Gathering every ounce of strength her frozen, yet lascivious body could muster, she dragged herself across the room and slipped between her warm flannel sheets. Even though she'd purposely put her back to Nick, she was still conscious of his every breath, his every movement. Her gaze fluttered about the room, drinking in the intimate ambiance, the soft light, the comfy mattress, and the hot guy next to her. It made her feel warm, cozy, snug.

Horny.

Nick moved closer and she could feel the heat radiating off him. "Damn, you're like ice," he murmured.

Even the deep cadence of his voice made her wet. She bit down on her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood and forced herself to focus on something else. Nick was only in her bed to warm her. It was not a ploy to get her naked and make wild passionate love to her.

Unfortunately.

Nick was a man of character, a man with integrity, a man who was sweet, kind and caring, and was only helping his partner's sister out in a time of need, she quickly reminded herself.

He draped his arm around her and pulled her in tight, her cold body sucking the heat from his. Sucking... Oh God, she did not want to think about sucking at a time like this.

She forced herself to divert her attention and concentrate on thawing her extremities. Trembling, she shimmied in closer and noted the huge difference in his body temperature. "You're body is so hot." She worked hard to sound casual, like she climbed between the sheets with her brother's boyfriends all the time. "I think I'll have to invest in a pair of those tights."

"I'll send you a few pairs," he offered, and rubbed his hand up and down her arm to smooth out her goose bumps. In one slick movement, he turned her to face him, grabbed her feet and placed them between his thighs. Her feet immediately began to warm but Nick damn near jumped off the bed. His eyes widened and he made a tortured face. "Sweet mother of God!" Rachel couldn't help but chuckle at his reactions.

"Sorry," she mumbled then poked him in the chest and followed up with, "But this was your idea."

"Hey, be careful before that mouth of yours gets you into trouble." He gave her a playful wink. "I'm sure I can still find a snow bank out there with your name on it."

She relaxed into him, enjoying the easy comfort that had fallen over them. Silence descended upon the room and seconds turned into minutes as he worked his hands over her flesh.

His long strokes and callused palms scraped over her curves, as he slowly introduced himself to her body. He touched her with such gentle care that she could feel all her composure slipping away. Mesmerized by his soft caresses, her mind wandered and a surge of excitement raced through her as she once again pictured Nick between her legs, his tongue on her hot center, working her into a frenzy of lust until she climaxed all over him. Her body shook with urgent need and there wasn't a damn thing she could do to stifle the erotic whimper bubbling up from the depths of her throat.

Her sound of pure carnal delight seemed to have gained Nick's attention. His throat worked as he swallowed and the concern in his eyes became her undoing.

"You okay?" His breath was hot on her neck when he spoke and the hypnotic tone of his voice brought on a shudder.

Shaken from her fantasies, her voice thinned to a low whisper. "I still can't seem to get blood flow back into my feet." When she wiggled her toes between his legs, he drew in a sharp breath and she forced herself to focus on something other than how close her feet were to his private parts—private parts she ached to touch, kiss, feel inside her.

Nick is Mason's partner. Nick is Mason's partner. She continued to repeat her new mantra until her brain cleared.

She watched him for a moment, his primal essence completely overwhelming her. "Nick."

"Yeah?" He propped his elbow up on his pillow and rested his head on his palm. Soft blue eyes met hers and her stomach fluttered.

"How long have you known, Mason?"

"About a month."

His raspy voice sent a barrage of erotic sensations through her body and his warm breath had her aching to taste the sweetness of his mouth. "He's a great guy."

"Yeah, he is. Even though he hadn't known me that long, he wouldn't have any part of me spending the holidays alone in New York."

She swallowed, guilt eating at her like a thousand hungry locusts for fantasizing about Mason's partner. "I wouldn't ever want to do anything to hurt him." And she wouldn't want Mason to hurt Nick either, but the way Mason was cozying up to Sheriff Jack at the town hall hadn't gone unnoticed by her. Obviously Mason had a thing for tall, muscular men. Her brother really was a great guy, he just wasn't a long term guy. She wondered if Nick knew that.

He gave her a perplexed look. "Me neither."

He brushed his hand down her side, his fingers coming perilously close to the outer edge of her breast. His intimate touch seeped under her skin and she fought the urge to squirm—right underneath him. Her nipples tightened in bliss and hunger prowled through her. She bit back a breathy moan and shivered. Almost violently.

Nick mistook her shiver. "Christ, girl what am I going to do with you?"

Oh, she had a million possibilities...

He pulled her in tighter. Heat and strength radiated off him as he offered his warmth and she damn near went out of her mind. Her sex throbbed when his hands raced over her flesh. His warm fingers burned everywhere he touched and deepened her desire for him. Her body practically convulsed when he ran his hands down her legs and cupped her feet.

