Page 20 of Mistle-Ho

In addition to having an incurable case of resting bitch face, I’m also terrible at flirting. So bad, that I actually admit the truth of what was behind my suggestion. “I figured you probably sweat a lot at practice.”

Gavin comes back my way, opening my can of soda before setting it on the table. “Actually, we’re still in the off-season, so I’m just in the gym a few days a week. Official practice doesn’t start until after the first of the year.”

Even though my brother also plays professional rugby, I’m not super up on their schedule. I go to his matches, but, generally speaking, sports aren’t my thing, so my attendance is strictly to be supportive. “I assumed you guys practiced year-round.”

Gavin settles onto the couch beside me, angling his body into the corner by the arm. “We follow a pretty strict schedule. Playing Rugby is intense, and without a break for our bodies to recover, the risk of injuries would be astronomical.”

Leaning back, he swings one leg over my head, displaying a flexibility I wouldn’t have thought possible for someone of his size. “Come here.” Gavin doesn’t wait for me to comply, but reaches out and grabs me, hauling my body back until I rest between his thick thighs, my back to his chest. His arms band around my middle, forearms crossing at the center of my chest so one big hand can cup each breast, supporting their weight better than any bra ever could.

His head tips forward so his face is in my line of sight. “See?” Gavin smirks. “I told you it would be fine.”

10

Behaving’s No Fun

Gavin

IT TAKES ME a few seconds to get my bearings when I open my eyes, but the second the daylight peeking in from the wrong angle registers, I jerk upright.

Fuck me.

I accidentally spent the whole night at Al’s. And not just at her apartment.

In her fucking bed.

Last night, after we watched the first movie on her couch, she started looking sleepy. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to move to her bed so she could be more comfortable and doze throughWhite Christmasif she wanted to. I never expected to fall asleep myself.

Not once have I spent the night with a woman. Never so much as drifted off. I didn’t run out the door the second the deed was done, but I always went home.

Only last night, there were technically no deeds done. No reason to rush myself from the comfort of Al’s bed. So is it really so bad that I stayed?

Yes. Yes, it is.

Alexis stirs beside me, pulling in a deep breath before letting it out on a yawn as she rolls my way. Her eyes go wide, like she forgot I was here.

That makes two of us.

“Morning.” I reach out to smooth back her hair, letting my fingers linger over the pillow-creased skin of her cheek. “Sleep well?”

Alexis gives me a sheepish nod, lower lip pinching between her teeth as her eyes drift down my naked upper half. I don’t have to look hard to see the heat flare in her gaze, but we’re supposed to be at her parents’ house in under an hour, and, after fucking up in every way possible, the least I can do is show up on time.

“I need to go home and shower and get changed for Christmas breakfast.”

Alexis drapes one arm across her eyes. “Shit. What time is it?” She sits up, grabbing her cell phone beside the bed. Her brows pinch together as she holds it up, scanning the attached cord. “Did you plug my phone in?”

I force my feet to the floor, knowing if I linger too long, I might try to convince myself I don’t need to leave. “You left it out on the coffee table, so I brought it in after you fell asleep.”

Alexis unplugs it as she slides off the mattress, giving me an odd look. “Thank you.”

I shrug, because it’s genuinely not a big deal. “Not a problem.” I give her a little smile. “I wish I’d thought to put my T-shirt in the washer. You think your neighbors will notice me sneaking out shirtless?”

Again, her eyes drag down my body. “You’re hard to miss.” Her eyes widen, jumping to mine as she lifts a finger. “Hang on.” She disappears into the closet, coming back with the green shirt I wore to the Christmas party. “Here.”

She passes it off and I tug it over my head, offering a grateful smile. “Perfect.”

Alexis glances at her phone again, frowning at the time flashed across the screen. “We have to be at my parents’ house in forty-five minutes.”

I jerk my chin toward her bathroom. “You start getting ready. I’ll let myself out.” I know Alexis likes to look nice, and while she’s gorgeous bare faced in sweatpants and a T-shirt, I know she wouldn’t want to show up anywhere looking like this.

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