Chapter 35
SPARKS FLY
FLETCHER
“You’re cheating!” I say as Lydia moves her piece further on the game board.
“How can you cheat at Chutes and Ladders?” she yells back, her body shaking with laughter.
It’s been the perfect day. Shortly after we got here, we bundled up in our snow gear and went for a walk out on the lake, then we came inside and warmed up by the fire.
I made a frozen pizza for dinner, and now we are playing board games while we watch the New Year’s shows on TV.
We are nearing midnight, and with each tick of the clock, my heart pounds harder.
I’ve probably been putting way too much pressure on our first kiss, but I want it to be perfect. This felt like the way to do it.
“I don’t know, but you are.” I laugh. “You can’t seriously be about to beat me at this.”
“Suck it up, buttercup.” She points to the turn spinner. “Your turn.”
I chuckle under my breath but spin the wheel.
Of course, she wins the game, but I couldn’t care less. All I care about is time with her.
“Want to go again?” Lydia asks.
I shake my head. “Nah. I have a few things I want to talk to you about.”
“You do?”
I nod, gesturing to the couch. “Come on.”
I help her stand, then settle her on the couch, wrapping her in a fluffy blanket. Then, I turn off the few lamps, leaving us in the glow of the string lights, the small Christmas tree, and the fireplace. It’s the perfect vibe for tonight.
I take one more look at the clock. Ten minutes till midnight. Perfect. “Be right back.”
I head over to the small kitchen, grab the champagne flutes Grace made sure were available, and get the sparkling juice from the fridge. No champagne for us tonight.
I pour two glasses and bring them over to Lydia.
Her face lights up. “Bubbly?”
“Bubbly juice.” I hand her a flute. “White grape.”
“Yum.” She takes a small sip and shimmies.
I sit next to her, scooting her close to me and wrapping my arm around her shoulder to hold her as close as possible. With a deep breath, I take one more look at the clock. Eleven fifty-seven.
“I really like you,” I say, clearing my throat as my voice catches.
Lydia nuzzles her head into my chest. “I like you, too.”
“I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but something about today feels special, and that’s why I wanted to bring you here, just us two.”
“I’m glad it’s just us.”
“You’re special to me, Lydia Ward. I hope you know I didn’t start pursuing you because you were pregnant. Truth is, I’ve had feelings for you for a very long time.”
Saying that feels like a weight lifted from my shoulders.
Lydia’s eyes soften, and she offers me a smile when her cheeks flush. “How long?”
There’s a burning in my veins. “Remember the day I asked you to hang out after anatomy lab?”
“Since then?”
I glance down, and her beautiful blue eyes are wide as saucers, tears brimming in them.
“Fletcher…”
“I know. But I valued our friendship, and I always figured our time would come eventually. When I say I didn’t do this on a whim, I mean that.
I want you to be mine, and I want you and your baby to be a part of my family.
” I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
I just have to get through these next few words, then I can kiss her.
In the low light, her eyes shimmer with tears.
“I wanted to start the New Year as a new chapter in our relationship. A partnership, as well as our friendship.”
A smile tugs on the corner of Lydia’s lips. “I want that too.”
On the screen, the countdown has started, and there are only fifteen seconds until the New Year. I set my glass on the coffee table and take hers, doing the same. I haven’t even had a sip.
I adjust myself so I can fully see her, and I hold her face in my hands. “I’m not going to wait or hold myself back from you anymore. Are you ready for that?”
“So ready,” she breathes.
In the background, I hear the sounds of midnight, but I don’t pay attention. I have more important things to do. Our lips meet in the middle, and fireworks explode inside my chest. All the years of wanting, imagining, never could have prepared me for the first taste of her.
She clutches at my chest, her fingers finding purchase in my shirt, gripping me tightly.
I move gently at first, tugging her bottom lip with my teeth before sliding my tongue into her mouth. She tastes like the bubbly juice I gave her. Somehow, the kiss is already familiar, like we’ve been doing this forever instead of it being the first time.
