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key button to unlock the doors.
    “Yeah, it works out better if I drive Reed’s and he drives Kendra’s.” Jaxon, being very gentlemen-like, helped me in the truck.
    “I’m freezing,” I forced through chattering teeth.
    “Sorry, I could give you my coat if you want it, but it’s just as cold from sitting out here in the truck,” Jaxon grimaced. “I’ll start the truck so it can warm up while I run back to get your jacket. Do not unlock the doors for anybody but me, okay?” Jaxon peered at me under his long, thick, black lashes with concern in his eyes. It was too cold to talk, so I nodded, letting him know I understood. Jaxon lightly closed the door, locking me in as he ran back to the cabin. The warmth from the heater, mixed with alcohol, relaxed me enough to send me into a drunken slumber.
    I jumped awake when I heard the truck door shut.
    “Damn, that wind is brutal! How do you people live in this shit?” Jaxon rubbed his hands together and held them in front of the vents to warm them up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. Were you sleeping?”
    I felt dizzy again as I rolled my head to the side to face Jaxon.
    “No, I was just resting my eyes,” I murmured with my eyes closed.
     My whole body felt lethargic as I reached up to grab my seat belt. I became frustrated with my hand coordination, so I let the seat belt go, not caring if it was on or not. Suddenly I felt a hard, muscled body leaning against my chest with the sweet smell of cologne and mint swirling around me. I opened my eyes to find Jaxon’s face in front of mine. I gasped, unable to move as my heart rate accelerated. He reached up to pull my seatbelt across me and paused when he noticed me staring at him. We stayed frozen in place, lost in each other’s eyes for what seemed like a lifetime. I wanted to grab the back of his head and pull him to my lips, but my body wouldn’t listen to what my mind was telling it. I silently begged him to kiss me. He rapidly blinked, looking away from me as he clicked my seatbelt in place. No words passed between us as we left, and I sluggishly fell asleep.
    Feeling overly groggy, my muscles fell limp as I felt my body floating in the air. My nose tingled as I inhaled a delicious aroma that my senses were getting accustomed to—Jaxon. The strange grunting sounds he made echoed in the cool, dark air. Slowly, I opened my eyes finding myself cradled in his arms as he carried me into Reed’s apartment. Wanting to draw in closer to him, I wrapped my arm that dangled behind him tightly around his back and nuzzled my face into his chest, breathing him in. My face pressed up against something hard in his coat with a strong minty odor. Before I could ask what it was, he explained with one word.
    “Altoids, I used to smoke,” he confessed. “I kicked my nicotine habit only to replace it with a sugar habit. If I don’t die of lung cancer, I’ll definitely die with a mouth full of cavities,” he chuckled. Well, that explained the minty aroma always surrounding him.
    Jaxon gently bent down on his knees to lay me on the couch, telling me I should try to go back to sleep. As he released his hold on me, I gripped the front of his jacket, pulling him back down for our lips to slightly brush. I hesitated for a fraction of a second to see if he would pull away. When he didn’t, I pulled him closer. As our lips touched, my heart rate hastened and intense heat shot through my body. I lightly ran my tongue along his top lip. I wanted to taste the delicious mint I had intricately smelled all night. Jaxon took a deep breath through his nose as he pulled away. I opened my eyes, afraid the moment had ended too soon, only to find his beautiful blue eyes staring at me with desire.
    Without deflecting his stare from mine, he grabbed my head with both hands, thumbs gingerly brushing over my cheeks, and leaned in to kiss me. His lips were warm and wet from our preceding kiss as they pressed softly against mine.