Chapter 20
twenty
CHRIS
If kissing Holly was a drug then I was an addict. I tilted her head as my tongue slipped into her mouth. She tasted like chocolate and peppermint, and I'd never been more appreciative. Her hand found the center of my back, pinning me to her, but she didn’t get it if she thought I was going anywhere.
I kissed her like I meant it. I wasn’t about to half ass this. If this was the only shot I got, then I was going to take it.
I broke the kiss and we both came away panting. Holly’s lips were swollen, and her eyes had glazed over. Guess I wasn’t the only one affected. I kissed down the column of her neck, wishing she had less clothes on. I skated my hands down her back and gripped her ass. As I kneaded the firm globes, Holly mewled and rubbed herself against me. I was as hard as steel. My dick ached and wept, desperate to get closer.
Holly reached for my face, holding my cheeks between her hands and staring straight into my eyes. I don’t know what she saw there, but thankfully, she didn’t back away. Instead, she pushed up on her toes and brought her lips to mine once again. I let her control the kiss, initially anyway. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I needed more. I lifted her off her feet, her legs wrapping around my waist instinctively, the warmth of her pussy heating me.
I spun us around and pinned her against the side of the sleigh, never once breaking our kiss.
Holly’s hands rested at the back of my neck as she tugged on my hair making me crazy. I pulled back and looked at the woman in my arms. But she was so much more than just that. She was the woman who’d brought me back to life. The woman who put back together all those broken pieces and mended my heart. She gave me reason and purpose, and I never wanted to let her go. I’m pretty sure I knew it before now but having her in my arms confirmed my suspicions. Holly was my chance.
“I have an idea,” she panted, unwinding her legs from around my waist and sliding down my body, her eyes going wide as she discovered just how much I liked having her in my arms.
“That sounds …”
“You scared?” Holly teased and like the minx she was, she circled me, running her hand over my ass, not caring that I was covered in dirt and grime or that I stunk like the grease monkey I was.
“Not a chance,” I replied, tugging down the zip on my coveralls. The sleigh could wait. I didn’t give a fuck if it sat there until next Christmas, if this woman wanted me, then everything else could wait.
Holly moved over to the sleigh and looked over her shoulder. She was the perfect combination of innocence and sex kitten. My breath hitched as she climbed into the sleigh and sat down on the bench.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I choked out as I tugged the coveralls over my shoes, my gaze never wavering .
“Silencing those demons once and for all.”
“Holly …”
“Chris, get in here and kiss me,” Holly commanded, stretching her hand out and waiting for me to decide.
It wasn’t a decision. I knew what I wanted, and she was right there waiting for me. I couldn’t let her down. I wouldn’t. I took her hand, held my breath, and climbed into the sleigh. I slid onto the bench seat beside Holly only for her to stand.
“Where are you …?”
I didn’t get a chance to finish my sentence as Holly dropped into my lap, straddling me. I held her in place, staring up at the woman who could decimate my heart and I didn’t care. I had no idea where we’d go from here or how we’d make it work, but we had to. There was no other choice. Holly and Noelle were my home, and if that meant I packed up and followed them, then that’s what I’d do. I’d follow them anywhere. As long as they’d have me, I was theirs.
“Kiss me,” Holly commanded, and I didn’t hesitate.
I don’t know how long we sat there in the sleigh, kissing and laughing and holding each other. It didn’t go any further. I wanted it to. My dick ached and I was pretty sure I had a zipper indentation, but I wasn’t moving. Having Holly in my arms was enough. At least for now it was.
By the time our lust had simmered down, we were curled around each other as I stared into Holly’s eyes. She was beautiful. Inside and out. She was an amazing mother and woman, and she was someone I wanted beside me, today, tomorrow, and for all my days.
“We need to move,” I told her, making no attempt to go anywhere.
“I need to go check on Noelle,” Holly murmured against my neck .
“I need to get this sleigh fixed.”
“I don't want to move.”
