Page 101 of Christmas off Script
‘Well, their loss is my gain. And, if you want, we don’t have to use a condom.’
Now it was his turn to stare in confusion at her.
‘After Oli, I didn’t know if he might have been unfaithful, so I got myself tested. Everything came back negative, and I’ve got an IUD fitted, so I won’t get pregnant.’
Leo felt a pang of disappointment at the last part of her sentence, as if now they’d been intimate, part of him had already decided they were at the ‘marriage and kids’ stage of their relationship.
Then the realisation of what she was offering nearly made him ejaculate in his jeans for the second day running. Ella was suggesting they have sex without a barrier between them. The thought of being bare inside her, coming deep in her pussy made his head spin.
‘But only if you want to,’ she continued in a rush. ‘I don’t want to put you under any pressure.’
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his rioting heart. ‘I’ve never had sex without a condom before and I got tested after my last relationship. There’s nothing I want more than what you’re offering.’
Her smile was full of relief. ‘More than winning the Christmas quiz?’
‘More than that,anda white Christmas put together. More than anything.’
‘You might be disappointed.’
‘Never. There’s more chance of me meeting Santa on the roof of the manor than that.’
She reached tentatively for the top button of his jeans. ‘So…?’
He covered his hand with hers. ‘You’ve got to be up in a few hours.’
‘I don’t mind.’
‘Imind.’ Leo knew how exhausted Ella was, and he also knew once he got naked, he wouldn’t be able to leave her alone. Then there was his fear that she’d wake up the next morning with some kind of regret. The first time they had sex, he wanted to be sure she’d be into it as much as he would be.
Her expression faltered, and she sat up. ‘Should I go then?’
‘What? No!’ Hauling her back to the bed, he cradled her in his arms. ‘You can if you want, but I’d really love it if you would stay the night here. I always sleep better when you’re with me.’
‘I’ve only ever slept next to you once before.’
‘Best night’s sleep of my life.’
She giggled. ‘I think you’re just worried you’ll get lost in this stupidly enormous bed.’
‘Well, if I do, I’ll sleep jog until I find you.’
Leo leftone string of fairy lights lit, so when he finally came to bed next to Ella, he could still make out her face in the semi-darkness.
Taking her hands, he brought them to his mouth for a kiss. ‘Night-night, Princess Ella.’
She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. ‘Night-night, Prince Leo,’ she replied softly, then closed her eyes with a happy sigh.
Leo kept his open, watching Ella’s face relax and listening to the changes in her breathing as she drifted off to sleep. Only when he knew for certain that she was dreaming did he voice what his heart wanted him to yell from the rooftops.
‘I love you, Ella,’ he murmured, before closing his eyes, her hands still wrapped in his, and let himself follow her into sleep.
18
The first part of Ella to wake up the next morning was her sense of smell. There was a spicy, woodsy, warm and comforting scent in the air. It enveloped her in feelings of happiness and safety. Like drinking mulled cider in front of a crackling fire in a luxurious cabin in the middle of a winter woodland.
Leo.
He was spooning her, one arm holding her close like she was his favourite childhood teddy bear.
