The Girl is Not For Christmas - Emma V Leech Page 0,105

low. “I was far younger and less cynical then and it was filled with hope, with dreams for my future, for the possibility of a happier life. It was filled with you, love, though I didn’t know it then. It was you I have always dreamed of. I’d come to believe nothing so lovely and perfect could exist in real life, only in foolish dreams. I was wrong. You’re flesh and blood and as real as I am and… I love you, Livvy. I always shall.”

She made a choked sound and got up, flinging her arms about his neck. “Oh, you wretched man. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry all over you tonight and n-now l-look. You’ve turned me into a p-perfect watering pot.”

King laughed, holding her tight as she sobbed against his shirt. “I wouldn’t have you any other way. I am very fond of your red nose.”

“Oh,” she wailed. “Don’t tell me my nose is red. I suppose my eyes match, do they? How very attractive. I imagine you can’t wait to get your hands on me.”

“Ah, Livvy,” he said, cupping her face in his hands. “I’ve never seen anything so perfect as you in my life. You make my heart sing, and I can hear music again when it had been lost to me for such a long time.”

“Oh, King, do stop saying such wonderful things to me. My poor heart can’t take it. It’s so terribly in love with you too, you see.”

King’s heart skipped at the words. He’d hoped, had wanted to believe it, but to hear it said out loud… “Is it, Livvy? Truly?”

She made an odd snorting sound and buried her face in his shirt again. “Oh, you know it is. You knew I was in lust with you from the beginning. Then you made it so very enjoyable to scold you, honestly, you lured me in, you dreadful man.”

“Did I?” he asked, grinning now.

“You know very well no woman can help but fall in love with a man who cuddles babies and plays on the floor with small children. It was very bad of you, King, really it was.”

“I know, love,” he said apologetically. “But I’m not the least bit sorry I’m afraid.”

Livvy sighed and stared up at him, her eyes shining in the candlelight. “Me either, my lovely rogue. I should not have missed these past weeks for the world. You’ve made me so very happy.”

“I don’t want it to end,” he said, wondering how he could bear to let her walk away.

“Neither do I,” she said, her eyes still bright with tears. “But what choice do we have? It was just for the holidays, just for Christmas. A beautiful gift.”

King bent his head and pressed his lips to hers. He couldn’t listen to those words, could not only keep her for Christmas and let her go. Her mouth was soft and warm and sweet, and desire was an ache beneath his skin. She pressed closer, her body warm beneath the thin cotton of her nightgown. King deepened the kiss, his hands sliding down her back to cup her lovely behind and pull her closer against him. Her breath hitched as she felt his arousal and King smiled against her mouth as she reached for his shirt, tugging it up so she could slide her hands beneath it.

“Take it off,” she muttered, breathless.

King obeyed, only too happy to oblige her.

“The rest too,” she demanded, her heated gaze making his blood heat, surging through his veins like it was on fire.

“You are dreadfully bossy,” he said mildly, throwing his shirt down and reaching for the buttons on the fall of his trousers.

“I know, but I think you like it,” Livvy said, never taking her eyes from him. The desire he saw there, the need, was enough to make him move faster still, and he kicked the rest of his clothes off to stand naked before her.

“I do,” he said, his body growing harder still as she stared at him in wonder. “I like that you know what you want, Livvy, that you speak your mind.”

Her gaze travelled up, lingering on the place where his arousal was blatantly obvious, up his stomach and chest to his face. “I know what I want,” she agreed, moving closer to him. “I want you, King. All of you. Make me yours, even if it is only for tonight. I will manage whatever comes next. If I must sacrifice my heart to keep the children safe, I