“Me neither,” I confessed, kissing her forehead. It somehow felt more intimate than the passionate kisses we’d shared.
Another few minutes passed, and my ass was going numb. This sleigh might look beautiful, but it was as uncomfortable as all hell. The wooden seat was unforgiving. Holly leaned down and kissed me again before climbing out of my lap. Instantly, I missed her warmth, her scent, her arms wrapped around me.
When she stood, she straightened her shirt, and I gazed at the woman standing before me. Her lips were swollen. Her hair mussed. Her eyes dark. And a red mark on her neck I was sure would darken and turn into a hickey. I puffed out my chest with pride. I’d been the lucky son of a bitch who’d put it there.
“I’m going to go upstairs and check on Noelle. Get a start on dinner,” Holly announced, and my chest tightened. It all sounded so domestic. So normal. Like we’d done it a million times.
“You don’t have to cook,” I told her as I jumped out of the sleigh before helping her down.
“I want to. You finish up down here then come up and eat.”
I just nodded. Holding back the words I desperately wanted to say. Holly wasn’t ready to hear them. Not yet anyway.
As she sashayed across the workshop, I watched, mesmerized by the sway of her ass. I waited until I heard the door click closed before turning back to the sleigh. She’d done it. Holly had taken something that made me hate the world and turned it into nothing more than a painful bump in the road. Standing there, staring at the sleigh, I no longer saw Shayna’s ass in the air, but instead, I felt the warmth of Holly and the look of longing on her face.
Knowing they were upstairs waiting for me, I got to work. Something had to be wrong with this thing and I was going to find it and find it fast.
Two long hours, a stubbed toe, and a growing bruise on my thigh, and it was done. The sleigh was back up and running. The lights turned on. The sleigh sparkled. And when the motor engaged, she hummed along without missing a beat.
I didn’t bother calling Dominic. It could wait until tomorrow. Right now, I wanted to be upstairs with my girls. The realization hit me like a sledgehammer. Holly and Noelle were a package deal. If I wanted Holly, which I did more than I’d ever wanted anything before, then Noelle was part of the deal. The idea of becoming an overnight stepdad should’ve scared me, but all it did was make me smile. Noelle was a great kid. She was bright, polite, kind, and funny.
I shucked my coveralls, flicked off the lights, and took the stairs two at a time, suddenly in a hurry to get back to them. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, only to be hit with the smell of garlic and tomatoes, making my stomach growl.
“Something smells incredible,” I commented as I toed off my boots, setting them by the door.
“We’re having pasta and meatballs,” Noelle declared excitedly.
“I hope that’s okay,” Holly added quickly.
“Perfect. I love spaghetti and meatballs,” I told them, shooting a wink in Holly’s direction. “Do I have time to get cleaned up?”
“Yep. Dinner’s still about ten minutes or so,” Holly confirmed as she turned back to the sink.
Not wanting to waste time, I hurried into the bathroom and jumped in the shower. By the time I was showered and changed, the table was set, drinks were poured, and Holly was starting to serve.
“Wow. This looks good,” I told them as I stepped into the kitchen, running my hand across Holly’s jean-clad ass testing the waters. I heard her breath hitch and watched as her spine straightened, and let out a chuckle. Catching her off-guard was going to become my new favorite hobby, I could already tell.
“I made the meatballs,” Noelle announced proudly.
“Did you now? They look pretty good.”
“Noelle, can you please take this to the table?” Holly asked, handing her a plate buried under thick slices of cheesy bread.
“You know, you didn’t have to do all this,” I whispered to Holly.
“I wanted to. You’ve been so good to us, I wanted to say thank you,” Holly replied as she smiled at me over her shoulder. It was a smile that cemented what I already knew. Holly was it for me.
Over dinner, we sat around chatting just like a real family. Well, Holly and I listened while Noelle chatted. By the time my plate was clean, I’d learned about her best friend Willow, the mean girl down the road, Piper, and that she really, really wanted a dog, but Holly kept saying no. Leaning back in my chair, I stretched my arm across the back of Holly’s, waiting for her to protest but now it was my turn to be surprised when she leaned into my touch.
