Keep Me Still by Stephen Hoppa

Author:Stephen Hoppa [Hoppa, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-05-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Wet

There must’ve been an entire ocean in the sky for all the rain dripping down. It poured off the roof in endless, relaxing rivers, making it even more impossible for Cody to pull me out of sleep as he kissed down my back, whispered in my ear, and eventually gave in to shaking me.

“Mmm, gotta wake up, baby.” He nipped my ear a little too rough and tugged it between his teeth. “Mechanic called. Your car’s ready to pick up.”

“I thought it would take two weeks to fix.” I swatted dozily at the air.

Cody laughed, whipped the covers back and kissed down my naked body, grazing his fingers over the backs of my knees. “It’s been two weeks.”

Had I really been with Cody for two weeks? It all felt like one long, breathless moment.

“No way it has.” I snatched the covers back. “That would mean it’s July. No way it’s this cold in July.”

“I’ll build you a fire when we get back.” He stole the covers away again. “Unless you want me to find some other way to keep you warm.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed over my back.

“Maybe you don’t realize how cold it is.” I pressed into his body heat. “If you grew up in Alaska.”

“Do you think it snows every day in Alaska?”

“Doesn’t it?”

Cody snorted, shaking his head. “Summers are as warm as anywhere.”

“I’d hope they’re warmer than this.” I rolled over and buried my face in his chest.

“I survived a Texas summer five years ago.” His warmth was stolen from me as he sat up on the edge of the bed. “Never took the cold for granted again.”

I rubbed my eye with the heal of my hand. “Why’d you leave Alaska if you love the cold so much?” When he didn’t answer, I flicked his chin with my foot. “Huh? Why’d you leave?”

“Hoped I’d meet someone.” His voice grew lower. “Got kinda lost on my way back.”

“Did you try a map?” I pinched his soft hair between my toes and gave it a tug.

“Hah.” He grabbed my foot and teased his fingers up the arch until I squirmed. “Sometimes it feels like I’ve been looking for you this whole time.”

I forgot the coldness of the morning. It was all those stupid moments that made it so easy to fall for Cody; like slipping down a hillside; falling deeper and faster with every lost foothold.

“Now c’mon.” He pulled my toe until the joint popped out a crack. “If you don’t get up, I’m not making you breakfast.”

“I’ll make my own damned breakfast.” I buried my face in the pillow.

“Yeah right.” He laughed. “I’ve seen you make eggs.”

“Mmm, fuck off.”

“Geez you’re cranky in the morning.” He yanked on another toe.

“Sorry I don’t like being made fun of for my lack of basic life-skills.” I jerked my foot away from him, searching for the covers with my eyes closed. “I didn’t exactly have the kind of parents who taught me how to cook, and fish, and tie boy scout knots.

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