THE CRISP NIGHT air stung Talia’s cheeks as snowflakes fell from the sky, but she was warm and cozy, snuggled with Derek beneath heavy blankets as a beautiful chestnut horse with red ribbons braided in its mane pulled their sleigh along the snowy trail. Talia felt like they’d slipped into a world all their own, serenaded by sounds of the sleigh runners gliding swiftly through the snow and surrounded by tall pines, fluffy white snow covering their branches like mops of hair. The horse’s hooves were muffled in the fresh powder, creating a soft rhythm. Derek tipped her face up and kissed her. Snowflakes melted on her eyelashes, but her hands were buffered by mittens, and her body heated as their tongues tangled and their hands began to wander. The driver seemed oblivious, though he was probably used to couples kissing and touching on the tranquil ride through paradise.
She never imagined life could be this beautiful. Not just their winter wonderland or the way Derek turned her insides to fire, but life with him, where responsibilities mattered but so did . . . love? She breathed a little harder with that thought as he deepened their kisses. She’d felt herself falling long before tonight, but still her pulse quickened with the realization.
Derek pulled off his gloves and caressed her cheek. “You’re so beautiful, Tallie. I want to give you everything. Nights like these, days filled with laughter, friends, family. I want so much to make you happy.”
“You are my happiness.” It was the truth, and she felt it all the way to her bones. “I’ve kept myself closed off for so long, afraid to let anyone in. I have no idea how we happened, but I’m so glad we did.”
“We happened the way all the best things in life happen. Our worlds collided in the parking lot, and once we found each other, we were drawn together by some inexplicable force of nature.” He kissed her again, slowly and sensually. “You needed a man you could count on, someone real, who knew the value of a woman like you. And don’t think I mean an accomplished woman, because that’s far too simple to describe you, Talia Dalton. A professor is what you do, but who you are is a caring, feminine woman, as strong and determined as you are cautious. I respect and love all those parts of you. You bring light into my world, Talia, and I don’t want to imagine a day when I don’t wake up with you in my arms.”
Her throat thickened, and at the same time, she felt like she was really breathing for the first time in years. She didn’t even try to respond with words. She simply drew his mouth to hers and kissed him. She felt him smile against her lips, and then she was smiling too, inside and out. She’d watched her sisters fall in love, and as badly as she’d wanted to feel the incredible sensations they’d described, she’d never fully believed she would. And she sure as heck never expected it to feel this good.
They made out, took selfies, talked, and lay in silence, running their hands leisurely over each other’s bodies on the way back to the lodge. Once they were in the elevator, Derek pinned her against the wall, hands above her head, his blue eyes burning through her like lasers.
“You’re mine, baby, and I’m yours. All night, with no restrictions. No worries about anyone else needing my attention,” he growled hungrily. “Tonight there’s no holding back.”
She couldn’t stop a needy moan from escaping. His eyes flashed dark and insolent as his mouth came ravenously down over hers, kissing her like he’d been freed from years of captivity. She was right there with him, arching and moaning, biting at his lips, earning his strong, rough hands all over her body. By the time they reached their room, she was hanging on to her sanity by a thread. Derek tore their coats off, hauled her into his arms, and shoved the door closed with his hip. She pulled at his shirt as he lifted her sweater over her head, leaving her in a skintight Under Armour top.
“Boots!” fell urgently from her lips, and they both dropped to the floor, struggling to rid themselves of the confining footwear.
Four boots thumped onto the tile, and then she was in his arms again, his hot mouth caressing hers, his hands in her hair, holding, tugging, claiming her as they made their way toward the bed. He worked the button on her jeans free and stripped them down. His eyes locked on her Under Armour leggings.
“Baby, is this like one of those box tricks, where I have to keep taking off more layers?”
She giggled and wiggled out of her Under Armour. “Willow said to dress in layers for warmth.”
“Your man says to strip naked,” he said as he shucked his own clothes. “I’ll keep you so fucking hot, you’ll never want to wear clothes again.”
“That’s a big promise,” she said as she tugged off her socks. “I hope you plan to fulfill it.”
God, he was gorgeous, leaning one hand against the wall, those piercing blue eyes sending sinful messages, his hard length beckoning her, as he pulled off his last sock and pushed from the wall. He crooked his finger, beckoning her to him. The way he looked at her, touched her, the things he said and did, had the most empowering effect on her.
Tonight there’s no holding back. She shivered as his words played in her mind. She walked slowly, trying to saunter seductively, while not focusing on the embarrassment of being on display. The wolfish look in his eyes told her she’d nailed it, and then there was no room for embarrassment. When she was within reach, he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her against him.
“Are you doubting my sexual abilities, Professor Dalton?” He rubbed his cock against her belly in a dizzying rhythm.
Before she could answer, he spun her around and set her down beside the bed, facing the wall. He boxed her in with his big, hot body and bit down on her shoulder just hard enough for her to feel the erotic sting of pain and pleasure everywhere.
