“Hurry,” she pleaded.

His arms circled her as her legs wrapped around his middle, and he drove in deep.

“Need to be closer,” she said, winding her arms around his neck and lifting off the counter.

He pounded into her, turning with her in his arms to use the wall for leverage, and slanted his mouth over hers. She sucked his tongue, knowing full well that it drove him fucking mad, and he thrust harder, faster, heat searing down his spine. Her head fell back as she cried out, and he followed her over the edge, surrendering to their ecstasy.

She went soft in his arms, snuggling into the crook of his neck, both of them breathing hard. He was overcome with emotions. He’d never known love could be so powerful, it radiated around him.

He pressed his lips to her cheek and said, “Want to lie down, and I’ll rub your hip before we shower?”

She shook her head. “I want to stay right here.”

He felt her love in every word she said, every breath she took, and in these moments when he craved taking care of her as much as she longed for their closeness, he knew he’d become as deep a part of her as she had to him.

GINGER ALL THE Days smelled as sweet as Roni imagined Santa’s workshop would smell, and it was the most adorable shop she’d ever seen. Pink walls and white built-in shelves displayed all types of gingerbread houses, castles, wagons, baby strollers, cookies, bowls, ice cream cones, and more. The curtains were striped pink, white, and brown to match the awning out front, and the display cabinets were nearly empty, as Josie had almost sold out that morning. Sarah and Dixie had done a great job of decorating. Pink and white balloons with BRIDE and WIFE TO BE printed on them were tied to chairs and bobbing from the ceiling, their long ribbons hanging down, and a silver banner with CONGRATULATIONS written across it hung in front of the glass that separated the shop from the kitchen.

Chatter and laughter filled the air as the girls decorated their goodies. Roni was working at a table with Tracey and Penny, decorating gingerbread houses, while Finlay sat on a chair with her feet propped up and a tub of icing balancing on her belly, which she was eating by the fingerful. Across the room, Sarah and Josie were making a gingerbread castle, and Izzy and Crystal were making erotic gingerbread items and giggling up a storm, while Gemma and Dixie decorated cookies. Dixie ate them as fast as they iced them.

When Roni had arrived, they’d squealed and congratulated her on moving in with Quincy, and she’d shared in their excitement. Between dinners with Quincy and the other couples, to bonfires and Sunday lunches, Roni had developed close friendships with all of them, and she’d grown to not only love their brash comments and honest conversations, but also to participate in them. And as she licked icing from her fingers, she looked forward to having more get-togethers with them in the future.