by Lexie Davis
The Dirty Bits from Carina Press give you what you want, when you want it. Designed to be read in an hour or two, these sex-filled micro-romances are guaranteed to pack a punch and deliver a happily-ever-after.
Wrong cabin, right bed. When an unlikely pair find themselves snowed in, the only thing to do is heat up the sheets.
My foot’s barely in the door of the isolated cabin I rented when a naked, gorgeous, dripping wet guy walks out of the bedroom. I may be half-frozen from the storm outside but one look at this mountain man has my blood heating. Too bad the gruff stranger isn’t as pleased with the cabin mix-up as I am.
With the power out and the storm raging, there’s only one way to survive the night: body heat. An innocent cuddle by the fire is the furthest thing from my mind. Once Reid McKenna’s body is pressed against mine—skin on skin, muscle against curves—raw need takes over.
He’s got me hot and bothered, and wanting more.
Tonight, the wind won’t be the only thing howling.
For those times when size does matter. The Dirty Bits from Carina Press: Quick and dirty, just the way we like it.
This book is approximately 17,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
Edited by Kerri Buckley
Sharing Body Heat
Lexie Davis
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About the Author
Chapter One
Renting a cabin wouldn’t normally be her idea of a great vacation, but she needed some peace and quiet. Lauren Sparks stared at her feet while walking, wishing she’d worn something other than the taupe heeled booties on her feet. After she found her ex in bed with her sister, Jessica, she needed to get away. The embarrassment alone was enough to send her running to the hills and away from the city. People stared at her like she was some kind of freak and when she talked with Tommy, her ex-fiancé, about it, she learned that it wasn’t the first time. He admitted to screwing around with her sister while continuing to be with her. His lack of remorse threatened to make her homicidal.
Lauren took a deep breath and peered out into the open. A small cabin sat in a clearing with trees surrounding it. A light shined brightly in the windows, giving it a homey feel. She frowned and glanced around. It had to be hers; there wasn’t another one around.
A snowflake fell on her cheek and she batted it away. Her feet were killing her. Her mind was a fucked-up mess. She’d spent nearly five hours driving and she wanted some rest. She left her luggage beside her and stuck the key in the doorknob. With a twist, she unlocked it and pushed the door open. Grabbing her suitcase, she hoisted it inside the doorway and glanced around.
Considering the cabin was a one room, one bath establishment, it was gorgeous on the inside. The wood and stone gave it a rustic appeal while the plaid blanket on the bed made it seem like a world away from what she was used to. No silk sheets. No bright and airy colors. No high-rise apartment in the city. No traffic. She was in the woods alone and she planned to do absolutely nothing while there.
She closed the door and locked it before setting her suitcase at the end of the bed. A fire was going in the fireplace and it felt so damn good after walking what felt like miles. The weatherman on the car radio had called for snow, which was fine with her. She had no desire to get out in the weather. Let it snow all it wanted.
The package she purchased included a completely stocked kitchen with food for her stay. She’d made a list of what she wanted and they’d done their best to achieve it. Hot chocolate was on that list and she smiled when she found it in the cabinet. After grabbing a mug from the shelf above her head, she filled it with water to heat in the microwave.
“What the—” A masculine voice cut into the silence.
Lauren swiveled around and dropped the mug when she saw a naked man standing in the middle of the cabin, staring at her. He blinked a few times and she pursed her lips, doing her best to keep her attention on his face.
“Who the hell are you?”
“I rented this cabin for the weekend.”
“No you didn’t. I did.”
She frowned. “Um, no. I have the paperwork to prove it. I just signed it at the office before I walked here.”
Kneeling down, she bent to pick up the broken mug. Water had splattered all over her leg and bootie. Rolling her eyes, she kicked the mess to the side before going to her purse to grab the paperwork she’d just signed.
“Here it is.” She held it out to him. “I rented it for two days and two nights.”
She glanced over at him, noticing how completely comfortable he was standing nude in front of her. She took in his dark hair, which was wet and messy from his shower. His green eyes sparkled with mischief the longer her attention remained on him.
He looked the papers over and handed them back to her. “Your cabin is three twelve. This cabin is three fourteen.”
She frowned. “Where’s three twelve?”
He pointed toward the right. “That way. Probably a mile or two.”
Lauren felt her mouth form an O as she sheepishly stared at him. She must have gotten turned around on the path while she was walking. “I’m so sorry. I’ll get my stuff and leave.”
The naked man rubbed a hand over his face. “In the dark?”
She glanced toward the window. It’d gotten really dark in the minutes since she’d arrived. The trees blocked out most of the light from the sun and she assumed the impending snowstorm made the area even darker.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Lauren.”
Boldly, she allowed her gaze to linger, taking in the rest of his muscular body, his toned abs and his fabulous cock. There could definitely be worse people to intrude on. She swallowed hard, biting her lower lip as she glanced away.
