Page 83 of Juliet & Her Romeos

I study Swan’s sleeping face as I have so many times before: his long lashes that fan onto his cheekbones.

I turn to kiss his eyelid, then his dark eyebrow, before tracing down his jaw.

“Happy Christmas,” I whisper.

Swan tightens his arm around me, as his eyes slowly open.

“Happy Christmas,” he replies, sleepily.

He sounds lazily contented in a way that he rarely does.

It must be later than five a.m., but no one’s screaming at us that we’re late. We’re not rushing to pull on our uniforms ready for an oatmeal breakfast followed by class.

Instead, we’re sprawled in bed under blankets that I never want to give up, waiting for pancakes with syrup.

Because it’s Christmas.

My heart feels like it’s overflowing.

Swan kisses me like he understands exactly what I’m thinking.

“We’re like ordinary people now.” Swan sounds so fucking happy. “Look at us lying around. How can I make this better for you? It already feels like a fairy tale.”

I scrunch up my nose. “I’ve missed not having a Christmas tree. They used to cut down the tallest and best fir tree at the Cinders ranch and put it up in the foyer. Everyone helped with decorating it, including the dancers. It was one of the happiest times for everybody.”

Swan shoves the blankets off us and sits up. “I’ll look around this mansion. I’m sure that there’s a tree somewhere that I can steal.”

Startled, I sit up as well, yanking Swan back down. He lands on top of me. Our noses are touching.

“Don’t steal shit from the Romeos,” I say, quickly. “Do you want Amby to think that you’re a thief?”

Swan shrugs. “I am a thief.”

“That’s not the point.”

“A good thief.”

“Shut up.”

“An excellent thief.”

“I said—”

“I bet that I could steal an entire decorated tree without him even—”

I steal a kiss to stop Swan speaking, which also feels fair.

I can be a kiss thief.

Swan smiles into the kiss like he’s been the one to steal it from me. Then he deepens the kiss, humping against me.

I shiver.

Breathless, Swan finally pulls back but only to ask, “Amby hasn’t given us any orders, right?”

I shake my head.

“I’d like to see him try.”

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