Page 57 of Starts With a Bang

I snorted but didn’t bother correcting him. Nana would stop at nothing to get her way. It was no wonder she and Sven had bonded immediately. Like recognized like. I rested my head against the rim of the tub and closed my eyes, willing to let Sven take absolute control of our bathtub. “I’m at your mercy, Captain.”

A companionable silence washed over the bathroom, broken only by an infrequent ripple of water as one of us shifted in the tub. I lost track of time and had nearly fallen asleep when Sven bolted upright. I pried one eye open and studied him. He tilted his head back and sniffed the air.

“Smell that?”

I blinked and willed my brain to wake from its post-climax slumber. I sniffed the air, too, and registered one of my favorite aromas from my childhood. Tomatoes, garlic, and basil. A wicked smile spread across my face as I studied Sven’s excited expression.Well played, Nana.

“Dom, what is that divine aroma?” As if on cue, Sven’s stomach growled loudly.

Other than snagging a few cookies for quality control, we hadn’t eaten since breakfast. A quick glance up at the skylight revealed a darkening sky. It was almost dinnertime. I sat up and wrapped my arms around Sven’s waist. I laid a trail of kisses across his shoulder and up his neck, stopping at his delectable ear.

“You’re in for a real treat,” I whispered.

Sven turned his head and met his gaze. “Beyond what we experienced in here?”

I pursed my mouth and pretended to consider the question. “Equal value but completely different categories. One fed our soul while the other will nourish our bodies. Nana is making her famous chicken Parmesan. It smells like there’s about thirty minutes left to dinner. Mom will have set up a charcuterie board filled with dozens of snacks to tide everyone over.”

Sven sniffed the air again. “A life-affirming day.”

Maybe I should’ve felt insulted when Sven launched himself out of the water like a magnificent dolphin, but I sat back and enjoyed the view of his slick body. He’d nearly toweled himself dry before I followed his lead but at a slower pace. That bath had gone a long way to ease the ache of bottoming for the first time, but I wouldn’t be sprinting toward anything. Sven looked over his shoulder when he reached the door and froze.

“Are you hurting?”

I shook my head. “I’m just a little tender.”

He worried his bottom lip between his teeth, and I dropped my towel on the floor and strolled toward him, dripping water in my wake. Snagging him by the towel around his waist, I pulled Sven into my arms. I kissed his mouth until he released his lip and kissed me back. I chased thoughts of hunger and worry from his mind, leaving him panting softly when we parted.

Cupping his face, I said, “This minor discomfort is a beautiful reminder of how it felt when you slid inside me for the first time. No regrets.”

Sven exhaled a relieved sigh and left my ass in the bathroom to fend for myself. “I’m going to see if my favorite Nana needs help with dinner.”

He’d already dressed and left the room before I dried off and cleaned the mess I’d made on the floor. Chuckling, I got ready for the evening. I was thankful to have a few minutes to myself to process the momentous events of the day. I wasn’t sure when Christian would want to talk to me, but I figured sooner was better if we had any hope of resuscitating our relationship and salvaging the holiday vacation. We’d never go back to how things were before Emerson Baker entered our lives, but we could forge a new path if both of us were willing. Christian indicated he was ready to put in the work. I had to understand his betrayal, and that required an uninterrupted and uncomfortable conversation I hadn’t been willing to entertain until now.

My cousin was nowhere in sight when I rejoined my family in the great room. As promised, Sven was in the kitchen with Nana. She held up a spoon as he leaned forward to sample her special marinara. Sven’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he moaned loudly. It reminded me of some of our more intimate moments, and I wriggled on the couch. The subtle movement caused a slight sting in my ass, so I sat still. Sven dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around Nana’s waist.

“Run away with me,” Sven pleaded.

“Christ, not again,” I called out. I hadn’t meant to joke about Emerson leaving me for Christian, but the words were out before I processed the thought.

The world screeched to a sudden halt, and all eyes swiveled toward me. It was probably a good thing Christian wasn’t there to overhear my comment. Janet slapped a hand over her mouth,but I couldn’t tell if it was to stifle a laugh or a gasp. Dad blinked owlishly from the opposite side of the massive U-shaped couch, his book dangling from one hand. Mom narrowed her eyes as if that could help her read my thoughts. Sven popped up like a cork, and his mouth couldn’t seem to decide if it wanted to stay open or shut. I shrugged and reached for the television remote.

“He has jokes.” Of course, Nana was the first to recover from shock.

And the world rushed back into motion again. Dad went back to reading his book. Janet, Mom, Nana, and Sven worked on dinner. I foundDie Hard.

“And now it’s Christmas,” I said to no one in particular.

But the comment triggered a debate that had become as classic as the movie. WasDie Harda Christmas movie, or was it a movie that took place at Christmastime? I ignored the debate and enjoyed the movie since I’d already declared my stance. I picked up enough of the conversation to know that the verdict was split down the middle between the two camps. Dad, Janet, and Mom were adamant thatDie Hardwas not a Christmas movie. Sven and Nana agreed with me. Three versus three.

“Hung jury,” I declared.

Another round of debates ensued, each one making another pitch, only louder. The noise prompted Christian to join us with a puzzled expression on his face as he tried to pick up on the various threads of conversation. Then he noticed what I’d put on the television.

“And now it’s Christmas,” my cousin said.

A chorus of cheers and boos filled the house. I held up a fist, and Christian bumped it as he passed. He plopped down on the couch and curled a leg under him. As hard as I tried to watch the movie, my gaze kept wandering back to the kitchen, where Sven seemed so at home with my family.

“Dom,” Christian said. “Think we could have that talk now?”

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