Page 87 of All I Want For Christmas Is You

Jesus, she was hot, slick, wild. She was everything, and he couldn’t lose her. She was it for him.

He didn’t think he could last. And fortunately, he didn’t need to. Because her body stiffened, and she cried out as tremors shook her body. He loved the way she lost herself so thoroughly to pleasure. Loved that he could bring her there, that together they were fire.

Little tremors rocked her, and she lowered her forehead to the mattress. He grabbed her hips, hiked up her ass, and pounded into her. He lost his tether to reality. Holding her tightly to him, he ground against her ass, coming hard, one spasm after another. He came until he had nothing left to give, and then he wrapped an arm around her and brought her with him on his collapse to the mattress.

He closed his eyes, breathing her in, loving her soft warmth tucked into him. “You. Me.”

“You,” she whispered. “Me.”

Beau’s phone vibrated on the nightstand. He jackknifed up and grabbed it, hoping it didn’t awaken Margot. He’d worked her pretty damn hard all night. But Jesus, he was insatiable for her.

He thumbed the Accept button and whispered, “Yeah?” as he got out of bed and headed out of the room. Given the time, he figured it was Walker. His son wasn’t used to being overseas, so he might forget the time difference.

“Beau.”

He recognized the hydrologist’s voice but not the dire tone. “What’s going on?”

“The water broke through. You need to get over here.”

“On my way.” He disconnected and hurried back into his bedroom, flicking on the bathroom light and leaving the door ajar so he could find the clothes he’d tossed onto the floor. Once gathered, he locked himself inside and took a quick shower.

He’d held out the slightest hope of going to the wedding with Margot, but this killed it. And it sucked because she shouldn’t have to see that asswipe by herself. But he had no choice. He was probably twelve hours away from losing the mine. He had to get over there and figure out a way to shore up the breach.

What do I do about Colt? I can’t take him with me.

The shower door opened, and Margot stood there naked, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the light. “What’s going on?”

“The pumps can’t control the amount of water. We need another solution, or we lose the mine.”

“Oh, no. That’s terrible. I’m so sorry. What can I do?”

Hot water pummeled his body, and yet everything in him stilled. It was the strangest sensation.

Beau’s mom had never been happy, so he’d always tread lightly around her. After she left, his dad played both roles, but he had a hard time juggling work and full-time parenting. Then, his dad met Annie, and they’d become a team. Inseparable. They hadn’t left Beau out exactly, but he’d had no choice but to go along with whatever they were doing.

And, of course, his ex wasn’t much of a partner at all. Like his mom, his dad, and even Annie, she had her own agenda, and nothing outside of it mattered. Not even her kids.

But with Margot, for the first time, he had someone he could count on. And really, that was all he’d ever wanted. To feel like he wasn’t entirely alone. In this situation, his ex would’ve told him the whole reason he hired people was so he wouldn’t have to get up in the middle of the night and deal with crises.

Margot was ready to enter battle by his side, and it was just so fucking nice to have a teammate. “Nothing. But thank you for asking.” He looked away so she wouldn’t see how undone he’d become from such a simple question.

He shut off the faucet, and when he turned to step out of the shower stall, he found her waiting with a towel. With a look of concern, she wrapped it around him. “Thanks. Go on back to bed. You took yesterday off, so you have orders to fulfill today.” After drying off, he quickly got dressed and brushed his teeth.

“Can I make you some coffee?” She sounded concerned, like she was trying to figure out how to help him.

He rinsed his toothbrush, and they left the bathroom. “No, thanks. I have to run.” Well, wait. He did have a partner in her. Why push her away? “Actually, yeah. I’d like that. It’s going to take me a few minutes to get Colt up and dressed.”

She snatched her bra off the floor and put it on. “Colt? You’re taking him?” It only took her a moment to put on her leggings and a sweatshirt.

“I have to.” What else could he do? He headed down the dark hallway.

“Well, hang on. Are you just standing around an office, looking at computer screens and throwing out different ideas? Where’s he going to be?”

“No, we’ll have to go into the mine, visit the crosscut, and see for ourselves.”

“That’s no place for a two-year-old.”

“I know that, but Lorelei can’t even boil water. She doesn’t drive. I’m not leaving her with an active toddler.”

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