Page 63 of Unwrap Him

But in the midst of all the sex and cuddling, home décor, dinners by the ocean, sunbathing and kissing and being almost annoyingly happy down here in paradise, I’ve had time to ruminate on plans for my future. And I think working in some sort of restaurant would make me beyond happy.

What I want is the opportunity to design my own menu, create scrumptious food and serve it to anyone who will love it. To bring people joy with my cooking.

I love cooking for only James, but I want to share my passion with others who might also devour it with enthusiasm.

I just wonder if it’s even possible… And how I would go about making it happen.

“It smells so motherloving good in here,” the rumbly voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I peek up at the doorway where my big, sexy, muscley man is standing, in nothing but gray sweatpants—his usual attire while we’re at home—dark hair tousled about, smirking at me. “My mouth is watering.”

“Same.” I shoot him a wicked grin and he chuckles.

Striding into the room, he makes a beeline for me, and my stomach flips and flops all crazy-like. It still happens, even a year later. He makes my knees shake, and I’m beginning to think it’ll always be like this.

When he reaches me, he smooshes himself up to my back, holding me against the counter while his lips tease the sensitive flesh of my neck. I’m immediately coated in chills.

“Mmm… But this smell right here is a million times more delicious than anything happening inside that oven,” he growls, nipping me just hard enough that I flinch and purr.

“You say that now, but just wait until you’ve got a mouthful of pork.”

He cackles out loud and my smile could probably be seen all the way back in Maine.

“I can’t wait for our new tradition.” He cups my ass in his hands.

My face lights up and I glance at him over my shoulder. “You mean I get more brandy-spiked eggnog?!”

He grins. “Well, sure. But I was more talking about a blowie on the couch while we watch the movies.”

I chuckle and bite my lip. “I think you should blow me this time.” He rumbles into me while I wiggle my hips. “It’s only fair.”

“You make a good point, sweet stuff.” He nips my earlobe.

“Are you hungry?” I ask him, distracting myself from bending for him by busying my hands with combining all the ingredients for the frosting into a bowl.

“Feed me, Seymour.” James does the Audrey II voice, and I laugh out loud.

“There are appetizers over there.” I nod to the table across the room. “Stuffed mushrooms, a meat and cheese board… Oh, and many more gingerbread dongs. For your pleasure.”

He chuckles again, giving my ass a final squeeze before untangling himself from me and practically running over to the food. I can’t help but laugh, watching him eat cookies, soppressata, and gruyere at the same time.

The rest of the afternoon goes by with much of the same. James and me teasing each other, playing around, and chatting while I finish dinner and dessert. After that, we sit down to eat together, Christmas music playing in a low croon as we enjoy my scrumptious creations, making googly eyes at each other from across the table.

Once we’re sufficiently stuffed, we adjourn to the living room for A Christmas Story and brandy-spiked eggnog. The tradition warms my chest as much as the booze in my drink. But more than that, I’m fully obsessed with how much better it feels being with him this way.

I’m no longer a kid with a crush, desperately trying to stuff down my illicit feelings for the man I can’t have. Now, when I glance at him out of the corner of my eyes, he’s already watching me. Our fingers tangled, my legs draped over his lap with his other hand on my knee. He presses his lips on my hair and I kiss his collarbone.

We stay barely dressed, touching one another subtly, tempting and tantalizing little trails of fingers and lips, my foot running up and down his calf until we’re both buzzing on it.

The high of being together.

Our new Christmas Eve tradition, as a couple. In love.

I want to give him his gift right this second. But I have to be patient. It’ll be so much better if I do it right…

He’s gonna be so surprised.

“Baby…” He gives me one of his scolding tones that’s actually more aroused than anything. I peer up at him. “You’re wiggling all around.” He grins. “Excited for something?”

“Who, me?” I bite my lip to contain the smile of an insane person. “I’m just happy to be having a perfect Christmas Eve with my man, that’s all.”

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