Page 20 of Merry on the Mountain
“Love you, too, Bug. Sleep tight.”
I close the door to Izzy’s room and walk downstairs to grab the monitor from my bedside table. She’s probably getting old enough to not need this anymore, but I feel better having it just in case she gets sick in the night or something, since she’s upstairs and I’m on the main level.
After grabbing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, I pull my sweater over my head. Wincing a bit at the stiffness in my shoulder, I roll it until the ache subsides and then pull the tee over my head. When we got back I turned on the wood stove to ward off the chill, and now I’m running hot. Before I moved out here, I had no idea how well those could heat up a space.
I grab a book and go out to the living room to read for a bit before going to bed. I’m a chapter in when I hear the sound of Maya running up the front porch steps. Her collar jingles quietly as she shakes before the front door opens and closes next door. I wish I had known that she was out there.
I’ve never wanted to kiss a woman more than I do her. If I could have caught up with her in the parking lot, I would have pressed her against the side of the Jeep and kissed her until she understood how serious I am.
She’s awake right now.
I’m awake.
A glance at the video feed of Izzy’s room tells me she’s fast asleep.
Before I can second guess myself, I’m sliding the monitor into my pocket and walking out the front door, closing it quietly behind me. It’ll only be a minute, less time than when I'm outside chopping wood.
I walk barefoot over the dusting of snow on the boards of the front porch and knock on the door. My breath puffs into the air. I hear her approach from the other side and then the deadbolt unlocks. She pulls the door open with a worried expression.
“Is everything ok?—”
My lips are on hers before she can even finish the sentence. She squeaks in surprise but then quickly melts into my arms. I run my tongue over the seam of her mouth, seeking permission, and then immediately sliding inside the silky warmth when she opens for me. Her hands run up my chest and over my shoulders as she moans into the kiss.
She feels so right in my arms, our tongues dancing together in a sensual caress. I moan into our kiss as my fingers dip under the hem of her shirt. I don’t push them up or down, leaving them to rest at the soft skin of her waist. My thumb rubbing in light circles over the taut flesh.
Fuck.
This is better than I thought it would be. I wish I could wrap her legs around my waist and sink into her hot, wet pussy. There’s nothing and no one I can remember wanting more than this. What is she doing to me?
Maya whines, breaking the moment.
As we pull apart from each other, she looks up at me with wild eyes. I’m sure mine are nothing but dark and feral as I look back at her. I don’t even know what to say right now.
“What was that for?” she finally asks.
“A preview.”
“A preview of what?”
“What you have in store for you.”
She smirks, falling back into herself. “For our arrangement?”
I cup her cheek, running my thumb over her lower lip. “No arrangement. Your satisfaction-guaranteed date. Prepare to be wooed, Willa Baker. The kiss is just a precursor.”
“Big words.”
“Big everything.”
She laughs and shakes her head at that and gently pushes me back outside the door. “We’ll see about that.”
Damn right, we will.
CHAPTER 8
WILLA
Big,wet snowflakes pelt my goggles as I ski through the back country. I had early lessons today, so I left before I even heard movement next door. It’s probably a good thing because last night was intense.
