To Aspen

by N.J. Gray

What if I accidentally go down the wrong side and just disappear forever? Hey, that’s not a bad idea. That could solve all my problems at the moment.

“Are you insane?” Baylor asks, spraying up snow as he stops beside me. I push myself up onto my hands and knees. “Why? Because I fantasize about castrating you over my morning coffee?” There is a moment of silence before he lets out a low chuckle. “The first thing you think about in the morning is my cock, huh?”

“Well, I didn’t want you up here from the beginning. But a part of me was kind of hoping you’d prove me wrong. I would’ve loved to eat my words actually. To see you tear it up out here.

“What are you doing?” I ask, sounding more ungrateful than I should. He frowns. “Helping you.” “Toward the nearest cliff?” His lips tighten in a line as he suppresses a smile. “I mean, that’s one way off the mountain, isn’t it?”

I have no idea how long it takes to get down a freaking mountain. In my case, I might just have to accept the fact that this is my new home. I live here now. At least the view is nice.

“Aspen here was just telling me how much you’re not going to like her date because you all are a bunch of judgmental cunts.”

“It just means he knows the value of a penny more than you ever will.”

His father is the head of the underworld—because, naturally, Baylor is the spawn of Satan.

“You’re going to have to stop fucking me with your eyes, Penny, or I’m going to think you want something from me.”

“Should we go look for one together?” “What?” I ask. “A mistletoe. I thought I saw one above my showerhead now that I think about it.”

“I’ve never hated you,” Baylor says, glancing down at my lips.

“Why would you do that? Is my humiliation worth that much to you?” “No,” he tells me. His hands move again, and I think he’s removing his gloves. “Because no one is touching you on this trip if it isn’t me.”

“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than when you were soaking wet, standing in front of me like that. Fuck. The things I’ve dreamed of doing to you every day since then.”

“The only lie is if you believe I just started fantasizing about you since you got here. I’ve thought about having you all to myself, every which way, every day since I met you, Aspen. Making you angry with me is just a bonus.” His lips are below my ear when he says, “Because the way you glare at me from across a room makes my cock hard.” He rolls his hips into my ass, and I feel it.

“Your hatred for me turns you on, doesn’t it?”

“You can take whatever you want with me. Be greedy, baby. I beg you.”

“You look fucking gorgeous. Now, for the love of God, go upstairs and change,” he says, but it sounds more like an order.

“That’s an interesting degree to choose.” Peter nods. Rollins chuckles. “Worthless, if you ask me.” I don’t hesitate. “I could say the same thing about your hairline.”

“Not bad, sweetheart. Not bad.” My grip on his hand tightens. “It’s Aspen. Not sweetheart.”

“Go on, baby. Tell me how much you hate me,” he whispers against my lips. My resolve slips. “How about I show you?”

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to make you say that with my tongue on your pussy.”

“Fuck. You must really hate me, huh?” I lift my chin, fighting a grin and failing. “More than ever.” He hums, bringing his lips to my forehead. “That’s what I thought.”

You deserve to be loved by someone who’s not afraid to tell you how much you matter to them.”

“Aye! Merry fucking Christmas to you two lovebirds!” Jesse stands up on a barstool, clapping.

His eyes crease with a smile. “You gave me the one thing no one else could. You.”

“I just hate not having something for you to unwrap.” I pout. “What do you think I did Christmas morning on Henry’s kitchen island?” he taunts. “Your gift kept on giving. And giving. And—

His face softens. “When we were headed up the mountain in the gondola ride before you went and sprained your wrist, it was your first time really seeing this place. Your face …” A smile touches his lips at the memory. “Words can’t describe the way it felt to see you light up the way you did.”

“I decided I wanted to be able to experience that with you in every new place you visit. I want to travel with you to Greece, Japan, Spain—anywhere that will give you that same look of amazement when you see it for the first time.”