Shelter (Heroes of Big Sky 2)

So, it’s coming naturally to me. I guess I just never had a person in my life before Remi that I wanted to invest in like this. I’ve dated nice girls, enjoyed the hell out of them, and treated them with kindness and integrity.

But I didn’t want to move Heaven and Earth to see them smile.

Because Remi’s smile can knock me on my ass from twenty paces, and I’d do anything in my power to keep that smile on her gorgeous face.

I have the fire lit in the fireplace. It’s not nearly as big as the one up at the chalet, but it’s all I have to work with.

I’ve just finished dragging all the cushions and pillows onto the floor. I could get a mattress, but this will be fine.

Besides, I have plans for the mattress later that don’t include the floor.

I’ve barely set the bottle of wine on the floor with some more chocolate when I hear footsteps behind me.

I look back and just about swallow my tongue.

Remi’s in one of my T-shirts. The hem skims her thighs, and her long legs glow in the firelight.

“My God, you’re beautiful.”

A smile tugs at her plump lips as I stand and take her hand in mine, lifting it to my lips.

“How was your bath?”

“I almost fell asleep.” She leans in close but doesn’t kiss me. She skims her nose over my cheek and buries her face against my neck as I pull her in for a hug. “Did you recreate the chalet?”

“Sort of,” I admit, pleased that she noticed. I kiss the ball of her shoulder and then turn to survey the scene. I turned the lights out, so the only illumination comes from the fire. The pillows and cushions look inviting to me. Maybe I went over the top. “We didn’t have wine up there, but we’ll pretend.”

She sits on the cushions and stretches her legs out to soak up the warmth of the fire. “This might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

I sit next to her and take her hand in mine, linking our fingers. “Well, this is pretty simple, really.”

“It’s thoughtful.” She turns her face to me and smiles softly. “You’re a thoughtful guy, Seth King.”

“I have my moments. Sometimes, I’m a jerk, and my mother would likely tell you that I’m a handful.”

“Mothers are supposed to think you’re a handful,” she says with a laugh. “I think especially when it comes to boys.”

“And she has three. But my sister can hold her own.”

“With three brothers, she has to.”

“You’re not wrong.”

We’re quiet for a long moment as we watch the fire pop and crackle in the hearth.

Finally, I break the silence.

“So, we need to talk about this bet.”

She slowly turns her head, and I feel her stare on my profile.

“Are you begging?” she whispers.

“No.” I swallow and meet her gaze with mine. “No. Neither of us is going to beg. Because we don’t have to.”

She nods once and licks her lips. “That’s fair.”

“I was always going to take you up to that glacier, Rem.”

Her eyes narrow. “And I planned to treat you to ice cream.”

“See? There’s no need for a bet.” I kiss her hand and then let it go to rub my fingers up and down her back and over her spine. “I think you’re incredible. And I know we don’t know each other that well yet, but I’m mind-numbingly attracted to you.”

She’s quiet for a second and then lets out a long sigh. “You’re sexy, Seth. You have to know that. With all of those muscles and the chiseled jawline, it’s almost ridiculous. But it’s more than that.”

She whispers the last sentence. I wait for her to continue.

“It’s like I recognized you. Like part of me thought: Oh, there you are. And that sounds so…cheesy.”

“I like cheese.”

She lets out a startled laugh. “I’m not usually the cheesy type. I don’t like mushy greeting cards. I roll my eyes at all of that stuff.”

She shrugs as if she doesn’t know what else to say.

“Well, sometimes mushy stuff is fun,” I remind her. “Like when it’s just the two of us, and we’re sitting by a fire and establishing that we’re attracted to each other. And that we have some feelings for one another.”

“You have feelings?” she asks.

“Have you not been paying attention?”

She grins again, and it makes my stomach clench.

“Okay, so we’re all up in our feelings tonight.” She swallows hard. “Now what?”

“Now, it’s whatever you want it to be,” I reply honestly and refill her wine glass. She takes a sip and stares into the fire.

“Tell me you have condoms,” she says at last, making me chuckle.

“I won’t be caught unaware again,” I assure her.

“Do you want to know what the best part of being at the chalet was?” she asks and turns her head to me.