Page 253 of Screwged for Christmas

The smell of pine hit her on a draft of warm air tinged with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla the second they were inside. Her favorite Christmas combination. Candles, the source of all the holiday scents, she assumed, scattered the parlor tables filled with memorabilia, their placements just as she remembered. He must have worked fast to bring a sense of cheer to the home. Did he do it for her?

Nathan sat her down and closed the door behind them.

A kaleidoscope of fond memories of her, her brother, and Nathan flitted across her mind in an array of vivid color, like no time had passed at all since their last gathering around Nathan’s table for one celebration or another. The Grant family was vast and losing the patriarch wouldn’t be easy for any of the people she’d come to consider her own family.

Tall wooden beams supported an open layout lit with low lights and a large fire in the hearth. How could he still live here and be sane? True, he was rarely home, but still… Everywhere she looked she saw her brother’s wide smile and handsome face mingled in with the rest of the Grant family. How did Nathan find comfort where she only found pain?

No wonder he’d called her over tonight. He’d rather work than be alone.

A soft click of a lock brought her out of the inner thoughts. Her balance wobbled just slightly, and she bumped into a table. She shot out a hand and grabbed a photo before it could fall to the hardwood floor.

Willa zeroed in on the image. There he was—Adrian—all smiles and full of promise. Her chest tightened and tears broke loose to fall freely.

Damn the holidays. They always made her a little more emotional.

A little more heartbroken for all the things she didn’t have.

Like Nathan and a warm home and lover to call her own.

Ugh. She needed to shove her heart into a vault and clamp that fucker shut already.

She shouldn’t have come. Being here was a big fat mistake.

She sensed Nathan’s strength a second before he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Strong. Muscular.

Her heart jumped in her throat and refused to budge.

And then she did the one thing she shouldn’t have done.

She hoped.

His strong arm slipped around her waist while he took the photo from her grasp. Solid muscle pressed up against her back and her body melted into him, welcoming his strong support.

Nathan set the picture on the table and gently turned her to face him.

She blinked quickly, dashing all the tears away.

Catching her chin in a firm but gentle hold, he forced her to look at him.

His warm, brown gaze caressing over every part of her face as if he was looking at her for the first time.

“He made me promise not to touch you, Willa.” A gentle touch to her cheek sent a pulse of desire to rock through her. “I want you to know since the first day you walked into my life you’re all I ever wanted. Adrian knew that. And you need to know I plan on breaking that promise to stay away from you tonight. I’m going to claim that virgin pussy with my fingers, my mouth and my thick cock. Part those beautiful silky thighs and watch as I stretch you and take what I’ve wanted since the first time I met you. I knew you would be mine one day. And Willa, today I’m tired of running. Tired of waiting. I want what’s mine. You.”

Me?

Claim me?

Her breath hitched in shock.

A good shock. A do-I-strip-right-now kind of shock.

Jesus, she couldn’t catch her breath. It was like he wanted to make her come right then and there without even touching her all-too-willing body. She might be inexperienced, but her body had desired him long enough and her fantasies were fierce. Plus shedidhave the internet. Her body might not know the touch of a man, but her well-primed mind would fill in the gaps where she lacked experience.

Her gaze raised to his as he spoke. Heavy and thick with lust, each word struck a tingling nerve. Mentally stuck on the imagery that went along with his words, she was caught off guard when his lips crashed into hers.

Hungry, starving.

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