Silence. But her eyes hold mine. There’s a twitch in my chest.
“Please, God, let me work for you,” I tell her. “You saw me rise from small town boy to NBA coach, and with a little work I can make big changes here, too.”
“With a lot of work,” she corrects. But one corner of her mouth tugs up, just a little. Another surge echoes in my chest.
“With a lot of work,” I repeat. “I’ll do whatever it fucking takes. And… and if you decide you don’t want me back… well, that’s what I deserve, then. You’re the prize between us, Moll. You’re the trophy.”
Another tug in the corner of her mouth. Please, Lord, don’t let it just be a tease.
“Give me one more shot,” I tell her. This time when I reach out to take her hand, she doesn’t inch back. I thread my fingers through hers and pull her close. “Baby, all I want for Christmas is—”
She snorts.
Something cracks in my chest, flooding me with warmth. I allow myself the most hesitant smile and gently squeeze her fingers.
“Does this mean you’ll—”
“Well, after that fuckin’ monologue, how could I kick you out on your ass into the Magical Christmas Snow? It would be an affront to Santa Claus and Mariah Carey.”
My smile broadens, as does the wave of warmth and tingles. “I had a long time on the car ride over to talk with the guys about what I’d say.”
“Ugh, you worked on that monologue the whole ride and that’s all you came up with? I should have gotten Shakespeare level groveling with that much prep time.”
I tug Molly so her chest rests against mine. She takes a sharp breath; I must have taken her by surprise. Still, she starts to smile. With each millimeter her smile expands, so does my own, until the expression feels like it’s going to burst off my damn face.
“I can still grovel if you’d like.”
“Have at it,” she encourages. “Let me hear your best lines.”
“Please, Molly Moore, take me back. I swear to God, I will make this fight up to you.”
“And you’ll clean the inn toilets, too.” She smirks.
“Wait, I have to complete acts of penance? I never offered—”
“You’ll clean the toilets and you’ll help me clear out this party when it’s over and you’ll rake up all the pine needles and clear the snow every Saturday while I watch your work from my cozy bedroom window.”
Her tiny arms wrap around my middle so she has to tip her head back to look at me. And even though she’s making jokes about cleaning toilets and shoveling snow, my cock perks up, pressing against her thigh.
“Lord, Moore, why don’t you just have me get on my knees and beg for you to take me back?”
She puts a hand on my shoulder and presses down. I raise an eyebrow as I drop to the snow-dusted porch.
“You can still worship on your knees,” she says in a mischievous whisper. “I’m the coach. I’m in charge. Remember?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I nod, pulling her toward me by the ass so I can nibble through her leggings up the length of her thigh.
Molly makes a high, soft squeaking sound as my tongue laps over the thin material at her pussy, teasing her with how separated we still are. That hand goes back to my shoulder, pushing me back so she can look me in the eye again.
“Is it really done? Are you going to stay in Little Haven for good?”
“If you’ll have me. And, of course, if your brother doesn’t castrate me for sleeping with you. We never did have that conversation before I ran off.”
“God, and weneverwill,” Molly tells me with a dry chuckle. “As far as my brother ever needs to know, I’m a virgin and will remain that way until I’m on my deathbed. Yes, even if I get married and have children.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “So, we just tell Hunter I’m obsessed with you but also in no way attracted to you physically?”