Page 75 of The Reading

“Merry Christmas,” I replied as I scooted back to snuggle.

“If I’d known that this was going to happen, I would have gotten you something more meaningful,” he said, and there went my heart again.

“Before tonight, you were just my boss,” I reminded him. “Besides, the bonus and vacation tickets were more than enough.”

“Any idea who you’re going to be taking on that vacation?” he asked, and I smiled.

“I haven’t decided yet,” I teased. “After all, I’m such a popular gal.”

“You’re a dick,” he chuckled before he squeezed me, then got up to go to the bathroom.

*****

Hudson~

Heading back from the bathroom, Zara was still snuggled in my bed, and it did crazy things inside me to see her lying there. I wanted to tell her that I’d been in love with her for years, but I still had common sense working for me. Regardless of that soulmate nonsense, we were going to be tested next week, and I wasn’t sure if she realized it. We were going to fall into that clichéd category of a boss fucking his secretary, and it wasn’t a good look, no matterhow I felt about her. Luckily, Zara had a strong backbone, and she wasn’t overly concerned with what people thought of her.

Climbing back into bed, I reached for her. “I have morning breath, so don’t even try it,” she said, and things were definitely never going to be boring with this woman.

“Then turn your head, or let me in from behind,” I suggested. “Problem solved.”

“You’re such a great troubleshooter,” she muttered.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I weren’t,” I huffed before my lips touched the back of her shoulder. “Fuck, I love everything about you.”

“Yeah?”

“Your black hair and eyes drive me fucking crazy,” I admitted. “The past few years have been a bitch, Zara. You just don’t know.”

“You can’t say things like that to me when I have morning breath,” she complained. “You’re making me want to face you.”

I chuckled. “I have an extra toothbrush if-”

She was out of the bed before I could stop her. The only good thing about it was that Zara wasn’t insecure about her body, so she gave me a great view of that heavenly playground as she headed towards my bathroom to help herself to whatever was in there.

When she came back, I noticed that her face also seemed washed. “You know, we can take a shower if you want?”

She grinned, and I was way in over my head. “I actually need to get home, Hud-”

“What?”

I watched as she reached for her clothes, and that wasn’t happening. I jumped out of bed, grabbed her by her waist, then tossed her naked ass back in bed with me.

“Hudson, I need to go home,” she laughed. “I don’t have any clothes here. Plus, I need-”

“You need to stay your ass in my bed,” I said, refusing to let her go.

“Be reasonable-”

“I’ve waitedyearsfor you, Zara,” I told her. “The fuck if I’m going to be reasonable. I’ve been reasonable for four fucking years.”

The woman straddled me, and looking down at me, I was this close to asking her to marry me. “You can’t keep me here as your naked prisoner, Hudson.”

“Why not? Says who?” I argued.

Her face softened, but I could tell that she was trying not to laugh at my insecurities. “How about we make a deal?

“What kind of deal?”

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