IVY

My breathing was already shallow by the time Nick showed me into his bedroom.

"One second," he said, hurrying over to the bed and pulling off a blanket so he could throw it over the chair in the corner.

I laughed. "Laundry chair?"

"Yes," he admitted sheepishly. "If I'd known you were going to come back here tonight, I'd have cleared it away this morning."

"It's fine," I assured him, stepping closer and wrapping my arms around his neck. "I'm not planning on spending any time looking at the laundry chair."

"I'm certainly going to try and make you forget it." He leaned in and captured my lips with his.

I melted into him, giving myself over to the kiss that was full of the promise of what was to come.

There was an urge within me to strip off my clothes and tell him to hurry, but I restrained it.

There was no reason for us to do that. We could take our time and truly enjoy the moment for what it was.

He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against mine.

"I don't even know what I want to do first," I murmured.

"I can help with that." He turned me around and took a step back, making me immediately miss the contact. His fingers found the zipper of my dress and he drew it down achingly slowly, the intention behind every movement impossible to ignore.

I closed my eyes and gave myself over to each touch. The air was heavy with promise as he slipped his hand under the sleeves and pushed the sensible dress off my shoulders. It slid over my body and pooled on the floor.

Nick ran a hand down my arm, making me shiver in response even if he wasn't currently touching a particularly sensitive part of me. He brushed my hair out of the way and leaned in to kiss my neck.

"Your stockings look even better without the dress."

"You should see them when I'm wearing nothing else," I responded, turning so I could face him. There wasn't quite as much space as I'd like, so I stepped back, aware that it brought me closer to the bed. "But if I'm going to take more clothes off, then it only seems fair that you should too."

He raised an eyebrow. "Any preference?"

"Lose the shirt." It was only as I said it that I realised I'd never actually seen him without one.

He undid the buttons, not taking his eyes off me while he did. He dropped it to the floor, revealing a broad chest and strong arms that no doubt came from hours in the workshop and moving things around the factory.

My mouth went dry and I licked my lips in an attempt to stop them drying out too. His gaze lowered to them, his eyes darkening and his need written all over his face.

I unhooked my bra, glad I'd decided to wear one with a front clasp today.

And that I decided to wear a matching set just in case .

It wasn't that I'd planned for Nick to see it, I'd just wanted to be prepared in case he did.

I dropped my bra to the floor, letting the cool air wash over me.

My nipples hardened in response, though that could also have been because of the desire coursing through me.

He met my gaze, keeping it as he undid his belt.

The scrape of the metal and the whoosh of him pulling the belt through the loops filled the air.

My breath caught in my throat and a deep ache settled within me, the earlier release nothing more than a distant memory.

Something told me that it was merely the first of many.

The air in the room was growing hotter by the minute. I slid my fingers under the waistband of my panties and slid them over my legs, leaving my stockings in place. He seemed to like them earlier, and there was a part of me that felt extra desirable to still be wearing them.

He closed the gap between us and crushed his lips against mine, the kiss searing through to my soul. I could feel him pressing against my leg, hard and ready for me.

I didn't break the kiss as I slipped my hand between us and took him in it.

Nick groaned into my mouth, sending a small thrill through me. One that only grew bigger as he trailed his hand down my back and cupped my ass in his palm, pulling me closer.

I broke the kiss, but only so I could pull him down onto the bed.

He didn't need much persuading, the weight of his body over mine only made me more aware of how good it felt to have him next to me.

He shifted on the bed, which was good for me, as it meant that his body was more accessible to me and I could continue stroking him.

He reached down and put his hand over mine, loosening my grip and pulling me away.

"Am I doing something wrong?" I murmured.

He shook his head. "I'm just very close."

"Oh." I swallowed hard. I hadn't even been doing much, and yet he was acting like a teenager with me.

"I just need a break," he promised, lifting my chin with his hand so he could kiss me again.

My skin tingled everywhere he touched, and I parted my legs as soon as his hand reached them, the tension building within me not leaving any barriers.

A cry escaped me as his fingers found my entrance. I was already so on edge that it barely mattered what he was doing to me, every touch increased the need for more and I could feel the intensity of a release building, one that was going to be even more intense than in the sleigh.

I reached out and grabbed his wrist, not really sure whether I was trying to guide him or make sure that he wasn't going to stop.

He grinned at me and leaned in to kiss my neck. The sensation was enough to push me over the edge and the release overtook me, making my whole body feel like it was on fire. I was barely aware of what was happening and everything was just sensation .

I laid back on the bed, breathing rapidly even as he continued to touch me. I let out the softest moan. "Please say you have a condom."

"I do."

"Good." I had one in my handbag, but I hadn't even considered bringing it to the bedroom with me, I'd already been distracted by my own desire. It was a miracle I was remembering now, but I was glad I did.

"I'll be right back." He leaned in to kiss me swiftly and got up to go into what I assumed was the bathroom.

I sat up. "You don't keep condoms by the bed?"

He reappeared with a small box in his hand and shrugged. "I only need them there if I'm going to have sex. It's a bit like the laundry chair, if I'd known you were coming, I'd have put them there."

"Oh."

"You keep them by the bed?" He asked as he pulled out a foil packet and put the box on the bedside table.

"Well, yes. The bed is where I'm going to need them."

"Makes sense." He sat down on the edge of the bed and rolled the condom on.

My breath caught in my throat as I considered what was coming next. There was no doubt that my desire and attraction had taken hold of me, but this wasn't just a fumble in the sheets, and there was no lack of rational thought to go with it. I wanted this.

"Stay there," I said, going up onto my knees so I could straddle him.

He seemed to work out what I was doing, as he guided himself to my entrance. My eyes closed and I let out a moan as I seated myself on him, feeling unbelievably full.

Nick reached out and brushed my hair away from my face, capturing me in a deep kiss. My whole body was still tingling from the release and the urge for more was growing within me.

I broke the kiss and started to rock back and forth. His hands helped keep me moving at a steady rhythm and his lips grazed against every part of me they could reach.

All thoughts fled from my mind as I gave myself over to the way it felt to be with him like this because it was far exceeding anything I'd anticipated.

And I was glad that this wasn't going to be the last time.