Page 94 of The Crush of Christmas Past
Time halts and pressure coils around us, particles shifting and warping to make space for the magnitude of this moment.
“Shit.” Theo freezes, wincing. “Hang on. Condom.”
I savor the flex of his muscular body as he reaches over me to rummage through the drawer in his nightstand.
“I bought—” His voice catches on a low, hoarse note. “Yesterday.” He clears his throat, then smirks. “Just in case.”
“Just in case,” I echo, matching his grin. “Very on-brand of you to come prepared for…”
He quirks a brow. “Coming?” All playfulness vanishes as he snaps his hips against me, tacking on a dark, decadent “Inside you.”
Yes, please.
“Need help with those condoms?”
“I’ve got it. They should be—” He pulls out a folded piece of paper. “Thefuck?”
No box. No foil packets. Just…paper.
He opens it one-handed, instantly cursing again.
I crane my neck to peer at the messy scrawl.
Big post-sledding date with Juno and Dylan.
Since we know your candy cane isn’t getting any action…Merry Christmas to us!
—Ro and Lix
(P.S. Sorry. Stores are closed.)
“I’m going to strangle those little pricks with tinsel.”Theo’s eyes bounce around the room, to the door, then back at me like he’s buffering. “Do you…does…uhh…does Ash—”
I bite his bicep. “Drag any more of your brothers into bed with us andI’ll have to strangleyou.”
Huffing a half laugh, half growl, he presses an irritatingly chaste kiss to my nose. “Okay.” He starts to pull away. “Okay.Give me a sec—”
“Wait.” I stop him from moving by locking my ankles around the backs of his thighs. “I’m on birth control.” I look up at him, cheeks flaming at what I’m about to propose. “All tests clear.”
Breath lodged in my throat, I watch his gaze darken with understanding.
This brazen idea has never crossedmy mind before. Letting someone in without a barrier—physicaloremotional—isn’t my style.
With Theo, of all people, the risk to my heart should terrify me.
Instead…it turns me on.
“If you’ve also been tested since your most recent relationship…”
For a second, I swear his soul leaves his body.
“Never mind,” I blurt, panic flaring. “Let me che—”
“No,” he chokes out, voice hoarse. “Tested. I’m good.” A shallow breath drags through him. “And in case you’re wondering about any encounters…” His throat works around a hard swallow. “It’s been a while.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Spent the last six years obsessing over this girl I couldn’t have.” His eyes blaze. “Kind of impossible to notice anyone else when you’re staring straight into the sun.”
