Chapter 12

She didn’t get it, because he really wasn’t a misanthrope, much as he acted the part. Yesterday he’d been so thoughtful and kind, coming to get them to make sure they got home safe, then bringing them here when the power went out, feeding them, keeping them warm. And today he’d really loosened up and relaxed with them. Watching him play hockey with Zyana had filled her chest with a soft warmth. His rare smile was beautiful, creasing his cheeks, crinkling up his eyes and filling them with light. His laugh was deep and stirring.

The night she’d met him at Kendra and Max’s, Jodie had noticed he was an attractive man, but his demeanor had annoyed her. Now…he was more than merely attractive. He was…fascinating. His reticence made her want to know more about him, but he also made her body tingle everywhere and think about touching him…being touched by him…what that would feel like…

They’d slept so close together last night, physically close enough to touch. When he’d held her hand, his strong warm fingers closing around hers, she’d melted into the sensation, loving it but wanting so much more. But she was crazy even thinking things like that about this man, who clearly didn’t want relationships.

“I just am,” he now said gruffly in response to her question.

He’d closed up when she’d asked about his family, so she was putting two and two together and getting four. She was good at that. Call it intuition or a sixth sense, but Jodie often picked up on undercurrents and feelings. She also knew her interest in people and what made them tick sometimes came across as nosiness. So she resisted the urge to push him for more info.

“You were having fun today, admit it.” She leaned into him and nudged him with her shoulder.

Gah. His body was rock hard, big and solid.

“Yeah, yeah, okay.” He shrugged. “Zyana’s a cool kid.”

“Oh, she’s the one who’s fun. Not me.” She was teasing. Hopefully he knew that.

He turned his head and met her eyes, and her smile faded. Their gazes caught and held, and heat swept over her from her hairline to her toes, pooling low in her belly. Temptation bloomed inside her, filling her.

His thick eyelashes lowered, but she caught how his pupils went big and darkened his eyes. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Jodie.”

She blinked. Shock made every nerve ending in her body prickle when he lifted a big hand and cupped her face.

“You’re more than just fun,” he said. “You’re…real.”

She blinked again. Her heart bumped.

The words appeared dragged out of him, like he wasn’t used to saying nice things. “You’re not phony,” he added. “You’re genuine and caring and real.”

She pulled in a long shaky breath through her nose, her body vibrating. “Um. Wow.”

One corner of his mouth hitched up. “Being a good mom shouldn’t be so sexy.”

Her eyes widened. “S-sexy?”

His mouth hitched higher into a crooked smile. “Sexy as fuck.” He closed his eyes briefly. “Trying not to swear. But she’s napping.”

Thankfully Zyana wasn’t sitting beside them—she knew he wouldn’t have said it if she was. But Jodi didn’t give a hot buttered fuck if he swore right this moment. She liked that he said it.

So weird…being a mom often didn’t feel very sexy. She and Zyana were on their own a lot, other than spending time with friends. But she was a woman, and she liked men and she liked sex and…she liked that he thought she was sexy. She more than liked it. Especially since the only way he’d seen her had been…as a mom.

Other than the night they’d met, when he’d seen her…naked.

Heat raced through her veins, remembering that.

“You are,” he continued, his thumb stroking near the corner of her mouth. “So sexy. I think it’s because you’re so open. Honest. No games.”

“Other than hockey,” she joked.

His lips twitched. “I mean, you aren’t even trying to be sexy. You don’t flirt with me.”

She gazed back at him. “Do you want me to flirt with you?”

He let out a small groan. “If you did, I’d be a goner.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Without thought, she shifted closer and onto his lap. His hands went to her hips, and she set hers on his chest. His heart thudded beneath his sweater against her palm. Nose to nose, they held each other’s gaze. Her lips parted and her eyelashes drifted down as they closed the scant distance between them.

His mouth met hers in a slow, gentle press. Heat flared in her belly and rushed through her body. With another rumble in his chest, his mouth opened over hers, asking for more, coaxing hers wider too, and when he licked inside, she eagerly met his tongue with hers.

