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CHAPTER 14
It was early summer and had been unseasonably warm but tonight was incredibly clear and the temperature fell dramatically. It was quite cold by the time the failing light drove Jack from his project in doors into bed. She was so warm and he was so cold. In the narrow bed he tried not to touch her with his frigid limbs but in fact she was already awake.
"You should have come in earlier. You don't have to work half the night." She whispered.
"Just want to get the damned thing finished. Sorry I woke you."
"You should be, you feel like an ice cycle."
With that he put his icy nose in the crook of her neck. The response was just what he expected. Her whoop and jump made him laugh. A shoe or two was tossed in their direction along with a few sleepy grumbles.
She turned in the bed to face him and engulfed him in her warm arms. He was so cold it made her shiver. He was loathe to put his hands on her and tucked them under his arms to defrost them. She ran her hands from his shoulders down his back trying to transfer some of her warmth to him. The sweep of her hands increased until her hands gently caressed his backside and muscular thighs. With each pass of her hand she drew him closer and he did not fight her. The only thing that remained between them was his arms crossed on his chest. He reached out to touch her face, her arms, her back and before he could come to his senses, had the hem of her shift in his hands, fist held so tight that his hands were trembling. The entire time his eyes never left hers seeking desire, seeking approval, seeking permission. He stopped himself and he reached out and stilled her hand. Holding both of her hands with one hand the other gently touched her face. She could tell he was nervous; he always fidgeted while trying to find the right words. He stroked the angle of her jaw, rubbed the back of his fingers on her chin, then caressed her lips and cheek with his thumb and played with her earlobe with his fingertips. Nothing was said, not with words but with looks of longing and desire forced to be put in check. This was not the place to have a private conversation and they both knew it, as well as not the time nor place to make love. She rolled over smoothing down her shift and fell asleep with the tingling feeling that was the after glow of his touch and the very real sensation of his lips on the back of her neck.