Festive Faking (Rust Canyon #1)

18. Mac

Chapter 18

Mac

I can’t believe I came in my pants.

Never in my life had I blown too soon, not even when I lost my virginity. Granted, when you attended boarding school, you got all kinds of helpful tips from the upperclassmen, like to jerk off before a date to reduce the risk of an embarrassing premature ejaculation situation.

I think it was safe to say that hadn’t been an option this evening. Not after what went down last night.

Even though I’d promised to fuck Aspen’s throat when we made it inside the door, I fully intended to take care of her before allowing myself to come a second time. But fuck, the way she’d licked her lips at the very idea of taking my cock so deep it cut off her air supply? Add that to the growing list of fantasies starring the stunning redhead I couldn’t get out of my brain.

A grin grew on my face. Tonight, they would stop being fantasies and become reality.

Fuck yes.

Hopping out of the truck, I offered Aspen my hand to help her slide out through the driver’s side door. Her pale skin was flushed pink, effectively concealing those freckles dusting every inch.

Guess I’d be counting those in the morning. Or maybe while I watched her sleep.

She stumbled when her feet touched the ground, but I wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. Two hands came to rest on my chest, and my cock got its second wind knowing what those hands were capable of.

Unable to resist, I slid a hand through her wavy hair, tilting her face enough to claim her mouth.

Those pillowy-soft lips parted, and I swallowed her moan as my tongue dove inside, tasting the remnants of the tequila she’d drunk earlier.

Her fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt and held on for dear life when I hoisted her into my arms, her legs curling automatically around my waist like we’d done this a million times before.

Kicking the door to the truck closed, I carried her up the two steps of the cabin’s front porch.

Our first night here, it had bothered me that the Sullivans didn’t feel the need to lock their doors at night, but right now, I was never more grateful for their lack of security when I didn’t have to put Aspen down to push inside the tiny bungalow.

As soon as we were inside, I spun us around and pinned her to the closed door. Our tongues battled, and I took advantage of the position, grinding my painfully hard dick between her spread-open thighs.

Aspen tore her mouth away at the contact, sucking in ragged, shallow breaths.

“Mac.” Her breathy voice as she said my name had the power to bring me to my knees.

I hummed against her skin, trailing my lips over her jaw and down the column of her neck, nudging the fabric of her sweater lower with my chin so I could access her breasts.

“I have another truth.”

Our game from the bar had been the tipping point as both of us shared feelings we’d been too afraid to admit before. If she wanted to keep playing, to keep opening up to me, I wasn’t about to stop her.

“Tell me.” I sucked on a sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, biting back a groan when she threaded her fingers through my hair. I could only imagine her tugging on those strands as I buried my face between her legs, how torn she’d be between holding me there or pushing me away when the pleasure grew too intense.

“I’ve never done this before.”

The quiet vulnerability in her voice had me peeking up. Lust was replaced with concern when I caught a good look at her face. With her lower lip trembling, her pretty blue eyes had grown glassy—she was about to cry.

Shifting my hands from their hold on her hips to cup her face, I used my thumbs to stroke over her soft cheeks. “Aspen, what’s wrong? Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

The tiniest sniffle sounded, and she squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m a virgin.”

That was the absolute last thing I would have expected her to confess.

Unable to contain my shock, I dropped my hands, stepping back enough that her legs fell away from my hips and she was forced to find her footing on the ground.

My gut twisted when she curled both arms around her waist, her eyes trained on the floor between us.

“How?” My voice came out hoarse. “How is that even possible?”

She lifted a shoulder, still not daring to meet my eye. “You’ve met seventy-five percent of my dating history. Is it really that hard to believe?”

“Yes.” The word was said with such conviction that it was enough to have her head snapping up. “It’s damn near impossible to believe.”

“Mac, you don’t—”

“Truth, Aspen.”

She zipped her lips immediately.

If this was how I got through to her, then so be it.

“The day you walked into that Intro to Structural Design workshop, I couldn’t take my eyes off you, and I haven’t been able to stop since. You’re so fucking beautiful that there are days I wonder what kind of favors your parents had to promise God because I’ve never met another woman who has drawn my attention by simply existing.” I huffed out a wry laugh. “And for two years, I was forced to sit there, tortured that you wanted absolutely nothing to do with me.”

Pointing a finger to her chest in disbelief, she stammered, “M-me? You wanted me?”

“Yes, you.” I moved closer.

Confusion flickered over her features. “But then, why did you go out of your way to get under my skin?”

My lips buzzed with the heavy breath I let out. “Because I wanted your attention so badly that I’d rather have it in a negative capacity than have none at all.”

Yes, it was a juvenile response; I knew that.

For a minute, she simply stared at me, eyes scanning like they were trying to spot the lie. Like she was still in denial that I’d been interested long before this week when we were forced together.

“Any more questions?” I arched an eyebrow.

Shyly, she gestured toward the bed against the far wall. “You—You still want to . . .”

“Hell yes, I still want to.” I crowded her space, caging her in with both my hands pressed to the chilly wood at her back. “Does it alter my plans? Sure. But don’t be getting into your head, thinking that’s a bad thing.” I flashed her a wolfish grin. “Just means I’m gonna take my sweet time warming you up, honey.”

Aspen swallowed, her throat muscles bobbing so beautifully that it reminded me of our conversation in the car.

“And we’ll save the face fucking for another day. Tonight’s gonna be all about you,” I vowed.

She dipped her chin, shooting a pointed look at where I was still hard for her. “But I want you to feel good too.”

I couldn’t stop the husky laugh that worked its way up my throat. “Oh, baby. It’s gonna feel fucking amazing.”

Thinking back on it now, her behavior in the truck—apologizing after her tentative first touches—should have alerted me to her inexperience. My gentle encouragement had been enough to allow her to explore, and when she realized how much she affected me, her confidence grew.

Tonight, I wouldn’t hold back. I’d make sure to be extra vocal to ensure she knew exactly how much I enjoyed bringing her pleasure. I had a feeling that taking it slow and gentle was going to rock my world. Because I cared deeply for Aspen. I couldn’t say that about a single one of my previous sexual partners.

Dropping a soft kiss on her lips, I stepped back, offering Aspen my hand. “Come on, let me show you.”

There was only a brief moment of hesitation before she tangled her fingers with mine. “Okay.”