Free Draw Me Close by Nicole Michaels

wouldn’t have just sat down. Lindsey shifted her ass in an attempt to lock herself into place and Derek squeezed his eyes shut.
    â€œYou comfortable yet?” he inquired. Because he was in blissful agony.
    â€œNo, I’m not comfortable. I’m afraid I’ll fall off.” The sound of their coats scratching together muffled her voice.
    â€œI hate to bring it up again, but I could hold on to you. Or maybe you should straddle me. Both options sound good,” he said with a laugh.
    She stilled. And then began to push up out of his lap. “That’s—”
    Derek wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back down. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled-for under the circumstances.” He pushed her mass of hair out of his face and shoved his chin onto her shoulder. She smelled like lemons and mint. And because he might never have Lindsey in his arms again, he became reckless for a moment and spoke quietly next to her ear. “I wouldn’t have minded, though.”
    She angled her head, giving him a hard glare. “Get your hands off me, Walsh.”
    â€œOh-kay.” He held his arms out and then dropped them to his sides.
    â€œLet’s get this over with,” she said. Her legs were now crisscrossed on top of his and her arms carefully looped over his thighs so she could grasp the rim of the sled.
    â€œIf you won’t let me hold on to you, than at least hold on to me. Your fingers might get pinched.”
    â€œI’m fine,” she bit out. “Just go.”
    â€œIf you say so. Here we go.”
    He used his feet to inch them over the edge of the hill and within a second they tilted forward and just as quickly the air was rushing into his face. Lindsey pressed back into his chest, her forearms clenching tightly against his thighs. He couldn’t help himself at that point. With the momentum it felt as if she might lose her balance and he took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her against him.
    She remained silent but he could feel the tension in her body as they hit a small bump. Her ass bounced in his lap and he grabbed onto her ankle, pulling her body against his to keep her on board. Unable to hold it in, Derek laughed against her and he could have sworn he felt her do the same, her body vibrating against his chest.
    They hit the last bump and began to careen into the final stretch, and before he knew it they crashed and rolled. He could feel Lindsey turn onto her side beneath him, and as soon as they came to a complete stop he worked to quickly get off her.
    â€œEverybody okay?” Anne called.
    Derek turned to find everyone rushing over. He leaned down to shake the snow out of his jeans.
    â€œUh … Dad,” Tanner said. Derek glanced down to where Tanner was looking. Lindsey. She was still down on all fours, her back heaving up and down as if she were having trouble breathing, her head limp. Instantly Derek felt as if he would be sick.
    â€œLinds.” Derek’s heart thumped in his chest as he fell to his knees beside her. From this angle he could see the way she held her left arm close to her chest, putting no weight on it. She was wearing gloves but they weren’t very thick.
    â€œLindsey, are you hurt? Did you scrape your fingers?”
    â€œOh no.” Anne rushed to Lindsey’s other side. “Lindsey, are you okay?”
    Lindsey’s head shook quickly back and forth and he wasn’t sure whose question she was responding to. Derek pulled back the hair that was concealing her face and found her eyes red and pinched in pain.
    He instantly leaned forward close to her face, his lips brushing her temple. “Babe, talk to me. What happened?”
    â€œI’m okay,” she whispered.
    Clearly she was not okay. “You hurt your fingers, didn’t you?”
    â€œNo. My wrist.” Her voice weakened on the last word and he knew she wanted to cry. It nearly undid him,