Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Joy
My body ignites as he pushes inside me. It’s a tight fit, but the moment he takes my lips with his, I feel myself starting to relax. Then, he moves, and any thought of relaxation flies right out the window.
Burk rocks his hips, gently pushing forward before pulling himself almost completely out. Just as I start to show my displeasure with him, he thrusts. I cry out as pleasure consumes me. It doesn’t matter I already had one orgasm, I can feel a second one brewing. I crave it.
I crave him.
Hitching my legs higher on his hips, I open them wider and draw him deeper.
A moan pulls from my lungs, stealing my breath.
He grinds his pubis against my clit causing a second orgasm to start to build.
His pace starts to pick up as he fills me hard and fast. Burk moves his mouth to my ear, sucking my earlobe into his mouth before whispering, “I want to feel you come, Joy.”
I whimper, digging my nails into the flesh of his back as my release begins.
It’s like a tsunami pulling back from the coast, growing bigger and building pressure until it finally lets go, destroying everything in its path.
I come hard, crying out Burk’s name as wave after wave of pleasure washes over me.
“Fuck,” he groans just before he goes completely still. He closes his eyes and starts to pump, slow at first, but then faster as he empties himself inside me. When neither of us have anything left, he falls on top of me, caging me to the floor with his arms and legs.
I wrap my arms around his neck and take a deep breath. “Wow.”
He grunts a reply and drops his forehead to rest against mine. “Watching you come on my mouth was spectacular, but seeing and feeling it on my cock is a whole different level of amazing.”
“Mmmm,” I murmur, closing my eyes and just breathing him in.
Burk swipes his lips gently across my lips and whispers, “Stay here. I need to take care of the condom.”
He carefully gets up and slips away, leaving me sated and smiling on my living room floor. I look over at the Christmas tree, the lights twinkling brightly, and realize this was the perfect spot for our first time. We decorated this tree together, and then we got naked and busy beneath it.
I can’t help but giggle a little.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, returning to where he left me.
The laughter on my lips dies as I stare up at his very naked, very beautiful body.
I’m not sure I’ve ever considered a man beautiful before, but really there’s no other way to describe him.
He’s toned in all the right places, his long, strong legs powerful as he walks.
And let’s not forget what’s hanging between his legs. Even soft, he’s every woman’s fantasy.
“Joy?” he asks, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“I was just thinking about how we decorated this tree and then had sex under it.”
A cocky grin transforms his entire face. “We did.” Handing over a warm washcloth, he says, “Here.”
I take it, even though I’ll need to get up and use the bathroom soon. But all thoughts of getting up evaporate from my mind when he grabs another thick blanket and climbs onto the makeshift bed with me. Setting the cloth aside, I curl into his embrace, letting the warmth of his body cocoon me.
A sigh spills from my lips as I rest my cheek against his chest, and he pulls the blanket over us. “This is nice,” I murmur, my eyes closing.
“I agree,” he replies, placing a kiss on my forehead.
“Sleep, Easy-Bake.”
I nod, my body being lulled to sleep by the steady beat of his heart and the heaviness of my limbs and achiness between my legs.
Using the bathroom can wait a bit.
Falling asleep in Burk’s arms is the only thing on my mind as I drift off to sleep.
I’m stirred from the most glorious sleep by lips softly pressing against my neck. They trail lightly up to that magically sensitive spot behind my ear. “Good morning,” he murmurs, his warm breath tickling my flesh.
“Hi,” I practically mewl, gently stretching my legs.
“It’s still early, but I’m gonna need to get up soon and head out.”
Something hits me, and before I can vocalize my question, I feel my face heat up. “Umm, did you, huh, tell anyone you were here?”
He flashes a quick grin and nods. “I texted Gram last night after you fell asleep to let her know I was staying with a friend.”
The blush I feel grows even hotter. “Did you tell her…”
“No, but I’m pretty sure she knows who my friend is. She seemed very happy when she replied. Used several heart emojis.”
I cover my eyes with my hand and groan. “Oh, man.”
He reaches for my hand and pulls it away from my face. There’s a hint of worry in his eyes as he asks, “Do you not want anyone to know I’m here?”
“What? No,” I quickly refute realizing he took my statement the wrong way. “I don’t care who knows you spent the night, Burk. Honestly. I just know how this town works, and they’ll probably have us married by the end of the day.”
