Page 111 of The Christmas Tree Farm

‘I know.’

She grinned and he missed her, even though she was right here, he missed her. He needed her closer. He rolled them so he was above her, dipping his head to kiss her. She was sleepy and soft.

He should let her rest.

‘Bennett,’ she murmured.

‘Yeah?’

‘I love you.’

His breath caught, still shocked to hear it, still amazed it could be true.

‘I love you, too, Peaches.’

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him down into the cradle of her thighs. He braced himself on his forearms so that he didn’t crush her, but she wrapped her legs around his back, holding him tight.

He nuzzled against her neck, breathing in her scent—shampoo and woodsmoke and pine and Kira—that made him dizzy with wanting her. She gasped as he rocked against her.

‘Do you want to sleep?’ he whispered against her cheek.

She shook her head. ‘Not yet. I don’t want to miss any time with you.’

He smiled. ‘We’ll have to sleep at some point.’

‘Not yet,’ she whispered, and he kissed her, stealing the words. He kissed her lips and her jaw; he kissed down her neck, dragging his mouth along her delicate skin. She arched her back as he kissed across her collarbone and down to her breasts. He licked and sucked and kissed until she was gasping for breath, her hips rocking against his, seeking relief even after all the times they’d done this tonight. It wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t ever be enough.

He slid down her body, burying his face between her thighs.

Christ, how he’d missed this.

Her taste, her scent, the feel of her against his tongue. The tug of her fingers in his hair, her gasps and whimpers. He held tight to her thighs, holding her in place for him, not willing to let go for a second.

He’d been an idiot to leave the first time.

Now he planned to hold tight to this woman forever.

‘Ben!’ Her thighs tensed around him, her hips rolling against his tongue. She tensed and then broke, trembling in his hands. He lapped up her pleasure, wringing out every last drop until her body went soft and pliable in his hands again.

He crawled back up her body and found her with a sated smile.

He grinned. ‘Do you want to sleep now?’ he asked and her eyes fluttered open.

‘Not yet.’ Her smile was downright wicked as she tugged him down again. Her legs were wrapped around him again and she was so slick he slid in in a single thrust.

‘Kira,’ her name was nothing more than a groan. He leaned his forehead against hers, steadying himself against the pleasure that was already rioting through him.

She kissed him, running her fingernails down his back, just enough to send prickling pleasure down his spine. He grunted and she smiled against his lips.

‘I love you,’ she whispered as he thrust into her again and again. She whispered against his mouth and his ear and into the crook of his neck as she held onto him, as he pushed into her, again and again, until he broke against her, falling apart in her arms.

‘I love you, too,’ he gasped, pressing his lips against her sweaty temple. They stayed like that for a long time, pressed together, unwilling to let go. Until finally, they slept.

After all, they had a lifetime to spend together. They could spare a few hours for sleep.

Epilogue

FIVE MONTHS LATER