Free Snowy Encounters by Clarissa Yip

wanted his mouth all over her again.
Needing to feel skin to skin, she whipped her sweater off. His eyes
widened.
    “Oh, babe…” Cole bent, taking her nipple in
his mouth. Her head fell back against the tree, hair catching on
the bark, but she ignored it, only conscious of the sensations he
drew. Her body flushed, her fingers gripped the waist of his jeans,
working her hand to wrap around his cock. She whimpered then gasped
as a frigid shower washed over her. Cole jumped away.
    Any arousal died a sudden
death. Covered in snow, Maddy shivered and glared up at the now
clean tree branch. Her eyes narrowed as they fell on Cole, who
stood brushing off his jacket. And laughing. She sneezed and
shivered, readjusting her black lace bra and picked up her sweater
off the ground. Killjoy.
    He shook his coat off and wrapped it around
her. After buttoning her up, he pulled her against him. “Yeah, I
don’t think this is going to work here.”
    She sniffled. “The snow hates me.”
    He chuckled. “Let’s get to somewhere
warm.”
    Maddy nodded. She’d known the idea was
insane, but her stupid eagerness had made her into a fool. Again.
Why couldn’t she ever come off as graceful and smooth in front of
Cole? If she wasn’t falling, then she was just tripping over
herself. Cole swung her up in his arms and she snuggled close, just
reveling in the feel of his strength. “You know, it did seem like a
good idea at the moment.”
    She caught the amused quirk of his mouth, but
he focused on the white-covered path to his truck. “Don’t worry.
This isn’t over. I’ll let you show me your good ideas when I get
you warmed up.”
    Her breath hitched. The cold forgotten. “I’m
holding you to that.”
     
     
     

Chapter Fifteen
     
    Cole thought long and hard. After bundling
Maddy in the cab of his truck, they drove off. She shivered in the
passenger seat, even with the hot air shooting out of the vents. He
curved an arm around her and pulled her across the bench to his
side.
    “Where are we going?” she asked.
    He glanced down, reaffirming his decision.
Her lips quivering and eyes shining with unshed tears from the
cold, she wiggled closer. As much as he wanted to pull the truck to
the side, strip her of all her barriers and make love to her, he
needed to do this right. It may be his one last chance for him to
convince her to stay. Knowing Maddy, she’d run when she’d get the
chance and he couldn’t have that. Her mother expected her to stay
for the grand opening but Maddy had already repeated to him enough
times she had to get back to work since she’d already helped him
get the party ready.
    “I’ll send someone to bring your rental
later, but I’m going to take you home first.” He spoke slowly.
    “Okay. And then what?”
    Drawing in a deep breath, he hugged her
close. “We’re going to the party tonight.”
    Maddy jerked back. “Why? I thought you wanted
to go…” Her voice trailed off.
    “I do.” He gave her a squeeze. “But I don’t
want to rush this.”
    She sidled up to him again, pressing her lips
against his check to his ear. “We’re not rushing, Cole. It’s not
like we’ve never…”
    He smiled, but cleared his throat when her
fingers brushed over his denim-clad erection. “Honey, let’s just
wait.”
    Maddy glared and sat back, crossing her arms
over her chest. “I don’t understand you.”
    I don’t either. But he knew he couldn’t mess this up. He didn’t
want just one night or two nights with Maddy then watch her leave
again. No, he couldn’t have that. He had one more card to play and
if that didn’t work, then it was pointless. The three years of
waiting for her to come back to see his success and realize she’d
made a mistake in leaving him drove him to work harder everyday.
The town’s pride in his physical accomplishments didn’t matter as
much as Maddy’s opinion and if she didn’t see that he could provide
for her and offer her a secure future than compared to when