Another kiss.
“… and you…”
He curled his fingers just right, and she gasped.
“… and the way you fall apart when I touch you like this.”
She let her head fall back onto his shoulder, her hips pushing into his hand, eyes fluttering shut, and then forcing herself to open them again.
Because he’d told her to see what he saw.
And what she saw was a woman on the edge of unraveling, adored by the man behind her.
With every stroke of his fingers, every whispered word, he took her higher until she finally came completely undone.
The orgasm ripped through her like a crashing wave, powerful and raw. She cried out, her fingers digging into the wood, her body jerking, breath catching. Every part of her pulsing, shaking, and she wanted to ride that wave as long as possible.
And through it all, he held her steady.
“That’s it,” he whispered. “That’s my girl.”
Her legs nearly gave out again, but he caught her, lifting her carefully into his arms. She buried her face in his neck, still trembling, tears stinging her lashes—not from sadness but from something else. Release. Relief. The overwhelming feeling of being known and wanted, exactly as she was.
He carried her back to the bed, laying her down on the soft quilt. Then, he climbed in beside her, brushing damp hair away from her forehead and kissing her softly.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, voice warm.
She opened her eyes, breathless and still floating. “Like you just rewired my entire nervous system.”
He laughed gently, stroking her cheek. “Good.”
He then added quietly, “You’re everything, Cassidy. Everything.”
She reached for him, heart full and body still humming. “Then come here.”
FORTY-TWO
LIAM
Wednesday, December 17th
Liam woke the next morning to find Cassidy’s side of the bed empty, but he still had a smile on his face.
If anything could make him believe in the magic of Christmas again, it was the look on her face when she’d finally come undone. The memory twitched through his body, heat rising as the images replayed in minute, vivid detail.
He found her downstairs, the radio on, soft Christmas music filling the space. Liam paused at the entrance to the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, just watching her as she sang about it being cold outside and how she really can’t stay.
Cassidy sang, unaware she had an audience, while Liam continued to hum under his breath and watch.
Cassidy wore an apron patterned with little Christmas trees, tied snugly at her waist, her hair twisted into a messy knot. She swayed her hips while whisking chocolate in a large metal bowl tucked beneath one arm. The picture of holiday domestic bliss, and yet he found it completely erotic.
He leaned against the doorway and took a second to memorize the scene. Because all he wanted was to come up behind her, slide his hands around her waist, and whisper everything he planned to do to her if they didn’t have a day full of responsibilities waiting.
He cleared his throat and walked forward. “If you keep swaying your hips like that, Sugarplum, I’m going to forget all about work.”
She smiled over her shoulder. “You think you can distract me that easily?”
Liam stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I know I can.”
