Page 36 of Celebrating the Season

I focused on the squirrel taking shape beneath my hands, trying to lose myself in the familiar motions. But my mind kept circling back to Boaz, to the warmth that spread through me when he smiled, to the way his laughter seemed to chase away the shadows of my past.

I stole another glance. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his bottom lip caught between his teeth as he worked on his iPad. The soft glow of the screen illuminated his face, highlighting the curve of his cheekbones and the warmth in his brown eyes.

It was comfortable, peaceful in a way I hadn’t experienced in years. The lines of his face were relaxed, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. In that moment, I felt a surge of emotion so strong it nearly took my breath away.

I wanted this. Not just for now, while we were trapped by the storm, but always.

As if sensing my gaze, Boaz looked up, his eyes meeting mine. “Everything okay?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. How could I explain the depth of what I was feeling? How could I tell him that in a few short days, he’d managed to crack open the walls I’d built around my heart?

Instead, I simply said, “Yeah. Everything’s perfect.”

And in that moment, with Boaz’s warm smile lighting up the room, it truly was.

12

BOAZ

The first thing I noticed as I drifted into consciousness was the solid warmth pressed against my back. Ellery’s arm draped over my waist, his steady breath tickling my neck. I blinked, taking in the cozy atmosphere—the soft flannel sheets, the faint scents of a wood fire and pine, the quiet stillness of the morning.

My heart swelled as I snuggled back against Ellery’s broad chest. This felt so right, so perfect. I’d never woken up feeling so safe and content. Part of me wanted to stay in this moment forever, basking in Ellery’s warmth.

But my restless mind was already kicking into gear, thoughts racing. What time was it? Should I get up and make coffee for him? Oh wait, it was Christmas morning. We hadn’t made any specific plans, but Ellery had told me we’d make it a day to remember.

I’d made him a gift. God, I hoped he liked it. I’d worked hard on it and was quite happy with the result.

Did he have a gift for me? I shouldn’t expect anything. He hadn’t been out on his own to buy anything, and maybe he hadn’t thought of making something himself. Honestly, if he made me pancakes and fucked me real good, I’d be the happiest man on the planet.

I must’ve shifted or made a noise because Ellery stirred behind me. His arm tightened around my waist as he pressed a kiss to my shoulder.

“Mornin’, sweetheart,” he rumbled, voice rough with sleep. “Merry Christmas.”

I rolled over to face him, drinking in the sight of his tousled gray hair and beard. Those blue eyes crinkled as he smiled at me.

“Merry Christmas to you too,” I replied, unable to keep the grin off my face. “Sleep okay?”

“Mmm, better than okay.” Ellery cupped my cheek, thumb stroking my skin. “Waking up next to you is even better though.”

My heart did a backflip. Before I could overthink it, I leaned in and kissed him. Ellery responded, lips moving languidly against mine. His beard tickled my chin as he deepened the kiss, tongue teasing mine.

When we parted, both a little breathless, Ellery chuckled. “Your hair’s a mess,” he said, running his fingers through my curls. “Like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket.”

“Hey, not all of us can wake up looking like rugged lumberjack models.” I poked his chest. “It’s really not fair how sexy your bedhead is.”

“You think I look sexy right now?”

“Uh, duh. Have you seen yourself? I mean, you always look good, but there’s something about you all soft and sleepy that’s really hot.”

Ellery’s low laugh sent shivers down my spine. “Is that so?” His hand slid down to grip my hip, tugging me closer. “What if I told you that you look pretty damn sexy yourself right now?”

My breath caught as desire pooled in my belly. I wanted nothing more than to climb on top of him and pick up where we’d left off last night. “Well, duh, I always look sexy. It’s a curse, really.”

Ellery snorted, giving my ass a playful swat. “And so humble too.”

I yelped, swatting his chest in retaliation. “Hey, you started it with the sexy talk!”

“Guilty as charged.” Ellery’s eyes softened as he brushed a curl from my forehead. “But I meant it. You’re gorgeous, boy.”

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