Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
“Agreed,” I say, cupping her cheek. “So, why don’t you let me get dressed and see about starting a fire in the lobby? I saw wood stacked by the back door.”
“Okay, but I’m keeping this.” She sits, tugging my suit coat around her shoulders as she moves. “It smells like you and the lining is nice and silky.”
“It should be. It’s silk.”
Her eyes widen. “Ooo-la-la. Fancy. Then I’m definitely keeping it and pretending I’m a high-priced courtesan every time I wear it.”
“As long as you always wear it with nothing underneath.” My gaze sweeps up and down her small frame as she stands, admiring the way the curves of her breasts peek out behind the lapels.
She cocks her head and points a fetching toe. “Yeah? You like me in nothing but men’s outerwear?”
“Very much.” I shrug my button-up shirt on with another grin and reach for my pants.
I don’t think I’ve smiled this much in years, but I can’t help myself. Suddenly, being back in Jingle Bell Junction feels simpler, more manageable, not so bad…
Not so bad, at all…
Holly’s lips turn down. “Aw, pants. I mean, you look good in pants, don’t get me wrong, but…” She wrinkles her nose. “I just have new feelings about pants and the feeling is that they’re unnecessary.”
As soon as I’ve buttoned and zipped, I reach for her, pulling her against me as I murmur, “I promise to de-pant as soon as it’s warm enough. We can drag the mats into the lobby and have our adult sleepover in there.”
She loops her arms around my neck. “Good. And then I’ll thoroughly sanitize everything before we leave so we aren’t depraved grown-ups who have sexy times on play mats and don’t clean them up afterward.”
“Never,” I scoff. “We aren’t depraved.” I reach down, gripping a handful of her delectable ass. “At least, not yet… I do have a few ideas, however, if you’re interested.”
She kisses me, her lips curving against mine. “Do they involve whipped cream, my pussy, and your tongue? I hope so because I know there’s whipped cream in the fridge downstairs. If we leave it there with the power out, it’s just going to go bad. Seems a shame not to put it to good use.”
“You’re a genius,” I say, my teeth bumping against hers as we both grin.
“Not the first time I’ve been called that,” she says, as we back toward the lobby, still tangled in each other’s arms. “Usually, it’s because I managed to get a high-strung puppy to stop barking and smile for the camera, but I’m open to being a sex genius, as well.”
“Open? It’s a fait accompli, mon chere.”
She shivers, her grip tightening on my shoulders. “Of course, you speak French. With an amazing accent. Will you talk dirty French to me next time? Or even clean French. I won’t know the difference. I only speak English and a tiny bit of Spanish. I’ve always wanted to be bilingual, but there never seems to be enough time to learn.”
“We can practice together while I’m in town,” I say, stopping by the empty fireplace. “I’m not sure how effective I’ll be as a teacher, but I’m happy to try.”
Holly pulls back, gazing up at me with a far more serious expression than I expected. “You’ll be a wonderful teacher. No doubt in my mind.” She pulls in a breath and adds in a rush, “That was the most amazing sex of my life, Luke. Seriously, I didn’t know it could be that good or I would have been a lot sadder about going without it for seven years.”
My brows shoot up and she cringes.
“Shit,” she hisses. “I didn’t mean to say that part out loud. Now, you probably think I’m some kind of prudish weirdo or something.”
“No, I think you’re a delightful, sexy weirdo,” I say, hoping to make up for my unguarded reaction. It’s been a while for me, too, but not seven years.
She rolls her eyes. “Thanks, but you know what I mean. I’m not stuffy about sex, I swear. I just…couldn’t find anyone who gave me butterflies. And I really wanted that.”
I brush her hair from her forehead. “I give you butterflies?”
“You give me a flock of starlings, one of the giant ones that leaves your entire car covered in poop after they perch in the tree above it.”
I exhale a soft laugh. “That’s the best compliment with the word ‘poop’ in it that I’ve ever received.”
Holly beams. “You’re welcome. And there’s more where that came from, right after you fetch that whipped cream and my flashlight from downstairs. I need to call my neighbor to ask her to feed my cat in the morning, but no way am I going down there in the dark.”
My brows lift. “But the power’s out.”
She blinks. “Yes, but the phone should still be working. Mine always does at home, anyway.”