Chapter Seventeen

Bones

Being with Snow like this felt unreal. For a year, I had watched her from the garage. Now I was here in her house with her in my arms. She looked at me like she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. And finally, finally, I got to taste her.

I couldn’t believe how damn perfect she felt pressed against me. She was soft where I was hard. Everything about her made me want to hold her closer, sink into this moment, and never let go. I didn’t go for soft stuff, never had, but this—her in my arms, trusting me, letting me kiss her—made me feel something solid and real.

Her lips had moved against mine, a little hesitant at first, like she couldn’t believe she was here either. But then she leaned in, her hand rested on my chest, and her fingers curled into the leather of my jacket. My stomach tightened, and every damn nerve in my body lit up, roaring at me to keep her close. I slid my hand to the back of her neck and felt the soft strands of her hair between my fingers.

“God, Snow,” I murmured as my voice was rough and barely recognizable. Her name felt like a confession or a prayer I’d held inside for too long.

I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips a little swollen, and the look in her eyes nearly floored me. She looked dazed, maybe even a little shy, but her hands on me didn’t let go.

“Can’t believe you’ve been right here this whole time,” I said, my voice low. “Me, messing around in that garage, waiting for you to come by… pretending like I wasn’t watching you through your window.”

Her laugh was soft and breathy—the kind of sound that made my chest feel like it was caving in. She looked at me with those bright, curious eyes, and it did something to me I couldn’t explain.

“You were watching me?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.

I almost laughed at myself for letting that slip. “I mean, I’d catch sight of you sometimes…” I trailed off and realized there was no good way to make this sound like I hadn’t been watching her every single moment she was around. “Yeah, all right, I watched you a little. Probably shouldn’t have admitted that.”

But before I could feel like a complete idiot, she blurted out, “I watched you, too. Ever since you put those clear garage doors on, I couldn’t stop looking.” A shy smile played on her lips as she confessed, “Kelsi was always giving me crap about it.”

I leaned back a bit, eyebrows raised. “Seriously?”

She nodded, and her cheeks turned pink. “I thought for sure you knew. It always seemed like you were catching me.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle and let the relief and surprise roll over me. “Funny, I thought you were always catching me.”

She laughed again—a soft and sweet sound that went right through me. “Pretty sure I thanked God a few times that you put those clear garage doors on.”

I grinned. “I told myself I put them in so I could see customers coming… but we both know that’s a lie.”

Her arms wrapped around my neck and pulled me closer. “So we were both watching each other, thinking the other one didn’t know.”

“Seems like it.”

“And both of us were too chicken to do anything about it,” she added, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

“Hold on now,” I teased, narrowing my eyes. “I wouldn’t say I was chicken. Just… making sure you wanted me, too.”

Her gaze heated, and her lips parted slightly as she met my eyes. “Oh, I want you, Bones.”

God. Damn.

I didn’t need any more permission than that. I ran my hands down her back and took my time to feel the curves and soft warmth of her under my fingers. I didn’t stop until I reached her hips and pulled her against me. Her breath hitched, and I leaned in. I kissed her again. This time, slow and deep.

One of my hands slid lower, and I found the lush, full curve of her ass. She let out a little gasp that sent heat coursing through me, and I felt her fingers tighten on my shoulders.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” I murmured against her lips, my voice low and rough.

“Then don’t stop,” she whispered as her hands slipped up into my hair. Her fingers threaded through, and she pulled me closer. The way she pressed into me, soft and eager, just about unraveled whatever control I thought I had.

“Snow,” I said. My voice came out a little harsher than I meant, but she didn’t back down. Didn’t even flinch. She just looked up at me with her eyes dark with that same desire I felt clawing its way up inside me.

“What?” she asked, her voice breathy, teasing, and daring me to say what I wanted.

“You keep looking at me like that, and I’m not going to be able to hold back,” I warned as my hand roamed over the swell of her ass.

“Then don’t,” she whispered, her voice soft but confident. “No one is asking you to hold back.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. I pulled her in for another kiss, deeper this time, letting her know exactly how much I’d wanted this.

Wanted her.

She kissed me back just as fiercely, and her body pressed into mine like she was afraid to let go. Her warmth seeped into me and made it impossible to think straight. I’d wanted this moment for so damn long, but nothing I’d imagined came close to the real thing. The feel of her, the taste of her—it was better than I’d ever thought possible.

I slipped my hands to her waist and lifted her effortlessly. She instinctively wrapped her legs around me and straddled my waist. Her body was soft and warm, and she felt perfect in my arms. I carried her over to the couch, set her down gently, and took a moment just to look at her.

She watched me with wide, eager eyes as I tugged my shirt off and tossed it aside. Snow scrambled to shed her own pants, and I couldn’t help but grin at her eagerness. But I wanted all of her.

“Uh-uh,” I murmured, shaking my head. “All of your clothes off, Sugar.”

She hesitated, her hands hovering on the hem of her shirt, and I could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. She was holding back, unsure, and I didn’t want that for her, not here, not with me. I wanted her to feel comfortable and to know exactly what she meant to me.

I knelt down in front of her, settled myself between her legs, and leaned in close to capture her lips with mine again. My mouth moved over hers slowly, deeply, until we were both panting and caught in the fire building between us. I pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes.

