Page 17 of A Very Grumpy Thanksgiving

It’s like I’m a bowstring being pulled tighter and tighter, and I’m ready to snap. I lean forward, my hands rubbing up his chest, and my heart races as I hear his sharp intake of breath. He tenses under my touch, and I lick my lips.

"Nolan." His name tastes like a promise on my tongue, and the intensity in his dark eyes makes my heart stumble in my chest.

He takes a step forward, just enough that I have to tilt my head back to hold his gaze. There’s a charge between us, electric and unsteady, and it’s pulling me closer, pulling both of us intosomething dangerous and delicious. I don’t know who moves first, but suddenly we’re right there, breathing the same air, so close I can feel the heat of him like a storm building.

His hand rises slowly, like he’s giving me a chance to stop him. I don’t. Instead, I lean into his touch, and when his fingers cup my jaw, I swear my bones melt under the warmth of his palm.

His warm breath fans my face, and we both pause, our eyes locking in the dim light from the moon outside.

“Saffron,” he whispers, and my eyes flutter closed as his lips meet mine.

I instantly go up in flames. I press closer to him, until our bodies are tight against each other. I gasp as I feel his hard cock against my stomach. Part of me can’t believe that he’s turned on by me, but then my brain shuts off, and all I can do is get swept up in the passion between us.

We pull apart, both of us sucking in a breath. Our eyes lock, and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest.

“Saffron,” he whispers, like he’s been holding my name in his mouth for too long, waiting for this exact moment to let it go.

I don’t wait another second. I reach up, grab the front of his shirt, and yank him down to me. Our mouths collide in a kiss that’s as wild as the storm outside, all heat and hunger and pent-up frustration. His lips are firm and demanding, and I match him, kiss for kiss, like I’ve been starved for him without even realizing it.

He groans low in his throat when I open my mouth under his, and the sound sends a thrill straight through me. His hand slides into my hair, tugging just enough to make me gasp, and he uses the moment to deepen the kiss, his tongue sweeping against mine in a way that makes my knees threaten to give out.

I clutch at his shoulders, desperate to stay anchored as everything inside me tilts, shifts, and catches fire. Nolan kissesme like he’s trying to memorize every second, like he knows we’ve wasted too much time, and he’s determined to make up for it now.

“Night, you two!” Nolan’s dad calls through the door, and we jerk apart.

Nolan almost falls off the bed and I reach for him, both of us panting as we stare at each other.

“Night,” I call back, my voice unsteady.

“Night, Dad,” Nolan calls, sounding just as affected as I feel.

I clear my throat as I listen to his footsteps fade down the hall.

“We should get some sleep,” I say, my voice hoarse, and he nods.

We settle under the covers, and I take a deep breath as I try to calm my racing heart enough so that I can fall asleep.

It takes a long, long time before sleep finally claims me.

EIGHT

Nolan

When I wakeup the next morning, Saffron is already out of bed. In fact, she’s not even in the room anymore. Her clothes from yesterday are gone, and the pajamas that she wore to bed last night are folded on the dresser.

I sigh as I scrub my hands down my face and sit up in bed. My mind flashes back to that kiss last night. I’d never been cockblocked by my parents before since I never had a girlfriend before, and I do not recommend it. I had been so close to going all of the way with Saffron last night. I wanted to strip her naked, throw her legs over my shoulders, and eat her out until she screamed my name. Then I’d bury myself inside of her and make her scream my name all over again.

I guess it’s a good thing that we didn’t go all of the way. When I make love to Saffron, I want it to be romantic and not in my childhood bed, in my childhood bedroom, with my whole family sleeping right down the hall.

I get dressed and go to find my girl. She’s in the kitchen, helping my mom make breakfast and laughing at something thatSamantha is saying to her. My heart lodges in my throat, and I freeze as I stare at her.

She’s perfect, and I want her. I want her so goddamn bad. I want her to be my real girlfriend, my real wife, the real center of my whole fucking world.

“Morning, honey!” My mom calls, and I blink, trying to clear the vision of Saffron in a wedding dress from my head.

“Morning,” I rasp out.

Saffron blushes as she looks at me, and I know instantly that she’s thinking about our kiss last night.

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