Going to the Library

Lily blinked through the thick flurries, carrying her heavy grocery bags towards Petunia's apartment. She and her sister had drawn straws for who would have to brave the snow and get groceries for their dinner. Lily picked the short one and found herself pushing into the harsh wind as she trudged back.

For the first time in years, she and Petunia were on somewhat cordial terms. After returning from the Christmas Ball, Lily had collapsed in the living room, shaking while she tried to process James's words. He'd been so kind for the days prior. Hearing his cruel words affected her deeply, sending Lily into a bit of a spiral.

Petunia had come home, finding her a crying mess, and drawn Lily a bath. The following day, she insisted on bringing Lily to Vernon's family's Christmas Dinner, shooting Lily concerned looks through it. In the days since, they'd settled into an uneasy peace.

She'd ripped up all of the letters she received from James ignoring his words. He wasn't wrong in some ways. Lily often let herself get caught up in Marlene's chaos. But she was still her own person, having remained adamant about her values and beliefs.

His words cut deep and Lily didn't understand why.

Many people had said similar taunts to her before about her relationship with Marlene.

For some reason, James's words had hurt her more than anyone else's.

Lily opened the door to the building, heading up the stairs and debating how she could avoid James in the coming year. Lily jostled her key into the door to the apartment, swinging it open.

"They didn't have any salmon so I got chicken," she called, entering. Lily immediately froze, one of the bags falling from her grip as she gaped at the sight before her. Petunia laughing as she sat at their small table, a mug of tea in one hand and James Potter to her right, wearing a festive sweater. Lily's eyes went wide as she stared at her sister's amused expression.

"You never told me that you had such charming friends at school," Petunia said, her voice light and flirty. Lily's lips twitched down.

"I didn't think I did either," Lily answered dryly. James ran a hand through his hair.

"I'll start dinner then," Petunia said, rising. "James is going to join us!"

"Is he?" Lily repeated, locking eyes with him. "Mind if James and I step out for a mo. We need to have a word."

Petunia shrugged, telling them to be back in a jiff as Lily gestured for James to step out of the apartment. She led him downstairs and they stood outside, under the building's small jutted roof above the door. She crossed her arms, James looking at her apprehensively.

"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly. James winced at her tone and the wind howled viciously around them. Lily blinked through the flurries thrown in her direction.

"You haven't been answering my letters," he explained.

"I think that should have been a message in itself," Lily said mirthlessly. He ran a hand through his hair.

"I want to apologize," he explained. "What I said on Christmas Eve was…"

"Cruel?" she interrupted. "Demeaning? Humiliating?"

"All of the above and more," he sighed. "I lashed out and hurt you."

She didn't answer, stiffening as James moved closer, suddenly coming to his knees on the cold, icy ground.

"Which is why I want to vow," he said earnestly. "That I will never hurt you again."

"Get up," Lily scoffed, dragging him up. "Don't make promises you can't keep Potter."

"Potter?" he repeated in an odd tone. "So it's like that."

She didn't answer, looking at her shoes and he made a noise of displeasure.

"You can't shut people out every time they fuck up," James said. "You're going to end up alone."

"I am alone," Lily spat, fighting back a shiver as the storm continued around them. "I've been alone for months!"

"You didn't have to be," James answered, looking at her with sympathy. "You… You never mentioned your parents died."

Lily was silent.

"Had to learn that from your sister," he added. "Is that why you moved to London?"

"I like to keep my personal life out of work," she said evenly.

"This wasn't just another one of your cases," he argued. "Come on Lily, we've been friends for years. You could have told us we would have-"

"No," she snarled. "None of you would speak to me. Sirius was hexing me in the halls until the day we left. And you wonder why I didn't tell anybody they died— it's because I didn't have anybody!"

James was silent and Lily froze, feeling his arms come around her.

"I'm sorry Lily," he murmured into her hair. She leaned into the warmth of his body, listening to James apologize over and over again.

"Please stop," she said. He lifted her face, running his thumb over Lily's cheek.

"No one deserves to grieve their parents alone," he sighed. "I should have been there for you."

"No, you couldn't have… Marlene died only weeks before and you were drowning too," Lily said empathetically, squeezing James's other hand before letting out a bitter laugh. "And it shouldn't have been you of all people— I mean you particularly didn't care for me."

"Didn't care for you," he repeated, staring at her in shock. Lily nodded earnestly and James's eyes flashed with emotion as his jaw locked.

