Free An Officer and a Rebel: An Accidentally in Love Novella (Entangled Bliss) by Cindi Madsen

tone in his voice.
    “No? I was gonna say way to go, bro. You’ve been living like a monk for too long.”
    Nate opened his mouth then just shook his head and sighed. “I was trying to be respectful of you.”
    “Me? Kelsey and I have been over for a long time, man. I was just grasping at straws because I didn’t want to admit I’d lost Angela. The real love of my life.”
    All this time he’d been holding back for nothing.
    “Nate, I’m engaged. Angela and I got back together and I asked her to marry me—I’m not letting her go ever again. Don’t tell Mom and Dad. We’re gonna show up tomorrow and surprise them.”
    Angela. The girl he’d dated all year, but had been dumped by right before Thanksgiving. And now they were engaged. Relief flooded Nate, and while he was happy for his brother, there was a lot of selfish happiness going on as well. “Congrats, man. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Yeah, tomorrow.”
    Nate hung up the phone and felt a huge goofy grin lifting his lips. His head and chest were light, and hope filled him from the inside out. It was time to enjoy the time he had left with Kelsey, however long it was.
    She looked so peaceful sleeping, he almost didn’t want to wake her up. But he didn’t want to waste another second. He lowered himself to the floor, leaned across her and pressed his lips to hers. Her eyelids fluttered open and she flashed him a smile that shot him right through the heart.
    “My brother’s engaged,” he said.
    Her brow wrinkled. “Oh…kay.”
    “I thought he was still hung up on you.”
    She propped herself up on her elbows. “Trust me, I’m not that memorable.”
    “Trust me, you are.” He dipped his head to kiss her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he slowly lowered her back to the floor. He took his time tasting her lips, her tongue, memorizing the feel of her curves against him. He pulled back and looked into her eyes.
    She gripped the front of his shirt, holding him in place. “Don’t stop.”
    “No, no more stopping.” He kissed her again, getting lost in the blur of clothes being tossed off, her skin under his fingertips, and the hum of his heart as he fully let himself fall.

Chapter Six
    Kelsey woke to actual sunshine streaming through the window and the sound of melting snow dripping from the roof. The logs in the fireplace had burned down to black unrecognizable lumps, and the air outside the blankets held a chill. Her body was molded to Nate’s, and she never wanted to move again, especially because his skin warmed hers in the most delicious way. He turned his head, his eyes still heavy from sleep, and gave her a drool-worthy grin.
    “Merry Christmas,” he said.
    She ran her hand across his toned chest. “Merry Christmas.”
    His eyes traveled over her, taking her back to last night, when he’d spent so much time doing the same thing—staring at her like she was beautiful and he wanted to memorize every inch of her skin. He reached out and traced the stars, the way he’d done before and the way she craved for him to do again and again. “How do you decide what to permanently put on your body? That you won’t get sick of it later?”
    “You just know. An idea, an image hits you, and you have to have it. Anyway, that’s how I choose.”
    “I don’t know that I’d ever be sure enough.”
    “Some guys need them to be even semi-interesting, but you’ve got that down already.” She scooted closer and kissed him, feeling as if she were living some magical dream. Things like this didn’t normally happen to her. Happiness bubbled up and spread through every inch of her. She trailed her fingers down to his firm abs. “So, now that I’m sleeping with a cop, what are the benefits? Do I get a pass on speeding tickets?”
    He rolled, pinning her underneath him. “Sleeping with me isn’t benefit enough?”
    She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer. “Yes, but I’d still like a pass on speeding