Page 9 of Holiday Situationship

The covers rustle with the tiniest movement, and Annie slips her pinky around mine. A sense of peace settles over me as we lie in the dark with the stars twinkling around us. We’re stargazing together in a way we haven’t for years—perhaps ever. Lying beneath the starlit canopy is the romantic evening Annie described.

Maybe we’ve been living our perfect date all along.

CHAPTER 6

***

Annie

I awaken slowly, allowing the remnants of my fuzzy, contented dream to fade. A yawn escapes me, and I wriggle beneath the covers, but find myself confined, unable to stretch. My lashes flutter, opening my lids just enough to allow a sliver of blinding light in. I squeeze my eyes closed and burrow deeper into the covers.

I breathe in a lung full of toasty, earthy air and catch the enticing aroma of cinnamon, sugar, baked bread, and—Mmm—Sam. My eyes fly open and stare across the bare chest pressed against my cheek. A sudden jolt of panic whips through me as I take stock of the situation. I’d been dreaming, right? My mind races as I access my state of dress. Am I still wearing pajamas, both top and bottoms? Did Sam and I—?

Sam shifts, and my flannel shorts twist higher up my thigh. I breathe a small sigh of relief. Despite the minor freak-out, I embrace the warmth of being held by him. I nestle deeper into his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat. It’s been so long since I felt this good, this safe—like the night of my twenty-first birthday before panic overtook me and I fled his bed.

Sam stirs again, beginning to wake and again the unease returns. I hold my breath, waiting to see how he’ll react, hoping that somehow, everything will still feel as right as it did in those first fleeting moments of wakefulness.

His fingers trail down my back, sending a shiver up my spine. He grips the curve of my hip and tugs me closer to his body. A trickling spasm of want zings straight to my sex. He’s thick and hard—morning wood. Moisture seeps between my legs, my body still remembers exactly how he felt surging inside me, stretching and filling me. Heat bursts from my core and my body tingles as if coming to life after a winter’s slumber. So many winters, summers, and every season in between.

My body reacts with a mind of its own. I draw my knee over his, inching slowly up his thigh. His growing bulge presses low against my tummy, growing stiffer by the second. I nuzzle into his chest, soaking in his heat and scent, praying this isn’t a dream.

His hand glides down my thigh to the crook of my knee, and he pulls my leg higher on to his hip. I tilt my hips forward and a low groan escapes on his next breath. My heart thuds as his fingers trail upward then tangle in my hair. I tilt my chin as he guides me toward him. My body’s on fire, aching with desire when his lips finally reach mine.

I slide my hand over his chest and wrap my fingers around his neck. His warm breath mingles with mine and I’m in seventh heaven—until Sam stiffens abruptly.

***

Sam

Annie’s breath mingles with mine, and my lips brush against hers. My heart beats faster as a thrilling sensation bolts through me, dizzying and eye-opening. The fog of sleep vanishes, followed by a sudden surge of adrenaline.

My pulse quickens, each beat echoing in my ears. I pull away abruptly, my mind racing to catch up with reality. I’m teetering on the brink of doing something that feels so natural, yet nothing short of irreversible. Catching Annie off guard in her sleep is not my intention at all.

Annie’s eyes pop open, her face inches from mine. Confusion and surprise etch her brow. Her eyes dart between mine and my lips. Her chest rises and falls quickly with heavy shallow breaths. She blinks rapidly, as if trying to process the clusterfuck I’ve made of things.

“I’m sorry,” I stammer, my voice thick with embarrassment. “I was asleep, dreaming, and didn’t realize...”

Annie’s cheeks flush a deep pink. Her eyes drop to the hand she’s draped around my neck, and she withdraws without hesitation. Her fingers clutch the edge of the blanket, knuckles white as she pulls the covers to her chest. I yank my hand from her tangled locks as my mind races, struggling to find the right words to explain my throbbing hard-on pressed against the crux of her thighs.

“I need to go for a run,” I blurt out, desperate to escape the situation before I make matters worse.

“In the snow?” she asks, disbelief evident in her tone. The covers rustle as she sits up. “It’s freezing out there.”

I throw back the covers and curse my rigid cock and vivid dreams. A burst of cold air is exactly what my dick brain needs.

My heart thunders, crashing into my ribs like a violent storm against a cliff. I grab my clothes and exit the bedroom to the landing outside at the head of the stairs. Laughter and conversation drift up from downstairs. The inviting aroma of coffee, bacon, and cinnamon rolls hit me full force, but my stomach twists in complete upheaval. I can’t go back into the bedroom and face Annie, and I can’t risk the others seeing me like this. It’ll ruin our couple's ruse and risk Annie’s reputation and job.

I hesitate for a moment, figuring out how to salvage this damned debacle and save face with the woman who’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of, but can’t have.

My heart races as I scramble down the stairs, moving as quietly as possible to avoid detection. The wooden steps creak under my weight, each sound amplifying the need for urgency. If I can make it to the downstairs bathroom without anyone seeing me, no one will be the wiser to my sneaking around in my boxer briefs and t-shirt.

As I reach the bottom of the stairs, Ryan emerges from the kitchen with a steaming coffee mug in his hand. My heart jolts in surprise, and I freeze abruptly. Ryan’s eyes widen slightly as he takes in my disheveled state, half dressed with a fistful of clothes. He raises a questioning eyebrow, but before he can say anything, I quickly place a finger to my lips.

“Didn’t want to wake my sleeping beauty,” I whisper.

Ryan’s expression shifts to one of understanding, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Smart man,” he says quietly. “Happy wife, happy life. You’re a quicker learner than I was.”

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