Page 64 of The Holiday Grump
His skin was pale, but his muscles showed signs of use. “Do you work out? Your trapezius is really pronounced.” Without thinking, I dragged a finger down his muscled back.
God, stop it, you total perv.
I pulled back my hand, clamping my mouth with it. “This is what I mean. You’ll never outdo me in awkwardness.”
He laughed. “Jackson drags me to the gym, and I split a lot of firewood. I think your underwear is cute.”
He worked hard to force those words out, looking slightly past me, and it made another laugh burst out of me.
“Eyes on me, Fredrik,” I said, unhooking my bra. “If youwant to make me uncomfortable, you don’t get to be a gentleman. It’s time to leer.”
His gaze snagged on my bare chest, his face red as a beet. “This is a dangerous game, Noelle. You have no idea…”
“It’s a game you will lose,” I exclaimed, dropping the bra on the bench and wiggling out of my panties.
I hadn’t shaved for a while, adding to my genuine embarrassment. But nobody would beat me in this. I was the queen of awkward.
“Sorry I’m so hairy,” I blurted. “It’s a great way to keep warm in winter.”
Fredrik allowed the briefest glance, coughing into his hand. “It’s not like I shaved for this.”
“Shall we?” I asked, gesturing at the sauna door.
“Oh. I almost forgot.” Fredrik dug into his bag and pulled out a tied-up bundle of something. Branches?
“Is that avasta?” I asked in awe. I remembered the Finnish tradition of using birch branches in a sauna.
“I thought it was avihta. I froze a few of them last summer,” he said. “I thought I could make you uncomfortable by suggesting that you beat yourself with birch branches, but I guess that failed, too.”
“No. This is amazing.” I grabbed it off him and brought the bunch of wet, slightly frozen leaves to my face. “I love the smell.”
“We still need to warm it up.”
I handed it back to him. Two loose leaves stuck to my chest. As I peeled them off, I noticed his eyes following my hand. At least he wasn’t looking at the walls anymore. I spent a moment brushing leaves away, giving him a chance to look. When was the last time he’d even looked at a livewoman? He seemed to exist in a sad little world, either alone in the bookstore or in his giant, empty house.
“I told you I could make you uncomfortable.” His thick voice caught my attention.
He glanced down and my gaze followed, landing on a huge erection. He gave me a curt nod and covered it with thevasta.
“Why do you think I’m uncomfortable?” I asked. “I’m flattered. I mean, if that’s for me.”
“What do you mean? You’re naked.” He let out a frustrated sound. “I’ve never seen anything this hot in my entire life. You have an unfair advantage in making me look like a fool. The least you can do is forfeit the title of the most awkward person in the room.”
“Never,” I declared. “I’m just as turned on as you are. It’s not as obvious, but you can easily confirm it.”
I was not backing down. Not now. Not ever. I stepped a little closer. “Look at my dilated pupils.” My gaze caught his eyes, noting how dark they were, the deepest evergreen forest. “Check out my nipples.” His gaze dipped lower, taking in the hard peaks that tightened further under his stare.
“It’s dim here, and a little cold,” he said, grabbing the sauna door handle. “We should?—”
I yanked his hand off the door handle. “There’s one way to confirm, unless you’d rather be a gentleman.”
He swallowed hard. “I don’t think we need to go that far.”
It was cold, but my insides were on fire. “I’m not losing this game, Fredrik.”
I didn’t even know what the game was anymore. I onlyknew we were naked, standing inches apart, and I was slowly dragging his hand down my body. He shifted closer, his breath hot against my forehead.
I guided his hand onto my belly, then lower. As his fingers reached my slit, we both gasped. I kept my chin up, staring at him as I guided him right in. His mouth dropped open, and he made a small, strangled noise as his middle finger dipped in, diving into a pool that ended all arguments.
