CHAPTER 6
Emmy
I felt that kiss everywhere.
Seaver's mouth was warm on mine, setting off sparks throughout my entire body.His lips were soft and sure and so achingly familiar.I kissed him back, matching his intensity, gripping his broad shoulders and pulling him closer. In response, he nipped my bottom lip, and I couldn't hold back a gasp.Seaver took full advantage, tasting me then coming back for more.Long, decadent strokes of his tongue made me shiver.It felt so good.Too good.
For a second, I wondered if this was a dream.
I'd had plenty of them featuring him.
But I knew better.
Only the real thing could ever feel this amazing.
We clung to each other.
Our mouths danced together.
His touch lit me up brighter than the twinkling lights on the tree.
And yet we still weren't close enough.
Almost as if he'd read my mind, Seaver wrapped me tighter in his arms, and I pressed my body to his, deepening the kiss. I wasn't sure how it happened or who initiated it.But in the next breath, I was in motion.
And in the next, I was straddling Seaver's lap.
The groan that left his lips was like music to my ears.
"You okay?" I breathed.
"Yeah," he said between kisses."You?"
"I'm good."
Seaver slowly slid his hands up my thighs to grip my hips then gave them a small squeeze.
I bit back a moan.
"Just good?" he asked.
"Perfect," I gasped out.
Why does everything he's doing feel so wonderful?
When my hips rolled, Seaver made a sound of approval in the back of his throat.
"Why do you feel so good?" he said, almost as if he could read my innermost thoughts.
I couldn't answer even if I wanted to.
My mind was overwhelmed with sensation.As Seaver's mouth trailed kisses down my neck, my hips kept moving.My fingers tangled in his dark hair.I tried to catch my breath, but at that moment, he found and sucked on a spot on my neck that made me see stars.
"Oh," I cried.
Seaver's head came up immediately."Was that a good sound?"
I nodded, still unable to form words.
His grin was confident and sexy as hell.
"Want me to do it again?" he asked.
"If you want," I said finally.
And when he did, I made the sound again.
Only louder.
"Better stay quiet," he said, but I could've sworn I heard a challenge in his words."We might wake someone."
"And?" I breathed.
Seaver's gaze met mine."Your mom or brother could see us."
"I don't care."
"Really?"
"I want this."
I ran my fingers along his hard jaw, watching his eyes flare.
"I want you," I said and kissed him fiercely.
If this was it, I thought, if this was the only moment I had with Seaver, I was going to make it count.The kiss was like a gift.His arms wrapped around me, holding me tight, making me feel safe and wanted.After a few moments, his lips gentled against mine, changing the pace, and though I'd loved how hot and demanding everything had been, this was just as amazing.
Seaver took his time.
All of his attention was focused on me.
Deep, heart-melting kisses.
Nice and slow.
One of his hands brushed against my cheek, gently sweeping my hair back behind my ear.For some reason, that small touch made tears well in my eyes, but I fought them back.
What was that about?
I rolled my hips again, and Seaver broke the kiss with a curse.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said, "but I think we should stop."
I frowned."Why?"
"Because you feel too good."
"What if I don't want to stop?"
"I know you think you wouldn't care if someone caught us, but you might."
"I wouldn't."
I went to move, but Seaver hissed, clamping his hands down on my hips.
"What are you—"
"Keep moving like that, and I'll flip you over on this couch and take you right here."
My heart stuttered.
My legs tightened around his hips.
Seaver smiled slowly, obviously having felt the movement.
"You like that?"
I so did.
"Yeah, you like knowing I'm five seconds from losing control," he whispered.His hand played with the hem of my shorts, and I swallowed."Maybe I'll just push these aside and slide home."
His hips pressed up into mine, hitting me just right, making my eyes roll back.
"I think we'd both like it with you on top."
"Seaver," I panted, not knowing what I was asking for."Please."
He kissed me again, long and hard, then pressed his forehead to mine.
"Whatever you want, Emilia," he rasped.
I took a second to catch my breath and clear my head.
"You're right," I said."We should stop."
Even if it was the last thing I wanted to do.
"This probably wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the lights, the late hour, and the Christmas atmosphere."
Seaver slowly pulled back then raised a brow."If that was true, I'd be walking around Target with a hard-on.Thankfully, it's not."
I laughed, couldn't help it.
Seaver was smiling as he shook his head."I missed that sound."
My smile dimmed."And whose fault is that?"
He sighed as I moved off his lap to sit on the couch."Listen, I know one mind-blowing kiss doesn't mean you've forgotten everything.I know me leaving the way I did hurt you."
I waited.
"I know you haven't forgiven me yet.But…I hope someday you will."
Seaver searched my face.
"I hope you'll try at least."
Those eyes made me want to give him everything he wanted and more.I wanted to say, of course, everything's good now.All the bad forgotten.But I just wasn't ready.I could give him something though.
"I'll try," I said finally.
Seaver's breath left him on a long exhale, and I let him take my hand.
"Thank you," he said and cleared his throat."Do you need help wrapping the rest of the presents?"
"Sure."
"Then after, maybe we can just sit here for a while.Together."
His thumb brushed over my knuckles, raising goosebumps.
"Since it's Christmas," he added.
"Okay," I said."Since it's Christmas."
Once all the presents were placed under the tree, I sat beside Seaver, and he put his arm over the couch behind me.I tried to resist.Really I did.But somehow, my head ended up on his shoulder.
I yawned, and he chuckled.
"What?" I asked.
"I was just thinking about how you never answered my question."
"About?"
"Whether or not you got me anything for Christmas," he said.
"Maybe I did," I said.My eyes felt so heavy as I burrowed closer to him."Did you get me something?"
"Maybe.What do you want?"
