Page 33 of Flown in for Christmas

“Of course,” she says, her face falling. “Sorry, I just…want to help is all.”

I close the space between us, my hands resting on her waist. Joy’s eyes peer upward, heavy lashes batting at my heartstrings. “Trust me, you already are,” I say softly, leaning in. She lifts up on the tips of her toes, her arms circling my neck, bringing me in and eagerly meeting me in the middle. And her lips…

Fuck, I missed these lips.

I bend down to hoist her up by her lush ass, placing her on the counter and positioning myself between her legs—never once breaking the searing bite of our kiss. She smiles against my lips and I growl low in return.

Joy slides her hands down my chest before pulling away. But I’m not ready to stop. I kiss along her jaw toward that little spot below her ear that made her whimper—

“Nick?”

I kiss her neck. “Hm?”

“Should we…”

“Anything you want,” I groan, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

“…talk about last night?” she finishes, and I pause.

I straighten until our gazes meet. “What about last night?” My heart is in my throat waiting for her response. Does she regret agreeing to stay? Did I cross a line I didn’t know of when I sunk my cock into her tight, hot pussy?Is it me?

Her cheeks are bright pink and she bites her kiss-swollen lower lip. “I thought maybe we should, um, talk and, you know, make sure we’re on the same page before we do…anything else.”

Talk? Relief washes over me.

“You don’t regret it,” I say aloud without meaning to.

Her brow lifts in surprise. “No, no.” She smooths a hand over my bicep. “I don’t regret anything that’s happened between us. I just want to make sure we’re on the same page is all.”

I grin, liking where this is going. “And what page is that?” I bite back the urge to call her angel and further give away where I stand. She’s smart, though. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out I’m falling for her faster than I thought possible.

She shrugs, coyly toying with the bottom hem of my T-shirt.

I chuckle. “I like you, too.”

Her beaming smile before her lips return to mine is enough to cure any doubt I had a moment ago. We make out like a couple of teenagers until she stops me as I start to play with the waistband ofher leggings. Her cool fingers wrap around my wrist and she breaks the kiss. “We can’t.”

At my exaggerated pout, she says, “I was sent up here to fetch you for dinner, notbeyour dinner.”

I bark out a laugh. “And what if I’d rather have you?” I kiss her softly, tasting her with a slow glide of my tongue over hers. “I’d choose you over any meal, angel.”

She smiles, her cheeks flush a light shade of pink as she playfully pushes me away to slide off the counter. I grunt disapprovingly and she laughs, taking my hand. “We can play pretend later,fiancé.”

Joy tugs me along and I follow her willingly, a scowl on my face.

I’m not pretending anymore.

And it’s about time she sees that.

Sixteen.

Joy

Everyone has gone tobed when I tiptoe into the kitchen, cell phone in hand. The lights are dimmed, giving the room a warm, homey glow. My hair is still damp and my feet are chilly against the cool hardwoods. Nick is upstairs taking a shower while I’ve…snuck away. I mean, it’s not really ‘sneaking’ anywhere when I was told to make myself at home, right?

Coming downstairs for a late-night treat to soothe my anxiety and call my dad are two things I would do freely in my own home. That’s what I’ve decided to tell myself, at least.

After an awkward, and rather silent dinner, Nick retreated to his room early. I stayed to help clean up before following him upstairs. He’s been quietly moping over his actions. I get the sense he’sdisappointed in himself. Even without his cousin and ex at the dinner table, he couldn’t seem to get out of his head.

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