Page 81 of Christmas Criminal

"Wouldn't it be nice? To have a friend here?"

She blinks, her eyes connecting with mine. "You're my friend."

"Would it be the worst thing in the world to have two?"

She laughs, shaking her head, and leans over to kiss my shoulder. "Yes. Yes, it would."

I know that the tight feeling in my chest has nothing to do with her unwillingness to reconnect with a friend. That it has everything to do with the realization dawning on me that I’d do or suggest just about anything to make Noelle stay.

And I’m not sure it’ll ever be enough.

17

NOELLE

Thursday, December 19th

Nick and I spend the night entangled, taking turns falling asleep and waking the other for sleepy, middle-of-the-night sex that's both lazy and incredibly indulgent. I've learned that running my fingers along his abs is a surefire way to make him growly and handsy with me, and that it takes only about twenty seconds from when I wiggle my ass back into his erection to him reaching into the drawer of the nightstand and fumbling around for a condom.

He wakes up early for his last day of work this year, but before he leaves, he leans down over me and gives me the sort of kiss that leaves me breathless when he finally unhands me and disappears through the door of his bedroom.

And I wander downstairs to start a pot of coffee and sign into work. Christmas is so close that most people aren't working anymore, but I usually hang around in case a client has a question or a request comes through. I'm not reallyworking, but somebody has to man the ship.

So I spend my day wandering Nick's house, staring at the pictures of him and his mom. I connect my phone to his soundbar and play Christmas music even though it's reallynotmy thing, but all of the damn town events have the songs running on repeat in my head. When that doesn't satisfy me, I putThe Grinchon and sink down into his couch, my computer propped on a cushion next to me.

And when he finally gets home, I can't help darting into the entryway to greet him. He drops his bag by the door and immediately lifts me, his arms wrapped around my back and his face buried in my neck.

He walks me into the living room and sits us down on the couch with me on top of him, his hands splaying out across my ribs. "Mm, I could get used to this," he says, as I lean down and kiss him.

I grin. "Me too. It's kind of nice having a whole house to get lost in."

He raises his eyebrows. "Never thought of this as the sort of house you could get lost in." He pauses, and then pushes me to the side with one hand. When he looks at me again, one eyebrow is raised. "Noelle, were you watching Christmas movies?"

My breath catches. "No. It turned on by itself. And I couldn't change the channel. Or turn it off."

He grins, tugging me close to him again. "Noelle, are you turning into a little Christmas criminal?"I press on his chest to remove myself from his lap, but he only holds onto me harder, his grin widening. "Next thing I know, you're going to be dressing up like a little Christmas elf."

I narrow my eyes. "Yeah, you would love that, wouldn't you?"

"As long as it comes with a short little skirt just for me."

I press my finger into his chest. "You. Wish."

He shakes his head. "Nah, I like you the way you are. Grinch and all."

I crinkle my nose. "Stop saying cute things."

His grin grows wider. "Are you ready to go to the tree lighting?"

I huff. "No. Go back to saying cute things."

He slaps my ass. "Go get changed. I promise I'll give you a good dicking after."

I gesture to his body vaguely as I stand. "The dichotomy is so well done."

He snorts, standing from the couch and following me upstairs, where he grabs at my ass and pulls me into his chest and kisses my cheek from behind.

All the little things that make my heart race and face flush.

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