Page 118 of Deck the Fire Halls

I laughed some more, then took one of my gifts from his pile. “Here. Open this.”

He looked at it.

“I wrap gifts pretty much the same way I fold a fitted sheet.”

He laughed and tore into it. He took one look at it. “You did not.”

“I did.”

He held up the pajama set. It was the same flamingo design, same brand, but these were mostly navy with the flamingos on the pockets and hems. He hugged them, laughing. “We’re going to match.”

We totally were.

And I fucking loved it.

The next one was much smaller and just as badly wrapped. “Okay, this one I might need to explain,” I said as he opened it.

He took out the gift card box and opened it. Of course he wasn’t familiar with the brand or the store. He looked at me. “Uh... that’s a lot of money.”

“It’s for a proper riding jacket,” I explained. “You need to choose one and make sure it fits properly, but if you want to ride on my bike with me, I thought it was a good idea to get you kitted out.”

He held it and nodded. “It’s perfect. And a lot more than I spent on you. Now I feel bad.”

I took his hand. “It’s not about the money. It’s about your safety.”

He nodded again. “Thank you. I love it. I love it all.”He leaned over and kissed me softly. “I can’t believe we bought each other the same pajamas. Well, the same but different.”

I scrambled out of bed and pulled on my new flamingo pajama bottoms. “Perfect fit.”

He was pouting. “I think I preferred the naked option.”

I slipped my arms through the robe and tied it off. “Perfect.”

He held his hand out to me. “You have one more.”

Oh, right. The one on the tree.

I took his hand and he led me to the tree. “Now, before you get this, you should know that I ordered it before the house fire, back when your visits were at irregular times. That being said, it probably makes more sense that you have it now. I just wanted you to know that I wanted you to have this before what happened.”

Okaaaay.

I looked at the Christmas tree, not sure what I was supposed to be looking for. An envelope? A small, gift-wrapped box?

And then I saw it.

It was a house key. A front door key. To his house.

It was also red with a green ribbon tied to it, and it hung like all the ornaments. I reached out slowly and gently took it off the tree. My blood pumping in my ears.

For all we’d done in bed, for all we’d declared to each other, this somehow felt bigger.

“You’re welcome here, at any time,” he murmured. “You don’t need to ask, you don’t need to knock. And now I don’t need to leave my door unlocked.”

I clutched it in my hand, and kissed his lips, soft and sweet. “Thank you, Rob.”

“You’re so very welcome, Soren. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Robinson.”

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