Chapter 6
HARLON
Iwake to feather-light kisses trailing down my stomach.
My eyes snap open. Piper's already halfway down my body, her hair tickling my abs, those dark eyes glinting with mischief as she glances up at me.
"Morning," she murmurs against my hip bone, then bites down gently.
My cock is already hard, morning wood made worse by the sight of her kneeling between my thighs completely naked.
"What are you doing?" My voice comes out gravelly with sleep.
"What does it look like?" She traces her tongue along the V of my hip. "I'm unwrapping my Christmas present."
Jesus Christ.
Her fingers wrap around the base of my shaft, and I hiss through my teeth.
Before I can argue—not that I would—she leans down and drags her tongue from base to tip in one slow, torturous stroke.
"Fuck."
"Mmm." She does it again, this time swirling her tongue around the head. "You taste good."
My hands fist in the sheets, and I have to squeeze my eyes shut because I’m already too close, and I want this to last.
She kisses the underside of my cock, then moves higher. Her tongue traces the ridge beneath the head, and my hips jerk.
"Piper, please—"
She looks up at me, all innocence except for her hand stroking me slowly. "You like this, Harlon?"
"God, yes," I manage. “Everywhere your mouth goes is like magic.”
She leans down and takes one of my balls into her mouth, and I actually whimper.
"There?" she asks sweetly, once she’s released me to move to the other side. "Or here?"
I’m falling apart under her devilish tongue. Sac tightening.
"Both," I rasp.
She hums in satisfaction and takes her time, lavishing attention on my balls while her hand works my shaft in slow, twisting strokes that are making me lose my mind.
"You're so big," she murmurs. "I love how you fill my hand. How you filled me last night."
"Baby—" It's a plea now, all pretense of control gone.
She releases me and moves back up, her tongue flicking across the tip where moisture has already gathered. "And here? You want my mouth here?"
"Hell, yes."
But instead of taking me in, she traces her tongue around the head in maddening circles, sliding into my slit.
My entire lower half is shaking. “Goddamn it, Piper…”
Her eyes are dark with desire and power. "I like hearing you beg, mister strong and silent."
She finally takes me fully into her mouth, and the wet heat nearly kills me. But she doesn't take me deep. Just holds the head between her lips, sucking gently while her tongue works that sensitive spot underneath.
"B-baby," I hear myself whisper, my toes curling.
“Good?” She pulls back, and I could weep at the loss.
"Fuck, yeah.” My voice is wrecked.
She slides down several inches, hollowing her cheeks, and I can't stop the moan that tears from my throat.
"Mmm…yes," she encourages, pulling back to catch her breath. "I want to know how it feels…what I'm doing to you."
She takes me deeper this time, and when she swallows around me, my hips start pumping.
“Damn, Piper—your mouth—it’s...” I'm babbling now, strung out on sensation. “…so good. You're so fucking good at this.”
I’m groaning again as she takes me to the back of her throat, her hand working what doesn't fit, and I'm gripping the sheets so hard my knuckles ache.
"I'm close," I warn her, because I need her to know, need to give her a chance to pull away.
But she just looks up at me with those brown eyes and continues to suck me, and the visual alone—Piper Cross with her lips wrapped around my cock, the way she’s clearly enjoying herself, looking at me like I'm her favorite meal—
"Piper, I'm gonna—I can't—"
She hums, and that's what does it. The orgasm slams through me, my whole body going rigid as I come with her name on my lips. She takes everything, swallowing, and the sight is so erotic I nearly black out.
When I finally come back to myself, she's crawling up my body with a supremely satisfied expression.
"Merry Christmas to me," I say, and I can taste myself when I kiss her. "You're dangerous," I murmur against her mouth.
"You like it."
I flip us so she's beneath me, pinning her hands above her head. "I love it.”
Her laugh turns into a gasp as I slide down her body.
Fair is fair, after all.
The roads are clear, but slushy, the Christmas morning sun turning everything diamond-bright. My truck handles it easily with Piper curled up in the passenger seat, feet tucked under her, watching the mountains roll past.
After returning to the cabin up the mountain to restock the supplies, we decided it best to leave her SUV and come back for it on our way home from Deepwood. I’d rather keep her safe in a vehicle that can handle this kind of winter weather than take any chances with hers.
Last night comes back in flashes as I drive.
Once we’d made love in that big, comfortable, and truly heavenly bed, we ate our crackers, fruit and cheese, and summer sausage straight from the package, sitting cross-legged in the plush Inn robes.
