I leave her lips, kiss her nose, and then turn onto my back, bringing her with me. “Are you okay?”
“Um, well, considering you’re still in me, yes.” She leans down and kisses my neck. “I’m kind of hungry,” she says as her stomach lets out a big growl. “I didn’t eat dinner.”
“Okay,” I say, hugging her even closer. “Let’s get you fed.” I slip out of her and roll off the bed. There’s a hint of pink on my sheets, and my eyes just stare at it.
“Sorry about that,” she says shyly. “I’ll wash the sheets now.” She gets up and leans down, trying to take the sheets off as my hand comes out and stops her from doing anything.
“Leave them,” I say as she stands back up. “Go get in the bath. I’ll bring you something to eat.” Pecking her lips, I leave the room. I grab a couple of things from our dinner I was going to take with me on the road: turkey, stuffing, some mashed potatoes with gravy. I fix the plate, putting it in the microwave and go in search of her. I walk into the bathroom as she is just getting into the tub. “It’s in the microwave, but I don’t know if you can eat turkey and stuff in the tub.” I laugh as I see her sit down as she goes down to her neck, the water a color pink. “What’s in the water?”
“A bath bomb,” she says as she lays her head back against the wall behind her. “Want to come in with me?” She opens her one eye, looking at me. I step into the tub and wince at the hot water. “I like really hot baths.”
“This isn’t hot, it’s scalding,” I say as I crotch down and go in slowly. My legs go around her body. “This is why I never take a bath. I can’t even fit in here,” I say as I see my knees come up from the water. “What did your family say when you told them you were leaving?”
She rubs my chin. “They were sad because it’s my first Christmas not there.” She smiles at me, no doubt in her eyes. “But”—she shrugs—“they knew I had to go.”
“I’m not going to be sorry you’re here and not there.” I shake my head as I grab her foot and start massaging it. “What happened tonight is the best gift that someone has ever given me. I’m a selfish bastard and I wanted you here.”
She stands up, the lingering pink water dripping off of her. She steps out of the tub, grabbing one of the hanging white robes that is hanging near the shower. Something that she added over time.
“Go eat,” I say as I get out of the tub. “I need to wash off this pink shit.”
She laughs as she comes to me and gets on her tippy toes, kissing me under my jaw. “Okay.” She walks out as I start the shower. By the time I finally finish, I find her washing her plate and putting it in the dishwasher. “What time are we leaving in the morning?” she asks as she leans against the counter.
“Five a.m., so we can make it there just before lunch,” I say as she closes the lights off and we make it back to the bedroom. “I can’t believe you’re really here,” I say as she slides her robe off and gets in the bed, grabbing the covers that are at the end of the bed. I get in next to her, wrapping my arms around her. “Merry Christmas, angel.” I kiss her head as she lies in my arms and falls fast asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Allison
I hear the beeping coming from his side of the bed and I groan out. I open one eye, seeing it’s still dark outside. “Shut it off,” I say, burying myself deeper in the covers.
“It’s four forty-five.” He kisses my neck from behind me where he holds me in his arms. “Are you okay?” he asks quietly.
“I’m a little sore,” I tell him the truth. “It’s not like a bad pain.” I turn in his arms, tucking my arms to my chest. “Kind of like throbbing.”
“We should have waited,” he says, bringing me closer to him as the alarm rings again. “We need to go.” He turns and shuts the noise off.
I roll to my side of the bed, getting up, and walking to the bathroom. I stand in front of the mirror and look at myself. Do I look different? No. I turn sideways. Can you tell that I had sex last night? Nope.
“What are you doing?” Max asks from his side of the sink as he wets his toothbrush.
“I’m checking to see if I look different now that I’ve had sex.” I grab my own toothbrush. “Vivi said you can tell when someone has sex,” I say, putting the toothbrush in my mouth, and talking while the toothbrush sticks to one side. “I have to send her a picture and see if she spots the difference,” I say in between brushing and spitting. Max goes to his closet, coming back out wearing jeans and a T-shirt while I stand here in yoga pants and one of his hoodies I saw on his chair.