Thawing the Ice (Untamed 1)

Casey rolled his eyes. “Yes. I’ve been putting up with you like this my whole life.”

Leighton smirked. “Stop. You two wouldn’t know what to do without each other.” A bright smile lit up her heart-shaped face in the moonlight. Her button nose crinkled, and full red lips begged to be kissed again. The smooth transition made him hopeful about what would come. They had a lifetime of experience assessing each other’s moods, communicating, and riding the waves of change as the years rolled by.

***

Casey rolled onto his back and allowed the light filtering into the windows wake him in small increments. His stomach rumbled, and he inhaled. The smell of bacon and waffles filled his nose. He pried his eyes open and smiled. They cooked. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, grabbing a pair of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt from the closet. Dressed, Casey padded down the stairs, pausing at the bottom of the landing. Clad in a pair of black leggings and a faded Metallica shirt he recognized as Ryan’s, she was laid-back and happy. A wide smile stretched across her lips. She leaned back against the island in the kitchen with her arms looped around his waist. Ryan bent down to kiss her, and Casey smiled. Thank God, no morning after buyer’s remorse.

Ryan glanced up and grinned. “Morning, sleeping beauty.” He stepped back, pulling Leighton with him and spinning her body to face him. “Give our girl a hello kiss.”

Casey walked over and bent down, placing a sweet kiss on her lips. The energy flowed between them, cementing their bond. The rightness resonated in his soul. She hummed, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned her body back into Ryan for support. Breathless, they parted.

“Morning, Case.”

“Morning, little one.”

“We made your favorite, blueberry waffles and bacon,” she said.

“Are you buttering me up for something?” Casey asked, eyeing Ryan skeptically.

“It is your turn to chop more wood. We have a storm front due in today or tonight.” Ryan grinned.

Suddenly, the prospect of being snowed in took on a new spin.

“I’ll handle it after breakfast,” Casey said, nodding at Ryan.

“Well, now that the gang’s all here, let’s eat. She wouldn’t let me start without you.”

“Are we talking about food?” Casey lifted an eyebrow.

“Both.” Ryan grinned.

Leighton rolled her eyes. “What do you want to drink, Case?”

“Orange juice, please.”

“Sit down. I’ll do the catering tonight. After last night, it’s my turn to make you both feel special.” She bumped Casey’s hip, and slapped Ryan on the ass before sashaying to the fridge.

“Dude.” Casey mouthed to Ryan.

“I know.” Ryan mouthed back.

***

Leighton stared at the white flakes swiftly accumulating outside. Winters in Alaska were brutal. Though, she’d never looked forward to being stranded the way she did right now.

“How’s it looking out there?” Ryan asked, stepping up behind her to wrap his arms around her waist.

“Bad. We’ll probably have a good six inches plus before nightfall.” She rested her head on his shoulder, soaking up the heat from his body as Casey refilled the wood b

urning stove.

“So. What should we do now?” Ryan asked.

“I was thinking a nice game of Scrabble.” She lifted her gaze to his and winked.

“You hear that, Casey? Our girl wants to play some games.”

“Oh, I think we should.” Casey stood and wiped his hands off on his pants. “With one or two twists.”