I grunt as she releases me and slips from the counter, hitting her knee. She pulls down my pants and takes me into her mouth, hollowing her cheeks. Captured between her soft lips in her hot wet mouth, I explode. Swallowing down every drop, she pulls back and tucks me away. I run a thumb over her lips.
“I don’t want to stop. That terrifies me, but I won’t pretend.”
“That’s my good girl.” I help her stand.
“Where are we headed—”
“You guys need help in there?” Nora calls.
“No. We’ll be out in a minute.” I call mentally cursing.
Dec looks away, and I wrap my arm around her neck. “Wherever we’re headed, it’s together.” I bite my tongue to hold back the words of devotion and forever. I’ve got one chance at this, and I plan on making it count.
CHAPTER4
Dec
“Why are you still in the same position I left you in three hours ago?”
I look up from the papers surrounding me on the black tv tray and frown at E. His tone is stern and serious. “What?”
A muscle ticks in his jaw, and he shuts the door. I jump as it slams, and he stalks toward me with a determined stride.
“Have you even moved once, December?” Halting beside me, his eyebrows kiss as waves of disapproval pour off him.
“No?”
“That’s it.” He shuts my laptop.
“What are you doing? I need to make sure everyone is on task.”
“No more.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I just did. Between work and this event, you’re burning the wick at both ends of the candle. You’re not eating or sleeping.” Shaking his head, he skims the dark circles forming under my eyelids. “I know how important this is to you. I’m here to help you anyway I can, and so is the rest of your family.”
“No. This is my event,” I mumble stubbornly. “I need to prove I can do this on my own. They still see me as the baby, and I’m sick of it.” The ire and strong pull to impress them fuels me. A fresh burst of energy has me ready to tackle the lengthy checklist anew.
He grips my chin. “You are enough exactly as you are.”
I blink back the water as my eyes well. “You say that as my best friend.”
“Since when do I do anything I don’t want to, Dec?”
“You don’t.” My lower lip trembles.
“I will help you make the Gingerbread Contest go off without a hitch. But you can’t keep pouring from an empty cup. You’ll get sick or make a mistake you’ll never forgive yourself for. I won’t let that happen on my watch.”
I pull away from him. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“When you’re putting yourself and your dream in danger, I do. The people who love us most know when to step in and save us from ourselves.”
He trails the backs of his hand down my face. “Besides, you’re mine now.”
“I’m not a thing.”
“No. You’re a woman who asked me to be your man for the time being, and I take that seriously.”