A deep, throaty moan escaped from her.

  “So sexy, Em,” I growled, mercilessly thrusting my hips forward.

  It had been nearly ten years, and to this very day, I still hadn’t had enough of her. What made that even better was knowing that it was the same for her. Because as I powered into her, Emme’s breathing had quickened again.

  “That’s it, sweetheart,” I encouraged her, wanting the both of us to come together.

  Keeping one palm pressed to the mattress beside her ribs, the other went to her breast. My hips moved faster, Emme’s moans grew deeper, and my body braced for what was coming.

  “You close?” I asked.

  Emme didn’t respond.

  “Em, sweetheart, are you close?” I asked when I knew I couldn’t hold back any longer.

  A couple more thrusts and she breathed, “Zane.”

  That’s when I knew I could let go. Tremors shook me as my orgasm hit, Emme’s body tightening around mine. I lowered my chest to hers, keeping my weight on my forearms, while I attempted to regain control of my breathing. Emme was doing the same as her fingernails stroked lightly up and down my spine.

  I was doing better but hadn’t quite gotten completely there when I gave her a peck on the cheek and said, “We’re going to have to use our time wisely this week.”

  Emme turned her attention to me and asked, “What do you mean?”

  “It the kids’ last week of school,” I began. “We’re going to need to take advantage of the time we have alone. Because pretty soon they’re going to be here all day long for several weeks. It’ll feel like summertime all over again.”

  My wife knew what that meant. During the summer, we didn’t get much time throughout the day alone with one another. We had to stick to evenings after the kids were in bed. Obviously, we were happy that we managed to still find the time for one another, but we both hated that it never felt spontaneous. When the kids were in school, even though Kingston was still in preschool, Emme and I had a few hours during the day to ourselves. Our kids meant the world to us, but that didn’t mean we didn’t enjoy some time alone.

  “You’re right,” she replied. “I didn’t even think about it.”

  “I did.”

  Emme grinned at me as she squeezed her thighs tight to my side. “Love you,” she said.

  “Love you, too,” I returned. “How about we get cleaned up and ready for bed?”

  Emme dipped her chin.

  I gave her one more kiss on the lips before I pulled out and lifted myself off of her. A few minutes later, we were back in bed. Emme’s soft, warm body was curled up in front of mine with my arm hooked around her waist.

  “Goodnight, sweetheart,” I whispered, giving her a gentle squeeze.

  “Night, Zane.”

  It wasn’t even a minute later, completely sated, that my wife drifted. Two minutes after that, knowing she and the kids were all asleep, I allowed myself to do the same.

  “Hurry.”

  “Babe.” The tone of Luke’s voice indicated that he was moving as fast as humanly possible and that I was simply being impatient.

  I was.

  I could admit it.

  But he couldn’t possibly blame me. This was our last chance. We needed to take full advantage of it.

  Thankfully, and much to my delight, a moment later, Luke had freed himself and slid inside me.

  “Yes,” I breathed.

  We were in the kitchen and had barely made it into the house when we were already tearing at each other’s clothes.

  My back was against the countertop; Luke was positioned between my legs. His hands were holding my hips as he powered into me. This was precisely what I’d needed. Exactly what I wanted.

  Tension had been running high from the moment we got up this morning. Luke and I both knew how critical it was that we worked efficiently this morning when we got the kids up and ready for school. Everyone had to get to where they were going on time so we could get back home and take full advantage of the very little time we had left.

  Today was the last day of school before the holiday break. The only problem was that we didn’t have until three o’clock to enjoy each other. We only had about two hours before we needed to leave the house again and go to Lark’s preschool. Normally, she’d be there for three hours, but the parents were invited back early today to watch the kids singing their Christmas songs for us.

  So, Luke and I had not a minute to waste.

  One of his hands kept a firm grip on my hip while the other drifted up my side until he could reach his thumb out and swipe it over my nipple.

  My back arched at his touch, tilting my pelvis to just the right angle. His thrusts were hitting the right spot and I’d already gotten so worked up thinking about having him on the drive home that I felt myself on the verge of an orgasm within minutes.

  Luke realized this.

  Luke was also not happy about this.

  Of course, I was certain he was happy at the idea that he’d managed to get me there so quickly, but he was not happy about me turning into a pile of useless limbs so soon. I knew he had the thought in the back of his mind that once the orgasm hit we’d be done. Or, more specifically, I’d be done.

  But he thought wrong.

  I was just as invested in today’s task as he was. I needed as much from him as I could get in the next two hours. It needed to last until the kids were back at school again because I didn’t know how frequently we’d be able to manage finding this kind of time over the next two weeks.

  Considering Luke didn’t know my thoughts on this, he wasn’t keen on seeing me through to the end just yet.

  When I was just about to go over that edge, he pulled out and lifted me from the counter.

  “Luke,” I panted.

  He drove his hand into my hair, gripped it firmly at the nape of my neck, and brought his mouth to mine. His kiss was hard and deep as his tongue plunged into my mouth. I loved kissing him. Loved it.

  But I wanted the rest of him back.

