Song:
"A Bible of Mermaid Pictures" - Sofia Karlberg

🌶

For a few heart-stopping moments, Baker was quiet. "So, let's talk more about this break."

I smiled, but I didn't say anything. The last person I wanted to think about was Dallas and his bullshit break.

In truth, I didn't know what Dallas and I were doing anymore. Our conversation hadn't been pleasant. "What do you want to know?"

Baker's gaze fell to his boots. "What exactly does a break entail?"

I shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

"How far did Dallas go?"

I didn't want to think about that. "Does it matter?"

Despite my feelings, I felt my face heat as Baker's gaze returned to mine. A sense of trouble not far behind. "What were the terms of the agreement?"

I fought a grin. "He didn't specify."

"Is it up to him?"

I didn't answer. He initiated the break, so I suppose I was playing by his rules, but should it be up to him? I was the one who made him mad. I was the one who didn't tell him about my ex-boyfriend, who was standing close enough to kiss right now. But why should Dallas get to dictate anything in my life anymore? Not after I'd seen pictures of his mouth all over a girl wearing his jersey. And not a fan jersey either–his actual jersey. 

Baker's hand reached for mine, and our fingers twined as easily as they used to like our hands had been moulded perfectly for one another. "Is this allowed on a break? Can I hold your hand?"

The edges of my mouth curled, and I avoided his gaze. His touch felt so good–so familiar. "Probably."

My head fell back as Baker's free hand cupped my jaw and his thumb grazed my bottom lip. "If I can hold your hand, then is this allowed?"

I leaned into his touch, savouring his warmth. "As far as I'm concerned.".

Baker smiled for a heartwarming second before his hand left my face and reached for the zipper of my coat.

I swallowed hard, my heart galloping a thousand beats per second as he slowly undid the zipper, testing the limits.

I said nothing. Watching fingers that knew my body so well slowly unfasten the buttons on my flannel shirt.

Night's cold air caressed the exposed skin across my chest, causing goose flesh to skitter across my décolletage. I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Is this allowed on a break?"

"Yes."

A wry grin stretched across my face as I tipped my head to the side, observing as his eyes swept over the black laced bra that held me in all the right places. "It's a little cold out here, you know."

I wasn't shy, but something about the way Baker was undressing me had my body reacting in ways I hadn't felt in a very long time.

A grin split his face. "Come on, Hadley. You know I'll warm you up."

I shivered, and it had nothing to do with the cold but everything to do with the hands that slipped beneath the folds of my coat and cupped the swell of my hips. "It would be very irresponsible of me to leave you so exposed."

I smiled at the stars, allowing my head to fall back. I knew I should tell him to stop, but the incessant throb between my legs yearned for relief, and I was in no position to deny myself.

Baker's mouth hovered above my collarbone, murmuring, "Is this allowed on a break?" Placing a barely-there kiss on my skin.

I blamed my molten core for melting the thoughts of Dallas away.

I missed the way Baker teased—the way he touched me in all the right places.

His mouth continued. Burning a trail of small and agonizingly slow kisses up my throat and along my jaw. "Please tell me kissing is allowed."

I cracked a small smile as his lips waited for mine. "Perhaps."

"That's not an answer, Hadley."

His husky response had me aching. I wanted to say yes. But all my insecurities were telling me to be careful—all forty-four of them.

Would I break him all over again when I went back to university?

Once Christmas break was over, I knew I would be returning to school. To Dallas and all the uncertainty that awaited. I had friends, a job, and dreams of my own. And Baker's life was here.

His hand slid behind my neck, and my heart skipped a beat.

I left my whole world behind because I was tired. Emotionally, mentally, physically. I couldn't deal with Baker and his nonsense. I couldn't watch him screw up his life. But what if he had changed?

What...if? That was the question. Not if Baker touching me was going too far, but if I wanted to believe in us again.

That spark of hope ignited as our lips touched, obliterating my very soul in a show of ice-shattering stars.

His pillow-soft lips caressed mine—his kiss familiar and yet so foreign.

I lifted my hands to his face. Falling into the rhythm as he traced every line and curve of mouth in a slow, tantalizing kiss.

"Hadley," Baker whispered over my lips. Cupping my jaw and tilting my head back so I could look into his eyes. "I don't want this to be the last time we kiss."

"Then kiss me again, Baker."

My knees buckled, and my head spun as Baker's eyes turned feral, and he kissed me like he used to. Before the chaos, before the accident, before the news of his mother. When I was his, and he was mine, and there was no room for doubt.

I didn't want it to stop. I wanted to stay enveloped—content to bask in the sun that coaxed the warmth from my skin. Then it stopped.

I blinked. Drunk off his kiss, and it didn't take long to learn why he'd pulled from me.

My breath hitched as his fingers dragged along the curve of my hip to the center of my navel.

My body cried in eager anticipation, knowing what those fingers were capable of, knowing the sounds they'd draw once they hit that precise spot.

"What about this?" he asked.

Yes. Yes, this was definitely forbidden. I could feel it as Baker's fingers ran up the groove of my abdomen before sliding right back down.

I kept quiet as his lips trailed to my ear and did things that had my body crying for relief–his fingers teasing the waistband of the sweats I changed into just before coming out. And it only got worse from there.

Baker descended, branding sensitive skin with those succulent lips before coming to his knees and grabbing my ass.

"How about this?"

