Holly’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she traced her finger along Mack’s arm. “I was hoping you would. Any particular areas you’d like to…explore?”
“Oh, I have a few ideas,” Mack replied, her gaze trailing down Holly’s body before meeting her eyes again. “But I’m open to suggestions.”
Holly bit her lip, suppressing a grin. “Well, I’ve always been curious about the local…scenery. Especially the hidden gems.”
“I’d be happy to give you a thorough tour. Though it might take all night.”
“All night?” Holly echoed. “Promise?”
Mack was about to respond when a loud crash from the kitchen made them both jump. They turned to see Marty emerge from the kitchen, a cloud of powdered sugar billowing around him like a sweet, festive fog. His Christmas sweater was a canvas of white splotches, and a streak of what looked like apple filling decorated his left cheek.
He adjusted his now even more lopsided Santa hat, leaving a sugar handprint on his forehead, and brushed ineffectually at his clothes, sending another puff of sugar into the air. Oblivious to the amused stares of the diners, he straightened his postureand put on his best jolly expression, ready to make his dessert announcement.
“Ho-ho-ho!” he bellowed. “Who’s ready for the Mistletoe Diner’s famous Christmas apple pie?” He paused, noticing the patrons’ startled expressions. “Oh, don’t mind me. Just had a little tussle with the dessert trolley. Now, are you up for something sweet?”
Mack and Holly exchanged glances, barely suppressing their laughter. The moment had been broken, but the promise of what could be lingered between them. As Marty bustled toward a neighboring table, Mack put an arm around Holly’s shoulders and whispered, “To be continued?”
Chapter 14
Holly
Holly shrugged off her coat as they entered the motel room, the warmth enveloping her after the chilly night air.
Her skin tingled with anticipation, her mind buzzing from the effects of wine and the intoxicating tension that had been building between them all evening. The playful banter, the lingering touches, the heated glances across the dinner table—it all culminated in a delicious, almost unbearable anticipation. Holly’s nerves were on edge, every sense heightened. She could still feel the phantom touch of Mack’s hand on her thigh under the table, could still see the mischievous glint in her eyes as they’d made thinly veiled innuendos. The flirting had been relentless, each exchange adding fuel to a smoldering fire that now threatened to consume her.
Before she could hang up her coat, Mack took it from her hands and tossed it unceremoniously to the floor along with her own.
“Priorities,” she murmured with a mischievous smile.
Holly barely had a chance to register the movement before Mack’s lips were on hers—desperate, hungry, as though she had been waiting for this all night. Holly gasped into the kiss, caughtbetween surprise and the rapid escalation of desire that surged through her. Their lips crashed with a fierce urgency, and Mack’s hands cupped her face, fingers tangling in her hair as she gently pushed her against the wall. She was in-charge and Holly loved it, her body responding instinctively, grinding into Mack’s.
Her arms wrapped around Mack’s waist, pulling her against her, deepening the kiss while Mack’s hands roamed restlessly, tracing the curve of Holly’s neck, skimming down her sides.
Holly was drowning in the kiss—Mack’s lips, her hands, the way her body pressed insistently against hers. There was a desperation in Mack’s touch, something almost primal. Their breaths mingled, short and ragged, between fevered kisses, and Holly felt her pulse quickening, her heart beating wildly against her ribs. Mack’s hand found its way underneath Holly’s sweater, tracing her back and making Holly shiver with anticipation. Her touch was electric, and Holly had never felt so present, so aware of her own body, of every inch of her that brushed against Mack’s.
Small, needy sounds escaped from Holly’s throat as Mack’s mouth moved to her jawline, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along her skin. Her knees felt weak, but Mack’s hands were there, holding her up, steadying her against the wall. Her thoughts were a chaotic whirl—flashes of longing, of the undeniable attraction she’d felt for the past twenty-four hours.
Mack’s hands roamed over her back, her fingers digging into her skin before they lowered to her behind and squeezed it. She pulled back slightly, just enough to look into Holly’s eyes, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Her blue eyes were dark, filled with the same need, the same intensity that coursed through Holly’s veins. For a moment, they stood there, breathing each other in, their foreheads pressed together, sharing the silence, the rawness of the moment.
Holly’s heart was racing, her skin flushed and hot. She felt dizzy, intoxicated and yet so present, alive in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. She was caught between wanting to savor every second and the overwhelming desire to let go completely.
“You know…” Mack’s voice was barely a whisper, her words rough and breathless as she brushed a thumb across Holly’s cheek. “I’ve wanted to do that all night.”
Holly’s lips tugged into a smile, still tingling from the searing kiss. “Me too,” she whispered. “I want you. I want all of you.” Tugging at Mack’s sweater, she waited for her to raise her arms so she could pull it off, along with her T-shirt.
Holly’s breath hitched as Mack stood before her, stripped down to nothing but her sports bra and jeans. The soft, dim light of the motel room illuminated her toned arms and shoulders, revealing the lean, defined muscles that flexed with every subtle movement. Holly’s eyes trailed over Mack’s body, tracing the delicate contours of her collarbone, the curve of her biceps, and the smooth expanse of her abdomen, only partially obscured by the hem of the snug sports bra.
She was mesmerized by the faint rise and fall of Mack’s chest as she breathed, her heartbeat still rapid from the intensity of their kiss. The sight of her like this, raw and vulnerable yet utterly confident, made Holly want to devour her. She was desperate to touch her everywhere, to feel the warmth of her skin beneath her fingertips, to explore every inch of her.
Her gaze traveled upward, lingering on the swell of Mack’s breasts before meeting her gaze again. Mack’s eyes held her captive—their usual mischievous glint now replaced with something deeper, something more intense as she removed her sports bra and dropped it to the floor.
Mack’s breasts were small and firm, yet undeniably sensual, her skin smooth and pale, with faint traces of freckles across herchest that Holly hadn’t noticed before. Her nipples were hard, a soft blush of pink that contrasted with the ivory of her skin.
Holly felt the heat radiating from her, the barely restrained power in the way she held herself. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the hem of her own sweater, pulling it over her head in one swift motion. She stood before Mack in her lace bra, the delicate fabric hugging her form and exposing just enough to make her feel both bold and vulnerable at once. Her skin prickled with anticipation, goose bumps rising along her arms, and she could feel Mack’s gaze on her, burning into her skin.
For a moment, neither of them moved, the air between them crackling with tension. Holly’s breath came shallow and fast as she teetered on the edge of restraint and desire. Every nerve in her body was alight with sensation, every inch of her aching for Mack’s touch.
Mack reached out, her fingers grazing Holly’s arm lightly, as if testing the boundaries of her self-control, and Holly instinctively leaned into it, craving more.