She pressed herself closer and his hands, big and warm and rough, slid up her back under her sweater. She glided her fingers over his shoulders to the soft skin of his neck, then into his silky hair. He drew back, tilted his head, and kissed her again, deeper still.

“Jodie.” He kissed her mouth, then her cheek, then her eyelids.

His touch was gentle yet his body was hard, carved and solid like stone, yet warm. No, hot. Burning hot.

She wanted to kiss him forever, like this. Her head fell back as his mouth moved over her jaw to her throat, lingering on her fluttering pulse, sucking so gently. Her arms wrapped around his head as he tilted her back in his arms, kissing lower, over her collarbone, to the neckline of her sweater.

Her breasts swelled and ached. She was dying for his touch. “Oh God.”

He found her mouth again and it consumed her—the taste of him, the feel of his breath, his big hands moving on her skin. Heat slid through her, and she melted into him, dizzy with desire. His hands moved over her sides, up to brush the band of her bra, his thumbs grazing the undersides of her breasts. More, more…“Please,” she whispered against his lips. “Touch me.”

“Yeah.” And he cupped her breasts with both hands. The bra was in the way, but it was sheer and thin and her nipples scraped his palms as he squeezed so gently. Heat pooled low in her belly, a swelling, aching need. His mouth moved on hers, slow and sweet, and his fingertips swept over her nipples. They tingled and tightened even more, her back arching helplessly into his touch.

She was lost in it all, a glowing heat that started deep inside and spread to the room around them, her skin hot, her hands exploring Nick’s hair and neck and shoulders. His sweater had three buttons at the throat, and she opened them to find his skin, gliding over sleek flesh and solid muscle and strong bones. She curved her hands over his shoulders and hung on as he devoured her mouth more, the kisses getting harder, demanding more. She wanted to give him more…everything…She moaned. She wanted to give him everything.

Time fell away as they made out like teenagers on the couch, kissing and touching, licking and squeezing. She pressed her nose to the side of his neck and breathed in his clean, spicy scent. It filled her lungs and made her head spin with lust.

Eventually Nick shifted on the couch, lifting her with him, slowly easing her down, and they were lying on the long edge of the sectional. Oh yeah…perfect. Stretched out, body to body, she pressed into him. His big thigh pushed between her legs, and she rocked her aching pussy into it, soft needy noises rising in her throat.

His erection pressed into her, a big, rock hard bulge. His hands continued to explore beneath her sweater, then down over her leggings to her ass, pulling her harder against him. Perfect…He kissed her jaw, her ear, the side of her neck, traced his tongue down to her shoulder and grazed her there with his teeth.

“Damn, you’re hot.” He groaned. “Wriggling that hot little body against me like that…fuck…”

She pressed her breasts to his chest, seeking relief for the need throbbing there, rubbing against him, and he made another low, rough sound.

She couldn’t get close enough. He shoved her sweater higher, slid the straps of her bra off her shoulders, and tugged the cups down. Her body jolted with electricity when his fingers plucked at her nipples and she gave a soft cry. She bit her lip to stop the noises that wanted to escape, vaguely aware of her sleeping daughter in the next room.

Nick cupped and massaged her breasts, pinched her nipples, and she couldn’t stop moving, need twisting lower in her belly, dampening her panties. When his hand lowered to cup her pussy, she went very still, throbbing against his palm.

“So hot,” he whispered. “I can feel you’re wet.”

“Oh God.” Fire burned over her skin. She tilted her pelvis, seeking more.

“Jodie…” He kissed her cheekbone. “How long does Zyana sleep?”

“A-about an hour and a half.”

“ ’Kay, good.”

Was it good? She had no idea how much time had passed…it felt like hours.

Shockingly, his hand moved, up then down again inside her leggings. The stretchy fabric gave for him, allowing him access inside her panties too. He sucked in a sharp breath as big fingers stroked through her slick, swollen flesh. “Oh yeah. So wet, baby.” He bent his head and closed his lips around her nipple, then mumbled, “So soft.”

