Page 53 of Mistletoe Misses
Best of all was hearing Sadie giggle every time she tossed the beanbags during Rudolph cornhole. Each bag was decorated as a different reindeer, their thin, dangly legs flailing off their square body as they sailed through the air into boards painted as rooftops. Sadie and I faced off against Maddox—the view of him joking and laughing along with her was all the reward I needed—but I’m happy to report, the girls took the trophy, which consisted of reindeer food for the yard. Sadie tried to soften the blow to Maddox’s ego by inviting him to sprinkle the loot at her grandparents’ and Nana’s houses on Christmas Eve.
“They may be too old to believe in Santa, but everyone deserves a little reindeer magic,” she says, too wise for her own good.
He doesn’t make any promises, and I try not to let that bother me. We have a long way to go and had too much fun to ruin it with all the lingering what-ifs.
Just before closing, we enter the lobby to get our photo taken with Santa Frank, owner of Frankie’s Restaurant and Pub onMain Street. He’s been picking up children and smiling through photo after photo all night but doesn’t complain when our shoot runs past quitting time. First, Sadie poses with him. Next, she adds Trixie, then me. After the last shot, Sadie invites Maddox into our photoshoot. He jogs over, picks up Sadie and Trixie in one arm, and smiles for the camera, the other arm resting across Santa’s shoulders.
That photo of the three of us with Santa, symbolizes more than our reconnecting. Maddox is smiling more, and he seems happier—my number one wish coming true. He held my hand and Sadie’s earlier, which means he’s letting us in and emerging from behind his cracked shell. Who knew baby steps could feel so good?
“Thank you for tonight,” I say awkwardly, standing in the hallway outside our apartment once again after Maddox walks us upstairs. Words aren’t forming as quickly as I’d prefer with him looking like he wants another opportunity to follow through on our first kiss.
“Would you … Um.” My hand involuntarily flings itself toward the door in a sudden explosion of nerves. “Like to come in for a bit? I had such a great time I don’t want it to end.”
“Me too, but I better get home.”
“I understand.” Disappointment takes over, and my gaze lowers to the floor in a search for a way to stop it. It doesn’t seem possible to crave someone this much—to need their touch more than air to breathe—but it’s because he withholds so much of himself.
I’ve never given up the reins before and let the other person call the shots. Any other time and with teenage Maddox, I always went after what I wanted. With this version of him, I have no say in what happens between us, and that’s only fair. He didn’t get a say when I broke things off, and I refuse to do that to him again.We’ll move at the speed he’s comfortable with, but it doesn’t make it any easier to—
Two scuffed boots step into my view, and his familiar pine scent has nostalgia flooding my thoughts. I’ve missed this closeness and my body’s response to him. Tiny bumps appear in a wave down my arms and legs, and I shiver with eager anticipation. His finger curls under my chin, tugging softly until his handsome face is all I see. Holding my gaze, his eyes darken with a slight sensual haze before lowering to fixate on my mouth.
Yes, please.
His lips part slightly in a decadent tease on his way to me. It feels daring, him tempting me and watching my reaction to this huge step. His hot, rapid breaths kiss my cheek. All I have to do is rise onto my toes, and my lips would be on his.
God, Maddox, I beg.Please don’t stop. I’ve been one thousand percent in and waiting for this moment since I heard he was in town. We need to determine if our spark hits as potent as it used to. Based on my body trembling with need for him, I’d bet the store it does that and more.
My hands clench into fists by my sides, knowing I can’t touch him without permission.
“Maddox …” His name comes out in an airy plea, and I hope he hears how much I want this. How much I wanthim.
“I have a question.” His stripped-down tone sends an electric current through me, and I shudder from the jolt of it.
Holding his gaze, I urge him to stay and fight through any doubt that might be forming. “Ask me anything.”Just don’t run.
“Can I kiss you?”
Relief gushes through me, providing more bliss than a double-size cup of caramel macchiato. “Yes.”
In one smooth motion, he drops Trixie and frames my face with both hands. His sensual touch is everything I dreamed it would be—confident, possessive, powerful, yet gentle. From thatone motion of surrender, my legs waver, and I clutch his wrists to regain my balance. I don’t want to miss one second of this.
His soft lips skim over mine, careful and light at first as if he’s letting the good memories of us back in one at a time before giving in to me. I’d love to know where he finds the restraint. My body feels like a new flame—erratic and aching to consume everything it touches. I need more.
An overpowering moan rumbles in my throat, and his muscles tense in response. I didn’t mean to give him more signals, but this slow anticipation is torture. Nothing compares to being kissed by Maddox Henderson, and I can’t wait any longer.
With my head spinning, I lean into the searing kiss, pouring all I have into it and him until my entire body goes numb. My head takes off like a balloon, floating in a cloud of bliss. I wanted this so badly, and what a relief it is to know the wait had been so damn worth it.
The soft rub of his evening whiskers around his capable lips only adds to his sex appeal. Especially when his hands slip into my hair to angle my head back and deepen the kiss. My own trail up his rigid abs, feeling the strength in them. I can’t help but picture all these muscles and what the bulk of him might feel like pressed against me without all these layers. Hungry for more, I go to grip his shoulders just as he releases me, and I stumble a few steps to catch myself.
“You should give me a warning before doing that,” I say between gulps of air. The sampling of what he’s capable of left me breathless, dizzy with desire, and wishing he hadn’t ended it so quickly.
Leaning against the opposite wall, he’s as disheveled and dazed as I am. His hand scrubs over his jaw as he studies me. The smooth motion brings my gaze back to his wet, kiss-swollen lips and another round of need dashes through my core.
“I thought I did,” he says, the gravelly tone in his voice tipping me off balance again.
“I meant before stopping. I wasn’t ready.”
“Oh.”
