Page 18 of The Stunt
I know how fast word can spread, even when it’s made up. Normally, I get annoyed by it. But for some reason, that particular rumor makes me feel warm and excited. I know this started out fake, but the feelings I’m developing for Bella are very real to me. And thinking of a future where I am waking up beside her every day doesn’t sound bad at all.
I pull her along the bed until we’re both settled back under the covers. “Well, we should definitely practice that by staying in my bed all day long,” I tell her, dropping my lips to her neck. I have the day off today and she doesn’t have rehearsal for the halftime performance until this evening.
“I wish,” she groans. “Twyla wants us to go out today. She set up for some photographers to follow us while we go—” she pauses, a look of worry clouding her features.
“Go what?” I ask.
“She wants us to get a Christmas tree.”
“Okayyyyyyyy,” I say, drawing out the word. “What’s wrong with that?” I ask.
She shrugs. “That’s a pretty big tradition for most people. I don’t want to intrude on that by being some outsider hanging around while you decorate.”
I kiss her lips gently. “Baby, you’re not an outsider. And I would love to go get a tree with you,” I reassure her. “Honestly, I wasn’t planning on getting one at all because I didn’t feel like I needed it. I usually go home for Christmas, but we play that day, so I won’t be able to.” My heart squeezes in my chest at the thought of not seeing my family on Christmas. I was going to ask my parents to spend it in Boston, but my older brother has kids and I’m sure they’ll want to see them open gifts.
Her eyes light up. “Really?”
I nod my head. “Really. Now, let’s get in the shower and get all bundled up. The tree lots in Boston are even colder than the ones you’re used to in New York.”
She follows me as I walk to the bathroom, turning on the shower to warm it for us. “Actually, I haven’t had a Christmas tree since I moved.” I give her a shocked look. “What?” she shrugs. “I’ve been on tour for the last decade. I’m never home during the holidays. Last year, I spent the day alone in a hotel room. I think I was in Japan. I honestly can’t even remember.”
This fucking girl. She makes me want to give her the whole fucking world. Starting with a proper Christmas. “Well, I guess it’s fate, then,” I tell her as I pull her into the shower. “Let me get you cleaned up and then we’ll make some Christmas traditions of our own. Just us, and like, millions of other people once the photos get released.”
I drop to my knees without a word, kissing her thighs. She giggles in response. “What are you doing?”
I look up with a mischievous grin. “Cleaning you up,” I reply. She tilts her head back, resting it on the wall as I throw her leg over my shoulder and fuck her with my tongue. I’ve barely pulled her clit into my mouth before she goes off like a rocket, her juices coating my lips. “Holy shit, babe. That was fast,” I say, licking the remnants from the inside of her thighs.
She opens her eyes, breathing still ragged. “I was so turned on from having you in my mouth.”
I groan, standing up. “You can’t say things like that when we have plans, Songbird. You’re going to get me in trouble when there’s a Christmas tree farm full of photographers waiting all alone and I’ve got you pinned down, coming all over me in my bed instead.”
She smiles, still completely sated as I wash her hair and body before pushing her out the door to get dressed so I can clean myself without getting distracted by her tight little ass.
When we’re both ready, we head out to the car, hand-in-hand. There are no cameras in the parking garage, so we don’t actually have to be touching, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m not letting her go anytime soon.
Two hours later, we return to my apartment with our brand-new Christmas tree in tow. It’s not a real tree because when we got to the farm, Bella said she couldn’t bear to cut down a tree just for it to die. So, we walked around, playing in the snow while photographers snapped photos of us. Then, we made a curbside pickup order at Target for a tree with all the decorations her little heart desired. She was all smiles on the way home, clutching her cup of hot cocoa, while we belted out Christmas songs. Well,shebelted them out while I tried my best.
“This is the last of it,” Carlo says, setting two large bags on the counter. He turns to Bella. “Your flight back to New York will be here at five this evening, so I’ll leave you to it until it’s time to go.”
“Thank you, Carlo,” she says, giving him a hug before he heads into the elevator. She turns to me, looking like a kid on,well…Christmas morning, before running over and ripping the box holding the tree wide open.
“Whoa, there,” I say with a chuckle. “Let me do that. You go pick out which ornaments you want to use and I’ll set the tree up. Where do you want it?” I ask. Even though it’s my apartment, I want her to feel at home here. And every time I look at the tree, I want to see her as happy as she is right now.
“Hmmm,” she says, tapping her plump bottom lip. “How about in that corner?” She points. “That way, we can see it when we’re snuggled up on the couch.”
Fuck, this feels domestic. And I don’t hate it.
I get to work, setting things up as she prepares the decorations. It doesn’t take long before my apartment strongly resembles Whoville. There are lights draped over everything that would stand still and there are more pink ornaments than any grown man should own, but that’s what my girl wanted. And she deserves all of it.
Reaching into the bag, I grab out one last surprise. Walking over to her, I hold the mistletoe above my head as I yank her to me.
“Really, Mav? You bought a mistletoe?” She scoffs. “If you wanted to kiss me, you could’ve just said that.”
“Okay,” I shrug, throwing the bundle of holly leaves onto the couch. “I want to kiss you.”
I don’t give her a chance to answer before lifting her off the ground and pressing my lips to hers. She tastes like chocolate and marshmallows. Andmine.
Although this whole day was unexpected, it couldn’t have been more perfect. I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in the world, getting to make memories like these with the real Bella Simon.
