Snow Place Like Home (A Cozy AF Christmas 1)

“Where are the bandaids?” I ask, a little too sharply.

“There’s a first aid kit in the bathroom,” Judy says as she grabs the bloody carrots and tosses them into the compost. “Do you need help?”

“She’s mine,” I nearly growl. “I mean, I got her.”

I raise her hand as I guide her into the bathroom on the main floor. Her eyes are closed and she’s looking like she might faint as I lift her onto the counter and close the door.

It’s just the two of us in here and I would be thinking of all the dirty things I could be doing to her if I wasn’t so focused on trying to help.

“Keep your hand up,” I tell her as I let her wrist go and frantically search for the first aid kit in the cupboard under the sink.

I grab an antibiotic ointment and some bandages then take her wrist again.

“Don’t look,” I tell her when she glances at it and then sucks in a sharp breath.

“I don’t like blood,” she says with her voice all shaky.

“I can tell,” I say with a smile. “But you’re in good hands. Just close your eyes and trust me.”

“I do,” she says as she closes her eyes.

I take a second—maybe two—to study her beautiful face. This girl is stunning. I’m not one to notice the fine details on a woman, but on her, I can't get over the sharpness of her cheekbones, her long lush eyelashes, the gentle slope of her lips, the cuteness of her nose that’s upturned just a little bit. It takes everything I have to steady myself and not press my tingling lips against hers.

Her cut isn’t as bad as it looked. It’s just bleeding a lot.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper softly in a calming tone. “Everything is going to be fine. I’m taking care of you now.”

I clean it up and put on a bandage as I talk her through it. She keeps her eyes closed as she breathes in slow deep breaths and finally, the color comes back in her face.

“Almost done,” I lie. I’m finished but I want her eyes still closed so I can shamelessly stare at her for another few seconds.

Her big round breasts heave up and down with every breath and I lick my lips as I get a good long look at her delicious cleavage.

“It’s all done. You did great.”

“Thank you,” she says as she opens her eyes and looks at me.

It’s a small bathroom and we’re cramped close together. I can smell the vanilla in her perfume and it’s making my head light. I can see every silky strand of brown hair and her bare back in the mirror.

“I just need a second,” she whispers as she pulls her eyes away from mine.

“Take as long as you need,” I say softly. I could stay here all night and be the happiest man in the world.

I’m still holding onto her wrist. She hasn’t pulled her hand away or asked me what I’m doing, so I just keep holding her.

“Are you okay?” I whisper.

She nods slowly. “Yeah.”

“Want me to kiss it?”

She smiles, but I’m not joking.

I raise her hand and gently kiss her bandage. Her heated blue eyes are locked on me, her lips parted as she takes quick heavy breaths. I can’t stop there. I’m not that strong.

I kiss the bottom of her palm and then the inside of her wrist. Fuck, she smells good.

Her legs part a little as she sits on the counter and leans a little closer. It’s all subtle body language, but I can tell she doesn’t want me to stop.

She holds in her breath as I let go of her wrist and slide my hand over her hip. The air in the room charges with heat and a lustful passion as she runs her hand down my chest.

Her eyes are locked on my lips as I slowly lean forward. My body presses against her knees. Her lips part.

She slides her hand down my arm and tugs me closer as she leans in and tilts her head.

I’m just about to touch her sweet lips with mine when there’s a pounding on the door. It startles us and jerks us back.

“Mandy?” It’s Chrissy. She knocks again and then opens the door.

My whole body is on fire as my niece slides into the tight room. I should have locked the door. Who knows what would have been happening right now if I did. I would be tasting this heavenly creature instead of awkwardly moving away from her while my niece cuts in.

“I heard you hurt yourself?”

“Yeah,” Mandy says, lifting her hand to show the bandage. “Luckily, Ethan has some skillful hands.”

Chrissy’s forehead scrunches up as she looks at the flush in Mandy’s cheeks and then looks over at me. I probably have lust written all over my face.