“Yes,” she breathed. “Once the house is ready and we’re ready, I want to do this with you. I can’t imagine Lily being here and me not being part of her life. If you want me …”
“I want you. I need you.Weneed you.”
She stood from her seat and turned to face him fully. Before she could say anything, he gripped the back of her neck and pulled her close, sealing his lips to hers. The raw emotion in his kiss brought tears to her eyes and she wrapped her arms around him, trying to pull him even closer still. He broke the kiss and began placing kisses across her cheek and down her neck until he finally buried his face in her hair and hugged her tight. Slipping her hands under the back of his shirt so she could feel the warmth of his skin, she relaxed into him, thinking of nowhere she would rather be but home. And he was her home.
Epilogue
MALLORY
Mallory dropped her paint brush into the tray and climbed down the ladder. Finally. The bathroom was complete. They had finished the second coat of paint when she noticed a spot they’d missed. Christian said to leave it because no one on Earth would ever notice, but once she saw it, she couldn’t unsee it. They had both taken a long weekend to get the house finished and moved into. Lily was spending the weekend with her dad and Sheila, and the truck was due to be unloaded the next morning.
“Fell better now?” Christian teased.
“No. I would feel better if you were the one up on the ladder for the hundredth time today.”
His laugh vibrated through her as he pulled her into his arms. They were both a mess; all sweaty and covered in paint. If he wasn’t just as disgusting as she was, she would have been self-conscious.
“The view is better when I hold the ladder for you.”
“You’re so dirty,” Mallory said as she brushed past him toward the bathroom.
They hadn’t moved any major items in yet, but the bathroom had towels and some toiletries from them staying over to work on the house. Other than that, there was an air mattress, blankets, and a laundry basket filled with clean clothes in the master bedroom.
“You’ve never complained before,” he said, gripping her around the waist and turning her to face him.
She gasped when he pulled her against him, his arousal pressing into her. When she flicked her eyes to his, she knew he had plans for them. She grinded against him and felt a rush of heat when he let out a soft groan.
“We’re all sweaty,” she gently protested.
“And?” He slipped his hands up the bottom of her shirt and drew tiny circles along her bare flesh with his thumbs; the small act causing her to shiver in anticipation.
“Shower,” she gritted out. “Let’s take a shower.”
“Mmm,” he hummed. “I can take you in the shower if that’s what you want.”
Before she had a chance to respond, he gripped her arm and nearly dragged her into the bathroom. After turning the shower on, he kicked his shoes off as she did the same. When her shaking hands fumbled with the buttons of her flannel shirt, he moved her hands out of the way then gripped her shirt, pulling until the buttons broke free, scattering across the bathroom floor.
“No bra?” he asked in surprise.
Her nipples hardened and she couldn’t be sure if it was from the chill in the air, or his hungry gaze. Closing what small distance stood between them, he slipped his fingers under the waistband of her leggings and tugged down, kneeling as he went. She stared down into his gaze as she lifted each foot to allow himto slip them the rest of the way off before tossing them over his shoulder.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, running his hands up and down her bare legs, causing her to shiver once more. “I could look at you all day.”
“Christian, stop. I’m a sweaty mess,” she countered.
The look he gave her stopped her from saying anything further. “Don’t argue with me. You’re perfect. I like it when you’re a filthy sweaty mess for me.”
His words went straight to her core, and she knew he wasn’t talking about working on the house. He ran his hand up her thigh and didn’t stop until he reached her slit, running his finger back and forth causing her to cry out in pleasure.
“So wet, already,” he said in appreciation before leaning forward and pressing his nose against her center, breathing in.
“Christian!” she gasped as she tried to pull back from embarrassment. She didn’t want him that close after she’d been working and sweating all day.
“Don’t. Fucking. Move.” He used both hands to grip her thighs so she couldn’t move away.
Fuck. There he went using that tone of voice on her. When he spoke to her like that, she would do anything he asked her to do. After a moment he pushed her thighs apart and licked down her center, flicking her clit with his tongue. Her core clenched, and she tilted her hips forward silently begging for more. The action felt so wrong, but she needed more. He licked along her slit once more and circled her clit, causing her to writhe against him.
Her breathing was already coming out in gasps and her legs shook as she struggled to stay upright while he continued licking and sucking her pussy. She gripped the back of his head and held him firmly against her, eliciting a moan from him that she felt in her core.
