Page 80 of My Rival for Christmas

A chant that he catches, as he pulls my bottom lip between his teeth. Biting down hard enough to know I’m his. Only his.

My nails dig into his back, grabbing at his hair. “I love you,” I cry, squeezing my eyes closed as a wave of pleasure washes over me.

I feel hysterical, like I can’t get enough. Can’t get close enough. His entire body bares down on me, letting his weight sink into me as we grind into each other.

“I love you so much, Paige,” he murmurs into his next thrust, burying his head between my shoulder and throat. Tattooing his words to my skin. “And I’m never going to let a day go by without making sure you know it.”

I give myself over to his words.

The room fades away as I feel my body rising and rising, building to a pressure that’s going to reach its breaking point.

His shaft rubs against my clit, and I feel my body start to shake. “Nate,” I squeeze out, eyes shutting in blissful agony.

That’s all he needs to hear as his thumb presses down on my clit, and I shatter. My body shoots off into another dimension as Nate wrings every last ounce of pleasure out of my body, three little words dangling from my lips.

His release quickly follows, spilling inside me and down my legs before he collapses on top of me.

With panting breaths, Nate rolls us over until I’m tucked under his arm, my head resting on his chest.

Neither of us say anything. We don’t have to.

So instead, he just holds me, his heart beating against my ear.

The two of us—complete.

Sometime later, when our thoughts have returned, we’re cuddled together in front of the roaring fire, the Christmas tree lit up and reflecting in the window beside us. I catch myself staring at it. The day has faded away, but for once in my life, I’m thankful for this holiday.

It’s not a reminder of everything I didn’t have growing up, of the emptiness in my life, but something that I’m lucky to have gained.

Maybe this is what people mean when they mention the magic of Christmas. Because it feels pretty life-changing to me.

Curled into Nate’s chest, I trace the mountain peaks on his arm. I’ve always wondered about this tattoo. If it was an actual place or just a cool design he decided to get one day when he was nineteen. But it didn’t take me long to recognize it for what it is. A portrait of the landscape outside the expansive windows. His home on him forever.

“How come you never moved back here?” My fingers don’t stop tracing his tattoo. “You seem so much more relaxed up here.”

“That’s because I’m on vacation.” Nate kisses the top of my head. “People are usually more relaxed during them. Don’t worry, I’ll show you.”

He already has.

“But as much as I love it here,” he continues, “Sugar Peak is the place I come to reset. I couldn’t live here forever. Small town life isn’t for me like that.”

“But they have big cities in Canada, too.”

“Ah.” Nate finally gets what I’m having trouble saying. Why has he stayed in New York all this time when he could’ve come back. “Yeah, there are tons. But none of them have you, Paige. It doesn’t matter where I travel or the places I visit, all I ever feel is the urge to get back to you. So thanks for making it easy and coming to me this time.”

The spot in my chest that’s always been reserved for him warms. I’m his home.

“My pleasure.” I smile, but it quickly turns into a more somber mood. Twisting around so my chin rests on his chest, I peer up at him. “I’m sorry I made you wait so long to share your love with me.”

His arms tighten around me. “I’d wait a hundred more years just for this moment.”

“Not a thousand?” I lift my brows, just slightly offended.

“A man only has so much patience, Princess.”

I laugh, turning my head to kiss his bare chest and just settle against him.

Soaking in this moment.

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