Page 104 of Without Judgment

Ugh. It was one of his conditions for staying here. Separate bedrooms. I didn’t see what the big deal was. Trevor and his girlfriend were staying in the pool house, but Mason had insisted we not share the same room out of respect for my father. “Yes. Same one as last time. You’re here early. How did you get into the house?”

He rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands in the sink. “Trevor was in the driveway when I pulled in. Since you said you were cooking for everyone, I thought I’d come early to help you.”

That was incredibly sweet of him, making me want to blurt out the three words we’d yet to say to one another. I loved him. Completely, totally, and fully. But things had been so good between us for the last few months as we went on dates, got to know one another better, and spent time together, I hadn’t wanted to risk saying it too soon. Since Alabama, he’d shown no signs of panicking, but I knew he was nervous about sitting down at the table with my family and then visiting his over the holidays. It was a lot. Maybe once we were up at the cabin and it was only the two of us, I’d tell him.

“Thank you. I appreciate the help.” Honestly, I was a bit nervous about cooking for so many people, but I was also determined.

I opened up the refrigerator and was about to take out the salad contents to get things chopped up when I felt his arms go around me and his breath in my ear.

“The house looks incredible, and so do you. Merry Christmas Eve, princess.”

The words in his husky tone had my toes curling. “Merry Christmas Eve.” I turned around in his arms, inhaling the scent of him. This time he didn’t disappoint, taking my lips in a deep kiss. He didn’t pull away until my hands made their way up the back of his shirt to feel his skin. I mean, how could a girl help herself when he had such a drool-worthy body?

“That was a better greeting.”

He kissed my forehead before sighing at the sound of my father’s voice coming through the front door. “It’s a promise for after the holidays.”

***

Mason

I’d been nervous about spending Christmas with Avery and her family. Despite knowing all of them, I was now here in a different capacity. As the guy who was dating her yet hadn’t defined it as a relationship. At least not yet. But I intended to change that.

It had been such a long time since I’d spent a holiday with anyone, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Christmas Eve dinner proved casual and full of laughs. I think both Emma and I appreciated how everyone went out of their way to put us at ease. And thankfully, Avery had granted my request for a separate bedroom out of respect for her father, our host.

Now that I lay in the familiar bed, I smiled at how things had changed since the last time I’d slept here. I was in a better place, both mentally and emotionally. These last few months with Avery had proved to me how much more fulfilling life was when you had someone to care about.

God, I loved her. So much that it was almost bursting from me whenever I laid eyes on her. But I intended to keep my promise about going slow. I wanted to respect the fact she was starting her master’s degree program in a few weeks and continue to support her in her goals. One of those included cooking her first Christmas dinner. She’d been adorable while commanding the kitchen. I knew it meant a lot to her to continue this holiday tradition for her family.

Because of her, I was even looking forward to seeing my father and his family in a couple of days. My dad couldn’t have been any happier to find out we’d be visiting. After our stay with him, we’d fly back to Austin and drive up to the cabin. I couldn’t wait to take her there. Ringing in the New Year together and spending a week, just the two of us— I couldn’t imagine anything more perfect.

I glanced up when my door opened slowly and then shook my head at Avery sneaking in with Koda on her heels.

He lay down on the floor by the side of the bed, curling up to go to sleep.

Avery was dressed in ridiculously silly Christmas pajamas, with her hair piled high on top of her head. As usual, she was stunning.

“What are you doing in here?” I whispered.

She shut the door quietly, flipped the lock, and tiptoed over to me.

My cock was already getting hard at the sight of her despite my mind telling me this wouldn’t happen under her father’s roof.

“I just want to cuddle a while. Scoot over.”

She was in the bed before I could say no, not that the word existed when it came to her. Her hands stroked my bare chest while her legs tangled with mine.

I loved the feel of her head on my shoulder. “You shouldn’t be in here.” My words had absolutely no conviction in them.

“You want me to leave?”

My arm came around her, adjusting her to lie more comfortably on my chest. “Not a chance. But no funny business.”

She found this hilarious and grinned up at me. “Don’t worry. I won’t stay long. I have to set my alarm for three in the morning.”

“Why so early?”

“I’m helping Trevor haul in a tree and gifts for Emma in the pool house. His big surprise for the morning.”

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