Free Ignite by Lily Paradis Page B

himself just as much as he was trying to convince me. He was right. Kenzie must have seen the avalanche since she was following me out the door when I left, and Jed would stop at nothing to free us once he knew.
    His hand went to rub my back in a generic comforting gesture, but he frowned as his hand ran over the material.
    “What?” I looked up at him.
    His mouth was set in a grim line as he studied my face. His other hand went to my hair, and I heard a soft crunch as his hands pulled the ice out of my hair.
    “Fuck, Lauren.” He looked genuinely concerned.
    His hand on my back stilled.
    “Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you still wearing your swimsuit?”
    I gulped.
    “Yes.”
    “Are you wearing anything else?”
    I frowned.
    “No.”
    He cursed again and I knew he could feel the knot of my suit underneath my jacket. It wasn’t a fluffy, down jacket, but more of a windbreaker, and therefore not as warm.
    “Is it still wet?” He asked next, clearly trying his best not to make me uncomfortable.
    I laughed completely inappropriately.
    “It’s probably half frozen by now, but yes.”
    I didn’t want to reach under to check. My entire body felt like an ice cube, and I wondered if this was how Rose felt in Titanic when she was floating on that stupid door. There was totally room for two.
    Screw science.
    He immediately stood up and unzipped his jacket. Underneath, he was wearing a short sleeved T-shirt over a long sleeved one. He pulled them both off, and I was about to ask what he was doing, but in my semi-delusional state, he looked even better than he had with all of that steam rolling off of him. I mean, Stacia had been blocking my view before.
    Oh god. Stacia. I hated that mental image.
    I groaned and grabbed my head, and the vibration made it hurt even more.
    He leaned down immediately, looking concerned. He was too close.
    “Stop, stop, stop,” I whispered, and although I meant my head, he thought I was talking to him. I kept my eyes shut and the pain subsided after a while.
    “Here,” he said softly, his face close to mine again. He had the short sleeve shirt back on, thank God, and was holding out a navy blue shirt to me.
    “I’m going to go over there,” he motioned where he had found the food. “You have to take that suit off,” he said seriously. “Put this on and then put your jacket, You’ll be a lot warmer.”
    I smiled weakly and took the shirt.
    “Thanks.”
    I waited until his footsteps had stopped, and then I started the task of unzipping my jacket. It was actually stuck in a few places because the water had frozen the metal shut. It took longer than it should have, but I got it off. I shuddered with cold when the air hit me. My fingers couldn’t undo the knot in the suit from behind me, so I just tugged it over my head until I had worked it off. Then I pulled Dean’s still-warm long sleeve blue shirt over my head and immediately felt better that it was dry, and not encrusted in ice. The smell that hit me reminded me of the DMV, and whatever cologne Dean wore.
    I shoved that thought out of my head, and my shaky fingers managed to zip my jacket back up. I leaned against the wall, feeling much better, but still not great. I was exhausted.
    “Are you good?” I Dean called out.
    “All clear,” I said as loudly as I could manage.
    He came back around and sat down next to me.
    “Better?” He asked.
    I nodded slightly. “Better. I’m still freezing though.”
    “Me too,” he said sadly. “Can I sit here?” he motioned at the floor next to me.
    “Best seat in the house,” I joked, patting the floor beside me. God, I really must be concussed.
    He smiled and sat down next to me. As if it were a habit, I let my head lay against his shoulder. I was a little shocked at myself, but I was too exhausted and cold to move.
    “Hey Dean?” I whispered.
    “Yeah?” I felt his chest rumble when he spoke.
    “Is it bad if I fall asleep?”
    “It’s not good, but you can’t stay