She must have read my mind because her cheeks flushed with a delicate pink. “My mom is working the graveyard shift tonight. She won’t be home until after six.”
Damn. The wolfish grin that spread across my face must have confirmed my devious intent because she giggled and then held out her hand, shyly smiling as I interlaced our fingers.
“You know I love you, right?”
Why the fuck did I choose that moment to tell her when we had the entire night? Perhaps it was the feeling that tingled along my spine, an eerie foreboding that I needed to make the most of every moment we had together because the future was uncertain.
Familiar shadows crept along the corners of the room, and I shivered while whispers tickled my ears. We were protected tonight. I could have whatever I wanted.
We were in her bedroom before it registered that Stefanie tossed her purse to the side and slowly unzipped the dress, letting the fabric fall to the floor with a whisper. Pale, perfect skin revealed a body I wanted to fall to my knees and worship. The way her body curved made my mouth water. That sexy slope of her rounded ass. The inward dip of her waist. Those rounded hips. Only a red lace bra and thong covered her perky tits and virgin pussy.
If I were a guy that wasn’t honorable, I would devour her and eat her up from head to toe. A shaky sigh escaped her lips as she climbed on the bed and rolled onto her back, lifting her hands with a soft, beckoning smile.
“I can’t have sex with you,” I whispered. “You’re not eighteen yet.” Fuck. It sounded stupid right now.
She shrugged a shoulder. “We don’t have to go all the way. I just want to feel your touch and your warmth. I need to be close to you.”
My heart stuttered, and I shed my jacket, shirt, and shoes as I dropped down and crawled over her body. Her legs parted, and I settled between them while my fingers caressed her thighs. “You’re fucking gorgeous, babe.”
“I love you too, Shadow. Always.”
Always. “Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?” I asked, rising above her as I lowered my head and captured her lips. The kiss was soft but drowned in passion. A small moan escaped as our lips separated.
“I think I do. Like I’m the air in your lungs, right? Like your chest is tight, and you can’t breathe without knowing that I’m okay? That’s how I think of you. You’re my oxygen. There’s no life without you.”
My head lowered, and I wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging my girl, my everything close as my cheek rested on her stomach. “That’s exactly what you are to me, Stefanie. My oxygen.”
“Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, my precious star.”