She stole the last piece of cheddar and I retaliated by tickling her bare feet until she shrieked with laughter.
Later, she fell asleep with her head on my chest, one leg thrown over mine like she had claimed me as hers. Waking up to that mind-blowing head, which I enthusiastically returned, we then snoozed until the early morning.
We showered together, touching each other with soap-slick skin under the water and steam, and I had to stroke her sweet pussy until she came pressed against the tile.
It’s like I’m physically incapable of keeping my hands to myself when she’s around.
And I’ve never been like this.
Ever.
I should tell her.
The words sit heavy on my tongue: I love you. I'm in love with you. I have been since the moment Jayce brought you home and you laughed at Dad's terrible joke about park rangers.
But what comes after that?
Hey, by the way, you're twenty-one and I'm forty-one, and people are going to have opinions about that. Also, my brother—your ex—might never forgive me. But want to give this a shot anyway?
"You're thinking too loud," Piper says without looking at me.
"Am I?"
"I can practically hear the gears grinding." She reaches over and takes my hand, threading our fingers together. "Whatever you're spiraling about, stop."
Her hand in mine feels…right. "I'm not spiraling."
"Liar." But she's smiling, thumb stroking across my knuckles. "Is it about Jayce?"
My jaw tightens. "Among other things."
She's quiet for a moment, and I risk a glance at her. She's chewing that bottom lip again.
"He's going to find out eventually," she says softly.
"I know."
"And he's probably going to be pissed."
"Yeah." I squeeze her hand. "But Piper—"
"If you're about to say this was a mistake—"
"No." The word comes out fierce, and I pull over onto the shoulder of the road, putting the truck in park so I can face her properly. "That's not what I was going to say."
Her eyes search mine. "Then what?"
"I was going to say I don't care." The truth spills out before I can stop it. "I don't care what Jayce thinks, or what anyone else thinks. These past two days with you—" I have to stop, collect myself. "I can't go back to pretending I don't feel this."
"Oh," she breathes.
"I know the age gap is—"
"I don't care about that." She unbuckles her seatbelt and leans across the console. "Harlon, I'm a grown woman. I make my own choices.”
She kisses me and I pour everything I haven't said into it. When we break apart, we're both panting.
"We should probably get back on the road," she murmurs. "Before I climb into your lap and we traumatize any passing families."
I laugh and she grins at me with such open affection that my heart doesn’t know what to do with itself.
I put the truck back in gear and pull onto the road, but I don't let go of her hand all the way to Deepwood Mountain.
The cabin my brother Kade rented for us is gigantic.
I had no idea he’d get something like this for us. But seeing it decorated for Christmas is something else.
There’s lights on all the eaves, Santa displays, wreaths, and through the huge windows I can see half a forest's worth of trees and garland.
Sadie must be going nuts.
There’s no way Kade did all this decorating. Not alone anyway.
"Wow," Piper breathes. "This is...a lot."
I park next to my brother-in-law Ledger's truck. "You’re telling me."
The front door flies open and Sadie comes barreling down the porch steps with Bear, their black lab, at her heels and Ledger trailing behind with an amused expression.
"You're alive!" She launches herself at me the second I’m done helping Piper from the truck. "I was so worried!"
I hug her back, careful not to crush my little sister. "We're fine."
She pulls back, and I watch her gaze flick between me and Piper. A slow smile spreads across my sister’s face.
"It's about damn time, you stubborn idiot,” she says quietly into my ear as she hugs me again, harder this time.
Heat creeps up my neck as Ledger approaches, hand extended. "Good to see you, man. Glad the storm didn't get you."
"Thanks." I shake his hand, grateful for the distraction. "Sorry we're late."
"Are you kidding? You gave Sadie something way better than being on time." He grins. "Entertainment."
"I'm going to kill both of you," I mutter, shaking my head.
Piper's patting Bear as Sadie pulls her into a hug. "I'm thrilled you're okay. When you guys went radio silent, I imagined all sorts of terrible scenarios."
"I'm sorry. My phone died and—"
"Don't apologize." Sadie pulls back, studying Piper's face with laser focus. "You look...happy."
The flush that spreads across Piper's cheeks is adorable and incriminating.
"Come on," Ledger says, clapping me on the shoulder. "Let's get you inside. Everyone's waiting."
Everyone turns out to be my brother Kade, his new girlfriend Nia, and her Aunt Meredith—a little woman with sharp bespectacled eyes and an even sharper tongue.