Page 38 of Riding Dirty for Christmas

“What's it say?” she asks.

I read the tiny slip of paper, looking up to meet her eyes. “Love makes a house a home.”

Eden's eyes darken. “Take me home.” Her gaze flicks to the stairs leading to my apartment above the bar.

“Stay with me tonight,” I murmur, pulling her close. “Let me show you where you belong.”

She nods once, desire and trust mingling in her expression.

I take her hand, leading her toward the stairs. Each step feels like destiny - like everything in my life has led to this moment, this woman.

Tomorrow we'll face reality - her job, our families, the distance between her world and mine. But tonight...

Tonight she's mine.

Chapter 10

Jack

“Come on, beautiful.” The words come out gravelly, watching her peek up at me through those lashes of hers.

My pulse kicks up a notch when I reach for her hand - still gets me every time, how right it feels when her fingers slot between mine.

We slip through the private door, heading up to my place above The HideOut. It's a basic apartment, nothing special - but with her following me up these stairs, it feels like I'm leading her to somewhere magical.

A few hours ago, we were stealing kisses under the mistletoe, worried about our parents' reactions.

Now? I'm done with self-control. I've been dying to get her alone, to discover all the ways we fit together. And something tells me she's just as eager to do some exploring of her own.

And tonight, I plan to take my sweet time showing her exactly what “good” can feel like when we're not holding back.

I brush my thumb across her bottom lip, watching her pupils dilate. “You were perfect tonight. The way you handledeverything–” I lean in, my lips brushing her ear. “Makes me want to show you exactly how good you've been.”

My name falls from her lips in a shaky whisper as she clutches my shirt, pulling me closer.

“I love how you say my name,” I murmur against that sweet spot beneath her ear. “Like you need it. Like you need me.”

The soft gasp that escapes her lips nearly undoes me. I force myself to pull back, to take her hand again and lead her up the stairs. Each step builds the tension between us, the air growing thick with unspoken desires.

At my door, I pause, fishing for my keys. Eden presses against my back, her hands sliding around my waist, and I nearly drop them.

“Impatient?” I tease, though my own hands shake slightly as I unlock the door.

“Maybe I just like watching you lose control,” she whispers, her lips grazing my shoulder through my shirt.

I guide her inside, kicking the door shut behind us. The lamp's glow catches the heat in her eyes, and damn if that doesn't undo me completely.

“Trust me, beautiful.” I crowd her against the door, my hand finding her waist. “My control's shot to hell with you.”

Her breath hitches, but there's nothing timid in the way she lifts her chin. “Good,” she challenges. “Maybe I want you to lose it.”

Christ, she's going to be the death of me. One minute she's all shy glances, the next she's daring me to break - and fuck if both versions don't drive me absolutely wild.

“Careful what you wish for.” My fingers trace the soft skin at her waist. “Been imagining how good you'll look spread out on my bed. All the ways I'm going to make you come undone.”

Her cheeks flush pink, but her hands slide up my chest with deliberate slowness. “Seems like a lot of imagining,” she teases. “Not much doing.”

“Playing with fire, Eden.” I catch her wrists in one hand, pinning them above her head. Her quick inhale shoots straight through me. “And here I was about to reward you for being so good earlier.”

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