He rubbed his cock against her ass and growled in the sexiest voice she’d ever heard, “I promised to never let you down, and I will never break that promise. Not in the bedroom or anywhere else.” He guided her arms above her head and nudged her legs apart with his knees. “Do you trust me, Tallie girl?”
She was already so turned on, she wasn’t sure her voice would work, but she wanted him to know he filled up all the empty places in her she’d never known existed and managed, “With my whole heart.”
He brushed his lips along her shoulder. “You always can, beautiful.” He pressed his hands over hers, flattening them against the wall. “Think you can keep those hands up there for me?”
She closed her eyes as fear of the unknown bubbled up inside her. She was so vulnerable in this position, unable to see and anticipate his next move, but her trust for him overpowered those fears. Her pulse spiked up as he gathered her hair over one shoulder and kissed his way down her spine. His lips were soft and familiar. Safe. His hands played over her hips as he loved her, kissing and nipping her bottom. Sharp bites of pleasure speared through her as his wicked mouth moved lower, teasing over the backs of her legs, her inner thighs. His tongue slicked over her center, and she breathed faster, her fingers curling against the wall. He spread her legs wider, tasting his way up her body. His cock pushed between her legs, resting against her needy sex. She rocked against it as he plastered his hands on her forearms, kissing her shoulder so lightly it felt like a feather dusting her skin as he thrust his hard length against her sex. His hair tickled her bottom, his solid chest pressed against her back. She tried to concentrate on one sensation, but every kiss, every thrust, every graze of his body brought shocks of pleasure. The blissful teases blended together like live wires moving over her skin. She tried to lift her hands, needing to touch him, but he pressed on her forearms, slid his big paws over her hands, and held her in place.
“Come for me.”
The demand in his voice was new and thrilling! He was all man in bed and in life, but he’d never demanded like this. He hadn’t even entered her yet, and she was on the verge of coming. She had no idea it could be so titillating to surrender complete control. But she didn’t want to give it up completely. Or at least, she wanted to share in that privilege, and she gathered the courage to ask for it.
“Touch me,” she said in what she hoped was a commanding voice, though it was so shaky, she was sure he heard it as a plea.
His hand slid slowly down her arm, along her shoulder, making her acutely aware of every inch of skin he touched. In her mind, she followed his fingers as they moved down her side, and finally his hand snaked around her belly and between her legs.
“Give me your mouth,” he growled.
She tried to turn around, but he still had her pinned.
“Just your mouth,” he said.
She looked over her shoulder, and his mouth came forcefully down over hers. They ate at each other’s mouths as his hard length pistoned faster between her legs, and she met each thrust with one of her own, taking her higher and higher. His hand teased her most sensitive nerves in agonizingly precise and painfully slow strokes, bringing her to the cusp of release—and holding her there, leaving her standing on the edge of a cliff, a lifeline swinging just out of reach. Every thrust brought it closer, but not close enough. She struggled against his grip and reached between her legs, grabbing his cock. Their mouths parted as she went up on her toes, guided the broad head toward her entrance, and thrust her bottom out.
“Aw, baby,” he ground out. “I need to get a condom.”
In that moment, everything felt right. Perfect. Beautiful. “No. Don’t. I want all of you, Derek. I’m on the pill, and I don’t want anything between us.”
“Tallie girl,” rushed from his lungs, full of emotions. He touched his forehead to her shoulder, breathing harder, and pressed a kiss there. “Are you sure, baby?”
“I want to be yours and you to be mine in every way.”
“I am yours, baby. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“I don’t,” she said honestly, and it was the most freeing, wonderful feeling to fully trust and to give all of herself to him.
He entered her slowly, both of them sighing at the intensity of feeling everything. She grabbed at the wall for fear her trembling legs would give out. His hands covered hers, and he laced their fingers together. Buried deep inside her, he pressed his cheek to hers and rocked his hips slowly, gyrating in a circular motion. She closed her eyes, reveling in the way he filled her so completely—physically and emotionally.
“Feel good, baby?” he asked.
“So good.”
He showered her with kisses as he loved her tenderly, taking her to the peak of ecstasy and then easing back before sending her over the edge again so exquisitely, she cried out over and over. Every time she hit the peak, he whispered loving words in her ear. She was so lost in him, she didn’t care who heard them. Pleasures tore through her like tidal waves, dragging her deeper into them, until she collapsed against him, and he gathered her in his arms and carried her to bed.
He lay next to her, and she rolled onto her side, reaching for him. “Love me again.”
He turned onto his side, bringing her body flush against his. They gazed into each other’s eyes as he guided her leg to his hip, running his hand down to her ankle as he rocked into her. She felt every inch of his thick length as he penetrated her.
“My sweet, careful girl.” His lips covered hers in another intoxicating kiss. “Do you feel it?”
“I feel everything.”
“This is who we are, Tallie. Just you and me and this amazing love between us.”