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But also, watching her behind the wheel of my car, her five-foot-three frame swamped by leather … well, that’s a fantasy I didn’t realise I had before today.
“Oh, would you look at that? We made it,” she sings as she swings into the car park. “And all in one piece, might I add.”
“Thank fuck for that.”
5
Ryan
WinterintheUKleaves a lot to be desired, but there’s something to be said about strolling down a darkened, rain-soaked high street in December. Twinkling lights dance around in the periphery, and the distant sound of carollers wraps around us like a comforting hug.
Chase walks beside me, his hand pressing against my lower back as he steers us away from a horde of gathering teens. Despite my large coat, heat seems to radiate from his palm, imprinting me with his touch.
I steal a glance at him, brushing my eyes over his length. He catches my eyes with a broad smile as he sends me a wink, and my breath hitches. To some, he might be imposing—with his height, all-black outfit, and the tattoos that peek from beneath the collar of his hood, covering most of his visible skin—but there’s something warm about him too.
The supermarket looms ahead, promising a quick end to this little outing, but I drag my feet, not really wanting to be done with our little trip before it even starts.
“You wanna go get a drink before we do the shopping?” Chase asks, and I chuckle. “What?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head, smiling brightly.
He narrows his eyes, sliding his hand away from my back. I shiver from the loss, and he smiles knowingly, finding my hand and interlocking our fingers. “Nope, not nothing. Tell me what’s got you laughing, and I’ll buy you that orange hot chocolate you love so much.”
“With all the trimmings?”
“Allthe trimmings. Cream, marshmallows, and a chocolate Flake. Maybe even two…” He wags his brows, then tugs me away from the main street and down one of the smaller alleys.
I groan dramatically, tipping my head back. “You don’t play fair—using my chocolate addiction against me to get what you want.”
“All’s fair in love and war, baby.” He squeezes my fingers, and I bite my tongue, trying to ignore how my heart tries to leap out of its cage at his term of endearment. It doesn’t mean anything. It can’t mean anything, not when he’s my best friend’s big brother.
I shake my head, forcing my gaze forwards. “It’s honestly nothing. It’s just crazy how well you read my mind sometimes.” He flicks his gaze to mine, his brow raised in confusion, so I elaborate. “I was thinking I wasn’t quite ready to end our errands run just yet, and then you come in with your Jedi mind skills and give me the perfect opportunity to prolong it.”
He laughs. “I thought you didn’t find my company all that exciting?”
“I don’t,” I jest, bumping his bicep with my shoulder. “It’s obviously the weather I’m enjoying.”
“Obviously,” he deadpans.
“And the decorations.”
“Of course.”
“The carollers aren’t too bad either…”
“Uh-huh.” He halts suddenly, giving my hand a hard tug. I stumble over my feet, but he spins, his free hand resting on my hip as I collide with his solid chest. I tip my head back, and my eyes lock on heated brown irises. “Anything else enjoyable about this outing, or just those three things?”
“Just those three things,” I whisper, lowering my gaze to his full lips.
My heart races as he leans down, pressing our foreheads together. The mint from his chewing gum fans my nose as he closes the distance between us, and I breathe him in as the sounds from the high street dim until all I can hear is the thump of my blood rushing through me.
I press my hand to his chest, feeling the racing strum of his heartbeat beneath my fingers, and I’m powerless to stop whatever comes next, even if I wanted to.
Being with him is as easy as breathing, and despite my best intentions, it’s impossible not to fall into him when he looks at me like he is. Pushing up onto my tiptoes, I curl my hand into the thick cotton of his hoodie, and he tightens his hold on my hip, his fingers searing through my coat.
Later, I’ll re-erect my barriers and remind myself why we can’t do this again, but for now—
A shrill ringtone cuts through the air, instantly snapping the tension between us. Peeling my eyes open, I avert my gaze from Chase and pull in a deep breath. I relinquish my hold on his hoodie and take a step back.
