Every single person there had welcomed me into their group without question or hesitation. The bond between Luke and his dad friends ran so obviously deep it was enviable, and the women seemed just as close even though some, like Presley and Rowan, were relatively new additions. There’d been so much genuine affection and love in their house that I felt blessed to be a part of it, whether my relationship with Luke became long-term or not.
Right now though, I was all about alone time with my handsome, sexy date.
We’d managed to stick around at the party for another forty minutes after Addie asked to stay at West’s, which I thought was admirable. On the way to my apartment, we’d talked about surface stuff—the party and the presents and how well all eight kids between five and ten years old got along. Even Xavier, the only boy among them, fit right into the group. But beneath our benign conversation, a tension and anticipation pulsed between us.
We ascended the stairs to my apartment in silence, with Luke’s hand on my waist and my body buzzing with need for him.
Once inside, Luke ducked into the bathroom, which was exactly what I’d hoped would happen. As soon as he shut the door, I switched on the light on my nightstand, then whipped my dark green party dress off as fast as I could, which left me in the special Christmas lingerie I’d bought for tonight. It was bright red, a color I normally shied away from because of the red in my hair, but it was all about the theme. The top part was a bow that concealed my breasts as a present. The rest was sheer and connected to my sheer stockings. I left my heels on, prayed everything was in place, and hopped up onto the kitchen counter. I crossed my legs and waited for Luke to emerge, feeling like it was our first time.
The bathroom door creaked open, and I sat up straighter, my body aching for him.
When he came around the corner, his gaze went toward the bed first. When he didn’t find me there, he turned his head and spotted me.
His brows went up, and his mouth fell open.
“Merry Christmas,” I said. “I have an early present for you.” I held out my arms, presenting myself.
“God, Magnolia,” he said as he approached, his eyes roving over me from head to toe, appreciative heat in his gaze. “I must be at the top of the good list if this is my present.”
“You’re definitely good,” I purred as I uncrossed my legs.
When he reached me, he braced his hands on either side of me and leaned in to kiss me, his body hovering close enough to mine that I could sense it but not touch it, as if he was prolonging the moment when we finally came together.
After he’d kissed me thoroughly, our bodies still not touching, he stepped back enough to take in the closeup view. My body thrummed with need and impatience.
“Are you going to unwrap your present?” I asked.
“You better believe I am.” His voice had gone rough and husky. “I might have a present for you too. Is this a real bow?” He picked up the trailing end of the red ribbon and tugged.
I didn’t need to answer because the bow came undone, baring my breasts to him. He nuzzled into my neck and nibbled his way down.
“You smell good enough to eat,” he said.
“Then by all means…” I left the invitation hanging, grinning down at him as he raised his gaze to mine. “You know you’re killing me with your slow, careful approach to your present. I pegged you for a guy who’d rip into it with enthusiasm.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m enthusiastic.” He closed his lips around my nipple and sucked, sending a shock of need straight to my core. Then he released it and said, “I’m taking my time to appreciate every single inch of my present.” He took my other nipple in and swirled his tongue before sucking and sending another zing of heat deep inside me.
I hooked my legs around him and drew him closer, then reached down and unbuckled his belt.
“Don’t I get to unwrap my present all the way first?” he asked, a devilish glint in his eyes.
I unsnapped and unzipped his pants and said, “You took too long.”
As if he took that as a challenge, he went after my breasts, taking one into his mouth and teasing the other with his talented fingers, kneading, pinching, drawing a moan from me. I let his pants go, braced my hands on the counter behind me, and sought out a place to support my feet, finding the door pulls of the lower cabinets.
“You smell like vanilla cookies,” he said, then licked between my breasts and over to the other nipple.
“It’s my lotion,” I said on a gasp.
He pulled away to meet my gaze. “Vanilla cookie lotion?”
All I could do was nod as I focused on how to get him to have his way with me and fill this aching neediness.
Instead he grinned and said, “Well, it’s no wonder Esmerelda wanted to devour you.”
My eyes popped open and met his. I laughed breathlessly and said, “I need new lotion.”
“Maybe we’ll shower yours off after a while. Or I could just lick it off.”
