I feel him lift me up into his arms, carrying me to the bedroom. I let his hands slip under my shirt as he places me down, feeling my bare skin, the peaks of my nipples, the softness of my breasts. I shiver as he pulls my shirt off. My hands don’t hesitate when I find his belt and undo his pants. Soon we’re naked before each other.

His lips capture mine before he lifts me up and onto the bed, kissing his way down to my waist, and then my inner thighs. I throw my head back on the soft comforter as his tongue finds my wet folds, landing on my clit.

“Yes,” I moan out into the silent room, my fingers tangling in his hair. “Don’t stop.”

And he doesn’t. Two orgasms later, I am almost blind with pleasure, sending lightning bolts through my mind in the most delicious way. I feel him kiss me again, and then I feel his sheathed cock slide into me.

The last few times felt different. This feels very much like he’s making love to me. I can’t open my eyes, afraid I might be wrong, and all too willing to let myself go in the feelings of this moment.

But after, as I stare up at the ceiling, my heart still racing from what just happened, one thought keeps running through my mind.

What happens now?

Chapter twenty-one

Eric

The first thing Ifeel when I wake up is the warmth of Jessica nestled against me. Her body is soft, her head resting on my chest, and for a moment, I just lie there, letting it sink in. Lettinghersink in. We’re cuddled up against each other. The early morning light filtering through the window, casting a soft glow across her face. Everything about this feels right—her warmth, her presence. It’s quiet. Peaceful.

It hits me all over again: last night wasn’t just a dream.

I run my fingers gently through her hair, and she stirs in my arms, her eyelids fluttering as she starts to wake. Her body shifts slightly against mine, and I can’t help the smile that creeps up on my face. For the first time in a long time, I feel… grounded. Not lost. Not running. Just here, in this moment, with her.

She lets out a soft sigh, her eyes finally opening, and when she looks up at me, there’s a quiet smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Morning,” she whispers, her voice still husky with sleep.

“Morning,” I murmur back, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “And Merry Christmas! Sleep well?”

Her smile grows a little wider, and she stretches lazily in my arms before nodding. “Yeah… better than I have in a long time.”

There’s something about the way she says it—like she means more than just sleep—and it makes my chest tighten in a good way. Last night was unexpected, but I can’t bring myself to question even a second of it. Not with the way she’s looking at me right now, like she’s just as lost in this feeling as I am.

There’s no rush. It feels nice. No need to hurry off to practice or answer a million press questions. It’s just Christmas morning, and for now, it’s just us.

But eventually, reality starts to creep in. The Stantons will be here soon, and we should probably look a little morepresentable.

Jessica sits up, pulling the covers around her shoulders as she glances at the clock on the nightstand. “We should probably get up,” she says, even though I can tell she’s reluctant to leave the warmth of the bed. “Kathy and Laura will be here any minute!”

I groan dramatically, but I know she’s right. “Yeah, yeah,” I say, throwing the blankets off and getting to my feet. “We’ll make a Christmas breakfast. Coffee too.”

She laughs softly as I stretch, and then she follows suit, wrapping a robe around herself as she pads into the bathroom to shower. I watch her for a second, just taking in the sight of her, before I shake myself out of it and join her in the shower.

The moment she notices my hard member, ready for her attention, her eyes shoot me a sultry look that can only mean one thing. I take my time soaping up her body and rinsing her off, my fingers finding their way to her pussy over and over again, edging her just enough and then pulling back. She swats me, finally, and gives me a demanding kiss, her hips pressed into me, my cock throbbing for her.

I pin her arms over her head and use the tip of my length to tease her clit. The warm water hits my back that is acting like a shield. I drop my hand to her wet folds again and this time, I don’t stop until she’s panting and gasping, demanding my cock.

I flip her around, arms and legs spread, hands outstretched on the tile of the shower. She arches her back for me and I slide into her warmth. It feels like coming home. It makes me feel like all is right in the world again.

Thirty minutes later, we are able to walk into the kitchen, sexually satisfied and ready for a wonderful holiday with friends.

We move around the kitchen together like it’s something we’ve done a hundred times before—she sets up the coffee, I crack eggs into a bowl, and before long, the smell of breakfast fills the air. There’s something easy and comfortable about it, like we’ve found our rhythm without even trying.

As the coffee starts to brew, I turn to her, unable to resist the pull to her. I step closer, sliding my hands around her waist, and she tilts her head up to meet my gaze. “What?” she asks with a smile, but there’s a knowing glint in her eyes.

I don’t say anything, just lean down and press my lips to hers, slow and soft. She melts into me instantly, her hands coming up to rest on my chest as she kisses me back. It’s lazy, unhurried, but there’s a spark underneath it that reminds me of everything that happened last night. Of everything that’s still happening between us.

When we finally pull away, I rest my forehead against hers, smiling. “Just wanted to do that,” I say, my voice low.

Jessica laughs softly, her fingers brushing against my jaw. “You’ll never hear me complain about that.”