Page 157 of The Holiday Heartbreaker

She wondered if she should stay away one night, just to see what would happen.

To test. To push.

And at the same time, the idea filled her with dread. Because how could she skip a night knowing that their nights together weren’t endless?

How could she miss a chance to fall asleep in his arms?

She wanted him. No one else but him.

The desperation of that need frightened her.

He reached his hand out. She loved to hold his hand.

Whether he was leading her to the bedroom, or through the forest for a walk.

He was the same man in both places. Hard, beautiful. A caregiver, and masterful at all times.

He drew her inside slowly, and her heart thundered just a little bit harder than usual. As if she sensed that tonight was different. It felt special to her, even though she couldn’t say why.

She was ready. For something. Something more.

“Take your clothes off for me,” he said.

It stunned her, the way that he knew. Because he had to know. That she had a surprise for him. That she had something special in store, he had to know.

Because he was the sort of man who did. He could probably see it in the way she held herself. He could probably see it in the way she stood.

That she had on lace instead of cotton.

He was the sort of man who knew such things.

She unbuttoned her dress, slowly, and revealed the black lace bra with glittering red gemstones she had beneath the dress.

The sound that escaped his throat was a growl.

Then her dress dropped down past her hips, and revealed the underwear, and the garters that held up her stockings. Also glimmering with gems.

“Little Red,” he said. “You came looking every inch the feast tonight.”

“I wanted to please you,” she said.

“You have.”

A shiver of satisfaction went through her. He did not withhold praise. It was another glorious thing about him.

He made her feel beautiful, and like more than enough. Like she was wonderful. And like she could do anything. Like she was already flying.

He was wearing a belt, and she knew it was simply because the sight of him undoing one sent a shiver of anticipation through her body. And when he began to slowly undo the buckle and work it through the loops, the temperature inside of her began to rise.

She felt like it was a fever. And she was not sad about it. Not in the least. She was happy to be held in his thrall.

Slowly, he slid the belt out of the loops on his jeans, the side of the leather wrapping around his hand making her throat dry.

He set it down, then undid the button on his jeans and lowered the zipper.

“Get on your knees.”

She obeyed, clad in the black lace, and reveling in it.

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