"What?" she asked, quirking her head at him. He shook his head at her with a sad smile.

"You really think you've got this third eye and can read anyone. But you're not seeing what's in front of you."

Lily opened her mouth to question him but heard someone calling her name.

"Lily!" Petunia shouted from the window of her apartment. "Lily, dinner's getting cold!"

"We should go in," Lily noted.

"Am I still welcome to join?" James asked, looking at her with worried eyes. Lily shrugged, her lips tugging up in a wry smile.

"I think my sister won't let me in unless you're there," she admitted, opening the door and going back inside with James.

New Year's Eve

"I'm heading out," Petunia called, emerging from her room. Lily looked over from the dining table and smiled at her sister.

"You look nice," she commented. Petunia nodded, smoothing her skirt, and glanced at her watch.

"Are you really going to spend New Year's alone?" she asked. Lily shrugged.

"I've got a date planned with a paper and that pint of ice cream in your freezer," she said, wiggling her eyebrows. Petunia frowned at her.

"Don't you have a party to go to?" she asked. "Last year you were with that friend of yours…"

Last year she'd gone to the Bones family's annual New Year's Eve party with Marlene. It was one of the better memories Lily had, perhaps being the pinnacle of her romantic younger self, with her kissing Remus at midnight.

"I'll be fine Pet," Lily assured.

"What about James?" Petunia asked. "He hasn't been around in days."

Following their dinner, Lily had seen James out and knew that she wouldn't see him again until they boarded the train back to school.

"He's with his mates," she replied.

"He's better than your last boyfriend," Petunia said, fixing her lipstick in her hand mirror. "That one was ghastly pale and seemed ill."

Lily rolled her eyes, recalling that Remus had come down with a bug the weekend he'd met her parents during last year's break.

"James isn't my boyfriend," Lily replied.

"Could've fooled me."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"I'm happy staying in," she assured. Her sister shrugged, turning and going into her room. Lily heard her moving around in there before opening the window and wondered why she was opening it in the cold.

"I'm off," Petunia said, bouncing out. Lily dove into scrawling out the remainder of her Transfiguration paper, finishing before 10 pm and rising. As she eyed the freezer, preparing to take out the pint, the buzzer rang. Lily frowned, plodding over to it and wondering if Petunia had forgotten something.

"Who is it?" she called into it.

"It's James," James shouted into the device. Lily jumped at his loud volume, buzzing the door to let him in.

"Open the door," she said, hearing the sound of it opening. Lily could hear him coming up the stairs and opened the door. He appeared at the landing, walking over to her with snow still on his hair.

"That device downstairs was bloody hard," he said with a chuckle. "Accidentally rang three of your sister's neighbors."

Lily's lips twitched up as she took in James's windswept appearance. He looked dorkily cute, wearing a pair of jeans and sneakers with a cable-knit sweater she knew he didn't pick out.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, leaning on the door frame.

"Didn't feel up for the Bones' party," he said, smiling at her. "Nice pants."

Lily looked down, flushing as she realized she was wearing a pair of ratty flannels with an old t-shirt.

"So you came here?"

"Well I had planned on spending the night playing Gobstones with Marcus and Maddie as she's grounded for eternity," James said. "But then I got a letter from your sister."

Lily's brows shot up and her mouth fell open.

"Petunia sent you a letter?' she questioned in shock. James nodded.

"Said you'd condemned yourself to a spinster's night of writing a paper and drowning yourself in ice cream," he revealed.

"I didn't even know she knew how to send owl mail," Lily said blankly. She realized that Petunia must have sent the letter when she was moving around in her room and had opened the window. Lily's owl, Athena, often hung around outside Petunia's bedroom window.

"Well I've come to save you from drowning in a sea of vanilla ice cream," he declared, grinning at her.

"I assure you I'm having a grand night," Lily stated. "You should go to the Bones' party— all your mates will be there."

"I've always hated those parties," James admitted sheepishly. "Had to dodge MacDonald all night last year."

"James I'm fine, really," she assured.

"Give me one hour," he said adamantly. "One hour and if you're not having fun, I'll bring you right back here."

Lily hesitated, her gut instinct to shut the door in his face.

But something about the sweetness in James's eyes made her fight that urge.

"Fine," she said. "But if you try to get me on a broom I'll hex you."

