Page 39 of Duke
“You’re freezing.”
“You’re scared. C’mon, let’s go make sure everything’s okay. Then you’re coming to bed with me.”
My heart leaps into my throat. Leaps again into my mouth. “I—”
“I’ll sleep on the floor if you want. But my room is in the basement, which seems like the safest place with all these trees around us.”
“So you’re saying I was right about the trees.”
He tilts his head, squinting. “I’m saying we need to be careful.”
I laugh. How could I not? Sleeping in a bed with Duke—a very, very naked Duke—seems like the opposite ofbeing careful.
But then the wind roars and everything inside me heaves, and I know I should go with him.
I’m shaking so hard my teeth chatter.
“Aw, Wheeler—”
“I’m okay.”I’m not okay.“Let’s go.”
We head out into the living room, where I try not to watch Duke peering through every window. He’s still holding his hand over his dick, but the rest of him is still very much naked. His asscheeks hollow out on the sides when he strains to see through the dark windows.
It’s freezing.
It’s pitch-black. Glancing at the kitchen, I see the clock on the stove isn’t working.
“Aha.” He jabs a finger at the pane beside the kitchen table. “Big old branch is lying right there. That had to be it. Far as I can tell, the tree is still standing.”
“Think it took out the power or something?”
Duke heads for the staircase that leads to the basement. “Maybe. Whatever the case, I was wrong about the generator.”
“You were wrong about”—my teeth chatter—“a lot of things.”
“At least I can admit it. C’mon, let’s get you warm.”
“How are you not an icicle?” I follow him down the stairs, holding up the flashlight on my phone so we can see.
Really so I can see the freckles that dot Duke’s shoulders and neck. He’s got the cutest little farmer’s tan. Or would it be cowboy tan?
Either way, I dig it.
“I am.” He chuckles. “You had to have seen—well…”
Nowaythat was his shrunk-in-the-cold dick.
No fuckingway. If he’s that big when he’s cold—
My God, how big is he when he’s warm?
A bolt of lust hits me squarely in the clit. I squirm, grateful for the cover of darkness. I bet I’m bright red right now.
It’s colder in the basement, the chill slicing through my pajamas. My shivers become violent.
I follow Duke through a door to the right of the stairs. It opens up into a large room with—oh God—one bed.
Granted, it looks like it’s a king. But it’s still the only sleeping surface in the room. Not so much as a bench or sofa in sight.
