Page 193 of Collide

And I know my heart has leaped over the edge, falling, deeper and deeper. I want to say it, but my mouth goes dry. It’stoo soon. I’ll scare him away.

“I know, Elena, I feel it too,” he says, tightening his arm around me. “Too fast,” he whispers against my shoulder. “But I don’t want to slow down.”

Neither do I.

And that’s the most dangerous part of all.

Chapter 26

Lost Cause

Iwake feeling blissful. Thighs sore, naked and tangled in sheets. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

Alex is already up—shirtless, standing by the window, hair tousled, coffee in hand. Better than the view outside. I’m absolutely addicted to the man.

The fire’s burned down to embers, but the heat between us still lingers, slow and thick in the air.

He catches me watching and smirks.

“Morning,Älskling.”

“Morning,boyfriend. I could get used to this,” I murmur, stretching. My body aches in the best way.

“I like when you say that.” He turns toward me and takes a slow sip, eyes dragging over my body like he’s cataloguing every inch of the damage.

“Say what?”

“Boyfriend.” He chuckles, taking another sip of his coffee.

“So, we’ve run out of food.” He grins, unbothered. “And if I’m not wrong, today’s your last pill. So, unless you want to stay up here and raise a brood of Swedish mountain babies with me, we should probably head back.”

I groan.

He crosses the room and leans down, pressing a kiss to my shoulder, warm and tender, the smell of coffee on his breath.

“I could always swallow,” I tease, licking my lips.

His brow lifts, eyes darkening, a low chuckle rumbling from his chest. “What have I done?”

“You’ve only got yourself to blame,” I say, rolling onto my back, my breasts spilling out of the blanket. “You’ve spoilt me. I’ve never been hornier in my life.”

His eyes widen as he takes in the sight, and groans—one of those helpless, wrecked sounds—and drags a hand through his hair like he’s physically trying to hold himself together.

“Elena…” His voice drops. “It’s fucking tempting to put a baby in you. Just to make sure you staymineforever.”

My heart skitters. My mouth doesn’t care.

“Okay, put a baby in me, please,” I joke sweetly, grinning like I’m high on him.

“You’re far too young and I’m not ready to be a dad…yet.” He pauses. “And I’m not ready to share you like that.”

“How about youfillme up anyway,” I tease, wickedly pulling the blanket down further, raking my fingers down my body.

He curses something in Swedish, tsks, and turns away, shaking his head as he walks back to the kitchen.

The drive back is pure agony—the kind where every glance turns molten, every brush of his hand makes my thighs clench. The number of times we have to talk ourselves out of pulling over and fucking on the side of the road…We lose count.

The only thing that stops us is the very real possibility of being arrested for indecent exposure.