Page 35 of Icebound

“Hell no,” I scoff. “I was fine pretending for a second, but keeping it going gives Isaac way too much power over my life. I’m happy I don’t have to fake-laugh at his periodic element table jokes anymore.”

“Yeah. As soon as I offered that I regretted it anyway. Alright, what do you want? Because I told the CMO you’d be there, and I hate going back on my word. I don’t want to do anything to fuck this up. It’s important to me, and Andrea specifically asked about you, so I need you.”

I’ve never been someone’s necessity, only their burden, and the fact that Rhode needs me has me wanting to swap my no for a yes.

I’m tempted to take back my offer, but during my self-sabotage days, I became so good at flaking on people that I could’ve taught a masterclass on ghosting.

It’s easy for me to make friends, but keeping them is hard. Every time I slip into a dark phase, I go into hibernation mode and start ignoring texts. I lose a lot of friends in those shadows, and when I finally resurface, Gwen’s the only one there.

That’s not who I want to be anymore.

I pull his beanie over my head, trying not to inhale his smoky scent. “Fine. I’ll go, but I have one condition…”

“What’s that?”

I nibble my thumbnail. “I have to donate an auction item for a charity event called The Peaceful Mind Project. I’ll go to your event, but I want some box seats for a Guardians game to donate.”

His brow lifts, highlighting the tiny white scar on his forehead. “You need box tickets to a game? That’s all?”

A thought tugs at the corner of my lips, pulling them into a pout. Gwen claims I need to advocate for myself, so maybe I should ask for more. “Box tickets and a favor of my choosing to be owed at any point in my life.”

He casts me a flat look. “So, I’m just going to be indebted to you forever?”

“Pretty much.” I wave like a queen. “Feel free to bow down and get on your knees.”

The blue in his eyes heats like the hottest flame. “I’m not getting on my knees for you, Nina.”

His voice turns husky. That, plus the fact that he thinks I’m too young makes me want to prove him wrong. I flick my eyes over his chest. “Oh, but I think you’d look so good begging for me.”

His expression turns to stone, but the veins in his neck thicken as his fists tighten at his sides.

He grunt-coughs. “Fine. Tickets and one favor, but that’s all.”

“Going with a subject change then? I see, but fine. You have yourself a fake date.”

I hold out my hand, but he doesn't take it. Instead, his gaze locks onto mine, heavy with some expression.

Closing the distance between us in one step, he moves so the subtle rise and fall of his chest grazes my nipple piercing. The warmth emanating from him has my thoughts turning dirty.

“Let’s be clear about one thing,” he murmurs, eyes dropping to my lips. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression, so I’m going to be a little blunt. I’m too old for you, so I’m not touching you unless we have to at the event, and even then, I’m going to keep it friendly, alright? Nothing’s happening between us.”

I lift up on my toes to be closer to him. “If you want people to believe I’m your date, you’re going to have to touch me, Rhode.”

He mutters a curse, pinching his eyes closed. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”

“Welcome to life. It’s not easy.”

His blue eyes bounce between mine before he drops the lightest of kisses to the top of my hair. He spins around faster than my next heartbeat like he’s running away.

The imprint of his featherlight lips weighs heavy on my head for the rest of the night.

9

NINA

Yes, Rhode, don’t stop. Please don’t ever stop.

My eyes fly open, but instead of seeing Rhode’s head buried between my thighs, the only thing greeting me is the morning sunlight slanting across the hardwood floor.