Page 59 of Stolen Holidays
“Come on. Up and at ’em, Princess.” He lifts and throws the duvet off my body, then leans down and peppers kisses across my neck and chest. My core flutters and my back arches off the bed, begging for him to continue. “Nope.”
The bed shifts again, and I feel the loss of his weight and heat immediately.
“Ugh, fine.”
I need sustenance before the morning sickness kicks in and the chaos begins. I’m excited to watch Rhys and Riah open their presents. To give Eli his gift. It’s going to be amazing. Everything Christmas morning should be.
“Okay, fine, you got me.” I roll onto my back and stretch.
“That’s my girl. I’ll give you five minutes to do your business, but if I catch you in bed, I’m going to torture you, and it won’t be with any of the good stuff.”
“Spoil sport.” I stick my tongue out at him.
With a “hurry up” thrown over his shoulder, Eli leaves me to drag myself out of bed. I quickly use the restroom, brush my teeth, and run a comb through my hair. Eli has already placed a clean bra and panties on the bathroom sink for me, as well as the pajamas his mom gifted me last night. I love the red, white, and green flannel pants and matching top. I can’t remember the last time I wore holiday pajamas, let alone a matching family pair.
When I walk out, Eli is waiting for me with a croissant and tea.
I mumble, “Thank you,” as I take the flaky pastry and the warm beverage from him.
Eli walks back to the kitchenette and leans against the counter as he sips his coffee, and I sip my tea. He looks good in his matching flannel pajamas. Too good. My mouth waters, but I shove the buttery pastry into my mouth instead of the big, delicious appendage in his pants I can’t help imagining.
Eli grins at me, like he knows what I’m thinking. When I finish my croissant, he saunters my way and wraps his arms around my waist. “Merry Christmas, Callie.”
“Merry Christmas, Eli.”
He bends down and kisses me sweetly on the lips. “Ready for your first surprise?”
I nod, and he laces his fingers through mine and leads me to the door.
“First, we bundle up.” He helps me put on my boots, coat, and beanie, then hands me a pair of gloves.
Without question, I put them on as he puts on his boots and coat.
“Ready?”
Butterflies swoop around in my belly as I wait for him to open the door. I feel the sting of the cold air first as my eyes adjust to the scene before me.
“It’s a white Christmas!”
A blanket of snow coats the ground, trees, inn, and surrounding cabins. My eyes catch a view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance, taking my breath away.
“Just for you.” Eli hugs me from behind.
I melt into him. “Another first.”
“Not the last.” He places his hands on my stomach, and I get the urge to blurt out “I’m pregnant” at the contact. He whispers into my ear and asks, “Want to build a snowman?”
I bark a laugh at his reference. Eli, and his movie quotes. “Heck, yeah.”
There isn’t much snow, but we make do and build a mini snowman. We use twigs and rocks to make arms and a face. I scoop a bunch of snow into my palms and pat it into a ball and wait. When he turns around, I hurl the small ball at his chest. It breaks apart into a million pieces.
“Did you just hit me with a snowball?”
“Maybe?” I bite my lip and smirk at him.
“You’re going to pay.” He scoops a wad of snow and chucks it at me. It goes flying into the air and breaks apart like a buck shot before getting me in the chest and face.
I throw another ball, this time hitting him in the face. He narrows his gaze at me, and out of instinct, I take off running.