  Eventually breaking the connection he had with my mouth, he tugged on my hair, sending my gaze to the ceiling. Then, his mouth was running down the front of my throat. I couldn’t help myself. I was so turned on, desperate to get myself back to the place he’d just had me, I rolled my hips and pressed the most intimate part of my body against his lower abdomen.

  Friction.

  I needed friction.

  “Luke, babe, please,” I begged when he had taken half a step back so I couldn’t give myself the release I needed.

  He continued to trail his mouth down my body, stopping at my chest to lavish my breasts with attention. His tongue and teeth teased one while his hand tortured the other.

  My moans were growing deeper; my breathing was becoming shallower.

  When he’d had his fill of my breasts, Luke continued his descent down my body. When he’d reached the spot just below my bellybutton, he pulled back ever so slightly and rasped, “Love you so much, baby girl.”

  Those words just barely penetrated when he dipped his head lower and put his mouth between my legs. My head dropped back, my chin lifting toward the sky.

  This man.

  I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough of him.

  And because I wanted all I could get, I found the strength somewhere inside me to lower my chin and allow my face to fall forward. Watching Luke eat me was a huge turn on. Something about the way he did it told me this was, by far, one of his favorite things to do. It wasn’t like he hadn’t already clarified that for me a long time ago. Back when I wasn’t much of a cook, Luke promised me that he’d never starve so long as he had me. He proved that time and again when he went down on me.

  I loved it.

  Every so often, Luke would open his eyes and look up at me. There was no mistaking the glint in his eyes. He was thoroughly enjoying himself. Seeing that, feeling his mouth on me, sucking and licking, I found myself back to that place I’d been struggling to get to when he’d pulled out of me before.

  The problem was Luke knew I was there again. And just before I could go too far, he pulled back.

  “Luke,” I cried, groaning in frustration.

  He lifted me clean off the counter, flipped me around, and swiftly bent me over it. I barely had time to brace myself before Luke drove into me from behind. My head flew back as I moaned, “Yes!”

  Once again, Luke’s hand was gripping my hair as he relentlessly powered into me. The sounds coming from him grew louder and louder, and I knew this was it. He was going to give me what I needed because he was seconds away from losing control himself.

  Using my leverage against the kitchen counter, I pushed back harder against him.

  Faster and faster.

  I climbed higher and higher.

  Until suddenly, Luke ordered, “Give it to me, Nikki.”

  So I did.

  And Luke did right along with me.

  He collapsed behind me, his body rounding over the back of mine. Tenderly, he pressed his lips against the heated skin of my back and kissed me all along my spine.

  “Love you, husband,” I rasped.

  “Love you, wife,” he whispered.

  A moment later, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulled himself from my body, and lifted me in his arms.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  Luke looked over at the clock on the microwave and before returning his attention to me he grinned, started walking, and said, “We’ve still got time. Upstairs to clean up and have a quick break before we do it again.”

  “Do I get to use my mouth this time?” I wondered.

  “I think we can make that happen,” he returned.

  Satisfied with his answer, I cuddled into the warmth of his body and let him carry me upstairs. And after a quick break, we did it again.

  “Thanks for saving us a seat,” I whispered, leaning toward Emme.

  “No problem. Everything okay?” she asked.

  I nodded. “Yeah, it’s just that Luke and I were trying to take advantage of our last moments of uninterrupted time together,” I explained the reason we’d just made it to the preschool with five minutes to spare.

  Emme smiled and bit the corner of her lip. Then, leaning in a little closer she shared, “If I’m being completely honest, Zane and I only got here and seated about two minutes before you.”

  I let out a deep sigh. “I thought it was just us,” I started. “I don’t know why, but it feels like my favorite television program is being canceled or going on a series hiatus or something. Like, I’m terrified the kids are going to be home for the next couple weeks and Luke and I won’t be able to have sex again until next year when they’re back in school.”

  Emme turned to look back at Zane. He gave her a sweet look before she turned back toward me and said, “Zane admitted that to me the night of the girls’ birthday party. After everyone left and the kids were in bed.”

  “Luke and I spent the entire week using every ounce of free time we had building up a reserve,” I admitted. “I’m not sure if it’s going to work for us the way we hope, but we had fun doing it.”

  Emme giggled. “Us too!”

  Shaking my head, I said, “I just feel bad for Monroe and Stone. They’ve got four to contend with. I can’t even imagine.”

  A horrified look came over Emme’s face. “Oh, that is terrible. I never even thought about that. Maybe we need to help her,” she suggested.

  “How so?”

  Emme took a moment to think about it and declared, “I have a plan. It’ll help all of us. Tonight, during gingerbread house making we’ll discuss it.”

  Nodding, I agreed, “You’ve got it.”

  The next thing I knew, a group of preschool kids were being escorted out onto the stage. Seconds later, I heard a growl come from the man beside me. I looked up at Luke with a curious gaze. He didn’t take his eyes off the kids as he scowled, leaned toward me, and muttered, “She’s holding his hand.”

  Directing my attention to the stage, I found my girl and beamed. Lark and Kingston were standing beside each other holding hands. Glancing to my other side, I whispered to Emme, “They’re so cute, but Luke’s going to lose his mind.”

