Page 84 of Jam and Jingle Bells
Mason swung through the kitchen door with pan after pan of pizza, lining them up on the counter for people to help themselves. Loading their plates, they found a place to sit and eat while visiting with each other in ways they may never otherwise do during their day-to-day life.
I slipped my arm around his waist and squeezed him. “Bells Pass at its finest,” I sighed.
“This is wonderful. I know you’re behind it, so thank you, Addie. I’m practically speechless.”
He leaned down and kissed me, his lips quick and unseen by everyone eating and laughing throughout the diner. “Let’s get some pizza and sit,” he whispered. “Maybe we’ll get a little quiet time to ourselves.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the counter. “Don’t worry,” I said, wagging my eyebrows. “I have a birthday present for you, but I’ll give it to you at home when we’re alone.”
He laughed and jumped at me, grabbing my waist and kissing my temple. “I hope it’s your birthday suit I get to see.”
I winked and grabbed a plate. “Play your cards right, Santa, and you never know.”
“That was the best night I’ve ever had,” he said as we sat on the couch and tucked into the second piece of birthday cake. “I haven’t celebrated my birthday since I was sixteen.”
I froze, my fork in the air. “Seriously? I’m sorry if I overstepped.” I dropped my fork and grabbed his hand.
He brushed a kiss across my hand tenderly. “You didn’t overstep. Tonight was truly wonderful. Everyone made me feel like part of the community. Actually, like part of the Bells Pass family. There’s nothing to apologize for. It was another step in my journey back to finding my Christmas spirit.”
“Is that what the Rudolph Express is about?” I asked, my head cocked to the left. “Working until the Christmas spirit came back?”
He laughed, but it was sardonic and not amused in the least. “Absolutely. It didn’t work. Sure, I love my studio and my kids, but it didn’t do what I’d hoped it would do.”
“Which was?”
“Honestly, restart my heart. While I was there, my heart beat steadier and there was less pain in it, but it didn’t restart it the way I’d hope. You did that. The first time I saw you, I got a jolt stronger than anything my ICD could hit me with. I was taken, but I wasn’t ready. Does that make sense?”
I nodded as I finished chewing. “Everything is about timing, Ellis. I guess your time is now.”
He held up his finger. “No, our time is now. Do you agree?” he asked, his eyes focused on my lips. He leaned forward and licked a spot of frosting off the edge.
“I agree,” I whispered, caressing his cheek. “I also think it’s time for your birthday present.”
He raised a brow and set our plates on the coffee table. “Kind of early for bed, no?”
I chuckled and stood, grabbing his hand. “I know my body is your playground, but I have an actual gift for you, goofball.” I tugged him behind me toward the door. “You can have my body later.”
He pushed me up against the door and held me there, his eyes sparking with desire. “What if I want your body now?” he asked, his hand coming off the door to caress the side of my breast through my t-shirt. “What if that’s the only present I need?”
I closed my eyes while he massaged and teased my nipple into a hard peak with his lips, right through the t-shirt material. His lips then moved to mine and he kissed me until I couldn’t breathe. When we broke apart, I waited for the cloud of lust to clear so I could think straight.
“I think you’ll want this gift, but I promise you, after you’ve opened it, you can open me, slowly, and with great precision.”
He moaned and rested his forehead on mine. “I love slow and with great precision. Why are we by the door?”
“Your gift is downstairs,” I answered, unlocking it and holding it for him.
“Why?”
“I didn’t have room to hide it in the apartment. I mean, where would I have put it?”
He shoved me up against the door again with his body and grinned at me like the big bad wolf. “How about in my bed? I don’t plan to be in it anytime soon,” he hissed, his lips finding my neck to suck and nip.
I moaned and then remembered we were standing on the stairs, which wasn’t exactly safe. I tapped him on the shoulder and he mmmh’d at me, his nose forcing my chin upward. “Ellis, we aren’t going to get very far if you keep pushing me up against doors and having your way with me.”
He sighed and his breath tickled my neck. “Right, birthday present, down boy,” he said, glancing at his pants which were nicely tented.
I laughed and shook my head. “See what happens when you don’t listen to your girlfriend?”
