Page 17 of One Night at Christmas

They climbed onto the bed, and he watched as she folded her legs beneath her. In her movements, she flashed a bit of thigh, and his cock tightened behind the boxers he had pulled on earlier. Shifting positions, he hid it from her.

“Hey, I bought you a present.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“Really? I didn’t get you anything.”

Her face fell. “Oh, well, that’s fine. I’ll be excited to see you open it.” She jumped off the bed and dropped to her knees to open her suitcase. Behind her back, he calmly slipped the drawer open in the side table. While she was in the bathroom the night before, he placed his present for her there. By the time she climbed back on the bed, he had the gift-wrapped present lying in her spot.

“You bum.” She laughed. “You said you didn’t have anything for me.”

He shrugged, feigning innocence.

“Open this, and you better like it or else.”

“Wow, I get threats with my gift. Fun.”

She smacked his arm.

He slid the white bow off the small box and tore through the bright red wrapping. Inside the delicate tissue paper, he found a tie and a pair of socks. Beneath both was a small canvas with a snowy city scene. He knew she drew and painted it by hand.

“Wow, this is amazing, Charon. Thanks.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips.

Afterward, she ducked her head. “It’s not much, but my budget is super tight right now.”

“It’s perfect. I’ve never gotten one of your pieces, so this means a lot.”

“I should have sent you something big before now, but I never felt like I was good enough. In the last few months, my drawing has improved.”

“I always thought it was good.”

She scoffed. “You always say that.”

“Open your gift.”

She tore into the paper and opened the box. The blue topaz with diamonds surrounding it sparkled in the light. Jewelry was a little personal to purchase for a woman, and with the dynamics of their relationship changing—or dissolving—he wasn’t sure she would accept it. He’d hoped since it was a necklace she wouldn’t have a problem.

“Bryson,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful. You shouldn’t have spent so much on me.”

“I wanted to.”

“But now I feel stupid for being cheap and getting you a tie and socks.”

“Don’t. I complained that I needed to buy some new socks and kept putting it off. You remembered. They’re the one thing I don’t slow down for, and a man can’t have too many ties.”

“Are you sure you’re not disappointed?”

He held up the canvas. “Have you given one of your art pieces to anyone else as a gift?”

“No. You’re the only one who has encouraged me all this time. Well, you and my girlfriend. She’s not into art though.”

“Then I’m special.” He winked, and she leaned in to kiss him. When she was close enough he grabbed her and dragged her onto his lap. With her back to his chest, he embraced her and rested against the headboard. “Anything from you is great.”

“You were always sweet to

me.”

“I called you crazy for choosing to be poor.”

She laughed. “I don’t choose to be poor, nut. You’re materialistic.”

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