Iam the biggest ass to walk these hills. Wait, I’m the only ass to walk these hills; they’re mine.
After warming up and refreshing her hot beverage, Holly retreats outside to her comet, and she kindly but firmly asks me to stay here. So I do, which makes me a dumbass; I need to keep her safe.
There’s no way I can go to sleep with her out in the near-zero temperatures. So, I make cinnamon rolls to keep awake and pass the time.
“Mm, smells good,” she says, teeth chattering, when she comes inside. She breaks me out of my reveries, staring into the fire as the rolls rest before baking. Wiping my hand down my face, I stand and check my watch—four in the morning.
Hat and mittens off, thrown to the floor, she’s struggling to wrap her fingers around the buttons of her coat. “Do you want help?” I ask, wanting desperately to rescue her from her snow gear. She shakes her head no, shoulders hunched, as she attempts to unbutton the coat. “Buttons seem inefficient.” At that, she nods, releasing a frustrated growl that threatens to knock my heart out of my chest.
“Here,” I step into her space, place my warm hands over hers; they are ice cold and shaking. “In an effort to be a gentleman, I let you stay outside too long. I’m sorry.” And with that small apology, I undo all the fasteners of her coat, pull it off of her and hang it up. She’s got her snow bib unzipped, but is struggling to get out of it with her boots on. Kneeling before her, I unlace her boots and pull them off, her hands resting on my shoulders for support.
Our eyes meet as I pull down her snow bib over her luscious hips and help her feet out. I rub my hands up her thighs—one for generating heat, two because I can’t not touch her. Her sweatpants are soft and chilled. She’s unsteady on her feet as she steps away from me.
Like a lynx with nothing to lose, I jump up and scoop her into my arms. Her protest is weak, either from being too cold or not wanting to wake the kids up, I’m not sure. Regardless, I ignore the shaking of her head no. “Shhh, darlin’, I got you.” And with that declaration, I take her to bed.
Don’t get the wrong idea.
I get her tucked into bed, grab another quilt to pile on top of her, then reach under to grab one foot. Sock removed, I rub her foot, trying to get more blood flow to it. “That feels good,” she whispers; I can hear the sleepiness in her voice. Feet switched, I get them good and warmed up before tucking them back under the covers.
Without thinking, I lean over to kiss her forehead. Her breathing is already deep and even. Pausing for just a second, I inhale the sweet scent of her hair, the softness of her skin. It takes all my willpower to stand tall and walk away from her.
Her voice stops me in my tracks. “Don’t leave me.” It’s possible I could chalk it up to sleep-talking, but she props herself up on her elbows and pats the space beside her.
Who am I to deny her what she wants?
Clothes shed, I crawl into bed behind her, spooning her, arm wrapped protectively around her middle. “This okay?”
“Perfect.” She tucks her ice-cube toes into the space between my calf and the mattress, presses her back and peachy ass into my front, and sighs contentedly.
We’re still. Pretty sure she’s really asleep. But there’s no sleeping for me. I’m rock hard and aching to claim her for myself.
Chapter 14
Jack
Ican tell the moment Holly warms up. Her legs reach out long toward the edge of the bed. Her back arches, causing my hand to slide down her belly. Yes, I let it slide even lower until it rests just north of her mound. An adorable moan escapes her as she rolls to face me. My hand now clutches her behind. I’m never letting go.
“Hi,” she whispers, mouth devastatingly close to mine.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” I whisper in return. In answer, she wraps her leg over mine, pulling our fronts together. Touching. Throbbing.
“Mm-hmm. You too,” she says with a breathlessness in her voice. I flex my hand against her, reveling in the feel of her.
“I already hate myself for doing this. But I’m going to remind you that you’re mad at me for not telling you I own Mt. Frost.” Yep. Deep, abiding hate for myself. But me needing to claim her means absolutely nothing if she is here for the wrong reason.
“Wow. Thank you. I was, but I’ve thought about it. I can see why you chose to withhold information like your bank account. I’m still annoyed that you let me just ramble on, believingthat you were just an employee. But I’m willing to accept your apology.” She thrusts against my cock.
I arch an eyebrow, not sure if she can see it in the dark. “Then let me apologize, Dr. Holly. I never meant to hurt you.” Kiss on her neck. “Deception was not my intention.” Kiss along her collarbone. “But I gotta say, it was nice to be thought of as a nobody, if just for a couple of days.” I pull the neck of her shirt enough to kiss her shoulder. “And I appreciate you liking me for me and my kids, rather than for my property value.”
I run my hand from her knee up her thigh, digging my fingers in at her hip, gripping her, holding her to me. Mine, rumbles through my head and heart. This sexy, nerdy woman is mine. I’m claiming her.
Keeping her body pressed against mine, my cock straining against my boxers to find her pussy, I say, “I want you. Want to claim you as mine. Fill you up and make you my woman.” Her head nods, I can feel it in the dark. “Words, Dr. Holly. I need your words.” It’s a growl that can’t be choked back. I know her pussy wants my cock, but I need to know without a shadow of a doubt that the rest of her wants the rest of me.
“Yes, Jack. I want you. Make me yours.”
Rolling her onto her back, I pull back the blanket to strip her shirt off, then her pants and panties. Coming back up to kiss her, I can feel her nipples pucker in the cool night air of the cabin. I suckle each one, loving the feel of her round, heavy breast against my lips. “You’re so perfect,” I say. There’s more, but her lips press to mine, devouring the thoughts.
Pressed against her, her plump lips demanding more from me while her hands slip below the waistband of my boxers, I know that life will never be this good again. This moment is perfect.
