Page 79 of Jam and Jingle Bells
His shoulders slumped and he nodded, running a hand down his face. “More than okay. Just tell me if I’m holding you too tightly. The fact you’re still standing here is more than I expected. The fact that you want to hold me is more than my heart could hope for.”
His hand caressed my face for a moment and then I pulled the blankets back and he climbed in, patting the bed for me to join him. I clicked the light off and the streetlight below my bedroom illuminated my room enough to see his face. My hand caressed his cheek tenderly as he rested on the pillow. His eyes were half-open, the lids heavy and his breathing even. “Sleep, Ellis. You don’t have to carry this burden alone anymore,” I whispered. “That’s why I’m here now.”
A smile tipped his lips and his eyes closed the rest of the way. That was enough for my heart to settle again in my chest.
I crawled back into bed chilled nearly to the bone. The clock read two-thirty a.m. and I pulled the blanket over me carefully so I didn't wake my bedmate.
"Why are you freezing?" he asked. His unexpected voice filled the room and I jumped, a hand to my heart.
"Sorry to wake you," I whispered, settling in. "I got up to go to the bathroom and heard a noise."
He sat up instantly, all the sleep gone from his eyes. "Addie, Gabe told you to call them!"
I grabbed his arm before he could get up. "I did. it was just a bunch of kids out throwing snowballs at the buildings. By the time I finished talking to him I was freezing.” I sighed. "And now I can’t remember if I shut off all the lights."
He lowered his head and kissed my lips right before he scrambled over me. "I'll go check. Stay here."
I didn't mind staying in a warm bed. I snuggled in closer to his side until I had taken it over completely. He slipped back into bed with me and yelped from the cold sheets.
"I know what I'm getting you for Christmas," he said, shivering. "Flannel sheets."
I giggled and poked his side. "If you’d put some meat on these bones you wouldn’t get cold in the winter."
"Old wives’ tale, baby. Muscle produces more heat."
I snuggled down into the bed and moaned. "I don't know, I'm pretty warm and I have a little extra padding, that’s all I’m saying."
"You're warm because you stole my spot!" he teased, tickling my ribs, which had me wiggling under the covers.
His hands stopped and stayed on my side. "You are warm. Maybe I'll just let you warm me up."
I saw his move instantly but there was nothing I could do to block it. I was squealing as he wrapped himself around me, his feet cold when they collided with my legs. I swatted at him, but he was stronger than me and could hold my arms above my head with just one hand. He was on top of me and he slid his knee between my thighs to brace himself, then lowered his lips to kiss from my collarbone to my chin and then to my lips. His greedy and demanding tongue slipped through the opening mine gave it and danced around with mine until we were both mewling and writhing. His lips left mine and I cried out, still unable to move my hands to touch and explore him.
His lips moved down my neck and across both clavicles like butterfly kisses in the night. His warm, wet tongue slid down from the hollow of my throat to delve into my cleavage. Taking advantage of his distraction with my breasts, I wrenched my hands free and slid them right into his hair. I tugged him upward to my lips again then sucked, nipped, kissed, and licked his lips until I was drowning in need and desire like I never had before.
He grasped my face and held me still, both of us panting as we jockeyed to get closer to the other. "I'm desperate for you, Addie," he whispered, nipping my jaw with his teeth. "I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. You’re mine, right?” he asked, surprising me with his fever and demanding seriousness.
“I’m yours,” I promised, sliding my hands up his cheeks to hold him the way he held me. “All of you. All the parts that you love about yourself and all the parts you hate are mine now. I’ve got you, forever.”
His lips attacked mine as he moanedyesover and over into my mouth. I stroked him through his thin yoga pants, reveling in the thick outline that greeted me. He grasped my hand and held it still, my fist still gripping him. “If you want me to stop, tell me now. I’m already a goner. I don’t think I can stop on my own."
"Don't think then," I whispered, flipping him onto his back and straddling him. "Just feel, Ellis."
I brought the tank top up over my head and his sharp intake of breath filled me the moment my breasts fell free.
"You're incredible," he sighed. His gaze never left mine when he slid his hand behind my neck to bring me down for a kiss. When our lips met, they were a frantic melding of skin, but more so of hearts. His hand steadily and rhythmically caressed my breast until the goosebumps made me shiver.
"I want this to last all night long," he begged. His hips bucked under me, his desire strong and overpowering. He stripped his shirt off and I ran my finger over the black stitches still in his shoulder.
"I don't want to hurt you."
He grasped my hand and held it in place before he thrust upward to press his hardness into my flesh. "Does that feel like I'm hurting?" he hissed, his eyes clouded with passion and desire for me. That was the part that made my heart hammer in my chest. He was looking at me like he could get lost in me for the rest of his life.
I sat up on his waist and rocked, my head thrown back in pleasure. "No, unless that hurts," I teased, stroking him until he groaned loudly into the quiet room. I wickedly worked myself out of my sleep shorts and his eyes never missed a moment of it. His eagerness and desire to be one with me was evident in every twitch of his body.
"Come here, baby,” he encouraged, lifting my bottom until I was at his side. He rid himself of his pants and his aching desire for me was evident instantly.
"Ellis, I never saw you coming," I whispered when I lowered my lips to take a tour of him. I wanted to know the way he felt under me, all of him, everywhere. I wanted to recognize his love for me by touch for the rest of my life.
