Holly guffawed. “That was awfully forward of an injured man.”
Claus pushed himself into a sitting position. She monitored his movements and found that he was no longer wincing in pain. The wounds were not yet fully healed, but their conversation had given them time to pull back together and stop bleeding.
“I hate to inform you, but those boxes are just for show,” she confessed. “My parents would never put actual gifts under a tree.”
“Now, I’m not Christmas expert, but I don’t think that’s how it’s done. I thought Christmas was for gift giving and cheer.”
“There isn’t a whole lot of that around here,” she told him. The conversation was drifting away from his offer of sex again. Holly wanted to keep it that way.
If she took him up on it, if they made love, she would never want anything else.
Her gaze had become distant while they spoke. When she looked up, Claus was on his hands and knees in front of her. Her heart flipped inside her chest, making her breath catch. She should have pushed him away. She should have stood.
Instead, she stayed where she was and waited to see what he would do.
He reached for her. She thought his fingers would tangle in her hair and he would pull her into a ravishing kiss like the one at the diner. Instead, he plucked a down feather from her hair and tossed it to the floor.
Her stomach fell like a stone. She tried to hide her disappointment, but she wasn’t sure how well she succeeded.
“Healing is exhausting work. I’m starving.” Claus got to his feet and clapped his hands on his stomach. “Since your family is cavorting around the woods, what do you say to raiding their kitchen?”
It wasn’t exactly what Holly wanted, but she agreed and followed Claus through the empty and dark manor.
Chapter Ten
The kitchen had been upgraded since her last visit. The backsplash was now covered in tiny glass tiles, cracked for dramatic effect. The stove top now had a pasta faucet, a completely unnecessary feature meant only for the purpose of filling pots with water for pasta.
She hopped onto the granite island counter while Claus raided the fridge. He pulled out some tiramisu cups, artfully angled so that the layers resembled a herringbone design. Holly reached for one, peeled back the plastic covering, and used her finger like a spoon. The dessert had been made with only the best ingredients and it showed.
Claus paused, watching her as she slowly pulled her finger out from between her lips.
“What?” Her face warmed.
He laughed and shook his head.
Holly licked the cocoa from her lips. “Does it bother you when I do this?” Once again, she dug her finger into the tiramisu and sucked it clean.
At the fridge, Claus’s hand tightened on the door. She could see the dents his tension was creating but ignored it to focus on the heat growing in his eyes. His jaw tightened.
“I came down here for food, tease. You’re the one that’s been declining all my offers and yet, here you are stroking the fire.”
Her stomach clenched. Butterflies fluttered in her chest. She was playing a dangerous game. If they came too close, if she gave in and reached for him, this game they played could explode in their faces. The thought didn’t stop her.
If anything, it made her want to try harder. She craved what he’d been offering. It was a deep-seated hunger that she thought would never be sated. Just this once, she told herself. Just once and then she would get on with her life. There was no harm in a taste.
She could see how badly he wanted her, too. There was no lie in the way he looked at her. It wasn’t the hunger of some small craving, but of a man starved his entire life. She wanted to fill him, to be filled by him.
Just when she thought he would come to her, he let loose a long sigh and ducked his head inside the fridge. Holly swallowed her growl of frustration and went back to her tiramisu. It no longer tasted as good. Instead, it was ash on her tongue, no longer what she wanted most.
Claus dropped a bag of ciabatta rolls on the counter along with the leftovers of what looked like a cheese board. Pouches of salami were still rolled neatly. Fresh mozzarella stuck together inside their bag. He ripped open the bag and tore a roll in half before slamming it down onto the counter.
Holly watched him angrily throw together a sandwich, confused and amused all at once. She felt the echo of the same emotions inside her, the desire to break something because she could not fulfil another desire. Even the first bite of the sandwich was filled with frustration. He bit into it and tore as though it were a piece of tough meat and not bread.
To be fair, it was ciabatta. The bread was notoriously tough.
“Is this part of the healing process? An anger sandwich?”
Claus whipped toward her. Thinking herself daring, she raised a challenging brow. Claus was a bear shifter. Not just any bear, but the largest bear of the animal kingdom. Yet, she openly mocked and teased him. Never before had she ever felt so safe in anyone’s presence. Claus wouldn’t hurt her. Ever.
“Let me eat my anger sandwich in peace.”
“Then you shouldn’t have invited me. You could have come out and destroyed the kitchen on your own.”
Claus snorted. “I haven’t destroyed anything yet. You’d know it if I destroyed something.”
“Like the Christmas tree you set on fire? By the way, did I thank you for that? Because, thank you.”
She caught sight of his dimple when he grinned. Unable to stop herself, she reached to touch it. Her finger followed the small divot before gliding down his fuzzy cheek to his chin. Claus made a sound. It was less a growl and more of a…purr?
It made her laugh. The massive man was a fat house cat around her. He paused and leaned back, attention suddenly on the kitchen around them. Holly jumped to attention, head spinning to search the shadows for her family members.
She looked back to Claus when she found the room empty. There was a half-grin on his lips and a spark in his eyes that he turned on her.