“Ooooh…” Hot ribbons of sensation ran from breast to womb. She melted back into the cushions of the couch, her thighs falling apart, Nick on his side next to her, pleasuring her with his mouth on her breast and his fingers between her legs.

This man…he was incredible…big and hulking, yet tender and generous. He said he hated people, but there was no way a man who hated people could be doing this, making her feel so good and clearly taking so much pleasure in it himself…looking at her with hot eyes, his lips tilted up at the corners in admiration.

He shocked her again when he murmured, “You’re beautiful.”

He found her mouth with his, sucking on her tongue, biting her lips so gently, while stroking her with blunt fingertips. She could barely think…could only feel…he made her feel so good. Her body jerked again when he brushed wet fingers over her clit, every nerve ending sizzling.

God, being touched by him like this…so intimate. She opened her legs for him, opened her mouth for his, thinking only Nick…Nick…

His kisses were endless, sensual, making her ache with wanting more. His fingers on her pussy were good, so good, but even that wasn’t enough. When he pushed a finger inside her, she clenched on it. That…that was what she needed. He added another finger, deepening the pressure, and a moan rose in her throat. He was making her limp with pleasure, even while her insides were coiling up tight. Tighter. She flew higher, that twisting sensation tightening inside until she couldn’t take any more. She gasped and soared over the edge, trembling, swallowing the noises rising in her chest, clinging to him, and trying to breathe. She reached for his wrist to still his hand, unbearably sensitized, closing her thighs. “Oh God.”

He kissed her cheek, her closed eyelids, her nose, moving his hand to lay it on her quivering belly. “Beautiful.”

“Mmm.” Dazed, drifting, she held on to him, his body a wall of heat and strength against her. She never wanted to move, but she waited for him to tug her leggings down, open his fly, and move over her.

Her eyes popped open when he did the opposite…pulling her bra cups back into place, easing her sweater down, then sitting up. She gazed at him, lips parting. “Uh…you’re stopping?”

Regret hitched one corner of his mouth into a wry smile. “It’s been nearly an hour and a half since you put Zyana down.”

“No!” She rolled her head. She had no idea what time it was. A glance at a clock on the wall confirmed what he said. “Oh my God.” She covered her eyes with her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey. Don’t be sorry.” He leaned down to brush a kiss over her mouth, and she moved her hand to meet his eyes. “That was amazing.”

“It really was,” she admitted. “For me. I’d say you deserve a turn.”

He pursed his lips. “I’ll survive.”

As common sense returned, she bit her lip. “This might…complicate things.”

He sighed. “I’ll try not to be a dick about it.”

She frowned. “I wasn’t thinking that.” Now she put both hands over her face. “Oy. I can’t believe we did that!”

“Yeaaaah. Kinda got carried away there.”

“Jesus, no kidding.” She dropped her hands and sat up, tugging her sweater farther down. “Sometimes I do things without thinking them through. I shouldn’t have jumped onto your lap.”

“Look, let’s not get into a big thing about whose fault it was or who started it. I think we both felt it…we both acted on it. We’re adults. It happened. I just…” He paused, his jaw tightening.

“What?”

“I don’t want you to feel like you’re not safe with me.”

“Oh my God.” She scrambled to get her legs under her and knelt next to him. “Don’t say that! In case you didn’t notice, I was a completely willing participant.”

“I did notice.” His lips twitched, and she caught a teasing glint in his eye that was insanely attractive.

She fought back a smile too. “Maybe it’s you who’s not safe around me.”

“I think…” He leaned forward and rubbed his nose against hers. “That’s a safe bet, beautiful.” He huffed a laugh.

Her skin tingled everywhere at his crazy compliment. At least that’s what she thought it was.

She drew back and met his eyes. “It’s pretty hard to, um, seduce someone when there’s a child around.”

He nodded.

“But…she goes to bed early.” She blinked at him. “Like eight o’clock.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Just sayin’.” She slid her legs off the couch and stood. “Better get her up.”

