His phone beeps, and I force myself to let go of him and suck in oxygen. I shove against his chest, forcing my fingers to uncurl from his shirt. “Eat. You have to watch your blood sugar.”
He’s still staring down at me, his eyes hooded and his gaze filled with desire. “The only thing I want to eat is you.”
“Pizza first.”
He cups my face again, running his thumb along my puffy, swollen lips. “That’s not a no.”
My cheeks grow warm. “It’s not a no.”
We take our pizza into the living room and eat on the couch, watching the snow falling and the twinkling Christmas lights. Now, I can see why he set it there. He can see both at the same time.
The snow has started falling again, adding a fresh white blanket to the trees and ground. I’m so grateful. If I could just stay here forever and always watch the falling snow with Hunter next to me, then life would be perfect.
We watch it fall for several minutes. He’s pressed up against me, his jean-clad thigh next to my bare one. I can feel the heat coming from his body and more than anything, I want to curl up in his lap.
“My favorite thing about Christmas is the lights. As a kid, my parents had addiction issues, and you know, when that happens, your parents care more about their next high than luxuries like electricity. Our trailer was always cold and dark. That made Christmas my favorite time of year. Seeing all the lights on our street made me feel a little less alone for a few weeks every winter.”
My heart hurts that he’s been through that. “No kid should have to live like that.”
He shrugs. “One day, I’ll give my kids a life filled with so much light and warmth and beauty that every single day will seem like Christmas.”
“You spend a lot of time talking about your future kids.” I like that he’s always thinking about them. He’ll be an amazing dad when the moment comes.
He looks at me, the holiday lights painting his face in shades of blue, green, and red. “My future life suddenly feels a lot closer than it did just a week ago.”
I whimper and suddenly, Hunter leans close and his lips are on mine, soft and sweet. His kiss tastes of fragile hope and new beginnings.
When I open my lips for him, he sweeps his tongue into my mouth. He teases me with long strokes, almost as if he’s savoring this as much as I am. My nipples are pebbling beneath my bra, and I arch toward him. I need to feel his chest against mine. Need to feel all of his solid places.
He lets go of my hand to pull my hair free from my ponytail and threads his fingers through it. “You’re beautiful everywhere.”
I’ve spent my life having my appearance critiqued from head to toe. I know my hair is fuzzy and messy right now. I know I’m not wearing the flattering shade of lipstick for my coloring. Actually, I’m not wearing lipstick at all, and I’m dressed in a flannel shirt that doesn’t even fit me right. But sitting here with Hunter, I feel beautiful. I feel like the sexiest woman in the world.
I suck in oxygen desperately. Nervous energy flows through my veins. I’ve never done something selfish and being with this hot mountain man is definitely something that’s just for me. Only me. “You are too.”
A soft smile lights up his features. “I like you, Holly. Now, let me make you feel good tonight.”
At his invitation, I scramble into Hunter’s lap, putting my hands on his shoulders for balance. My thighs go around his hips, and I gasp at the bulge I can feel beneath my panties. He’s so big and thick.
I grind down on him, moaning his name.
“Wait,” he murmurs and grips my hips so tightly that I can’t move. I love that he can control my body this way. He’s not just big. He’s strong too. Strong enough to hold me in place. “I want to taste you.”
That’s never been something I’ve done. “I’m not ready.”
“For sex? We can go slow as you need. Hell, if all we do is kiss like this, I’m going to count myself a very lucky man,” he insists.
My heart swells at the way he cares so much, but I don’t want him thinking that I don’t want to have sex. “No, I want sex. With you. All the sex that you’re willing to have. But down there, I’m not like trimmed and clean and–”
The look he gives me is filled with so much affection that it makes my heart ache. “I want to taste your cream and feel you come on my tongue. You don’t have to wait until you’re perfect for me. I want you right now, just as you are.”
I blink, surprised to find myself tearing up. This man sees me. He gets me. “If you like it…”
“Let me do this,” he insists and before I can stop him, he slides me off of his lap and drops to his knees in front of the couch. He cups my face, the intensity in his gaze making my heart skip a beat. “Stretch out, get comfortable, yeah, just like that. Let your man take care of you.”
I settle against the couch cushions, his throw blanket underneath my head as a makeshift pillow. He leans over my body, careful to keep his weight from pressing down on me.
Then he kisses me, softly and gently exploring my mouth with his tongue. I wind my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. His hair is just as soft and silky as I imagined it’d be. He growls when I give it a light tug and nips at my bottom lip.
