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9

Alice

A lice was in the kitchen, making hot chocolate. She pressed her hands to her cheeks. They were still cold, but nothing else about her was cold. It was a perfect kiss, but hearing those words come out of Taylor’s mouth had her in full-on swoon mode.

She needed to reel it in, or she would fall head over heels—who was she kidding? She was already there.

Maybe she could just let herself feel it for these couple of days. She didn’t know how long he would be here. She was planning on staying until New Year’s. They played New Year’s Day, and they would have practices before that.

When the milk was warm, she poured it into the mugs, mixed in heaping spoonfuls of cocoa mix, and headed into the living room.

There he was, with a towel, drying the floor and dealing with all their snow clothes. Her heart squeezed at the sight of him.

“Cocoa,” she said, motioning to the mug before walking over and setting it on the coffee table.

He walked over and sat next to her. Reaching out, he cupped her face. “Your cheeks are still red. Are you cold?”

“No, I’m not.”

And while her cheeks were cold, the rest of her was on fire.

“Which one now? Do remakes count? Like could we do Scrooged , or is it straight up A Christmas Carol ?”

“We can watch Scrooged ,” she said, taking the remote from him. “Everyone needs a little Bill Murray in their Christmas.”

She pulled up the movie, but she really needed to do something to get the pitter patter of her out-of-control heart in control before they were further than this and she was a messed-up lump of feelings and unrequited love. That was not how she had envisioned her new year going. Maybe ground rules would be helpful... Doubtful, but it was worth a go.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked, trying to push nerves out of her voice.

“Of course.”

“How long do you plan on staying?”

“I hadn’t really thought about it,” he said, facing her. “Is there a time you would like me to go? I mean, I can leave as soon as the road clears. Do you think they will have the plows out here by tomorrow?”

“Oh... I don’t know when the plows will be here. I imagine soon, but I mean, tomorrow is Christmas...” She stopped and took a deep breath, floundering. “I guess I’m asking how long can you stay? I kind of like having you here.”

“Oh,” he said, relaxing a bit more. “I’m enjoying myself, too,” he said, putting his hand on her knee. “We are starting practice backup on the twenty-eigth. So, I could stay until the twenty-seventh, if that’s okay with you. But I mean, kick me out whenever you want.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about getting kicked out. You’re surprisingly easy to be with.”

“I feel the same about you.”

“Okay, and I mean, there does seem to be a mutual attraction,” she said. As if he could sense the nerves, he rubbed her leg. She couldn’t believe she was being this brave with him but something about him made her feel safe. “Maybe while you’re here, we could ummm... ya know... have that kind of fun, too.”

Well, so much for having an adult conversation about hooking up, but this was new for her.

“You mean a little one-on-one fun,” he said, wagging his eyebrows.

She laughed and batted at his chest.

He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to her palm. “Sorry... but yeah, in all honesty. Let’s do that.” He pressed a second kiss to her palm.

She could do this. He had just said he was into her.

She moved across the couch and straddled his lap. Keeping his hands by his side, he stilled. But she did notice his sharp intake of breath and how his mouth parted when she crawled over him.

She bent down and kissed him. The moment her mouth met his, his hands found her hips, and he kissed her back. She opened her mouth, and he slid his tongue against her. He groaned as his hand came to her hips, pulling her down on top of him. Then he slid them up her back, holding her close as he kissed the fuck out of her.

She broke the kiss, panting as he kissed down her neck. The feeling of his roaming firm hands and his warm, wet mouth kissing her neck had her on fire. How did this man undo her this easily?

A moan escaped her mouth, causing him to pull her closer to him. Unaware of her own body, she grinded against his fully hard dick.

“Fuck. Not that I’m complaining, but what changed your mind?” he said between kisses on her neck.

“After I read your note, I decided I should believe you.”

“Good decision,” he agreed as his hands slid to her ass.

This is where things had taken a turn last night, and she did tense up.