---

By the time Jodie got Zyana up and downstairs for some milk and a snack, Nick had disappeared outside. She could hear the roar of the snowblower. She peered out the window to see the snow had tapered off. She sighed, watching Nick slowly power the big machine through the snow. As he neared the patio, he left the snowblower and used a shovel to clear a path. She watched his big shoulders as he dug and tossed the snow aside. That was hard work, even for a professional athlete who was probably in the best shape of anyone she’d ever known.

He turned his face up to the sun now peeking out from clouds that were breaking apart. The wind had died down, so that was good.

She felt she should go shovel too, but with Zyana they’d probably be more of a hindrance than help. Maybe when he got a path to the coach house cleared, she could get Zyana properly bundled up and she could help with the front sidewalk, although it was short.

It took Nick such a long time, that she felt horribly guilty when he returned, red faced, damp haired, breathing hard. “Holy fu—” He stopped. “That’s a lot of snow.”

“I know.” She clasped her hands together. “I feel terrible you had to clear that all out.”

“Why?” He crossed in sock feet to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. “You didn’t put the snow there.”

“If it weren’t for me and Zyana living there, you wouldn’t have had to.”

He gave her a level look as he chugged water, then said, “Yes, I would have. I have to get to my garage.”

“Oh. Right. Still, I feel bad. I’m going to help with the front.”

It turned out to be a bit of a party. All the neighbors emerged from their houses, bundled up, some with their snowblowers shooting arcs of snow into the air, others with shovels in hand, clearing their own yards and helping one another. Jodie introduced Nick to Evaline, which was weird since Evaline was his neighbor, and Zyana and Jaquawn played in the snow. She met the next-door neighbors Rick and Charis, a friendly young couple. The shared experience of the blizzard and the power outage had everyone talking and bonding. She watched Nick interact with his neighbors, who he apparently knew only slightly. He was friendly and relaxed, leaning on the handle of the snow shovel as he and Rick conversed about something out near the street.

Weirdly, now the sun was out, the snow started softening and melting, but without snowplows coming down the street, they weren’t going to be able to get far. Being housebound another day with Zyana made her sigh, but on the bright side, she missed her when she was at daycare, so she should be grateful for the time with her little girl. And she’d be able to get some work done from home now they had power.

Inside she packed up their belongings, and she and Zyana carried them back to the coach house. The temperature there was comfortable now, but she turned on the fireplace anyway as she and Zyana sat on the couch and ate chicken fingers she’d found in the freezer. After a bath and some reading, she got Zyana to sleep in her own bed, tucked in with Ruby.

“That was fun sleeping over at Nick’s,” Zyana said drowsily.

“It was kind of fun, wasn’t it?” Guiltily, she remembered the shattering orgasm she’d had that afternoon. Eeep.

“And pwaying hockey with him.”

“Yeah.” She stroked Zyana’s hair and watched her eyelashes flutter as she drifted to sleep.

As always, these moments filled her with love for her daughter, her heart squeezing.

She left the bedroom door open a crack and jogged downstairs to clean up the kitchen and put things away. She glanced at the clock on the stove—eight-twenty.

Would Nick take her hint? He obviously knew she couldn’t leave Zyana and come to his place.

She texted Kendra, and they agreed they wouldn’t go to work tomorrow, Kendra sending out a group email to let everyone else know.

She looked at the clock again. Eight-thirty.

She finished tidying the kitchen, rinsed out the sponge, and set it in the sink. Eight-forty.

She sighed. He wasn’t going to come.

Eyeing her phone, she nibbled her bottom lip. She could call him, or text him.

Or she could just have a glass of wine and watch one of her favorite Netflix series. If he wasn’t interested, she wasn’t going to beg him to come over. Although, she would make it worth his while if he did….

After what he’d done for her, she had a painful yearning to do the same for him…to explore his body as he had hers, learning all those muscles, tasting him, making him feel good.

She sighed, settling onto the couch just as a soft knock on her door reached her ears. Her senses went on alert, her head tilted, and she slid off the couch to answer it.

Nick.