Page 42 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

To be totally truthful, I think I’ve shown a hell of a lot of restraint in not smashing up his face or breaking bones after last night, let alone for everything he’s done to her over the years. I’m just thankful we got there before anything more sinister went down, as I can’t say for certain that he’d still be alive if it did.

Stirring slightly, Grace shifts under the covers, revealing her ample cleavage blushed red with warmth. Her white lace, snowman sleep set falls down over one shoulder, revealing her breast and pert nipple. Battling with my self-control, I slowly move the strap back up over her shoulder, trying not to wake her.

I want just a little bit longer to admire her without interruption. It’s not often we see her so relaxed. With Jason still around, even though she’s enjoying herself, she doesn’t ever fully relax. I don’t even think she knows she’s doing it, but her eyes dart around looking for him when entering a room. We watch as she catches herself going to call his name for dinner, before shaking her head and calling us all as one.

Even though he hurt her--in more ways than one, the bastard--she’s still trying to get over what happened and come to terms with it. It’s also why I worry about her and us. Grace is a sensitive soul and always puts others first. Often to her detriment. She’s a people pleaser and she doesn’t like to see people hurt, despite their shortcomings or their actions.

It’s also why I see her holding back with us. Not that we’re an item yet, or even gone anywhere near those discussions, but we would like to. At some point.

As poncy as this may sound, I’m head over heels for her. I fell for her the second we stormed in to find her sweet face red with anger and tarnished with tears. And with each second we’ve spent together since, I’ve fallen deeper. Although we haven’t spoken directly about it, I know the guys have too.

I think last night served to be a catalyst for our relationship and my feelings towards Grace. Hell, likely the guys too. I saw the same emotions reflected in their faces that were flowing through my body. Terror. Worry. Despair. We’re used to combat situations with colleagues and civilians. But never someone we love.

Wait.Someone we l-

Grunting softly, Grace draws me out of my thoughts as she rolls backwards out of my arm and stretches. Yawning wide, I simply watch on, taking in every movement and memorizing it. Opening her bleary eyes, it takes a couple of blinks for her to recognise where she is.

“Key?” She asks sweetly.

“Good morning, Sugar. Sleep well?” I smile, propping myself up on my shoulder and hand to lean over her and place a tender kiss to her forehead.

“Mhmm, out like a light apparently.” Raising her head up, she rests her hand on my chest as she leans up to give me a peck on the lips.

Pulling back slightly, that keeps her face only a hair’s breadth away from mine. Tracing her features with my eyes, I raise my hand and trail a finger down her cheek.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper against her lips.

Freezing for a second, she looks at me surprised until she ducks her head. Her cheeks blushing a rosy hue as some of her hair falls over her face.

Lifting her chin up with one finger, I force her to look me in the eye. “Can’t do compliments, Sugar?”

“No. Well. I-” She stutters, trying her best to look away from me.

Rolling over her, I coax her to lay down on her back and place my hands on either side of her head. She releases a shaky breath as her body flushes and her eyes dilate, blowing wide.

“You know, last night-” I pause, collecting my thoughts. “I nearly lost it when we thought you were in danger. I don’t know what we would have done had-”

“Shh,” she whispers, placing a finger on my lips. “I was never in any danger. My three knights in shining mistletoe armor saw to that.” Winking at me, I can’t help but chuckle.

“Mistletoe armor? Surely that’s not all that comfortable for the wearer. Then again, it would make a brilliant crowd surfer costume or an aerial attack for war.”

“Oh my gosh, shut up. I was trying to beChristmassyand that was the best thing I could think of so early in the morning!” She whines, playfully whacking me on the chest with the back of her hand.

Grasping her wrist, I pin it to the bed by the side of her head and grab her other one, mirroring the movements. Stroking my thumb across her pulse point, I feel it thrumming as I lean down to rest my lips upon hers.

“Maybe I should just occupy this mouth to keep you from spewing anymore god awful Christmas puns.”

“Maybe you should,” she returns meekly, her warm breath skating across my lips and stoking a fire deep inside me.

Slowly lowering my lips onto hers, we get lost in each other's taste as the crackling fire burns brightly behind us. Its warmthencasing us as the scent of the cherry candles wafts over our senses.

Not once breaking our connection, I run my hands down her arms and across her chest. Moaning, she arches into my touch, causing her top to ride up. Running my hands underneath, I caress each inch of skin until I reach her nipples and run them through my fingertips.

Mewling into my mouth, her legs shift, allowing me to place myself in between them. I reluctantly stop my ministrations to reach down and remove her top and bottoms, baring her to me. Tossing them over my shoulder, I waste no time in crawling up her body, leaving open mouthed kisses on every exposed inch of skin I can reach.

Trailing my hands up her sides, my cock pulses with each whispered gasp she releases. The need to be in her is overwhelming, but the need to worship her and show her how truly special, is even more overpowering.

Covering her body with mine, I run my hands through her hair and trace a path down her soft skin as I gaze into her beautiful mercury eyes. Meeting my eyes, we kiss and explore in the candle light, getting lost in one another's touch until she’s so wet, neither of us can stand it anymore.

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