Chapter 14
CHRISTIAN
His fingers were soaked, still buried deep inside her, as her body fluttered around them in the aftershocks of what he was sure was the hottest fucking orgasm he’d ever witnessed.
Merry’s breath was coming in ragged little gasps against his shoulder.
Her skin was flushed and gleaming, and all of the above was making his cock throb painfully hard.
Jesus Christ.
He slid his fingers free with slow, deliberate care, watching the way her slickness clung to them and how her body flinched at the loss. She didn’t even know how gorgeous she was like this.
And right now she’s all mine. The thought slammed into him, white-hot.
His gaze snagged on the edge of the dresser behind her. It was the perfect height.
“Hands on the dresser,” he murmured against her ear. “Now.”
She turned her head, eyes still dazed. But she obeyed, moving slowly, her legs still trembling. He caught her hips and helped her pivot, his hands firm as he guided her to bend over the edge. With her palms flattened against the wood, her hair tumbled forward, still damp and clinging to her spine.
And, fuck, the sight of her arched and bare and glistening for him nearly undid him on the spot.
Christian ran a hand down the curve of her back, pausing at the dip of her waist, then lower, to cup her ass. He squeezed once, then spread her gently, revealing her soaked, swollen pussy, still flushed from her climax. His cock jerked in response.
He hissed a breath through his teeth. “You’ve got no idea what you do to me.”
His gaze raked over her one more time, then he straightened and reached for his jacket, still crumpled on the floor beside them.
He crouched, found the inner pocket and pulled out the foil square.
He tore it open with a flick of his fingers and rolled the condom on with practised ease, his cock hard in his hands.
When he looked up, Merry was watching him over her shoulder, her eyes dark, her body still bent over the dresser like a gift he was about to unwrap all over again.
Christian’s mouth curved. “Did I tell you I was a boy scout? Always prepared.”
Merry huffed a breathless laugh, but it turned into a moan as he stepped back to her, one hand on her hip, the other guiding himself to her soaked, swollen entrance.
He ran his cock up her, lubricating the tip on her slick pussy, and pressed inside with one slow, deliberate thrust, filling her inch by inch until his hips met the curve of her ass.
“Oh, Merry,” he sighed. “You feel like a fucking dream.”
She moaned, pushing back against him instinctively. Christian gritted his teeth, drawing back and thrusting in again, deep and slow, sinking into her like he had all the time in the world.
Each stroke made her gasp, her body still quivering from her orgasm. She was hot and tight around him, and he had to concentrate hard to stop his own release. He wanted more from her first.
He reached around, hand slipping easily between her thighs, fingers finding her pulsing clit. He rubbed slow circles, syncing his touch to the rhythm of his hips, coaxing her higher again.
Merry flinched and let out a sharp breath. “I . . . Christian, I don’t think I can come again. I already—”
“Yes, you can.” He stopped her, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “Trust me.”
He moved his fingers tenderly with little pressure. Just gentle, knowing strokes as he thrust in and out of her. Merry’s body writhed against him, her moans caught between overstimulation and a new wave building.
“It’s perfect,” he rasped. “You’re perfect. Let it happen.”
He buried his face in her neck, breathing her in as he picked up the pace.
He stayed gentle and controlled but pushed himself deeper.
His fingers stroked over her clit like he was painting her pleasure back into existence.
And slowly, her tension changed. The sharp edges softened.
Her moans turned to gasps, her hips rocked into his.
Christian felt the shift and smiled against her skin.
She whimpered, breath stuttering, thighs trembling. “Oh, God . . .”
“That’s it,” he said again, thrusting deeper, circling her clit faster. “Come for me, Merry. Let go.”
She cried out, her body clenching hard around him, as she came for a second time.
“Fuck,” Christian groaned, as with one last, desperate thrust, he spilled inside her, body shuddering, lost in the heat and the high and her .
They collapsed forward on to the dresser, skin slick, breath heaving, still connected.
Christian kissed the curve of her spine and whispered, “Told you.”
Merry let out a shaky laugh. “You’re a menace.”
He grinned, pressing another kiss to her damp shoulder and stayed still for a moment, both of them catching their breath, bodies tangled and trembling, hearts still hammering. Then he eased out of her carefully, hands steady on her hips as her knees wobbled.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered.
Merry turned and blinked up at him, dazed and flushed and beautiful. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, but all that came out was a tiny sigh as her eyes fluttered shut for a beat. He smiled and brushed a damp strand of hair off her cheek.
“You’re done standing for the night,” he said softly, then bent and scooped her into his arms.
