“Mine,” he growls as he slips inside my center.
“Mine,” he gasps as his knot pops inside me.
His knot presses into my g-spot, and just like that, I’m coming all over again. I’m not the only one, though, because Seth’s pressing me to him, growling as he empties into me. For a few, perfect, suspended seconds, we fly together, against all reason and definition of reality. We ride the eddies of our bliss in our own bubble of holiday magic.
Seth kisses up my neck, nuzzling me in the aftermath. We’re still joined where hisknot is lodged inside me, and I couldn’t be happier about it. The weight of his arm around my waist makes me feel like I might not even need my sleep pod tonight, not if he keeps wrapping me up so tight.
“Stay with me?” I whisper.
“Okay, Princess,” he says into my hair, pressing another kiss in. “I’ll stay.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY
Early afternoon sun bathes the snow-coated yard in front of Ada’s cabin, so bright it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the glare. It’s chilly outside, a faint dusting of snow falling around me, but the sun still feels nice on my face. I squint against the light and step down off the porch toward the sound of Henry’s delighted barks and Ada’s giggles.
“Think fast!” I turn in the direction of my beloved’s voice. Something hard and icy smacks me square in the chest.
“What the hell was that?” I ask as Ada comes into focus, her eyes sparkling with impish delight.
“It’s a snowball,” she says, giggling as I pretend to be disgruntled while I brush the snow off my jacket. Truth is, all I can think about is how beautiful she is out here in the snow, cheeks pink from the cold and exertion. Gods, is there anything I love more in existence than the sound of her laughter? After only hearing her cries for mercy for ages, it makes my chest swell with appreciation and adoration.
“Oh!” Right, I read about that. Seems weird to me that people enjoy throwing hard-packed balls of snow at each other, but I’ll gladly let her throw as many at me as she wants if she’s having fun.
“Well, don’t just stand there!” She bends down to scoop more snow into her mittens, forming another snowball.
I follow her lead, stooping to do the same, and while I’m crouched, she uses the opportunity to lob her new snowball at me, smacking me square in the face as I futilely try to dodge out of the way. The spray of icy shards bursts over my skin, some of it flying up my nose and into my mouth, my skin stinging from the cold. I clutch my cheek in mock horror, even as a smile forms on my lips.
“Oh shit, sorry!” Ada says, a hint of laughter still in her voice as she rushes over to ensure I’m okay. She places a mittened hand atop the one I’m cradling my cheek with, gazing at me in concern. “I thought you’d have better reflexes. I didn’t mean to hit you in the face.”
“Sure you didn’t, Princess,” I reply, infusing a small rumble into my tone that I know she loves.
Ada bites her lower lip, and I use her moment of distraction to make my move, snagging her around the waist. She squeals as I tug her down to the ground, rolling so that I have her pinned beneath me.
Henry lets out a happy bark and comes bounding up beside us, giving Ada a sloppy kiss on the cheek in her vulnerable state.
She grimaces but laughs, squirming to try to get free. Henry nudges against me, managing to get me on my chin with his cold wet tongue.
“Get him! Protect me from the big bad monster!” Ada beseeches Henry, but he just wags his tail and barks again, loving this game.
I make a quick snowball and toss it across the yard for him to chase after, and as he bounds away, Ada scoffs.
“So much for him being my guard dog,” she grumbles.
“He knows that’s my job now,” I say, grinning down at her.
She reaches up and places a hand behind my neck,drawing me closer. “I love being able to see everything when you smile,” she murmurs.
Something flips in my stomach at her words. Not just the pleasure at her obvious approval of my appearance and her nearness, but a sense I’m missing something.
Then it hits me, and I blink down at the Ada beneath me in stunned silence.
For a creature of dreams, it took me far too long to understand what’s happening.
I’m dreaming.
How the fuck that’s even possible, I don’t know. But there’s no doubting that this is a dream now that I’ve recognized the signs. My dream.