She let James into the apartment, quickly changing in Petunia's room into a pair of jeans and a sweater before grabbing her coat.

"Speedy," James noted, following her down the stairs. "We'll have to take the Knight Bus— it's too close to your apartment to apparate without the Ministry noticing."

Lily watched as he summoned the bus, boarding it, and sitting next to James. Their shoulders brushed against each other during the ride and Lily felt a jolt of electricity in her stomach.

"Where are we going?"

James winked at her.

"That's a surprise."

When the Bus stopped, James rose, guiding her out of the bus. Lily looked at their surroundings, seeing that they were in the village square of a sleepy hamlet. Nestled against a large tree was a stone sign with Godric's Hallow carved into it.

"Did you bring me here to kill me?" she asked jokingly, blinking against the light snow.

"Caught me redhanded," James said with a chuckle, before gesturing for her to walk forth. "Here it's just a few minutes walk through the village."

"Where are we?" Lily asked, following James through the cobblestone path. She immediately felt a sense of contentment here, the village featuring thatched shops and buildings that fit against each like puzzle pieces. It looked like one of the picturesque paintings she'd seen in the National Gallery during a stroll through the museum last summer.

"Home," he said, stopping in front of a larger cottage with exposed beams. Lily could see a wild, unmanaged garden growing in the front and watched as James pulled his wand out, pressing it into the gate.

"You're not making any sense," Lily said, remaining rooted to the ground. James opened the gate and paused, catching the anxious look on her face.

"Have a little faith in me," he said. "I grew up here Lily."

"Oh," Lily said, trudging to the gate and entering. James shut it behind her and she crossed her arms, watching as he jiggled the door. "Should we be here?"

James snorted, opening the door and flicking his wand inside. Lily watched as light filled the space.

"Technically no," he said. "But what's life without a little risk?"

Lily sighed, following him inside and paused at the interior. The entrance led straight into a living room. The entire room was cozy, decorated in rich colors with warm tapestries on the walls.

"You're lucky I stopped by and cleaned up earlier," he said, aiming his wand at the fireplace and sparking a fire. "The whole place was covered in dust."

"Why did you bring me here?" she pressed, shutting the door behind her. "Are we trespassing?"

James chuckled, leaning against the sofa and looking up at her.

"So many questions," he replied. "My parents raised me here and the cottage is in my name— but technically I'm not allowed to access anything in the Potter family's trust until I'm of age. Besides the occasional check-in from Aunt Frida the house has been empty."

"So we're breaking and entering," she noted. James's lips spread into a smile.

"Told you I'd never take you on a boring date," he said with a wink.

"Is this a date?" Lily asked, anxiously. James gestured to the bottle of elderflower wine on the table and the array of food.

"I hope so," he mused. "Wouldn't knick Uncle Mark's best bottle for nothing."

"I'm confused," Lily admitted. "You should be with your friends James."

He shook his head, standing and approaching her.

"I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."

Lily held his gaze, letting him lead her to the couch, and watched as he opened the wine, pouring both a glass.

"I'm sorry there's no party here," she said, taking the wine from him and sipping at it.

"I dunno where you got this idea that I live for parties from," he replied, his tone light as he drank from his glass.

"All of you do— the Marauders are the life of any party," Lily said.

"Sirius and Peter are," James corrected. And Marlene was, Lily thought to herself. "I enjoy them but I'm perfectly content here."

"There's no dancing," Lily noted.

"Do you want there to be dancing?"

Before Lily could answer, James flicked his wand at an old record machine, Lily's lips curling up at the brassy sound of the music.

"That's a muggle device," she said. James extended his arms to her and Lily took his hand, moving closer to him.

"My mum got it," James explained. "Surprised the thing still works."

James's hands were resting on her hip and shoulders.

"You came prepared," Lily said, leaning back to drink from her wine.

"I owed you a dance," James explained. She quirked her head at him in confusion and he pulled her closer, their chests flush against each other. "Brought you to a ball and didn't share a full dance with you."

"Oh," Lily said, feeling her heart begin to thump louder, James tracing his fingers over her jeans. She kept her cheek on his chest, swaying softly with James. His hand came to her face after a song ended, raising it as he leaned down to kiss her.

Lily's fingers threaded into James's hair, tugging him closer to her as she returned the kiss eagerly. James's lips were soft but demanding against hers. He nipped at her lower lip and Lily opened her mouth, their tongues meeting deliciously.