She let out a sleepy, surprised sound as her arms looped around his neck, but she didn’t protest. Just curled into him, her head resting on his shoulder, the scent of candy canes rising from her skin.
Christian carried her across to her bed, his bare feet soft against the wooden floor.
The storm outside still raged, rain streaking the windows with loud slaps.
He reached the bed and eased her down gently on to the cool sheets, pulling the covers up around her neck and making sure she was cocooned.
She looked up at him, lashes heavy, eyes soft.
“You okay?” he asked, crouching beside the mattress, brushing his thumb along her jaw.
She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. “Better than okay.”
That did something to him. Twisted his chest in that aching, vulnerable way he hadn’t expected tonight. He slid into bed beside her, propped on one elbow, the other hand reaching up to stroke her damp hair back from her forehead.
“You’re incredible,” he murmured. “Just in case no one’s told you that recently.”
Merry gave him a sleepy smile, her eyes fluttering shut, then opening again, like something had just occurred to her.
“You remember what you said earlier? That you weren’t great at impressing women?”
Christian raised a brow. “Yeah . . .”
“Well,” she murmured, voice already fading with exhaustion, “I’d say you’re actually pretty good at it.”
“Is that your official verdict?” He huffed a quiet laugh.
“I told you I’d let you know by midnight.”
He leaned in, kissed her temple. “Worth the wait?”
Merry hummed, too tired to answer properly. Christian lay beside her long after she drifted off, watching her chest rise and fall in the dark, his fingers still stroking her hair.
He stayed as long as he dared.
But the clock on her nightstand kept ticking forward, and reality tugged at the edges. His ridiculously early shift at Carroll’s would be starting soon, and if he didn’t move now, he wouldn’t make it back in time.
He eased himself off her bed, careful not to jostle the mattress. Crouching to gather his clothes, he tugged them on piece by piece in the low light. His jacket was still damp, but he shrugged it on, then stood by the bed for a moment longer, watching her before slipping out into the hallway.
The apartment was dark except for the faint blue glow of a phone screen.
Merry’s roommate was standing there in oversized pyjamas, holding a mug and staring at him with an unimpressed raised brow.
He grinned sheepishly, lifting a finger to his lips.
Her expression didn’t change, but she gave a tiny nod and stepped aside to let him pass.
Christian suppressed a laugh and slipped out into the stairwell, pulling the door quietly shut behind him.
Outside, the storm had mostly passed, the streets still shining with rain and glittering under the amber glow of streetlights.
He walked to the corner, collar turned up against the cold and raised a hand to flag down a cab.
One pulled over almost instantly and he slid into the back seat, giving the driver the address for Carroll’s.
As the car pulled away from the kerb, he leaned his head back against the seat, the scent of Merry still clinging to his skin, and smiled to himself.
After a few quiet blocks, he pulled out his phone and opened the APEX group chat. It was mostly dead — the guys were probably asleep — but he tapped out a message anyway.
Christian: Is it okay to pretend to be someone you’re not if there’s a beautiful woman involved? Asking for a friend.
He stared at it for a second, then added:
Christian: @Blake @Nate You two are in different time zones — any moral wisdom from abroad? Or just tell me I’m not a total asshole.
He hit send, locked the screen, and exhaled. Maybe tonight had been a bad idea. Maybe he should’ve told her the truth.
His phone buzzed in his lap.
Nate: Mate. If pretending gets you laid, I’m not judging. Just don’t get caught — or do, depending on how good the sex was.
Christian huffed out a laugh as another buzz sounded from his phone.
Blake: Depends. Are we talking pretending to like her taste in music or pretending you don’t own a billion-dollar brand?
Christian rolled his eyes, but his grin widened.
Nate: Tell the truth eventually. But if she’s hot and cool she might be worth the risk.
Blake: Seconded. You need to be honest with her. And can you give us a description? Or a photo?
Christian stared at the screen for a beat, thumbs hovering. Then he sent the photo he’d snapped of Merry with her candy cane.
Christian: I’m in trouble, aren’t I?
The typing dots appeared instantly.
Blake: Big trouble.
Nate: Hot. Mate, if you’re not honest with her soon then I’m swooping in and rescuing her from you.
Christian: You two are the worst and also may be right. This went further than I meant it to, and now I don’t know how to undo it.
He hit send, then slid his phone back into his jacket pocket just as the cab slowed in front of Carroll’s. Christian paid the driver, pulled up his collar against the lingering drizzle, and headed for the staff entrance.