Chapters (28)
The words rolled off his tongue of their own accord, but as soon as he saw her eyes widen, Easton knew he’d get them up this mountain if he had to carry her entire crew on his back. With a squeal of delight, she flung her arms around his neck, then she pulled back, frowning at him.
“This isn’t you trying to make up with me, right? We’re actually doing this because we earned it.”
Easton nipped the finger waggling sternly in his face. “We’re doing this because—today aside—you earned it. I’m conveniently forgetting you unclipped today in the hope you’ll conveniently forget I could have been more diplomatic about being pissed about it.”
“Selective memory is better when both parties are involved,” River told him. “Can I kiss you?”
At this point, he was never going to figure out what she would say next, so he’d stopped trying. Instead, Easton said, “Already told you. You never have to ask.”
She was all fire, but when he put his hands on her, pulling her close, River was sweet and rich on his tongue. He wanted her, so much more than he’d ever wanted a woman. The sheer idea of drawing someone into his arms, pulling her onto his lap and relishing the feel of her legs tightening around his waist on a climb was so unprofessional. Before her, he’d never been tempted. He’d never had a partner he literally couldn’t resist, but she was it.
River was his drink of choice, and Easton didn’t have the willpower to say no.
This time, she didn’t ask permission before resting her gloved hand on his face and kissing him again. Then she peeled off those gloves, and bare, chilled fingers found his jawline.
“You’ll get frostbite,” he warned, turning his face to press small kisses to the tips of those slender fingers.
“I need a moment. I’m getting to know your beard.”
Easton sighed. “It’s only facial hair.”
“Oh no, it’s an entity all its own.” Fingernails running through his beard, she tightened her hands into his hair, kissing him like she hadn’t taken a bad fall today. Like they both hadn’t almost died. She was strong, made for this kind of life, and her ability not only to exist but to thrive in his environment—one so brutal—only skyrocketed his attraction to her.
Then her knees dug into his waist, her teeth nipping at his lower lip.
“You’re killing me here, sweetheart. If you keep doing that, I’m never getting off this mountain in one piece.”
“Would that be so bad? I kind of love it here.” A soft laugh escaped her, the fire in her eyes changing to a deeper, better kind of flame.
Yeah. Him too. And as he wrapped her in his arms, it was only getting better.