"Can you control the weather?"
Seaver scoffed a laugh."Where'd that come from?"
"Nowhere," I said, yawning again."Seriously though, you don't have to get me anything.All I wanted was for my family to be together, and thanks to this storm, that's not looking like it's going to happen."
"Never say never."
"Besides, that kiss was pretty good," I said sleepily.
"Pretty good," he repeated."Such high praise.My ego's never felt better."
"You know what I meant."
"Yeah," he said, placing a kiss on the top of my head."I do.Now, get some rest."
"Okay, but only for a little bit."
As I was drifting off, feeling Seaver settle in beside me, I hoped he knew I meant it.
I hoped he felt the same way I did about what happened.
He didn't need to get me something.
He already had.
That kiss was like all the best Christmas gifts I'd ever received rolled into one.
#
"Should we wake her?"
"No, let her rest.She did a lot yesterday."
I recognized the voices, though they seemed to come from far away.
"But it's after twelve."
A sigh."Finn, it's Christmas."
"Exactly, Mom.We never sleep this late.And Emmy wouldn't want to either.She said she had a lot to do. I bet she just forgot to turn on her alarm."
A new voice spoke, and I recognized it too.
"Makes sense.She and Seaver had a long night."
My brother groaned."Rose, please."
"What?"Rose released a gusty sigh."They looked so cute.All cozy and curled up like that."
I frowned in my sleep.
Who were they talking about?
"I may be traumatized for the rest of my life," Finn said, "but yeah, it's cool."
"Finn, come on."
"She's my sister."
"But it was so cute," Rose said again.
My mom sounded amused when she said, "So cute I had to get a photo."
There was a sound like a high-five.
"That's messed up," Finn said.
"We're romantics,"Rose replied then sniffed."I thought you were too, Finn.But if you can't see the beauty of that moment, I don't know."
"I thought she hated him," Finn said.
"Guess we were wrong about that?"
"Maybe.But I don't think Emmy or Seaver would appreciate the picture, Mom."
I opened my eyes, sitting up sleepily."What picture?" I asked."What are you guys talking about?"
Finn, Rose, and Mom all shifted their gazes to me.
And that was when I realized I was still downstairs on the couch.
There was a blanket covering me that I didn't remember putting on.Wrapping paper, scissors, and tape littered the table.The tree lights were still on.Everything looked exactly like it did last night except now light filtered in through the windows.It took me another moment to realize what—or rather who—was missing.
Trying to play it cool, I said, "So, what's going on?"
"Nothing," Rose said then smiled bright."Did you sleep well?"
I shrugged."Yeah, I must've fallen out because I only meant to close my eyes for a second."
"Hmmm."
Finn crossed his arms."Is there anything you want to tell us?" he said.
"Uh, no?"
"Really?Because I found you and Seaver on the couch this morning."
I swallowed."Ah."
"Imagine it, Em.I come downstairs in the wee hours of the morning, as is tradition"—Finn lifted a brow—"only to find you snuggled up with the guy you claim to hate."
"I thought he would've gone back upstairs," I mumbled.
"He didn't.I had to get Rose to make sure I wasn't seeing things. But no, Mom came down and saw everything too.What do you have to say for yourself?"
With a nod, I turned to our mother."Nothing happened."
Mom tilted her head, and I sighed.
"Well, nothing too explicit."
Finn threw up his hands, and Mom looked like she was fighting back a smile."Glad I saw him at the gas station, looking all morose, and insisted he come over."
Surprisingly, I was too.
"Are the other guys up?" I asked.
"Not yet," she said."But I expect they will be soon.Finn's making pancakes."
"Since Archer's not here," Finn explained when I looked at him.
I nodded."Has he or anyone else called?"
"No, but they will," Mom said, patting me on the back."Even if we're not together, at least, there are phones."
"Mom…"
"And I know all my kids are healthy and happy even if I can't hug them."Mom looked away."Oh, I forgot to start the bacon.Be right back."
Once she was gone, I asked Finn, "Any word?"
"No, but like Mom said, we can at least call or FaceTime."
A sigh escaped my lips.
"Where's Seaver?" I asked finally.
"He's gone," Finn said.
My chest tightened at the words.
Rose nodded."He left really early, saying he had something to do."
"Oh," I said.
Funny how much that hurt.Hearing Seaver decided to kiss and run shouldn't have been a surprise.And really it wasn't.Still.Although I'd already lost him once, I felt deflated—and then wanted to slap myself for being so na?ve.
Maybe I'd never had him in the first place.
"He asked me to give you this," Rose said, and as she held out a folded piece of paper, I perked up.She rolled her eyes as Finn cleared his throat."Well, technically, he asked Finn.But your brother was still in a snit about finding you in a compromising position."
"Traumatized," Finn put in."Still not over it."
"Hey, at least they were fully clothed."
My brother paled a little at that."Good point."
"Thanks, Rose," I said, ignoring my brother and taking the paper.As I read the familiar handwriting, my brows furrowed.
Finn huffed."Well?What does it say?"
"Thought you were getting over the trauma."
"Correct.But I still want to know."
"Me too," Rose said.
I glanced up at them."It doesn't say much.Just that he's gone to get me a present or something."
"A man of few words," Rose said.
Finn shook his head."I don't know what's going on between you two," he said."But however things go, I'm on your side, sis."
"Thank you," I said."Both of you."
As Finn walked with Rose to her car, I stood there in the living room, reading the short note again.
You look beautiful in your sleep.
Went to get your present.
See you later.
Yours, Seaver
It was just four lines, yet the promise was there.He'd be back.But I couldn't help wondering what "later" meant and how long he'd stay this time.I knew I shouldn't care either way.But my heart hoped he'd come back soon.