“Can we watch a movie?” Noelle asked.
Holly looked at me. “Of course we can. Why don’t you go get set up, and I’ll make the popcorn,” I offered, earning me a squeal and a hug before Noelle darted off not realizing what she’d just done.
“Pajamas first,” Holly called out behind her, only to get groaned at which made me chuckle.
I started collecting the plates and clearing the table. Holly followed me into the kitchen, setting her own plate on the sink. Taking advantage of the moment, I caged her against the counter, breathing her in .
“And what about you, Holly,” I began. “Are you going to put your pajamas on and curl up to watch a movie?”
Holly’s hands sat on my hips, her touch burning me. “I just might. And if you play your cards right, I might even be persuaded to snuggle.”
Before I knew what was happening, she pressed up on her toes and kissed my lips so quickly I barely registered what was happening before she slipped out of my grip and disappeared into my bedroom. Woman was damn lucky we had a six-year-old chaperone or I’d throw her over my shoulder, spank her ass, and remind her how not nice it was to tease.
It took half an hour for everyone to be ready, but finally with all the blankets spread out, we were ready. I’d tried to sit down in my jeans and got told I needed to change. Noelle was insistent, and although I couldn’t exactly tell her I didn’t own pajamas, I changed into sweats and she was happy.
Finally, with Noelle curled up in a nest on the floor and Holly and I sitting on the couch, the movie started.
“I love this movie!” Noelle exclaimed as the credits rolled for Miracle on 34th Street . I hadn’t seen it before, but when it showed up in the list, the excitement on their faces had me pressing play.
Holly and I sat beside each other playing a dangerous game. With the bowl of popcorn between us, we focused on the screen. Well, she did. I focused on her. She nibbled on popcorn and her bottom lip. She had her feet tucked up underneath her, her pink fluffy socks poking out.
We finished the popcorn and I set the bowl aside before rearranging the blankets. After spreading one across us both, Holly shot me a look that had me chuckling under my breath. Her eyes went wide, and when she pointed at Noelle curled up on the floor completely captivated by the images on screen, I grabbed her feet and pulled them into my lap. When I started massaging her feet, she moaned and turned to goo under my touch.
Ten minutes later, I called out to Noelle. “Noelle? Noelle?”
“She’s down for the count.” Holly laughed.
“She was the one who wanted to watch it,” I protested.
“Yep. She’s notorious for this. She makes you watch a movie, and the next thing you know, she’s snoring and you’re left watching Frozen for the millionth time. I should get her into bed,” Holly suggested.
“I got her,” I replied, tossing the blanket back and scooping Noelle up into my arms.
As I carried her across the apartment into my room, she snuggled in against my chest not realizing what she was doing. Even though she was asleep, Noelle was burrowing her way into my heart.
I laid her down on the mattress while Holly covered her over.
“She’s adorable,” I murmured quietly from the doorway.
Holly came to stand beside me, and for a moment, we stood there silently watching Noelle sleep. “She is when she’s sleeping.” Holly smiled as she flicked off the light.
I reached down and tangled my fingers with Holly’s, tugging her away from the room. “Come watch a movie with me,” I invited.
“Is that like Netflix and chill?” Holly asked, and I raised an eyebrow at her.
“Netflix and chill?”
“Oh my god. You really have been living under a rock. Just put the movie on.” Holly laughed as she settled back on her end of the couch. “What are we watching?”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve gotta know how this ends,” I replied, dropping down on the couch and reaching for Holly.
Thankfully, she came willingly, and we stretched out, her back pressed against my front as I spooned her on the couch as the movie played. It didn’t take long before Holly, just like her daughter, had fallen asleep. My arm was numb, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry. I turned the TV off and lay there with Holly in my arms. It was the single best night of my life.