Page 49 of Holly Ever After

“I will.”

He glares at Adam one last time, a clear warning, before turning and walking away, disappearing back into the warmth of the bar.

I release a long-held breath and turn toward Adam, who looks pitiable with his bloodied face.

“Let me see,” I say softly. He winces as I gently remove his hands from his nose, inspecting the damage. “This is your own fault.”

He groans. “You’re seeing someone?”

I shake my head. “No. It’s Sean. You’ve met…lots of times.”

I know Adam knows who he is. His ego just won’t let him admit it.

“So this is what you were doing every time you came home?”

Three months ago, the accusation would have broken my heart. Tonight, it’s a mild pinch.

“What? All three times I came home over the years?”

I wait for him to realize how ridiculous it sounds, but of course he doesn’t admit to that either.

“We need to talk.”

I nod, weary but resolved. “I know. Let's go.”

Twenty

Two hours, a tough but overdue conversation, and a headache later, Adam is finally gone. We talked, we argued, I made him shut up until he listened, and we cried. I did love him once. I loved the idea of the life we could create. But all of it is in my rearview. And it dawned on me as he sat across from me at the breakfast counter—the counter Sean installed—I didn’t even hate him anymore. I felt…nothing. It was a strange sense of relief to lay it all out and salvage what we could… just separately.

I blow out a breath as I stare at myself in the mirror, Mrs. Claus outfit still intact, if not for some new wrinkles around the skirt from where Sean had bundled it in his fists.

I close my eyes, goosebumps erupting across my flesh as the memory of our kiss floods back. And then, his face when I told him to go. I hate how we left things.

We could just forget it, couldn't we? Pretend the momentary lapse in judgment never happened. Go back to the way things were. But we've crossed a line, and lines once crossed can't always be retraced. And it's not as if I'm only here in Pine Falls for the holidays; I'm here to stay.

Making my decision, I exhale deeply and snatch up my car keys. I open the door, gasping when I find Sean already standing there. His hands grip the sides of the doorway, and he's still wearing that ridiculous Santa suit. The scene is almost comical, and I'd laugh if it weren't for the intensity in his eyes. It's an electrifying silent moment between us.

Finally, summoning the courage, I manage to say in a voice far breathier than I would like, “He's gone.”

A chill shimmies down my spine. I've willingly, hopelessly, stepped into his trap. There's heat in his eyes, but mixed with it is a layer of anger, a cocktail that thrills me more than it probably should.

He straightens, his jaw muscles flexing before he growls, “Fuck it. I don’t care. He could have watched.”

Taking that final, charged step toward me, he wraps his large hand gently but firmly around my throat, presses me against the wall, and kisses me, shattering all illusions of lines and boundaries.

I draw in a sharp breath as his lips meet mine.

The man doesn’t just kiss me. He breathes me in, desperate as his kiss strips me bare, leaving me defenseless to everything Sean Colson.

I’m equally as hungry as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close, needing to stretch on my tiptoes even in my heels.

His tongue skims over my bottom lip before he draws it into his mouth and sucks.

The door slamming shut with his foot is all I’m aware of before he grabs my waist and hoists me up in his arms. His lips never leave mine as my back is slammed against the wall again before his tongue explores my neck. I throw my head back hardly recognizing the moan that leaves my mouth. The sound of ripping fabric is my only warning before I feel a graze of his teeth along my nipple.

“Oh God, Sean,” I cry out.

He stills, his eyes locking on mine before he smirks and rasps, “Fuck, baby. Keep saying my name like that.”

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