Merry Little Cluster Fudge (The Price of Love #3.5)

9. Chapter Nine

chapter nine

. . .

Carter

"This is weird," I whispered in Liv's ear. "We're from Ohio. What were these people thinking?"

I watched my dad stack another wooden block atop the teetering tower, Case's brow furrowed in concentration as he studied the structure. Cara bounced on her toes, eager for her turn. The tropical sun beat down on the veranda. After a lifetime of frigid Midwest Christmases, it felt... unnatural.

My wife leaned into me. Unlike me, she looked perfectly at ease in this crazy climate. Who'd have guessed grumpy Carter Cassidy would marry a walking ray of sunshine.

"They were thinking it would be fun," she said, poking me in the ribs.

I snorted, my gaze wandering to the swaying palm trees beyond the resort's pristine lawns. We were nestled on a two-seater swing, rocking gently. The motion was so soothing that it was hard to hold on to my grumpiness. But I did my best. "Yeah, well, ya know what I think? I think it would be great to curl up at home by the fire with you and the kids."

She nudged me gently and gestured towards my father. "Your dad sure looks like he's having a good time."

I grumbled. There was no denying it. A wide smile creased Dad's weathered face as he played with his grandchildren. Ellie and Bob weren't far off, laughing with Wick, Meghan, and Marco while Lucas and Mia ate a snack nearby. The others had already gone back to their respective rooms to get ready for dinner.

Liv shifted beside me, mischief dancing in her eyes. "I have an idea." She raised her voice, calling out, "Hey, Bill, keep an eye on the kids? We'll be back in a few."

"Sure thing," Dad said, eyes still intent on the game.

Liv tugged at my hand, pulling me up. I followed her lead, curiosity piqued.

Her fingers intertwined with mine as she led me down the boardwalk. The wooden planks creaked beneath our feet while waves gently lapped against the stilts below. I raised an eyebrow as we approached our suite.

"What's going on in that devious mind of yours, Sunny?" I asked, using the nickname I'd given her years ago.

She flashed me a coy smile over her shoulder. "You'll see."

The key card beeped, and she pushed open the door. I expected her to make a beeline for the couch or maybe even the kitchen table—both perfectly acceptable places to fuck, in my opinion. Instead, she headed straight for the sliding glass doors that led to our private plunge pool.

Is she serious? Out here? The thought sent a surge of excitement through me.

The salty breeze rushed in to greet us as soon as the doors were open. Liv stepped onto the deck, tugging me along behind her. The view was breathtaking—an endless expanse of turquoise water stretching to the horizon, broken only by the occasional whitecap.

"Liv," I started, my voice low and gravelly. "What are you?—"

She cut me off with a warm, insistent kiss. Her hands found their way to the buttons of my linen shirt, popping them open one by one. I groaned into her mouth and slid my hands down to cup her ass through her dress.

She broke the kiss, her hazel eyes dark with desire. "I thought you might need a reminder of why tropical vacations can be fun," she said, pushing my shirt off my shoulders.

"Oh yeah? And how do you plan on doing that?"

She fingered the waistband of my shorts and smirked. "By giving you a proper welcome to paradise."

The next moment, she dropped to her knees on the wooden deck. Her eyes remained fixed on my face as she deftly unbuckled my belt and pulled my shorts and boxers down in one swift motion. The warm Caribbean air caressed my newly exposed skin, sending prickles up my spine.

Holy shit, we're really doing this out here.

The angle of our suite and the privacy screens on either side of the deck ensured we were hidden from prying eyes, but there was still that thrilling feeling of being exposed.

Liv's warm breath ghosted over my rapidly hardening cock. She looked up at me through her lashes, eyes smoldering. "Eyes on me, Mr. Cassidy," she purred.

I threaded my fingers through her dark hair, my breath catching as she wrapped her lips around the head of my cock. My eyes rolled back as her hot, wet mouth enveloped me.

"Fuck, Liv," I groaned.

She hummed around me, and the vibrations nearly made my knees buckle. My grip on her hair tightened, guiding her movements as she bobbed her head. The obscene sounds mingled with the distant crash of waves. My whole world now consisted of her mouth and my cock.

Linus had been wrong. This was what Christmas was all about.

I looked down, drinking in the sight of my wife on her knees before me, her cheeks hollowed as she sucked me off. The sun glinted off the water behind her, surrounding her with a golden glow.