Fuck Baker knew how to unravel me. I wanted him—more than I cared to admit. I wanted him to alleviate the ache between my thighs. To whisk me off the bed and worship me the way he once had. I wanted him to tell me he loved me again. That he was sorry and that he wanted me to stay. I wanted him right here on the ice.

Instead, he said, "I want to touch you, Hadley. I want to taste how wet you are for me."

He waited for a reply, but I couldn't think straight.

"Am I allowed?"

His breath caressed my sensitive skin, causing so much heat I swear we could have melted the ice and fallen right into the water.

"Baker," was all that came out—my breath a gasp.

"Say it. Say you want me."

"Yes. I want you."

My heart sped up as he descended, and every nerve fired.

I didn't want to think about what it meant as he slipped his hand beneath my sweats and traced circles above my panties. Or about the fact that I was pretty sure Dallas assumed I was still his.

Maybe I was never his because I'd left my heart with Baker when I moved—frozen in the very ice.

My hips moved at their own fruition, and I found myself saying, "Please."

The man—literally on his knees before me—smiled before sliding the silk to the side and running fingers between my seam.

"Fuck Baker."

I throbbed and did what I could to keep from squirming as he bided his time. "I missed you."

I might have replied had the overwhelming need to release not plagued me. "Please, Baker."

My whimpering plea had the corners of that wicked mouth curling.

"Baker."

"Hadley."

Bliss. Pure and utter bliss flooded through me as his lips parted and his tongue slid against my center, and I came completely undone.

It was like I'd jumped from a cliff. Like I was falling for Baker all over again.

I moaned, my fingers curled into his hair, and he made a satisfying sound against my skin.

In this pocket of silence, all that mattered was Baker and his incredible ability to give me exactly what I craved. Over and over again. His mouth and his fingers and– "Baker," I gasped.

My breath came in shallow pants. But he didn't stop. He knew exactly what to do. He knew exactly where to touch me.

As he drove me over the edge, I released, calling his name toward the stars.

My heart slowed in the lingering high, and a smile of pure satisfaction painted itself across my face. 

Before sitting back on his heels, Baker pressed a kiss on my stomach and wiped his mouth. "Was that allowed?"

"Yes," I breathed, strung out from the euphoria. "That was allowed."

Baker pushed himself off the ice, his warm body pressing against mine. I felt his smile at my ear before he kissed my jaw. "I want you, Hadley."

I wanted him too. I was cold and wanted to spend the rest of the night making up for the time lost between us, but I wasn't sure what this was.

I was on a break. But my boyfriend cheated. After initiating the break. But was it cheating if we were on a break? And if it was, did I just cheat?

I hated the uncertainty, and I hated myself for giving in to Baker. Not because I didn't enjoy it, but because I complicated things.

Despite my thoughts, I couldn't stop the smile. And I might have answered had my brother's voice not ruined the moment. "Hadley!"

"Fuck me."

Baker smiled and lifted his brows. "I'd like to."

I didn't doubt that.

"I think they've discovered you're not in the room."

"You think?"

Baker chuckled as I pulled away and buttoned my shirt.

Janelle's voice rang out next. "Hadley!"

"They're going to come down here," I warned, zipping up my coat.

"Just like you did?"

"Don't be that guy."

"What?" He laughed, his smile bright. "I'm not going to be able to get that out of my head. The sound of you moaning my name and feeling you–"

"Baker!" Heat flamed all over again. "They're seriously coming."

"Let them," he smirked, pulling me in and kissing me.

Again.

And again.

"I don't give a shit if the whole town ran out to the lake right now. You're the only person in this whole fucking world I want."

God, I loved him. The feelings I had for him hadn't gone away, not even a little. And I might have wrapped my arms around his neck had Alyssa's voice not come next. "Hadley Elizabeth!"

My brows pinched and I might have yelled at them to go away had Baker not smiled against my mouth. "Break up with your boyfriend. Tell him he was right to be jealous. That you want me."

Not everyone understood Baker's humour, but I did. And I knew the cocky attitude he threw had more to do with alleviating my uncertainty than anything else. I didn't think I could love Baker anymore than at that moment. And it showed in the smile splitting my face. "Who says I want you?" I teased, my breath mingling with his.

He held me close, kissing the tip of my nose. "Anyone within a 5-mile radius."

My face heated, wondering if maybe they heard me over the music and mistook my cry of pleasure as one of help.

"Come on, Hadley, you know he's a fucking idiot," Baker went on, not at all worried about the search party about to infiltrate the trees. "He initiated the break as an excuse to cheat. I know I wasn't the greatest boyfriend. I did some stupid shit, but I can honestly say the thought of cheating never crossed my mind. I never thought about anyone else. I still don't think of anyone else."

My eyes glimmered, and he kissed me. "You deserve better. Than both of us."

I recalled what he said earlier. About him thinking he never deserved me and I kissed him again. "Can we discuss this later?" Before someone loses themselves in the woods and risks exposure.

"Hadley!"

"Yeah," he said, and I felt his disappointment.

I cupped my hands around his neck, gazing up. "I love you." Needing him to know. "And we will talk about it, but right now, I have to get to the cabin before a very intoxicated Austin tumbles down the hill and breaks his damn leg."

Baker chuckled, daring a look at the backwards hat-wearing idiot slurring my name into the night—no coat and a bottle of beer in hand. "Will I see you later?"

"I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

I left him with a final kiss before journeying towards the trail. The smile stretched across my face.

A/N: So... this is my first ever spicy scene. *clears throat* I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading.

*exits awkwardly*