7. Mylo
7
Mylo
“Be careful not to burn yourself!”
I barely register the sting, the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Hell, I don’t realize Delilah is checking out the red mark on my wrist once I’ve set down the pan of cookies.
I kissed her. Fuck, what was I thinking? I let a moment of weakness guide me and now, I know what she tastes like. Must’ve put mint in her tea, or maybe she snagged a minty chocolate piece of candy after lunch. I don’t know. Either way, she tasted delicious and like my favorite flavor. There’s a craving for more, growing bigger and bigger by the minute.
If I leave the kitchen, I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to keep away. I’ll want to press her against some dark corner and kiss her ten more times before I’m satisfied. Rub against her until my cock can finally find some relief.
“How is that?” Delilah adds too much burn cream to my wound and squints at me when my answer doesn’t come fast enough. “Are you alright?”
If I tell her no, she’ll assume it has something to do with my attitude on life lately. She doesn’t have a slight clue about the fight going on in my head.
“He’ll be fine, it’s hardly much,” Henry assures her once he sees the small oval against my wrist.
Clearing my throat, I nod. “Yeah, he’s right. Give it five minutes and I won’t feel it.” Hell, I don’t feel it now. All I feel is hunger. An itch to scratch. A need that needs to be taken care of, one I’ve been neglecting for far too long.
It’s hardly been a year since I got my hands on divorce papers. Hardly a few months since those court hearings. Before Cassidy’s return, I wanted nothing to do with love. Nothing to do with any woman who could inflict the same kind of pain. I never wanted to go through this again.
Now I feel my heart in my chest as it beats, the numbness completely gone. Fuck, it’s working overtime every time I’m caught alone with her. Even worse, if it weren’t for Delilah calling for me, I’m not sure I would’ve had the strength to pull away from the younger woman all by myself. I would’ve flattened her against that archway and devoured her.
Hell, I think I’m addicted.
Delilah squeezes my hand, bringing me out of my thoughts. She stares at me, her brows bunched together. “You sure you’re alright?” Her eyes search like she’s hunting for something that doesn’t involve the small injury. It’s like she can sense something is off. “We can bust out the painkillers if need be.”
Henry shakes his head with an eye roll and I do the same. No type of medicine is going to make me feel better. The only solution to my problem is somewhere in the living room. I don’t think either of these two will want to give me another dose.
Fuck, what am I even thinking? I shouldn’t have kissed her. Shouldn’t have caved. Now look at me. I’m distraught, all distracted.
Once I’m released, I help her pull out two other pans. So many cookies. More than necessary, but that’s only because I ate too many of them the night before. All in hopes of feeding this craving.
“You’ll help us ice these, won’t you?” Henry is hopeful, clearly looking for company as his wife makes him design little snowmen and reindeer.
“Can’t say I’m much of an artist,” I start slowly, hoping they won’t drag me along.
“I’ll help.” Right behind me, Cassidy’s voice vibrates straight through my tense muscles. “Though, I’m sure four people will make this task a quick one.” She moves next to me, blinking those wide eyes. She’s biting her bottom lip, the same one I caught between my own.
My heart is going at it again, doing whatever it pleases.
“I guess I can put in a little effort,” I mutter, knowing I’m not going to be able to stay away. Instead, I’m going to be looking for any excuse to be near her. Even if the other two are in the same room, I won’t be able to help myself.
I should put distance between ourselves. That would be the responsible thing to do. Before any real damage is done. Before I try to trick myself into believing Cassidy would’ve kissed me if we weren’t under some plastic plant.
Delilah clasps her hands together, delighted by having everyone on board. While Henry works on getting even more into the oven, she takes over making the icing.
While we wait, we sit at the table. Right at my side, Cassidy tangles her fingers together. She’s nervous, avoiding my eyes. However, the smallest smile teases me every time I sneak a glance in her direction. Beneath the table, I feel the warmth of her foot graze my ankle. Fuck me.
Holding back isn’t an option. I’m going to need another taste of her soon. The only question left unsolved is when .
* * *
Sitting in a dark room can’t be a good look for me. Yet, I’ve got a lot on my mind as I sit in the living room. I’m too busy staring at the hanging mistletoe to let my mind slip too deeply.
For once, the topic weighing me down isn’t everything that’s gone wrong during this year. It is about the woman hiding in her room, probably from me. That’s all I can do until I can properly talk to her about this hunger manifesting in the pit of my stomach.
If I get near her right now, I think I may try to kiss her again. I’m not too sure that’ll be what I need to fix my issues. Maybe it is, who knows? For now, I’m better off waiting for her to come to me if I haven’t scared her off completely.
I know I’m not presenting myself very well when Henry and Delilah come creeping down the stairs. Hearing their voices before they appear, I pull out my phone to look busier than I am.
He notices me almost immediately. My presence makes him stop, and soon, both of them are staring my way.
“The lights look great,” Delilah muses as she takes in the sight with a soft gaze. She should be looking at that tree rather than at me, at least it’s easier on the eyes.
“We’re going to go to the movies.” Henry jerks a thumb behind him. “Maybe to get something to eat, too.”
Tearing my eyes from the screen, I lift a brow. “Right now? Have they cleared the roads?”
Delilah smiles and nods. “Sure did. Good thing too, because we’ve been waiting on this release. But it’s a horror, so I’m not sure it’s your type.” She shoots a look at her husband but I don’t think Henry picks up on the idea that she wants this to be more of a date than an outing. “Don’t pressure him, dear. He’s had a lot on his mind lately.” Murmuring the words, they settle heavily on my shoulders.
