I felt embarrassed for melting into Tyb’s arms the way I did. Embarrassed and mortified that I wanted more than he did. Or did he? Shit, anyhow, he defined his boundary. I tried to save face. “Yeah, I don’t want to be another notch on a guy’s bedpost.”

With a smirk, Tyb turned around and began washing his hands at the tiny sink in the corner of the nearly-barren room. “You know, Izzy, I just never been the kind of guy to bang a chick just because he could. I enjoy the emotional aspect of intimacy as much as the physical, if not more. I was wrong to kiss you, and for that I apologize. It’s the best way I know to make a woman stop weeping. You had every right to slap my face for being a fucking horndog. Next time, go for it.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Seriously. I’m embarrassed to mention it, but I married the only guy I ever kissed. I…I…I didn’t know it’d feel so… good with someone I didn’t know well. It’s stupid. Forget I said anything.” Pure mortification poured through every vein and artery in my body.

“Really? You never kissed another guy besides him?” Guess my admission was an ego stroke to him. His warm-sherry eyes burned bright.

It was my turn to blush. “Yes. I’m ashamed to admit such a horrid fact. Even sadder to say that the physical intimacy with him usually veered toward him-taking-things-out-on-me side. So my experience is very limited. So on that note, I think I extra-liked your kisses. But that’s because I’m ig’nant, I guess.” I cracked a half-smile. The way I figured it, if Christos is going to bring glittery nuclear zompires to life, then I might as well enjoy what time this earth has before King NutJob unleashes Armageddon upon us all.

“Since you made your confession, I’ll make mine. I learned girls are trouble. Mara just threw some trouble my way, trouble with connections, trouble that is nearly irresistible. I’m only a man, Izzy. When there are things I want, I take them or make them. I don’t have attractive women falling into my lap, as a rule. Let alone a woman running from her ex-husband, a very unstable ex-husband who already hates my guts, at that.”

“Circumstances being what they are, it seems only natural to me. Adam and Eve in your Eden here.” I could feel that I had nothing to fear from Tyb. Didn’t need to watch my words or hide how I felt lest he get mad. I would take the bull by the horns with him. “If I’m starting my life over, then it’s a complete do-over. I’m attracted to you Tyb. Was before you kissed me, and the lip lock didn’t exactly make that attraction dull. I’m going to be stranded up here for a long time, so as I see it, we either get over this mutual attraction or we give into it and enjoy what time we have before shit hits the fan.”

I watched him swallow slowly, his adam’s apple bobbing while the look in Tyb’s eyes seemed a cloud of passion and confusion. Or maybe it was me. Didn’t know, didn’t really care. Decided to go for the jugular. “Besides, Selesta is dead, you said so. So all her connections, all that trouble, doesn’t apply to Izzy, now does it? You said so yourself.”

Wish I could bottle that burning look in his eyes for lonesome winter nights. I felt on fire, and while a nice chunk of that was due to my audacity, the lion’s share belonged to Tyb. “This could end badly. Then we’re stuck up here with a person we detest.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But I will tell you some facts. I am not sexually aggressive—this is the first time ever I’ve been this sprung over someone. But you’re right. I’ll pretend not to be all into you and everything will be just fine, right?”

A moment that felt as long as years emerged in the silence between Tyb and I. Fuck it, he’s not going to make me kick rocks, I knew that already.

“I’ll think about it.” That was all. Tyb whirled around and walked out one of the doors. I followed, pulling my jeans up. Oh My God. I just came onto a guy with my pants around my ankles and I didn’t notice in heat of the moment. Face, meet palm.

“You’ll think about it? Thank you for giving consideration to bumping uglies.” We went down a short hallway, with three doors. He chose door number two. It led to a staircase. The staircase led to another hallway, again with three doors. “Where are we?”

“In the treehouse proper. And yes, I’ll think about it.” He stopped and turned to look at me, a puzzled expression on his face. “Why me?”

Dumbfounded, my mouth ran away with my tongue. “Why you? Because you aren’t going to hit me, for starters. You’re honest, and I appreciate that. Why am I throwing myself at you? Don’t know, but to tell the truth, on my part, it doesn’t feel too bad. Except for the awkward conversations like this, part. Otherwise, just because. I mean, you can teach me to whittle, and I guess I can carve myself a dildo—what grit sandpaper would I need to assure I wouldn’t get any splinters down there?” I pointed as discretely to my nether region, relishing the crimson color infusing Tyb’s face.

“You’re going to be like this the whole time you’re here?”

“Don’t know yet. Do you want to find out?” I was more serious than not.

He swallowed again. “Not really. I’m not looking for strings, Izzy…”

“Me neither. Just got out of a relationship, you know. I don’t want to put my head anywhere near something that can be used to tie me up.” I winked. “I’m not a hussy, I swear.”

“Never took you for one, Izzy.” Tyb took a step toward me, reached out and tilted my chin up so he could look me in my eyes. The mournfulness emanating from his gaze took me aback. “I’m up for fun, but nothing more than that. Don’t expect flowers from me, or poems. I’m not that kind of man. If you want sex, I can do that, but as a roommate with benefits sort of thing. And only when we both agree. You have your room, I have mine. Are you on birth control?”

“I have a couple packs of pills.” Christos insisted I always travel with back up packs of pills, so I had no excuse for missing a dose.

“Okay. I ask because it’s a far hike for a pregnant woman to get anywhere near the local hospital. Can’t risk you getting pregnant.”

I nodded my understanding. It’d be hell to be snowed in, pregnant, and nearing time of delivery. There’d be no one to deliver a baby but Tyb.

“You sure you want me?” Tyb asked, his voice quiet in silent hall.

I bit my lip and whispered, “More than anything. Can’t get it off my mind.”

He closed the distance between us, backed me up against the wall and began kissing the hell out of me. Every time his lips met mine, it felt as though electricity played pinball with my senses. Tyb’s callused hands grazed my neck, jawline, cheek, with feather-light touches.

I didn’t mean to moan into his mouth with shameless need, but I couldn’t resist the pleasure. His hands moved from my face to my collar bone, and then to my breasts. Through my shirt, he cupped and molded me in his hands. I shivered in anticipation as his whisker-roughened face moved to nibble kisses on my neck and behind my ear. Tyb noticed my quivering under his touch.

“You want me to stop?”

“Stop and you’ll have to teach me to whittle.”