Chapter 26
It had taken the rest of the night and the better part of the following day, but Marisa was finally done with everything.
Or finished, as her ninth-grade science teacher liked to say, before always emphasizing that only food was done.
As far as Marisa was concerned, she was both those things, and she wanted nothing more than to throw her fingers into a pair of hydration hand masks and let voice control run her life until the New Year.
Marisa tossed her sugar-splattered apron on a hook and twisted her hair into a messy bun while she surveyed what they’d all managed to accomplish.
She’d lost count of how many treat boxes they’d assembled or how many sinfully gorgeous Alecs she’d printed and plastered on gingerbread fudge squares she couldn’t wait to surprise people with.
Last Eden informed her, once the sugar dust settled, they’d landed somewhere in the three-digit range.
Meanwhile, Manic and the boys had faithfully stuffed and stacked every single one of the ribboned boxes into optimal height and width ratios for easy transport come the morning.
That was another thing Marisa had failed to consider, but she was beyond grateful she had friends who had.
Tomorrow, the Crystal Christmas Ball would arrive on the heels of the final night of Hanukkah, as well as Christmas Eve. And just like Santa, whatever was loaded into the sleigh was all she had to work with.
Solid hands settled over her shoulders, bringing with them Alec’s comforting strength and, more than that, a steely reassurance that warmed her belly and sent a new set of flutters jittering along her nerves.
“You’ve done all you can.”
“I know. I’m just . . .”
“What?” He turned her in his arms, and every insecurity that still beat a rhythm in her brain felt like a betrayal for all the man had given her, for all he’d endured because of her.
For all he would endure.
How the hell was she supposed to stare into those soft, unguarded eyes and tell him that the heated storm behind them was the one thing that had made her feel beautiful and powerful? And that the only thing she’d ever lived up to was other people’s disappointments?
Marisa lifted a shoulder. “Nervous. There’s going to be a lot of attention flying around, and while I’d love it if it were focused on Sweetest Heart’s Desire and what’s in the treat boxes, I’d be stupid to think that’s likely to be the case.
And yes, I know that was the point of all of this”—she gestured to the small space between them—“and we manufactured it for a reason, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been here before, to a degree.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, this feels different, and well, I’m not interested in losing this time. ”
God, even her worries sounded like whines, painting her with a new brand of pity that was unbecoming in all shades.
She didn’t want Alec to feel sorry for her, and she sure as hell didn’t want to count herself out before the big show even started, but despite how strong her internal defiance sounded, it was still hard to drown out years of Aunt Gails and Plant Nannies and behind-her-back whispers.
“I’m not of a mind to lose either,” Alec said, squeezing his encouragement into her arms. “Never was. But it’s important to know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You deserve every bit of praise. And aye, the spotlights may be brighter than usual tomorrow, but that’s only because they’ve yet to capture a star like you.”
Marisa’s mouth fell open, her brain short-circuiting on the wealth of emotion that threatened to pour out of her in droves.
Goddammit, the man got her. Not just got her but genuinely understood her, down to dissecting the sandy bits that made up the sea sludge of her chaos, knowing there was a precious gem or two hiding beneath.
Waiting for him to find.
“I’m done,” she reiterated, insistence paving way to urgency as she marked the way his throat worked on a swallow and every muscle beneath her fingertips went taut.
She needed to kiss this man, not just often, but deeply, and everywhere. She needed to wrap herself in Alec until all the worries in her mind were pushed out by his overwhelming presence.
But overwhelming in the best way, the way that made her heart lighter and gladder and eager to greet what the world threw at her because she knew he’d be throwing punches right alongside her.
“Come home with me, Marisa,” he whispered against her cheek, his words filled with thrilling promises.
“What about Cal? Isn’t he due home tonight?”
Alec chuckled, then took her hand in his and guided them toward the door. “Enjoyed himself a bit too much at the cast wrap party. He’s crashing on a mate’s couch tonight, but don’t worry, he’ll be joining us at the Ball tomorrow.”
“He better. I’m looking forward to meeting the man Hugh first let himself go home with.”
“Not too eager, I hope, because tonight, I’ve got plans.”