“I don’t like the idea of you heading off on your own. It’s too dark to see where you’re going.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You can stay here tonight. It’s not ideal but it’ll work.”
“Oh, I can find it on my own. I’ll be fine.”
“Said every person that has ever had anything bad happen to them in the woods. You don’t look like you know the first thing about bears or other wild animals. Much less survival if you got lost. It’s supposed to snow, so you could freeze to death if you didn’t find your cabin. I don’t feel comfortable with it. I’d have to walk you myself and then I’d have to walk back to my cabin by myself. All of that can be eliminated in the morning when daylight breaks.”
It should have offended her that he thought she was so damn helpless, but she had missed the turn to her cabin and ended up in his. She didn’t have much of an argument so she let it go.
“Thank you.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome. I’m Reid, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Reid.” Lauren gripped the handle of her suitcase.
His cock was hardly the first she’d ever seen, but there was something about it that kept drawing her attention. What the hell was wrong with her? He caught her staring at him and she felt a rush of heat to her cheeks. Shyly, she put her suitcase in front of the window and went back to the kitchen.
“You want some hot chocolate? I love this stuff and it’s the perfect night for it.” She kept her back to him in an effort to avoid looking at his dick again.
“Sure.” He moved around behind her and she wondered if he
planned to put clothes on anytime soon. She popped two mugs in the microwave, staring at them while the water heated. Once the timer beeped, she pulled them out and poured the packets in the cup, stirring lightly with a spoon. When she turned around, Sexy Naked Man was staring at her. She smiled timidly and handed him a mug before moving toward the window to sip at her own.
Sharing a cabin with a stranger wasn’t the scenario she had in mind for the weekend. He could be some kind of escaped convict that sliced and diced his victims only to hide their pieces in the woods. Looking over her shoulder at him, she stared at his perfect ass. He had a tattoo on his rib cage, text that she couldn’t read from the distance. She sipped her hot chocolate and jumped when he caught her staring at him again.
“Shit.” She held the mug out, irritated that the hot liquid burned the top of her hand.
He frowned. “I don’t bite.” Then he grinned. “Unless you want me to.”
Lauren felt her cheeks heat as she grabbed a paper towel from the kitchen. “I’m just wondering why you’re naked in front of a stranger.”
He shrugged. “I thought I was going to be by myself. Why? Do you want me to put clothes on?”
“Yes.” She sipped her drink, trying to avoid looking at him.
Hell, she hadn’t been so flustered in a long time. Reid smiled at her though he didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed his boxer briefs from his suitcase and pulled them on.
It should have made her feel better, but he only made things worse. The boxer briefs hugged his cock, amplifying his package. He lifted his mug from the nightstand table and drank from it without one single fuck for the world.
“Where are you from, Lauren?”
She licked her lips. “New York City. Born and raised.”
“What on earth are you doing out here?”
The lights flickered and she glanced around the room. “I needed some quiet time away from everything.”
He sat on the sofa between them and pinned her with his piercing green eyes. “Sounds mysterious.”
“What about you? Where are you from?”
“Minnesota. Born and raised. I’m a workaholic and my friends and family worry about my well-being more than they should. So, to keep the peace, I’ve been coming to these cabins for five years, now. After I make a big business deal, I promise to take a weekend off to regroup. It mostly works.”
“So you just made a big business deal?”
He smiled. “I always make big business deals. Hence the workaholic part. But yes. I bought a company and it’s going to be a subsidiary of my corporation.”
She nodded. Nothing about his demeanor said he was hiding anything so she felt more at ease with him. He sounded legit. She blew out a breath and the sultry look he gave her had her fidgeting. He appeared completely relaxed on the couch, his body angled in the corner of the arm. He faced her, one arm on the couch’s back cushion and his mug resting on his hairy thigh, unabashedly staring at her.
“So why do you need to be away from everything?”
She smiled. “Everybody needs a break at some point.”
“True. But I can’t imagine that you’d choose a remote cabin over a trip to the Bahamas.”
“The cabin is closer.”
Lauren drank the last of her hot chocolate and set the mug in the sink. There was no way she was telling a complete stranger about her life. The last thing she needed was another person judging or pitying her.
“With a plane, anything is close.”
He stood behind her, teasing her senses with his clean scent. He dipped into her personal space as he set the mug in the sink. Who was this guy? For a second, she thought about what it would be like to kiss him. To have him run his fingers in her hair and tilt her head back for his lips. Why was she reacting this way?
Before she had time to answer the question, the lights flickered and went out. Lauren’s heart jumped into her throat as she glanced around. Darkness surrounded them except for the glow of the fireplace. Reid’s big body was close enough to touch though Lauren didn’t think it was appropriate to reach out and grab him despite not liking the darkness. She turned to face him.
“So you want to tell ghost stories?”
Lauren blinked a few times. “No.”
“That’s too bad. I know one that will make you pee your pants in fear.”