  Emme giggled again. Zane must have heard me because he looked over and said, “Luke, man, I’m so sorry. I’m the same way with Chloe and Mia.”

  Luke’s hand tightened around mine.

  I cuddled into him and said, “They’re only four, and they’re friends. You should be happy she’s got someone there to make her feel comfortable in front of all these people.”

  For the first time since our daughter walked out holding a boy’s hand, no matter that it was Kingston’s hand, Luke tore his attention from the stage. He pinned his eyes on mine and noted, “Lark is a lot like her mother. She doesn’t feel uncomfortable around a crowd of people and speaks her mind regardless of who’s around. This is her trying to be cute and give me a heart attack.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Trust me, Luke,” I urged. “It’s all innocent.”

  “Yeah, that’s how it always starts,” he muttered, looking back up at our girl.

  My gaze followed his. Lark noticed us, lifted her free hand, and waved at us. She was positively beaming.

  Just like that, Luke rid himself of his scowl, smiled back at his baby, and returned a wave of his own. Now I was the one giggling. I always knew Luke was wrapped around Lark’s finger, but it hit me at that moment that he was definitely in for a load of trouble when she got older.

  We still had some time before that happened, though. So, I did my best to push the thoughts of how I’d help him get through that time in our lives while we watched the kids’ performance.

  “Hey, I thought this was supposed to be a group project!” Stone declared.

  We had gotten back to our house about an hour ago following the Christmas play at the school for Ace, Archer, Harper, Phoenix, Chloe, and Mia. Now, we were commencing with the gingerbread house making. Luke and I had purchased a bunch of kits for all the kids to each have their own.

  Now that the first half of the kids were all seated and the men were with them, the girls and I were sneaking off to have a quick chat. Apparently, we weren’t going to get away without an explanation.

  “It is,” I assured him.

  “So, why are we sitting here while the four of you traipse off somewhere else?” Wes asked.

  “We’ve got something very important to discuss,” Emme replied.

  “I can come up with a lot of important things to discuss right now,” Zane challenged her.

  “Even if that were the case,” Charley began. “The four of you are responsible for overseeing the construction of the gingerbread houses.”

  “We are?” Luke questioned us.

  We all nodded, but it was Monroe who spoke. “Yes, you are. And then we’ll handle the decorations once you’ve built solid foundations.”

  The look on all four of the guys’ faces told us they were going to need a bit more convincing to tackle the first part of this project without us there. So, I let it out.

  “This is about a very important Christmas gift,” I shared.

  “For who?” Luke asked.

  “All of you,” Emme insisted.

  “The four of you are getting all of us a gift?” Zane wondered, clearly not understanding us.

  Shaking her head, Charley explained, “The four of us are working out a gift for each of you. That’s all we can give you right now. You’ve got to trust us.”

  “I say we listen to them,” Wes remarked. “They’ve rarely disappointed in the gift-giving department. And, remember those gifts we each got when the four of them got together years ago? I’m guessing this could be just as good.”

  There was a moment of silence before Stone ordered, “Go. Go. Go. We’ll take care of these houses.”

  Mission accomplished.

  As the girls and I moved out of the room, Harper asked, “Daddy, what gift did Mommy give you years ago?”

  Monroe burst out laughing, following behind me. When we were well out of earshot of the men and kids, she said, “I wonder how he’s going to answer that question.”

  “Poor guy,” Charley said. “He’d probably rather have the floor swallow him up whole than have to tell his daughter that her mother did a boudoir photo session and made a photo book of it for him.”

  We all laughed because it was true. None of them would ever want to admit this to their daughters for fear that it would give that daughter an idea for the future.

  “Okay, so what’s going on?” Monroe asked, pinning her gaze on Emme and me. “I’ve been excited about this ever since you two mentioned you had an idea for an incredible Christmas gift for the guys.”

  “Me too,” Charley added. “I’ve only gotten Wes the typical dad gifts. I want to give him something really good. And as you just heard out there, that gift from all those years ago is still his favorite. It doesn’t take much to please him.”

  “Okay, well, Nikki and I were talking earlier today at Kingston and Lark’s preschool,” Emme started. “And we realized we were both in the same situation with our husband’s today. In fact, we’ve been in the same situation pretty much all week.”

  “What do you mean?” Charley asked.

  “Sex,” I deadpanned.

  “Sex?” Monroe repeated.

  I nodded and asked, “Have the two of you found that your husbands were just a bit more insatiable this week?”

  “Um, well, I feel like Stone’s always insatiable,” Monroe admitted.

  “Wes, too, but we struggled to find much time this week, especially with him working extra to get everything sorted for the event at Parks Ridge tomorrow,” Charley shared.

  “Good. That’s good,” Emme said.

  “Good?”

  “Well, not good in that way,” she backtracked. “I just mean, it’s good because then he’s guaranteed to love this gift.”

  “Okay, well, what is it?” Monroe wondered.

  I had to admit I was curious, too, because while I knew enough to know it was about sex, I didn’t know what her plan was.

 

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