Page 55 of My Rival for Christmas

“I’ll tell you if you let go of my hands.”

Nate stares at me for a moment. Like he doesn’t trust me. Internally, I scoff.

“Promise not to hit me?” he asks with lifted brows.

“Of course,” I agree easily.

Nate looks skeptical, but he does as requested.

Too bad for him I lied.

“You.” I attack his chest, smacking him with a newfound vengeance. “Crossed.” Another smack. “The.”Smack. “Sleep divider.”Smack. Smack. Smack?—

Nate seizes my wrists in a tight grip, and my nostrils flare in agitation. Damn his reflexes.

“Let go of me!” I try to pull free, but he rolls over, on top of me, trapping me between the mattress and his body.

I swallow thickly, hoping Nate can’t hear thethump, thump, thumpof my accelerating heart as he lowers his head to mine, our lips almost touching as he rasps, “What did I say about the hitting?”

The sleep is still in his voice, and I try to ignore how husky he sounds, how heavy my body feels despite Nate holding his weight above me.

All while my body grows warmer. These baggy clothes—Nate’s clothes—feel tighter.

“I don’t care about being nice. You breached the blankets!”

“No, I didn’t.” His brows stitch together. “I was on my best behavior, as per usual.”

He’s going to break our agreement and then lie to me about it?! “Yes, you did! You came over to my side and pulled me on top of you.”

Nate pulls back, giving the turmoil brewing inside me a reprieve, and takes in the scene of his crime.

My eyes narrow as the corner of his mouth ticks up. Not sure what he’s smiling about when I promised retribution for such anoffense. Locking him out in the frigid cold sounds like a good start…

“Hate to break it to you, Princess, but I’m not the reason your little Do Not Cross Zone failed.”

“Then what is the reason, Nate? A ghost?” I roll my eyes. Please. “Nice try.”

“Not a ghost.” His eyes are now bright with a delight I don’t like, striking me in the lower belly like a lighting bolt. Nate’s grin stretches wider as he says one simple word. “You.”

“Idid not,”I gasp. The very idea that I would is so absurd, so ridiculous, so?—

Without saying a word, Nate gleefully points to the side of the bed.Myside of the bed, the side I didn’t wake up on this morning, and at first I’m not sure what he wants me to see, but then I do.

And my stomach drops.

On the floor is every single blanket, every single jacket and pillow I had placed between us, scattered and flung across the ground. The different patterns and fabrics cover the whole floor, like a wild animal came through and threw them all out of its way.

Except there was no beast.

There was only me.

Oh, God.

My wide, wide eyes dart back to Nate, who’s hovering above me with smug satisfaction.

“I can explain,” I all but shout. My pulse is racing. But I’m not sure if it’s from the crime or Nate’s proximity.

With his tattooed arms bracketing either side of my head, Nate peers down at me with captive interest. He practically purrs, “Go on.”

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