Free Frozen Hearts (Beyond Reality Book 3) by Susan Stoker Page A

should’ve known Jonathan would take control. He pulled off his outer jacket and placed it where their heads would be. He turned to Kina and reached for the zipper of her jacket as well. Kina watched as he unzipped her jacket. She sat up to help him remove the coat. After placing her jacket next to his, he lay down on his side and put his head in his hand and just stared at her.
    “What are you looking at?” Kina said nervously, wondering when he’d start…whatever it was he was going to do.
    “I’m savoring this moment. You have no idea how often I’ve dreamed about you in my bed.” He chuckled. “Although this isn’t really what I had in mind, but I’ll take what I can get.”
    Kina didn’t know what to say to that. He was so different from any man she’d ever met before in her life and she was so out of her element.
    “Do you know how beautiful you are?” Jonathan asked quietly, still not moving to touch her in any way.
    “I’m not beautiful.” Kina told him honestly.
    “You are,” he insisted, finally moving. He took his index finger and ran it lightly over her eyebrows. Then he ran his finger down her nose and lightly traced her lips. Next, his finger roamed over her cheek to her ear. He continued tracing the contours of her face.
                  “Your skin is so soft. I’ve never felt anything like it. Your nose is small and slightly turned up at the end. Your lips are full and every time you speak I imagine what they’d taste like. You have cute little ears and your hair is your crowning glory. Oh, you’re beautiful all right, Kina. So beautiful I have no idea how you haven’t been snatched up by anyone else yet. But you haven’t, and if I have anything to say about it, you won’t be.” He paused, looked away for a moment and then looked back into her eyes.
    “What I’m about to say is probably going to freak you out, but I’m going to say it anyway. You’re mine . Min e . I don’t care how long it takes for you to realize it and understand that I’m not going anywhere. That I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you from anyone who wants to hurt you. I’m not going to cheat on you; I’m not going to look elsewhere if you can’t decide right away. I’ll be here, waiting for you.”
    “Are you for real?” Kina couldn’t believe what he was saying.
    “I’m for real. This is real.”
    Kina closed her eyes. She was so confused. How could she even for a secon d wan t to hear that kind of thing from Jonathan? This wasn’t the kind of woman she was. She couldn’t deny his words made her feel good. More than good. They made her feel as if she finally had someone to count on. Who would be there for her? But at the same time, he was right, his words did freak her out. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do with them. Her heart was beating what seemed to be a million miles an hour, she was scared, but his words also touched a place deep down inside of her. A part of her that wanted to be taken care of. That wanted to be wanted. She was confused and scared, but strangely, also felt safe. Here. With Jonathan. He wouldn’t hurt her. He wouldn’t rush her.
    When she didn’t say anything in response, Jonathan simply said, “Come here, it’s cold and we need to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
    He turned over on his back and held his arm up so Kina could snuggle down against him. When she tentatively dropped down next to him, he grasped one of her arms and pulled it over his chest. Her head was resting on his shoulder and she could feel his arm go around her back. He reached over and pulled the extra sleeping bag over both of them.
    Kina felt Jonathan’s arm rubbing sensuously over her back. Up and down. Up and down. God, it felt good. She was warm, comfortable lying against his chest and content. She never wanted the morning to come.
    “Would you rather gain fifty pounds or lose fifty pounds?”
    Kina giggled. She loved this. She was so relaxed. It