Page 39 of Celebrating the Season

We settled into our seats, the scents of cinnamon and butter filling the air. I took a bite of the French toast and moaned. “Holy shit, you really are a wonderful cook.”

He looked pleased. “Thank you. It’s useful skill for impressing cute guys.”

“Is that what you’re doing? Trying to impress me?”

“Is it working?” Ellery asked, his voice low and teasing.

I laughed, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. “It’ll take more than French toast to win me over, mister.”

“Challenge accepted,” Ellery said with a wink, and my stomach did a series of somersaults.

After breakfast, Ellery suggested we move to the living room to play board games. He put on Christmas music and we played checkers for a bit, then Monopoly—though that was not as much fun with two people—and Battleship.

He won every single time, but it didn’t bother me at all. I’d never been good at board games. I didn’t have the patience to work out a strategy. I did whatever felt good in the moment, which made me rely on pure luck—not the best strategy. But I still had fun.

Lunch was a classic club sandwich, and I devoured it. Being with Ellery and eating all his amazing food made me realize how unhealthy my eating habits had become. I already felt stronger after a few days of better eating. Funny what a difference that could make.

After lunch, Ellery suggested we watch a Christmas movie.

“That sounds perfect,” I said. “What’s on the lineup? Please tell me it’s not Hallmark movies. I need copious amounts of alcohol to deal with that much cheese.”

Ellery chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that made my insides warm. “No Hallmark, I promise. I was thinking we’d start withDie Hard.”

I gasped in mock outrage. “Are you one of those ‘Die Hardis a Christmas movie’ people? I can’t believe it!”

“It takes place on Christmas Eve. There’s a Christmas party. Ergo, Christmas movie.”

I shook my head, laughing. “You’re ridiculous. I love it.”

We settled on the couch, and Ellery pulled a soft, fluffy blanket over us. Without hesitation, I snuggled against his side, relishing the warmth of his body and the subtle scent of pine and woodsmoke that seemed to cling to him.

As John McClane landed in LA and got off the plane, I was only half-watching the screen. My mind was too busy cataloging every point of contact between Ellery and me—the solid press of his thigh against mine, the weight of his arm draped across my shoulders, the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

It felt so right to be with him, so easy and natural. But even as warmth bloomed in my chest, a nagging doubt crept in. What if this was just a holiday fling for Ellery? What if, tomorrow or the day after, he decided this had been fun but nothing more?

I tried to push the thoughts away, focusing instead on the present moment. On the way Ellery’s fingers absently traced patterns on my arm. On the rumble of laughter I felt vibrate through his chest at the movie’s one-liners.

“You okay?” Ellery’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “You’re quiet.”

I tilted my head to look up at him, struck again by how handsome he was. “Yeah, I’m good. Just…thinking.”

“Dangerous pastime.”

“I know, right?” I forced a laugh. “My brain never shuts up. It’s exhausting sometimes.”

Ellery’s expression softened. He reached up, brushing a stray curl from my forehead. “Want to talk about it?”

I hesitated, torn between my instinct to deflect with humor and the unexpected urge to bare my soul to this man. “I really like this. Being here with you. I don’t want it to end.”

The tenderness in Ellery’s eyes made my heart skip. Before I could overthink it, I leaned up and pressed my lips to his. It was soft at first, tentative, but as Ellery responded, pulling me closer, the kiss deepened. His tongue teased along my bottom lip and I opened for him eagerly, a small moan escaping me.

My hands found their way into his hair, fingers tangling in the soft strands as our mouths moved together. I shifted, straddling his lap without breaking the kiss.

“Boaz,” Ellery breathed against my lips, his hands running down my sides to grip my hips. “You are so beautiful, boy. So goddamn gorgeous. You take my breath away.”

I flushed at the compliment, grinding against him. “You’re not so bad yourself, handsome.”

His lips trailed along my jaw, down to my neck, where he sucked at my pulse point. I tilted my head, giving him better access as pleasure sparked through me.

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