“I never slept with Josh. We messed around some but hadn’t taken things that far yet,” I admitted with a shrug. “Which is probably why he cheated on me,” I added with a self-deprecating chuckle. I plopped down on the bed again and studied my hands in my lap.
“Hey, that’s not your fault,” Donovan said reassuringly, reaching for my hands and lacing his fingers through mine. “You could probably sense it deep down he wasn’t right for you and that he was a fucking idiot.” That made me laugh for real this time.
“You’re probably right,” I agreed, heaving a deep breath and pushing Josh from my mind. “Anyway, I’m diligent about taking my birth control. I don’t think we have anything to worry about. I haven’t missed a dose since I was nineteen.” Donovan’s relief was palpable as the tension eased from his face. “We should continue to take precautions, though, just to be on the safe side,” I said, and he cocked an eyebrow. “I mean, i-if you wanted to do it again. Tonight,” I clarified, so he wouldn’t think I expected anything more beyond the here and now.
He halted my rambling with a gentle tug to my towel. The fold at my breasts gave way easily like it had just been waiting to be unraveled. The towel pooled around my waist, and Donovan’s eyes darkened with need as he took in my bare breasts.
“You’re in luck,” he replied, his gravelly voice making my stomach clench with need. He lifted his hand to cup my breast, dragging his thumb over my pebbled nipple. A whimper escaped my lips, and my thighs pressed together. “Because I’ve got enough condoms to ensure you’ll be screaming my name until the sun comes up.” He pulled me to him possessively and captured my lips with his demanding kiss. Then he spent the rest of the night making good on that promise.
14
DONOVAN
Iwoke to a blinding slant of light peeking in through the window. The insistent rays burned my irises, and I brought my hand up to shield my eyes. I blinked away the haze of sleep, squinting one eye open to take in my surroundings. It took several seconds for the view in front of me to make sense.
Emily.
Awareness prickled my skin. The soft warmth at my side and steady rhythm of her breathing brought me back to the present. Then images from last night flooded my memory.
Emily had been exquisite. Her breathy moans and arch of her back, the way her legs trembled just before she came. It was all seared into my memory.
My phone beeped with an incoming text, and I quickly swiped it off the nightstand. Guilt washed over me when I saw the notification.
Vance: You make it home okay?
I rubbed my hand over my face as I tried to formulate a reply. He’d kick my ass if he found out I'd spent the night with Emily.
Wait … if he was texting me, that meant he hadn’t noticed my truck still parked outside the cabin. There was still time to sneak away without him knowing. I turned and peered over my shoulder at the beautiful woman sleeping soundly next to me. She lay on her side, her hands folded together and tucked under her pillow, her bare shoulders peeking out from beneath the quilt. She was naked under there, but I couldn’t take the time to appreciate that fact. I needed to go before anyone found out where I was.
I carefully slipped out of bed and quietly crossed the room to grab my duffle. There was a change of clothes in there: a pair of jeans and a Wraiths hoodie. My bright red Santa suit taunted me from the floor next to the bed. I snatched it up and shoved it into my bag before slipping on my boots. Creeping over to the bed, I leaned down and gently pressed my lips to Emily’s forehead. I didn’t want to wake her, but I couldn’t leave without one last kiss.
I headed for the door but hesitated with my hand on the knob. Did I simply leave, walking out like we hadn’t just spent an incredible night wrapped in each other’s arms? Did I leave her a note? What would it even say?Thanks for letting me crash—and smash—last night.I didn’t want her to think last night meant nothing to me, but I also didn’t want to give her false hope either. It wasn’t like I could pursue a relationship with her when I planned to move back to Boston in the next few months.
I decided it was best not to complicate things, and leaving a note would send mixed signals. Emily deserved to have someone who was all in, not some dickhead who would jerk her around. I refused to be that guy. It was bad enough she had to deal with that douchebag, Josh. I didn’t want to be another man who let her down. Instead, I would cherish this one night we had together.
Turning the knob, I stepped out into the cold. It wasn’t as frigid as I’d expected. The air was still, and the morning sun shone brightly. Snow crunched beneath my boots as I made the trek to my truck. A flash of movement inside the main cabin caught my eye, and I froze. Lifting my gaze to the kitchen window, I caught a glimpse of Delilah with a coffee mug halfway to her mouth. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she clocked me sneaking around the back of the cabin where everyone had parked. Then, a spark of recognition lit in her eyes as her gaze flicked to the small cabin I’d just departed then settled back on me. Her mouth curved into a knowing grin, and she lifted her free hand to wiggle her fingers at me in a wave.
Busted.
I gave her a tight smile and an awkward salute. Her shoulders shook with amusement, and I relaxed. She lifted her mug and arched a brow questioningly, an invite to join her for coffee. I shook my head and pressed my forefinger to my lips, mouthing “shhh,” letting my eyes flick up to the second floor where the bedrooms were. She caught my meaning and mimed zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key. I just hoped she kept my secret and didn’t tell Vance about my snowy walk of shame.
15
EMILY
Nine days. That was how long it had been since I woke up in bed alone after having my world completely rocked by my brother-in-law’s best friend. He’d slipped out like a thief in the night, not bothering to say goodbye or even leave a note.
To say I was miffed would be an understatement. I hadn’t expected him to profess his undying love for me and make me breakfast in bed, but damn, couldn’t a girl get a goodbye or a note that said, “thanks for the mind-blowing sex, here’s my number in case you want to do it again?”
“Ugh,” I groaned, dropping my head back on the headrest. I was too keyed up, too vulnerable, and way too frustrated. I’d never been hornier in my life. Sex with Donovan had altered my brain chemistry, and now nothing compared. Not my toys, not my fingers, and definitely not any of my previous partners; not that there’d been many. He’d ruined me for all other men, and I was mad as hell about it. He essentially ghosted me after giving me the most orgasms I’d ever had in a twenty-four-hour period. Hell, more like a twelve-hour period. And I hadn’t heard a peep from him since. Not a text, or a call, or even a Snap. I could understand him not wanting to get my number from Vance—I was sure he didn’t want him to know what had happenedbetween us—but he had plenty of other options for getting a hold of me.
Heaving in a deep, calming breath, I blew it out through my puffed cheeks. I couldn’t go into Vance and Delilah’s house for dinner all worked up like this. Pissed off and slightly turned on was no way to greet my family on Christmas. I got out of my car and grabbed the giant box full of gifts I brought for my nieces. Charlie and Ellie were my world, and I was determined to spoil them as much as I could. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have kids of my own. It wasn’t like I’d found any good candidates for their future father, so I was prepared to fill the position of world’s best auntie for life.
I lifted my leg to balance the box on my thigh so I could free one hand to ring the doorbell. A moment later, heavy footsteps sounded across the hardwood floors and the door swung open. I plastered a smile on my face, expecting to see Vance, but it fell instantly when Donovan’s chocolate brown eyes appeared above the red and green tissue paper instead of Vance’s cool blue.
Shit. What was he doing here? I thought he usually spent the holidays with his family in Boston. Sure, he was typically around for special occasions, and Vance and Delilah always hosted a Friendsgiving he attended, but he didn’t typically stay in town for Christmas. I wasn’t at all prepared to see him, and I was sure it showed on my face.
“Emily,” he said, offering me a tentative smile. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming at him.