“Exactly how durable do you think you are? Because I think we can destroy this kitchen.”
She didn’t understand the question at first. Then, her cheeks warmed. “Oh. Oh, I, uh…”
Claus grabbed her and pulled her toward him. Her legs easily straddled him from where she sat on the counter. His warm hands were splayed along her back, making her feel small. Protected. Without thinking, she touched the sides of his face. The scruff on his cheeks rubbed against her palms.
“I don’t think we can break anything,” Holly admitted, her voice hushed. “But I think we can make a mess of things, for sure.”
His response was a hungry growl. He tilted his head back, lips meeting the soft skin of her neck. She groaned. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders. She gripped the flannel of his shirt. The desire that flared through her was stronger than anything she’d ever felt before.
Holly was not new to sex, but when she was with Claus, everything felt new. His touch felt unlike anything else. It sent stars racing through her body. His lips were liquid fire that trailed over her skin. She wanted more. She wanted him inside her.
She would never tire of this. Every touch from Claus would feel like the first time. It would drive her wild in ways she never thought possible. A part of her, a small voice, warned her that someone would find them. The lights would be turned on and their love-making would be put on display for all to see.
The rest of Holly didn’t care. All that mattered was Claus and where he touched her.
She reached for his shirt, eager to pull it away. The flannel slid over his shoulders, leaving the stained t-shirt. When she fumbled with it, letting out small sounds of frustration while Claus explored her skin, he pulled back and ripped it. The shirt fell to the floor, now a vest, really.
Holly cried out. She ran her hands down his chest, savoring the feel of his skin and the small patch of hair. He chuckled as she touched it. The rumble of his voice vibrated beneath her fingers.
He reached
for her hair and pulled her toward him, gentle yet commanding. “I’m never going to get enough of you.”
Holly could not form words. Instead, she reached for his lips with her own. Ravenous, she slipped her tongue past his lips. Claus moaned in surprise. His grip on her tightened, as if the two of them could meld into one. He pressed into her, but they could not get close enough with the layer of denim still between them.
She pulled back, realizing the kitchen island was much higher than she thought. Their cores did not align. She could not form words to express her frustration. Claus, it seemed, read her gestures and lifted her from the counter top.
He carried her out of the kitchen, leaving behind the mess.
“When do you think they’ll return?” Holly asked, voice hoarse with need. She couldn’t stop touching Claus. Her fingers explored every dip and rise of muscle. She followed every line of ink.
As they passed a shaft of light, it splashed across his chest to reveal two bear paw tattoos. She laid her palms against them before curling her fingers into the shape of paws. The reminder that she was not a shifter hit her in the gut.
Somewhere out there, Claus had a mate waiting for him. He would find a woman with her own beast. That woman would give him everything he needed. She’d be able to protect him. She would be everything Holly wasn’t.
Before she could find her voice to express her concerns, her back hit a wall and Claus’s lips found hers again. The fervor of his kiss wiped the thoughts from her mind, like a hand over a cluttered table. Her thoughts crashed and shattered like the decorations that fell from the wall.
Ornaments crunched beneath Claus’s feet as they swung in search of a softer surface. Holly didn’t care. All she knew was the touch of the man carrying her. He held her as if he’d never let go. She gave herself over to the feeling until he dropped her onto the couch.
Hardly ever sat on, the couch cushion was firm. It made her bounce. Claus hungrily watched her breasts while he worked to undo the button of his jeans. Holly’s mouth went dry Her gaze dropped lower, greedily expectant.
“Turn around,” Claus commanded, voice gruff.
Confusion cut through Holly. She didn’t understand why he’d be shy. She’d already felt what he had to offer, and it was far more than she’d ever taken before. Then, Claus reached for her. With rough hands, he flipped her over. She let out a surprised sound and grabbed for the back of the couch.
Realization dawned on her when he leaned forward to rub against her ass. Exhilaration sent molten darts through her body. The sensation of his cock against her skin made her grip the back of the couch harder. She wanted him inside her already. She was tired of this foreplay. Their entire relationship had been foreplay, leading up to this moment.
Claus slid his cock between her legs. The velvet smooth skin warmed her. A burst of moisture bloomed between her legs, hot as her center. He found her opening easily. It was as if they’d always meant to fit together in this way. She briefly wondered if it would be the same, no matter which position they tried.
It wouldn’t, she reminded herself. For, she was not his mate. Their names were not written in the stars or woven into the tapestry of fate. They were just two people that had crashed together in a time of need.
And damn, she needed him.
The head of his shaft entered her, but he paused, teasing as he rotated his hips. It sent pulses of pleasure through her body. She did her best to swallow the moans rising through her, but they filled the room anyway. It would reek of their love-making. Perhaps for days.
Then, without warning, he thrust inside her. She cried out. The decorations on the walls shook. She was glad no one was home to hear her. There was no way she could hold back while he was inside her. He filled every inch of space, reaching places no one had ever touched before. It felt as though she’d been completed.
Slowly, she felt the dam of orgasmic pleasure building. Claus raked his nails over her skin as he drew back. When he slammed home again, the couch rocked beneath her. It hit the wall. Neither cared. Claus did it over and over again. Each time, Holly squirmed. She lowered her head, lost in the sensation building inside her.
