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“No,” she screamed as her body landed on the head.
Braden tackled her from behind. “That’s what you get for fighting dirty.”
He rolled her in the snow and pinned her down. She couldn’t catch her breath for laughing. Braden straddled her as he trapped her hands beside her head.
“Still laughing?” he asked. “You may have got the jump on me, but who’s in charge now?”
“It was worth it.” Zara attempted to control herself, but his face was wet from the snowballs that had assaulted him. “I’m sorry I killed our snowman, though.”
“You don’t look sorry. You look smug.”
“And you look cold,” she countered. “I guess I kicked your butt at the snowball fight since you only got my hat.”
Braden leaned down, his lips hovering just over hers. “You know what they say about paybacks,” he muttered before he kissed her thoroughly, passionately...promisingly.
She hadn’t even noticed he released her hands until icy cold snow was shoved into the top of her coat.
“Braden,” she yelled as he jumped off her. “You put snow down my top.”
She hopped up, dancing around, trying to get the blistering snow off her bare skin. “That’s not playing fair.”
“I gave you a warning about paybacks,” he called as he scooped up another snowball.
Zara ducked as the ball flew over her head. “Oh, buddy. It’s on.”
* * *
Soaking in the garden tub had definitely done wonders for the sore muscles. Not to mention the fact Braden took full advantage of massaging every inch of Zara before he made love to her.
After their epic snowball fight, which they finally declared a tie, they came back in, and thanks to the chef, who was now going to get a raise, Braden and Zara had steaming cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Braden hadn’t even had to request the treat.
Now they were spent in every way as they lounged beneath the covers in his massive bed.
“You’re going to make it hard for me to go home,” she muttered, snuggling deeper against his side. “Besides the hot sex, I’ve been undressed so much here, I may never want to wear pants again.”
Braden’s hand slid over her bare backside. He wasn’t ready for her to leave. “Fine by me. Keeping you in my bed won’t be a hardship.”
Zara trailed her fingertips over his taut abdomen. “It’s going to be a bit unprofessional of me to host parties while naked in your bed.”
“You’ll definitely be remembered.”
These past few days had been more than he’d ever thought possible. Zara had embedded herself so deep into his life, he needed to come clean because he wanted to build something stronger, something permanent with her.
Once he explained why he’d needed to get into her house, she’d understand. They’d forged a bond so intimate and so fierce, he knew she would understand. Her grandmother had meant the world to her, so that family loyalty she would be able to relate to. Even though her parents hadn’t been the most stellar of people in her life, Zara would see where he was coming from.
Then they could discuss the future. He just wished like hell his hand hadn’t been forced, because he didn’t want to tell her he’d lied to her. Right now she looked at him as if he were everything she’d been searching for but afraid to hope for. He didn’t want to be the one to disappoint, to crush her and make her untrusting again.
“I need to tell you something.” The words were out before he could fully gear himself up for this talk. “I’m not sure where to start.”
Zara stilled against his side. Damn it, he hadn’t meant to start out like this, instantly putting her on the defensive.
“You’ve asked before where this is going.” Braden shifted to his side so he could face her. Lying in bed wasn’t the ideal place to start this, but she was naked so she wouldn’t run out angry. “I don’t want you just in my bed, Zara. I want more.”
Her eyes widened, either in panic or in shock he wasn’t sure.
Reaching for her hand, he brought it to his chest and held her palm flat over his heart. “I know this has been fast, but the attraction was there the moment you came into my office. Seeing you at the party the other night only intensified things. But spending so much time with you over the past few days, I’ve realized that I care for you more than any woman I’ve had in my life other than my sister and my mother.”
“Braden.” Zara closed her eyes. “I want this, so much. But everything about long-term scares me. I mean, I can’t even unpack all of my clothes at my new house. I want things, I want stability and a foundation. I’ve just never had that in my life, and... I’m scared.”
