Page 54 of Unwrapped

“Ms. America?” I ask, looking at Nigel.

“You’ll learn in time that those two are inseparable,” Nigel says to me, ignoring my question.

“Well, I’m close to my mom, so I understand.”

“Good,” he says, tapping me on the shoulder. “Nice place. It looks like Santa threw up in here, which means my daughter is responsible for this.”

I don’t answer. I shrug and he laughs.

“You want a drink?” I ask. “I feel like I need at least three.”

CHAPTER 33

MIRANDA

It takes an act of restraint for me not to jump over the fence and run to Nick’s car, but I take my time and open the gate. I slip on the fresh coat of snow underneath my feet, but I catch myself. Even almost falling flat on my ass doesn’t slow me down. I run right into his arms and he lifts me off the ground before giving me a kiss hot enough to melt the snow.

I’m so lost in the kiss, it takes me a while to hear the sound of barking. As soon as he sets me down, he takes off his coat and puts it on me.

“Sadie,” he says. “I couldn’t leave her. I figure at this point it would be easier to ask your mother for forgiveness rather than permission.” He reaches inside the car and takes the dog out of the crate and hands her to me. He takes out a small suitcase, and I escort him into the house.

After brunch at his house, I came home with my parents, and Nick said he’d meet me in a few hours.

“It’s about time you got here. I missed you.” I put an arm around his waist as we walk up the three steps to the front door. It swings open, and my mother gestures for us to come inside. She takes his suitcase and tells us to follow her upstairs to the guestroom she just made up for Nick.

“The bathroom is across the hall. Nigel’s cooking dinner. In the meantime, we need to start wrapping some presents.” As soon as Mom leaves, I pin him to the door, get on my tippy toes, and continue what we started outside. I deepen the kiss at the same time I stick my hand down his pants and grab his already hard dick. As abruptly as the kiss started, I end it and get on my knees as I undo his belt and lower his zipper.

“Miranda,” he says. I know he wants to stop me, but I also know he’s already too far gone to offer much resistance. “Sweetness,” he says, his voice hoarse with need. He has no time to say anything else because the minute I see his dick, hard, ready, and waiting, I take the entire thing in my mouth.

“Fuck,” he hisses and puts his hand on my face to help guide my head.

CHAPTER 34

NICK

Luckily, no one notices my wobbly knees a few minutes later when we come downstairs, hand in hand. In fact, no one pays much attention to us at all until Andrew sees me. He comes walking into the dining room, a half-eaten apple in his hand. The room is filled with toys, wrapping paper, and ribbons. As soon as Andrew sees me, he stops mid-chew.

“Mom, did you make your boss come and wrap presents?” he asks while offering me a firm handshake.

“Your mother’s boss is your sister’s boyfriend,” Nigel says casually as he leans against the wall.

Andrew starts to choke on his apple as he laughs. He looks from his mother to Miranda, likely looking for confirmation.

“I don’t think it’s all that funny,” Miranda says, punching him in the arm. Andrew rubs his bicep as he continues to look at us. I throw an arm across Miranda’s shoulders and she puts an arm around my waist. She looks at Andrew, daring him to speak.

“So, when we ran into him at the mall, it wasn’t a coincidence?” He looks around the room and starts to laugh again. “I swear, you can’t make this shit up.” Nigel loudly clears his throat, walks over to Andrew, and slaps him upside the head.

“Watch your mouth, boy, and help your mom in here. I’m going to cook.” And just like that, Andrew, who is at least two inches taller than his father, shuts up and grabs a roll of wrapping paper. But he chuckles and shakes his head every time he looks at me and his sister.

“You two,” Mona says, pointing at me and Miranda. “Get to work. Plenty to be done. Nick, do you think you can drive me to the church to deliver these toys later?”

She asks casually, but I recognize it for what it is. She’s offering me a truce, one I eagerly take. “Just let me know when.”

Music starts to play, and Nigel brings a huge pitcher of what he calls his world famous rum punch.

“How do you wrap these so perfectly?” Miranda asks about an hour later. I lift up the box and wave it around like a hostess in a game show. Andrew, who has had quite a few drinks, whistles loudly in approval.

“Thank my mom. She taught me this crap. I guess it’s not useless after all.” I polish off my drink, grab Miranda, and start to dance to “All I want for Christmas is You.” Nigel comes back and grabs his wife and spins her around the room.

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