Claus’s hands ran over her ribs, down her back, along her thighs. It seemed, he too, could not get enough of her. She spread her legs wider, inviting him to reach forward. Without question, he did as she wanted. His fingers found the wet readiness and began making slow circles in time with his thrusts.
Holly thought she would lose herself in the sensations pinging through her. Her core was molten, hot enough to burn her from the inside out. Before this was through, she would become nothing more than ash.
His fingers slipped over her clit while his cock slammed just the right spot. She leaned into the couch cushions and let loose a scream as the dam broke. Pleasure ripped through her body. It was as if her entire life rearranged around her. Suddenly, there was no future that did not involve Claus.
Her core tightened around him, as if to say he belonged to her now. He groaned, and his thrusts grew faster. She thought he might break her. They lingered around the edge, rough but not enough to hurt her. She liked it. When he pulled her back and palmed her breast in one hand, nipple pinched between his fingers, a thrill shot through her.
All over again, the dam rebuilt itself. Her core felt heavy. Fingers and toes still tingled with the lingering sensation of the last orgasm. She reached for him, not sure she could withstand another so soon, but his fingers did not cease.
His teeth found her neck. He spasmed behind her and the movement sent another round of orgasmic waves through her body. They washed over her, sucking her under. She could barely breathe. She could do nothing more than drift along the waves, weightless as they took her. Claus held her in his arms. His teeth were still on her neck. From them, she felt a ripple of pleasure. Same as the hand he kept on her breast.
Nothing had ever been like this before.
Nothing else ever would. It was a truth she acknowledged as the waves faded and vanished. Breathing hard, she leaned her head back into Claus. He laughed, a burst of air and a vibration that hummed through her body.
“We should move before someone finds us completely naked,” she managed to say.
“Let them,” he growled in her ear. “We’re supposed to be a couple. Right? This is what couples do.”
Couples. The thing they weren’t. The sound of his voice shattered the illusion she’d held onto for a few precious moments. Claus didn’t actually belong to her. The holidays would end, and the farce would be over.
She didn’t know how to look at him. Not just then. Not while her feelings were so strong. She feared she would say something that would chase him away. The way he’d reacted to her slip in the woods, when she’d called him her real boyfriend, had not been reassuring. He’d gotten more than they bargained for already.
Her skin tingled with the force of Claus’s inquisitive gaze, but neither said anything. Holly gathered her clothing, slipped into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich and steal the other tiramisu cup, before retreating back to her apartment.
Passing through the living room, she glimpsed what they’d done. Not only was the couch crooked, an easy fix, but many of the Christmas decorations had fallen and broken in their moment of ecstasy.
Suddenly, she was swept off her feet. Laughter bubbled out of her as Claus pulled her into his arms.
“Haven’t you had enough of me?”
Claus raised a brow. “What makes you think I could get enough of you?”
She warmed. Despite all the warnings she gave herself, she couldn’t help but imagine a future in which he belonged to her. And she belonged to him. She craved his arms wrapped around her every night. He would fit in surprisingly well at work, she thought. His humor and charm would endear everyone to him.
She lay her head on his shoulder as they made their way back to the apartment. Distantly, they heard the creak of doors opening. A few seconds passed before they heard shouts of outrage. Unable to stifle
their laughter, they quickly hid in the apartment and locked the door.
Holly had never been happier in her life. Especially not while under this roof. Her past had been filled with so much misery while here. It was amazing that she could forget all that when Claus was in her presence. He set her on the bed before climbing in after her.
“Is this mattress big enough for the two of us?” he mused aloud.
“I’m not even sure it’s big enough for you,” Holly admitted. Claus was massive. A queen-sized mattress could only handle so much man. “How did you sleep in here the other night?”
He laughed and tried to reach for her sandwich. She yanked it out of his reach just in time.
“To be honest, I slept with my feet hanging off the mattress,” he confessed, eyes still on the sandwich.
“I did not make this for you. Don’t you try to make me pity you, so I’ll give you my sandwich.”
***
Claus was done for. There would never be another woman in his life that would ever measure up to Holly. He knew they’d crossed a line that should have been a wall between them, but he regretted nothing. His love for her grew with every passing moment. All he wanted was to see her smile, to hear her laugh.
And the sandwich in her hands.
His stomach rumbled. Instead of snatching her food, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. She fit against him like they’d been molded for one another. She was small, so easily tucked away and hidden from the world. He liked it that way. He liked it even better when she snuggled into him, content.
His heart did several flips.
“When are you going to take Robbie back to your boss?”
Reality sliced the bubble of a dream he’d been holding onto. He let out a breath and tried to organize his thoughts.
“Soon.” He didn’t know exactly when. The truth was, he’d had numerous opportunities to take Robbie and run. The only reason Claus was still around was because he couldn’t bear to tear himself away from Holly.
She gave him a dubious look, twisting in his arms just to deliver it. It was obvious that he was avoiding the answer, but it was only because he didn’t know the answer himself. If he could, he would stretch their time together until the last possible moment.
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