After a few minutes of losing herself in James's arms, Lily pulled back, bringing her head down to catch her breath.

"This is all rather overwhelming."

"What?" James asked. She looked up and was briefly distracted, her eyes darting over his face. Up close she could make out faint freckles by his left cheekbone and a thin scar next to James's nose.

"What we're doing," she said. "I'm… I'm not ready for dates James."

"Then it's not a date," he replied immediately. "Think of this as … going to the library."

"Going to the library?" she repeated.

"I've never seen you more engrossed than in the library," he said with a chuckle, bringing one hand up to brush a lock of her hair back. "Besides I plan to take up many hours of your focus."

Lily exhaled sharply.

"Look it's been an hour," he said, his grip loosening on her. "If this isn't what you want just say so—I can take you home."

Hearing James say that snapped Lily into focus.

She didn't want to leave him.

In the past two weeks, she'd experienced a side to James that she barely knew existed. It was like standing in the shade her entire life and the sun finally peeled out to her.

She wanted more.

Lily didn't speak, leaning up and reaching for James's sweater, bringing him down to meet her lips again.

"No," she said, breaking the kiss. "I want this."

James smiled against her lips, eagerly returning her kiss. Lily leaned up into him, wrapping her arms around James's neck, and felt him wrap one hand in her hair, angling her face closer.

James suddenly lifted her legs, wrapping them around his waist. Lily made a sound of surprise as he sat down on the couch, her straddling him.

"That was smooth," she said, smiling at him as he ran his hand along her side. "Got any more tricks up your sleeve Potter?"

He smirked at her, moving closer to her and trailing his lips over her neck. Lily's breath hitched as he sucked gently at her pulse before kissing his way up to her ear and nipping the skin there.

"Just a few more," James purred into her ear. Lily's head spun from the raspy tone of his voice and she wriggled closer to him, running her fingers through his hair. She felt James relax against her, his breath hitching.

"Merlin that feels amazing," James sighed, bringing his lips back to hers. Lily tugged at his hair, ardently returning the kiss. Lily felt James's tongue against hers, a soft moan escaping her lips as she moved her hands to his chest, running them over his abdomen.

She could feel his hard abs through the fabric and heat soared into her.

"It's warm in here," Lily said against his lips, continuing trailing her hands over his chest.

"Is it?" James murmured, breaking the kiss and swiftly tugging his sweater off. "Better?"

Lily's eyes moved down and she dragged her gaze over his body. James Potter had a body that was meant to be worshipped and Lily wanted to bring her lips to every inch of it.

"Not quite," she said, hearing her voice getting duskier. Lily brought her hands to her jumper, pulling it over her shoulders. "Now it is."

"Merlin Lily," he said, his eyes wide as he stared at her.

"I'm not an art piece," she said teasingly, bringing his hands back to her hips.

"Are you sure about that?" he joked, running his warm, massive hands over her waist and bringing them to her bra.

Lily's breath hitched when James's lips moved down her neck, reaching her bra strap. She felt his tug one down with his teeth, his hand coming to the clasp at her back.

"This alright?"

"Yes," she said throatily, arching into him. James popped the clasp open, tugging her bra off and bringing his lips to her breast. Desire pulsed through her as he kissed his way to her nipple, softly sucking on it as his hand came to her other breast, lavishing attention to it.

After a few minutes, she tugged him up, eagerly kissing James.

"You've got so many freckles," he said, breaking the kiss and running his hand over the skin on her sternum.

"Don't remind me," Lily pouted. James smiled at her, kissing her jaw.

"I want to kiss every single one," he replied, trailing back to her chest. Lily was barely able to hold herself together, lust overwhelming her. She reached for James, tugging him down with her.

"That one of your tricks?" he asked, leaning over her on the couch. Lily smiled up at him, bringing her arms around James's neck.

"Sneaky isn't it?" she said, wrapping her legs around his waist. James's eyes darkened and he inhaled shakily, giving her a desperate look.

"Lily," he said in a warning tone. She ignored him, arching up and rubbing herself against him. He was already hard.

"Yes?' she asked, breathlessly. James cursed, looking down at her with an amazed expression. He ran his finger over her moist lips.

"You don't know what you're doing to me," he murmured, bringing himself to kiss her.

"It's still rather toasty," Lily said, breaking the kiss and reaching for the button on her jeans.

"Right," James agreed, rising off her. "It is."