“Oh? What sort of plans?”
Alec opened the car door for her, then held her gaze as she slid into the seat. The muscles in his neck strained against his collar, and the streetlamp’s glow forced all her attention on his scarred smile.
Pinpricks of arousal danced along her skin, igniting her body even further as the determination in his expression hit her in full force.
“I’m locking Hugh in the guest room and taking my girlfriend to bed.”
As they drove off beneath a vast sky dotted with light snowflakes and darkened not by deadlines but by desire, Marisa bit her lip and knew one truth with thrilling certainty.
When Alec spoke those words, he wasn’t faking a damn thing.
The drive across town was an exercise in suspended animation.
Every breath that puffed out of Alec’s lungs seemed to enter Marisa’s, until there was no safe quarter for her being so close to him.
He had become elemental. His scent, his smile, his laugh, the way his knuckles groaned against the steering wheel’s leather when his impatience started to get the better of him—they were all signs that had begun to build in the vital helix around her heart, so much so that by the time they’d reached his brother’s apartment, her limbs had turned to jelly.
Good thing, too, because when she went to open her door, Alec was already outside, grabbing her hand and freeing her from the stuffy car’s cabin, a strained eagerness creasing his features.
Her lungs tightened further around her racing heart as he all but sprinted with her across the parking lot.
So she wasn’t the only one trying to hold it together long enough to avoid a public indecency charge.
The only respite he’d allowed her was when she rested her flushed cheek against his broad back as he punched in the keycode for the apartment. Three times. On the fourth try, she had to bury her laugh between his scapulas while Alec’s brogue-laced blasphemies pelted the poor locked door.
“Damn fat fingers. I fucking hate this thing. A key. All I need is a bloody key!”
“I happen to like your fat fingers.” She giggled, curling around him and punching in the code he was trying to enter. The light instantly turned green, and the metallic lock clicked open in time to Alec’s jaw grinding its frustrations.
“You did not just say that to me.”
“I did,” she said smugly. “What are you going to do— Uf!”
Alec captured her face within his strong hands and sealed his lips to hers.
Vaguely, she was aware of him backing them into the apartment.
A door closed, she was sure of it, the lock snicking into place right after.
There was a fair bit of mastiff-flavored barking, some mumbles against her lips that sounded like fuck off, pest, the hasty removal of outerwear, and then her feet were off the floor.
Something about being weightless in Alec’s arms drove her passion to heights that had previously been well above her salary bracket.
The way he lapped and suckled and swiped against her lips was an exercise in reverence, as if each kiss he claimed was a careful prayer and her body was the altar upon which he’d bestow them.
“Alec,” she whispered against his mouth, not quite sure what she wanted of him but just knowing that she wanted.
“Not done yet,” he said against her lips, settling her onto the couch and shifting his attention to the hollow divot at the base of her throat.
Lord, his mouth felt wonderful on her skin, every press a mixture of silk and just the right amount of scratch from his short beard, mimicking the delicious strain in her chest.
Seemingly overnight, what started as a strategic deception had blossomed into an essential need.
With Alec’s lips on her, kissing her, consuming her, he’d somehow managed to push out all the doubt and disillusionment that had marked her as a failure among her family and replaced it with far more joy and passion than anyone had a right to experience.
He marked her as worthy. As precious. As his. As something worth loving.
Maybe? Hopefully? She gulped at the thought.
And because she had no earthly clue what to do with a gift as precious as what Alec was offering, she did the only thing she could: shared as much of her heart with him as he’d accept.
She gentled her hands at the sides of his ribs, using his strength to steady what her limbs could not, but so much of his greedy touch and eager mouth unhinged her to the point of giddiness.
When that clever tongue of his found her aching nipple through her shirt, she couldn’t help but suck in an excited breath.
“Oh, you are an evil, evil man.”
“Hush, woman. I’m busy tending to things.
” He pulled her shirt higher, dipping his head to pay homage to any patch of skin he seemed to begrudgingly omit from his prior attentions.
At the same time, she worked to squirm out of her jeans, doing her damnedest to feel as much of this man against the vital parts of her as possible.
“You are so bossy.”