Page 79 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

Living without Ashley wasn’t new, but years of memories had carried him through before.He wantednewmemories, new moments that he could go to when she inevitably left him for the city.

His finger flicked one shirt button open, then another.Ashley sat up in bed, eyes meeting his as he continued the journey from one button to the next.

She kicked a long leg out from the comforter and stood, letting the blankets fall away.She strode toward him, placing her hands over his.“You’re taking too damn long,” she said and slid the shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

She hooked the hem of his t-shirt and dragged it over his head, tossing it aside.

“Better,” she said, her hands resting on his chest as she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his heated skin.She kissed down his chest, knees bending as she stopped at his pants.

Her smile beamed up at him, setting his whole world aglow.

He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, unable to stop looking into those blue eyes.

“What?”she asked, the corners of her mouth curving upward.

“I’ve spent years wondering if I’d ever get to look at you like this again.”

The teasing in her gaze shifted, her eyes softening.“You’re looking at me like I’m going to disappear.”

“I thought you had.”

“I’m here now, so let’s stop wasting time.”She flicked his button open and lowered his zipper before shoving his pants to the floor.His cock sprang from the material, and she took her own advice, not wasting a single second as she wrapped her fingers around his hard length and took him in her mouth.

Electric current shot through his body.His legs trembled as she took him to the hilt.He held her head with one hand, not to guide her—she was doing fine on her own—but to anchor himself to the world.

Her tongue swirled around his head, and a new rush of pleasure erupted inside him.His thighs quivered at the sensation, overwhelming his entire being.Every nerve ending sparked to life, and if he didn’t stop her, this night was going to end much sooner than he intended.

He withdrew, his cock falling from her mouth.She pouted up at him with those big gray eyes, and he cupped her face, dragging her to her feet and crashing his mouth to hers.She let out a surprised squeak as he backed her toward the bed.

Every swipe of her tongue, nip of her teeth, press of her lips flooded him with new sensations.He had no idea how he had survived so long without her.And though he didn’t want to think about what came after Christmas, the thought lingered in the back of his head.

He let her go once without her knowing exactly how he felt, and there was no way in hell he was going to do that again.With all the strength he could muster, he broke the kiss, holding her face as their jagged breaths mixed.

“Ashley,” he said, his fingers tightening on the silky strands of her hair.“I love you.I always have.I think I always will.”

She kissed him, hard and full of passion, sucking his breath right from his lungs before drawing back.“I love you too.Always have and always will.”

Love exploded in his chest, seeping into all the parts that had suffered all these years, infusing light into the dark crevices.

He scooped her into his arms and lowered her onto the bed.He lowered over her, propped up on his forearm.For a moment he just stared at her: gray eyes heavy with desire, lips swollen from his kisses, cheeks red from passion, and he fell further in love with her.

There was no question about it.He would always love her.Whether she returned to the city without him, whether it was another decade before they saw each other again, it didn’t matter.She had stolen his heart when he was just a boy, and it had been hers ever since.He was never getting it back, and he didn’t want it back.

He captured her lips in one swift motion, tongues sliding, lips moving.Her fingers wrapped around his hard length and guided him to her.She swiped the tip against her moist center, holding him from entering.

“Tease,” he managed to say.

She laughed and released her grasp.He pushed forward and sank into her, sighing as he was gripped by her slick walls.

He kissed her neck, then her lips, as he moved inside her.Her head tilted, soft moans rumbling up her throat.He dragged his hand down the soft column, stopping at her breast.He cupped her, pinching her nipple between his thumb and pointer.Her body arched, allowing him to go deeper still.

Her bangs fell to the side, her cheeks blooming red, as her teeth slid over her bottom lip.She arched into his hand, and he dipped his head, taking her nipple into his mouth.He swirled his tongue around the hardened bead.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close, as her walls tightened, squeezing his cock and shooting pleasure through his entire body.

He looked at her swollen lips and flushed skin.Her lips parted, eyes slipped closed, and he pumped into her harder and harder.Her body tightened, her inner muscles contracted, and he crashed his mouth to hers, devouring her cries as her body bucked.

He kissed her until she went slack in his arms.He thrust into her, pressure building in his balls.White spots flashed behind his eyes like snow, and pure pleasure exploded inside him.His body jerked at his release, and he collapsed beside Ashley, gathering her in his arms.