Page 161 of Cold As Ice

“I think we can probably step it up a gear.” My gaze dipped as my heart crashed violently against my rib cage.

He was here.

He was here and he wasn’t turned off at the state of me. Of the fact that I’d just spend the last thirty minutes cleaning a four-year-old’s vomit from every surface in my bathroom.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. But let me change first. I must—”

“Madison?”

“Yeah, Austin?”

“Stop talking now.” His hand slid up my spine and into my hair, cupping the back of my neck. “I’ve missed this,” he said huskily, leaning in to ghost his lips over mine.

He pulled away, searching my eyes, asking for silent permission. I pressed my lips together, wetting them, and nodded.

“Thank fuck.” He crashed his mouth down onto mine, plunging his tongue deep inside and stealing the very air from my lungs.

My fingers twisted into his sweater, anchoring us closer.

God, he wasn’t the only one who’d missed this.

Austin kissed me until I was breathless, hot and desperate for more. But Imogen was right down the hall, and I’d promised myself that we’d take it slow.

“Yeah,” he murmured, breaking the kiss, resting his forehead against mine. “We should probably stop before we can’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t do that.” He brushed another lingering kiss against my mouth. “I want this, Madi. I want you and that amazing little girl of yours. I’m in, okay. I’m all fucking in.”

His admission made me feel dizzy. Like free falling through the clouds.

“I’m glad you’re here, Austin.” I traced the lines of his face, before stealing another kiss. “Are you hungry?”

His eyes flashed with lust, and I laughed. “For food, hotshot.”

“I could eat. You want to order in? My treat?”

“Or I could cook something for us. I’m not sure what I have in the refrigerator.”

“I have to admit, I’m not a very good cook.”

“Come on then, hotshot.” I got up and offered him my hand. “I’ll teach you how to make something.”

“A cooking lesson?”

“Let’s see what I’ve got in here.” I pulled the refrigerator door open and scanned the contents. “Okay, we’ve got one beer.” I handed Austin the leftover beer from the last time Jeremiah came over for movie night. “There’s some leftover wine for me. And we have all the ingredients to make spaghetti. I mean, it’s practically a date.” I grabbed everything I needed and dropped it on the counter.

“What do you need me to do first?” Austin placed his beer down and came up behind me, circling his arms around my waist.

“Hmm, let’s see. You can wash the tomatoes and bell peppers.”

“I can do that.” He moved my ponytail over one shoulder and pressed a lingering kiss to my neck. I sank into his kiss as a soft whimper spilled out of me. “Or I can stay right here and…” His mouth trailed up and down, making my stomach twist and tighten.

It felt good.

Too good.

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