Page 37 of Celebrating the Season

My heart stuttered at the tender note in his voice. I wanted to believe so badly that he meant it in the way I needed him to, that he wanted more than a fling. But doubt crept in, whispering that someone like Ellery could never truly want someone like me.

I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his comforting scent. “You’re not so bad yourself, old man.”

Ellery’s chest rumbled with laughter. He kissed the top of my head, arms wrapping around me. We lay there for a few moments, holding each other.

I reluctantly pulled away from Ellery’s warmth, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “Alright, time to face the day. And by ‘face the day,’ I mean stumble to the bathroom and try not to trip over my own feet.”

Ellery chuckled, his voice still husky with sleep. “Careful there, champ. Don’t want to add any more bruises to that pretty skin of yours.”

My cheeks flushed as I remembered the marks he’d left on my body this week. “I don’t mind the bruises you’ve left.”

His eyes darkened. “No?”

I shook my head. “Not even a little bit.”

He caressed my cheek. “Good. Because I like that you can take what I dish out.”

After another lingering kiss, we finally got out of bed. We padded across the cool wooden floor, our bare feet making soft thumping sounds. I couldn’t help but sneak glances at Ellery’s muscled form, barely contained by his thin pajama pants. God, he was gorgeous.

After doing our business in the bathroom—I managed not to combust from the sheer domesticity of brushing our teeth side by side—we made our way downstairs to the living room. I came to a full stop as soon as I saw it.

Everything was decked out in full Christmas splendor. Garlands draped over every surface, twinkling lights wound around the banister, and we even had a little pine tree in the corner of the room, lights and garlands and all. It was like stepping into a Hallmark movie.

“When did you do this?” I asked when I had found my voice again.

“Yesterday, after you went to bed. I had Christmas decorations stashed somewhere and wanted to make it look festive. It’s been a while since I’ve had anyone to celebrate with.”

My heart did a little flip at that. “It looks amazing.”

Ellery took it all in with a critical eye. “Nah, it looks like a bunch of elves threw up in here. Decorating was never my strong suit, but it’s the effort that counts, right?”

It sure was.

I watched, mesmerized, as Ellery’s hands expertly arranged kindling and logs, then started the fire. He was so fucking competent at everything. Was there anything this man couldn’t do?

Well, other than decorating because I had to agree that was not his talent, though I appreciated him trying.

As the fire crackled to life, casting a warm glow across the room, I felt a sudden wave of nervousness wash over me. It was time for the gift exchange, and I was terrified Ellery would hate what I’d made for him.

With trembling hands, I grabbed my iPad. “So, uh, I made you something. I couldn’t have it printed and framed on time, but I also wasn’t sure if you’d like it. If you do, I’ll have it printed and framed for you. It’s not what I usually draw, but…” I shrugged as I handed him the iPad. “I hope you like it?”

Ellery’s eyes widened as he took in the detailed drawing I’d made of his cabin in the snow. I’d tried to capture the magic of that morning after the snowstorm and how the sun had made everything look so cozy, beautiful, and pristine. Smoke drifted from the chimney, and to me, it looked like paradise.

“Boaz,” he said hoarsely, tracing a finger over the lines. “This is…incredible. You caught every detail perfectly. It’s like I can feel the cold of the snow and the coziness of my cabin.”

I fidgeted with my fingers. “You really like it? I wasn’t able to spend as much time on it as I would’ve liked because I wanted to keep it a surprise for you and?—”

Ellery cut me off, pulling me into a fierce kiss that left me breathless. When he pulled back, his eyes were shining with genuine appreciation. “It’s perfect,” he said softly. “Thank you.”

In that moment, looking into Ellery’s eyes, I felt a surge of emotion so strong it almost knocked me off my feet. Panic rose in my chest. I wasn’t merely crushing on Ellery. I was falling in love with him.

Ellery’s lips quirked into a smile, and he reached behind the couch, pulling out a small, intricately wrapped package. “My turn,” he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

I tore into the wrapping paper like an overexcited kid, my ADHD brain buzzing with curiosity. As the last of the paper fell away, I gasped. In my hands was a set of exquisitely carved wooden figurines—a family of squirrels.

“Holy shit, Ellery…” I turned one of the figurines over in my palm. The detail was incredible. I could see individual strands of fur, the texture of their bushy tails, and even tiny acorns clutched in their paws. “You made these for me?”

Ellery nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. “You talked about your squirrel brain, so I wanted to make you something to remember how beautiful and precious squirrels can be…just like you.”

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