Page 26 of A Merry Misfit Christmas

The afternoon passes quickly and soon I’m stifling a yawn, leaning my head on Kodiak’s shoulder. In front of us, the fire flickers, steadily providing heat that warms the entire floor.

“Let’s go back to the room,” he suggests, and I rise from the couch with him, curling my fingers around his as he leads me down the hall.

Outside, I lean against the wall as he turns his key in the lock, and the door swings open. “It’s hard to believe we’ve only known each other a few days.”

He turns to me, raking his gaze over my body from my toes up to my eyes. The hunger in them causes my stomach to flutter. Heat blooms between my thighs and I feel my nipples harden with desire.

Kodiak sniffs and his upper lip lifts in a snarl. “I love the smell of your arousal.”

I blink, surprised. “You can smell that?” I ask, shyness overcoming me that how I’m feeling isn’t a secret to him.

His lips twitch as he cages me in, his big body a solid wall of muscle I long to trace with my fingertips. I want to feel his body heat pressing to mine. I need to memorize every contour of his hard boy and boy is hehard. I can feel the bulge pressing into my lower belly and I squirm, wanting more contact, less clothing. My arms lift and I brush my hands up to his biceps. His strength emanates from him, making me feel protected and safe.

“Mate,” he growls low.“Mine.”

Oh, I must be tapping into his bear. His voice sounds far deeper and grittier.

“Say it,” he orders.

“Yours,” I comply without hesitation. And it’s so very true. I’ve never wanted anyone like I do with this wild, burly man.

His pupils dilate as the words leave my lips. He’s staring at them, and it’s taking too long for him to claim my mouth. Now that I think about it, it’s time he claims me ineveryway.

“Kiss me, Kodiak.”

Need flashes in his eyes. His head lowers.

“My bear,” I whisper just as his lips touch mine.

That must unleash something primal in him because Kodiak picks me up, wraps my legs around his waist, and enters the room, kicking the door shut behind us with his boot. He doesn’t waste time but goes straight to his bed where he lays me back against the dark comforter.

His eyes darken as his gaze sweeps over me. “Need to taste you.”

Oh. Yes! I’m all for that if he wants to do this first before we have sex. I’m in for every position and kinky idea he has because he makes me feel things I’ve never felt, and I don’t want to hold back.

“Callie?”

I nod in reply, hardly able to keep the excitement from my voice as I answer. I’ve not had a lot of experience with intimacy and I’m guessing he senses that because my handsome protector is taking things slow. Our eyes stay locked as he reaches for the button on my jeans, unsnapping it with deft fingers and then tugging the zipper down. I hold my breath as he slips the denim over my hips and down my legs, taking a moment to stare into my eyes.

“I want this,” I assure him. “Please.”

A smirk rides his features before his gaze drops to my calves, glides over every inch as he makes his way up my thighs, and finally stops as he focuses on the apex, taking a ragged breath. His fingertips brush across my skin and I’m happy I chose black silky underwear and not something less sexy.

As he pulls my panties down, exposing my pussy, I can hardly breathe. I’m trembling as he removes them, eager for more as Kodiak tugs my bottom toward the edge of the mattress.

“Open for me, baby.”

I do.

“Wider.”

God, that guttural tone as he orders what he wants me to do is addicting. Kodiak pauses to remove his boots, pants, flannel, and shirt. He’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen. Powerfully built, I can’t help but salivate as I see his muscles ripple with every movement and the dark hair on his chest. His shoulders seem even broader when he’s undressed. He towers over the bed as I watch him, a grin twitching his lips. He knows I like what I see.

My gaze finds the tattoo on his chest. A bear paw in dark ink forever marking his left pectoral muscle. I wonder if that’s a shifter thing or he got it because of another reason.

He’s moving toward me before I think to ask. His palms circle my hips as he leans in, resting between my thighs as he drops to his knees. I’m thinking he’s going to take forever to finally bring his mouth to my center, but my bear surprises me.

Kodiak drops his head, inhales, and dives in.

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