She could hear him taking his pants off and wriggled her jeans off before slinking to him. James pulled her into his arms and Lily contently settled in his muscled arms. There were just two thin layers of fabric separating them and James's fingers were dancing over the lace edge of her underwear.

"Can-"

"Yes," Lily interrupted, bouncing on his lap to get closer to him. James let out a deep laugh.

"You're impatient."

"James," she whined, his fingers trailing over her thighs like fire.

"Yes?"

She huffed, bringing her hand down and running it over his boxers. James stiffened under her and she smirked.

"You're impatient," she teased.

"That I am," James, lowering her to the couch and bringing his hand inside her knickers. Lily bit her lip, James running his fingers over her folds.

"Alright Evans?" he asked, staring at her. She opened her mouth to snarl at him but a moan escaped her lips as James brought his fingers inside her folds, teasing her clit.

"Oh," she breathed, arching into him. Lily's shoulders arched back as he brought a finger inside her.

"You're soaking," he groaned, James's voice deeper than she'd ever heard it before. Lily whimpered under him when James continued playing with her clit. "Lily you have no idea what you're doing to me."

Lily blinked out of her haze, managing to finally bring her hand inside of his boxers, finding James's length. Lily's eyes widened as she ran her hand over his length. It turned out that James's cocky attitude was definitely correlated to something.

"It's still too warm," she said suddenly. James had been kissing her neck but paused, lifting his head to meet her gaze.

"Lily?" he asked cautiously.

"Can we shag?" she asked, staring at him with heavy lust in her gaze. James's mouth opened and he looked completely overwhelmed.

"What?" he asked, voice gruff.

"Please," she repeated, raising her hip into his touch. "Please James."

"Fuck," James groaned, his head coming down. Lily felt his hand move out of her knickers. "Yes— fucking hell of course we can."

She nodded, watching as James expertly tugged her knickers from her body. He removed his boxers as well and Lily openly stared as his dick sprung forth.

"You'll catch flies."

"You're the perfect honey," she answered, coming to her knees and leaning up to kiss James. He wrapped her legs around his waist, lifting her and standing. Lily let out a moan, feeling his cock against her wet core.

James brought her to the carpet, laying Lily down in front of the fire and kneeling between her legs.

"I'm cold," she pouted, reaching up for him. But James ignored her, fire in his eyes as he stared at her body. "James!"

"You're beautiful," he said in an awestruck tone. Lily looked at him curiously, recalling she'd felt the same way about him. He finally brought himself down, kissing her softly before breaking it. "Lily are you sure about this?"

"Yes," she said in confusion.

"Is it… Is it your first time?" he asked, unable to meet her gaze. "I don't want to be too rough."

"No," she said quickly, watching as James's head snapped up and an expression of confusion came on his face.

"But you and Remus never…"

Lily flushed heavily, suddenly aware that James and her ex were best friends and probably discussed these things at one point or another.

"We didn't," she agreed. "I'm still not a virgin."

James looked confused still and she let out a harsh laugh.

"You'd have to be deaf to have not heard about what a whore I am?" she pointed out. James's face wrinkled into disapproval.

"None of those people knew you," he said in a low voice. "I didn't believe any of that crap."

Lily rolled her eyes at his tone.

"Well I'm not," she said again, watching him cautiously.

"Right then," he said before flashing her an easy smile and kissing her again.

"Are you?" she asked, breaking the kiss before giving him a sardonic smile. "I don't want to be too rough."

James chuckled, the sound vibrating from his throat against her skin. He kissed his way down her body, sending a shiver through Lily's back as he nipped at the skin of her hip. Lily's eyes fluttered shut as James parted her legs, bringing his mouth to her pussy.

She moaned deeply when James ran his tongue lavishly at her, lapping at her as his stubble rubbed against her rough.

"Oh James," she cried out, bucking into him when James brought two fingers inside her. He kissed her clit, his tongue darting out over it as he continued curling his fingers inside her. "Yes!"

"You're so sweet," he said against her, his breath hitting Lily's wet folds. She let out a whimper when James's hand came up, toying with her nipple as he continued his ministrations.

"James," she cried, her legs tightening around his head and her back arching up out of her control. She could feel her orgasm building inside, more words escaping her mouth as James lapped at her, suddenly nipping lightly at her clit and sending Lily over the edge. She collapsed back against the carpet, panting for air.

