. Jake stepped closer, breaking through and trashing Ru’s personal space. “Oh, I doubt that.” Jake’s voice was low and gruff yet intimate. “You’re a city boy to the core.”
Ru gulped. “Guilty as charged,” he croaked, viscerally aware of their proximity, of the few, scant centimetres of charged air separating their bodies. His heart hammered against his ribs as Jake held his gaze for a beat longer before he stepped back.
