6. Chapter 6
Chapter six
Zane
“ T he answer is no,” I whisper inches from her lips, still swollen from where I’d just staked my claim to them. “No, Breck isn’t going to take this well. He’s going to be furious and you need to decide, Aspen. Decide if you’re ready to do this and all the consequences that come with it.” I pull away, knowing I’m losing her. Allowing the internal terror of admitting my feelings for her to exist to consume me. “Do you want this?” I grab her hand and hold it to my cheek, pausing to kiss her fingers gently. “Or do you want to keep the peace with Breck?”
Damn my knight in shining armor complex. I’m a glutton for doing the right thing and upholding this unspoken honor between my best friend, his little sister, and me. I can’t let my feelings for Aspen lead to the destruction of the thing she cares about the most: family. It’s because of her that I dream of having a family of my own one day. A place to call home, surrounded by people who love me, and not just the idea of me.
In my lap she sighs, then lifts herself up. I’m bracing myself for her rejection, preparing for the devastating blows of defeat. Instead, she stands, then pulls me to my feet so that we are both standing with no space between us. Our bodies pressed into one another. She reaches up, lacing her hands around the back of my neck, and stares up at me.
“Is it wrong if I say the answer is no? No, I don’t want the peace if it means I have to give up doing this.” She kisses me softly. Like she’s afraid of losing me.
I don’t know how to tell her, how to explain that she doesn’t have to be afraid of anything. That I’ve always been right here waiting for her. I’ve just never been brave enough. I kiss her back, allowing my tongue to communicate my feelings for me. My hands encircle her waist, pulling her closer. I need to feel every inch of her. We kiss like we are making up for all the years we didn’t allow ourselves to. I’m caught up and lost in the moment. I wouldn’t want it any other way, though. The record player needle scratches loudly as it skids off the vinyl, signifying the end of the album. Even though I don’t particularly want to stop, I pull away long enough to whisper, “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”
“If you’re interrupting, you may as well open your gift while I pick another record.” Her eyes dance in the fire's light as if she’s daring me to do it.
I smile. “Considering you did nearly freeze to death retrieving it. I suppose I can open this gift, even though I have a sneaking suspicion I already know what I’ll find.” My eyes tease her playfully with a wink while I retrieve the bag.
I reach inside and pull out gray fleece pants. They have trees, bears, and snowflakes printed across them in a pattern. “Let me guess, you have a matching set at home?”
Aspen smiles, unable to conceal her guilt. “Of course I do. Mine are red though, and I sent Breck a green pair.”
“You’re fucking adorable. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now show me how much you appreciate them and put them on. It snowed outside, you know.” She’s gloating.
I roll my eyes but grip the edges of my hoodie, pulling both it and my T-shirt off. It’s not hard to notice the way she’s staring. I know why she’s looking. While away at college, I’ve had no one to spend time with, so I’ve spent a lot of time at the gym in order to occupy my time while I’m not studying or going to class. I’m fighting hard to keep from smirking at her reaction. Before Aspen has time to recover, I drop my sweats to trade them out for the fleece pajamas she bought me. She surprises me by shamelessly watching as I change. Excitement washes over me. I’ve wanted this for so long and it’s finally happening. Tonight I’m going to take my time making her mine. I want to hear that soft, sultry voice of hers moaning my name, begging me not to stop as I take her. My cock jumps in agreement.
“Are you going to put on another record, or just stand there drooling?” I taunt.
She blushes, then spins around to change the record. While her back is to me, I waltz stealthily back over to her until I’m standing right behind her. I wrap my arms around the soft curves of her waist, pulling Aspen against my bare chest and enjoying the way she feels in my arms. “Thank you and Merry Christmas,” I whisper in her ear before kissing her cheek.
She spins around to face me. “Merry Christmas, Zane.”
Her lips find mine quickly, attacking them with a hungry need as if she’s been starving for my love for centuries. “Dance with me, beautiful.” I mumble.
She smiles. “I thought you would never ask.”
I pull her over to a large open spot in front of the crackling fire and spin her around before dipping her beneath the mistletoe hanging from the light fixture above us. Aspen strokes the hard edges of my jawline, both of us unable to take our eyes off one another for a moment. When I kiss her, it’s just as intense as the first time. The electricity erupting between our two bodies is impossible to deny. When I break our kiss and right her, she falls into my arms. We sway against one another to the sound of the record.
“I hope tonight has been,” she pauses, grasping for words. “Or the welcome home has been—“
“Perfect.” I rasp. “My welcome home has been perfect. I’m so lucky that fate dropped you into my arms. There’s nothing that can make this night anything more than perfect.”
Aspen nibbles my neck playfully. “I can think of something nice and warm that can make this night even more perfect.”
My cock goes rigid as her words echo in my mind. I know what she’s suggesting and I’m happy to go along with it. Against me, she presses herself closer. I know she can feel what I’m not bothered to hide. Her hips grind against me as I run my fingertips down the small of her back. “We have all night to get there, baby. What’s the rush?” I ask her, my voice husky and deep, filled with need.
“Maybe I’m just greedy.” She confesses.
I twirl her around so that we are facing the window seat. “Look out the window at that storm. There’s plenty of time for anything you want.”
Her palms feel like fire against my chest as I slip my hands beneath her sweatshirt, intent on removing it. Instead, my fingertips glide against her warm, bare skin. They skitter slowly up her stomach in search of a hem, yet eager to find she’s not wearing anything beneath it. A low moan escapes my lips before my mouth finds hers to once again conquer every surface. My cock is rock hard, pressed against her as she slides herself against me. My hands cup her breasts. They fill my hands perfectly. Breaking our kiss, I pant, “Why aren’t you wearing anything underneath?”
“Maybe because I secretly hoped you would be doing just this.” She replies with a pleasure filled whimper as my thumb and finger roll her nipple between them.
“Oh God, fuck yes.” I moan against her lips.
I want to rip the rest of her clothes from her body right now, right here in the middle of the den, but then I want our first time to be different. Not here. Not in this room where we grew up together. I have far too many fond memories spent in this room with her and Breck to do this here. It feels like I’m shattering the bonds of our friendship in this one act; but as wrong as it feels to hurt Breck, it also feels so right to be with Aspen.
“I’m interested to know more about the things you hoped would happen tonight?” I groan as my fingers continue to trace her nipples until they are hard peaks, begging to be caressed endlessly.
She trembles against me as our tongues collide. Every stroke against her taut nipples leaves her arching her back and gasping for air. Even if she wanted to answer me, she couldn’t.
“Tell me, Aspen. Tell me how to make up for years of waiting for this moment. I want you to tell me everything you’ve ever wanted me to do to you.” I rasp against the shell of her ear, dragging my lips against it, causing a shiver.
It only makes me want this more. The way her body responds to every touch, every word I’m whispering in her ear.
“I want you, Zane.” Her voice trembles with the confession. “I want all of you.”