When I finally stop shuddering, she slowly pulls off, licking her lips with a satisfied smile.
“Merry Christmas to me,” she purrs, crawling up my body to plant a kiss on my lips.
I pull her against my chest, her warm body fitting perfectly against mine. Her hair fans across my skin as she nuzzles into me, satisfied with herself for turning me inside out before I even had coffee. My heartbeat slows as I stroke her back, feeling the gentle curve of her spine.
I press my lips to her forehead, breathing in the scent of sex and her.
“I wanna take you somewhere today,” I murmur against her skin. “Got something planned but I want it to be a surprise though. You in?”
She jerks her head up, nearly clipping my chin, eyes wide with excitement. “Are you serious? Yes! Oh my god, yes!” Shebounces slightly on top of me, her tits jiggling in a way that threatens to get me hard again. “A surprise on Christmas? That's fucking perfect!”
Her enthusiasm hits me square in the chest. Christ, I’m so fucking gone for this girl. The thought ambushes me, dangerous and undeniable, but I swallow it down for now.
“Come on,” I say instead, patting her ass. “Let's get showered. I'll make you some coffee before we hit the road.”
She scrambles off me, practically skipping to the bathroom. “How should I dress? Is it outdoors? Indoors? Fancy? Casual? Give me a hint!”
I follow her, admiring the view of her naked body from behind. “Warm. That's all you get.”
An hour later, we’re in my truck heading north out of the city. Hennessy’s in warm fleece-lined leggings that she swore were warm enough, my stolen hoodie and boots.
She’s scrolling through my playlist, occasionally glancing at me with a mischievous smile. She's settled on some indie holiday shit that normally I'd hate, but watching her mouth the words while her fingers tap against her thigh makes it bearable.
“You gonna tell me where we're going yet?” she asks for the tenth time, poking my thigh.
“Nope.” I keep my eyes on the road, enjoying how the anticipation is killing her. Every few minutes she shifts in her seat, peering out the window like she might recognize something in the increasingly rural landscape.
The highway transitions to county roads, trees getting thicker on either side. Snow blankets everything, pristinewhite under the clear blue sky. I check the time—we're almost there.
“Hey.” I reach over, squeezing her thigh. “Close your eyes for me.”
She quirks an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. We're almost there. I want it to be a surprise.”
“Fine.” She huffs but obeys, placing her hands over her eyes for good measure. “This better be worth it, Kingston.”
“Trust me,” I say, turning onto the unmarked road I scouted last week.
The truck bounces and jerks as we navigate the unplowed path. Hennessy grips the door handle but keeps her eyes shut tight, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Are you taking me somewhere to murder me? Because this feels like murder territory.”
I laugh. “If I wanted you dead, brat, I wouldn't have let you blow me this morning.”
She snorts but says nothing more as I guide the truck through the final stretch of trees. When we break through the clearing, I kill the engine and sit for a moment, making sure it looks as good as I remembered.
The lake stretches out before us, a perfect oval of ice surrounded by snow-covered pines. The sun catches on the frozen surface, making it glitter like it's covered in diamonds. It's fucking perfect.
I jump out of the truck, crunch around to her side, and pull open the door. Her eyes are still squeezed shut when I grab her by the waist and set her on her feet in the snow.
“Don't open yet,” I murmur, positioning myself behind her. My arms wrap around her waist, pulling her backagainst my chest. I drop my chin to her shoulder, my beard brushing her cheek. “Okay. Open.”
Her sharp intake of breath is exactly what I was hoping for. Her body goes rigid in my arms, then melts back against me.
“Oh my god,” she whispers. “Beckham, it's…it's beautiful.”
The lake stretches before us, untouched and pristine. The trees around the perimeter droop with snow, creating a natural barrier that makes it feel like we've stepped into another world. The sunlight catches on the ice, making the whole scene sparkle.
