Page 63 of Winter Break Up

But fuck … it really, really does. Some day, this man is going to be the father of my children. I’ve known it in my bones for such a long time even if I didn’t want to admit it. We’d always been endgame. To hear him confirm that he wants all of that too, it’s damn sexy.

“That should not get me as wet as it does, but I’m soaked.” I tell him, guiding his hand down between my legs.

Mercer curses and starts shedding our clothes, our hands tangling in fabric between heady and passionate kisses. His fingers work me as soon as he slides my panties down, the thick digits curling up into my wetness until I’m whimpering for the release he’s about to destroy me with.

“Need to be inside you. Now.” He growls, reaching for a condom.

Yes. I say it in my head.

“People will realize we aren’t down there for the ball drop.” I whisper as he lines himself up.

“They know what we’re doing. Who cares? Soon enough, the whole world will know you’re mine forever. I want them all to know.”

The image of us on our wedding day flits into my mind as he says that. Right before our bodies connect, I can distinctly see a future us that doesn’t care what the media or our hometown friends or anyone says about us. Our little unit of two will be the only thing that matters.

Now that we have it, I’m not letting it go for anything. Mercer and I will work through anything.

“We won’t know when it’s actually midnight.” I realize, not that my hands on his ass urging him into me are about to stop on that account.

“Like I care? All I know is I’ll be inside this perfect pussy when a new year starts. What better way to go into a fresh chapter than that?” Mercer’s smirk is downright devilish.

I’m about to smack his naked pec for saying something so dirty, even if it’s weirdly romantic, but he silences me when he drives in with one fluid thrust.

We stare at each other in wonder, the orgasm rolling down my spine before he even pulls out to thrust in for a second time.

That’s how Mercer and I enter the New Year; making love like wild animals as the clock strikes twelve, insatiable for each other’s bodies, minds, and hearts.

28

MERCER

The walk from the parking garage has been full of silence, some hiccuped sobs, and a few stops to randomly make out.

“Hate this,” I grumble, feeling the worst I’ve ever felt about flying back to Miami.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve necessarily ever felt bad about leaving for school. Maybe that first time freshman year because I was still in the pits of heartbreak, but Emily and I had already been broken up, so I wasn’t leaving anything behind. In the years since then, I’ve felt nostalgia coming home and leaving because of Grandpa, but I’ve been all too happy to get back to college with my teammates and friends.

Today, though? I’m downright miserable. You would think Em is shipping me off to war with how distraught she is. But we’re a tad overdramatic because we just got together again. This winter break has been a whirlwind, to say the least, and leaving her so soon after we’ve reconciled makes it feel like the sun won’t shine for years to come.

This break has delivered in a way I never thought possible. I came home with a bunch of chips on my shoulder, weariness about the future, fear about Grandpa’s condition, and feeling like my life was about to move too fast for me to keep up with. Sure, I haven’t fixed all those things, they’re works in progress, but I do feel like I have a better grasp on them. My life and the chapters upcoming don’t feel so ominous and daunting, and maybe that’s because I have Emily by my side. She makes me feel more grounded, and with her love, I almost feel invincible. If something goes awry, it’ll be okay, because we can figure it out together.

“Me too,” she agrees, leaning her head onto my shoulder as we walk, and I press a kiss to her temple as I hoist my shoulder bag higher.

Em insisted on driving me to the airport at six a.m., even though I told her she should stay in bed and I’d call her when I landed. But we wanted every last possible second together before I went back to school, which is probably why her mom and dad didn’t give her any grief about sleeping over at my place last night. We woke up at the crack of dawn this morning, and she again insisted to park in short-term so she could walk me all the way to security.

The automatic doors to the terminal slide open and we’re greeted with the early morning hysteria and bustle of an airport and morning commuters. I’ve never minded the business of air travel, until right now, when I just want to be alone with my girl before I won’t see her for months.

Setting my roller bag to the side, I bring her into my arms against the wall. This is as private as it’s going to get, and I need a proper goodbye before I have to be without her for a while.

Holding her chin, I look into her eyes, now filled with tears, before I press a gentle kiss to her lips.

“I love you.” My words are clear as I kiss every part of her face, my hands banding tighter around her.

“I don’t want you to go.” Her voice is clogged with emotion.

“I don’t want to go. But we both know I have to. It’s only for a few months, and then we have the rest of our lives.” I can’t wait for that.

Emily lets out a watery laugh. “It seems so dramatic to be this emotional, but I just got you back. Even a few minutes is too long. Months? I’m going to go crazy.”

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