He withdraws his thumb with a wet pop and moves his hand between us, finding my clit and rubbing it in circles that have me climbing toward release again in seconds.
“Kai, please?—“
Just as I’m about to tip over the edge, he pinches my clit—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to interrupt the building pleasure and keep me hovering on the brink.
“What the hell?” I gasp, indignant.
His smile is pure sin. “I told you I wasn’t going to make it easy.”
“It’s Christmas,” I protest, squirming beneath him. “Have mercy.”
“Hmm.” He pretends to consider this, all while maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps me right on the edge without pushing me over. “I suppose I could be persuaded.”
“Please,” I beg, beyond pride now. “Please let me come.”
He settles his weight more firmly on top of me, his hands tightening on my bound wrists. “You’ll come when I decide you can,” he says, his voice a low growl that makes me shiver. Then his expression softens slightly. “Lucky for you, that time is right now.”
He increases his pace, driving into me with renewed intensity while his fingers work my clit with expert precision. This time, when I feel myself approaching the peak, he doesn’t stop. Instead, he leans down to whisper in my ear.
“Come for me, Holly.”
And I do, my body convulsing around him as pleasure crashes through me in waves that seem to go on forever. Kai follows me over the edge with a groan, his body shuddering against mine as he finds his own release.
For a long moment, we stay like that, tangled together on the pile of blankets, our breathing gradually slowing. Kai releases my wrists and gathers me against his chest, pressing soft kisses to my hair.
“Merry Christmas,” he murmurs.
I laugh, the sound slightly shaky. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
“Best Christmas ever,” he confirms, pulling a blanket over us both. “Though we should probably head back soon before Noah and Grayson tear apart the forest looking for us.”
I snuggle closer to him, enjoying the warmth of his body against mine. “Five more minutes.”
He tightens his arms around me. “Five more minutes,” he agrees.
“If I didn’t mention that I love your way of being an alpha…I’m definitely saying it now.”
Kai just chuckles and pulls me closer into the heat of his body.
THIRTY-FIVE
HOLLY
I finish washingmy hands after checking on Mrs. Whitesong’s arthritic knee, mentally calculating how many more patients I need to see before I can escape for lunch. The morning has been busy but routine—exactly the kind of shift I need after the emotional rollercoaster of Christmas. Three days have passed since our chase through the woods, and I’m still finding bruises in interesting places from Kai’s enthusiastic capture.
The silver pendant Noah gave me rests against my sternum, a constant reminder of what waits for me at home. Home. It’s strange how quickly Kai’s mansion has become that for me, when I’ve spent my entire life feeling like a visitor in my own spaces.
I exit the treatment room, making notes in the chart about Mrs. Whitesong’s new prescription, when Noah appears at the end of the hallway. His face is drawn, his movements sharp and urgent as he strides toward me.
“Holly,” he calls, his voice tight with something I can’t immediately identify. “I need you.”
My first thought is that maybe he wants to repeat our library encounter, but the set of his jaw tells me this is professional, not personal.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, closing the chart and giving him my full attention.
“Kai is here,” he says.
I laugh, the sound reflexive and hollow in the sterile hallway. “Let me guess, another fake injury to get attention?” I roll my eyes, remembering Kai’s dramatic performance with the “crushed” toe. “What is it this time? Sprained wrist from too much video gaming?”