He snorts, running his hand up my side. “Seems a little fast, even by Snowflake Falls standards.”
My body is humming as his hand makes its way to my breast. “You seem to have forgotten just how fast gossip travels here.”
Burk rolls over, sliding his body between my open legs. “Know what else moves fast?” He presses his lips against mine in a firm, chaste kiss. “Me.”
He spends the next thirty minutes showing me exactly how fast he moves.
I step inside the small dressing room at the boutique, and just before I can lock the door behind me, it bursts open. “You had sex!” my sister whisper-yells.
“What?” I ask, gaping guiltily at her.
“I knew it! I can tell.” She grins victoriously at me, the smugness ebbing off her in waves.
With my hands on my hips, I forget all about the dark-red velvet dress hanging on the hook. “How?”
“You’re glowing,” she confirms, walking over to the dress and running her hand over the crushed velvet material. When she turns back to face me, she adds, “You look happy.”
I glance away, afraid she’ll see exactly how happy I truly am. He makes me want—and feel—things I shouldn’t. Especially for a girl who knows how this ends. He leaves. I stay. End of story.
“You’re falling for him,” she murmurs gently.
Returning my gaze to hers, I nod. “I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” she asks, taking a seat in the chair beside the door.
“Because he’s not staying here, Eve. He’s…temporary.”
She stands up and goes to the dress, removing it from the hanger and making an up-and-down motion with her hand. I know that’s code for me to strip. I do as instructed and get down to the strapless bra and panties I wore for today’s dress search. “But you knew that before you slept with him.”
Taking the dress, I carefully step into it and pull it up my frame. “I know.”
My sister moves to my back and starts to zip the dress, not saying a word until the beautiful dress is in place and she gazes at me through the mirror. “Maybe he won’t go.”
I scoff at her comment, wishing she wouldn’t have spoken my truest wish aloud. Why? Because I know it won’t happen. He’s told me as much from the beginning, but that doesn’t stop my heart from wanting what it wants.
“I know,” she replies softly, stepping forward and hugging me from behind. Her smile is sad as she gazes at me through the mirror. “I’m sorry.”
I exhale slowly, waves of my own sadness washing over me. “Don’t be. It’s not anyone’s fault.”
“But still. I’m sorry this hurts you.”
Turning around, I stare at my older sister, the one who finally found true love.
“I know what I’m doing is going to hurt, Eve.
And even though I’m well aware of how this is going to turn out for me, I still want to cross the line.
Because the thought of not spending what little time I get with him somehow feels worse than the alternative.
Does that make sense?” I ask, desperate for someone to understand me.
She nods. “Yeah, it does. You’d rather be with him for those few weeks, knowing it’ll end with your heart broken, than break it off now and miss that time.”
Though she gets it, it still doesn’t make it any easier. I feel tears well in my eyes, and I try to blink them away. “How did this happen? How did I fall for him so fast?”
Her eyes are sad as she grins at me. “You’ve probably always loved him, Joy.
Maybe not in the exact way, but you two were inseparable growing up.
The kind of love built from solid friendship.
Even though you guys were young doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.
So it would be logical that love would grow into something bigger later in life. ”
I nod. “Yeah.” Her statement feels right. “I just…” I swallow over the lump in my throat. “I’m going to hate it when he leaves.”
I’m pulled into a fierce hug. “I know, Joy.”
I give myself several seconds to soak up the comfort and love my sister is giving me, and when I pull back, I sniffle and offer a smile. “Thanks.”
“I’m always here for you, little sister.”
“And I’m always here for you,” I confirm. “Now, enough of my drama.” Turning to finally take in my reflection in the mirror, I gasp, “Wow.”
She steps into view and is grinning from ear to ear. “You look amazing.”
The deep-red, floor-length dress hugs my figure in the best way.
It has a slit up the left leg, is off the shoulder, and has three-quarter length sleeves.
Plus, a subtle V at my chest that gives a hint of cleavage without giving away the farm, if you know what I mean.
It’s the perfect color and style for a winter Christmas wedding.
“This is so pretty,” I whisper, taking in the beautiful dress.
“It’s perfect,” she assures me. “And it doesn’t even look like you need alterations.”
I continue to scrutinize my appearance in the mirror, and even though I’m sure she’s a bit biased, I do admit this gown is pretty dang close to perfection. “You think this is the one?” I ask, my heart starting to pound in my chest.