Page 129 of Sweet Nightmare

I take two steps back.

His smile widens.

“I’m creating space.”

“Same thing.”

“I prefer distance.”

“Yeah.” His eyes stay on mine. “I’ve noticed.”

He steps closer. I step back, my boots crunching against the snow.

“Trying to intimidate me?” I narrow my eyes. “You’re wasting your time. I’m not easily intimidated.”

“Not by him. Not by anyone.”

“No.”

His answer catches me off guard.

“Then stop walking toward me.”

“No.”

I glare. He grins, looking far too pleased with himself.

Ugh. What is he trying to prove?

I take another step back, determined to put more distance between us.

And my boot slips.

Oh, no.

No, no, no. Not in front of this asshole.

My foot shoots out from under me, and the frozen ground disappears as I fall backward.

I reach for something. Anything.

My hand closes around nothing but freezing air.

For one horrifying second, I watch Stephen lunge toward me, his smug expression vanishing.

“Fuck.”

His left hand catches my waist, his right gripping my arm as he yanks me toward him.

I crash into his chest, but my momentum carries us both sideways.

And then we go down.

And…hard.

Snow explodes around us as my back hits the ground, knocking the breath from my lungs.

“Oof.” A small whimper escapes me as he lands on top of me.