Page 53 of Vixen's Guide to Christmas
Okay. So I heard it correct. “Did I miss a memo about that? I haven’t checked my email in a few hours.”
He laughs and wraps both arms around me, holding me tight by the small of my back.
“I’ve known from the second I saw you in that ridiculous Christmas sweater that you could change my life. Granted, I didn’t know who you were, but I knew you were someone special. And if anything has been proven over these last few days, it’s that you are special. What we have is special. But more importantly, it’s undeniable.”
In all of the scenarios I thought about today, of how I’d tell Grayson that I want to try this, this was never how it worked out. But it’s perfect. Because any lingering doubts I had, they’ve all been washed away.
“Yes, it is,” I whisper. “But if I’m your girl, does that make you my guy?”
It sounds cheesy, but the smile on Grayson’s face says he doesn’t care. “Fuck, yeah, I am.”
I have more to say, but I can’t. Not when Grayson’s mouth is on mine in a kiss that’s been days in the making. How does it feel like I haven’t kissed him in years? My mouth opens for him, my hands clinging to his shoulders, as he takes my mouth in his.
This. This is where I want to be. In his arms. His mouth taking what it wants. Our tongues moving in a perfect symphony.
Us. Together. A team that should be rivals, but instead are going to join forces for something neither of us can deny.
We slowly back away—I think we would’ve kept kissing had not someone gotten on the microphone to announce that the next game was starting—when I tilt my head toward the ceiling.
“Well, look at that,” I say, signaling above our heads. “Mistletoe.”
When I look back at Grayson, his smile is goofy and perfect. “Good thing I kissed you.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him back in. “Is that it? Just one kiss?”
He shakes his head as he brings me back in, this kiss much tamer than our last one. “Never, Vixen. One will never be enough.”
16
grayson
How I didn’t dragher away from the party, sprinting through the lobby toward the elevators, I’ll never know.
And frankly, I should’ve. The rest of the night, we were barely around each other, let alone in the vicinity where I could touch her—which is what I really wanted. I thought we had a window to make an escape, but just as I was about to pull us out of there, Howard stepped in front of us, blocking our path, insisting that we were needed for the next reindeer game. If he saw the fake excitement on our faces, he didn’t react. Declan did, who was standing behind him, laughing under his breath. He knew we weren’t going to say no. Between them not making their decision yet between Kat and I, and that Howard was in his formal Santa suit—beard and all—it felt wrong to deny him.
Except that the one reindeer game led to another. And another. And another. It wouldn’t have been horrible, except a few were men versus women. How am I supposed to flirt and hold her hand and touch her in every acceptable way when she’s across the room from me?
Then again, going head-to-head with her was pretty fun. The look of competition in her eyes? The way she bites her lip when she’s concentrating? It put our situation into perspective thatyes, she is my rival, but sleeping with the enemy could—and will—be a lot of fun.
That is, if I can just figure out where she's at.
The party ended about thirty minutes ago, and the guests are finally starting to make their way to their rooms. Some are carrying their sleeping children. Others are stumbling, but all smiles, as they get on the elevator. But Kat is nowhere to be found.
“Where are you?” I whisper to no one. But it’s then that I see a figure standing outside on the balcony, looking like a vision under the light of the moon and the snow coming down.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask, quickly slipping off my jacket and putting it around her shoulders. “Aren’t you freezing?”
I wrap her in my arms to keep her warm, though it’s not as cold as I’d expect for the fact that there’s ten inches of snow on the ground. That much snow where I’m from is only mildly inconvenient. But in Tennessee? This is record-setting.
“I’m better now,” she says. “Sorry I disappeared. Just wanted to get some fresh air, and you were chit-chatting with Declan.”
Ah, that’s when she snuck out. “Yes. He found another podcast he thought I’d like. It’s a historical sports one. Who knew I’d bond with a dude during a pitch about podcasts?”
“Who knew you’d bond with him about anything, after the looks you were shooting him after we arrived.”
I shrug. “He’s not so bad.”
She turns around in my arms, quickly wrapping hers around my midsection. “That’s not what you thought the first day we all met.”
