Chapter 18 #2
"Sustenance. We're going to need it for our big day. I wonder if we can convince the Telluride to blast it on their social media."
I took one to-go cup from him. "That would be great. I spent the morning spreading the news on the town's social-media pages, and I sent out a newsletter."
He set his coffee on the desk and opened the bag. "I got one of everything. Wasn't sure what you liked."
I peaked into the brown paper bag, pulling out a chocolate cake donut. "A man after my own heart."
He waggled his eyebrows. "Chocolate is the key to your heart?"
"Mine and every woman's," I said, taking a bite of the donut. It was the perfect combination with the mocha he'd ordered me.
"I'm cataloging that information for later."
"And don't forget it," I said over a mouthful.
He moved close to me, touching my shoulder and kissing my cheek. "I wish we were alone right now, and I wasn't worried about someone coming by at any second."
I swallowed, then sipped my coffee. "I want that too."
"First, flyers. Then maybe we can sneak away to one of our houses before Sofia gets off the bus."
"It's a plan," I said with a smile. It felt good to be dating him for real. We weren't hiding anymore, and I could express how I felt without worrying about scaring him off.
There was that voice in my head that said he couldn't possibly be healed enough to move on with another woman. But I dismissed it. Maddox was an adult. He knew his mind. He wouldn't start something if he wasn't ready.
This wasn't another situation where I got involved with the wrong guy. One who wasn't emotionally available to be in a relationship or thought I was too organized. I'd matured and gotten over my past mistakes. This wasn't going to backfire spectacularly.
As a single dad, he was already more mature than the other men I'd dated.
He pointed at the food in my hand. "Finish that donut. We have places to be."
"You want to hang them up here first, then go to Telluride?" I asked, running through the plan in my head.
"Makes sense since we're here," he said, kissing me softly on the lips.
I lifted the rest of the donut in my hand. "Chocolate, coffee, and kisses. The sweetest combination."
"Mmm. You forgot to add yourself into the equation."
I raised a brow. "I'm sweet too?"
"Definitely." Then he lowered his head, kissing me.
There was a lightness to him and our relationship this morning. We'd cleared the air last night. We were honest about our feelings, and this thing between us was finally real. We were on the right track, and I couldn't wait to spend the day with him.
I finally pulled away. "These flyers aren't going to hang themselves."
He pouted.
"Remember, if we finish early, we can sneak away."
"Say no more," he said, grabbing the stack of flyers.
We laughed as we hurried down the steps and outside onto the sidewalk. We hung flyers on bulletin boards, talking to shop owners about the new trail. Everyone seemed excited about it and a little surprised.
After we left Meg at Coffee Dreams, Maddox said, "If we stop to talk to everyone, we'll never make it home."
I sighed. "It really helps to get the word out if we tell everyone though."
His eyes flashed with heat as he grabbed my hand. "I want time alone with you. Less talking. More hanging."
"Ugh. Fine." I was on board with that plan, so I focused on moving more quickly from business to business, keeping my answers short and sweet.
We worked well together. He hung the flyers while I fielded questions, allowing us to move faster. By lunchtime, we were in his truck and headed toward Telluride.
The task was more daunting here because it was larger than Christmas Town. We focused on the shops and restaurants on the main street, making a point to stop and talk to their staff, hoping they'd mention it to their patrons.
The more people who knew about it, the better it would be. You couldn't beat word of mouth referrals. Everyone was looking for holiday events in the area, and this was a good one. Who wouldn't want to spend an evening in Christmas Town, immersing themselves in the magic of the holiday?
By the time we hung the last flyer, my feet ached, and my shoulders were sore.
Maddox tugged me toward his truck. "We have an hour before she gets off the bus."
When I buckled my seatbelt, I fake yawned. "I don't know. I'm pretty tired."
He glanced from the windshield to me. "I can wake you up."
I laughed. "Challenge accepted, I guess."
"I'm up for it."
I glanced down at the bulge behind his zipper. "I can see that."
He growled, adjusting himself. "Behave."
I reached over and curled my hand around his. The warmth of his palm seeped through mine. I couldn't remember the last time I'd held someone's hand. It felt grounding.
We couldn't get to his house quick enough. He parked in the driveway, dropping my hand to get out. I met him in front of the hood, and he grabbed my hand again to lead me toward the door. Inside, he locked the door, and we ran to his bedroom.
By the time we made it, we were both out of breath, and he was already tugging his clothes off. I worked on my shoes, and then he was on me, pulling the shirt over my head and the jeans down my legs.
I wanted him with an intensity I hadn't felt before. I wished we had more time, but this was fun.
"Maddox," I said as we tumbled to the bed naked. He reached for a condom, ripping the wrapper, then smoothing it on. His cock easily notched at my entrance and slid inside. We both stilled as he filled me.
It felt so good to be filled by him. I ran my hands over the muscles in his back, my nails lightly scraping his skin.
He growled as he kissed me, nipping my lip and dipping inside of me to the hilt. Then he rolled us so that I was straddling him, and he was cupping my breasts.
I whimpered.
"I need you to move."
I immediately complied, lifting and lowering myself, biting my lip against the overwhelming sensations of his fingers tweaking my nipples, my clit rubbing against him with every pass.
He reared up, taking my nipple into his mouth, and I cried out. The orgasm washed over me, white lights exploding behind my eyelids.
He pumped into me from underneath, thrusting deep. Then he dropped his head to my shoulder as he shuddered.
It was the real deal. I'd never get enough of this man.