Page 34 of No Limits

In recent years, Lochlyn has taught himself how to make homemade cinnamon rolls instead of the ones from a tube, so of course he insists on making those. But I like to help.

As I stand in the kitchen watching him knead the dough, I wonder if it will be like years past. When he turns to me with a smile and jerks his head to enter, I skip over to stand next to him.

He moves to stand behind me, trapping me between his arms, and immediately my body relaxes and a smile spans my face. I lean back against him and it’s just like old times.

We work with his hands over mine as we roll out the dough, sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar. At one point, he presses some sugar to my neck before licking and sucking it off, continuing his path to below my ear. A light moan eases from my throat as my head rests against his chest.

“All right, you too, get a room.” Chelsea has me snapping my head forward.

“We do. Several, in fact. It’s called our house.” Lochlyn doesn’t even turn toward Chelsea as he answers her.

“Yes, but you have company.” In the several years we’ve all been in our relationships, there’ve been a few uncomfortable situations of somebody accidentally walking in on something they shouldn’t have.

“Oh, come on, babe, don’t act like we wouldn’t do the same thing.” With his words, Wes grabs Chelsea and nibbles at her neck, causing her to burst into giggles.

Still hand over hand, Lochlyn and I roll the cinnamon buns before he cuts them and gets them into the oven.

While they cook, I brew a pot of coffee and Lochlyn pops the champagne. Mimosas are one drink I always partake in.

We settle on the couch with our beverages, and Wes takes a spot close to the tree. One of his favorite things is passing out presents. He’s giddy like a little kid on Christmas morning instead of an adult in his mid-twenties.

Tradition has become that while we wait for the cinnamon buns, we all open one present. Since Chelsea and Wes brought their gifts here, the pile is fairly large.

Thankfully, Wes is happy to dig through, shaking a few on his way.

The house smells incredible; the cinnamon scent filling the space and making my mouth water.

It all makes me think of our first Christmas together, when we found out about Chelsea and Wes being a couple. They faced some hardships after that, with Wes leaving before eventually returning.

Maybe that’s what this is with Lochlyn. Mentally, he’s gone, even if physically here. But he’ll come back. He has to. We’ve always been so incredibly in love. Even that first Christmas. That hasn’t changed for me, though it’s buried deeper and harder to reach right now. It’s like there’s rubble on top that’s too heavy for me to lift on my own, and I need his help, but he’s too far away to give it.

A small present lands in my lap, and I look down at the dark blue wrapping paper. I recognize it immediately and know that it’s from Lochlyn. I look up at him with wide eyes. Both of his arms are across the back of the couch, coffee cup in one, and I’m leaning slightly into his side.

His chin juts toward my lap. “Go on. Open it.”

Carefully, I slip my finger under the tape on one end. I’ve never been one to tear into a present, which I see Chelsea doing out of the corner of my eye. Instead, I pop the wrap off carefully and find a black velvet box. It’s too big to be a ring, plus I have the most expensive and fanciest I’ll ever wear on my finger.

I give it a quick spin to calm the nerves trying to rise inside me. It’s clearly a jewelry box, which means whatever’s inside is expensive. And knowing Lochlyn, he held nothing back.

With a small crack of the hinge, my breath catches at the glittering diamond-encrusted heart sitting inside. A hand hovers at my lip and then falls to the infinity necklace that sits around my neck.

“Do you like it?”

A quick glance at Lochlyn and I see his hand is at his lips. He’s nervous he chose wrong.

“I love it. It’s absolutely beautiful. But I have a beautiful necklace from you. I don’t need another.” The one he gave me our first Christmas.

“I keep telling you, baby girl. It’s not about need. Besides, I felt it was time for an upgrade.” Leaning forward, he sets his mug on the coffee table and takes the necklace from the box, latching it around my neck. His fingers trail down the chain and land on the heart, which rests between my breasts.

This chain is quite a bit longer than the infinity necklace. I touch both, looking down to compare what I can see.

“It’s so you can wear both at the same time.” Not only does he know what I’m thinking, but he understands the importance of the first piece of jewelry he ever gave me.

“It’s beautiful and perfect. Thank you.” Wrapping an arm around his neck, I pull myself up to press my lips against his.

One of his hands slides down my back to rest against the top of my ass, and I know that if we were alone, he’d tug me into his lap and things would progress. But we’re not alone, and that can’t happen. I’m not even sure he wants to do it. Or that I do.

“You’re welcome.” His voice is low and tight. Well, that answers my assumption of him wanting to pull me into his lap.

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