It was a bold move—nothing she’d ever done to anyone else she’d known for such a short time—but he was like a statue, had withdrawn completely inside himself, and she didn’t know how else to reach him. She hoped she’d at least be able to give him some comfort through physical contact.

After a few seconds, he said, “It’s cold out here. You’d better go in.”

She might’ve taken that suggestion if he’d put any conviction behind his words. But it’d taken him so long to speak up. He didn’t really want her to leave; he just didn’t expect her to stay. From what she’d heard, too many other people had walked away from him already—right when he needed them most.

“If you can take the cold, so can I,” she said jokingly and rested her good cheek against his back.

“Why are you doing this, Tia?” He sounded tired.

“Because I want you to know I’m here,” she said. “And because holding you feels pretty damn good.”

If he was going to get up and stalk off, she figured he’d do it now. Instead, he surprised her by reaching around to bring her in front of him, where he could look into her face, but sitting so close meant straddling his hips, which was an intimate position, as exciting as it was unexpected.

“You should go in,” he said again, but the way he rested his forehead against hers indicated he wanted the exact opposite.

“I won’t leave you out here alone,” she said simply.

“It’s cold.”

“Not if I stay close to you.”

“If you don’t go, you might get more than you bargained for,” he warned.

Their mouths were so close she could feel his breath fan her cheeks. She could also smell his cologne: it was a scent she liked. “Which would be...what exactly?” she asked.

“I think you know.”

She could guess. How long had it been since he’d been with a woman? Three whole years? Since Shiloh?

It’d been a long time since she’d made love, too. Maybe that was why she couldn’t resist pressing her lower body firmly against his. “I’m not worried,” she said, suddenly breathless because she could feel his erection.

“Maybe you should be. I don’t want to be responsible for hurting you, especially at such a vulnerable time.”

He moved as though he’d set her aside so that he could get up, but she caught his face between her hands before he could. “I’m a big girl, Seth. I can decide what I want—and be responsible for my own actions.”

Once again, his gaze lowered to her mouth. “But I don’t think you understand my limitations.”

“You’re not open to a relationship. Is that the limitation you’re talking about?”