“We love the holidays.”
“This is really good,” I say, handing it back to him. The bitterness of the chocolate is complemented by the sweetness of the raspberry. Reid nods as he takes a sip and places the cup back in the holder.
“Definite winner. And now we have hot chocolate with peppermint.”
Just the smell transports me back to my childhood, and the taste is even better. It’s like a warm hug of all the best memories in my life.
“This is perfect,” I confirm. “You can have a taste, but this one is mine.”
“Please hold all final votes until you’ve tried this one.”
He grins as I take a sip of the white hot chocolate, his expression falling when I scrunch up my face. “That is really sweet.”
Snatching the cup out of my hand, he cradles it against his chest as he gapes at me. “Some people don’t appreciate good taste.”
“I thought you tasted pretty good this morning,” I murmur, casually taking a sip of the peppermint hot chocolate and watching his mouth fall open.
“It’s amazing how turned on I am by your filthy mouth.”
“It’s a gift.”
“You’re not kidding,” he mutters, his cheeks pink as he looks heavenward.
Moving the tray to the other side of him, I wrap my arm around Reid’s shoulders and relish in the way he curls into me.
“Thank you for this,” I say, pressing a lingering kiss to his temple, the air filled with a joyous energy that even I can’t ignore.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to do it.”
I pull him closer, thankful for this time together, because no matter what happens, he’s already given me some of the happiest memories of my life.
And I’ll cherish them even when I’m gone.
15
REID
We walked along the street, stopping to talk to friends and neighbors and enjoying the crisp December night. It’d been the best date I’d been on in a long time. Harlan is so much more than he lets on, his gruff exterior giving way to something much more tender.
He bought me another pair of my mitten gloves, his smile wide as he picked out a dark gray pair with little Christmas trees on them. He’d declined a matching pair, saying he didn’t mind the cold and would much rather just hold my hand.
My heart had squeezed in my chest. He didn’t sound like a man talking in temporary terms, and that notion has me ten shades of confused as we pull into his driveway.
I open my mouth to speak at the same time that Harlan grips the back of my neck and crashes his lips over mine in a searing kiss. He tastes like chocolate and peppermint and a fucking wet dream.
“I need to be inside you,” he pleads, nipping at my jaw and licking down the column of my throat. “Hard and fast—will you let me, Christmas?”
“Yes,” I choke out, my favorite holiday being used as a term of endearment pushing me way over the edge intoI’m obsessed with Harlan Frostterritory.
“Then get inside”—his eyes are wild as they lock with mine—“now.” The timbre of his voice gives me butterflies as anticipation swirls in my gut. My hand doesn’t connect with the door handle right away, and Harlan’s chuckle is low and menacing as I try like hell to get out of the car.
In one, not-so-smooth motion, my feet hit the snow-covered walk as I follow Harlan to the door. He unlocks it and then holds it open, letting me pass before kicking it closed behind us.
It’s also the last of his restraint.
My back slams against the wall, my grunt swallowed as Harlan’s mouth takes mine in a brutal kiss. There’s nothing sweet about the way he tears my clothes from my body or the filthy things he whispers against my skin as he bends me over his kitchen table, my forearms braced on the wood.
“Look at you,” he rasps, his palms massaging my ass, spreading my cheeks and teasing my hole as I stare at him over my shoulder, lust-drunk and positively out of my mind for him. “Your body is insane, Reid. You’re damn perfect for me, aren’t you?”
