Page 76 of Built of Second Chances

Like Flynn, tears didn’t seem to scare him. He laughed and pulled her in for a quick hug. “Now, let’s make these hot chocolates special. How do you feel about adding a shot of Bailey’s?”

Chapter25

Second Chance

Back at Midnight Lake on Christmas morning, Tessa woke slowly, reluctant to leave the sexy dream she was having.

“There she is. Merry Christmas, Tessa.”

She opened her eyes to find Flynn smiling down at her. His hand was between her legs and her body was lax and heavy with desire. Not a dream at all. “Merry Christmas.”

Her words trailed off as Flynn changed the pace of his fingers and leaned down to kiss her. “We need to make sure our first Christmas together gets off to a good start.”

She managed a laugh. “It’s looking good from here.”

He kissed her again and the then shifted his body until his shoulders pushed her legs apart. He grinned. “Looking good from here, too.”

He proceeded to shatter her in the best way possible with his tongue. As the waves of pleasure were subsiding, he slid on a condom and slipped inside her, building her back up again.

When she was close, she reached up to cup his jaw. “With me, Flynn. Come with me.”

“Always.”

A long while—and a steamy shower—later, they opened the door to head downstairs. Ginger yowled from where she’d been dozing in the hallway.

Flynn scooped up the cat. “Did we lock you out? Sorry about that.”

The cat snuggled into him as they negotiated the stairs and moved to the main room. Everyone looked up as they entered. “Finally. Don’t you know it’s Christmas morning?”

Tessa’s face flushed but Flynn laughed. “We sure do.”

Sam walked in carrying a tray filled with French toast and pancakes. “You almost missed breakfast. Go grab something from the kitchen.”

Soon, the eleven of them were sitting around the table. Tansy and Sam. Aisling and Graham. Bella and Mitch. Joe, Josie, and Nico. And the two of them. Her new family. Her new home.

Her eyes misted with tears as she looked around the group. Across the table, Graham pointed his finger at her. “Nope. No tears, no sappy moments. This is our first Christmas together as a group and we’re not spending it bawling.”

She laughed along with everyone else and swallowed her tears. Sam picked up his mug. “For many of us, it’s been a hell of a year. But we’re stronger because of it. We’ve come through the other side of this year together. And I can’t think of any people I’d rather spend it with. Merry Christmas, everyone.”

They all lifted their mugs and cheered.

Once the food was eaten and cleared, they put Pennyworth on cleanup and gathered around the gorgeous live-edge table again. Aisling had built it and Tessa didn’t know if she’d ever seen a more beautiful piece of furniture.

When Josie, Joe, and Nico had agreed to stay for Christmas, they’d all drawn names for a Secret Santa gift. Tessa had been relieved when she’d drawn Tansy’s name. Tessa didn’t have many creative aspects to her personality, but she understood Tansy’s analytical brain.

Graham tossed a twelve-sided die from hand to hand. “Okay, number off. Whatever number I land on will give their gift. Whoever receives that gift will give theirs next.”

They numbered off around the table and Graham tossed the die. “Who is eight?”

Tessa smiled. “That’s me.” She picked up her phone and sent the message she’d prepared. From somewhere outside the room, a phone beeped.

Sam rolled his eyes. “That’s yours, Tans. Where’d you leave it?”

She laughed. “I have no idea.”

Perfect.

While some of them protested that the phone call could wait, Tessa pressed another pre-made message and Sam’s phone beeped. When he looked at the text, he grinned at Tessa.

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