Page 79 of Protective Cowboy

Finally, he dove between her thighs, inhaling the sweet musk of her arousal as he used his tongue to circle her sensitive clit in an ever-increasing rhythm.

Autumn shuddered with pleasure as his touch grew more intense. Each moan she made shot straight to his straining cock.

He stroked the slick folds of her pussy and slipped his fingers inside her. Her entire body convulsed with pleasure as he continued to lick her.

It wasn’t long before she quivered and cried out in her release, her inner walls pulsing around his fingers. His mouth moved back up to capture hers while his fingers continued to draw out her orgasm until she relaxed against the cushions, panting.

Then Matt entered her slowly, his hands shaking as he held her hips. He went deep and started to move, savoring her every gasp and sigh. She felt so damn good; her passage was tight and slick, caressing every inch of his cock with heat and firm pressure.

But it wasn’t long before need took over, his rhythm growing fast and frenzied. She clung to him, her short nails digging into his shoulders as she pleaded breathlessly for more, harder, faster.

She cried out, body arching against his. He felt her second climax pulsating around his shaft, and that sent him over the edge.

His release exploded out of him in spurts of white-hot pleasure that started at the base of his spine.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, collapsing on top of her in a sweaty, satisfied heap.

They made love twice more before dozing entwined on the sofa. Her head was pillowed on his chest, and his fingers trailing lazily up and down her spine.

He pressed a kiss to her temple, suffused with unbelievable happiness.

Autumn had come home at last. To him.

Chapter Twenty

A Holly, Jolly Christmas

Snowberry Springs, Montana

Christmas Eve

Autumn stood back, admiring the twinkling lights on the tall pine tree. Its tip nearly brushed the ceiling of the cozy living room.

She usually didn’t wait until the last minute to decorate. But her new job had been frantically busy this month, especially since she was still handling Summer and Winnie’s social media feeds.

Nevertheless, she’d loved every minute of it, and Lisa Maiffret had given her a generous Christmas bonus along with a glowing 90-day performance review.

She was actually having fun this holiday season. No more stiff holiday parties with Phillip’s colleagues. No more passive-aggressive comments about her decorations or cooking. No fighting about buying decorations or making everything perfect to impress other people.

Just joy and pleasure of working together with her boyfriend and her son as a playlist of classic Christmas music drifted from Matt’s surround-sound speakers and the vanilla-and-sugar fragrance of baking cookies filled the house.

In the kitchen, Matt and Jayden were rolling out a second batch of cookie dough, cookie cutters scattered on the counter, while Summer stood at the breakfast nook table, decorating the first batch of baked cookies with colorful royal icing.

“Hey, Autumn,” Matt said, stepping into the living room a few minutes later with a plate of freshly decorated cookies. “I’m glad Spring and our sisters took over hosting duties for the holidays. It’s nice of you guys to take the pressure off our moms this year.”

“Yeah, we kids all got together over drinks at Thanksgiving and decided that it was time to pass the torch.” Autumn had brought Matt’s sister Lily in on the discussion as well, since the Parkers and the Snowberrys had decided to celebrate a joint Christmas.

Each set of parents would will still host Thanksgiving, but the siblings would then take turns doing Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch.

Autumn moved to reposition an ornament on the tree, smiling. “It’s a new tradition I’m excited to be a part of.”

“Sounds like a great plan,” Matt said, handing her a warm cookie. “Now, do you need any help finishing up the tree before everyone gets here?”

“Hey, tall guy, could you put the star on the top, and maybe a few more ornaments on the upper twigs?” Autumn took the offered treat and bit into the sweet, crisp, buttery goodness.

As she savored the taste, she couldn’t help but think about how far she’d come since this time last year.

Three hours later, the tree was looking perfect and the savory smells of roasting turkey and garlic mashed potatoes had replaced the scent of baking cookies.

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