Page 25 of Trip

“Go sit. I’ll grab some adult drinks and more cookies.” JJ did as he asked but watched him intently from the couch. He deposited the plate of cookies on the coffee table and went back for the drinks. When he joined her, she turned back the right way, grabbed a cookie and a glass.

“Vegan nog, I assume?” Trip nodded. “I didn’t know there was such a thing.” Before she could test a sip, Trip raised one eyebrow, so she lowered her glass.

“Here’s to Christmas present and future, fuck Christmas past.” He raised his glass and cookie. JJ met both with her own before devouring the cookie and washing it down with not-nog. Both were amazing, but more so was his toast and sincerity.

“Yeah, fuck the past,” she murmured. As she set the glass down, she did the same with the past.

For what felt like the first time in too many years, she let it go. She’d never forget but she could stop it from being in control and having a voice in the present.

Trip’s enthusiasm was contagious. He was acting like a little kid at, well, Christmas. She was getting a glimpse of Cris. Cris wasn’t gone like she thought, he just had two modes, Trip mode and Cris mode. She was positive she was the only one who got to see this mode and she kind of liked that idea.

Maybe she could let Jess out sometimes. It could be just for Cris. Trip and JJ to everyone else, but Jess and Cris to each other.

He returned to the couch with presents. “These are from Meri” —he shook two red boxes— “our Christmas Eve presents. Wanna open at the same time?”

“Gimme.” JJ snatched the shiny box from his hand and ripped into it.

“I see your enthusiasm for gifts hasn’t changed one bit.” Trip wasn’t wrong. She tore through wrapping paper like the Tasmanian Devil.

When she finally got the box opened, she just stared. “Meri must’ve spent a fortune on these.” JJ pulled out the most amazing riding boots she’d ever seen. They had a buckle around the ankle and a zipper on the inside, but it was the corset-style lacing at the back that was the showstopper.

She put them on her bare feet, and of course, they were a perfect fit. “Oh my God, Trip, look at these, aren’t they amazing?”

“Sexy as hell, too.” His groan verified his words. She was turning her feet back and forth. Completely in awe of her gift.

“Meri always outdoes herself. I’m so lucky to have her in my life. She loves me like no one else ever has.”

Trip pulled her down onto his lap. “Except me. I love you.” His simple confession stalled the heart beating in her chest. It was all-consuming. Sure, he said it when he was face down in her snatch and he’d said it in passing when he was making an argument for them to be together, but this was the first time in years he’d actually said it to her for the purpose of saying it to her.

JJ held his face in her hands and just stared into his intense blue eyes. They seemed so crystal clear, baby blue in the twinkling white Christmas lights of the tree. “Say that again?”

Damn him. He did that sexy half smirk with the raised eyebrow thing that weakens knees and melts panties.

“Say what?”

“Ugh.” She sighed in frustration and tried to stand.

“Stop, babe. I’m just fucking with you.” JJ had her arms folded and a pout that would make a toddler proud. “Look at me?”

“No.” Okay, so I know I’m being childish, but in my defense, he’s being an ass.

“Babe? Look at me.”

She cut her eyes his way, but refused to smile or even relax. “Stubborn women don’t get extra presents,” he taunted.

“Fine.” She fully turned on his lap and tucked her arms around his neck. “But you better say those words or I’m making you a hamburger–pork chop smoothie for breakfast.” Even saying it caused her to shudder, so she could only imagine how he must’ve felt.

His rough hands cupped her cheeks, and Trip stared into her very soul. “Jessika, I love you. I never stopped and never will. I will love every inch of you, body and soul, until the day I die.” His lips were still moving but she didn’t give a shit. She heard what she needed and kissed him with a voracity that just might rip her tongue piercing out.

When she shifted her booted legs to rub her aching body along his jean-covered cock, she upended the box her boots were in. A soft thud told her the box wasn’t empty. She scrambled off his lap.

“Hey, I was having fun, get your sweet ass down here.” Trip reached for her hand, but she stepped out of range.

“I was too, biker boy, but I love presents and I heard something…” Her words trailed off as she stooped to retrieve the box and the black item next to it.

JJ held it up and examined the tag. Vegan leather. It was a badass vest. She shrugged it on and of course it fit perfectly because Meri was amazing.

The look in Trip’s eyes was unreadable. And then he started laughing.

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