Slowly, he grinned."Justmy ass?" He said it with all kinds of promise and just a little bit of sin.
Okay, a lot of sin.
Breathlessly, I replied, "All of you." I was mesmerized by the sight of him. "Preferably naked."
His eyes filled with mischief. "Preferably, huh?"
All I could do was nod.
Right then, I would've given anything to know what he was thinking – what he was feeling – and if this felt like forever to him, too.
I sure as heck hoped so, because me? I was so far gone, there was no going back.
Finally, he closed the distance, shedding his clothes until there was nothing between us but heat and history. When hefinally joined me on the bed, I was practically quivering with anticipation.
When our bodies touched, it was a spark and a sigh, all skin, promise and love. Beyond eager, I wrapped my fingers around his length, hard and hot, and already pulsing with need.
He kissed me again, deep and slow, and when our bodies aligned, I guided him to where I wanted – where Ineeded– him most.
"Maisie," he breathed, his forehead touching mine. "You're everything I ever wanted."
"Me, too." My voice was thick with emotion. "Always."
And then, he entered me in one perfect, aching push that made my breath catch and my heart stutter.
We moved together, slow at first, like rediscovering a rhythm that had never truly left us. The rise and fall of our bodies found a tempo all their own.
It wasn't just sex.
It was everything.
I wrapped my legs around him, holding him close, holding himhere.
And when we climaxed together – when the rhythm crested, and my body clenched around him, pulling him even deeper – I knew two things without a doubt.
I was his.
And he was mine.
Forever?I sure hoped so.
Epilogue
Twelve Degrees of Sparkle
Maisie
As we crunched through the snow, Griff said with a smile in his voice, "You know you're gonna freeze your hand, right?"
I didn't even slow down. I just kept walking with my left mitten tucked under my arm and my bare hand stretched out in front of me like a beacon of blinding joy.
"It's not that cold," I said with a laugh.
He snorted. "It's twelve degrees."
"Yeah, twelve degrees of sparkle." I tossed him a quick smile. "You know, your mom would totally approve."
He laughed. "Shedidapprove. She was so happy, she cried. Remember?"