Page 104 of In It to Win It

“I don’t have much in the house, but I’m making penne all’arrabbiata.”

“Sounds good.”

Now he’s here, that feeling of contentment settles even deeper inside me, even as I recognize how dangerous it is to feel this way.

JP

She’s so beautiful, her golden-brown eyes, long eyelashes, smooth skin . . . and that mouth . . . Fuck, I missed her.

I crush her to me again, desperate for her.

A growl rises in my throat and I pull her closer, tilt my head, and deepen the kiss, devouring her. God, I want her. Ineedher.

“Mmm.”

I lick into her mouth and she opens for me, melting into me. My blood fizzes in my veins, my groin throbbing. Moments later we finally separate, staring into each other’s eyes.

She smiles. “I’d better cook that pasta.”

After we eat, we move into the living room to exchange gifts.

“You go first,” he says.

“No, you.”

I growl, then sigh. “Okay.” I first open the smaller gift in a bright red gift bag. I pull out the black T-shirt and hold it up in front of me to readdrop and give me zenon the front. I shout out a laugh. “Perfect.”

She beams at me. “Open the other one.”

I unwrap the large, flat package. It’s a customized, framed black-and-white image of a hockey player composed of different hockey terms, withwynnand 13 on the front of the jersey. I hold it in both hands and stare at it, my heart expanding hard against my sternum.

I lift my gaze to meet hers. She’s biting adorably on her bottom lip. “This is . . .” I stop and clear my throat. “This is fantastic. Thank you.”

Her eyes light up. “Do you really like it?”

“I fucking love it.”

She lets out a breath. “Oh, good.”

I set it down carefully, hold out my arms, and say gruffly, “Come here.”

She flies over to me and I crush her in my embrace, pressing my face to her hair, breathing in her scent. “Fuck, Taylor. What am I gonna do?”

“Hmm?” She pulls back, still smiling, but her eyebrows tug together. “Do about what?”

I close my eyes. “Nothing.” I kiss her, thoroughly and hotly, until she’s breathless and squirming. “Okay, your turn.”

“I like opening presents,” she says happily, picking up a box wrapped in gold paper. “Almost as much as I like giving them. You didn’t wrap this, did you?” She eyes the perfectly folded corners, neat tape, and pretty ribbon that were done at the shop.

“Uh, no.”

She laughs. “That’s okay.” She carefully opens the paper, then the box inside. She stares at the gift, then lifts it up. A delicate yellow-gold sunflower with a diamond center hangs on a shiny gold chain. Her fingertips fly to her lips and press there. “Oh my God.”

I wait, rubbing my jaw, swallowing. I had it custom made for her because I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted.

She swipes at her eyes. Jesus. I hope that means she’s happy.

“Th-thank you. This is so beautiful.”

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