There’s no way in hell Delilah knows what I’ve been thinking. I haven’t peeped a word and if Cassidy mentioned anything, Henry would’ve let me know.
Yet, there’s something about the way that she’s looking at me that makes it hard to swallow down the lump in my throat.
“Maybe we should ask Cas.” Henry looks up toward the stairs. “She could use the distraction.”
Delilah tears her eyes off of me and follows his gaze. Her mouth purses and she slides her arm against his. “I think I want to keep you all to myself if that’s alright.”
It’s a silly thought, but for just a moment, I consider Delilah giving me the privacy I need. If she had a clue about Cassidy and me, then she’d know what she’s inviting.
He grins, growing a bit bashful and a little too happy by her words. Rubbing the back of his neck, he nods. “Yeah, that’s alright.”
Watching them drift off, a sigh falls off my lips as I shift my stare toward the tree. Their happiness, is it something I can find for myself? I imagine Cassidy being the one to cling onto my arm while batting her eyelashes and the stir moving around my chest is the answer I’m looking for.
Yeah, I think she could give me what I want. She’d wrap me around her finger and I wouldn’t complain. Hell, I’d ask for it.
Even though I know I shouldn’t get ahead of myself here, I think about what’s going to happen to us after the holidays. If I can give Cassidy a reason to never leave Fairland again, and find a little cabin up on the mountain away from the rest of the world will she agree to stay?
Would Cassidy let me keep her all to myself or am I being too greedy?
How in the hell does one little kiss make me start thinking about all these trivial things?
“Fuck me…” Letting out a long sigh, I sink deeper into the couch. Running my hands down my face, I wait for a moment for this to get a little easier.
With the rumble of the truck leaving the house and the creak of the floor up above as the only other proof of life inside here, I consider doing more than just simply sulking down here. What should I do, knock on her door and ask for a repeat of earlier? Something tells me if I go up there now, I won’t want to stop at a kiss.
I’ve slept on that bed plenty enough to know how inviting it is.
I don’t know how long I sit here counting the lights glistening on the tree before I hear the sound of a door opening. Jaw tightening, I fight the urge to stand.
A small part of me is hoping that she is simply leaving her room to slip into the bathroom. She’ll return to her room and everything will be all as well. Then I hear the creak of the steps and I know I’m goner.
When Cassidy appears, she’s breathtaking. With different colors bouncing off of her cheeks and hair, she hunts me down with ease.
“Tell me you aren’t down here sulking by yourself.” She tilts her head and takes me in. “We had a deal, remember? No more bad thoughts.”
The only things going on in my head are what will mark me down on the naughty list. For once, I’m not thinking about everything else and I have to say, it’s like a breath of fresh air.
“Don’t worry, Bug. I’m keeping my word.” Tearing my eyes away from her, it’s a struggle to find something else interesting to look at. She’s got a snug shirt on with a pair of fuzzy pajama pants that look soft to the touch. I’m trying not to think about running my fingertips along the length of her leg to see how soft..
She sighs and closes the space between us. “I think I am a little too old for that nickname, don’t you?” Now she’s close enough that I can smell her body wash.
That little nickname is all I have left to remind me why I shouldn’t want her. If she can’t tell, I’m clinging onto it.
“You did grow up,” I mutter as she takes another step closer. This time, she doesn’t stop until she’s between my knees. My chest tightens and I’m forced to look back at her. This woman is full-grown and gorgeous. I want her, and I can’t stop.
Even with the shadows casting over her front, I can see the flush on her face. She looks like she’s got a lot to say. Is she like me with too many thoughts to count?
The seconds drag by pure silence before she takes in a deep breath. “I want to kiss you again.”
I want it too. Even if my mind tells me I shouldn’t, I do.
“You haven’t brought it back up,” she chews on her lip and her eyes fall to take in the heavy swell of my chest. “I figured you wouldn’t want my parents to know. Well, I heard them leave, and who knows when they’ll be back,”
She’s babbling, her body twitchy. Only once I lean forward and graze her hips with my fingers does she grow silent. A small smile forms when I pull her down on the seat with me. Once she’s straddling my lap, it feels like she’s right where she’s meant to be.
Unlike with the mistletoe, no one is around to disrupt us. So when she leans forward and cups my face, our mouths meet with no hesitation.
I don’t want to let her go. Never.
Those thoughts of the future start creeping back in, growing more and more promising. I don’t know how, but I’ll convince her to stay. Even if I have to risk messing up this whole marriage thing again, I’ll get a ring around her finger and make her mine.
Her hips shift as our tongues glide and my cock stiffens immediately. Doesn’t help that I was already semi-hard from just thinking about her. She lets out this soft moan as she discovers my state and sighs against my lips.
This woman is going to ruin me. This isn’t the place for things to happen, but I’m tempted to strip these fuzzy pants from her bottom half.
As her hands press against my chest, her eyes lower before a look of contemplation takes over her face.
“What is it?” When she moves, I reach out for her as I immediately miss having her in my arms. For only a moment, I wonder if I’ve done something wrong. That well of concern dries up as she glides off my body and rests in between my knees.
Her fingertips glide up my thighs and I realize what she wants to do.
I must’ve passed out on the couch because there is no way in hell this is happening. There is no way she’s tracing the outline of my cock with her fingers.
Except, she is. Even worse, I don’t think touching me through my pants is going to satisfy her.