Cold Feet Read Free Page B

was woken—he had no idea how much later—by an unearthly screeching from outside.
    “What the fuck?” He started awake, poking his head out from under the covers, so he could listen out for the sound again. “God, it sounds like someone’s being murdered out there.”
    “I think it’s a barn owl.” Sam’s voice cut through the darkness. “Is that the first time you heard it? It’s been going on for a while.”
    “Yeah. I must have been pretty out of it.”
    “You were snoring, so I guess so.”
    “Oh, sorry. Did I keep you awake?”
    “No. I’m too cold to sleep.”
    “Shit.” Ryan was properly alert again now. “Do you want one of my blankets? I’m okay now.”
    “I don’t want to make you cold too.”
    Ryan thought for a moment. Then, ignoring the little voice in his head that was telling him this was a bad idea, he said, “Get over here.”
    “Eh?”
    “Come in with me. It’ll be warmer than sleeping alone.”
    “Really?” But Ryan could already hear Sam’s bed creaking as he moved. He clearly wasn’t going to take much persuading.
    “Course.”
    Ryan shuffled over to make space as Sam lifted the covers and climbed in beside him.
    “You sure this is okay? Or we could go and get in the double instead?”
    “No,” Ryan replied. “It will take forever to warm up another bed. This is fine. Ouch!” Sam’s knees had jabbed Ryan in the thigh. “But keep your bony knees to yourself.”
    “Sorry.” Sam turned onto his side, facing away from Ryan.
    They were silent for a while, but Ryan could feel Sam was still shivering.
    “You need to eat more pies.” Ryan rolled onto his side and curved his body around Sam’s slight frame. “If you had more meat on you, you wouldn’t get so cold.”
    Sam tensed for a moment, then relaxed back against him. “You know I eat loads. I’m naturally skinny. We can’t all be burly rugby boys, you know.” But his voice was soft, and Ryan could hear the smile in it.
    “Yeah, yeah. Now shut up and let me get back to sleep.”
    Ryan pulled the covers up around their ears and snuggled in closer to Sam, putting his arm around him—just because it was more comfortable that way. His nose pressed into the hair at the nape of Sam’s neck and he smelled good, of woodsmoke and a hint of minty shampoo, but mostly of warm skin. He felt disconcertingly good in Ryan’s arms, lean and bony and definitely masculine in a way that set an uneasy spark of something smouldering in Ryan’s belly. Pushing those thoughts firmly away, Ryan closed his mind, concentrated on his breathing, and waited for sleep to come again.

 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Three

 
    When Sam woke, the first thing he was aware of was a warm body wrapped around him and hot breath on his neck.
    Ryan .
    The memories of the night before came flooding back, filling Sam’s belly with warmth to match Ryan’s body at his back. Sam couldn’t believe it when Ryan had suggested sharing a bed. He hadn’t been angling for it at all, but it made perfect sense. Once he had Ryan pressed up against him, Sam was warm within minutes—lit up from the inside as well as out by the way Ryan had cuddled up to him.
    Sam’s cheeks warmed at the memory because Ryan holding him like that had made Sam get hard, and he felt guilty for his body’s reaction. Ryan was just being a mate, but Sam hadn’t been able to stop his response to the contact. Ryan would probably be totally creeped out if he knew he’d given Sam a stiffy.
    Sam sighed, not ready to move out of Ryan’s embrace yet. Lying here in Ryan’s arms felt so good, and it might be the only time he got to have this, so he should enjoy it while it lasted. Sam was hard again now, but morning wood didn’t count. He could pretend it was purely physiology and nothing to do with Ryan’s slow exhales tickling the hairs at the nape of his neck and the firm weight of Ryan’s hand on his hip.
    He lay for a while, dozing a little and enjoying the contact as grey light