Lydia gently sucks on my lip, sending a burst of pleasure through my veins, straight to my cock.
I groan into her mouth.
A loud boom makes us both gasp and break apart.
“Oh my god,” Lydia shrieks.
Bright, bursting color seeps through the windows as more explosions occur in rapid succession.
“Fireworks,” I say.
We rest our foreheads against each other as we breathe heavily.
“Oh,” she whispers, breaking apart for a moment.
I press another soft kiss to her lips.
“Let’s watch them.” I stand and offer my hand to her, entwining our fingers.
We stand in front of the large sliding glass doors, offering a perfect view of the icy lake and the fireworks bursting over it.
I grab a blanket and wrap it around Lydia’s shoulders before standing behind her, holding her back to my chest. My arms are around her torso, and I rest my head on her shoulder, not even caring that I have to bend uncomfortably.
We watch the fireworks for a few moments before Lydia whispers something.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you,” Lydia repeats, resting her head on my chest.
I kiss her cheek, and she turns her head, seeking me out. My fingers move up her body, tracing between her breasts, over her collarbone to her jaw. I turn her head so our lips can meet again.
She drops the blanket in a puddle at our feet, and my hands fall to her waist, gripping her soft curves. Dragging my hands up her side, I kiss her, the earlier, gentle kiss gone, turning into a heated one that will forever live in my mind.
“Lydi—” I breathe, my voice hoarse as I touch her everywhere. My hands skate over her body, her soft stomach, the curve of her breasts, without going too far.
Lydia breaks us apart, breathing heavily. “Touch me, Fletcher.”
“Really?” I ask, words not fully computing.
“I need you.” She nods furiously, her hands dragging down my chest to finger the hem of my T-shirt.
“Fuck,” I groan as she lifts my shirt. I help her take it off, leaving me shirtless and aching to feel her skin on mine.
Lydia traces her dainty fingers over my muscles, leaving goose bumps in their wake.
“I’ve always wanted to touch you like this,” she mumbles absentmindedly, her eyes wide as she traces my skin.
“I’m yours.” I hook my thumb under her chin and take her lips again, stepping forward and pressing her up against the door.
I hold her face in one hand while the other rests palm flat on the cool glass.
She steps back, but her hand never leaves my chest, still drawing delicate circles and patterns on my skin.
“Where else can I touch you?” she whispers against my mouth.
A shiver wracks down my spine. “Wherever you want. Where can I touch you?”
Her eyes blaze. She reaches for my arm that’s on the door, pulling it down and sliding it under her chunky knit sweater.
“Can I take this off?” I ask.
She nods.
I kiss her gently, lifting her sweater off. The moonlight glows on her skin, making her appear ethereal. I can’t help it, I lean forward, pressing my lips to her shoulders, her neck, while my hands explore her body.
Lydia gasps as I cup her breasts through her thinly padded bra.
“Too much?” I whisper with a chuckle.
She rapidly shakes her head. “They’re really sensitive.”
“Ah.” A wicked grin takes over my face as I duck my head to the breasts in question.
Her sharp inhale spurs me on. A glance at her face and she’s nodding, allowing me to palm them in my hand, finding her hard nipple through the fabric.
I pinch them gently, reveling in the moan that falls from her lips.
“Take it off,” she whispers.
Like a good boy, I follow her directions. I slide my finger under the straps, pushing them down and unhooking the clasp.
Once free, she slides the bra down her arms, letting it fall to the floor next to her sweater.
A groan slips free from my own mouth this time.
She’s fucking incredible. Her teardrop-shaped breasts are better than I could have ever imagined, with dusky rose nipples that are practically begging to be marked with my mouth.
I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping like hell this isn’t a dream.
When I open my eyes, Lydia is pushing down her leggings and underwear, kicking them aside without a second thought. My dick pulses, and I make quick work of unbuttoning and shoving my pants down. Before I can shuck my boxers off, Lydia surprises me, dropping to her knees.
“I want to do that,” she says with a sly grin and a twinkle in her eye.
