Ican’t stop thinking about our encounter with those girls as we make our way to the parking garage to wait for my driver. The way they spoke to Liv had my blood boiling. How dare they try to make her feelless thanwhen she’s worth a thousand of them put together.

I glance at her by my side, observing how uncharacteristically quiet she is as we wait. Her brow furrows, and she bites her lower lip, clearly still bothered by what’s just happened.

“Hey,” I say softly while rubbing her arm. “Don’t let them get to you. They’re not worth it.”

She gives me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I know. It’s just… seeing them brings back a lot of bad memories from high school. I thought I was over it, but I guess some scars run deeper than others.”

I feel a surge of protectiveness wash over me. Without thinking, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her close. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Liv. I wish I could’ve made it better for you.”

She leans into me, her curls tickling my chin. The scent of her coconut shampoo fills my senses, and I have to remind myself to breathe.

“Thanks, Dylan,” she murmurs. “I don’t know why I let them get to me. Sometimes I still feel like that insecure girl who doesn’t fit in anywhere.”

I gently squeeze her shoulder. “Well, I think you’re pretty amazing just the way you are. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you didn’t fit in with girls like that. You’re way too good for them.”

We don’t have to wait long before my driver picks us up and takes us back to Carol’s. As we step into the warmth of the house, the scent of pine and cinnamon envelops us while we shrug off our coats, both still buzzing from the day’s activities. The living room is bathed in the soft glow of twinkling Christmas lights, casting a magical holiday ambiance over the living room.

“Mom must have gone to bed already,” Liv whispers, glancing at the clock on the mantel that reads 10:30 PM.

I nod, suddenly aware of how alone we are. “Wanna get some of those Christmas cookies before we turn in?”

Liv’s eyes light up. “You read my mind.”

I know she’s bummed about missing the hot chocolate and candied pecans, but maybe I can find a way to make it up to her.

We shuck off our boots and pad into the kitchen, trying our best to be quiet. She reaches across the counter to grab a platter of cookies, and her sweater slightly rides up to reveal a sliver of smooth skin. I swallow hard and try not to stare, but it’s no use. She’s too fucking beautiful not to look at.

As we munch on the cookies, her eyes meet mine. “Thanks again for today. For everything. You didn’t have to say what you did, but I appreciate it.”

I brush a crumb from her cheek, my fingertips lingering on her delicate skin. “You don’t need to thank me, Liv. I meant every word.”

She leans into my touch, her brown eyes shimmering in the dim kitchen light. “You make me feel beautiful, Dylan. Like I’m worth something.”

“You are, Liv,” I whisper as my heart races. “Maybe I was pretending to be your boyfriend to put those girls in their places, but the relationship between us doesn’t have to be fake. It doesn’t feel fake to me.”

The air between us crackles with electricity, and before I know what’s happening, her lips are on mine, plump and sweet. I pull her closer, deepening the kiss with her body flush against my chest. Then, without another word, I led her upstairs to my bedroom.

We stumble inside, hands roaming and breaths mingling. I gently kick the door shut behind us, hoping it doesn’t slam and wake Carol in her room downstairs. As we fall onto my bed, a small part of my brain screams that this is wrong. But the feel of her supple curves pressed against me silences any lingering doubts.

I pull back slightly, cupping her face in my hands. “Are you sure about this?” I ask, my voice husky with desire. “There’s no going back if we do this.”

She nods, her eyes dark with passion. “I want you, Dylan. I’ve always wanted you.”

Her words ignite a fire in my veins, and I capture her lips again, pouring years of attraction into the kiss. My hands roam over her body, memorizing every curve and dip. She arches into my touch, letting out a soft moan that sends shivers down my spine.

Like horny teenagers, we fumble with each other’s clothes, laughing quietly as buttons catch and zippers stick. Finally, Ihave this sexy woman naked beneath me, and I pause to drink in the sight of her. Her dark hair fans out on my pillow, and her mesmerizing eyes are heavy-lidded with desire. I could come right now just from how she looks at me.

“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur, tracing the curve of her cheek with the tip of my finger.

She tugs me toward her for another searing kiss. “Show me,” she whispers against my mouth before lightly biting my lower lip.

My dick begs me to hurry up, but I take my time exploring her, relishing every gasp and sigh. As much as I’m dying to fill her up with my cock, I don’t want to take this moment that I have with her for granted. I slow us down, rubbing my body along hers while lightly skimming my fingertips across her smooth skin. I want to see how wet I can get her, so I can drink down every drop of her arousal, knowing her pussy will taste so sweet.

She writhes against me, her back arching off the bed and pressing her heavy tits farther into my mouth. Her blunt nails rake across my scalp while she draws me closer, enjoying the way I lick and suckle her hardened nipples.

“Please, Dylan,” she whines, her voice sounding needy and desperate. Then I feel her small palms subtly press on my shoulders, and I know exactly what she wants from me.

“Want me to eat your pussy, baby? Is that it?” The question is rhetorical, but I want her to respond anyway. She lifts her head from the pillow to watch me as I kiss my way down her body, but she’s yet to give me the words I want to hear. “Say it, baby. Tell me what you want.”