Page 161 of The Holiday Clause
“Maybe I should stay back with everyone else at the wharf.”
Disappointment crashed through his good mood like a rogue wave. “Why?”
Fidgeting, she avoided his eyes. “I don’t know. People will talk. They’ll wonder why I’m on the boat with you.”
“You’re not a kid anymore, Wren. We aren’t doing anything wrong.”
“I know. I just can’t escape this feeling like something bad might happen if I let too many outsiders in.”
That fear came from years of protecting her father. For too long, she’d been forced to be the adult, shielding him from scrutiny to keep their family intact and avoid the foster care system that threatened to tear them apart.
Greyson closed the distance and hugged her tight, his arms wrapping around her like a fortress. “Hey.” He pressed a kiss to her head. “What did I tell you? I’ll always protect you. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
She sighed against his chest. “Even from Lady Lovewatch? Do you know she wrote about me last week? I despise being the center of town gossip.”
“I don’t know why you read that drivel. Lady Lovewatch is a lonely spinster with nothing better to do.”
“If she even is a lady. I always thought that pseudonym served as a cover. She’s probably some big burly dude hiding in a shed, eating cheese puffs and extracting his revenge for all the parties he didn’t get invited to.”
“Whoever it is, they’re no concern of ours. Besides, we’ve got nothing to hide.”
Going to check on the snow pants, she pulled them out of the dryer, the fabric warm and charged with crackling static electricity. He didn’t understand her sudden tension.
“Why are you afraid of what people might think?”
She shook out the pants and shrugged. “I just don’t want anything to ruin what we have.”
He took her arm and pulled her close, the warmth from the dryer still clinging to her skin as he brushed a soft kiss on her lips. “As long as we’re open and honest with each other, nothing can break us. Understand?”
Nodding, she softened under his touch. “Yes.”
“Good. Now, kiss me like you mean it.” She dropped the ski pants, and looped her arms around his neck as he lifted her to sit on the dryer. The warm metal buzzed beneath her as the residual heat from the cycle seeped through her jeans.
The kiss went from slow and drugging to ravenous in two seconds flat.
Hungry gasps and greedy hands undid all the layers they spent the last twenty minutes putting on. The scent of fabric softener and detergent surrounded them as she playfully licked at his mouth for more.
He unbuckled his belt with practiced efficiency. “Such a tease.” Scooting her closer to the edge, he wedged her panties aside and aligned himself. The moment he pulled her onto him, penetrating her deeply, she gasped. “Feel that?” he whispered against her ear, his breath hot against her neck.
“Mm-hmm.”
He rotated his hips, the movement sending sparks up his spine. He wanted to show her all the amazing things her body could experience. Gently, he traced his fingertips up her thigh. “Still sore?”
“A little, but it’s okay.” Her muscles had yet to recover from last night, and he’d had her more times than he could count.
“We’ll take it slow.” Gripping her ass, he pulled her down on his hard length with each languid thrust.
She bit his ear. “What if I want it hard and fast?”
His cock pulsed inside of her and he growled. “Ask and you shall receive.” Drawing back, he thrust deep.
The dryer banged into the wall, and the washer shook as spare change and laundry cups fell to the floor with metallic clatters. The machine’s vibration amplified every thrust, creating a rhythm that matched their desperate need. Angling back against a folded pile of towels, she braced her hands against the shelves and walls as he fucked her into the laundry closet. Fast and dirty, exactly as she requested.
Her nails scratched down his arms and his breath quickened. Every muscle in his body twitched and flexed in euphoric bliss. The small space trapped their sounds—her gasps, his groans, the rhythmic banging of the machines against the wall. Their eyes met the moment he lost control, a thousand treasured secretspassing between them as they voraciously licked and bit at each other, needing to get as close as possible.
His release rushed out of him and he pumped his hips hard as he grasped her breasts. He couldn’t get enough of her mouth. Starved for every inch of her, he panted, dragging his hand down to her ass as he squeezed hard enough to leave a mark. She was an incredibly quick learner and he was a very happy teacher.
He grunted with one more flex of his hips then slowly pulled away, breaking the kiss as they both panted. Her hair was a mess, and her cheeks were flushed. A quarter stuck to her arm, and the laundry detergent had spilled across the floor in a blue puddle.