“Oh fuck.”
I’m not sure how long I’m going to last with her mouth on me, but I’m going to try, because this is my biggest fantasy come true. Her hand palms my erection through my boxers, and she leans forward, kissing the hard length through the fabric.
“Lydia—”
But I don’t get the next word out, as she takes my boxers off and palms my cock, squeezing and jacking me in slow strokes. I don’t even get a moment to process because her lips are around my cock.
My brain malfunctions. No thoughts, pure heat and pleasure. Her mouth is sinful, sucking me deep in her throat as she bobs her head. One of my hands threads into her short hair, tugging softly to get her to slow down. She’s going to make me embarrass myself.
“Slow,” I breathe, leaning forward and resting my palm on the glass again.
I’m going to have to wash these windows. Otherwise, the Millers will definitely know what happened.
Lydia’s eyes give me the saddest pout, but she does as I say.
“There’s my girl.”
She slows her ministrations, using her hand on the base of my cock to give it a squeeze. I jerk, the sensation zipping the base of my spine. I grip her hair a little harder, pulling her from my length. “You gotta stop, beautiful. I’m going to come, and I am nowhere near ready for that.”
“But—”
I cover her mouth with my hand, using the other to pull her back to standing. Face to face again, I drop my hand from her mouth, kissing her again. This all feels so surreal. I take a step back to look at her.
She turns her body slightly as I trace my gaze over her, and as she does, her stomach catches in the moonlight.
“Holy shit, is that…” I rest my palm against the bump.
Lydia’s smile softens. “Yeah, it made an appearance this week.”
I drop to my knees, cradling her stomach in both hands and pressing a kiss there. “Hi, little ladybug. I love you so much.”
Her fingers thread through my hair, and I glance up, my eyes locking with hers.
“I’m so glad we have you.” Lydia bends down, kissing me deeply. Her tongue slips between my lips, and the heat that had turned into a sweet moment ramps back up.
My hands glide down her stomach to her thick thighs. I break apart from our kiss, and she straightens. I hold her gaze as I kiss down her stomach, to the outside of her thighs, slowly trailing inward with each kiss.
“Please, Fletch.” Lydia gasps.
I chuckle gruffly and press the sweetest of kisses to her pussy.
“Fletcher,” she whines.
“Be patient, beautiful girl.”
“I can’t. I’ve needed this for weeks. You’ve been teasing me.”
“Oh, have I?” I press my nose to her cunt. “How rude of me.”
“So rude,” she squeaks, slapping the glass behind her. “I didn’t make you wait.”
“Mmm, you’re right. I suppose I should rectify this.” I slide my tongue through her absolutely soaked pussy, drowning in the taste of her. When I find her clit, I moan, circling it with my tongue and sucking gently. She opens her legs wider, and I lift one up and over my shoulder.
“Oh, god,” Lydia wails as my fingers glide and press into her. Her fingers tighten around my hair, tugging as I bring her closer to orgasm.
I flick at her clit with my tongue, enjoying the way her pussy tightens around my fingers as I slowly thrust in and out of her. My free hand grips my dick after it twitches, aching to be inside of her, aching to come. I can’t do that yet, though.
“Fletcher, I’m—” She gasps, attempting to grip the slippery glass.
A late burst of fireworks explodes into the sky over the lake, bathing our world in shimmers of gold, blue, and red.
Lydia screams as her orgasm hits her, her body clenching tight around me, her hips jerking.
I don’t stop my motions as she squeezes my fingers so tight.
I’m dreaming of the moment she comes around my cock.
When she pushes my head away, I slide her leg from my shoulder and fall back onto my ass, breathing heavily. Her slick wetness is coating my lips and chin, and fuck if I’m going to clean myself off. I’ll wear her release like a brand.
Lydia drops to her knees and mauls my mouth. She clearly doesn’t care about her own cum on my face either.
I break us apart, cupping her cheeks in my hands. “Do you—”
She stops me with another kiss.
“Yes,” she whispers. “Please.”