'Tis The Season

“Make me forget, James. Just for tonight.”

“Sweetheart, I’m not sure that’s a good—”

“I’m ready. I want to be connected with you.”

He cups my face. “Faye.”

“It’s my birthday. This is what I want as my present.”

“Low blow.”

I smile up at him and poke out my bottom lip.

“Okay, that’s it.” He tickles my sides lightly, and I laugh. A night of joy and total completion before the happiness I’ve built is destroyed. I shove my baggage in the attic of my brain and fully immerse myself in t

he present. Kissing my forehead, he leans back. “Better?”

“With you, it always is, James.”

“You don’t have to lay it on so thick, sweetheart. You’re already getting into my pants.” He winks.

“I wish I was more mobile,” I whisper.

He nuzzles my neck. “I like it when my woman rides me.”

I climb into his lap and hook my arms around his neck, falling into the dark green gemstones he calls eyes. The adoration and desire are there for all to see. I love how open and honest he’s been with me. I run my hands through his thick hair and squeeze my thighs together as I grind against him. He grunts his appreciation and grasps my hips, rocking upward. Sparks sizzle their way up my body.

“Come here.” I bend down, and he captures my lips in a bruising kiss. We kiss, teeth clashing and lips swelling, pausing to suck in air as we make love with our mouths. I feel like my soul is about to leave my body as all the emotions I’ve developed spill over into our mouth mating. We shed our clothes, baring our bodies like we are our souls. I’m wet and throbbing as he lays on his backs, and I grip his base. Our eyes lock as his wet tip pierces my core. I slowly ease down.

“You’re so big,” I moan as he works deeper, inch by inch. Pressing my palms flat on his chest, I grip him with my thighs and lower myself farther.

“Let me in, sweetheart. Relax, and let me fill you up. That’s it.”

I gasp as he pushes as deep as he can get. I can feel him pulsing inside of me like a heartbeat. I flex, and he groans.

“Are you ready for more, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” I rasp.

He thrusts up, and I cry out, taking everything he has to give. We move together, finding a steady rhythm. He changes me, chasing away the darkness as he fills the empty spot inside of me with blazing light. I let go as we come together, skin slapping, bodies writhing. He hits the spot inside of me that makes me see stars. I clamp down around me.

“That’s it.”

Picking up the pace, we race toward completion. My head spins, and my body tingles as the coil inside of me snaps, and I cry out, shaking as I convulse around him. He pumps a few more times before he explodes, flooding me with his heat. I slump onto his chest, spent, complete, and already mourning his loss. Rolling us onto our side, he strokes my hair, kissing me softly. His eyes are the last thing I see as I drift off to sleep, mindful of the fact that I’m lying to myself. Giving him up won’t be simple or easy.

“I KNOW YOU’RE NOT UP for a lot of walking outside of work, but I found something you’d enjoy that we could do sitting down.”

I smile at James over the console of his car. Today’s my day off, and we’re actually venturing out into the world for a date. Lately, we’d spent the snowy days bundled up in front of a fire, but with my pregnancy nearing its end, these would be the last few times we had alone.

“Why are you so good to me?”

“Because you deserve it.” He lifts my hand up and kisses it.

It’s been two weeks since the papers were dropped off at my home. We’ve poured over lawyers, calculating fees, and researching reputations. He doesn’t need to tell me it’ll destroy my nest egg. But the other choice is the last resort. My stomach sours at the thought of ending things with the man helping me mend my heart and relearn how to trust the opposite sex.

“Is this a surprise, or are you going to give me details?”

“It’s The Clay Bakers. I thought we could paint something for Flora.”