Page 127 of Icebound

Not after the tattoo.

That has to mean something.

Memories flood my fuzzy mind, but the embarrassment and panic I anticipated are nowhere to be found. I’ve learned to always expect the worst, so I’m prepared.

My life could implode at any moment, and when it doesn’t, the relief is overwhelming, and that’s exactly what I feel when I look at Rhode—overwhelmed that out of the billions of people on this planet, I was lucky enough to find him.

I’m not a good fit for his life, but I’m glad I got the chance to love him, if only for a brief moment. I’d rather jump into love than never fall at all.

He sprawls across my tiny double like it’s his king bed. He’s lying shirtless on his stomach with one arm under the pillow, and my fingers ache to brush away the hair tumbling across his forehead, so I do.

The muscles in his back ripple with every breath, and he looks so peaceful, so young, that I’m tempted to take a picture.

I soak up his essence in the morning light, memorizing all the little nuances strangers can’t see. They get his dimpled smile and hear that rugged laugh, but only I know that he always smiles at the grocery store checkout person and laughs even when jokes aren’t funny. I trace my fingers over his lips, wanting more than anything to press my mouth to his.

He blinks his eyes open, then squints.

“Morning,” I whisper.

My voice seems to wake him up, and he stretches, pulling me to his solid chest. It’s like hugging a statue, but I still snuggle into him, careful of his shoulder. His fingers brush the curve of my spine.

“How’re you feeling?” he asks, voice rough with sleep. “Do you need anything?”

You.

I need you.

“I feel fine. Surprisingly, fine. Thanks for taking care of me last night, and for coming, and for well, everything.”

His hands pause their movements. “I think you took care of yourself just fine.”

I instantly get sucked in by the smolder in his eyes. The memory has a sudden flush warming my face. I can’t believe I did that, but I was feeling a little bold, a bit daring. Partially because of the alcohol but mostly because Rhode makes it safe enough for me to let go.

Brushing my hand down the ridges of his abs, I toy with the rim of his briefs.

Rhode’s hand flies to my wrist, stopping me. “What are you doing, Nina?”

The softness in his voice is gone. His tone is hard. Dark. I meet the hunger in his eyes, hoping mine look just as wild.

“You know exactly what I’m doing.” I scrape my nails against the solid ridges of his stomach. “Just one more time. I’ll be careful. We can go slow, but I want to make you feel good. I know this ends when I leave for Argentina, so it doesn’t have to mean anything.”

A muscle quivers in his cheek, on the edge of exploding. Slowly, he grips my leg and hitches it over his hip, forcing me to straddle him.

He presses his erection up against my center, and that slight position shift has me desperate for him. “See, I don’t know if I can agree with that because your body means something to me.”

He sucks his thumb into his mouth and uses the wetness to circle my peaked nipple. I tighten my legs around him, fire pooling between my thighs as I start riding him.

He groans out a curse. “I’m trying to focus here, and tell you how much you mean to me, Nina, but I can’t when you’re riding me like that.”

I stop moving on top of him. My hair hangs down, caressing his shoulders.

“Listen to me.” Leaning up, he presses his lips to the skin over my pounding heartbeat. “This, right here, means something to me.”

Gripping my chin with his good arm, he tilts my face down and kisses my forehead. “Your thoughts mean something to me.”

He’s breathing hard, but I’m gasping. Waiting. Wanting. Rhode swipes a thumb over my lips, and his hand trembles slightly as he looks up at me. “Don’t lie and say this means nothing when you mean everything to me.”

His lips, warm and soft, brush against mine with a hint of hesitation. I thread my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. The kiss is so excruciatingly tender, and it’s over far too quickly.