“That’s it, angel. Squeeze me tight.”
She did as he commanded, winding her arms and legs around him as her inner muscles clutched his cock. Too far gone for slow sweetness, he pummeled her. A second climax coiled at the base of her spine, each thrust driving her higher until he froze, buried to the hilt while his cock pulsed deep inside her and she tumbled with him into a vortex of blinding pleasure.
Sweat-slicked and panting, sprawled halfway off the couch, she was the first to giggle. Xander collapsed atop her, shaking with laughter. “Holy flaming comets, that was amazing.”
He lifted his head, his gaze alight with joy. “Have I told you how completely, helplessly in love with you I am?”
She brushed his hair from his sweaty forehead. “A few times, yeah. But feel free to tell me as often as you like.” Curling forward, she peppered his face with kisses. “I love you to the stars and beyond.”
He propped his chin on her chest. “Maybe there’s something to this cosmic vortex business.”
Happiness sparkled inside her, as bright as any star. “Nah. That’s just us, love.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Whew!”Fanninghisflushedface, Xander opened the kitchen windows to air out the heady scent of garlic and lamb wafting through their cottage. “No vampires will bother us tonight.”
Hannah looked up from the cutting board where she was slicing crusty bread. “Your moussaka smells amazing. Can’t believe you made me wait this long to taste it.”
“Well, we’ve both been a little busy, eh? And Yiayia’s recipe takes all day.” In fact, his grandmother would be scandalized by the shortcuts he’d taken. He could just hear her scratchy grumble, “Bechamel in the microwave? Bah!”
But that’s the thing about family traditions—you’ve gotta find a way to make them your own.
Nuzzling Hannah’s neck, he grasped her knife hand and snatched a slice of bread.
“Thief!” Grinning, she bumped him with her hip. “That’s for our guests. Think we have enough?”
He eyed the three brimming bread baskets before smooching her cheek. “Yeah, plenty.”
Although they’d moved into this three-bedroom cottage back in June, the summer tourist season had kept them both so busy they hadn’t had a chance to celebrate properly until now, the weekend after Labor Day. Not that either was complaining. Souvenir Galaxy had raked in even more profits than Xander had hoped for, and he was well on his way to repaying his loan early. The expandedBeaconwas flourishing too, thanks to Hannah’s expert management and nose for news.
And yeah, turned out she’d been right about the UFO nuts. Hundreds had come to pay homage to Gus’s legacy, and most of them left with full shopping bags. Though Colonel Malinowski and Professor Alterman hadn’t bugged him again, he was in talks with a third group, WASETI—Washington Searchers for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence—about leasing one of the mini shops for a UFO information center. Gus would’ve liked that, and Xander definitely owed him one.
Hannah poked her head outside and declared, “Gorgeous! We couldn’t ask for more perfect weather.”
He joined her in the doorway, the tight space giving him the perfect excuse to squeeze her close—not that he needed an excuse. His favorite after-work pastime was finding new places in the house to get frisky with his lady love. In fact, they hadn’t tried the garden shed yet…
But for now, they had less than half an hour before their guests arrived. The morning’s patchy cloud cover had given way to clear skies and balmy temperatures, allowing their celebration to spill out into the front and back yards—plenty of room for the friends and family they’d invited to a combination housewarming party and launch party for the children’s book they’d co-written over the summer:Gus and the Aliens.
Wiping her hands on her “Kiss me, I’m Greek”apron, which she adored despite her thoroughly Italian roots, Hannah hugged his waist and gave him a look of concern. “So, your brother’s not coming, after all?”
He smooched her forehead. “His kids have a soccer tournament. To tell you the truth, I’m kinda glad they can’t make it.”
He hadn’t heard a peep about the curse since the business’s grand opening. Two of his sisters, Irida and Sofia, had visited over the summer and no doubt reported back to his parents, who’d sent congratulations via a sterile greeting card. There was a time when that paltry gesture would have stung, but honestly? He was over it. Starting over in Trappers Cove had snapped the thread that tied his self-image to his family’s opinions. With Hannah’s help, he’d discovered the joy of not giving a crap. And poof! The curse was broken.
“Hey, before the party starts—” He dashed to the coat closet, where he’d hidden a package under his raincoat. “A little something from me and Gus to you.”
Hannah opened the gift bag, dug through the glittery tissue paper, and extracted a flying saucer wind chime, complete with a star-shaped crystal prism that transformed sunlight into flashes of rainbow.
Hannah’s giggle of delight warmed him, body and soul.
“Zora recommended hanging a wind chime by the front door to repel negative energy.”
“But an alien, Xan?” she teased. “Out where everyone can see?”
Okay, he’d earned some ribbing on that subject, after all his grumbling about Gus’s little green aliens.
“Call it a tribute to TC’s funky vibe.” He tapped the tiny spacecraft. “These little guys showed me how to embrace my inner weirdness.” He gathered her into his arms. “Most importantly, they led me to you.”
