SNOWED IN (Complete)

Chapter Seven

I WOKE UP AND slowly opened my eyes. Why am I so cold?

I looked around, confused by my surroundings and by the dull ache in my ribs. My eyes fell on Colton as he slept on the couch. The memories came crashing back.

We had kissed for hours. But nothing else had happened. Colton remained a perfect gentleman despite whether I wanted him to or not. He had even gotten up and slept on the couch after I had fallen asleep.

I looked over my shoulder. The wood in the fireplace had burned down to a few hot embers. I looked at the nearby bundle of wood. Pulling the blanket around my body, I grabbed a few pieces of wood and peeled the bark off like Colton had done the night before. Soft light filled the room, weakened by the snow that continued to fall from the sky. Clenching my teeth, I tried to rip a few pieces of the paper bag without waking Colton. I failed.

"Hey," he said softly. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, I was trying not to wake you. The fire went out."

Colton sat up and stretched his arms above his head, showing off his perfectly toned abs. "Here, let me help you."

He got up and helped me stack the wood in the fireplace. "Let's get a little of this bark and paper bag in there," he said, shoving the kindling between the logs. Colton held a larger piece of paper bag against the glowing embers. It quickly caught fire, and Colton placed it up against several pieces of kindling, lighting the fire from various points. "There we go."

"Much better," I said, holding my hands out toward the growing flames.

Colton rubbed the sides of his arms with his hands. "Sorry, I meant to wake up early and add logs before it went out."

I shivered, wincing from the pain emanating from my ribs.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, concern in his voice.

I pulled the blanket tighter around my body. "My ribs hurt," I admitted. "But my face and head feel a little bit better."

Colton frowned. "It's too cold in here for you."

I bit my lower lip. I had an idea, but I didn't want it to come across as needy.

Screw it, I'm freezing! "Maybe you could come lay down next to me? You know, body heat equals warmth."

"You want me to get under the covers with you?" Colton said with a large grin. "Are you just trying to get in my pants?"

My face burned with embarrassment. "No, I just—I'm just—"

"I'm just messing with you," he said.

A moment later, he bounded off the couch and bounced onto the mattress next to me. I lifted my arm. Colton scooted under the blanket and pulled it down around us. The warmth of his body felt amazing. He carefully draped his arm around my waist.

"Does that hurt?" he asked.

"No, you're good," I assured him.

"You're the perfect size little spoon," he said as he nuzzled into my neck.

I ran my hands over his arm. "You make a pretty good big spoon."

As the temperature in the room went from freezing to warm, I fell asleep in Colton's arms.

_____

A FEW HOURS LATER, I woke up to a strange sound. Rolling over, I felt a pang of disappointment once I realized that Colton's arm was no longer around my side.