“That’s it,” he said again, thrusting deeper, circling her clit faster. “Come for me, Merry. Let go.”
She cried out, her body clenching hard around him, as she came for a second time.
“Fuck,” Christian groaned, as with one last, desperate thrust, he spilled inside her, body shuddering, lost in the heat and the high and her.
They collapsed forward on to the dresser, skin slick, breath heaving, still connected.
Christian kissed the curve of her spine and whispered, “Told you.”
Merry let out a shaky laugh. “You’re a menace.”
He grinned, pressing another kiss to her damp shoulder and stayed still for a moment, both of them catching their breath, bodies tangled and trembling, hearts still hammering. Then he eased out of her carefully, hands steady on her hips as her knees wobbled.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered.
Merry turned and blinked up at him, dazed and flushed and beautiful. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, but all that came out was a tiny sigh as her eyes fluttered shut for a beat. He smiled and brushed a damp strand of hair off her cheek.
“You’re done standing for the night,” he said softly, then bent and scooped her into his arms.
She let out a sleepy, surprised sound as her arms looped around his neck, but she didn’t protest. Just curled into him, her head resting on his shoulder, the scent of candy canes rising from her skin.
Christian carried her across to her bed, his bare feet soft against the wooden floor. The storm outside still raged, rain streaking the windows with loud slaps. He reached the bed and eased her down gently on to the cool sheets, pulling the covers up around her neck and making sure she was cocooned. She looked up at him, lashes heavy, eyes soft.
“You okay?” he asked, crouching beside the mattress, brushing his thumb along her jaw.
She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. “Better than okay.”
That did something to him. Twisted his chest in that aching, vulnerable way he hadn’t expected tonight. He slid into bed beside her, propped on one elbow, the other hand reaching up to stroke her damp hair back from her forehead.
“You’re incredible,” he murmured. “Just in case no one’s told you that recently.”
Merry gave him a sleepy smile, her eyes fluttering shut, then opening again, like something had just occurred to her.
“You remember what you said earlier? That you weren’t great at impressing women?”
Christian raised a brow. “Yeah . . .”
“Well,” she murmured, voice already fading with exhaustion, “I’d say you’re actually pretty good at it.”
“Is that your official verdict?” He huffed a quiet laugh.
“I told you I’d let you know by midnight.”
He leaned in, kissed her temple. “Worth the wait?”
Merry hummed, too tired to answer properly. Christian lay beside her long after she drifted off, watching her chest rise and fall in the dark, his fingers still stroking her hair.
He stayed as long as he dared.
But the clock on her nightstand kept ticking forward, and reality tugged at the edges. His ridiculously early shift at Carroll’s would be starting soon, and if he didn’t move now, he wouldn’t make it back in time.
He eased himself off her bed, careful not to jostle the mattress. Crouching to gather his clothes, he tugged them on piece by piece in the low light. His jacket was still damp, but he shrugged it on, then stood by the bed for a moment longer, watching her before slipping out into the hallway.
The apartment was dark except for the faint blue glow of a phone screen. Merry’s roommate was standing there in oversized pyjamas, holding a mug and staring at him with an unimpressed raised brow. He grinned sheepishly, lifting a finger to his lips. Her expression didn’t change, but she gave a tiny nod and stepped aside to let him pass. Christian suppressed a laugh and slipped out into the stairwell, pulling the door quietly shut behind him.
Outside, the storm had mostly passed, the streets still shining with rain and glittering under the amber glow of streetlights. He walked to the corner, collar turned up against the cold and raised a hand to flag down a cab. One pulled over almost instantly and he slid into the back seat, giving the driver the address for Carroll’s. As the car pulled away from the kerb, he leaned his head back against the seat, the scent of Merry still clinging to his skin, and smiled to himself.
After a few quiet blocks, he pulled out his phone and opened the APEX group chat. It was mostly dead — the guys were probably asleep — but he tapped out a message anyway.