"I want you inside me," she rasped, bringing her shaking legs around James's waist.

"Lily," he groaned when she ran herself over his length. James's hand gripped her hip tightly and he exhaled sharply. He lined himself up, bringing one hand to cradle Lily's face as he leaned down kissing her. She let out a noise of surprise against his lips, feeling James enter her.

"You're so tight," he choked, his hand knotting into her hair. Lily bit back a curse, unraveling under James as he continued feeding himself into her. He was well-endowed, stretching her walls. "Fuck Lily."

She pulled him in for a deeper kiss, rocking her hips against him. Lily felt a prick of soreness, on account of having not had sex since that night in June. But she ignored it, wrapping her legs around James's waist as he changed their angle, pulling out and slowly filling into her again.

"Harder," she begged, her fingers scraping down James's back. James obliged and Lily cried out, him hitting that spot of ecstasy inside of her. "James!"

He continued rhythmically pumping into her, lifting Lily's leg higher and going in deeper. She could feel a second orgasm building inside of her.

'I'm going to cum," James rasped after minutes of it. Lily moaned under him, pulling him down to kiss her, and squeezed her legs around him. She cried out his name, orgasming again and feeling James soon follow her as he tensed inside her. He pulled out of her, rolling off and falling next to Lily.

She gasped for air, hearing James panting next to her.

"That was brilliant," he said eventually, his hand squeezing her own. Lily nodded shakily, her nerves feeling fried. She felt James kiss her forehead and move closer to her before cursing.

"We forgot a contraceptive," he said. Lily swallowed, feeling stickiness between her legs.

"I'm on a muggle contraceptive," she assured him, recalling Marlene's insistence she go on one last year when she'd been dating Remus. James rose next to her and Lily watched him. His body was sculpted, moving fluidly as he reached for a carafe of water on the table, downing water from the mouth of it. Drops fell onto his chest and Lily contemplated rising to lick them off.

He leaned down after a moment, using his wand to vanish the mess between her legs and moving to kiss her.

"Happy New Year's," James said, breaking the kiss. Lily looked at the clock on the mantle, seeing that it was only a few minutes after midnight now. She began to rise but froze, hearing a knock at the door.

"No one knows I'm here," James said, frowning as he reached for his pants and pushed them off.

"Put your shirt on," Lily said, watching James plod over to the door. She snatched the throw off of the couch, bringing it over her body as he tore the door open.

"Hello?" he said.

"This house is private property," a woman's voice said. Lily cursed in her head, wondering if they'd actually trespassed into someone else's home.

"It's my family's home," James said. Lily groaned, seeing that he was still shirtless.

"This is the Potter family's home," the woman protested.

"And I'm James Potter," he returned. The woman was silent before laughing.

"I haven't seen you since you were a boy," she said, peaking around James. Lily flushed seeing an older woman's face and locking eyes with her. "Oh, I suppose you aren't a boy anymore!"

Lily threw her a weak wave and the woman smiled knowingly back.

"Er, who are you?" James asked.

"Bathilda," the woman said, extending a hand to James. "Bathilda Bagshot— I've lived next door for decades. I knew your parents when they moved in! Thought I heard someone screaming here and assumed some teenagers broke in."

Lily's face flushed. She'd definitely screaming when she'd orgasmed the second time.

"Right then," James said with a cough. "Well, it's lovely to see you again and have a grand new year's!"

He shut the door, turning to face Lily with a smug look.

"I suppose I was a bit loud," she admitted, clutching the throw to her chest.

"A bit is an understatement," James noted, Lily throwing her face in her hands.

"That was the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to me," she groaned. James laughed and she heard him walk over to her. He pulled her up, bringing Lily's face from her hands as he looked at her endearingly.

"Happy new year's Lily," he said again before kissing her deeply.

AN: I'm so thrilled many of you are enjoying the holiday updates! I have a few more chapters drafted so I should be able to continue the daily releases for a few more days. Grateful and amazed at all of the thoughtful reviews- some of you have definitely pointed out things in Jily's building relationship that I want to address in the next few chapters. As I'm eager to get this out ASAP, I'll just do one reviewer response for BlondeLuna: Thank you for all of your thoughts in that review- definitely made me smile to read it. And yes, we'll see more of the McKinnon siblings in the coming chapters, albeit not as much as during the holidays.

Next Chapter: Pardon my French (Part 1)

R&R