Being with Tash is always a nice boost to my ego. And the best part is, it’s not false. I can see by the way she looks at me, touches me, that she’s attracted to me.
And it’s a heady feeling.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?” I ask as I lean over, cup her jaw in my hand, and rub the tip of my nose against hers. “I’ve never seen anyone more amazing than you.”
“Maybe Jennifer Aniston.”
I grin. “No, she’s second to you.”
My lips tickle hers as my fingers make quick work of the buttons on her shirt.
“If I’m topless, you should be, too.”
“It’s only fair,” she agrees as I drag her bra down her arms. “I think you should take your pants off, too.”
“It is Christmas.” I lean in and press my lips against the wall of her chest, right between her breasts, where the emerald rests. I was right. It’s stunning against her skin. “I think you can have pretty much whatever your heart desires.”
“You.” She reaches for the clasp of my jeans. “I want you, Sam.”
Her voice isn’t full of humor and teasing now. It’s hot and thick with lust, and she doesn’t have to ask me twice.
Grabby hands yank and pull at clothing, and when we’re naked, I can’t help but take a moment just to admire her.
“Gorgeous,” I whisper before fastening my lips over a nipple and tugging hard.
“Let me.” She pushes on my shoulders, and I sit back on the couch. She straddles me, and before I can say or do anything at all, impales herself on me, sheathing me in that warm, wet heat that makes me crazy with yearning. “Need you.”
She moves fast, quicker than I’d like, so I grip her hips in my hands and slow her down until the pace is lazy.
I don’t want this to be over too fast.
I cup her cheek and guide her mouth to mine.
“Love you,” she murmurs against my lips.
My heart stutters.
“Oh, baby.” I kiss her once more. “I love you, too.”
And here, in the quiet, with the tree lights glowing around us, I make love to my woman.
My woman.
And speak words of love and forever.
“Sam.” It’s a sob. “Oh, God, Sam.”
“That’s it, honey.” I slip my hand between us and finger her clit. “Go over, babe.”
She comes spectacularly, bites my shoulder to keep from crying out, and when we’re a heap of sweaty bodies, heaving in breath, she giggles.
“I didn’t realize that this was funny.”
“I can’t believe the first time I told you I love you was during sex.” She shakes her head. “So cliché.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to say it for months.”
She stares at me. “Why?”
“Because I wanted to say it, too.”
“So, why didn’t you just say it?”
“I was waiting for you to say it.”
She blinks and reaches for her shirt. “If you would have said it, I would have said it back.”
“I didn’t know that. How embarrassing would it be if I said it and you were like, ‘Thanks?’”
She starts to laugh. “You’re such an idiot.”
“It’s a real concern for guys.” I pull my jeans back on.
“And you think it isn’t for girls?” She slips her leggings on and then pushes her hand through her hair.
“Okay, I’m an idiot.” I pull her into my lap and nuzzle her neck. “Say it again.”
“You’re an idiot.”
I smile against her skin. “Not that part. The other part.”
“No. What if you don’t say it back?”
I pull back and rub my thumb over the apple of her cheek as I gaze into her gorgeous brown eyes. “I love you, Natasha. More than I ever knew it was possible to love another human being. You make every day better just by being in it.”
“I mean, that’s a little overboard.”
“It’s all true.”
She tips her forehead against mine. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I love you, too.”
Chapter 17
~Natasha~
“Is this for my dollhouse?” Kelsey asks, holding up the tiny furniture we got her.
“No, it’s for me to sleep in,” Sam says, making her laugh.
“You’re too big.”
“Well, dang it. I guess it is for your new dollhouse.”
“Can I open this one?” Kevin asks, holding a wrapped box. I don’t recognize that one. Sam went out and bought the kids a few things without me, which didn’t bother me at all.
He’s their uncle.
But when Kevin rips the paper, and I see what it is, I see red.
“Video games!” Kevin jumps up and dances a jig.
“You got him a Nintendo?” I ask Sam.
“Sure did.” He beams at the little boy with pride. “We’ll hook it up later and play some Mario Kart.”
Kelsey is completely absorbed in her dollhouse, and Kevin is busy looking at the Nintendo box, so I grab Sam’s hand and lead him into the kitchen.
“I thought we talked about this.”
“About what?”
I take a deep breath and count to three. “We said no video games for Christmas.”