She pulled back, releasing me with a wet pop. Her tongue darted out to trace the underside of my cock, following the prominent vein from base to tip. I hissed through clenched teeth, my hips jerking involuntarily.

"Liv, baby," I panted, "if you keep that up, this is going to be over embarrassingly fast."

She grinned up at me, her lips swollen and glistening. "We can't have that, can we?" She stood up, sliding her hands up my chest. "I'm not done with you yet."

I kissed her fiercely, tasting myself on her tongue. Groping blindly, I found the straps of her dress and tugged insistently. She shimmied out of the garment, letting it pool at her feet.

My mouth went dry as I took in the sight of her. She wore nothing underneath. Her sun-kissed skin practically glowed in the late afternoon light. Minx. She planned this.

"Like what you see?" she teased, her hands trailing from her hips to her breasts. She squeezed them gently and moaned.

I pulled her flush against me with an almost feral growl. "You know I do. You're fucking gorgeous, Sunny."

Her breath hitched as I palmed her breast, my thumb brushing over her nipple. Her eyes fluttered closed and her nails bit into my shoulders. "Carter," she whimpered, "I need you."

I lifted her to me and cool water lapped at our skin as I walked us into the shallow pool.

I settled her on the ledge, gently laying her back until her perfect tits were pointing toward the sun and her chocolate hair spread around her head like a dark halo. Fucking stunning.

I positioned myself between her legs, running my hands up her smooth calves. Liv's eyes were clouded with lust, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. I leaned down, capturing one of her nipples between my lips. She arched into me, moaning softly.

"Carter," she breathed, her fingers tangling in my hair. "Please."

I smirked against her skin as I moved down her stomach, covering her in featherlight kisses. "Patience, Sunny."

I gripped her thighs, spreading them wider as I lowered myself into the water. The first brush of my tongue against her clit had her gasping, her hips jerking up to meet my mouth. I held her steady, bracing my forearms against her legs as I devoured her.

Her moans grew louder, echoing in the still late afternoon air. Fuck, someone could hear us. The thought made my cock twitch against my stomach. I redoubled my efforts, sucking her clit between my lips as I slid two fingers inside her.

"Oh god, Carter," Liv panted, pulling almost painfully on my hair. "Don't stop, don't stop, don't?—"

Her words twisted into a sharp cry, her body trembling beneath me. I worked her through her climax, gentling my touch as she came down from her high.

When I pulled back, she was looking at me with hooded eyes, a satisfied smile on her face. "Get up here," she ordered, reaching for me and shimmying back to make room on the deck.

I climbed from the pool, droplets cascading down my chest. Liv's eyes followed their path, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. Christ, the things this woman does to me.

"You ready for me, Sunny?" I asked, my voice rough with need.

Liv nodded, wrapping her legs around my waist and pulling me closer. "Always."

I lined myself up, the head of my cock brushing against her entrance. By this point, my rock hard cock glistened, and my balls ached. I needed her now. Her breath stuttered as I slowly pushed inside. The tight, wet heat of her cunt nearly made me lose it right then and there.

"Fuck," I grunted, burying my face in her neck as I bottomed out. "You feel so good, baby."

Liv rolled her hips, urging me to move. Biting my cheek, I thrust into her, fighting to keep a steady rhythm when every instinct screamed at me to pound her into the wood.

"Harder," she demanded, her heels digging into my ass. "I want to feel you for days."

My self-control snapped. I hitched her legs higher and picked up the pace. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed around us.

I lost myself in the feel of her, the taste of her skin, her sweet cries of pleasure. Before long, a familiar tightening in balls signaled my impending release. Her inner walls rippled around me, her back arching off the deck.

"Fuck, Liv, I'm gonna come,” I gasped, my hips thrusting against hers with increasing urgency.

She nodded jerkily, her nails raking down my back. "Me too. Don't stop, Carter. Don't you dare stop."

I slipped a hand between us and stroked my thumb over her clit. Her eyes flew open, a strangled cry escaping her as she came undone again beneath me. The sight of her, flushed and trembling with pleasure, pushed me over the edge.

I buried myself deep inside her, my release hitting me like a tidal wave that felt strong enough to wash this entire island away.

Paradise wasn't a place, it was a person. Her name was Olivia. My wife. My everything. My sunshine.