Page 64 of Mistletoe Latte

She gulped and shifted. “You deserve a world’s best uncle mug.”

“Ha! Skylar’d lose her shit if I had one of those at the cafe.” He laughed at how many shit kittens she’d have, then sighed. “I can’t tell her. She was so young when it happened she didn’t understand. Then when Pete got out, he begged me to keep quiet. Said if his little girl lost her admiration for him, he’d fall.”

“I can’t imagine how hard that is to keep.”

“I used to think it was for Skylar’s sake, so she’d feel pride in her parents. But now, after all this time, it’s Pete refusing to face the consequences of his actions. If he doesn’t see them cry, then he didn’t do anything wrong.”

He dropped the soggy towel to the counter and wound his hands around the edge. Her mom had tried to tough it out living near the penitentiary to support him, but that bubble finally burst, and she’d run. Skylar got to see her on vacations and trips to Florida at least. What did her father send her? He hadn’t even bothered to mail her a birthday gift in three years. Nick took to adding his name to a card to keep up the charade.

“Maybe it’s finally time you told her the truth?”

She made it sound so simple. Emma was an outsider unaware of the mess of trauma lurking below those happy family portraits. If he told Skylar there was a good chance she’d hate him even more than her dad. And he couldn’t handle that.

“Do you know what I need?” Nick slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her close. He aimed for a kiss to give this night hope, but his chin collapsed to her shoulder instead. Wrapping himself in her arms, he listened to her heart pounding against his chest.

“What?”

For you to stay in my life.

He almost whispered that against her neck, his lips moving but no sound emerging. Nick blinked away the thought and leaned back. “A shower. I don’t know how you can stand me.”

She smiled sweetly. “It’s not so bad.”

Cream and sugar…Nick cupped her chin and brushed his thumb over her cheek. “Why—” He traced her lips, mesmerized by the soft skin. “—don’t you join me?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

THE TWO TRIPPED over each other as they climbed the stairs, alternating between kissing and racing to catch the banister. She wanted to join him. But the closer they drew to the bathroom, the greater the dread grew in Emma’s heart.

“Let me get that…” Nick said. She expected him to flip on the light, but he pulled her sweater off instead. “Much better.” He ran his hands over her chest and reached for her pants when Emma jittered away.

“Maybe some lights would help.” She laughed to explain her strange reaction and turned them on.

The harsh glow gave no quarter as it cut across Nick’s grizzled cheeks. It would be less kind to her. He roughed a palm over his stubble and turned on the tap. The water ran down the drain as the two people who’d shared each other’s bodies tried to not grow awkward.

“Here.” She caught the hem of his t-shirt and lifted it over his head. He had to duck to help, and before she could pull it off, he kissed her. All her pent-up energy siphoned elsewhere. Emma dropped his shirt to the ground then went after his pants.

“Whoa.” Nick scrambled, clinging to her hips as she undid his jeans. “I’m gonna have to up my game to keep up with you.”

He cupped her chin and held her, staring into her eyes. She clung to the same boxers they’d tossed into the box of straws. Nick brushed his thumb back and forth, a serenity washing across his face. Emma reached around his back, pulling his hips to her belly. More bubbled in her mind, words she ached and feared to hear.

“Baths require water, don’t they?” Nick said. His gaze drifted to the open drain, and he dropped in the plug. As the water splashed into the tub, the two of them stripped off haphazardly. She took off her jeans and socks and put them on the sink, leaving her in her underwear. Nick pulled everything off himself at once and stretched.

“God it feels good to be out of those.” As he raised his arms over his head, giving in to the strain of his muscles, he looked overjoyed. Slowly, his eyes opened and traced down her body. First, her face and neck. As they traveled, his cock surged halfway up.

Emma reached behind to the hooks on her bra. She bit her lip, watching his erection bounce, then harden to steel as she lowered her bra. Slowly, she tugged the straps down—trying to act provocative—when Nick leaped for her. He kissed her, his tongue sweeping in to toy with her lip, and pulled her panties off.

“Please, you’re gonna drive a man mad. Me. You will make me coo-coo bananas if you don’t take a bath with me.”

How can I say no?

Emma nodded. Taking her hand, Nick stepped into the tub. He gasped at the hot water slopping up his calf, then guided her to join. While he sunk in, his long legs slipping down and feet pressing astride the faucet, Emma took her time. The lukewarm heat of the tub surprised her. As she started to lower herself, she slipped.

Nick was quick to catch her, helping to guide her legs and press her back to his chest. She bobbed between his thighs, sweeping her buttocks against his cock. He nibbled her neck and ear as he ran his palms over the tops of her thighs.

The water splashed and Emma shied her face away. Nick bent over to pick up a washcloth and catch the floating bar of soap. Placing his hands before her, he lathered up the cloth. She watched the bubbles rise across the surface, hiding away her pale legs. Nick let the soap go, and she expected him to begin washing.

One hand swept under her breast, and another drew the warm washcloth over her chest. She leaned back in surprise, wrapping her arm around the back of Nick’s neck. “I thought you’d go first,” she gasped. He took his time, caressing the cloth across her breast, down her wide cleavage, and over her pooched belly.

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