Such a Naughty Girl (Hot Creeps #2)

Chapter Twenty Three

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

IZZY

My car inched along the road as I squinted into the forest, looking for any glimpse of his cabin.

‘It has to be around here,’I murmured to myself. It was my third trip along the road that morning, trying to spy the spot where I could turn. There had to be vehicular access, right?

With the sun finally making an entrance to the day, I caught sight of it glinting off something to my left. Tiny glass bulbs dangling from tree to tree. If only they’d been switched on, I might have spotted them in the dim morning light.

My tires protested as I turned the steering wheel, my car bumping onto the rough forest track.

A soulful Christmas tune crackled from the radio as I followed the trail through the tree-topped tunnel.

Emotion welled as Emmett’s cabin came into view, lazy smoke billowing up from the metallic chimney. Coming back felt like finding the X on a treasure map after a year of stumbling from one empty moment to another.

Christmas Day with my family had felt lacking. Like something, or someone, was missing. A certain towering, bearded, oddball.

My pulse hit my throat like the tick of aquickeningclock. Would he be happy to see me? Or was I a few hours too late?

I braked, my car giving a small squeal as it gripped the snowy ground. Holding onto the steering wheel, I took a slow breath, willing my heart to calm its excited gallop.

I hoped coming back didn’t prove to be a foolish mistake.

I hefted the bundle of gifts I’d brought, for both Emmett and Chunk, into my arms and headed for the cabin.

Nerves sent manicbutterfliesswarming in my stomach. With the wooden verandas beneath my boots, it all became real. The potential joy. The potential rejection.

The gifts tried to tumble to the ground as I worked one hand free to knock on the door. I held them against me until a booming bark had me leap out of my skin and drop them all.

‘Damn it,’I groaned, ducking down to dust the wet from them and pile them back into my arms.

The door yanked open, and a bleary-eyed Emmett stared down at me, his face a picture of surprise.

‘Izzy?’The grumble of his sleep-laced voice hit me right in the chest, my face breaking into a massive grin.

‘Merry Christmas, Emmett.’

A thousand-watt smile lit his face as he crouched down in front of me. ‘You know you can come in without needing to be on your knees this time…’

A laugh tumbled from me as I ditched the packages and flung myself into his arms. ‘Thought you liked me on my knees.’

‘I like you here,’he mumbled into my hair, his breath warm and welcoming against my neck. ‘Right here.’

‘Nowhere I’d rather be.’Tears pricked at his warm embrace, those strong arms wrapping me in a layer of happiness.

‘Fuck, Princess. I’ve missed you.’

I moved back a little, looking up into his face. Our lips met in a furious clash of need, an entire year of pent-up desire welling between us. It was like coming home. Better than home.

His hands skimmed my spine, pressing me flush to his chest as he enveloped me with his rugged body. The urge to climb him like a fucking treeoverwhelmedme, but a certain four-legged friend pushed his furry nose between us. A barrage of wet, doggy-breathed kisses had us both laughing.

‘I missed you too,’I cried, wrapping my arms around Chunk’s shaggy neck.

Emmett stood, reaching down and taking me by the hand.

‘Get your sweet ass in here.’