Page 66 of The Holiday Grump
“No,” I whispered, dropping my mouth against his shoulder. His skin tasted salty and sweet. “It’s perfect. Give me more.”
He pulled back slightly and pumped into me again, sending sparks up my spine. With each thrust, I met him harder, teetering at the edge of the seat, relishing that point of contact and the intense sensation. My body crackled like it held an electric charge. I couldn’t hold back, moving with him with wild abandon.
“Noelle. Slow down. I can’t?—"
He tightened his grip around my bottom, trying to hold still. I felt him pulsing inside me. I could tell he wanted to last longer, but I couldn’t hold back any more than he could. Another orgasm was gathering momentum, coiling tighter inside me. I had to move.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, rolling my hips.
He groaned, and I felt his release erupt inside me. My body followed. I clutched his shoulders and moaned into his chest, shaking uncontrollably, riding the second wave all the way through.
As my brain returned from its journey through the stars, a hazy thought emerged. We’d crossed a bridge we could never uncross, like fastening one of those padlocks and throwing away the key. What did it mean?
After a moment of panting, he pulled away, looking dazed. Fear hit me like a whiplash. Was he going to apologize? Was he going to talk about the future? I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. After a moment’s hesitation, he kissed me back, relaxing into it.
“Don’t say anything,” I whispered quickly. “Please don’t say it was a mistake. Let’s not think too hard yet, okay?”
“I’m not thinking at all. My brain is mush.”
“Good. Because I had two incredible orgasms and that never happens, so I don’t want anything to spoil this moment.”
“It never happens?” He looked concerned.
“No. Unless I do it myself. And I’m not that good at it.”
Truths were slipping out again, my filter completely gone. And now he was looking at me with that unnerving intensity, all soft and warm and open. Like he was about to confess something I wasn’t sure I could take. I pulled him closer, burying my face in the crook of his neck. He smelled like birch trees and woodsmoke and sex. I was losing the real game of chicken. I was the chicken. I couldn’t meet that gaze.
“That’s a shame,” he murmured against my cheek. “You deserve thousands.”
CHAPTER 22
Fredrik
Stay.
Of all the things I wanted to tell her, that one word hovered on my lips, desperate to be released. Ineededher to stay. The thought of her finishing that temporary job and sailing away was so painful that I had to push it out of my mind.
We barely knew each other, and getting this attached wasn’t going to end well for me. Jackson could sleep with someone and move on. I couldn’t, which was why I didn’t.
The aftereffects of the best sex of my life lingered, making it harder to see reality for what it was. She didn’t want to see it either, clinging to me like she was already saying goodbye, climbing on board that ship.
“My wife died,” I said.
Her eyes flipped open. “I figured.”
“But that’s not the whole story.”
She nodded, lips pressed together like she was holding back a flood of words. I stroked my thumb over them. “It’s okay. I’ll tell you, and you can ask all the questions. Whatever pops into that wild, beautiful head.” I tapped her temple, and her face relaxed a little.
“I’m so scared I’ll offend you.”
“Go ahead. It’s not the end of the world.”
I closed the sauna door, and we climbed onto the top bench. I threw some water onto the stones, and she moaned, inhaling the hot steam with her eyes closed. Maybe it took her back to her childhood. I’d ruin her mood with my story, but I had to get it off my chest. She needed to know, even if I risked her running away for good.
“My wife didn’t like living here. We lived by the harbor back then, but she didn’t like Hideaway. There wasn’t enough going on. She put a lot of effort into her clothes and hair and makeup, and there weren’t that many people to show it off to. She was beautiful. I think she needed a bigger audience. So we’d go to Bangor or farther. She loved the theater and figure skating. And shopping.”
“She bought those shoes!” Noelle clamped her mouth, looking mortified. “Ignore me.”
