Page 59 of Mistletoe

“Maybe it’s the cold that’s helping you remember.”

Emma set her boots outside the tent. Now for her other damp layers. She had on a thick wool dress over a thick petticoat and wool leggings underneath. Her fingers fumbled at the front buttons.

“Let me,” Hal said, kneeling in front of her. His large fingers were marginally more successful at undoing the buttons at her throat. He spread the fabric, exposing the base of her throat.

He leaned in, pressing his nose to her skin and inhaled. “May I?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

He licked and kissed, working his way up to her throat and along her jaw. The tusks dragged along, creating the best kind of friction. The final button undone, he pushed the shirt open, revealing the chemise underneath.

“I think my skirt is wet, too,” Emma said. Rising to her knees, she twisted until he could reach the ties.

The outer layer came off, followed by the petticoat and chemise.

“How many layers do you have?” he asked, sounding amused.

“One more.” She wiggled out of the petticoat and chemise, revealing the final layer of wool leggings and a soft undershirt.

“I’m filing a formal complaint. This is inhumane.”

She laughed. “The outer layer gets wet but I stay dry.”

“No, you’re mistaken.” He ran his fingers around the waistband of the leggings. “This is soaking wet. They have to come off.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, pushing his hand away to roll down the leggings herself.

As she shed the last of her clothes, Emma burned with desire. Any last-minute doubts about her figure, those rude strands of gray hair, or the blemishes on her skin were erased by the adoration in his expression.

He groaned at the sight of her. “So beautiful.”

He pushed her down to their makeshift nest, arms caging her in.

Emma ran her hands over his shoulders, frustrated by the fabric between them. “I want to see you, Hal.”

He rolled to the side and sat upright. His posture had changed, now stiff and awkward. “You’ve seen me.”

Emma sat up. “True. There’s nothing you can show me tonight that I didn’t see a few weeks ago, but maybe you noticed that I kept averting my eyes.”

“You were very awkward about it.” Humor crept into his tone.

“I’d like to savor it.” She reached out, twisting her fingers into the cloth of his shirt. “Let me savor you.”

“Am I a snack?” Now he smiled.

She was at a loss. “Are you hungry? I’m sorry, I don’t have anything in the barn but feed for animals. The horses have oats, if you’re desperate.” Although she wouldn’t recommend chewing on plain, dry oats.

“On Earth, a long, long time ago, it meant you found someone tasty.” He lifted her hand, turning it over to expose her wrist, and kissed the flesh there. “Someone so delicious that you want to sink your teeth into and eat them up.”

He kissed the spot above her wrist. “Someone to work up an appetite.”

Another kiss, then a lick, climbing to the crease of her elbow.

Emma giggled at the sensation, suddenly finding herself ticklish. “I didn’t realize things were so bad on Earth that you had to resort to cannibalism.”

He dropped her arm. “You did not make a joke about my deep-seated trauma.”

She lifted a shoulder in a shrug, putting on an unconcerned act. “Seems I did,sweet pea.”

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