He shifted his position and lowered himself on the mattress. He closed his palms around one foot, brought it to his mouth and exhaled. His warm breath sent heat charging to her pussy and she lubricated in response. Oh good, God! The tang of her arousal saturated the room and she wondered if he smelled it. Mortified by her body's reactions, she squeezed her eyes shut, but when she felt something hot and wet against her toe—something that felt like a tongue—her lids sprung back open.

"Nick."

She spotted the thin sheen of sweat on his upper lip. He dragged in a huge breath, and for a fleeting moment need flashed in his eyes and she sensed something inside him give.

"Rachel..." The urgency in his voice surprised and excited her. He slid up her thighs and over her stomach until they came face to face. His nostrils flared, his jaw clenched. Shaky hands raced through her hair and rattled her passion-drenched mind. He tipped his head to look at her. His eyes were dark, intense. Carnal. Oh Lord, one minute he was warming her toes with tender concern, and the next he was climbing over her, looking completely wild and out of control. His mood changed without warning and she had no idea what brought the shift on, all she knew was that she felt equal measures of fear and excitement. "I can't quite seem to get you warm," he murmured, his lips hovering over hers.

She began panting, and her brand new mantra drifted away like dust in the wind. "It...it could be dangerous, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I do." His blue eyes darkened, triggering a craving inside her. A craving only he could sate.

"That's not good." Breathe Rachel breathe. "Not good at all." Her gaze raced over his face, trying to read him.

His brow furrowed. "What should we do?"

A wave of passion overcame her, and her sex muscles undulated. Her pulse kicked up a notch and without conscious thought, she darted a tongue out in invitation. "Your lips. They're warm."

"You think I should put my mouth on you?"

Warmth spread out over her skin, and raw desire seared her insides as she pretended to mull it over for a second. "Under the circumstances, I don't think we have a choice." Dear God, she'd never been so bold before, so brazen. But there was something about Nick that brought out the vixen in her, making her feel wild, sexy...naughty.

"Where should I put my lips, Rachel?"

Her body flushed hotly and she grew impossibly slicker. She moistened her mouth and dragged her finger over her bottom lip. "Maybe you should start here..."

No sooner did she get the words out than Nick's burning mouth came down hard. The soft blade of his tongue raced over her lips then slipped inside for a deeper exploration. His tongue thrashed against the sides of her mouth then tangled with hers. Her body moved under his and her heart pounded erratically as he pillaged her wanton mouth.

After a long moment he inched back and trailed kisses over her jaw. The delicate slide of his tongue turned her inside out. The pleasure was most exquisite.

So much for just her mouth getting her into trouble. His seemed to be doing a fine job of it.

He met her glance. "Are you warm yet?"

With her breasts heavy and achy, she shook her head. "Afraid not." Need made her voice husky.

"You think I should put my mouth somewhere else?" His warm breath wafted across her cheek. His gaze was dark, intense, tortured.

Blood pounded through her veins and since she was well past the point of vocalizing anything intelligent she simply nodded.

"Tell me where?" he demanded in a soft voice.

Rachel slid her hands over her body and gripped the cup of her lacy bra. In a silent message, she tugged, just enough to expose one distended nipple.

Nick's nostrils flared and he gave her a scalding look. "Do you think if I put my mouth on your nipple it will help warm you up?"

She wanted that so much she felt dizzy. Without bothering to mask her enthusiasm, she gave a quick nod and practically whimpered in delight.

His eyes dropped to her bare breast. "I suppose it's worth a try." His head descended and his tongue was on her in seconds, taking possession of her body and greedily drawing her hard nub into his mouth. Light gentle flicks turned into long heated sucks. Her nipple tingled and tightened beneath his hot, wet mouth. Each velvet stroke brought her closer and closer to the precipice.

Rachel raced her hands through his hair, holding his mouth to her quivering body. A low moan cut through the room and she widened her legs as Nick continued to stoke the fire inside her.

When her body began pulsing, she whimpered for release. Her hands slid to Nick's shoulders and she gave a little push, her actions conveying without words exactly where she needed him.

"Still not warm?" As he breathed the words over her skin, it elicited a shudder from deep within.

She pinched her eyes shut and tossed her head from side to side.

"Do you need my mouth somewhere else, Rachel?" The dark desire in his tone had her lids springing back open.

"Nick..." she murmured.

"Tell me." He gripped the sides of her hips and the urgency in his voice touched something deep inside her. Bone deep warmth flowed through her and tangled her emotions. "Tell me where you need my mouth."