“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, Sugar,” I said as I tried to keep my voice gentle but steady, “but I need to see you. All of you.”

She looked away, and her eyes darted to the side as she murmured, “I’m just… I’m not like other girls.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but I heard the doubt in it. “I’m big.”

I reached out and gently cupped her chin. I turned her face back to me so she couldn’t hide. “You’re not big, Sugar,” I argued as my thumb traced her jaw. “You’re not like any other woman I’ve ever known.”

She didn’t look convinced. There was a hint of disappointment in her eyes like she wasn’t hearing what I was really trying to say. I wasn’t about to let that slide.

“You’re better than any other woman I’ve been with,” I said, my voice firm, hoping she’d understand how much I meant it. “I’m the luckiest bastard alive to be here with you right now. You want to know why I waited so long to even talk to you?”

She blinked, and her eyes searched mine. “Why?” she asked, and her voice was barely audible.

“Because I knew the second I talked to you, I’d be a goner,” I admitted and felt the honesty settle between us like something solid. “I didn’t know if I was ready to belong to you.”

She softened at that, and I saw a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth. She finally understood. But still, she looked at me with a flicker of worry. “What if this doesn’t work?” she asked. “You live right next door, Bones. It’s not like one of us can just move.”

I shook my head, not letting her worry ruin this moment. “You’re looking at this all wrong, Sugar. The way I see it, this is going to work.” I smirked and leaned in closer. “And I like having you right next door, so I can get a taste of you whenever I want.”

Her eyes sparkled with renewed confidence, a fiery desire that matched my own. She didn’t need any more reassurance. She threw her arms around my neck, pressing herself against me as she whispered, “Take me, Bones.”

I didn’t need another word.

I pulled her shirt up and over her head and tossed it to the floor. She looked up at me, breathless and beautiful, and her skin flushed with anticipation. I leaned down and captured her lips in another deep kiss as my hands found the clasp of her bra. I worked it open with practiced ease. I pulled it away and let it fall off.

I pulled back to take her in fully. Her chest rose and fell with each heavy breath, and I could see the nervous excitement in her gaze. I wanted her to feel completely at ease, to know exactly how much she meant to me. I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her collarbone. I trailed my lips slowly down until I reached the swell of her breasts, and I felt her shiver under my touch.

“Bones,” she murmured, her voice thick with need. I felt her hands tangle in my hair and pull me closer. I kissed her again, my hands tracing the curves of her body and committing every inch of her to memory.

I wanted to slow down and make this last, but with the way she moved against me and the heat between us, it made it impossible to hold back.

I stood up, kicked off my jeans, then turned back to Snow. I reached out to pull her off the couch. She came up against me, her breath mingling with mine as I sat down and guided her onto my lap. She settled over me and straddled my waist. Her fingers ran down my chest and ignited a fire inside of me.

She reached between us, and her hand wrapped around my dick. I groaned at the feel of her touch, so sure and warm. My own hand slid between her thighs, and my fingers found that sweet spot. I drew small circles over her clit until she was panting, and her eyes were hooded as she moved into my touch. I loved the way she leaned into me, trusting and willing.

“Oh god, Bones,” she murmured, her voice breathy, full of want.

“Right here, Sugar,” I rasped, my own need building as I watched her reaction.

She lifted up and positioned herself over me. Her gaze locked with mine, and she slowly lowered herself down. She took me in inch by inch. Her heat surrounded me, tight and perfect, like nothing I’d ever felt. It was all I could do to hold on and feel her move with me without coming instantly.

“Snow,” I groaned, as the sensation was enough to nearly undo me. Her hips moved in a steady rhythm as she found her pace. Rising and falling, as each movement was deeper, more intense. I met her movements, thrusting up as she pressed down, and she gripped my shoulders as her nails dug in and pulled me closer.

“Don’t stop,” she gasped, as her voice was a plea that only pushed me further.

“Never,” I promised; the word ragged, and my own control slipped.

With one final movement, she cried out as her body tightened around me and pulled me over the edge with her. I held her close and felt the heat and weight of her as we both caught our breath. The room was quiet except for the sound of us and the faint strains of ‘Jingle Bells’ playing on the radio in the background. It was ridiculous, considering the situation, but somehow it made everything feel even more surreal.

Snow rested her forehead against mine, and her eyes fluttered shut as she let out a soft breath. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hear this song without thinking of you being inside me.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. I pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “So, ‘Jingle Bells’ is our song now?” I teased and raised an eyebrow.

She opened her eyes, a playful smile curling her lips. “I guess so.”

I smirked and tried to hold back the laugh that was threatening to escape. “Great. Now, every time I hear this, I’ll think about us... and riding in a one-horse open sleigh while we get down to business.”

Snow burst into laughter and shook her head. “Only you would go there, Bones.”

I leaned in and kissed her again. When I finally pulled away, I could still feel the heat between us.

“Round two?” she asked with her voice a little breathless and her eyes already dark again with want.

“I think maybe we should fuel up first,” I said with a grin. “Are you into cold pizza?”

She laughed, and her eyes lit up with that playful spark I loved. “Sounds perfect to me.”

I pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Let’s get you fed, Sugar.”

“You’re not going to eat?” she asked.

I wiggled my eyebrows. “Oh, I’m going to eat, Snow. I said I wanted to know what you tasted like, and I plan on tasting and eating every inch of you tonight.”