Page 21 of Christmas With My Mountain Man Landlord
She hugs him fiercely before whisking Colt away, leaving us standing in the gently falling snow, hands still joined.
"Should we..." I gesture vaguely in the direction of his house.
"Yes." His voice carries a roughness that sends shivers down my spine. "Let's go home."
We walk in charged silence, the space between us humming. I try to focus on the beauty of the snow dusted streets, the colorful lights reflecting off white surfaces, but my awareness keeps circling back to Tom beside me. To the memory of his kiss. To the promise of more.
When we reach his house, he stops me on the porch, snow falling around us, the moment suspended in winter stillness.
"Kelsie," he says, his voice low and serious. "I don't do this. Haven't for years."
"This being...?"
"Getting involved. Opening up." His eyes hold mine, honest and vulnerable in a way that makes my heart ache. "I'm not good at it."
"I think you're better than you give yourself credit for." I touch his face, feeling the warmth of his skin against my cold fingers. "That was quite a kiss for someone out of practice."
A smile breaks through his seriousness. "Maybe some things you don't forget."
"Maybe." I step closer, emboldened by the night's magic. "Or maybe we need more practice. Just to be sure."
His arms encircle my waist, drawing me against him. "I'm all for thorough research."
This time when our lips meet, there's no hesitation. Just heat and hunger and the certainty that we've crossed a threshold we've been approaching since the moment I arrived in Whisper Vale. His kiss is deeper now, more demanding, drawing responses from me I didn't know I was capable of.
When we finally part to breathe, his forehead rests against mine, our breath mingling in the cold air.
"We should go inside," he says, voice rough.
"We should," I agree, making no move to step away.
His eyes search mine, looking for any hesitation. "I want to be clear about what's happening here."
"Crystal clear." I rise on tiptoes, pressing another brief kiss to his lips. "I want this, Tom. Give me all of you."
The simple declaration seems to break something loose in him. He captures my mouth again, the kiss searing with barely restrained passion as he fumbles with the door, finally managing to open it without breaking contact.
As we stumble inside, arms still wrapped around each other, I know with absolute certainty that whatever happens next will change everything. And for once in my cautious life, I'm ready to embrace that change wholeheartedly.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TOM
The door closes behind us with a soft click that seems to echo in the sudden quiet. Kelsie stands in my entryway, snowflakes melting in her hair, her cheeks flushed from cold and something more.
"Would you like some coffee?" I ask, then immediately feel ridiculous. Coffee is not what either of us wants right now.
She smiles, a slow curve of lips that sends heat coursing through me. "I think we've had enough caffeine for one night."
I take a step toward her, hyperaware of every detail. The way her glasses sit slightly crooked on her nose. The rapid pulse visible at the base of her throat. The lingering scent of vanilla that follows her everywhere.
"Kelsie." Her name emerges as barely more than a whisper. "Are you sure about this?"
She closes the distance between us, rising on her tiptoes to bring her face closer to mine. "I've never been more sure of anything."
The last of my restraint crumbles as I bend to capture her mouth with mine. This kiss is different from those we sharedunder the mistletoe and on the porch. Those were explorations, questions asked and tentatively answered. This is certainty, a declaration of intent that leaves no room for doubt.
She responds with unexpected fervor, her hands sliding up my chest to link behind my neck. The enthusiasm of her reaction emboldens me. I deepen the kiss, my tongue seeking entrance which she readily grants, a soft sound of pleasure escaping her that vibrates against my lips.