She licked her lips, nervously. “Are there any candles or...something?”
“Nope.” He turned slightly, bumping his arm against hers. “Why? Are you afraid of the dark?”
Lauren took in the smell of the wood burning in the fire, the crackling sound filling the silent cabin. Was she afraid of the dark? Yes. She lived alone in the city. She walked around her apartment with every light on.
“I’m not a huge fan of it.”
“Go sit by the fire then.” He motioned toward the living area.
Lauren moved toward the fireplace and sat in the wooden rocker next to the couch. It probably would have been a better idea to take a trip to the Bahamas. Sand, bikinis and the ocean sounded like a better idea than a dark cabin in the cold.
“You warm enough?” He grabbed a blanket from the bed and held it out to her.
“Aren’t you cold?” She took it from him.
“No.” He sat on the sofa again.
“You don’t want a blanket or something?”
“Not unless you’re going to share that blanket. It’s the only one I’ve got.”
Cuddling with a stranger in front of the fireplace wasn’t a good idea. It wasn’t a bad idea either, but it definitely wasn’t a good one. Lauren draped the blanket over herself.
She contemplated what it would feel like to sit next to him on the sofa. His body had radiated heat like a furnace when they stood mere inches from each other in the kitchen. He had nice arms too. They would undoubtedly feel good wrapped around her.
Reid arched an eyebrow at her and Lauren glanced toward the fireplace. It was going to be a long night if those thoughts kept popping in her head. The bed was against the back wall, away from the fire. She imagined he would sleep there and she’d be stuck with the couch. While warmer, it didn’t look comfortable. She’d also need a blanket. The blanket he’d probably take with him to bed.
“How exactly are the sleeping arrangements going to work?”
He propped his head up on his fist. “I’m open to your ideas.”
“There’s no heat near the bed.” Lauren kept her eyes on the burning wood. “There’s only one blanket. The fireplace probably needs to be kept going so we don’t freeze to death.”
“So what’s your suggestion?”
She pursed her lips. “I don’t have one.”
“Are you tired?”
“A little,” she admitted. “It was a long drive and I walked miles in these shoes. My feet are killing me and I really wanted a warm bath before I went to bed.”
There wasn’t any way she would take a bath in the cold, dark bathroom. Even if he heated water over the fire and poured it in the tub, she wasn’t doing it.
Reid stood, drawing Lauren’s attention to his large frame. The faint glow of the firelight made his skin look bronze. His back was toned. Despite his workaholic nature, he found some time to go to the gym. He lifted the mattress off the bed, then carried it to the floor in front of her and set it in front of the fireplace.
“I can’t do anything about the bath,” he commented. “But you can take the bed. I’ll keep the couch.”
Lauren stared at the white sheets covering the thin mattress. “I can’t do that. It’s your bed. You sleep on it.”
“And leave you in the rocking chair?” he frowned. “Take your shoes off. You can have the blanket too.”
Lauren blinked. “You don’t have to be chivalrous.”
“I’m not. I’m usually an asshole.” He lay back on the sofa and
closed his eyes. “Take it for what it is.”
Lauren lifted the blanket and unzipped her booties. She didn’t know if changing into her pajamas was the ideal next move, but her jeans and oversized sweater were far from optimal sleeping attire. Not to mention the parka she still wore. The warm clothes did little to kill the bite of the chill in the room.
“How are you not shivering?” Lauren asked as she stood. “I’m freezing and you’re naked.”
“I’ve got more muscle than you.”
She unzipped the jacket and debated on what to sleep in. Looking over at her suitcase, she decided it was a waste of time to change. Her pajamas were thin compared to her sweater and jeans. She took the blanket and crawled onto the mattress, loving the warmth of the fire.
“You’re making me feel bad.” Lauren covered herself with the blanket.
“Why?”
“Because. I have your bed and your blanket. You’re lying there in your underwear on that uncomfortable couch.” Lauren stared at him.
“Are you offering to share?”
Lauren thought about it. Did she really want to invite a stranger to sleep with her? Granted, he’d been nothing but accommodating. She mixed up the cabins and he’d let her stay for the night instead of making her find her way in the dark to her own. Being on her own wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. The idea of snuggling by the fire with a hot-blooded man did have its appeal. She liked his company. His presence alone made her feel comfortable. Shedding some layers and sharing some body heat seemed like a better idea than keeping the bulky parka and the rest of her uncomfortable attire on all night. He wasn’t too bad to look at. She doubted he’d leave her disappointed.
“I’m willing to give you the blanket since I have the fire.”
He grinned with his eyes closed. “Keep it.”
* * *
At some point in the night, the fire went out. Lauren stirred in her sleep, forgetting for a moment where she was and who she was with. A large body stood next to her and she gasped, bolting upright while clutching the blanket to her chest.
“Relax. I’m just rebuilding the fire. It went out and the cabin is extremely cold. We probably have a foot or two of snow outside.”