Page 38 of Christmas in Kiwi Country

One strong hand cups my other breast while the other trails up and down my side before landing on my ass and giving me a firm squeeze.

“Ride me,” he growls as he releases my nipple with a softpop.Instead of positioning his erection at my entrance, Cullen slides two fingers inside me and I gasp. His other palm cracks across my rear. “Red.”

My name is a delicious command, and I can’t help but rile him up a little more as he thrusts his fingers in and out of me.

“You weren’t this bossy a couple of minutes ago.”

“That was before you shoved your breasts in my face.”

“Didn’t hear you complaining,” I sass.

“And you never will,” he says before removing his fingers and slamming me down on his erection.

I moan as I adjust to the feel of him inside me, his hands gripping my waist as he drags me slowly up again. With my hands on his chest, I rock and circle my hips, grinding down against him, maddeningly slow.

Cullen’s eyes are hooded as he watches me, touches me, and bucks up into me—both of us chasing our own pleasure and refusing to fall without the other. His fingers tangle in my hair and he pulls me down for a searing kiss, the new angle making it impossible to hold on a second longer.

Pleasure rockets through my body in time with the rocking of our hips. Cullen groans into my mouth as he holds me to him and rides out his own release. As I collapse onto his chest, he sighs and runs his hand up and down my back, his heart racing as he catches his breath.

“Merry Christmas, Cullen.”

“Merry Christmas, Red.”

22

CULLEN

Gwen’s head rests on my shoulder as the plane descends over Blackstone Falls. New Zealand had been the best time of my life, and as cliché as it is, I feel like I am returning a changed man.

When Gwen suggested we come home for Christmas dinner, I fell more in love with her than I ever thought possible. She’d known what I needed and that was only the beginning. I’d made friends, experienced new things, forgiven myself, and let go of my past once and for all. The trip had been cathartic in a way I’d heard people talk about but never truly believed to be real.

Gwen has pushed me outside my comfort zone in so many ways, but I’m finally living. She’s all the best parts of me, and there’s nothing I want more than to show her how grateful I am to be here with her.

Sometimes I still can’t believe she loves me. Out of all the men in the world she chose me.

And thank God for that because there is still one thing left to do.

The ring had traveled with us across the ocean and back without ever seeing the light of day. The shell ring I’d given her on the beach now hangs on a chain around her neck, and I am silently relieved I won’t have to fumble to take that one off and put the new one on.

If she says yes, of course.

Something hadn’t felt right being a world away from Tennessee, but as the captain makes the final announcement to prepare for landing, I know in my heart what was missing.

“Are we home already?” she asks sleepily.

Home.

“Yeah, Red, we are.” She smiles at the nickname and then snuggles into me once more as the landscape gets closer and we are no longer flying among the clouds. The crew had been diligent to do all the checks to get us home for dinner, and it has been smooth sailing.

“Good. I’ll be happier than bug spray in a truck bed to get some brisket from Smokin’ Joes.”

“That’s not a thing,” I grouse. Isla and I had been commiserating on the nonsensical sayings they’d thrown at us since being in Clementine Creek, and the list was lengthy.

Gwen’s smile is soft. “Just you wait, Cullen. We’ll make you into a southern gentleman yet.” Her head pops up and she grins. “Then you’ll have to use that list of sayings you like so much.”

I laugh, and she places a quick peck on my lips before grabbing her purse and pulling out her compact. The woman is stunning all hours of the day, and maybe it’s just the anticipation, but she’s even more striking as the wheels touch down.

I’m thankful she didn’t argue about the private plane because if nothing else, I’ve earned extra leg room and privacy for an international flight in an aircraft that thankfully no longer feels like home. Besides, it came in handy for traveling back in time to celebrate Christmas twice.

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