Page 47 of Ice Cold Christmas

“It’s been a whole year since Melody vanished.” Crap. She’d done it again. Talked about herself in the third person. When would she stop doing that? When would she stop feeling as if she was a fake pretending to be the other woman? “A year since I have been gone,” she rushed to correct. “I’m really supposed to believe that you stayed faithful the whole year?” No way. “Come on,” she scoffed. “I was gone. You got over me. You found someone else, and I am sure you, ah, fucked the person.” And just why was her heart suddenly aching? Why was she feeling her own rage starting to build in her body? Talk about making zero sense.

But she ached. And she was pissed.

Victor shook his head. “No.”

No to which part? To the getting over her? Or fucking someone else? Both?

“There has been no one else. At least not for me. How could there be? I knew you were out there. I just had to find you.” He swung away.

She sprang forward and curled her hand around his shoulder. “I said I went on a few dates. Two of them, actually.” He was rock hard beneath her touch. “I kissed Lucas on the second date.” A kiss that had left her confused because Lucas Paul had seemed like such a nice guy. An engineer that she’d met while working at the diner, Lucas had been fast to tell jokes. He’d had a warm smile. Been outdoorsy. Fun. The whole vibe had been there for him. But when they’d kissed…

Maybe something is wrong with me. Because she’d kissed Lucas, and it had been nice, but, just that. Nice. No giant sparks. No deep connection. It hadn’t seemed right to keep seeing him when she didn’t even know who she was.

She’d only gone out with Lucas because she’d been so lonely.

But…

It felt wrong.

“Glad you didn’t fuck him.” Rasped. “But you should know, sweetheart, I don’t like hearing about you kissing another man. Makes me want to drive my fist into the prick’s face. I was here, fucking lost without you, and you were out there, you were dating?—”

She pulled him toward her. Rose up on her toes and pressed her mouth to his.

Maybe I won’t feel anything intense. Maybe…

His hands clamped around her waist. “You’re gonna do this right,” Victor gritted against her lips. And then he was lifting her up. Carrying her easily and her back soon pressed to the wall as he pinned her there and held her effortlessly. “Let me in,” he whispered. “Open your mouth for me.”

Her lips parted. Her hands remained clamped around his arms. And she let him in.

Maybe I will feel nothing…

One of his legs slid between hers as he held her.

His tongue thrust into her mouth.

She kissed him back, her tongue sliding against his. And…

Lust exploded within her. A savage need that tore past the cold darkness that had held her in its greedy grip for so long. Hunger, desire pulsed in her blood. Her mouth opened wider. A moan rose in her throat, and she kissed him with more intensity. More passion. More…everything.

His hold was strong and sure. His body hard and powerful against her. He kissed her deeply. Slowly. Savoring and taking, and it was like he knew everything about her. How to make her shudder and gasp and…

He does know. He knows my body better than I do.

He lifted her higher, and her legs wrapped around his waist. She didn’t mean to do that. Or, hell, maybe she did. She just wanted to get closer to him. A wildfire had ignited, and Melody wanted to be as close to the flames as she could.

She was so freaking tired of the cold and the dark.

He growled, and she loved the savage sound.

But his mouth tore from hers.

“No! Victor!”

He kissed her neck. Open-mouthed, hot kisses. His tongue licked over her. His teeth bit lightly.

Her eyes closed as another moan broke from her. Harder this time.

His mouth kept moving. To the side of her neck. He licked and sucked and…