Page 123 of Holiday Friend Zones
“Yes—yes, right there.”Her voice trembles, rising with every movement, every shift of my hips.“Don’t stop.Don’t you dare stop.”Her hands clutch at me—shoulders, back, arms—like she can’t decide which part of me to hang on to, like she needs all of me at once.
She screams out my name, her pussy clenches around me, and that’s my undoing.Pleasure rips through me as she milks me for every last drop.I come to a halt still inside her and brace myself on my forearms so I don’t crush her.Both of us are breathing like we just ran a marathon in the middle of a blizzard.Our chests rise and fall together until the rhythm evens out.Reluctantly, I ease out, tie off the condom, and toss it aside to deal with later.
Turning back, I pull her against me, my arm draping over her waist.She’s soft, warm, and still trembling beneath my touch.God, I’ve never had sex like that before.Raw.Intense.Consuming.With anyone else, it’s always been… fine.Good, even.But with Lauren, it’s like every nerve ending in my body is tuned to hers.And now my brain won’t shut up.Friends don’t do this.Friends don’t make each other come apart like this.So what the hell happens now?Panic wins.I release her, roll away, and stand, dragging my sweatpants back on.
Her sleepy voice cuts through the silence.“Where are you going?”
I freeze, guilt slamming into me.She’s propped up on her elbows, blonde hair tumbling over her bare shoulders like something out of a dream.
“Back to… ” I scratch the back of my neck.“Well, the couch.Since the cot is broken.”
Her lips quirk.“The bed is big enough for both of us.”
“Are you sure?I mean… our friendship.Because of the?—”
“Sex,” she says bluntly, one brow arched.
“Yeah.”
Her eyes soften, and she shrugs, like it’s the simplest thing in the world.“You told me to shut it off, so I did.You should do the same.In fact…” A smile curves her lips, wicked and sweet.“I’d like to do it again in the morning.”
Heat shoots straight through me.I grin before I can stop myself.“I did say that.Let me just get rid of this.”When I return, I bring a warm washcloth with me to clean her up.She lifts the corner of the blanket, inviting me in.I press a knee into the mattress.
“No clothes allowed in bed,” she teases.
I laugh low.“I’m okay with that rule.”She watches as I strip out of my sweats and slide under the covers.The sheets are still hot from where our bodies tangled minutes ago.
She curls into me instantly, her head tucked under my chin.I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, fingers lingering against her temple.“Night, Lauren.”
Her voice is drowsy, content.“Good night, Eli.”
Outside, the storm howls against the cabin walls, but inside, she’s wrapped around me like I’m the only man in the world.I know there’s no going back.Not from this.Not from her.
* * *
The next morning,leaving her damn near breaks me.Waking up to Lauren’s arms wrapped around me is the best thing in the world.Even better than chocolate pudding.I’ve imagined what it would be like to kiss Lauren, and the real thing is infinitely better.Her lips are soft and sensual.But being with her afterward really did me in.Holding her in my arms.Keeping her safe.Keeping her warm.Now I just have to figure out what’s happening between us.Because the connection’s always been there.This just took it to all new heights.I want her in my bed every night, to wake up with her every morning.
As she lays curled in the blankets, I press my lips to her cheek.“I have to get ready for work, but I’ll see you tonight.There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
She moans and tilts her head, pressing her lips to mine.“Okay.”
At the festival grounds, I set a box of pamphlets on my booth table, pretending I’m not still thinking about her soft breaths against my chest.I’m kicking myself for not mentioning the job offer I received.It slipped my mind in between frozen pipes, Christmas decorations, and Lauren moving in.But tonight—I’ll tell her tonight.
A few stands down, Mrs.Hayes drops a box on the table with a thud.“Good morning.Mrs.Hayes, how are you?”
“Terrible,” she huffs.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Her frown deepens, though her tone softens.“Oh, Eli, you don’t deserve my wrath.My morning was going fine until Lauren told me she had to move my booth.Again.Now I’m shoved in a corner with no foot traffic.I should bring this up to Brie.She wouldn't stand for it.”
Shit.I’m assuming Lauren already discussed this with Brie, but if not, I don’t want her getting in trouble either.“How about this: since neither of us is set up yet, we’ll swap.It’s not your old spot, but it’s better than in the corner.I bet you’ll get more traffic here.”
Her eyes widen.“Are you sure?”
“Positive.I’m just handing out pamphlets for the sleigh ride.If people want me, they’ll find me.”
Her expression softens into a rare smile.“Oh, Eli, you’re the best.Thank you.”
