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He pulls back, his face full of desire. “Off. Everything off.” His hands reach for the zipper of my jeans, dragging it down with a hiss. Next he slides his fingers under the edge of my soaked panties. “So wet.” He growls as he slides them down my legs and tosses them aside. He gently pushes me onto the bed and settles his broad shoulders between my thighs.

The first swipe of his tongue flicks over my clit, and I almost see stars. Sure, I’ve touched myself before, and as a nurse I know how the human body works. But my anatomy classes never prepared me for how this would feel.

“Oh.” I moan, tangling my hands in his hair as his tongue continues its relentless attack on my pussy. I can feel the intense pleasure building in the pit of my stomach, coiling tight until I feel like I’m going to burst with pleasure.

But just as I’m ready to explode, he pulls back. “Not yet.” He says, his voice raw with need. “I want to be inside you the first time you come.”

He stands up and unbuckles his belt. His thick, hard cock springs free, and all I can think about is touching it. Giving in, I reach my hand around him, giving him a couple of experimental strokes. He groans, thrusting into my hand.

“Holt.” The moan escapes me as I watch his cock thrusting in my hand.

“Enough.” He takes a step back, his shaft slipping out of my grasp. “I need to be inside of you now.” He pushes me back on the bed while he finishes stripping out of his clothes. With both hands, he spreads my thighs wide, lining his cock at my entrance. He presses forward, sinking deep inside of me until he’s buried to the hilt.

His movements are slow at first, as if he’s savoring the moment. But it isn’t long before I’m clawing at his back and begging him to go faster. “Please, Holt. I need you deeper and faster.”

At my plea, his control snaps as he pumps into me harder and faster with each thrust, each one hitting the spot inside of me I’ve never been able to satisfy with just my fingers.

He slides his hand between us, his thumb finding my clit with firm, fast strokes. “Come for me, Lara.” He growls, his voice raw with need. My body obeys as I convulse around him in wave after wave of pleasure. He follows me a few seconds later, his cock pulsing inside of me as he fills me with his cum.

Once our bodies stop shaking with intense pleasure, he rolls onto his back and pulls me close to his side. “What are you thinking?” I rest my head on his chest.

“That I should have said hello a long time ago.” He covers my fingers with his.

“Yes.” I smile against his skin. “You should have.” He laughs softly, and I shift enough to look at him. “But I’m glad you said it tonight.” I trace the edge of his beard.

His expression grows serious. He searches my face as if deciding whether to keep something to himself, and I wait. “I’ve been in love with you for months.” His hand stills over mine.

“I’ve been in love with you for a long time, too.”

He nods, then bends to kiss my forehead. There is more I want to tell him, but instead I settle against him again. We have a lifetime to say those words.

Epilogue - Lara

Ten Years Later

Our youngest is wearing Holt’s black eye mask upside down.

“Daddy can’t see me.” Four-year-old Evan crouches behind the sofa, his boots sticking out beneath the sofa’s edge.

“He might find your feet.” I crouch beside him and straighten them. Across the living room, Holt pretends to search behind an armchair that’s far too small to hide a child. His beard has a few silver strands now. Julie still claims credit for getting him to trim it properly.

We have four children, and none of them has inherited their father’s inability to talk to someone they like. Nine-year-old Nora gives him detailed advice about his search. Seven-year-old Eli argues that looking under furniture is cheating. Five-year-old Mae abandons the rules altogether and climbs onto his back.

Holt bends to catch her safely. Evan erupts from behind the sofa and attaches himself to one leg.

“Found you.” Holt looks down at him, one hand keeping Mae secure.

“I found you first.” Evan pushes the mask onto his forehead.

Holt glances at me over our son’s head. His smile still makes me want to cross the room, throw my arms around him and kiss him.

The cabin has grown with us. Holt built extra bedrooms when Nora was little, then added a mudroom after Eli was born. Picture books sit beneath his woodworking magazines, and four pairs of small boots take the place where his used to stand alone. He still volunteers with the fire department and drives the ambulance. I still work in the ER. We both know what it’s like to come home tired and need a quiet minute before talking. We’ve learned to give each other that time without letting it turn into distance.

Tonight, Julie is coming to stay with the children while we go to the fall masks ball.

Nora spots the old black jacket on the back of my chair and picks it up by the shoulders. “Is this the Cinderfella coat?” She turns it over, studying the lining.

“It is.” I say, memories of that night flashing through my mind.