Page 7

Chapter Seven

I vy

I hang the last string of twinkling Christmas lights over the top of the bulletin board, my fingers sore from wrestling with the clips. My classroom is nearly ready for tomorrow, and each inch is covered in something festive—wreaths, garlands, and a stack of wrapped presents with each of my students’ names written on them in gold marker. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it to see their faces light up tomorrow when they walk in. The last day of school before Christmas break is tomorrow and I have an entire day of festivities planned.

I take a step back to admire my work, only to bump into something solid. Cole’s hand comes to rest on my shoulder, steadying me. I look up, catching the shadow of a grin tugging at his mouth.

“Thought you could use an extra set of hands tonight,” he says with a smirk, holding up a tangled mess of Christmas lights and a box. “Brought you some candy canes and cheer.”

I can’t help but laugh, taking them from him and shaking them loose. “Hear to hang Christmas lights huh, Mr. Grinch?”

He narrows his eyes, unamused but still somehow amused. “In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t exactly have a lot of need for holiday decor up on the mountain.”

“Well, it’s high time you learned,” I say, threading one end of the lights into his hands. “Besides, what better place to start than a classroom full of eight-year-olds who are counting on Santa to show up?”

He quirks an eyebrow. “Santa, huh?”

“Yes, and you’re looking at him.” I hand him a red Santa hat, fighting the smile pulling at my lips. “The kids don’t need to know the real Santa got a little, uh… taller and gruffer this year.”

“Not again.” He pushes the hat back toward me, but I just smirk and cross my arms.

“Too late. I already promised them.” I fib. “Santa’s coming, and he’s got Cole written all over him.”

He groans, his fingers rubbing his temples like he’s developing a sudden headache. “You really don’t take no for an answer, do you?”

“Never.” I grab his arm, pulling him closer to the front of the room. “Now help me with these lights. We’ll make a Christmas elf out of you yet.”

He chuckles under his breath, letting me drag him across the room. He follows my lead, surprisingly compliant as I weave the lights along the windows, securing them with tiny hooks. His fingers brush mine as he hands me each clip, and with each accidental touch, the air between us thickens, a tension building that has nothing to do with the decorations.

I glance at him, catching the way his gaze lingers on me, the warmth there so at odds with his usual scowl.

“What?” I ask, fighting the heat rising in my cheeks.

“Nothing.” He looks away, shrugging. “Just… never seen someone put this much effort into a classroom before. You really care about them, huh?”

“Of course I do.” I smile, a soft warmth blooming in my chest. “Some of these kids don’t have much. And if I can give them just a little bit of magic, make them feel special for a day, that’s all that matters.”

His expression softens, just for a second, but then he shifts, glancing away like he’s uncomfortable. “Guess you’re the type to make everyone feel special.”

I roll my eyes, nudging him with my shoulder. “Oh, don’t go getting sentimental on me now, Cole. You’re supposed to be grumpy and reluctant, remember?”

He grins, that devilish smirk creeping back. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m still the same grumpy bastard.”

“Oh, I know.” I laugh, but my voice catches as he steps closer, the lights casting a warm glow over his face, his eyes darker than usual, intense as they sweep over me.

“You’ve got something here,” he murmurs, reaching up. His fingers brush my cheek, tangling in a strand of my hair that’s caught in the lights. The air between us feels charged, electric, each second stretched and tense as he slowly untangles my hair, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Thanks,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, but I don’t move, can’t seem to pull away. He’s close, so close, and every instinct in me is screaming to close the gap, to kiss him, consequences be damned. I’ve been reliving that night in his cabin since it happened, my mind distracted with thoughts of his lips and his hands and his throbbing…

“You know, Ivy, you’re playing with fire.” He leans down, his lips brushing against my ear.

“Am I?” I ask, the breath hitching in my chest.

He chuckles softly, the sound vibrating against my skin. “You tell me.”

And then, before I can respond, he steps back, his hands still holding the lights that somehow twisted around us. In one quick movement, he pulls, and suddenly, we’re tangled together, laughter bubbling up as we try to untangle ourselves.

“You’re terrible at this,” I tease, but the words falter as he leans in, his face mere inches from mine, his hand tightening around the lights between us.

“Maybe I just like being close to you,” he murmurs, his voice rough, that playful glint in his eyes shifting to something darker, something that makes my pulse race. “I think it’s time for a repeat of the other night. Only reason I let you go in the first place is because you needed to be here for them–” he gestures to the rows of tiny desks surrounding us.

I swallow, my resolve crumbling under his gaze. “Cole…”

“Yeah?” he whispers, his mouth hovering over mine, his breath warm against my skin.

And then, without another thought, he closes the gap, pressing my lips to his in a kiss that’s long overdue, that’s as fierce and intense as every charged look, every lingering touch that’s been building between us. His hands slide around my waist, pulling me closer, and I lose myself in the feel of him, in the way his mouth moves against mine, claiming me, like he’s been waiting for this as much as I have.

He breaks the kiss, his breath ragged, his forehead resting against mine. “You have no idea how much I’ve been wanting to do that.”

“Then why’d you take so long?” I ask, my voice breathless, my hands still tangled in his shirt, holding him close.

He chuckles, low and rough. “Guess I needed a little push.”

I grin, tugging him down for another kiss, my hands winding around his neck, his warmth, his strength surrounding me, filling every part of me that’s longed for him since the night we spent together. His fingers trail down my back, pulling me against him, his mouth tracing a path down my jaw, his breath hot against my skin, leaving me dizzy, my body humming with need.

