Page 86 of Speed Crush

She was asleep when I said it, curled up against me after the kind of night that changes everything. I said it then, quietly. Like it might seep into her dreams and stay.

And now I want to say it again.

Louder and of course, while she's awake this time.

I cut the water and step out, yanking a towel off the hook, dragging it over my hair, my body. I don’t bother wrapping it around my waist.

I hear the knock before I’m fully dry.

Right on time.

I cross the hardwood floors, leaving wet footprints behind me. The loft is dim, lit by the warm twinkle of string lights Lily left up. There’s a small tree in the corner, a little crooked, but I kind of like it that way. Like it’s trying too hard. Like me.

I open the door, completely naked.

Her lashes flutter, like she’s rebooting. Her lips part slightly, eyes dropping before she jerks them back up to my face. Her cheeks flush, her breath catches—and yeah. That’s the reaction I was going for.

“Merry Christmas,” I murmur.

“You’re naked.”

“I’m festive in my birthday suit.”

She swallows. She’s holding a box—medium-sized, awkwardly wrapped, probably something sweet or meaningful she brought from the caroling event she just came from. There’s a bit of glitter on her cheek.

She exhales hard. “I'm just dropping something off.”

I lean a shoulder against the doorframe, one eyebrow cocked. "Get in here, woman, or we're about to start a Hallmark movie where the hot guy answers the door naked and the girl drops her... cookies?"

She makes a strangled sound like she just bit into a jalapeño she thought was a gumdrop, mutters, "I guess I can use a drink."

Unable to stop myself, I thrust my hips slightly, cocky as hell. "Got a bottle right here for your sweet lips."

She snorts, whacks me on the arm with her glitter-covered box, and marches inside like the room owes her dignity and she’s here to collect.

The door clicks shut and I don’t give her a second to overthink it—I pull her in. I hug her, bare and unapologetic, and she lets out a breathless laugh.

"You’re very happy to see me," she mutters, arching a brow at what’s definitely pressing against her hip.

"I missed you," I say, deadpan. "All of me missed you."

She groans and thwaps my chest with the back of her hand.

I kiss her—hungrily, completely, until she melts against me with a moan that makes every part of me throb.

And then I pull back.

Her eyes flutter once, lips still parted. Like she forgot the script.

"I need a shirt," I murmur, brushing my thumb across her jaw.

She huffs, eyes still dazed. "You're such a tease. Come back with a shirt,anda pair of pants too. You're too distracting."

Her eyes meet mine, heat blooming behind her lashes. But she’s still cautious. Still pretending this isn’t what it is.

I reach out, tuck her hair behind her ear.

“You want me, Songbird. Say it.”

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