His brows lifted, his voice husky from sleep. “Come here.”
She stepped in without hesitation and closed the door behind her, locking it. The floor was cold against her bare feet, but the moment he sat up and reached for her, the chill vanished.
She climbed onto the bed, straddling him before he could fully register what was happening.
“Ali…” His voice held a question— but not hesitation. His hands came to her thighs instinctively.
“I want you.” Her lips brushed against his jaw. “Right here. Right now.”
His breath hitched. “We should be quiet—”
“Then make me,” she whispered, and kissed him.
Her fingers raked through his hair as she rocked against him, already hard beneath her. The quiet gasp he made into her mouth sent heat spiraling through her. She reached between them, sliding her hand beneath the covers, under the waistband of his boxers.
“Ali…” he groaned, grabbing her hips. “You’re gonna kill me.”
She grinned into his mouth. “Promise?”
She lined them up and sank down onto him slowly, biting her bottom lip hard to keep from moaning out loud. Every time feltlike the first time. Every inch of him made her body come alive. He filled her in every way— physically, emotionally, completely.
She moved slowly at first, grinding her hips as her nails dug into his chest. Searching for the right rhythm. Learning as she went. His hands tightened around her thighs, guiding her rhythm, but letting her lead. His eyes never left her face, watching every flicker of pleasure dance across her features like she was art.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he breathed, voice rough. “I don’t know how I got this lucky.”
Her heart thudded harder at that. She leaned forward, riding him harder now, her hair falling around their faces like a curtain.
She was close. So close. But then—
Dylan’s hands suddenly gripped her waist and flipped them, one swift motion that sent her back against the floor with a soft thump. He caught himself on his elbows so he didn’t crush her, then slammed his mouth to hers to catch the scream building in her throat.
He drove into her deeper now, harder, muffling every whimper and cry with his kiss. Hitching a leg around his waist to fill her as deeply as he could. Her hands clutched his back, fingernails raking across his shoulders as she shattered beneath him. Her body trembled around his as wave after wave crashed through her.
He came seconds later, groaning low against her mouth, his whole body tensing as he buried himself to the hilt and held.
They lay there for a moment, tangled together on the floor, the only sounds their ragged breaths and the faint hum of the heater through the vent.
Dylan nuzzled her cheek and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Merry Christmas, Al. I love you, baby.”
She smiled, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his back. “Best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
The Moment I Knew
Ali
Ali had barely touched her strawberry lemonade.
The beach grill was packed— students shoulder to shoulder, pressed into booths and standing around pool tables. TDE guys sporting their letters. Kappa Nu girls in maroon, navy, and white. Everyone buzzing after the bowl game win. Shark Nation had officially taken over Myrtle Beach.
She was trying. Trying to smile, trying to breathe, trying not to flinch every time Daisy’s laughter rang out from across the room.
Then the music started.
It was karaoke night, which usually meant cheesy duets or someone belting “I Will Survive” off-key. But when the opening beat of “Milkshake” dropped, Ali froze. She hated that song.
It wasn’t just the song. It was who was on stage.
Daisy and three other Kappa Nu girls with matching bows in their hair stood at the mic. And they weren’t singing the original lyrics.
