Chapter 2
Arlo
Oh dear, my knees are shaking, and I’m certain it’s not from the cold. Not when I’m completely surrounded by Reynolds and his warmth. He attacks my mouth with a force that’s more intense than I’ve ever known from him, and as far as welcome homes go, this would have to top the list.
I’d expected to walk into the party, share a few drinks, throw some friendly banter back and forth, and then hopefully leave with him—I wasn’t expecting to feel his hard dick pressed against my hip within moments of arriving.
The reality is infinitely better than what I’d imagined.
His thigh pushes between my legs, and I hurry to break the kiss. “I’m sorry, sir, have we met?”
Reynolds’s growl shoots straight to my dick, and he jerks my head to the side to catch my earlobe with his teeth. “I’ve been waiting all night for you to show up.”
A shiver passes through me that has nothing to do with the weather. “Should I assume by your welcome that you’re single?”
“Yes, and if you’re not, I’m not so sure that would stop me.”
I’ve never heard more perfect words. While I know that the reality is that it would stop him—because it has so many other times—it also feels incredible to hear how much he wants me.
I’d thought Miguel could make me happy while we traveled across countries together. Until Christmas. All it took was one look at the heat in Reynolds’s eyes, and I knew that no matter how much I tried to fight it, we’d always be tied together.
I brush back a chunk of dark hair that’s fallen loose from its band. “Single, and I had a full medical as soon as I got back to the States.”
His dark eyes take on that predatory look I love so much. “All clear?”
“Yes. You?”
“Test results are in my bag.”
I press my lips to his, hard and needy. “As if I need to see them.”
“Then what are we waiting for?”
The first trickle of hesitancy seeps through my lust. “I should probably go in and say hi to people first.”
“You could …” Reynolds ducks his head so his lips brush over my neck. “You could go in there and catch up with family and friends who will literally talk for hours, before sneaking out and joining me in my room. Or you can tell them tomorrow that you got in late.”
That is a compelling point …
“Your brother isn’t expecting you,” Reynolds says.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Good enough for me.”
Reynolds separates from me long enough to grab the two glasses of alcohol he left on the railing. He hands one to me. “Did you get a room or a cabin?”
“A cabin.” I’m embarrassed to say why, but it’s something he’s always teased me about. “I hate trying to keep quiet.”
His smile is filthy as I take his hand and lead the way back down the stairs and across the snow to the cabin I’ve booked for the weekend.
I have to work to keep my strides normal when all I want is to be naked with him already, and I swear the only thing that gets us successfully along the trail and to the door of my cabin is how goddamn cold it would be to fuck in the snow.
I’m almost desperate to feel him inside me again.
It’s amazing how easily we always pick up where we left off.
I can’t remember a time before Reynolds. He and Mattias grew up together, while I was the annoying younger brother they tried to run away from or push in the creek.
Then high school happened, and something changed.
Reynolds would offer for me to play video games with them, or get up early enough when he slept over to eat breakfast with me while Matti snored on upstairs.
He never had conversation to spare, but his eyes said enough.
Whenever I felt them on me, I’d blush like a lunatic.
One night, long after the rest of the house had fallen asleep, my bedroom door creaked open and Reynolds asked to come in.
He perched awkwardly on the edge of my bed, running the comforter between his fingers, and then, without another word, he leaned over, pressed a quick kiss to my lips, and left.
I swear I’ve been his ever since.
Reynolds crowds in behind me as we cross the threshold of the cabin, and I hurry to close the door behind us.
“Remember how I used to have to cover your mouth to fuck you?” His breath is hot against my neck. “Your face would go so sexy and red while you squealed against my palm.”
One of those nights, is it? I’m sort of glad Reynolds is feeling nostalgic, because I definitely am too. There’s something about my brother and Liv getting married that’s made me stop and take a look at my own life.
“It was your fault I was never quiet.”
He chuckles and pulls my scarf from around my throat. “It was so hot. How you could never control yourself.”
“I think you were the one with self-control issues. The number of times we were almost caught—”
“And yet never were.” Reynolds yanks my coat from my shoulders, and my jacket quickly follows it. He’s not being careful or gentle, and while some of my favorite times with him have been slower and softer, I need this. To feel his raw want and know he’s not going to hold back tonight.
It really has been too long.