Page 32 of Under the Mistletoe

I had to have her.

“I’m not wasting another second.”

She was still recovering from her orgasm when I stood and quickly removed my jeans. I turned towards her, and just as I was about to settle on top of her, she placed the palms of her hands on my chest and coaxed me to lay back on the mattress.

I wanted to be in control—I wanted to show her exactly what she was doing to me, but I did as she requested and laid back. Her eyes met mine as she sat up on the bed and straddled me with her knees at my sides. I reached for her hips, lifting her as I settled her on top of me.

She raked her warm, wet center across my throbbing erection as she leaned forward and kissed me hungrily. I loved the feeling of her mouth on mine, but I wanted to be inside her. Hell, I thought I’d lose my mind if I had to wait another second.

Feeling the same need burning inside of her, she raised up and asked, “Do you have a condom?”

“Side table. Bottom drawer.” Beck reached into the drawer and handed me the small square package, and as soon as I slid it on, she was back on top of me. While she leaned over me, the heat of our breaths mingled between us until the anticipation became too much. Her hand lowered between our bodies as she slowly stroked me.

Inching herself down over my cock, a fevered hiss slipped through her lips as she took me deep inside.Fuck. She felt so fucking tight, so warm and wet, and I wanted to savor every second, feel every sensation, but the building need became too much. I was doing my best to keep it together.

Her pace quickened, and even though it felt incredible, I needed more. Unable to control myself, I brought my hands up to her hips, guiding her back and forth. Her nails dug into my chest as her hips bucked against mine, meeting every thrust with more force, more intensity. “That’s it, baby. Don’t stop.”

“Oh my God, Thomas!” she said, and I could feel her muscles contracting all around me as my body became tense while I struggled to hold back my own release.

“Damn. I’ll never get enough of you.” Her hips rocked against mine, faster and faster in a feverish rhythm, until, finally, she let out a tortured groan. With one last deep thrust, her body became tense, and her breath stilled as her head fell back. She clamped down around me, making it impossible to hold back as I came deep inside her. “Fuck.”

I held on to her hips, holding her in place as I caught my breath. Her body trembled above me, still shuddering from her release. She lowered herself onto my chest and lay with her heart next to mine, neither of us moving as our breaths started to slow.

I ran my fingers through her hair as I whispered, “I meant what I said... I’ll never get enough of you. Not if I have you every minute of every day. It’ll never be enough.”

Beck

“Ava,” I called from the kitchen. “Come on! We need to go!”

I slipped my tumbler of coffee into my bag and fumbled for my keys. Our mornings were always a scramble, but this one felt especially chaotic. When I didn’t hear her coming down the hall, I sighed and went to find her. “Ava, what are you doing?”

When I got to her bedroom, I found her sitting on the floor, stuffing her toys into her backpack. Her brows were furrowed as she tried to decide between her stuffed giraffe and the battered plastic dinosaur, and it was like a losing battle. “Ava.”

“I’m coming.”

“You can’t take them all.”

“But Momma...” She looked up at me with those big, brown eyes and pouted. “I need them.”

“You already have plenty,” I said, crouching down beside her. “And you have tons of toys at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.”

“But not these.”

“Okay, then, pick one more and let’s go.”

She clutched her giraffe to her chest. “But they will miss me.”

“Yes, I’m sure they will, but they’ll be okay for one day.” I bit back my smile and tried to stay firm as I told her, “Besides, youwon’t have time for all these toys. You’ll be busy playing with Grandma.”

Her little face scrunched up as she thought about it.

Then, reluctantly, she started putting some of the toys back in her toy box. “Okay. I’m ready.”

“Great, now let’s grab your coat and get in the car.”

Ava zipped up her backpack and dragged it behind her as we rushed down the hall to the kitchen. I helped her put on her coat, and after I grabbed my bag, we rushed out the door. I put Ava in her car seat, and as I closed her door, I found myself glancing over at Thomas’s house.

My mind immediately drifted to the night we’d shared together. My cheeks warmed at the memory of his touch and how he kissed me like he had all the time in the world. He was rough and tender all at once.