Snowed In

“No. They’re just… I guess they’re just threatened by you.”

“Funny. I never threatened them.”

Boone leaned back until he was sitting down in some natural stone seat. He raised his massive arms out of the water and placed each one on the ledge behind him.

“You know what I mean,” I said. “Look at you. You’re intimidating.”

“Am I?” He shifted, and rows of striated muscle flexed beneath his smooth, unblemished skin. “Do you feel intimidated by me?”

“Well, no. But—”

“And you’re a girl,” he added. “Believe me, I checked. I snuck a peek while you were dropping your thong.”

I floundered, and water entered my mouth. I choked so hard I nearly spat all over him.

“Pretty sure it was a thong. Might’ve been a G-string.” He flashed me a wry grin. “Anyway yeah, I’ve known them for as long as I’ve know you. And you don’t seem intimidated at all. Which makes them—”

“Protective,” I interjected. “That’s all. They’re not assholes, they were just being protective of me.”

Boone flexed his arms again, sending my gaze back to his incredible biceps and triceps. He cracked his neck.

“Ironically enough, I was the one who protected you. Not them.”

I sighed, obviously getting nowhere. Besides, I didn’t want to argue. The water felt too damned good. I’d had something to eat, even quenched my thirst. Right now I was feeling warm. Happy. Content.

“Well thanks again for saving my life,” I finished.

Boone stretched again, this time with a wince. “If you really wanted to thank me you’d rub my shoulders.”

Once more, butterflies took flight in my stomach.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Then turn around.”

The words sort of tumbled out. I hadn’t even thought about them. For once, my mouth was putting me in situations my mind wasn’t ready for.

But my body was…

“Forget turning around. Come rub them from the front.”

Morgan!

My heart started pounding at double-speed. Before I knew it Boone had reached out, grabbed me by the waist, and settled me down in his lap. I could feel his big legs beneath me. My thighs parted, and automatically I found myself sliding one leg on either side.

“Here.”

He took my hands in his. They seemed so tiny by comparison. Placing them on his shoulders, he gave them a gentle squeeze before letting go. I was touching him now. Really touching him.

“You’re gonna have to go harder than that.”

It was unbelievable, how wonderfully solid his muscles were. I began kneading them. Working them between my fingers. It was like trying to manipulate two giant pieces of hard clay.

“Mmmmm…”

Boone’s eyes were closed, and that made it easier. Not only wasn’t I under his scrutiny, but now I was free to really examine him.