“You know we’re in a classroom, right?” he murmurs, his voice rough, teasing, as his hands find my waist, his grip possessive.

“I know,” I whisper, breathless, not caring about anything but the feel of him, the way he’s looking at me like I’m the only thing he sees.

He chuckles, his hand sliding up to cup my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “You’re something else, Ivy.”

“And don’t you forget it,” I say, grinning, pulling him down for another kiss, losing myself in him, in the way he makes me feel like I’m the only thing that matters.

But then, slowly, he pulls back, his gaze shifting, a shadow crossing his face, like he’s remembering something, some barrier between us that I can’t see.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice soft, sensing the change in him, the way he’s suddenly distant.

He shakes his head, stepping back, his hand falling from my face, his expression unreadable. “Nothing. Just…forgot myself for a second.”

I frown, reaching for him, but he steps back again, his gaze avoiding mine, his posture tense. “Cole, what are you talking about?”

He sighs, his voice low, almost defeated. “You don’t belong in my world, Ivy. This… whatever this is–”

“Why do you think that?” I stare at him, my heart sinking, the warmth between us fading as he pulls further away, the walls going up around him like a fortress.

He glances at me, his eyes dark, almost haunted. “Because you deserve better than some guy who spends his days alone on a mountain. You’re too bright for that, Ivy. You’re so damn happy it’s like you were raised in a cult or something.”

“The cult of Christmas cheer maybe.” I tease, my hand traveling up his red flannel. "I want to get lost in you.”

"Fuck, I want that too." He groans as I tighten my grip, stroking and teasing him with my thumb. “I just don’t want you to have regrets–”

I cup his cheeks in my palms. “Never.”

His dark eyes sparkle with hope and maybe even a little festive cheer. "Need to be reminded how much I love that sweet, dripping pussy of mine?"

I nip at his ear teasingly. "Always."

He moans through clenched teeth.

"I need you, Cole.” I press a kiss to his lips. "Take me. Ravage me." I hum in his ear, "Make it hurt."

He swallows. "Fuck, baby, see what you’re doing to me?" He presses his hand against his pants to feel his steel-hard dick as he bites at my neck. And then his finger slides under my skirt and along my wet slit before sliding inside, making me nearly lose control. "God, you’re so fucking turned on."

He spreads my slick arousal around my clit causing me to gasp and arch my back.

"I want inside you. Now." He squeezes my breasts through my red silk blouse before tearing it off and pushing me against my desk.

He kneels at the edge of the desk and pulls me closer to his face. With my legs over his shoulders and his mouth against my pussy, he takes a long lick up my length before gently biting on my clit. I moan and tangle my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer.

A smirk plays on his lips as he kisses along my body, leaving love bites where thigh meets torso. He teases with his tongue as I beg for more. He nips at my skin, leaving marks that will likely be tender in the morning but promise to remind me of his touch.

And I know the wild side of me will enjoy feeling them as I move throughout the day tomorrow.

As he presses his tongue against my clit, I let out a low moan. My arousal sweet on his tongue as he flicks and swirls, until my body shakes and my knees tighten around his head.

The teasing pain of his teeth on my sensitive bud nearly unravels me before he thrusts two fingers inside and finds my g-spot. I explode with pleasure as he laps up my juices, his fingers still pushing against that special spot inside me. As I catch my breath from my powerful release, he trails kisses along my flesh, stopping to suck and nibble at my nipples. When he bites down too hard, I can't help but bite back, sinking my teeth into his neck as he rotates his hips and plucks at my breasts. He grunts in response, teasing me with his fingers in my mouth.

"Stop moving," he growls, smacking at my nipple when I don't listen. But I can't stop myself, the pleasure too intense. He pinches harder and I finally take notice of his warning. Our eyes lock, both filled with a mix of anger and lust.

"Got your attention now?" he taunts as he circles his thumb over my clit again, making it impossible for me to stay still.

"You think so?" I challenge as I near another orgasm with only the slightest graze of his fingertips along my slit.

I gasp when he smacks my sensitive area as punishment for talking back to him. I can't help but moan in pleasure. My gaze drifts down to his hard dick tenting the front of his pants. I look up at him with a mischievous smirk.

He sends me one right back before he unzips his pants and reveals his heavy cock to the cool air. I groan at just the sight of it before he positions himself at my entrance. He lifts my legs high above his head and crosses them at the ankles, before he leans over to angle me in a way that he fits snugly inside of me.

With one hand gripping my ankle and the other on my ass cheek, he slowly pushes into me, causing me to cry out with pleasure.

"Yes, Cole, fill me up," I beg as our bodies become one. In that moment, all of my desires and needs are fulfilled by him. All I can think about is how much I need him. How much I want to be connected to him always so that we can face whatever life throws at us together.

"I love you," he whispers as he thrusts into me again, biting down on my neck and gripping my throat with one hand while the other plays with my breast. As we reach the peak of pleasure, I feel like nothing can ever tear us apart. With another powerful thrust, his body goes rigid, a deep grunt releasing from his lips as he cums in thick jets inside of me.

I love him so much it scares me. He takes care of me and loves me unconditionally. Tears well in my eyes as I cling to him tightly, knowing that this man has now become my everything.

"Happy holidays, Mrs. Claus," he mutters against my lips.

I smile, happy tears clinging behind my eyelids. “I love you, my mountain man Grinch. I love you so much.”