Page 60 of Festive Faking
His eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”
I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Yes, really.”
Before I knew it, he’d wrapped his arms around the back of my knees, and I was upside down, bouncing over his shoulder as he carried me into the house.
Squealing, I beat on his lower back. “Mac! Put me down! I’m fully capable of walking.”
We cleared the front door before I was set on my feet. “Yeah, but I got us here faster.” The victorious smirk he flashed me had a dimple pulling at the edge of his scruff.
Bouncing on the balls of his feet, he clapped his hands together. “Okay, what do we need?”
I’d never seen someone so excited to sit outside on a cold winter’s night to stargaze, but I had to admit, it was contagious.
“First, we need to change. Don’t suppose you’ve got any long underwear, do you?”
Mac’s forehead wrinkled. “Like boxers instead of briefs?”
I dragged a hand down my face. “Oh, you poor sheltered little rich boy.”
He gave me a look that said,Duh.“I think we’ve already established that. Now, are you gonna stand there and make fun of me, or are you going to help me get ready? Because we only have”—frantically, he turned his wrist over to peek at his watch—“seven hours until the sun comes up.”
“Love the enthusiasm you’ve got going on, but even with the appropriate layering, we can’t stay out all night.”
“Meanie,” he grumbled under his breath.
Playfully rolling my eyes, I countered, “Yes, I’m a terrible human being for keeping you from turning into a human popsicle.”
“Fine.” His exhale was so heavy that I could swear it rattled the floorboards beneath us.
Turning my back on him, I began to rifle through my suitcase. Grabbing a pair of long underwear, a thermal top, and a set of fitted flannel pajamas, I tossed the garments over my shoulder. “Got an extra pair of sweats I can throw on over all this?”
His footfalls sounded behind me. “Yep. Here you go.”
“Thanks.” I spun around to grab the thick material from his hands and stepped toward the bathroom. “Be right back.”
Fingers encircled my wrist, and I turned toward Mac in question.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Storm clouds were gathering in his eyes, which had been filled with light a moment ago.
“Uh . . .” I nodded toward the open bathroom door. “To get changed?”
“Nuh-uh.” He gave a firm shake of his head.
My brows drew down in confusion. “So . . . you don’t want to go stargazing anymore?”
“Aspen.” The way he rasped my name had heat pooling low in my belly.
“Yes, Mac?”
His blistering gaze traveled down the length of my body, and even though I still wore my wool coat over my dress from church, a shiver rolled down my spine.
“We spent most of the day naked together,” he stated like I might’ve forgotten.
I swallowed, unable to stop the blush that crept up my neck as memories of every intimate moment rushed to the surface. “Yeah, I was there.”
“I’ve buried my tongue inside that delicious pussy until you screamed my name.”
The husky quality of his voice had me sinking my teeth into my lower lip to stifle a moan, and my thighs pressed together to ease the ache.