Did he think they were going to have sex? Did she want to have sex? Maybe losing her virginity to a handsome hockey player she was snowed in with was perfect.

“Where’d ya go?” asked Taylor as he pulled back. “I’m following your lead here, so I need you with me.”

“It’s my lead, huh?”

He nodded.

She knew what she wanted to do. She kissed him, taking his mouth, and moved herself off his lap and between his legs.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

She kneeled before him and undid his pants.

His hand closed over hers. “Whoa, what’s going on?” he asked with entirely too much kindness, when all she wanted was heat.

“I think it’s pretty clear.”

“No, that’s not how I work. I’ll never come first. I’ll make you come hard and often before this.”

With her mouth parted, she breathed out little pants. “Oh.”

“Now, why don’t you get up here and let me get my hands on you,” he said, pulling her back onto his lap.

She climbed up and kissed him as his hands roamed again. This time, he was more forward, letting one hand cup her ass and pull her close while the other grazed her breast over her sweatshirt. Then he slipped his hand under her bralette and plucked her nipple.

She had never experienced this heat before.

An orgasm was building inside of her, and he hadn’t even touched her pussy yet. But he was rectifying that—fast, as he slipped the hand down the front of her pants and found her already wet and wanting.

“Fuck,” he said as he slipped a finger inside of her. “You’re already so wet,” he said as he massaged her clit. He yanked her sweatshirt up and latched his mouth onto her nipple as he worked her clit. Then he slipped his hand back down, slipping two fingers inside of her. He pumped them in and out as she grinded on his palm. She was shamelessly chasing her own release on him.

“That’s right, baby, ride my hand. Take what you need.”

She threw her head back and grinded harder. He slipped another finger in as his mouth again found her breast. Fuck, she was so close. Her hips shamelessly rocked as she pushed her breast into him. He nibbled it, and that short shock of pain was enough to push her over the edge. Her head was tossed back as she moaned through her release.

When she came back down, the look of reverence on his face warmed her to her very core.

“Fuck, that was hot. And you better fucking believe that,” he said, giving her nipple a playful squeeze.

“I do,” she said, still panting.

And to her own pleasant surprise, she did. She didn’t question him. She simply believed he wanted her, and it may have been even more intoxicating than what they had just done.

Pulling his hand out, he claimed her mouth. He sat up, flipping himself on top. He pressed her into the couch, and she wanted nothing more than to be claimed by him. Only she’d never done this before. His kisses trailed down her neck and between her breasts.

This was moving so fast. It was definitely what she wanted, but it was her first time. Fuck.

Panic took over.

“Stop, stop, stop,” she said.

His hands immediately withdrew, and he sat up, his expression a mix between alarm and confusion. “I’m sorry, I thought?—”

“No, you’re right. I just . . . Fuck.”

“Hey,” he said, trying to soothe her. “This was your idea. I’m just following your lead. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

She nodded. “I know... I’m sorry... I want to but”—she shook her head—“I feel like there is something I should tell you.”

She didn’t think this through, but when did she ever? Getting to twenty-eight as a virgin wasn’t easy to talk about, but maybe she could start her new year and her new life without being a virgin. It was time.

Taylor was still sitting there, patiently waiting for her to explain.

And she couldn’t have picked anyone better to lose her virginity to. He was sweet and cared about her—and had even remembered their conversation from the gala. He’d been kind and respectful every time they’d ever interacted. And most importantly, he seemed to be attracted to her...

And they were snowed in.

Fuck.

It was now or never.

“I’ve never done this,” she blurted.

His brow scrunched in confusion. “Never done what? Like, hooked up?”

“No... I mean, no, I’ve never hooked up...” After a long pause and a deep breath, she said, “I mean that I’ve never had sex before.”

His mouth dropped, and he sat there, gaping at her.

Self-consciousness took over her, and she moved away from him and faced the TV.

“You’re a virgin?”

The shock in his voice made her cringe.

She nodded, unable to meet his eye.