Jackie: Samuel Leemon is going to have his heart broken! He came into town yesterday and asked Mom if he could join us.
“Who’s Samuel?” Easton asked.
“Just an old neighbor kid,” she said, feeling the heat flare up in her face once more. She hadn’t thought about Samuel in years.
“Poor guy,” Easton said. “He came home for the holidays to finally score the girl next door, and she’s off getting seduced by some bachelor gone rogue.”
Now it felt like her face might explode. “He didn’t come back for me.”
“The hell he didn’t…” He mumbled it so softly Ivy wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. “Tell me this,” he challenged. “Did you two ever kiss?”
Ivy shook her head, a smile pulling at her lips. “Barely,” she admitted. “We were little.”
“And he’s never stopped thinking about you,” Easton said in a dramatic, TV host type of voice. He lifted a hand and spanned it before him. “He’s gone out, made a name for himself, all so he could impress Ivy Ingles from Tanglewood Lane. And you weren’t even there.”
“That’s enough.” She giggled some more, nudging him in return before setting her gaze back on the screen. “Oh, look, pictures!” Thank heavens. This whole topic of Samuel was making her blush. Although, she’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy the jealous tone of his response.
“That’s everyone,” she said, pausing for him to take in the group.
Easton leaned in and squinted, a pleased expression on his face. “This is the whole group? Everyone but you?”
“Everyone but me.” Ivy pointed out who was who, all the way down to her nephews, nieces, and their grumpy cat, Doug.
“What kind of name is Doug for a cat?” Easton asked.
But Ivy only shook her head. “I liked a guy named Doug at the time.”
“People really do that?” He scrunched his face.
“Twelve-year-old girls do. At least, this one did.”
Enlightenment crossed his features. “That explains it.”
“Explains what?”
He shrugged dismissively. “Oh, all the girls at my middle school had pets named Easton. Cats, dogs, birds, goldfish…”
Ivy chuckled. “I bet they did.” Boy, was that the truth. No doubt Easton had been breaking hearts since he could flash that grin of his.
She quickly skimmed past the part where Ronny bugged her about the bachelor she’d be snuggling up to all night to stay warm. Ivy was certain she’d gotten away with it until he spoke up.
“Wait, wait, I think you missed a few.”
“I’ll read them later,” she assured.
“Aw, you’re no fun. Let me see it.” Easton held out his hand expectantly.
Ivy nearly gasped at his boldness and tucked it behind her back. “Like I would ever hand this to you.”
“You might if I do this.” He gave her waist a testing poke with his finger.
A squeal snuck out of her lips as she twisted away.
“Ooh, what do we have here?” Easton gave the other side of her waist a playful squeeze, earning a giggle and another squeal.
Ivy released the phone behind her back and reached for his hands, trying to stop them from tickling her any further.
A small wrestle ensued—Ivy squirming beyond his grasp while Easton made up the distance, and soon he was hovered over her, the two in a whirl of laughter and jagged breaths.
“I love that you’re ticklish,” Easton said, buffering her from his full weight as he inspected her in the fire’s glow. Her arms were pinned at her sides now, which was a problem, since a stray lock of hair rested on her cheek. Ivy attempted to blow if off.
“You’re going to have to release my hands,” she said breathlessly, “or get my hair out of my face for me.”
Easton held her gaze inquisitively. “If I get the stray strand, I’ll have to release your hands and I’m not willing to do that just yet.”
Ivy shook her head as the piece started to itch her face. “Hurry, hurry, it feels awful!”
“Alright then.” He lowered his head then, bringing his face to hers. Her heart sputtered out of beat. She was just about to ask him what he was doing when she felt his lips part slightly at her cheek. He pinned the strand between his lips, then lifted himself away from her and released it with a small push of air.
“There you go, princess. Shall I feed you grapes next? Fan your face while you recline before the fire?”
She grinned, loving this playful side of him. The side that made her feel as if he was hers and she was his and that nothing could possibly separate them. A recollection came to her then, of the moment she’d wanted to speak up earlier.
“Easton?” she said, daring herself to be brave. To chance ruining everything. “I…”
He lifted a brow. The expression made him look just like a dashing actor on the big screen. “Yes?”
Anxiety shot through her in the quiet pause. Maybe telling him wasn’t the best way. Perhaps showing him would be better. “I don’t want any grapes,” she said. “Or the fan. But there is something I would like.” Arms still pinned to her sides, she moved her gaze, very pointedly, to his mouth.
Ivy could hardly believe she’d said what she had. It sounded more forward than she’d imagined, and it too, had taken a level of bravery to voice. But as Easton narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on her mouth in return, she knew she’d said the perfect thing.
He lowered his head to hers and paused once their lips were all but touching. Ivy released a shallow breath, wondering if he’d wait like he had before, perhaps start off with another round of testing kisses. But he moved right in instead, pressing a long, fervent kiss to her lips. She’d asked him to kiss her, after all, and it seemed he planned to deliver with a flourish.
She reveled in the warm, measured weight of him as he kissed her again. And then again. The short facial hair around his lips only added to the sensation, giving life to Easton’s rugged appeal. His scruff might be rough like sandpaper, but his lips were smooth, soft, and oh so pleasing.
With his hands at her wrists, Easton lifted her arms at either side, then slipped his fingers through hers and kissed her again. And again.
So good.
He moved his attentions along her jawline next, pressing hot kisses in a trail to her earlobe, then down her neck, where he circled the hollow of her throat.
“Mmm…” he rasped, the deep sound causing a thrill of its own.
With what felt like slow deliberation, Easton unlocked his fingers from hers and traced his hands, ever so gently, down her inner arms, leaving a trail of delicious heat in his wake.
Goosebumps rippled over her skin.
His touch drifted off as he rounded the bend in her arms, then picked back up as he cupped her hips, his warm grip urging her closer still.
Ivy used her free hands to explore the hair at the back of his head, gripping at the bearskin rug with the other. She’d never felt such bliss, and it seemed her body could hardly contain it.
Her breath turned jagged as the heat of his mouth trailed back up to her earlobe. He surprised her by taking a teasing taste, his teeth slightly scraping her skin, seeming to know it would send another thrill to rush through her.