“Take some of the blanket,” I offered again as I held out a corner to him.
“You know we can’t make it up the tree house ladder without exposing one of us. We can’t both climb at the same time, and I’m not letting you release that blanket.”
He was right, but I didn’t close the blanket again. Even if we couldn’t climb together, he could warm himself now.
“Why didn’t we take clothes with us?” I muttered.
We’d taken the blanket and towels, but no clean clothes, probably because we’d still been wearing our filthy ones.
“Blame it on exhaustion.”
“I do.”
“I think it’s a problem I can solve for a bit.”
Before I could question him, he pulled me to a gentle stop, stepped in front of me, and lifted me off the ground. I snuggled closer, wrapped my legs around his waist, and rested my head on his chest.
Closing my eyes, I sighed contentedly as his inherent smell of cinnamon and horses filled my nose. It was the scent of comfort, love, and home.
He dropped our clothes and the soap at the base of a tree. “We need those,” I murmured.
“I’ll get them later.”
With deft hands, Ryker twisted the blanket so it covered both of us. He pinned it closed behind my back, keeping me sheltered and warm.
I smiled as his strength and warmth encased me in a cocoon of security and love as he strode forward. With every step he took, his muscles rippled against me.
He’d only taken a few steps when another emotion stirred within me. I’d believed that cold and exhaustion had doused my lust, but I was wrong.
It was warm in his arms, and while I was still so tired I could sleep standing up, I had enough energy to skim my fingers across the muscles ridging his back. When my nails lightly raked him, he shuddered and bent his head closer to whisper.
“Stop that.”
My hand dipped lower toward his ass. I relished the feel of his skin against my fingers and the way his body moved with such effortless grace while also exuding strength.
“We still haven’t solved the problem of how we’re getting into the tree house without one of us being naked,” I murmured.
When my lips brushed his skin, I tasted river water along with the saltiness of his skin. I licked my lips at the enticing combination.
It wasn’tmyfault that my tongue brushed his skin when I did. He tasted too divine to resist.
“Ellery,” he cautioned.
“You taste good,” I murmured, but I turned my head to rest my ear over the steady beat of his heart. “And the ladder.”
“I’ve solved that problem. I’ll carry you up.”
I had no doubt he had the strength and ability to do so. My skin prickled at the idea of being in his arms while he hoisted us higher; the movement of his body already created a delicious sensation against mine. I was sure climbing would only make it better.
“Okay, good,” I murmured.
My fingers glided up his back and down again. This time, I dipped them down to his firm ass before sliding them higher again.
I savored the sensation of touching him while my breasts pressed into his chest and the ache between my thighs intensified. We’d nearly died during that robbery and the fight to keep our home from going up in flames; I could have lost him.
When my fingers grazed his ass, I wiggled to get closer and bit back a moan when I rubbed against his lengthening shaft. It was impossible to get our bodies any closer together without having him inside me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
