Page 68 of Clause & Effect
Let him do the math. He sighs.
“Those rules were set in stone because of my sister,” he explains. “She has unarguably questionable taste in men.”
I smirk. I can’t help it. I like her already.
“We’d probably be friends.” I say without thinking and then add. “Present company not included because you are an excellent choice in men but to be fair you’re the one that picked me and had me sign something so you don’t count.”
“Ah, I picked you now, did I?”
I nod. “And if you didn’t at least lie to me right now because I’m still half naked with with you in a sleigh and it’s going to be super awkward if I have to suddenly get out and face Rudolph looking like this.”
Stetson glances over at the reindeer and shakes his head. “He’s seen worse.”
I gasp. “Scandalous, tell me more.”
“First,” he pulls me into his lap. “I did pickyou, so stop with the questions and that look on your face and what I know is a little bit of insecurity seeping into your bone post orgasm.”
“I am not?—”
“---Shhh, you’re very pretty, alright? I love your mind along with your body and I even like that mouth despite the numerous questions that keep pouring out of it at such a rapid pace, also you’re horrible at hiding your emotions so, yes, you and my sister would probably be best friends which I’m sure she’d be thrilled to hear.”
I snuggle deeper into his arms. “Stop having all the right answers to all the scary questions.”
“It’s my job as a superhero.”
“I don’t believe we fully established that.”
“You called me Batman then the hero of Christmas, yeah we did, it’ s established, set in stone, you don’t discuss a man’s cape in jest,” he squeezes me tighter. “It’s rude.”
I let out a laugh. “I mean the audacity!”
“I imagine only you would have it, Charlie Horse.” He nuzzles my neck. I’m so gone for him I don’t know what to do. So, while staring up at the sky, I take a deep inhale.
And I exhale the insecurities.
The loneliness.
The loss.
It is Christmas after all, and my present came early. It’s time to enjoy what I have in front of me even if in the end, I need to put it back.
Enough.
It will be enough.
It has to be.
He has to be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
We’ve been sitting in the sleigh for the last hour.
Rudolph gives a disgruntled snort from the front, tossing his antlers as if to say get on with it already. His nose glows brighter, casting a soft red hue that flickers across Stetson’s jaw.
I smile. “Your lead reindeer has opinions.”
“He’s just impatient,” Stetson murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “Can’t blame him.”
