Frostbite

“I can start in a few weeks.” She lets out a heavy breath. “I’m visiting my sister and her husband right now and working on a special project.”

Her eyes find mine. “A very special sculpture.”

She trails her fingers over my bare shoulder as she listens intently.

“I’ll speak to you soon and thank you for the opportunity.”

Ending the call, she lowers the phone to the bed. “Where were we?”

I was falling in love with you. You’re making plans to fly away.

Fly Away.

It’s the name of the sculpture that connected us that night. It’s the same thing that will tear her from my life.Chapter 22RaelynCalder doesn’t say a word as I tuck my phone back into my purse. I watch him closely, noting that his breathing has quickened and his jaw has tightened.

“You look like you’re ready to devour me or spank me,” I joke.

His lips don’t move. A chuckle doesn’t escape him. He just stares through me.

“Calder.” I reach forward to stroke my fingers over his cheek. “Kiss me.”

He does. It’s intense, passionate, and with an arm behind my back, he lowers me to the bed. “Make love with me, Rae.”

Rae. He’s never called me that.

“I like that,” I whisper.

He swallows hard. “Rae Walsh.”

“Calder Frost.” I smile. “Now that we’ve affirmed our identities, we’re free and clear to make love.”

He lowers his head to rest it on my breast. “Do you believe in fate?”

I twist a lock of his hair around my finger. “I do.”

“Me too,” he whispers. “I didn’t before I met you, but you changed that.”

I close my eyes as I feel his lips trail a path over the sensitive skin of my breast. When he flicks his tongue over my nipple, I shiver. “You’re such a good lover.”

I expect a witty comeback, but he has other ideas. He kisses my other nipple. He’s less tender. His touch is more aggressive, but it draws another moan from somewhere deep inside me.

I reach down to cradle his head in my hands. Inching his chin up, I find his eyes with mine. “Last night and today have been incredible.”

“It’s not over yet.” He pauses. “I don’t want it to be over yet.”

I don’t either, and it’s not just the sex. I don’t want whatever is happening between us to be over, but soon I might leave for Amsterdam to start a new job, he’ll fall back into his routine, and we’ll become fond memories to each other.

His lips press kisses over my stomach to my hipbone. He tugs on the sheet that is covering me until my body is bare.

“Why does it feel like I’ve known you forever?” he asks as he gazes up at me.

I feel that too. It makes no sense, but I feel a sense of peace when I’m with him that I’ve never felt before.

I moan when his hand trails over my skin to my core. He parts my legs before he drags his fingers over my tender flesh. “You’re not leaving this bed, Raelyn.”

“Until we make love again?” I whisper.

He doesn’t answer. His body tells me what I need to know. For now, at this moment, he wants me as much as I want him, and I can’t ask for more even though I want his every tomorrow.***I rest my head against Calder’s chest as he massages shampoo into my hair. “This is the best.”

He laughs. The sound vibrates through him. “Better than what we just did?”

Shaking my head, I answer honestly. “No. That was better than the best.”

We spent two hours slowly exploring each other. He got me off with his mouth before I took him in mine. With a slow groan and a twist of his hands in my tangled hair, he came on my tongue.

Twenty minutes later, he was buried deep inside of me, whispering words that soothed my soul.

He told me I’m beautiful. He called me his sunshine. He swore he’d never felt anything as good as us together.

Warm water rushes over me as he rinses the shampoo away.

Conditioner is next. He runs his finger over my hair, coating it with a cream that smells incredible. It’s masculine and strong, just like him.

I smile, knowing that a woman isn’t comfortable enough to leave her things here. Everything in this loft is Calder’s. It’s only his.

He brushes his fingers over my face chasing away any wayward drops of water.

We switch positions so he can run the water over his head. He washes his hair in a rush before he pushes it back from his forehead.

Resting both hands on his chest, I stare at him.

“You’re looking at me,” he accuses with his eyes closed.

“How could I not?” I confess. “You’re a dream come true.”

“You are.”

I tap my fingers on his chest. “You can’t steal my thunder like that. Accept the compliment, Frost.”

His eyes pop open. “I will, but I meant what I said, Raelyn. You are a dream come true.”