Page 155 of Suck My Puck

I grin up at him. “Sounds delicious.”

He grabs the ingredients from the fridge while I chop up the potatoes he just washed.

“Oh! I almost forgot.” I run over to the coffee table, grab Braden’s stocking, and hand it to him.

He tilts his head at me. “I told you that you didn’t have to get me anything for my stocking.”

I bite my lip. “I think you’ll like this.”

When he pulls out the hot pink lace thong, see-through pink bra, dildo, vibrator, and butt plug, his eyes nearly pop out of his head.

“My gift to you is wearing that while you use my toys on me.”

He puts the stocking down and pulls me against him, kissing me hard. “Best Christmas surprise ever,” he rasps.

I giggle. “Let’s get back to cooking.”

A half-hour later, the lamb stew is simmering on the stovetop. I breathe in the yummy aroma of seared meat, roasted veggies, and herbs wafting through the kitchen.

I glance over at Maizie snoozing on her dog bed on the floor between the Christmas tree and the roaring fireplace. I watch the snow fall outside the window. I watch Braden as he opens up a bottle of red wine he set aside for today.

My heart swells in my chest.

I feel him slide his hands around my waist, hugging me from behind. I close my eyes, and smile, savoring this moment. I want to remember this forever, when everything in the world was perfect and right.

I look up at Braden. He flashes a warmsmile and my heart slingshots around my chest at just how much I adore this man. At how much I love him.

“Best Christmas ever,” I whisper.

Braden kisses the side of my neck. “Exactly how I feel too, pretty girl.”

I wake to the sound of Braden’s phone ringing.

I lean up on the couch and squint in the darkness. We fell asleep watching Christmas movies this afternoon and now it’s nighttime. The apartment is dark except for the white sparkly lights from the Christmas tree.

Braden is lying on the couch next to me. He starts to stir, then groans. “Damn. That stew knocked me out cold.”

I sit up and yawn. “Was it the stew or the red wine?”

He chuckles. “Both.”

He swipes his phone from the arm of the couch.

“Hello?” he says in a rough voice.

Maizie yawns from her sleeping spot at the end of the couch. I reach over and give her a tummy rub.

“Are you serious?” Braden shoots up.

I turn around to him and take in the alert look on his face.

“You’re certain?” After a second, he starts to smile. “Absolutely…Yes, that works for me…Thank you so much…Merry Christmas to you too.”

He hangs up and looks at me. “That was the patient representative from the bone marrow donation team. My test results came back all clear. I can donate bone marrow to Lucas. They gave me a surgery date. January first.”

I jump over to Braden and hug him. “Oh my god! Braden, that’s thebest news ever!”

He hugs his arms around me tight. “I can’t believe it.”

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