Page 61 of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch
“I know it’s Christmas tomorrow, and I hate to do this—but I managed to secure a camping permit at Na Pali again, earlier today.”
“You’re going to take on the waterfall one more time?”
“I feel like I need to. And you’re more than welcome to come with me…”
She shakes her head. “Of course not. You need to go on your own so you can focus. It’s so important.”
“I’ll leave first thing and be gone twenty-four hours, tops. I really don’t want to leave, not right now, but—”
“Oliver, I completely understand. You have to do this. If we go out into the wilderness alone together again, I’m sure working is the last thing you’ll do. I’ll miss you. A lot. But it’s only one day.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind that I’m leaving you alone on Christmas?”
“I won’t be alone. I have Larry and Shira.”
“And knowing Larry, she’ll make a Christmas dinner for a hundred people, but it will only be you three.”
“Exactly.” She runs her hand down his chest and toys with one of the buttons of his shirt. “I’ll survive. But…Oliver?”
“Yes?”
“If you’re leaving at dawn tomorrow, that only gives us about eight hours.”
“Eight hours for what?”
She stands on her tiptoes and kisses him deeply, then snakes her hand under his shirt and lets it run over his smooth, muscled back. The waves of desire she has been holding at bay nearly knock her off her feet, and she knows he feels it, too. “For a lot more than kissing,” she whispers.
“Let’s get out of here,” he says. He grabs tight hold of her hand. In her haste, she’s left her sandals on the beach, but she doesn’t care. She feels the cool smoothness of the sand against the soles of her feet as they run. All she wants is to get back to the villa and be with him, but as they race through the night and she sees the sparkle of the moon on the ocean, hears the sound of crashing waves, she also wants time to slow down, to stretch. She’s never felt this way before—not just filled with desire for someone, but also replete with a sense of rightness and connection.
Soon they’re stumbling up the stairs into Ivy’s apartment—and she forgets all about wanting to slow down. She tugs at Oliver’s T-shirt, pulls it over his head, and tosses it away, then does the same with her sundress. “Ivy…” he murmurs.
“No. No words,” she instructs. “We’ve waited too long for this already.”
Together, they spiral into a place where time doesn’t exist. His hands on her body, her hands on his, her legs around his waist as she tilts her body back on the bed and tells him—without words—what she wants him to do.
She runs her fingers through his hair as he kisses her, takes the condom from him when he pulls it from his wallet, puts it on him herself while she feels his body under her touch, so hot with want and desire.
He’s above her on the bed, and then she pulls him inside her, presses her hips up, against him, feels the inside of her body ripple, squeeze, hold tight.Harder, faster, she hears herself say. Or maybe she doesn’t. Maybe he simply knows what she wants and needs, because he is hers in this moment, and he knows her, mind and soul.
The pleasure is sudden, too much and just enough, coming in waves, inevitable. No more words inside her head, only the sounds their bodies and mouths make. Her eyes lock with his at the last moment. It’s perfect.
After, they breathe hard, chest to chest. Ivy knows she has never felt this way before, not with anyone.
And suddenly, words pop into Ivy’s head.
A bird may love a fish, but where would they live?
This, Ivy decides as she snuggles into Oliver’s arms, is a problem for another day. And all at once, it doesn’t really feel like a problem at all.
18
Holly
December 25
Hudson Valley, New York
Holly happily hums the tune of “Silver Bells” as she puts the finishing touches on wrapping the presents she managed to get last minute for Aiden’s family just before the shops in Krimbo closed on Christmas Eve. She has used newspaper from the bin beside the cabin’s woodstove to wrap everything, which she knows Aiden will appreciate. She finds a reusable bag for the Finger Lakes wine she bought, and then checks her watch. She feels a tingle of nerves. She’s excited to see Aiden, and is looking forward to meeting his family—but it’s also a big step. She hopes it goes well.
