“Truth lends verisimilitude to fiction.” I grin at him as I wiggle my fingers toward the coffeepot. “Bring me more coffee, please?”
“Only if you take out the part about my dick.”
My lips turn down in an exaggerated frown. “Don’t be selfish.”
“It’smydick,” he says, plucking the pot from the warmer with a wicked grin. “And I don’t think I’ve been the least bit selfish with it.”
I sigh, skin heating as I remember how not-selfish he was with every inch of his sexy-as-hell body last night.
“I can arrange to be equally unselfish this morning.” He gives the liquid in the pot a swirl. “Assuming you play your cards right.”
“In that case, your dick shall remain our closely guarded secret.” I highlight the last paragraph and hit delete. “The offensive sentence is gone. Meet you in bed in ten seconds?”
“Five, baby.” He sets the pot down and makes a break for his bedroom, slapping me on the bottom on the way by. “Get that fine ass in gear.”
I do, and his generosity is as sexy and blissful as ever.
Afterward, I bring us both fresh coffee in bed and we snuggle under the covers to make plans for Thanksgiving at my dad’s place and Christmas in the Rockies and all the adventures we can’t wait to have together—me and this man who is my partner, my true love, my best friend, my Nuclear Fab-Gasm giver, and everything in between.
CHAPTER 25
Jack
Four Months Later…
“I’m sorry, Jack. I didn’t mean to leave you behind on the last run. I guess I just didn’t realize I was built for speed.”
Standing inside Breckenridge Ski and Board Rental, Ellie grins as she steps back into her regular snow boots, victory written all over her pink-cheeked face.
She’s wearing a pair of blissfully tight white ski pants and a fitted jacket that hugs every curve, and when she bends over to tie her boots, I let my eyes drift to the twin snow globes of her perfect ass.
“Built for speedandfor that outfit,” I say. “Frankly, I’m glad Ifell behind. I had an amazing time watching your ass swish down the slope. And feel free to stay in that position for as long as possible. Or we can head back out…”
Laughing, she stands up and turns around, admonishing me with a faux-warning glare. “Enough winter sports for one day, Holt. Take me back to the cabin and thaw me out, or you’ll be stuck with a popsicle for Christmas.”
“But that works out perfectly. I was just telling Santa all I really want for Christmas is to lick your—”
“Jack Edward Holt, there arechildrenaround!”
“You know you love me,” I whisper. “Dirty jokes and all.” I press a family-friendly kiss to her lips, then we hop on the shuttle back to our home away from home—a charming A-frame cabin nestled in the woods outside town, our very own winter wonderland.
Since Ellie was the conquering hero of the slopes today, I leave her to warm up in front of the fireplace with a glass of Malbec while I cook Christmas Eve dinner—and by “cook,” I mean warm up the roast turkey and fixings we picked up at Whole Foods on the drive from the airport.
After we’ve stuffed ourselves silly, I make hot chocolate with Bailey’s and we settle in on the couch to stare at the crackling flames, the perfect wind-down to another perfect day with Ellie.
Ellie…
I look at her now, curled up in yoga pants and a blue fleece at the end of the couch, her lips pursed as she blows on her hot chocolate, the fire popping, and I’m nearly overcome with gratitude. Everything I’ve endured in my life—the successes and failures, the hardships as well as the triumphs—it was all worth it. Because it all led me right here. To the woman I love. The woman I’m meant to honor and cherish and adore for the rest of my life.
I’ve never been more certain of that than right now.
“Be right back, baby.” Swallowing the knot of emotion in my throat, I slide off the couch and duck out before she catches me getting misty-eyed. In the kitchen, I dig into the back of the pantry, unearthing the gift from where I so carefully hid it.
“Merry Christmas, El.” Back in the living room, I present it with a flourish, loving the way she laughs in response.
“A bag of Cheetos?” She shakes her head with a grin. “Aw, baby, you shouldn’t have. You’re too good to me.”
“Never. I’m just good enough. And it reminds me of the last Christmas we spent together, hiding out in your dad’s basement.”