Page 61 of Festive Faking
“And now you’re telling me, after all that, you’re too shy to change in front of me?”
My mouth opened and closed wordlessly.
Sure, in the heat of passion, I didn’t care that he saw every inch of me, just as I’d seen every inch of him. But without lust hazingour combined vision, the idea of baring myself left me feeling vulnerable.
My lips curved into a teasing smirk as I tried to cover up my sudden self-consciousness. “I’m worried that if I start removing my clothes, you’ll be too tempted and we won’t make it out of the cabin to look at the stars.”
The fingers around my wrist flexed, and before I knew it, he’d yanked me into his chest. Squealing in surprise, I dropped the sweatpants I held, needing to steady myself with a hand to his shoulder.
Mac’s scruff was deliciously rough against my cheek as he brought his mouth beside my ear. “Hate to break it to you, honey, but I’m itching to fuck you all the time, even when you’re fully clothed.”
Panting. I was literally panting.
As if he hadn’t just blown my mind with a few simple words, he pulled back, pressed a kiss to my forehead, and walked away to get changed himself.
But damn, if I didn’t have to bite down on my tongue hard to keep from begging him to forget about the stars.
Chapter 24
Aspen
“I’m jealous.” Mac’s wordswere accompanied by a kiss to my temple.
I was situated between his open legs with my back to his chest, in the truck bed of Daddy’s vintage pickup, both our faces tilted toward the open sky. We’d made a little nest with pillows and blankets to lessen the chill from the cold metal of the vehicle beneath us, using any extra to shield us from the winter wind.
“Why’s that?” I sank into his embrace with his arms banded around my waist.
“You got to grow up here and see these stars every night.”
My lips twisted to the side. “Yeah, but I think knowing they were always there if I wanted to look up, I began to take them for granted.” A heavy sigh shook my chest. “And not just the stars. I didn’t come to truly appreciate what I had here until I left.”
Mac hummed. “I guess that’s what people mean when they talk about the grass being greener. Can’t imagine what kindof shock it was going from this to one of the largest cities in America.”
I huffed out a wry laugh. “You have no idea. Thankfully, I had Bex.”
“Your best friend, right?”
“Yeah.” I swallowed around the lump forming in my throat. I was missing her something fierce since she’d moved to Chicago. “Without her by my side, I don’t think I’d have lasted a week before running home. LA is a big, scary place full of millions of strangers. And don’t get me started on the traffic.”
A knowing chuckle sounded from behind me. “It’s the worst.”
“Everyone seems to be in such a rush out there. It’s always on to the next thing. There are days when I want to stand on the sidewalk and shout at them to slow down and appreciate what they’ve got.”
His hold around my middle tightened, and he rocked our bodies gently. “Maybe you should.”
I scoffed. “Doubt anyone would listen.”
“Probably not,” he conceded. “Not sure I would have before you brought me here and I got a chance to experience it for myself.”
“Careful, Mac,” I teased. “Your reputation as a city boy would be irreparably damaged if anyone found out how you’re falling in love with the country.”
His fingers tickled my sides, and I leapt up, trying to scamper away. I didn’t make it far, getting tangled up in the blankets surrounding us.
Mac caught me easily, flipping me over until I was flat on my back with him caging me in from above. Those brown eyes heated as our ragged breathing mixed.
“You gonna tell on me, Freckles?”
It was crazy to think that, only a few days ago, Ihatedthat nickname. Now that I knew the story behind it? Hearing him sayit warmed me from the inside out, no matter the temperature outside.
