Page 131 of The Crush of Christmas Past
Isla
“Hello,perverts.”
I sweep inside the familiar gallery room in the old wing of Starlight Summit’s venue, throwing a wink toward the wall of oil-painted onlookers. Their judgmental eyes stare back at me like they remember last year’s encounter.
I certainly do.
Vividly.
Theo shuts the door behind us. “They’re technically innocent unless we force them to partake in depravity.”
Arching a brow, I walk backward to the center of the room. “Unlessor until?”
“Get your mind out of the gutter. I brought you to this conveniently isolated, dimly lit corner of town history for one reason only.” Laughing under his breath, he extends a hand. “A sweet, chaste dance.”
“Is that so?” I set my clutch on a nearby shelf and slide into his waiting arms without hesitation.
A year into our relationship, and gravity still hasn’t loosened its grip.
He hugs me tightly against him, chin coming to rest on top of my head as my cheek seeks out the steady rhythm of his pulse.
His heart is my home.
Always has been. Always will be.
Too high on each other to need any music, we sway in the hush of dust and decay while snowflakes blow lazily past the tall, frost-rimmed windows.
He dips his head to whisper in my ear. “Have I told you how stunning you look yet?” His breath is cool mint, but it scorches my skin.
“Only about a hundred times.” I put on a fake sigh. “Guess I’ll allow a few more.”
“This dress is…” His voice lowers, turning gravelly. He leans back just far enough to rake his gaze down my body. One hand skims the flare of my hip. The other trails lower in a possessive stroke. “An act of war. A full-body siege.”
Sienna’s family is back with their annual Christmas Eve gala. No fancy weddings on the horizon this year, but the fashion stakes remain high. I’m wrapped in a floor-length champagne gown that shimmers like sunshine on snow. Theo is a tux-clad fantasy come to life.
“Notice I opted for fewer strings this year?” I roll my hips teasingly.
“Oh, I noticed.” He smirks, palming my ass. “And I plan to exploit every inch of that easy access later tonight.”
“Later?Ugh.” I pout, then twist in his arms. My back presses flush to his front, and I grind against him in a shameless arc.
I bite back a moan when his hand splays across my stomach, then slides higher to cup my breast and tease my nipple. As soon as his mouth connects with my neck, it takes all of two seconds for his tongue and teeth to liquify my bones.
Theo isn’t unaffected, either. His erection presses deeper with every rock of our bodies.
“I brought you here for an innocent dance,” he murmurs against my throat, “but now all I can think about are those sweet cries you made while straddling my face last year.”
“I swore off scandalizing the artwork.” After a beat, I add, “In fact, I swore off Starlight Summit at Christmas.”
“Yeah, well…” Theo plants a kiss on my temple. “I swore off a lot of things. Like happiness. But look at me now.” His heart pounds into my spine. “I know we weren’t supposed to, but I made a wish last year.”
I turn my head to smile up at him. “Me too.”
“What did you wish for?”
“Forever.”
His eyes warm. “Same. My gift this year…” Lungs filling with air, he holds his breath for a long moment before speaking. “The theme is also…” He clears his throat. “Permanence.”
