Page 13 of The Score

"Then get on me," he orders.

I ignore that too.

"Fine!" I put one foot on the seat behind me and leverage myself up.

I surround his thick neck with my arms. His beard tickles my skin. The smell of his hair— clean and fresh and delicious— attacks my senses.

He takes my weight like it's nothing. It's an impressive feat, considering I'm no small woman. All he does is grab my thighs.

His fingers splay and keep me in place. "Hold on."

I squeal. He chuckles and strolls toward the firepit.

"Bear!" I giggle. "Am I strangling you?"

He doesn't seem to be in any rush.

"I've been strangled worse," he says like this is a walk in the park.

"And never for fun reasons?" I laugh.

"I never said that."

"Hey!" I hang on harder with one arm and, fuck it, he's getting the slap.

My hand connects with the fleshy bits of his hip.

"Is that all you got?" he asks.

I make a high-pitched sound, as if I'm offended by the challenge, and slap him again.

"Slap me some more and I won't drop you gently," he says.

Another slap. "Lies. I know you too well."

"Want to test it?"

"Every time!" I laugh. "I'll test you every time!"

"Yes, yes. You like testing me."

"Bear!"

But we make it to the firepit, and he lets me down gently.

Not a second later, my arms go around his torso and I plaster myself to him. I have to go up on my toes and he has to bend down, but I put my head in the crook of his neck. His big arms envelope me. The warmth of his large body blankets me.

To my surprise, some tears appear behind my eyelids.

"Thank you, Leon." I speak against his chest. "That was amazing. Ten out of ten."

"Everything you thought it would be?"

"Everything except one thing. I thought you'd struggle more."

"Please." He starts rocking side to side with me tight in his arms.

"You know how many people would have done that for me?"