Easton brushed his thumb over her side in wordless question, a small, welcome touch that she pressed into. Taking her response as the consent it was, he ran his hand along her side, then up her back in a slow, soothing motion that made her instinctively arch into him. Then he rested his palm on her hip, anchoring her in place as he shifted.

The sleeping pad was soft against her shoulder blades, the ground beneath it freezing cold. But when she wrapped her arm around Easton’s neck, drawing him down to her, it was the warmest she’d been since she’d stuffed her toes in his armpit and admitted whatever this was, it was important enough not to let it slip away.

Brushing his lips against hers, River could tell he was being careful, his weight propped up on one elbow so he didn’t squish her.

“We can’t get naked up here,” she reminded him. “I’m not having my nipples pop off from frostbite.”

“They wouldn’t actually pop off,” Easton replied. “They’d more turn black and sort of slough off.”

Gagging at the image, she asked, “Is this really your version of sexy talk?”

A warm chuckle rumbled through his chest, vibrating against River’s fingertips. “You started it.”

Somehow her hand had found its way from his neck, down his muscled chest, and was lingering on granite-hard stomach muscles.

“I need your exercise regimen,” she murmured.

“I shiver. A lot. It burns a ton of calories.”

“Maybe I can help with that?” Smiling, River ran her fingers up his arm, feeling his bicep contract despite the layers of fabric between them.

Easton’s gaze dropped to her lips.

As River bit her lower lip, watching Easton watch her, there was something raw, something powerful in how she felt. She didn’t know what she wanted, but she knew why she wanted it. Something was missing in her life, some fundamental part of herself that she’d lost or maybe never had to begin with. And only up here, with the bitter winds on her face and reflected in the heated gaze of a stranger who already knew her too well, did River feel like she was close.

Whatever it was that she needed so badly, it was right beneath her fingertips.

She’d paused, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through her.

“Are you changing your mind?” Easton asked. “Because that’s okay.”

Could that low, soft rumble be any sexier? River’s mind was constantly changing, but not about this. Not about him.

“This would be easier without fifteen thousand pounds of fleece and puffy jackets between us,” she decided.

“Hmm…I like a challenge.”

“Oh really?” She giggled as he pressed his cold nose to her neck, what little of it was still accessible. Then River burst out snickering as Easton started making playful noises against her throat.